USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 5
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
637
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
Franklin Paul Crum, reared under the parental roof, is now the owner of valuable farm property, which came to him by inheritance from his father, grandfather and other relatives. The home place practically comprises two farms, aggregating two hundred acres, and it was upon this tract that his grandfather, Moses C., settled in 1839. He also owns one hundred and sixty- four acres, covering the northwest quarter of section 2, Sharon township. The three farms which came to him are now well improved with good buildings, in fact the buildings upon the home place are especially substantial and attractive and are always kept in a state of good repair. Mr. Crum gives his personal supervision to both of these farns, while he rents the place of one hundred and sixty-four acres on section 2. He lives a busy life, his time being fully occu- pied with the work of carrying on the farms, which he does in a most progressive manner.
On the 28th of September, 1898, Mr. Crum was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Smith, a native of Shiloh, Richland county, and a daughter of Ira Smith. Two children have been born to them: Clifford and Waldo. As a representative of one of the pioneer families Mr. Crum well deserves mention in this volume, but is even more entitled to representation from the fact that his entire life has gained him a place with the leading and prominent residents of the community. He is active and enterprising in business, loyal in his citizenship, and pays the utmost regard to the duties which he owes his fellow- men. In manner he is social and genial and has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
JUDSON S. ATEN.
Judson S. Aten, a successful stock-buyer of Lexington, was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, August 1, 1867, his parents being Richard and Martha (Arrowsmith) Aten, the former born in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1834, and the latter near Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1838. They came to Richland county in 1874, locating in Troy township, where they purchased land and made their home until 1893, when they returned to Wyandot county. Both the father and mother are living in South Sandusky at the present time. Their family numbers two children, namely: Judson S., of this review, and Vernie, the wife of Judson Perrine, of Sandusky, Ohio.
Judson S. Aten was a lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this county, and was reared to the pursuits of the farm, acquiring his education in the district schools. He remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage and subsequently rented his father's farm for five years, on the expiration of which period the place was given to him. It consists of two hundred and twenty-one acres of rich and well improved land in Troy township, in the cultivation of which he was successfully engaged until 1899, when he came to Lexington, and has since superintended the farming of the place from here. He purchased his present home place of twenty-five acres on the edge of the town and has since been
638
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
engaged in buying and shipping stock, having met with a large degree of prosperity in his undertakings by reason of his indefatigable industry and capable management.
In December, 1892, Mr. Aten was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Purdy, whose birth occurred in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1868. Her parents, George and Ann (McCleaster) Purdy, are both natives of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and still reside there, the father having attained the age of sixty-five years, while the mother is sixty-four years of age. They had eight children, namely: Elmer, Alvin, Mrs. Ella Wallace, William, Howard and Effie, all of whom make their home in the Keystone state ; Mrs. Aten, and one who is deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Aten have been born five children: Anna, Helen, Raymond, Mildred and George.
Mr. Aten gives stalwart allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. Having been a resident of this county for a third of a century, he is well and favora- bly known here and is, moreover, widely recognized as a substantial business man and public-spirited citizen.
HUBBERT E. BELL.
Hubbert E. Bell, who for twenty-seven years has been an active member of the Richland county bar, was born in Franklin township, near Mansfield, on the 30th of June, 1857. His father, Samuel Bell, was a farmer and a native of Washington county, Maryland, of Pennsylvania Dutch lineage. He came to Ohio in 1844, settling on a farm where the birth of his son, Hubbert, occurred, and after successfully following agricultural pursuits for many years he removed to Mansfield and retired from active life. The next twenty years was spent in well-earned ease, and on the 31st of January, 1906, he passed away. He was the moving spirit in the pioneer singing society and also of the historical society of the county, being most active in both organiza- tions. Although he attained the venerable age of eighty-three years, he retained all of his faculties unimpaired to a remarkable degree until he passed from this life. In 1847 he married Martha M. Gates, a native of this county, who is still living at the age of eighty-two years. They have three sons and three daughters.
Hubbert E. Bell, the eldest son, was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties incident to the development of the fields and the care of the crops. He supplemented a common-school course by study in the Ada (Ohio) Normal school, now the Northwestern Ohio University, one of the strongest educational institutions in the country. He taught school for a number of years in Richland county and devoted the hours which are usually termed leisure to the study of law, under the direction of Thomas Y. McCray, and on the 8th of June, 1881, he was admitted to the bar and entered at once upon active practice, forming a partnership with Mr. McCray. This relation was maintained for three years, or until the election of Mr.
