History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 59

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744

USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 59

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Sanford Smith is the son of Adam and Margaret (Shouse) Smith, and was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 16, 1857. Adam Smith was the son of Robert Smith, a native of Scotland, who immigrated to America with his brother, William. They settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and there were tailors. Robert Smith married Elizabeth Little, a native of Somerset county, and the daughter of Adam and Mary Little. After three children had been born, they removed to Harrison county, Ohio, in 1826; and subsequently, removed to Tuscarawas county, where they died. Robert Smith was an old-line Whig. He and his wife were stanch members of the Presbyterian church. They had eight children, Adam, Leonard, Mary A., Thomas, John, Robert B., Harvey and David.

Adam Smith, the father of Sanford, was born on June 20, 1821, in Somerset county and came with his parents to Ohio. He also moved with his parents to Carroll county, Ohio, and in this county was married to Mar- garet Shouse, in 1844. She was born on October 3, 1820, and was the daughter of Barnard and Rachel (Palmer) Shouse, the former a native of Pennsylvania, who migrated to Carroll county at the age of sixteen years and was a school teacher there. Barnard Shouse was an old-line Whig and he and his family were members of the Presbyterian church. Subse- quently, they moved to Decatur county, Indiana, where they died.

Sanford Smith was one of ten children born to his parents. The

RESIDENCE OF SANFORD SMITH.

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others were Sylvester, deceased; Mary E., deceased; William C .; Salathiel L .; Arthur L .; Nettie J., the wife of J. C. M. Doenges; Lorenzo; Madison S. and Edson E., deceased. Lorenzo is the twin brother of Sanford. Adam and Margaret Smith resided in Carroll county two years and then removed to Tuscarawas county, where they lived until 1859, when they moved to Hancock county. They moved to Putnam county in 1860.

Mrs. Margaret Smith died on July 23, 1907, at the age of eighty seven years. Her death occurred on the homestead farm, in Monroe township. The tract of land comprises two hundred and forty acres and, it was here also, that Adam Smith died on November 17, 1880. Adam and Margaret Smith were members of the Methodist church and influential citizens throughout their lives in the history of Putnam county.

Sanford Smith remained on the homestead farm with his mother after the death of his father, until December 14, 1909, when he was married to Mrs. Zella D. Hager, the daughter of Jacob and Nancy E. (Hutchinson) Dickey. The family history of Mrs. Smith will be found in the sketch of S. M. Dickey, which appears elsewhere in this volume.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Smith no children have been born. Through- out his life, Mr. Smith has been an ardent member of the Republican party and influential locally in the councils of his party. He now has a good farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, having begun with forty acres, deeded to him by his mother. Sanford Smith is a quiet, unassuming man, congenial with his neighbors and favorably known in this locality.

Mrs. Smith taught school for twelve years in Paulding county, Ohio. She taught her first year when but sixteen years of age.

Mrs. Smith has two daughters by her first marriage, Ethel C., now the wife of E. D. Harpster, who lives near Continental, Ohio; Beatrice C., wife of Charles W. Mansfield, of Defiance, Ohio, he being the only son of Lot W. and Lottie R. (Doenges) Mansfield.

THOMAS C. HIPKINS.

One of the most highly esteemed citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, is Thomas C. Hipkins, who was born at Gilboa, Putnam county, Ohio, Septem- ber 3, 1850. He is a son of Thomas H. B. and Margaret (Fishel) Hipkins, and one of five children born to his parents. The other children are as fol- low: Christian Rudy, born on August 20, 1839, deceased; Luceria, born on

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May 4, 1843, deceased; Winfield Scott, born on October 15, 1847, deceased, and Harriett V., of Ottawa. All of the three sons served in the Civil War.

Thomas H. B. Hipkins was born at Prospect Hill, Harford county, Maryland, on January 28, 1813, and located in Putnam county in 1841. His father, Charles G. Hipkins, died in 1817, and his mother, Elizabeth, passed away in 1832. Thomas H. B. Hipkins was married in Hancock county, Ohio, on September 10, 1838, to Margaret, the daughter of John and Catherine Fishel. Mr. Fishel died in 1845 and his wife passed away in 1821. Margaret Fishel was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on June 17, 1817, and died in 1890. He was engaged in the mercantile business in Gilboa, Putnam county, in 1845, and removed his store to Ottawa in 1856, where he continued in business until his death, in 1880. .

