History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 97

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 97

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).

CLINTON W. FAWCETT.

The Fawcett family, who are old pioneers of Putnam county, Ohio, are of Irish-Quaker ancestry and Clinton W. Fawcett is the seventh in direct line from the first member who came to this country from Ireland, about the year 1740. Thomas Fawcett, the first one of the family concerning whom definite record has been preserved, emigrated from Lisburn, Ireland, about the year 1740, and settled in Frederick county, Virginia. The line of descent from Thomas Fawcett to Clinton W. Fawcett is as follows : Thomas, John, John, Jr., Jesse, Robert B., James L. and Clinton W.

Robert B. Fawcett, the grandfather of Clinton W., was born in Fred- erick county, Virginia, on December 10, 1819. Before his marriage, his parents moved to Clinton county, Ohio, and later to Logan county, this state, where, in 1841, he married Catharine Monroe, who was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. She was born on February 15, 1821, and was a daughter of Nathaniel Monroe, who was born in Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, April II, 1791. Nathaniel Monroe was a millwright, a soldier in the War of 1812, and, prior to his emigration to Ohio, in 1834, was a slave- holder, having obtained his slaves from the estate of John Brannin, his father-in-law. His father, John Monroe, who was of Scottish descent, was a soldier in the American Revolution, in a Virginia regiment. John Mon- roe's wife was Jane Shackelford. The mother of Catharine Monroe was Catharine Brannin, a daughter of John Brannin, who, in turn, was a son of Richard Brannin, an Irish refugee, who settled in Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, early in the eighteenth century and resided on the Rapidan river until he reached the remarkable age of one hundred and sixteen years. Richard Brannin was an Irish baron and, before he came to Virginia, was implicated in one of the many unsuccessful insurrections to free Ireland from English rule, forfeiting all of his estate, when he was compelled to flee to Virginia. After his arrival in that state Governor Spottswood made him steward of his estate. Catharine Monroe died on March 15, 1904.

983

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

James L. Fawcett is a son of Robert B. and Catharine ( Monroe) Faw- cett, and was born on March 21, 1847, in Logan county, Ohio. When a small child, James L. Fawcett came to Putnam county, Ohio, with his par- ents, who located at Vaughnsville, in Sugar Creek township. His father afterward bought a farm in section 36, where he resided until his death, on May 17, 1867. In this county James L. Fawcett grew to manhood, and on September 18, 1872, married Elizabeth C. Allgire (nee Hershey), who was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 29, 1840, a daughter of Benjamin Hershey and Fannie (Stiner) Hershey.

Benjamin Hershey was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, and his wife, Fannie Stiner, was born near Frankfort, Germany, in 1807. Benjamin Hershey, his parents and his brothers and sisters moved to Richland county, Ohio, in 1835. He was a member of the Hershey fam- ily, whose ancestors came from Switzerland and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1709. This family traces its ancestry back to the year 1535. Later, Benjamin Hershey and family removed to Franklin county, this state, where they resided until about the year 1857, when they came to Jackson township, Putnam county, Ohio. Elizabeth C. Allgire and her hus- band, Alpheus A. Allgire, came to Putnam county with her parents. Her father died in Jackson township on April 12, 1863. After his death, her mother remarried and removed to Riley township. Her husband, Alpheus A. Allgire, in 1862, enlisted in Company A, Ninety-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was captured near Dalton, Georgia, in 1864, con- fined in Andersonville prison until the close of the war, and died at Annapo- lis, Maryland, in the spring of 1865.

James L. Fawcett, the father of Clinton W., was reared on the farm in Sugar Creek township and taught school for a short time after reaching his maturity. For a number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of drain tile at Dupont, Ohio, and after retiring from this business was ap- pointed postmaster at Dupont in 1893, and served during Cleveland's sec- ond administration. He was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Com- pany E, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. After leaving the postoffice he held several offices in Perry town- ship and is now making his home with his sons, Clinton W., of Ottawa, Ohio, and Ralph D., of St. Paul, Minnesota, dividing his time between them. His wife died on March 30, 1913.

Clinton W. Fawcett, the subject of this sketch, was born at Kalida, in this county, on February 21, 1875. He received a common school educa- tion in the schools of Putnam county, and before he reached his majority

984

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

began to teach school and followed this line of endeavor for several years in the schools of this county. In the meantime he became a student at the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio, specializing in science and in law. He completed the scientific course in 1896, and in 1904 completed the law course of that university, and in December, 1904, at Columbus, Ohio, was admitted to practice law.

