USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 57
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John W. Griebling received his education in the district schools of the county, which he attended regularly throughout the school year while in the primary grades, but when he reached an age to be of assistance to his father in the work of the farm his attendance was necessarily somewhat irregular, being confined to those months of the year when farming operations were sus- pended. He received a good practical education, which served as a groundwork for his success in later years. In 1869 his father purchased from B. J. Mercer a grist mill that had been built in 1833 on the farm which our subject now owns. Actuated by a desire to see his son develop the talents of which he knew him to be possessed, the father turned this grist mill over to him when he was twenty- two years of age, giving him all that he could make as an inducement to undertake the enterprise. That John W. Griebling justified the faith and confi- dence which his father reposed in him is evidenced by the fact that he con- tinued to operate this as a flour and grist mill for about twenty-five years, deriving from it a remunerative income. During this time he bought two and one-half acres of land which he proceeded to beautify and adorn as a home, besides which he had an interest in his father's estate, which consisted of one hundred and eighty-one acres. In 1907 he bought his present farm, consisting of seventy acres of Richland county's choicest land.
On June 13, 1897, Mr. Griebling was united in marriage to Miss Jennie V. Cairnes, who was born in Indianola, Warren county, Iowa, March 15, 1868, the daughter of William S. and Margaret (Lorimer) Cairnes. Her father was born in Canada, August 8, 1843, and was educated for the ministry at Toronto. He came to Richland county in 1866 and one year later wedded Miss Margaret Lorimer, who was born in Madison township, in 1850. In 1868 Rev. Cairnes located in Indianola, Iowa, where he spent one year, at the
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expiration of which time he returned to Richland county, where he has since continued to reside, his present address being Butler, Ohio, where he is a minister in the Methodist Protestant church. He owns a fine farm in Troy township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cairnes were born two daughters, namely : Jennie V., the wife of our subject, and Lillian, the wife of John A. Eby, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Griebling have become the parents of two children-one son, Charlie J. and one daughter, Margaret C.
Fraternally, Mr. Griebling is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at Lexington. His estimable wife is a faithful and consistent member of the Congregational church, and both are held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
MICHAEL E. DOUGLAS.
There are few citizens who have given such tangible evidence of loyalty and patriotism as has Michael E. Douglas through his active service in defense . of the union in the Civil war, and through his administration of the offices that have been conferred upon him by the vote of his fellow townsmen and by his ready and helpful co-operation in many movements for the public good. In business, too, he is widely and favorably known as the secretary of the Merchants & Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company. He was born in Springfield township, Richland county, Ohio, October 21, 1831, and has therefore reached the age of seventy-seven years. His parents were William and Margaret (Edgington ) Douglas.
His father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1798, and died in Springfield township, this county, in 1857. He was a son of Michael and Lydia (Pollock) Douglas, both of whom were natives of Scotland but were married in Ireland, and in emigrating to the new world took up their abode in Pennsylvania. By this marriage there were eight sons and six daughters. In 1823 Michael Douglas and his family came to Richland county, Ohio, settling in Springfield township upon a farm which had pre- viously been secured by their son William and his brother, who arrived in this county prior to the arrival of the other members of the family. The journey was made from Pennsylvania in an old covered wagon after the primitive manner of travel at that day. After arriving at years of maturity William Douglas was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Edgington, who was born in Jefferson county in 1803, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (or Polly) Edgington. Mr. and Mrs. Edgington arrived in Richland county in the fall of 1815, accompanied by Jonathan Beach and his family, and the Edgington and Beach families were the first to locate in Springfield township. The. marriage of William Douglas and Margaret Edgington was blessed with five children.