After the death of Thomas H. B. Hipkins in 1880, his sons, Winfield S. and Thomas Corwin, continued the business in partnership, until Winfield S. died in 1907. For the next five years Thomas C. continued alone, after which he took his son, W. S., in with him as a partner, and they are now conducting the same line of business which was established in 1845, in this county.

Thomas C. Hipkins enlisted in the Civil War in October, 1864, as a mem- ber of Company K, One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. He was only one month past his fourteenth birthday at the time of his enlistment, which entitles him to the honor of being one of the youngest soldiers in the state to enlist in the war. He served until he was mustered out at Nashville in July, 1865. After he returned from the Civil War, he attended Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, for one year. He then obtained a position in the St. Louis branch of the A. T. Stewart Dry Goods Company. During the year he was in St. Louis, he received a very broad training in general mercantile affairs. He then returned to his home in Ottawa, Ohio, and he and his brother, Winfield S., took charge of their father's store. The brothers continued in partnership until the death of Winfield S.

Mr. Hipkins was married in 1884 to Mrs. Rhoda Belle (Pitney) Wood- ruff, the daughter of Abijah and Rachel (Wheeler) Pitney. Mrs. Hipkins came to Putnam county with her parents, who located in Blanchard township, and spent the remainder of their lives there on a farm. She married James Woodruff, who died within sixty days after their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hipkins have five children: Eva, who is the wife of John Schafer, Jr., of Cleveland, Ohio, and has two children, Virginia and John Thomas; Margaret is a teacher in the kindergarten schools of Spring City, Utah; Winfield Scott, who is a partner with his father in the dry goods business in Ottawa; Ruth,

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who is a nurse in the Lutheran hospital at Cleveland; Thomas C., Jr., who is still attending school, and is a wholesale dealer in eggs. One daughter, Mary, died at the age of eleven months.

Mr. and Mrs. Hipkins and all of the children belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and all are active workers in the church and Sunday school. Mr. Hipkins is a trustee of the church and also a member of the board of stewards. His fraternal connections are with the Free and Accepted Masons.

For more than seventy years the Hipkins store has stood in the front rank of the mercantile establishments of Putnam county, and with the young blood infused into it, in the young junior partner, the firm may reasonably expect to exist long after its first century birthday.

JOHN BEARD.

To write the personal records of men who have raised themselves from humble circumstances to positions of responsibility and trust in the commun- ity, is no ordinary pleasure. Self-made men, men who have achieved success by reason of their personal qualities, and left the impress of their individual- ity upon the business growth of their place of residence, affect for good, such institutions as are embraced in the sphere of their usefulness. Unwittingly, perhaps, they build monuments more enduring than marble obelisk or granite shaft. One of the men, who is a well-known farmer of Greensburg township, who falls in this class is John Beard.

Mr. Beard was born in 1830, in Fairfield county, Ohio. He is the son of John Beard, Sr., and Mary (Carey) Beard.

John Beard's paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, who settled in the state of Maryland, where he was well known as a teacher. He lived to the remarkable age of one hundred years. John Beard, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina, and came to Fairfield county, Ohio, when a young man. Mary Carey was born in Maryland, July 4, 1802. She was the daughter of John and Mary Carey. To this union were born six children : Mrs. Margaret Pickering, George, Jacob, Samuel, John and Cornelius. John Beard, Sr., was a miller by trade, who died of the cholera in 1832. His widow subsequently married J. M. Allen, and after bearing him six children, died on January 13, 1889.

John Beard was reared as a farmer and educated in the common schools. He left home at the age of fourteen, and for a time worked by the month as a farmer. In the meantime, he prepared himself for teaching, and in the fall

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of 1855, taught his first school at Cuba, in Putnam county. He taught during four winter terms at this place, continuing his professional work until 1866, in Greensburg and Jackson townships, and at the public schools at Fort Jennings.

In 1856, Mr. Beard purchased a farm of eighty acres, investing twenty dollars in the farm. He made some improvements upon this place, and in 1865, removed to Franklin county, Ohio. He purchased a farm southeast of Fort Jennings, in 1866, on his return to Putnam county, and lived here until he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Greensburg town- ship, in 1872.