Clinton W. Fawcett began the practice of law at Continental, Ohio, in 1905, and on January 1, 1908, he came to Ottawa, where he has since been located. He is a man of broad education and is recognized as one of the leading members of the bar of his county. He is active in Democratic poli- tics and has served as clerk of the board of deputy state supervisors of elec- tions of Putnam county. While teaching school in Perry township, he served as township clerk for four years.

Clinton W. Fawcett was married, in 1908, to Martha E. Weible. She was born at Dupont, this county, on November 3, 1885, where she received her education in the common schools of the county and where she taught in the schools of Continental for five years before her marriage. She is a daughter of George C. Weible and Nancy A. Snell. Her father is a son of Henry Weible, Sr., and Mary Will, of Delphos, Ohio, and her mother was a daughter of Albert and Martha Snell. To this union have been born three children, Mary E., Loretta C. and Ralph M.

HENRY D. REAM.

Henry D. Ream was born on January 1, 1850, in Canton, Stark county, Ohio. He is the son of Abraham and Anna (Miller) Ream, the former of whom was born on December 10, 1821, near Canton, Ohio, of German par- entage. He spent his boyhood days in Stark county, Ohio, where he was reared. Abraham Ream also taught school and was one of the early settlers of Ada, Ohio. He was closely identified with its growth and history. In his days of activity, he was a leader in reform movements and, in the days of slavery, especially, he was a pronounced abolitionist. He was always a stanch .Prohibitionist. Abraham Ream belonged to a class of men to whom the world owes the civilization which it now enjoys. He was the son of Philip and Mary (Altman) Ream, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His grandfather was George Ream and history chronicles the fact that he served in the Revolutionary War under General Washington. He

985,

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

was also one of the men sent out to quell Sharp's whiskey rebellion. Philip: Ream came to Ohio at the time it was a territory and settled on Bull creek, in Columbiana county. He moved with his family to Stark county, Ohio, in 1806. He died in 1852, at which time he owned three hundred and fifty acres of land. Abraham Ream received his education in the common schools and lived on the farm until the age of twenty-five years, spending the last two or three winters in teaching school.

Abraham Ream engaged in the mercantile business in Canton about. 1850, in partnership with Kaufman & Reynolds, and continued until 1856, when he came to Hancock county. Here he engaged in the dry goods busi- ness, at the little town of Newstark, having been proprietor of the place. In 1860 he started a branch store at Ada and in 1863 combined his stock from Newstark with that at Ada and from 1864 until 1873, he was prominently identified with the mercantile interests at Ada, Ohio. He started in partner- ship with his son, P. W., in 1873, operating a general store, a planing mill and a saw-mill in different sections of the town. Later he came to Ottawa, in 1874, and retired from active life in 1876.

Abraham Ream was married in 1846 to Anna Miller, who was also of German descent. Seven children were born to this union, Philip W., Henry D., Mary C., Isaac Newton, Jacob B., Levi O. and Anderson W. Philip W. was a telegraph operator and instructor of telegraphy at Ada College, died. in 1901; Henry D. is the subject of this sketch; Mary C. married R. S. Shanks and died on April 13, 1914; Isaac Newton was killed in a railroad strike in 1888 on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad; Jacob B. is a merchant in Ada, Ohio; Levi O. is a funeral director and undertaker at Ada; Anderson W. is a plumber at Ada and also an instructor of telegraphy at Findlay College.

Abraham Ream was not a member of any church, but was inclined to- ward that of the Presbyterian faith. He was active in church work, con- tributing liberally of money and services. He died on April 25, 1895. at the age of seventy-four years. His wife died in 1884, at the age of fifty-nine. Abraham Ream was a man of strong convictions and for many years took a decided stand as opposed to the institution of slavery. He was a leader in many reform movements. He did much for the moral, civic and political advancement of Hancock county.

