USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 6
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he removed to Marion, Ohio, and took charge of the local interests of the collection department for the Marion Manufacturing Company, with which he was thus associated for eighteen months. On the expiration of that period he returned to Butler, where he has since remained. He has secured a liberal clientage here and is an able lawyer, earnest and thorough in the preparation of his cases, while in the courts his ability is such as to make him a formidable adversary.
On the 9th of September, 1894, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Earle Dorsey, who was born in Walhonding, Coshocton county, Ohio, February 11, 1870, and is a daughter of Eli and Maria (Wanebaugh) Dorsey, who were natives of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Her father was a miller by trade and for many years followed that pursuit, but is now living retired at the extreme old age of ninety-three-years. His wife died in 1907 at the age of eighty-four years. In their family were fifteen children, nine of whom yet survive. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott has been blessed with two daughters, Gertrude Fay and Mildred Camilla.
Mr. Scott has been active in politics since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and is a believer in the principles of the democratic party, but does not hesitate to cast an independent ballot at local elections. He has served as mayor for two terms and gave to the town a public-spirited and beneficial administration. He is now town solicitor and for some years was a member of the county election board. He also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has filled various offices, and he holds membership with Lucullas Lodge, No. 121, K. P., and Sturgis, No. 357, I. O. O. F. He is a broad-minded man and his record is the story of a man's life that seems to have an orderly progression under the steady hand of one who has mastered himself and is therefore able to master the situations with which he is brought into personal contact. He possesses sufficient courage where favoring oppor- tunity is presented and his judgment and even paced energy generally carry him forward to the goal of success.
SAMUEL ROBINSON.
Samuel Robinson is entitled to mention in this volume not only from the fact that he is a native son of Richland county, but also from the fact that he is a veteran of the Civil war, in which he did active duty, making a most creditable military record. He was born in Jefferson township, April 25, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Detwiller) Robinson. His father was also born in that township and was the second son of John Robin- son, a native of Ireland, whose father bore the name of James Robinson. John Robinson was only five years of age when brought to the United States and here he grew to manhood and married Margaret Nelson, who was like- wise a native of the Emerald Isle and came to America about the same time as her future husband. In 1816 he came to Ohio and entered land in Rich- land county, bringing his family the following year from their former home
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in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and the father of our subject served for five years in the Ohio State Militia. The latter passed away in 1864 and his wife, who was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, died in 1866.
Their union was blessed with eleven children, as follows: Samuel, of this review; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Lahman; John, who follows farming in Jefferson township; Lavina, the wife of Warren Charles, a farmer of Wash- ington township; William C., who is engaged in farming in Morrow county, this state; Nathaniel, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is now deceased; F. O., a resident of Montana; Jane, the widow of William Rule and a resident of Perry township, this county; Margaret E., the wife of Joseph Bottomley, of Mansfield; James M., of Washington township; and Wilson M., who has passed away.
Samuel Robinson acquired his education in the district schools of Rich- land county and was trained to the duties of farm life. He remained under the parental roof until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he offered his services to the government, enlisting at Bellville, August 8, 1862, as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Second Ohio Regiment. He served his country for almost three years, during which time he never faltered in the performance of any duty. While guarding a railroad he was wounded in the thigh and he has never fully recovered from the injury. He was mustered out of service June 30, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Richland county.
Upon his return home Mr. Robinson once more engaged in farming and when he had accumulated a sum sufficient to justify his purchase of land he became owner of two hundred and ten acres, situated on sections 2 and 11, Jefferson township, his home being on the former section. This is a valuable tract and is well improved with a good country residence and ample outbuild- ings for the shelter of grain and stock. He gives his attention to general farming and stock-raising and each year gathers good crops as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon the fields.
In 1868 Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Maria Cate, who was born in Germany and passed away in 1900. Their union was blessed with two daughters-Olive is the wife of A. L. Freehafer-both having grad- uated from the Ada (Ohio) University. Mr. Freehafer is now representing Washington county, Idaho, in the state legislature. Bertha L., who also graduated from Ada University, engaged in teaching in the Bellville schools and is now the wife of F. E. Stuff, a farmer of Richland county.
Mr. Robinson cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, but now advocates democratic principles. He has served for two terms as town- ship trustee, but aside from that has never been active as an office holder. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his mem- bership with Miller Moody Post, G. A. R., at Bellville.
Few men of Richland county have more intimate knowledge of its growth and development from a wild and unsettled district than has Mr. Rob- inson, for having spent his entire life here he has witnessed the changes that
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have been carried on since an early day. He has a comfortable home, in which are found some interesting war relics, among which may be seen an old powder horn carried in the war of 1776, which is hand carved, represent- ing the American flag, a pine tree and a serpent, with the inscription "Don't tread on me." He also has his grandfather's sword. He is very fond of home life and takes great delight in entertaining his many friends who hold him in high esteem.