639
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
Bell as county prosecutor in 1886. He received public endorsement of his first term of service in reelection in 1889, and he served for two terms or for six years. In 1892 he was appointed by President Cleveland as postmaster of Mansfield, continuing in the position for four years. In 1887 he formed a law partnership with George Brinkerhoff, with whom he was associated in general practice until 1904, since which time he has been alone. No one better knows the necessity for thorough preparation and no one more indus- triously prepares his cases than Mr. Bell. His course in the court room is characterized by a calmness and dignity that indicate reserve strength. He is always courteous and deferential toward the court, kind and forbearing toward his adversaries, his handling of the case is always full, comprehensive and accurate; his analyzation of the facts is clear and exhaustive. He sees without effort the relation and dependence of the facts and so groups them as to enable him to throw their combined force upon the point they tend to prove.
On the 13th of October, 1881, Mr. Bell was married in Shelby to Miss Valletta E. Skiles, a daughter of John G. Skiles, of Shelby. They are well known socially, the hospitality of the best homes of this city being freely accorded them. Mr. Bell is a Lutheran in religious faith and has been a most active and helpful worker in the church, serving as deacon and as Sunday school teacher for many years. He votes with the democracy and his opinions carry weight in party counsels. He has been identified with city, county and state politics and has served on the state and county central committees. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, in both of which he has held office, and in more specifically professional lines his membership extends to the County and State Bar Associations.
CHARLES M. HUGHES.
Charles M. Hughes in his final choice of farming as a vocation has inad- vertently paid one of the highest possible tributes of respect to the industry, as after an extensive career in mercantile life, in which he has served as trav- eling salesman and representative, both at home and abroad, he is now engaged in farming from choice, and not from a fortunate combination of circumstances, as is so often the case. Ile was born in the township in which he now resides on September 13, 1853, the son of David and Fanny (Palmer) Hughes. His father was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and was brought by his parents to Richland county when a lad of but twelve years. He was one of a family of ten children and was reared on his father's farm, and contributed his energies to the general advancement of the family interests up to the time of his marriage. He wedded Fanny Palmer, a sketch of whose life as Mrs. Fanny Hughes appears elsewhere in this edition, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the first in the order of birth. The father passed away in August, 1890. The mother now resides on the home place.
640
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
Charles M. Hughes was reared on the home place in Weller township and received his education in the common schools. He remained with his parents, aiding in the work of the farm, until twenty-six years of age. In 1880 he went to California, where he resided one year, during which time he contracted rheumatism and returned home, where he was sick during the following year. A dryer climate and a higher altitude were necessary, how- ever, for his complete recovery, and in search of these he went to South Dakota, where he preempted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres and a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He proved up on his preemption claim and entered one hundred and sixty acres additional. In 1885 he sold out his land interests and returned home, where he spent one year. In 1887 he accepted a position with the Aultman-Taylor people, of Mansfield, Ohio, manufacturers of threshing .machines and farm machinery, and was sent by them as their representative and salesman to Mexico, where he remained for five years.
On his return to the northern States, in 1892, he was for one year identified with the Ashland Hardware Company, of Ashland, Ohio. On leaving this firm he bought a seventy-acre interest in his father's estate, on which he built a residence and established a home. In the spring of 1895 he was engaged by the Associated Manufacturers Company as a representative to introduce American goods into the Orient, and with a complete line of samples of farm machinery he went first to Germany, thence to Braila, Roumania, where he remained for some months; then on to Odessa, in south- ern Russia, returning home in the fall of 1895, since which time his main interests have been centered in agricultural pursuits.
On September 4, 1889, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Emma B. Stober, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, October 9, 1866, the daughter of Levi and Anna (Moser) Stober. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1829, whence he came to Richland county when he was twenty-two years of age on a visit, and after making a number of trips to this locality he finally decided to locate in Ashland county, which he did about 1856, and in 1874 he removed to Weller township, Richland county, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Haymaker, who died in early womanhood, leaving one daughter, Celicia, now the wife of Mr. Brendel, of Lebanon county, Penn- sylvania. His second union was with Anna Moser, who was born in Berne, Switzerland, and came to America when eighteen years of age and located in Ashland county. Unto this union were born ten children, namely: Melinda, the wife of Walter Zimmerman, of Ashland county ; John P., a medical prac- titioner of Lexington, Ohio; Lydia, the wife of John Martin, of Cleveland; William, deceased; Emma B., the wife of our subject; Ray, the wife of R. C. Grimes, of Mansfield, Ohio; Amanda, the wife of Grant R. Oswalt; Ida, the wife of J. E. Osburn, both of whom are residents of Mansfield; Almeda, the wife of F. A. Hughes, of this township; and Harriet, who resides at home with her mother in Mansfield. The father died in 1904 at the venerable age of seventy-five years.
641
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have been born four children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Arthur E., who was born in the city of Mexico; Carlos S .; and Thomas M.
