USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 18
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On the 1st of December, 1879, Judge Wolfe formed his first law part- nership with his brother-in-law, Mr. W. H. Pritchard, under the firm name of Pritchard & Wolfe, which association continued until December, 1884, when Mr. Pritchard removed with his family to the territory of Washington, where- upon Mr. Wolfe formed a partnership with Mr. J. P. Henry under the firm name of Wolfe & Henry. This continued until his accession to the bench in 1892. Immediately after his retirement from the judgeship in 1902, he again entered actively into the practice of his profession at Mansfield, forming a part- nership with Messrs. Cummings and McBride and adding the name Wolfe to the old firm. He forthwith entered an active field where he may yet be found. He has been a well known factor in connection with the public build- ings in the city of his residence, being a member of the board which erected the Memorial Library building and playhouse attached. He was also a mem- ber of the school board when the magnificent structure known as the high school was erected on Fourth street. Indeed he enjoys the distinction of first pointing out the hitherto unthought of site at the corner of Fourth and Bowman. He was also a member of the municipal library board which purchased the site and erected the free public library between Walnut and Mulberry on West Third street.
Judge Wolfe was married on the 22d of September, 1877, to Miss Jennie Leiter, daughter of Jacob Leiter, of Monroe township. They became the parents of six children, four of whom still survive: Grace M., wife of Dr. George W. Kenson, residing in Mansfield; and Fred W., Fay F. and Norman L., who reside with their parents in Mansfield. Mr. Wolfe is an active member of substantially all the Masonic fraternities, including Mansfield Com- mandery and the Dayton Consistory, and is likewise identified with the Mystic Club. He is also a member of the Beta Theta Pi, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a man free from ostentation or display. His jovial nature and fund of humor, combined with strong and sterling qualities and his unimpeachable integrity, have gained him a favorable place in the regard of his fellow towns- men.
SAMUEL ANDREWS.
Samuel Andrews needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, from the fact that he is a native son of the county and one who in his business affairs has come in contact with many of the citizens of this part of the state, who have learned to respect and esteem him because of what he has accomplished in the business world and the methods which he has followed. He was born on the farm in Monroe township, where he now lives, and his natal day was
MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL ANDREWS.
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July 29, 1840. His parents were James and Lavina (Carrick) Andrews, the former a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, where they were married. In 1823 they located in Monroe township, Richland county, taking up their abode upon the farm which is now owned and occupied by Samuel Andrews. It had pre- viously been purchased from the government by Colonel John Andrews, the grandfather of our subject, who had served his country in the war of 1812. He was a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania, and spent his last years in Jefferson county, Ohio. Few improvements had been made on the place when James Andrews took up his abode thereon and there were many evidences of pioneer life throughout the county. He built a log cabin for a temporary residence and later provided his family with a more comfortable home and made a good farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve until his life's labors were ended in death in 1850, when he was fifty-four years of age. Unto him and his wife were born the following named sons and daughter: John G., who lived in Michigan for many years but is now located in Missouri; James, who died in Warsaw, Indiana, in 1898; William, who passed away in 1892; Mary J., who died at Beaver Dam, Indiana, in 1907; David, a surgeon of the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who died at Vicksburg; Joseph, who served in the Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry in the Civil war and now resides in Jewell county, Kansas; and Samuel.
The last named was reared on his father's farm and acquired his education in the district schools. Like his brothers, he fought in defense of the Union in the dark days of the Civil war, enlisting as a private on the 9th of October, 1861, for three years' service with the Sixth Ohio Independent Battery. He was mustered in at Mansfield and afterward was at Louisville, Columbia and Jamestown, Kentucky. At the last named place he assisted in guarding the approaches to the Cumberland river and from that point went to Nashville, Tennessee, and on to Corinth, being there at the time of the evacuation of that city. The regiment thence proceeded to Huntsville, Alabama, and after- ward to Stephenson, in the same state, finally returning to Louisville, Ken- tucky. Mr. Andrews was there taken ill and was sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, where, on account of physical disability, he was honorably discharged on the 2d day of November, 1862. He at once returned home and assumed the man- agement of the Andrews farm, which became his property in 1874. when he bought the interests of the other heirs.
Mr. Andrews was married on the 9th of June, 1864, to Miss Amanda Katherine Wiles, a sister of the Rev. Dr. Wiles, who was well and favorably known as a minister of the gospel in this part of the state. She was born near Middletown, Maryland, January 21, 1836, and acquired her education in the district schools of that locality. She became ill about two years prior to her death, and growing gradually worse, she passed away on the 1st of June, 1908. and was laid to rest in St. John's cemetery in Monroe township. At an early age she united with the Lutheran church and remained a consistent Christian woman throughout life. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews: Cary S., who is now associated in the grain trade with Mr. Peary, of Lucas : Minnie, at home; Alta, the wife of Frank Inks, of Knox county, Ohio: Lavina and Lloyd, both at home; Herman, deceased; and one who died in infancy.