CHARLES H. HUSTON.
Charles H. Huston is actively connected with a profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or community and one which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. In no profession is there a career more open to talent than is that of the law and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation, a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the under- lying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. Unflagging application, an intuitive wisdom and a determination to fully utilize the means at hand are the concomitants which insure personal success and prestige in this great profession. Recognizing these facts and possessing all the requisite qualities of the able lawyer, Charles H. Huston is widely recognized as one of the representative members of the Richland county bar.
His entire life has been passed in this county, his birth having occurred in Butler township in 1870. He is descended in the paternal line from Scotch ancestry, the family, however, being founded in America at an early day. The grandfather, Jesse Huston, was born in Pennsylvania and removed from Cumberland county, that state, to Ohio when a young man of twenty years, settling first in Weller township, Richland county, while later he became a resident of Jackson township, where for many years he carried on general agricultural pursuits, meeting with merited success in his under- takings. He married Margaret Thrush and died in 1879 at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. Unto him and his wife were born two sons and five daughters, including James Huston, the father of our subject and the young- est of the family.
James Huston is also a native of Richland county, his birth having occurred in Franklin township, February 18, 1841. Reared to the occupation of farming, he has made it his life work and by his well directed energy and enterprise has achieved a gratifying measure of success. He is. moreover, regarded as one of the influential and respected residents of his community and is counted among the stalwart advocates of democracy, having firm faith in the principles of the party and their ultimate adoption. His aid can ever be counted upon to further public progress along many lines, and he stands today as a prominent representative of progressive citizenship. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Dorcas Zeigler, who was born in
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Butler township, Richland county, January 25, 1842, and is a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Miller) Zeigler, who removed from Pennsylvania and settled in Ohio at an early epoch in the history of the latter state. The death of Mrs. Dorcas Huston occurred in 1880 when she was thirty-six years of age. The following sons and daughters were born to the first marriage: Carrie, now the wife of Jesse Esbenshade, of Richland county, Ohio; Charles H., who is the second in order of birth ; Rufus, who married Miss Sadie Oswalt, of Greenwich, Ohio; Ransom, twin brother of Rufus, who wedded Miss Maggie McCormack and is a resident of Blooming Grove township, Richland county; and Jesse, who is living at Shiloh, Ohio. In 1882 the father was married again, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Lattimore, a daughter of James and Nancy Lattimore, of Blooming Grove township. They have a son and daughter, Bertha and Ora.
The boyhood and youth of Charles H. Huston were quietly passed upon the home farm, where he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He worked in the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools, eventually completing the prescribed course in the high school at Shiloh. His identification with educational interests, however, did not cease at that time, for during five terms he engaged in teaching school, his connection with the profession extending over a period from 1889 until 1892. He imparted clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired and then resumed his own education as a student in the Tri-State College at Angola, Indiana, completing the scientific course by graduation with the class of 1894. In the meantime he had determined upon the practice of law as nis life work and as a preparation toward this end he began reading law under the direction of J. C. Laser, of Mansfield. He later completed a course in law at the Ohio State University, graduating in 1897. He was admitted to the bar the same year and, locating for practice in the county seat, he was admitted to partnership by his former preceptor and the firm immediately took rank among the strongest and ablest at the Richland county bar. Mr. Huston has made an excellent record in his chosen profession and has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument, with a self-possession and a deliberation which indicates no strain- ing after effect. On the contrary, there is a precision and clearness in his statement, an acuteness and strength in his argument which speak a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reason- ing has become habitual and easy.
Mr. Huston is numbered among the veterans of the Spanish-American war. When the country became involved with the old-world power he at once offered his services in defense of American interests, joining Company M of the Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and proceeded with his regiment to Camp Bushnell at Columbus. The troops were afterward sent to Camp Alger, Virginia, where Company M was detached and assigned to guard duty and clerkships in the quartermaster's and commissariat department at Dun- lowing station. They left camp July 5, 1898, and on the following day
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embarked on the cruiser St. Paul at New York. On the 10th of the month Company M and three other companies of the First Battalion landed at Siboney, fourteen miles from Santiago, and on the following day were ordered to the fighting line in the trenches, but owing to the swollen condi- tion of the San Juan river did not reach their assigned position until the 12th, on which day General Miles arranged the terms of surrender with the Spanish. On the 17th the entrance to Santiago was made and Company M participated in the occupation of the city. Mr. Huston was promoted to corporal at Camp Alger and after the return of the Eighth Regiment a reorganization was effected and he became battalion adjutant, with the rank of second lieutenant. Later he was commissioned captain of infantry and detailed as regimental quartermaster with the Eighth Infantry, Ohio National Guards.