Of this family Michael E. Douglas, whose name introduces this review, was the third born and upon the home farm was reared, acquiring a common- school education. He studied during the winter months, mastering the com-
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mon branches of English learning, and in the summer season he worked upon the home farm. He taught school for five consecutive winters, but regarded this as merely an initial step to other professional labor, for it was his desire to become a member of the bar and with this object in view he took up the study of law under the direction of L. B. Matson, a practicing attorney of Mansfield. In 1860 he was admitted to the bar, but was soon afterward elected secretary of the Richland Mutual Insurance Company, a position which he filled for ten years, interrupted by his service in the Civil war. He was one of the organ- izers of the Merchants & Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, and became its secretary in 1876, since which time he has continuously filled the position, so that for the greater part of his life he has been connected with the insurance business in an official capacity. Thus called to a position of executive control he has subsequently bent his energies largely to organization and constructive efforts and administrative direction. Possessing broad, intel- ligent and liberal minded views, a well founded faith in himself and a recog- nition of the possibilities for development in the field of insurance, his has been an active career in which he has accomplished important and far-reaching results, while from his labors he has derived substantial benefits.
In the year 1861 Mr. Douglas was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Zimmerman, of Mansfield, a daughter of Levi and Mary Ann (George) Zim- merman. Her father was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1814, and her mother's birth occurred October 6, 1815. They were married Novem- ber 17, 1835, and unto them were born six children, of whom five are living, three being residents of Mansfield. Mr. Zimmerman came to Richland county in 1824 and took up his abode in Mansfield in 1827. Early in life he engaged in farming and when still quite young he was bound out as an apprentice to learn the tin and copper trade, serving for a term of five years. On the expiration of that period he went to Massillon, Ohio, where he began work at his trade, but after three months he came to Mansfield. He was here employed by others for about two years, at the end of which time he commenced busi- ness for himself and continued an active representative of the industrial and commercial interests of the community until his retirement a few years ago. He was also a partner of Mr. Buckies in a similar business at Bucyrus, Ohio, and when his partner died Mr. Zimmerman remained as sole proprietor of the business. Three times during his active business career he suffered extensively from loss by fire and on one of these occasions, in 1860, his home with all its contents was entirely destroyed. He ever commanded the respect and trust of his fellowmen by reason of business methods which have never sought nor required disguise.
His political allegiance was long given the republican party and previous to its organization he was a whig, casting his first vote for Harrison in 1836. Fraternally, he was an Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodge at Mansfield for fifty-seven years and in all his life he exemplified the beneficent spirit of that order, which is based upon the brotherhood of mankind and finds its best exemplification in mutual helpfulness and charity. His early faith was that of the Methodist church and his life record constitutes an example that is well worthy of emulation.
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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas has been blessed with one son and two daughters: Levi Earnest; Mary, wife of J. E. Gibson; and Lucretia, wife of Henry C. Hedges.
Two years after his marriage Mr. Douglas, in October, 1863, assisted in organizing Company G of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, of which he was made first lieutenant and in May, 1865, he was promoted to the captaincy of the company and resigned from that position the same year, the war having ended. He was a brave and loyal soldier, being advanced through meritorious conduct and inspired his men with his own bravery and valor. He belongs to Mclaughlin post, G. A. R., of Mansfield, and in politics has ever been a stanch republican, standing loyally by the party which was the defense of the union in the dark days of the Civil war and which has ever been the party of reform and progress. In 1868 he served as mayor of the city by appointment and was a capable and efficient officer, his administration being businesslike and progressive. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, the order claiming him as one of its efficient members since 1860, and he has long been a faithful member; of the Methodist church. Throughout the community he is recognized as a man whose word is as good as his bond, while his genial disposition, his unfail- ing courtesy and his kindliness have won for him popularity with a host of warm friends.
JOHN EASLY.