Henry D. Ream grew to manhood in Hardin county, Ohio, and re- ceived his education in the Normal College at Ada. He remained at home until the age of fifteen years, when he began to learn the trade of a mason. In his sixteenth year he entered into a contract to build a brick building. He

986

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

molded and burned the brick for the house and superintended the construc- tion, turning it over to the owner who was entirely satisfied with the work. Since this time, Mr. Ream has been engaged in contracting and has done a great deal of building in various parts of Ohio, some of his contracts running over forty thousand dollars in cost. Mr. Ream moved to Ottawa, Ohio, in 1877 and purchased the Ottawa Manufacturing Company plant and assumed the management of the concern. This company manufactures sash doors of every description. When Mr. Ream took charge of it, only sash and doors vere manufactured and general planing done. Later on turned work was added. Mr. Ream continued in this business for eighteen years and then sold it to Ault & Lee in 1885. Moreover, Mr. Ream had a farm of forty acres in Ottawa township and in selling the plant, took two farms in Monroe township of two hundred and ten acres.

Henry D. Ream took a mortgage on the plant and, in 1887, received the plant back, after which he with his two younger brothers conducted it for about three years. He then bought out the interest of the brothers and erected a brick building on the site of the old plant. Later it was used as an armory. He later sold the building and machinery to different parties in the spring of 1901, having moved to the Monroe township farm in the fall of 1900. Here he followed general farming for about five years and also shipped hay and straw. His farm is a model in many respects, being highly cultivated and fenced with Paige wire fencing. It contains about twenty miles of tile drain- age. The greater part of the land is cleared and the buildings are about the best that are to be found in Putnam county. Mr. Ream sold a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, in December, 1910, to the Strauss brothers and, on January 26, 1915, sold seventy-seven acres more. He moved to Con- tinental, in February, 1911, and built his present home, in July, 1912.

Henry D. Ream was married on May 16, 1871, to Miranda Gilbert, a native of Hardin county, Ohio, born on January 14, 1851. To this union four children have been born, Harry C., Alfred A., Lillian L. and Ruth A. Harry C., born on April 6, 1872, married Alpharetta Cunningham, and has four children, Royal G., Robert D., Guy C. and Paul M. They live in Detroit, Michigan, where he is a foreman in the Iron-Clad Door factory; Alfred A., July 26, 1874, married Osa Roberts, and is a farmer of seventy- seven acres of land in Monroe township; they have one child, Mary Mil- dred; Lillian L., May 16, 1878, and Ruth A., March 6, 1895, live at home.

Mrs. Henry D. Ream's father, Horace Gilbert, was born on April 10, 1805, in Vermont. He was the son of Josiah and Chloe ( Barnard) Gilbert, both of English descent and natives of Vermont. Josiah Gilbert was a car-

987

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

penter and joiner. Horace Gilbert was educated in the public schools of Canada and Vermont. He settled in Ohio in 1840 and some time in the eighties was married to Sarah Wood, the daughter of Hezekiah and Eliza- beth (Savage) Wood. To this union ten children were born, Berthina, the wife of John Shuster, deceased; Horace, deceased; Mrs. Mary A. Walters, deceased; Alvin, deceased: Milanda, deceased; Mrs. Melissa Arbuthnot; Arinda, deceased; Mrs. Laura Ream, deceased; Mrs. Marantha Cross, de- ceased; and Myranda, a twin sister of Marantha, who is the wife of Mr. Ream.

Josiah Gilbert and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Horace Gilbert owned the first store in Ada, purchasing the same from the railroad company. He was a farmer and owned one hundred and sixty acres of land. He died on January 1, 1891, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife died on December 25, 1890, at the age of eighty-two. Horace Gilbert was a Republican in politics.

Henry D. Ream is a stanch Prohibitionist. He is not a member of any lodge and, with the exception of the presidency of the school board, has not held any office. Mrs. Ream is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Continental, and has been a member of this church since early girlhood.

GEORGE F. GILLIOTTE.

Few residents of Continental, Putnam county, Ohio, are as well and favorably known as the enterprising business man and representative citizen, whose life story is briefly told in the following lines. None stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides, or for the material advancement of which he has devoted so much of his time and influence. George F. Gilliotte, for several years, has been a pros- perous, enterprising and successful merchant of Continental. He has a large grocery store, and his patronage has been growing from the time that Mr. Gilliotte went into the store as a clerk, many years ago.

George F. Gilliotte was born on July 17, 1885, in Pandora, Riley town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of George F. and Louise (Ges- sard) Gilliotte.