John Beard was married on November 2, 1854, at Columbus, Ohio, to Mary Jane Case, a native of New York state, and the daughter of Jacob and Anna Case. They moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, near Runnelsburg in the early days, and there Mrs. Beard lived until her marriage. Two children were born to this marriage: William H., who died in infancy, and Charles W., of Greensburg township. Mrs. Beard died in 1866, and on September 22, 1867, Mr. Beard was married to Mrs. Sophia (Shank) Guyton, who was born in Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, and who was the daughter of Henry and Barbara (Meyers) Shank, natives of Maryland. Henry Shank was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and was the son of Christian Shank, Sr. Bar- bara Meyers was born in Maryland, and was the daughter of John and Mary Meyers. She was married in Maryland to Henry Shank, and came here soon after her marriage. They settled north of the Blanchard river, and south of Defiance pike, in the northwestern part of Ottawa township, where they en- tered the land from the government. The Indians were still here and no roads but Indian paths led from their home to Ottawa. Here her father spent the rest of his life. After his death, the widow moved to a farm she owned neared Kalida, and spent the remainder of her life at that place.

To this second marriage of Mr. Beard, six children were born. Christian Beard is now farming six miles south of Auburn, Indiana. He married Maude Bibler, and they have four children : Joyce, Elsie, Samuel and Charles. Lucy A. became the wife of John Bibler; they live in the northwestern part of Greensburg township; they have had ten children, of whom two died and eight are living: Flossie, Fay, Velma, Coral, Ella, Della, Raymond, Dale, Pauline and Woodrow Wilson. John F. lives near Edgerton, Ohio. He married Mary Wynkoop, and they have four children, John Milton, Icy, Pres- ton and Zola. Margaret died in infancy. Ella S. is the wife of Clyde M. Fletcher, and lives on her father's farm. They have one son, Paul Clarence Fletcher. Samuel S. lives south of Kalida, and married Minnie Kirkendall,

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and they had four children, three of whom are living, Doyle, Helen and Annabel.

In 1874, Mr. Beard erected a substantial dwelling on his farm. In poli- tics, Mr. Beard is a Prohibitionist. In 1857, he was elected justice of the peace, serving until 1864; he was re-elected in 1872, and severed a consider- able time since that date. In 1880, Mr. Beard was appointed as land appraiser. He has served as school director, off and on, for a period of thirty-five years. He is naturally interested in education, because of his long experience as a public school teacher, in Jennings and Jackson townships. Mr. Beard has had affiliation with the Masonic order since 1861, being a member of the lodge at Delphos. He has been a prominent Sunday school worker and is a member of the Christian church.

HIRAM A. ROBERTS.

In Putnam county there are many enterprising and progressive farmers, who keep fully abreast of all the modern advances in the theory and practice of successful agriculture; men who are constantly and carefully noting the wonderful experimental and research work of the government and state de- partment of agriculture, and who quickly avail themselves of the profound results of such research, putting to the test on their own farms such official conclusions as seem best adapted to the variety or quality of the soil with which they have to work. These men, in the very nature of things, are mak- ing a success of their work. They are not included in that large number of grumblers which may be found in most any community, but are to be found among the even larger class of generous, open-minded, optimistic men, who are the real leaders in the advanced movements of mankind; men whom it is a pleasure to know; men who are the real makers of a community, the natural conservators of a neighborhood's best interests. In this latter class of farmers in this county, there are few who have a larger acquaintance or are better liked than the gentleman whose name is noted above, one of the most popular and successful farmers of Monroe township, whose quiet, unos- tentatious progress in the community in which he lives, certainly entitles him to be included in the large list of successful men of Putnam county, brief biographies of whom are contained in this interesting and valuable historical work.

Hiram A. Roberts was born in Oskalusa, Mahaska county, Iowa, on February 19, 1858, the son of Thomas N. and Mary Jane (Bussart) Roberts,

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the former of whom was born in Allen county, Ohio, in 1829, the son of David Roberts, one of the pioneers of that section of the state.

David Roberts was a native of Wales, who, with his wife, came to America in the early part of the last century and settled in Allen county, Ohio, where he became a large landowner and a man of much influence in his community, his farm having been situated near the town of Gomar. Upon the death of his wife, in 1844, David Roberts sold his interests in Ohio and moved to Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life.