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In politics Mr. Andrews is a stanch republican, a consistent voter for the party and an earnest worker for its principles, yet he has never been an office secker, nor has he desired the rewards of office for his party fealty. He prefers to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs and is accounted one of the leading general farmers of the county, being the owner of one hundred and fifty-six acres of good land, which is highly cultivated. Since his father's death he has erected a modern and commodious residence upon the old homestead and also a large barn. Other improvements have been made and none of the accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century are here lacking. He keeps alive the memory of his military experiences through his association with the Grand Army Post of Lucas and is one of its past com- manders. He is a devoted member and generous supporter of the Lutheran church and he and his family regularly attend its services, and also give their aid to many movements which are calculated to advance the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community.
GEORGE W. TERMAN.
George W. Terman finds occupation in the operation of a well improved farm of one hundred and thirty acres, situated in Madison township, which he owns. He is a native son of this township, his birth having here occurred on the 14th of April, 1857. His parents were James and Maria (Cline) Terman, the former born near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Richland county in the early '40s, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1888. The mother was a resident of Richland county, where her death also occurred. In the family of this worthy couple were born eight children : John, who died at the age of fifty years; Weller, who departed this life when thirty-six years of age; James, who died from injuries received by the kick of a horse; Richard, an engineer, making his home in Mansfield; William, who died when aged forty years; George W., of this review; Joseph, who died at the age of twenty years; and Mary, who married Ambrose Moore.
George W. Terman, the sixth son of the family, was educated in the district schools of Madison township and made his start in life as a teamster, conducting business in Mansfield. He was very successful in this undertaking and acquired a competence which eventually enabled him to purchase a farm, this tract being located on Main street near the city of Mansfield. He operated that farm for some time and then disposed of it, investing his capital in his present tract of land, comprising one hundred and thirty acres, situated in Madison township. He has improved this place with good buildings and has a comfortable home and is successfully engaged in raising the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate. He is energetic and enterprising in carrying on his agricultural pursuits and his success is therefore well deserved.
On the 24th of November, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Terman and Miss Julia Bush, who is likewise a native of Madison township. Their union has been blessed with three sons and a daughter: LeRoy, who is operating
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a farm which adjoins his father on the west; Earl, a high-school student in Mansfield ; and Blanch and Ira D., both at home.
Mr. Terman gives his political support to the men and measures of the democratic party and for four years served as ditch supervisor. He and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church, while his fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mansfield. His success has been by no means the result of fortunate circumstances, but it has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable principles, and he therefore enjoys the high regard of his neighbors and friends, in which his estimable wife also shares.
GEORGE WILEY BLYMYER.
Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Mansfield than George W. Blymyer, president of the Blymyer Brothers Company, hardware. He was born on the 31st of October, 1839, in Schellburg, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Benjamin Blymyer, a native of Shippensburg, that state. The father made his home in Schellburg for several years, all of his children being born there, and in 1843 brought his family to Ohio, locating in Mansfield, where he embarked in the hardware business, which has been continued by his sons and grandsons up to the present day. Theirs is the oldest established business in the city and has occupied the same location since 1849. The father conducted a retail store until 1854, when his sons, William H. and Benjamin F., succeeded him under the name of Blym- yer & Brother, and embarked in the wholesale business, theirs being the first wholesale house started in Mansfield to do a jobbing business throughout a large section of this state. The jobbing houses of the city up to this time had confined themselves to their immediate locality. After a useful and well spent life the father died in December, 1860, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a true type of the old-fashioned gentleman, courteous, thoroughly reliable and ever true to his convictions. He was known by nearly everyone throughout Richland county and was held in the highest respect.
In 1858 Blymyer & Brother began the manufacture of a machine invented by D. M. Cook, a farmer of this county, to make sugar from sorghum, it being the first successful invention for that purpose. Up to this time sorghum had been raised in this country only experimentally, but upon the introduction of this machine they began a series of systematic demonstrations at the county and state fairs throughout the country and induced the farmers to plant sorghum extensively, they importing the seed from China and Japan. The growing of sorghum developed very rapidly and at the outbreak of the Civil war, when the price of sugar became exorbitant, the use of this machine proved a Godsend to the country, and it is to these enterprising citizens of Mansfield that the credit is due for the prevention of a famine in that necessity. This branch of their business grew so rapidly that it became necessary to organize for it a separate concern and the firm of Blymyer, Bates & Day was
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formed, taking in J. S. Blymyer, A. T. Bates and Mathias Day, Jr. This firm was later succeeded by Blymyer, Day & Company, incorporated.