John Easly, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 34, Cass township, has spent his entire life upon the farm where he now lives. Here he was born on the 5th of August, 1844, a son of Martin and Frances (Bander) Easly. The father was a native of Germany, born in Baden in 1808, and spent his boyhood and youth in that country, being twenty-one years of age when he emigrated to the new world and settled in Pennsylvania. He started out as a peddler, selling old-fashioned clocks from house to house in that state for four years, and then came to Ohio, where he was similarly employed for the same length of time, he and his brother George, who was connected with him in business, importing the clocks from the old country. At the end of that time George Easly married and located in Loudonville, Ashland county, where he established a jewelry store, our subject's father remaining with him until his marriage. It was in Richland county that Martin Easly wedded Frances Bander, who was born in Switzerland, June 12, 1811, and about 1838 they located on the farnt in Cass township where their son John now resides. Here the father purchased eighty acres of land, only half of which was under cultivation, while the remainder was either swamp or timber land, and for this property he paid eight hundred dollars. Our subject has since added to the farm until he now owns one hundred and ninety- one acres and he has made many improvements thereon. The swamp land has been drained, there being about one thousand dollars' worth of tile upon the place ; the timber has been cleared away : and the land is now under a high state
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of cultivation. Here the father died at the age of seventy-one years, and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-one. Both were devout members of the Catholic church and were held in high regard by all who knew them.
In the family of this worthy couple were four children. The oldest, Rose Ann, always went by the name of Easly, although she was a child by the mother's former marriage. She is now the wife of Henry Easly, of Loudonville. Mary wedded Peter Demars, but both are now deceased. John is the next of the family. Katharine, deceased, married Frank Klinkle, a brother of our subject's wife.
John Easly was reared and educated in this county and as soon as old enough to be of any assistance he commenced to aid in the improvement and cultivation of the home farm, and has since devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits, being now the owner of a very valuable farm, on which stand good and substantial buildings.
On the 27th of October, 1869, Mr. Easly married Miss Mary Klinkle, who was born in Springfield township, this county, September 11, 1844. Her parents, George and Mary (Hublinger) Klinkle, were both natives of Germany but were married after their emigration to America. Mrs. Klinkle died in this county, but her husband's death occurred at Crestline, Ohio.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Easly were born eight children : Jennie, who is now the wife of Bertram Sheibly, of Cleveland; Edward, who is operating sixty acres of land adjoining his father's place; John, who holds a position in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Cleveland; Clarence, who is employed in the Loraine steel plant; Emma, a resident of Cleveland; Charles and Clara, both at home; and William Martin, who died in infancy. The parents and children still at home are communicants of the Catholic church at Shelby and Mr. Easly is a democrat in politics. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside.
LEWIS W. CHAMPION.
An excellent farm on section 25, Plymouth township, pays tribute to the care and labor of Lewis W. Champion, who has resided upon this place since March 1, 1887. In connection with the cultivation of cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he is also extensively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of Hereford cattle, in which connection he has become widely known. One of the native sons of Plymouth township, he was born October 6, 1860, of the marriage of William and Elizabeth (Diehl) Champion, also natives of this county, where they spent almost their entire lives. The father here died on the 12th of June, 1899, at the age of sixty-eight years, while the mother now resides in Plymouth township. William Champion was a son of Christian Champion, a native of Virginia, and one of the first to penetrate into the western wilderness of Ohio for the purpose of founding a home here. In the Champion family were six children: Norman, now
WILLIAM C. CHAMPION.
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deceased; Wesley, living in Shiloh; Finley, also of Plymouth township; Lewis W .; Charles, of Plymouth township; and Frank, of Garrettsville, Ohio.