With the excepttion of two years which he spent in Iowa, Thomas Rob- erts, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, spent his entire life in Allen county, Ohio, where he died in 1861, at the age of thirty-two years, his son, Hiram A., being at that time but three years of age. Thomas Roberts was a good farmer, a highly respected citizen and a man of sterling character. He was married in Allen county to Mary Jane Bussart, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and who moved to Allen county with her parents when she was but six months of age, and there grew to womanhood, making her home in that county for many years. She now makes her home with her son, Hiram A., in this county, being hale and hearty, at the ripe old age of eighty-two.

To Thomas and Mary Jane (Bussart) Roberts were born three children, as follow: John, a well-known resident of Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio; Hiram A., of whom more later, and Sarah E., the widow of Edward Tracy, who now makes her home with her brother in Monroe township. To Edward and Sarah E. (Roberts) Tracy were born four children, Frank, Clar- ence, John and one who died in infancy. Frank and John make their home with their mother on the farm of their uncle Hiram and Clarence married Carrie Reynolds and is farming in Monroe township, living near Hartsburg.

Hiram A. Roberts left Allen county in 1880, coming to Putnam county, where he bought his present fine farm of seventy-seven acres in Monroe town- ship, on which he since has made his home. On this he erected a modern country home, one of the finest in the county, where, with his mother and sister and the sons of the latter, he is living very happily and comfortably. He is a man of progressive ideas and on his small, compact farm he gets better results than many men obtain from a much larger acreage. The spirit of progress which animates him is reflected in the well-kept appearance of his place, barns, outbuildings, fences and drainage, all bespeaking a farmer who takes a pride in his great calling.

The same spirit that keeps him alive to the needs of his farm, keeps Mr. Roberts fully alive to the needs of the community in which he lives, and he is regarded as among the foremost men of his neighborhood, being ever active

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in all movements designed to advance the common interest. He is a Republi- can and in the political campaigns in this county, ever is found promoting the cause of good government. He is a kind son and indulgent brother and his genial manners and high reputation for honesty and integrity make him a prime favorite in his community, where he is regarded with esteem by all who know him, the number of his friends being limited only by the number of his acquaintances.

DR. ERNEST PLUMMER LEMLEY.

Dr. Ernest Plummer Lemley, devoted to the noble work which his pro- fession implies, has been faithful and indefatigable in his endeavors. He has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way, but has also proved himself eminently worthy to exercise the important functions of his calling, by reason of his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his fellow men. His understanding of the science of medicine is regarded by those who know him, as broad and comprehensive. The pro- fession and the public accord to him a distinguished place among the men of his class in the state of Ohio. He has been a life of sincere and persistent en- deavor, such as always brings a true appreciation of the real value of human existence-a condition that ever must be prolific of good results in all the relations of life.

Dr. Ernest Plummer Lemley was born on May 31, 1874, at Cass- ville, Monongalia county, West Virginia. He is the son of Alexander and Lucy (Tucker) Lemley. Alexander Lemley was a native of West Vir- ginia, born there on April 28, 1841. He died on September 26, 1906, at the age of sixty-five. He always lived in West Virginia, and was a life-long farmer and a stanch Republican in politics. He attended the Methodist church during all his life, but was not a member: As a farmer he cultivated about two hundred and twenty-five acres of land, and was considered success- ful in all his farming operations. His wife, who was Lucy Tucker before her marriage, was a native of West Virginia, born there on April 11, 1854, and is still living in West Virginia at the age of sixty years. Alexander and Lucy (Tucker) Lemley were the parents of six children, of whom Dr. Ernest Plummer Lemley was the eldest; Mrs. Gertie Core lives in West Virginia; Clyde, Mrs. Elizabeth Core, Herbert and Lena, all live in West Virginia.

Dr. Lemley spent his boyhood days in West Virginia, on the homestead farm, and lived here until he was about twenty years old. He was educated

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in the common schools and spent two years in the West Virginia State Uni- versity. Subsequently, he attended the Barnes Medical College at St. Louis, graduating with the class of 1898. In the fall of that year he began the prac- tice of his profession at Columbus Grove, and continued there for two years, coming in 1900 to Vaughnsville, to take up the Mckinley office and practice. He is a general physician, and is still actively engaged in the practice.