In politics Mr. Hughes is a republican. He is public spirited and progressive, and ever ready to aid any movement or enterprise that is bene- ficial to the community. He is a member of the Weller Township Grange, and one of those who believe that the scientific study of agriculture is worthy one's best intellectual efforts. Religiously he is a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN NOTHACKER.
John Nothacker, who is now so efficiently serving as mayor of Shiloh, has long been identified with the business interests of that place and is now conducting a jewelry store. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 26, 1837, and he spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native land. His parents were Frederick and Maria (Raiser) Nothacker, also natives of Germany, where the mother spent her entire life, dying in 1842, when our subject was only five years of age. The father always remained true to her memory and never married again. In 1854, accompanied by his children, he came to the United States and located in Shelby, Ohio. He was a tailor by trade and continued to follow that occupation up to within two years of his death, dying in 1896, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His children were Anna Maria, who married and remained in Germany; Frederick Charles, who died in Shelby, Ohio, in 1898; Mrs. Katharine Huber, deceased, whose son Charles Huber, was at one time county recorder of Richland county ; Mrs. Caroline Cutler, of Wood county. Ohio; John, of this review; and Mrs. Paulina Shaffer, of Missouri.
Like all boys of his native land, John Nothacker was given good educa- tional advantages and on leaving school at the age of fourteen years he commenced learning the ropemaker's trade, which he followed until the emigra- tion of the family to America, where he found all rope made by machinery. After spending one year with his father in Shelby he went to Crawford county. Ohio, where he worked on a farm until 1861, and then returned to Richland county, being employed on a farm near Shelby for four years. He was then engaged in farming on his own account on rented land until his removal to Shiloh in 1867. Here he lived for about four years and then embarked in the jewelry business, which has since claimed his time and attention. He has made his home in Shiloh since 1867 with exception of one year and three months spent in Crawford county, where he also conducted a jewelry store.
In 1858 Mr. Nothacker was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Burton, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, February 26, 1837, a daughter of George and Mary (Brewer) Burton. She died on the 3d of June, 1904. They were the parents of five children, namely: Albert J., now a resident of
642
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
New York city; Charles D., who was born in 1863 and died in 1903, leaving a wife and two children; Elizabeth, the wife of Albert Mosier, of Shiloh; W. D., a resident of Lancaster, Ohio; and Mrs. Rosa B. Wilson, of Mansfield.
The democratic party has always found in Mr. Nothacker a stanch sup- porter of its principles and he has done all in his power to promote its success, taking quite an active and prominent part in political affairs. He served as marshal of Shiloh for sixteen years and in November, 1907, was elected mayor, which office he is now filling to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen he gives his earnest support to all meas- ures which he believes calculated to promote the welfare of his town. Since 1874 he has been an honored member of Rome Lodge, No. 158, I. O. O. F., of Shiloh, and he also belongs to the encampment at Shelby.
DANFORTH BROWN.
Danforth Brown, who owns and occupies an excellent farm on section 7, Sharon township, has now reached the seventy-ninth milestone on the journey of life, his birth having occurred at Wellsburg, Virginia, May 7, 1829. He was six years of age when brought to Shelby by his parents, James and Jane (McGuire) Brown, who were natives of Boston, Massachusetts. The original American ancestor of the family came to this country on the Mayflower. Captain Oliver Brown, grandfather of our subject, was born at Lexington, Massachusetts, which was afterward to be the scene of the opening events of the Revolutionary war. He became a member of the American army and participated in ten different engagements. He was personally acquainted with George Washington. His son, James Brown, was born in Boston, February 19, 1794, and in 1835 came to Ohio. He conducted a hotel at Shelby, was also proprietor of a drug store and later carried on a dry-goods store in connec- tion with Thomas Mickey. In fact, he figured prominently in business circles of the city at an early day and was one whose efforts contributed in substantial measure to the growth and development of the locality as well as to his own success. He was married in 1814 to Miss Jane McGuire and they became the parents of three sons and seven daughters, but only two are now living, Dan- forth and Mrs. Martha Agerter, of Lima, Ohio.
In taking up the personal history of Danforth Brown we present to our readers the life record of one who has long been a resident of the county and is familiar with many interesting incidents of the early days. When he was but a boy his father would send him on horseback to Mansfield nearly every Saturday for the mail. It was at a time when letters were received without prepaid postage and from twelve to twenty-five cents would be due on each letter. The family experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life and also enjoyed many pleasures incident to the settlement of a locality. In early manhood he taught school through six winter terms in the vicinity of his home and also conducted some night schools.
On coming to Ohio the family resided at Plymouth for a short time and then removed to the farm in Plymouth township, which is now the property
Danforth Brow
645
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
of Danforth Brown and is located about a mile north of his present home. Later they took up their abode in the village of Shelby, where they lived for six or eight years and then returned to the farm, whereon they spent their remaining days. Danforth Brown has been a resident of this part of the state from the age of six years and continued on the old homestead until about thirty years of age.