George F. Gilliotte, Sr., was born on April 7, 1839, at Vandam Court, France. He left there in 1885, on the Ist of April, and came first to Gilboa, Putnam county, and located on a farm in Riley township. He had been

988

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

reared as a farmer and worked here for four years, when he moved to Mon -- roe township, where he bought a farm of forty acres. Subsequently, he sold! this farm and moved to Hector, Ohio, about 1891. Here he lived on a farm: of twenty acres until his death, March 8, 1901, at the age of sixty-two years. George F Gilliotte, Sr., had grown to maturity in France, and married there- in 1869. There was a family of ten children born in France, four of whom: died in infancy. Four children were born after the arrival in America. Mr. Gilliotte learned the watchmaker trade, at the age of sixteen, in France, and' followed that trade in his native country, but did not follow it after coming. to America. He was not a member of any lodge and held no offices in this country, while in politics he was a Democrat. He was a prominent and influential member in the Lutheran church at Continental, and was a man. highly respected in the community at the time of his death. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Louise Gessard, was also born at Vandam Court,. France, in 1849. She is still living, one and one-half miles east of Con- tinental, Ohio.

George F., Sr., and Louise (Gessard) Gilliotte had fourteen children,. including the four who died in infancy. Ten of the children still survive. They are Mrs. W. J. Keller, of South Bend, Indiana; Mrs. W. A. Mills -- baugh, of Continental; Lucian F., of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Mrs. E. F. Dellin- ger, of Continental; Mrs. Charles Conkwright, of Monroe township, Ohio; Mrs. Wilson Burley, of Crooksville, Ohio; George F., Jr .; Benjamin A., who lives at home; Marie, who is a teacher in the sixth grade Continental schools, and Alfred, who also lives at home.

George F. Gilliotte, Sr., was the son of Pierre and Suzan (Marchand) Gilliotte. Mrs. George F. Gilliotte, Sr., who, before her marriage, was. Louise Gessard, is the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Giraud) Ges- sard. Pierre and Suzan (Marchand) Gillotte were natives of Vandam Court, France. Charles Gessard was also a native of Vandam Court, France, while his wife, Catherine Giraud, was a native of Abbevillier, France.

George F. Gilliotte, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was reared and grew up in Monroe township, Putnam county, Ohio. He was educated, princi- pally, in the township schools at Hector, Ohio, lived at home until twenty years of age. He then began clerking for E. F. Dellinger in the grocery store at Continental, where he worked for four years, when he finally pur- chased the store of Mr. Dellinger. He was in business alone for three- years, when the store burned, but he re-established it the next year on the:

989

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

present site, and is still active, doing business under his separate name. Mr. Gilliotte has a large and well-stocked grocery, and enjoys a liberal patronage from the people of Continental.

George F. Gilliotte, Jr., was married on June 14, 1914, to Mable Don- aldson, who was born on April 1, 1890, in Monroe township, and who is the daughter of Asa and Mary (Taylor) Donaldson. One son was born to this union, on April 7, 1915.

George F. Gilliotte is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 570, Free and Accepted Masons, at Continental, and of Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 339, at the same place. Likewise he is a member of the Pythian Sisters and the Order of Eastern Star. Mr. Gilliotte is a stanch Democrat, but he has held no offices, with the exception of a membership on the town election board. He is not a member of any church. Mrs. Gilliotte, however, is a member of the United Brethren church. After Mr. Gillotte's fire, in June, 1912, he took a three-months' trip to Europe, visiting the old home place in France, Rome, and sojourning in different parts of Europe, returning to Con- tinental and establishing his present business. George F. Gilliotte, Jr., is a well-informed man, popular in the community where he lives and admired and respected by all his neighbors and friends.

ORVILLE McDOWELL.

A review of the life of Orville McDowell must, of necessity, be brief and general in character, since to enter fully into the interesting details touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He has filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day, and has been an important factor in the growth and development of Continental's industrial and commercial interests. He is a representative of that sterling type of world-workers who have furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to its stability and its institutions. And yet, in spite of the multitudinous activities of his life, he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but has preserved this faculty and the warmth of his heart for the broadening and helpful influence of human life, being a kindly, genial friend and gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.