This broadening of their operations necessitated more help and in 1859 George W. Blymyer became bookkeeper and assistant manager for the firm of Blymyer & Brother, which in 1885 became incorporated under the name of The Blymyer Brothers Company, this being the beginning of a continuous, service in the business at the same location extending over fifty years. In 1863 he purchased the interest of his brother B. F. and since that time has been the active head of the business, which has had a continuous growth from the beginning. They enjoy a large wholesale as well as retail trade. G. W. Blymyer has confined his interests alone to this business with the exception of having invested to a large extent in Mansfield real estate. Among his holdings are the business house at No. 17 North Main street ; The Blymyer, a fashionable boarding house on Park avenue West and Mulberry street; and a modern flat building on Sturges avenue. His residence is on Blymyer avenue in the Blymyer and Black addition, named in honor of his father, a part of the addition being a piece of his property and later coming into possession of Moses Black and B. F. Blymyer's heirs, who laid out the addition. Our subject has a winter home at Daytona, Florida, where he spends the winter months, that town having been laid out by Mathias Day, of Mansfield.
Mr. Blymyer was only four years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Mansfield and he began his education in an old log school house by the Big Spring on East Fourth street. One of his most pleasant recollections of that period is the annual sled ride given by Levi Zimmerman and James H. Cook, directors of the school, to its pupils. Mr. Zimmerman is still living and is one of the few survivors of that period. Later Mr. Blymyer attended a private school conducted by Mr. Hurty in an old two-story frame building where the Young Men's Christian Association building now stands. He was afterward a pupil at the academy on Mulberry street, which later became the Catholic church, this being taught by Rev. Mr. Rowland; Mr. Johnston, who afterward became congressman; and Mr. John Ogden. He was next under the instruction of Mr. Mills, who taught in a two-story brick building, where the Catholic church now stands, and upon the adoption of the present school system and the establishment of the first high school on the east side of South Main street near First street, he became one of its origianl pupils. Later the high school was removed to the present location of the Catholic church and there he completed his education, being one of the three members of the highest class during his last year, that of 1856-7. The classes had not been systematized for graduation at that time. After leaving school Mr. Blymyer entered the dry goods store of Avery & Askew, next door to Blymyer & Brother, remaining as a clerk in their employ for two years, when he entered upon his present business career.
On the 15th of June, 1864, Mr. Blymyer was married in Mansfield to Miss Caroline S. Cook, a daughter of James H. and Mary (Wiler) Cook, and a granddaughter of Jabez Cook and John Wiler, two of the oldest citizens of Mans- field, having settled here prior to 1815. As an enterprising and public-spirited man, her father probably did as much toward the upbuilding and development
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of the city than any one person in its history. He is now deceased, but Mrs. Cook is still living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, her father, John Wiler, being a centenarian at the time of his death. Mrs. Blymyer passed away on the 29th of June, 1902. She was the mother of three children : William H., now an attorney of New York city; Mary E., who is at home with her father; and George W., Jr., who is now practically at the head of the Blymyer Brothers Company.
Mr. Blymyer is quite prominent socially, being a member of the Elks; one of the organizers of the Mohican Club, of Mansfield; and a member of the Westbrook Country Club. He also belongs to the Florida East Coast Auto- mobile Club and the Halifax River Yacht Club, of Daytona, of which he has had the honor of being the commodore. Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party and has taken an active interest in local politics, serving on the city council in the early '80s, when the present sewer and park system of streets was inaugurated, and became foremost in those movements. He takes a just pride in having forced the street railway to move their poles back into the grass plots from the street where they had been previously planted along the curb, making a very unsightly street.
For many years Mr. Blymyer was prominent in musical circles, serving as director of the choir of the First Congregational church without salary, and was one of the founders of the Philharmonic Society, for many years the leading musical organization of the city. He always served wherever needed and often as a director. He was a trustee and treasurer of the First Congrega- tional church for some years and while the church had previously been deficit every year, he left the office with a good sum in the treasury, having inaugu- rated a new system of collecting. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest com- mendation. Unassuming in manner, he is genial but dignified and has a host of friends throughout Richland county, while wherever known he is held in the highest regard by his associates.
JAMES HARVEY CRAIG, M. D.
Dr. James Harvey Craig needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for the name of Craig, as borne by father and son, has long figured prominently in connection with the medical and surgical interests of Mansfield. Dr. Craig has practiced here continuously since he qualified for the profession and his ability places him prominently among the representatives of the medical fraternity in this part of Ohio. He was born in Ontario, Richland county, July 26, 1857.