Throughout his entire life Lewis W. Champion has been connected with farming interests and in the period of his boyhood and youth he assisted his father in the work of the fields, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age. He then started out in life on his own account, working by the month as a farm hand for three years, but wishing that his labors might more directly benefit himself, he rented his present farm of his father and when he had saved from his earnings a sufficient capital he purchased the property, or rather ninety-five acres of his farm, which today comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres. He has resided on the place continuously since March 1, 1887, and has made it one of the valuable properties of this part of the state. He built a fine bank barn, forty by eighty feet, in 1905, and he has made all of the substantial improvements here, laying many thousand tiles and thus draining his farm after the most approved methods. In addition to tilling the soil he is extensively engaged in stock-raising. He has a fine herd of Hereford cattle, having twenty-one head of registered and graded stock, with Beau Donald, No. 247621, raised by F. E. Maxwell, at the head of the herd. He became the property of Mr. Champion January 12, 1907. He also owns the heifers, Maple Leaf, No. 228294, and Maple Fawn, No. 228289. His place is appropriately styled the Oak Grove Hereford Stock Farm, and he certainly has a valuable possession in his herd of registered and graded Herefords. He is also raising Duroc-Jersey hogs and finds this a profitable source of income.
In 1887 Mr. Champion was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Bevier, a native of Plymouth township and a sister of Isaac Bevier, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. They now have two children, Lloyd and Leona. Both Mr. and Mrs. Champion enjoy the friendship of many with whom they have come in contact and the hospitality of the best homes in the community is freely accorded them.
Z. T. RHOADS.
For many years Z. T. Rhoads has been identified with the commercial interests of Darlington, where he is engaged in the conduct of a general mercantile establishment. He is a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. born August 7, 1851, a son of Jacob and Susanna (Bisel) Rhoads, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. The father removed with his family to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1865, where he was variously employed. He was a tanner by trade, but was not identified with the tanning business after coming to Ohio. Mr. Rhoads was twice married and by his first union there were three children: Emaline, the wife of John Kain, a resident of Wayne county, Ohio; Sophia, the wife of Edward Manges, a resident of Wooster, this state ; and George, deceased. The children of the second marriage are: Z. T .. whose name introduces this review: William, who is now deceased; Mary, the
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wife of Josiah Vanbuskirk, a resident of Marion county, Ohio; Sherman, of Wooster; John, who makes his home in Canton, Ohio; Minnie, the wife of Mannus Mesner, a resident of Wooster; Benjamin, Jacob, Charles and Elmira, all of whom are now deceased. The mother of these children passed away in 1887, and the father survived for ten years, passing away in 1897.
Z. T. Rhoads was reared in his native state to the age of fourteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Wayne county, this state. He remained at home until he had reached the age of twenty-seven years, when he made his way to Richland county, and has since made his home in this section of the state.
It was soon after his arrival in this county that Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage to Miss Mary Alice Black, who was born in Richland county and was one of a family of three children born of the marriage of Fred and Harriet (Drake) Black, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state. Both Mr. and Mrs. Black are now deceased.
Following his marriage Mr. Rhoads located on a tract of rented land, which- he operated one year and then removed to Darlington and engaged in well drilling. Four years later he opened a grocery store in Darlington. In 1893 he built his present business block and embarked in general merchan- dising, which he has since conducted. He carries a large and well selected line of goods and is meeting with excellent success, owing to his reasonable prices and his honorable and straightforward dealings with his patrons. Mr. Rhoads is a silversmith by trade and does considerable work in this line of activity.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads were born three children: Melva R., the wife of Milton Ball, of Darlington; Bertha J., the wife of Fred L. Ruhl; and William R., who makes his home in Canton, Ohio. The wife and mother died in 1903.
Mr. Rhoads gives his political support to the men and measures of democ- racy and for seventeen years served as postmaster, while at the present writing he is serving as township treasurer. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Disciples church, to which his wife also belonged. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising little city of Darlington than Mr. Rhoads. He is meeting with success and it is well deserved, for it has been won only through the strict rules of integrity and fair dealing.
JOSEPH FISHER.
Joseph Fisher, who is now living retired on his farm in Weller township, was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 19, 1836, his parents being John and Effie (Eversole) Fisher, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New Jersey. The father came to Richland county in an early day and put up the first night at a tavern in a log house in Mansfield. Subsequently he pur- chased land here and made his home in this county until called to his final rest in 1853, his wife surviving him until 1859, when she, too, passed away.