990

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

Orville McDowell was born on September 23, 1865, in the north part of Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Hugh L. and Mary (Ridge) McDowell, the former of whom was born in Licking county, Ohio, on August 12, 1841, and who, himself, was the son of James and Agnes (Bacon) McDowell. James McDowell was a native of Licking county, Ohio, who moved to Putnam county, in 1845, and there died, two years later. At his death, James McDowell was survived by a widow and four children. The children were: Isaac, Hugh L., Jane and Sarah, the last of whom married Joseph Bartoon. Mrs. Agnes (Bacon) McDowell, subse- quently, married William Sackett and died at Gilboa, Putnam county, at the age of seventy-four. Mrs. Mary (Ridge) McDowell, the wife of Hugh L. McDowell, was the daughter of William Ridge. She and her husband had eight children, Orville, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest; James W. held various public positions in Putnam county ; Harvey H. at one time served as deputy postmaster ; David; Isaac Newton; Earnest; Nelson H., and Cortis E., were other children. Hugh L. McDowell was a soldier in the Civil War, having served in Company D, Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and having participated in a number of-battles. He was discharged at Decard Station, Tennessee, August 7, 1863. At one time, Hugh L. Mc- Dowell was treasurer of Putnam county and, later, served as postmaster at Ottawa.

After Hugh L. McDowell retired from the office of county treasurer, in the fall of 1883, he moved to a farm, just south of the base line, in Riley township. He lived upon this farm until 1891, and then moved back to Ottawa where, for a time, he was a dealer in live stock. He was appointed postmaster, under President Cleveland, and served for four years. He re- sumed his trade in live stock, after his retirement from this office, and spent the rest of his life in Ottawa and is now deceased. Mrs. Hugh L. Mc- Dowell still lives in Ottawa.

Orville McDowell was about fourteen years old when his father was elected county treasurer and the family moved to Ottawa where they re- mained four years. Subsequently, his father purchased the farm in the southeastern part of Pleasant township. Orville McDowell attended col- lege at Ada, where he took a course in pharmacy, in 1886 and 1887, and where he was graduated. He was employed as a drug clerk, for two years, and then engaged in business at North Baltimore, Ohio, in partnership with H. M. Nelson. Mr. Nelson was succeeded by Doctor Henry, but after Mr. McDowell had been there four years, in 1894, he sold out and removed to Ottawa, where he was engaged in the handling of fire insurance for about

991

PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.

two years, in the W. F. Zeller agency. Mr. McDowell removed to Contin- ental in 1896 and clerked for a year in the H. A. Neffs store. In April 12, 1897, he started in the drug business for himself. He began by purchasing a small stock at Kalida, which he moved to Continental. He has continued in the business ever since with success and has a good store. During the session of the Ohio State Senate in 1884-85, Mr. McDowell was a page.

In April, 1913, Orville McDowell and his brother Isaac Newton Mc- Dowell started a clothing and gentlemens' furnishings store, next to the drug store, at Continental, under the firm name of McDowell Brothers. Since this time, Mr. McDowell has been engaged both in the drug and the clothing business.

For seven or eight years, Mr. McDowell was township clerk of Monroe township. He also served on the council at Continental and is now a mem- ber of the board of public affairs. Mr. McDowell is a Democrat, but he is- not a hide-bound partisan in any sense of the word.

On August 25, 1889, Orville McDowell was married to Gertrude C. Young, who was born at Nevada, in Wyandot county, Ohio, in 1867, and who is the daughter of Charles and Mary M. (Kennedy) Young. Both of Mrs. McDowell's parents were born and reared and married in Marion county and moved to the town of Nevada, in 1867. Her father was there engaged in the poultry business. Her parents spent the remainder of their lives at Nevada, where Mrs. McDowell had lived until her marriage and at which place she graduated from the high school and, for five years afterward, was engaged in teaching. Orville and Gertrude (Young) McDowell have two children, Majorie and Glenn.

Charles Young, the father of Mrs. McDowell, was the son of John and' Mary (Meisner) Young, who came from Maryland. Charles Young's wife, Mary Kennedy, and the mother of Mrs. McDowell, was a daughter of John and Maria (Lorimer) Kennedy. The Kennedys came from Irish ancestry and the Lorimer family from Scottish ancestry.

Orville McDowell and wife are members of the Pythian Sisters and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. McDowell belongs to the Knights of Pythias, is a Mason and a member of the Knights Templar. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.

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 Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 97

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