His paternal grandfather was Samuel Carson Craig, whose ancestors came from Scotland in the carly settlement of the county. His son, Dr. James W. Craig, occupied for many years a place among the eminent surgeons of the
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state, nor was he less proficient in the administration of remedial agencies which check the ravages of disease and restore health. He stood, too, among those men whose salient characteristics commend them to the respect and honor of their fellows. He was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, January 17, 1821. His father had settled in Belmont county at an early day and afterward removed to Richland county, establishing his home near Shelby, where he spent the remainder of his life upon the farm. James W. Craig, however, remained upon the farm for only a brief period, for at the age of nine years he returned to Belmont county to live with an uncle, who was a lawyer and who desired to educate him for the legal profession. He attended school in that county and when old enough began reading law, but did not find the pursuit of knowledge in that line especially congenial. His taste led him into the medical field and at the age of seventeen years he went to Harrison county, Ohio, where he engaged in teaching school for two years, while his leisure hours were devoted to the mastery of the principles of the science of medicine. Returning to Shelby, he became a student in the office of Dr. John Mack and later in the Western Reserve Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1851.
Thus equipped for his profession, Dr. Craig located for practice in Ontario in the month of April of that year and continued a representative of his pro- fession in the village for nineteen years, after which he sought the broader field of labor offered at Mansfield. He rose to eminence as a physician and surgeon, becoming recognized as one of the most distinguished representatives of the profession in this section of the state, nor was his reputation bounded by the confines of Ohio, for he was called into all sections of the country as far west as Utah and Texas, as far east as New York and as far south as Virginia, to perform surgical operations or aid in the care of the sick. He was one of the pioneers in abdominal surgery and was one of the first to prove the success of operations of that character. He kept at all times abreast with the best thinking men of the age in his profession and through experiment, research and investigation contributed not a little to the knowledge of the profession.
He was one of the organizers of the Northern Central Ohio Medical Society, which embraces in its membership the leading physicians and surgeons of fifteen counties. He always remained an active and valued member thereof and was one of its early presidents. He likewise belonged to the Ohio State Medical Society, of which he was once vice president, and he held membership in the American Medical Association. He was an indefatigable worker in his chosen calling and no matter what the hour or weather, he was ever ready to respond to the call of duty, and the financial and social condition of the patient was the least of his concern. His broad humanitarian spirit prompted his best effort wherever his professional aid was needed. For years he scarcely knew the meaning of the word rest, so fully was his time occupied in his practice, and he always maintained the highest standard of professional ethics.
Dr. Craig was a lover of scientific research along other lines, being espe- cially interested in the natural sciences, and during his life he accumulated a valuable collection of geographical, archæological, ornithological and other
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specimens, curios, etc., which he kindly loaned to the Memorial Museum when that important adjunct of the public schools was established.
Dr. Craig was at all times devoted to his home and family. His interests centered there and he found his greatest happiness at his own fireside. On the 24th of January, 1854, he wedded Miss Eliza McConnell, who survived him for several years, but passed away on the 25th of January, 1907. Their children were: May, the wife of M. O. Gates; Maggie, the wife of Dr. J. S. Hedges; Wilda, the wife of Louis A. Ewing, of Boulder, Colorado; and Dr. J. Harvey Craig, of this review. All are still residents of Mansfield.
In his political views Dr. Craig was a whig in early life, but on the organization of the republican party he joined its ranks and continued faithful to it through the remainder of his life. He was appointed a member of the pension bureau during President Arthur's administration but resigned his position on the accession of the democrats to power. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the United Presbyterian church, took active interest in its work and did all in their power for its upbuilding. The death of Dr. Craig occurred August 15, 1895, when he was seventy-four years of age. He was a man of forceful character and a student of nature, an industrious toiler for his fellowmen, devoted to his friends and to the practice of his chosen profession. Undoubtedly his death was hastened by the fact that he devoted his time and energies so untiringly and assiduously to his professional labors.
He always remained a student of his profession and never felt that he had learned all that there was to be known of a case or a specific disease. He was constantly alert for new developments and thus he constantly promoted his efficiency. He was received as the loved family physician in many a house- hold, while his service in surgical lines gained him eminence as a representative of that branch of the profession. He recognized as few men seem to do that the issues of life and death were in his hands and he met his duties with a feeling of conscientious responsibility. Those who knew him in more strictly social relations found him a most pleasant and genial companion and one whose mind was enriched by his researches in the realms of knowledge as stored up in the works of authors of all ages. In community affairs he was interested and did what he could for the upbuilding of the community in which he lived, and the news of his death brought a sense of personal bereave- ment to the greater majority of the citizens in Mansfield and Richland county.
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