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Unto them were born twelve children, but only three are now living, namely: Joseph, of this review; William, an agriculturist of Hillsdale county, Michi- gan; and Mary L., the wife of Jacob Miller, of Williams county, Ohio. Samuel, a farmer of Weller township, this county, is lately deceased.
Joseph Fisher acquired a common-school education and began life on his own account when but thirteen years of age by working as a farm hand, being thus engaged for ten years. In 1859 he went to California by the water route, but after a year there passed returned to the state of his nativity. For the succeeding thirty-three years he was engaged in threshing, meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity in that undertaking. In 1865 he purchased a farm in Franklin township, on which he made his home for fifteen years, when he disposed of the property and bought a tract of eighty-one and a half acres on section 26, Weller township, where he has since made his home. His landed holdings now comprise two hundred and twenty acres in Weller and Blooming Grove townships, and he is now living retired, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest.
On February 25, 1864, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Boals, whose birth occurred in Richland county May 18, 1834, her parents being David and Susanna (Glover) Boals, likewise natives of this state. Mrs. Fisher was one of a family of ten children, and by her marriage she has become the mother of four, namely : Effie Jane, the wife of J. S. McElroy, of Toledo, Ohio; Susan E., who is the wife of Foster Urich and resides in this county ; Mary L. and Calvin M., both at home. Our subject and his wife also have one grandchild.
In his political views Mr. Fisher is a democrat and has served as infirmary director for six years. His wife is a member of the Baptist church, in the work of which she is actively and helpfully interested. From the early age of thirteen years Mr. Fisher has made his own way in the world, and there- fore the success which has crowned his efforts is entirely the result of his industry and untiring perseverance. He has justly earned the proud Ameri- can title of a self-made man and is now numbered among the respected and substantial citizens of his native county, being a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family here.
CHARLES L. HAYES.
Eighty-six years have passed since the Hayes family was established in Richland county and throughout the entire period its members have been active in promoting the agricultural and industrial development of the com- munity. The birthplace of Charles L. Hayes was the old farm homestead, two miles east and one mile south of Shelby-a farm that has been in posses- sion of the family since 1821. Here he first opened his eyes to the light of day, September 5, 1835, his parents being Almon and Esther C. (Betts) Hayes, who were natives of Connecticut.
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The father was born in 1800, while the mother's birth occurred in 1798. In the year 1821 they arrived in what is now Jackson township, Richland county, making the journey with a one-horse wagon all the way, doing their own cooking enroute and sleeping in the wagon by the roadside at night. They reached their destination in July, and while building a cabin they lived with Harvey Camp, a brother-in-law, who had located here a year or two before. Soon, however, they had completed a little log cabin, in which Charles L. Hayes was later born. It was a small structure of one room, about sixteen by twenty feet, with a ladder to reach the loft above. Beechnuts would fall on the roof at night making an almost continuous rattling, and wolves fre- quently howled around the door. The father at first purchased fifty acres of land and afterward doubled his possessions. He paid three hundred dollars for the first tract, meeting the payments with butter and cheese, and also doing some blacksmith work.
In connection with the task of tilling the soil he conducted a blacksmith shop, and later he left the boys to do the work on the farm, while he devoted his entire attention to the trade. In the early days he frequently employed some of his neighbors to assist him in doing the clearing, exchanging black- smith work for their efforts to bring the land into a cultivable condition. All of the hardships and privations of pioneer life were familiar to the family. They pounded corn and then made johnnycake, which was the principal article of diet. Later they sent the boys to mill on horseback with a bag of corn, which was ground. The cooking was all done over the old fireplace, and each night they rolled into the house an immense log which was placed upon the fire that it might keep all night. A Dutch oven was used in which to bake their bread and other supplies. There were no luxuries and compara- tively few of the comforts known at the present time, but they were happy homes in many of those old log cabins, for they realized that they were making homes for themselves and their children, and that their labors would ulti- mately be rewarded.
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