He had been married, however, at the age of twenty-seven years, the lady of his choice being Miss Emeline Cornwall, whom he wedded February 6, 1856. She was born in Richland county, near Mansfield, on the farm which is now occupied by the state penitentiary. Her birth occurred in 1831 and she was a daughter of Francis and Martha (Carr) Cornwall, who removed from New Jersey to Mansfield at a very early day. Later they went to Crestline and Mr. Cornwall and John Sherman started to lay out the town there but withdrew, owing to the objections of the railroad. Later Mr. Cornwall went to Iowa, where his death occurred. He was associated with Tingley and Ferson in the operation of the woolen mill at Mansfield and engaged in the manufacture of cloth for a number of years, people bringing their wool from long distances to this mill to be woven.
About three years after his marriage Mr. Brown left the home farm and took up his abode upon the farm which has since been his place of residence. He bought the property at the time of Morgan's raid as a speculation. He did not expect to remain here but has continued to do so, and throughout his entire life has engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His home farnı comprises one hundred and twenty-three and a half acres, constituting the northeast quarter of section 1, Sherman township, and in 1885 he erected here his present brick residence and has made many other substantial improve- ments. The home farm in Plymouth township comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land and he also has two hundred acres near Pomeroy, West Virginia, which he has owned since 1862. Recently he has sold the coal rights upon that place for twenty dollars per acre. In all his business affairs he has displayed keen discernment and careful management and for many years he has been a director and stockholder of the First National Bank of Shelby.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born four children, namely: Robin, who died at the age of two and a half years; Heber R .. who is proprietor of a wholesale and retail grocery business at Dodge City, Kansas: William A .. a coal dealer living at Cleveland; and Edwin C., who is engaged in the coal business with his brother. William Brown was an extensive horse shipper for a number of years, in which business he was associated with Mr. Kinman. of Delaware, they shipping over one hundred and fifty carloads of horses. Mr. and Mrs. Brown traveled life's journey together for more than a half century but were separated by the death of the wife July 31, 1907. She was a lady of many good traits of heart and mind and her death was the occasion of deep regret not only to her immediate family but also to many friends.
In his political views Mr. Brown has always been a stalwart republican since the organization of the party and has been more or less active in public affairs. He voted for Fremont in 1856 and for each presidential candidate
646
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
of the party since that time. He enrolled in the militia during the war, served as assessor of the township for a number of terms and has also filled other offices, the duties of which he has ever discharged with promptness and fidelity. In the evening of life he is most comfortably situated, his income being sufficient to supply him with all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. In his youth he learned the value of economy and persistent energy and along these lines he has made his progress in the business world. In all his relations with his fellowmen he has been strictly honorable and straightforward and no one is more worthy of representation in this volume than Danforth Brown, who for seventy-three years has lived within its borders and has always upheld its best interests.
WALTER W. SCOTT.
Among the representatives of the bar at Butler is Walter W. Scott, who has a liberal clientage that is indicative of the ability that he displays in handling important litigated interests. He was born November 12, 1869, in this village, which was then called Independence, the name having since been changed to Butler. His father, George Scott, was born in Virginia in 1835, and when a young man arrived in Richland county, settling in Butler. He had previously learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed successfully for twenty-eight years in this town, receiving a liberal patronage. He owned a farm in Worthington township, for as his financial resources increased he made judicious investment in realty, and upon his farm property he spent his last days, passing away there at the age of fifty-eight years. He was prominent and influential in community affairs, serving several terms as township trustee, and held other local offices. In politics he was a stalwart democrat, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party, and he likewise was an exemplary Mason, who in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. In early manhood he wedded Lavina Aungst, who was born in 1838 and died at the age of fifty years. They were the parents of seven children, viz .: Douglas, who is living on the old homestead farm in Worthington township; Samuel, deceased; D. C., whose home is in Butler; Mrs. Minnie B. O'Hearn, a resident of Toledo; Walter W., of this review; Iduca, living in Toledo; and George W., whose home is in Cleveland, Ohio.
Born in Butler, Walter W. Scott was only six months old when his parents removed to the farm in Worthington township and at the usual age he began his education in the district schools, while later he attended college at Ashland, Ohio, for a year. He also spent two years in the Ohio Normal University at Ada and this with a broad general literary knowledge to serve as the founda- tion upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning, he went to Cincinnati, where he entered upon a course of law in the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1895. The same year he was admitted to the bar in the courts of Ohio and came to Butler, where he opened an office, con- tinuing as a member of the Richland county bar until 1900. In that year
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.