Dr. Lemley was married on August 30, 1900, to Claudia Layman, a native of Putnam county, born in Pleasant township, and a daughter of Josephus and Clarinda (Rorhr) Layman. Dr. and Mrs. Lemley have no children. They have, however, adopted a boy, Richard, and are rearing a girl, Leota Meridith, whom they have, however, not adopted.

Fraternally, Dr. Lemley is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Maccabees at Vaughnsville, and is a Modern Woodman of America at Co- lumbus Grove. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as township treasurer of Sugar Creek township for two terms, filling this office with effi- ciency and credit to the people of this township and to himself. Dr. and Mrs. Lemley are members of the Congregational church at Vaughnsville, the Doctor being treasurer of the congregation. He is a member of the County, State and Northwestern Ohio Medical Societies. He is a booster for Vaughnsville and enjoys a large practice, standing, as he does, highly in his community as a man and as a physician.

DAVID HOMER GROFF.

Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in attaining a due measure of success. In following the career of one who has attained such unqualified success by his own efforts, there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such an accom- plishment possible. But there is granted an objective inspiration and there is kindled at the same time a feeling of respect and admiration. The quali- ties which have made David Homer Groff one of the prominent and suc- cessful farmers of Putnam county, have also won for him the esteem of his fellow citizens. His career has been one of well directed energy, strong de- termination and honorable methods.

David Homer Groff was born on March 30, 1866, at Weston, Wood county, Ohio. He is the son of Martin Luther and Elizabeth (Campbell) Groff, the former of whom was born on February 22, 1830, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He left there at the age of twelve years, and came to Wes-

RESIDENCE OF DAVID H. GROFF.

DAVID HOMER GROFF.

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ton, Ohio, about 1852, where he settled south of the town on a farm, and where he remained until his retirement, when he moved to Weston, Ohio. He died on January 31, 1914, at the age of eighty-four years. At the time of his death he owned one hundred and twenty acres of land, most of which was divided among his children.

The children born to Martin Luther and Elizabeth (Campbell) Groff are as follow: Electa (Conklin), who lives north of Weston, Ohio; George, who lives south of Weston, Ohio; David Homer, the subject of this sketch; Charles, who lives at Deshler, Ohio; Ona, born on August 2, 1870, and who died on October 25, 1905; Mrs. Vinnie Walsh, who lives in Chicago, and Mrs. Maude Long, at Cleveland, Ohio.

The mother of these children was born in Crawford county, Ohio, No- vember 25, 1835, and died at the age of sixty-six years, December 23, 1901. She came to Milton township, Wood county, Ohio, from Crawford county, with her parents about 1855, and was married on December 8, 1861. She was a faithful Christian woman throughout her life, and was beloved by all who knew her. Her brothers served in the War of the Rebellion, and two of them, Enoch and Nelson, returned alive.

David Homer Groff spent his boyhood days at Weston, Wood county, Ohio. He was reared on the farm and remained on the home place until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went into the milling business. He ran a mill for a year when it burned, and he came to Continental, Ohio, in the fall of 1890, where he was married. He returned to the old home- stead farm, but before going back he ran a feed store for a short time, re- turning in the spring of 1891. He farmed the homestead farm for about five years and then bought one hundred and sixty acres of brush land near North Creek, Putnam county, in Monroe township. This land was cleared and ditched and put into shape for farming. Mr. Goff sold this land in 1903 and moved on a farm which he had previously purchased, east of Continental. He was here one year and then came to his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 1905. He has since added ninety acres, having about two hundred and fifty acres at the present time. Although this land was nearly all cleared when Mr. Goff purchased it, there were no fences or buildings. All of the improvements have been made by him. In the spring of 1911 he commenced a modern country residence, which was finished in 1912. This house has hot water heat, electric lights, etc., and is conceded to be the finest home in the county.

Mr. Groff was married on February 17, 1891, to Ora B. Andrews, who was born on November 18, 1871, in Wisconsin, and who is the daughter

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of John Horace and Laura (Price) Andrews. To this happy union four children have been born: Floyd, who married Mary Shirley, lives on the home place; Bernice, Beatrice and Ima are at home.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 59

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1744

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744