On the 21st of June, 1900, occurred the marriage of Charles H. Huston and Miss Marie F. Pettker, of St. Louis, Missouri. He is a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and one of the stalwart champions of the democratic party in Richland county. In 1903 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county and so acceptably did he fill the office that he was reelected in 1905. Personally he is a man of many attractive qualities and has an extensive circle of warm friends in the county where his entire life has been passed. In his profession he has made steady advancement, justly earning the reputation which he now bears as one of the leading and capable lawyers of Mansfield.
SIDNEY A. FOLTZ.
Sidney A. Foltz, general manager of the Mansfield Railway, Light & Power Company, is a young man whose business advancement has resulted from close application, the thorough mastery of every task assigned him and a laud- able ambition which prompts unwearied diligence. He was born September 16, 1870, in the city which is yet his home. His father, John W. Foltz, a native of Holmes county, Ohio, has been a merchant of Mansfield for over a half century and is still active in business here, being a most prominent and honored representative of commercial interests. He married Elizabeth Paule, who died twenty-three years ago. There were five children in the family, four of whom are living. The Foltz family comes of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, while the Paule family is descended from ancestors who were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, Germany.
Sidney A. Foltz acquired his education in the public schools of Mans- field, attending to the age of sixteen years, after which he pursued a course in a business college. He then became a clerk in his father's hardware store, where he remained for ten years, after which he was appointed chief deputy of the probate court under Judge R. Brinkerhoff, Jr. He filled the position acceptably for six years, or until February, 1903, when he was appointed sec- retary of the board of public service, which had just been created, he being,
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therefore, the first incumbent in the office. On the 1st of July of that same year he resigned the position to become bookkeeper for the Mansfield Rail- way, Light & Power Company, which position he held until January, 1906, when he was made general manager of the corporation and is still in active control of the business. He was also appointed in the fall of 1907 as super- intendent of the Mansfield-Bucyrus division of the Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway. He has thus passed on to a position of executive control and is now bending his efforts in his different business relations to constructive work and administrative direction.
On the 15th of November, 1905, Mr. Foltz was married at Mansfield to Catherine F. Massa, a daughter of William Massa, a well known cigar merchant of this city. In his political views Mr. Foltz is a democrat and, although he has always kept well informed on the question and issues of the day so that he has been able to support his position by intelligent argument and has always greatly desired the success of the party, he has never sought office as a reward for party fealty. His circle of friends is select rather than large, and he finds his chief pleasure at his own fireside in the companionship of his wife and his close associates. In office he has ever been found thoroughly reliable, discharging his duties with a singleness of purpose that none can question.
DANIEL S. MARVIN.
There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the hon- orable and venerable gentleman whose name introduces this review since his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state of Ohio from pioneer days and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the republic and has at- tained to a position of distinctive prominence in the thriving little city where he has long retained his residence, being now one of the revered patriarchs of the community. While he has conducted business affairs with the hope of winning a financial reward for himself he has at the same time been very actively interested in the welfare of his city and in many ways has contributed to its growth, improvement and development. His name will ever be honored as the promoter of the public library of Shelby, which is a monument to his public spirit and his devotion to the interests of his fellowmen.
His birth occurred November 5, 1825, in a little log cabin, which was built by his father, Stephen Marvin, in the midst of the forest when, in 1818, he and his wife, Sarah (Burr) Marvin, emigrated westward from Connecticut and settled on the site of the present city of Shelby. The parents spent their remaining days in this county, the father dying in 1868, at the age of seventy-one years, while the mother reached the age of seventy-eight and passed away in the year 1878.
Daniel Sherwood Marvin spent his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and afterward took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of John M. May
Daniel & marvin.
MRS . CAROLINE MARVIN
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and Downing H. Young at Mansfield. He was but eighteen years of age when he began preparation for the bar and after three years devoted to thorough preliminary reading he was admitted to practice in the courts of the state about 1847. He then entered upon the work of the profession, but the west attracted him following the discovery of gold in California and in 1850 he made the long journey across the hot sandy plains and through the moun- tain passes to Parks Barr. There he resumed his professional work, making a specialty of mining claims. After two years spent at his original location he removed to Forest City, Sierra county, California, where he enjoyed a large clientage for several years. After spending some time in the middle west he returned to Shelby, where he again established his home about the beginning of the Civil war. He soon put aside all business and personal considerations, however, that he might aid in the preservation of the Union, joining the army as a member of Company H of the Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry in 1862. He participated in the engagements at Shiloh and Stone River, but in the latter was severely wounded by the enemy's bullet. In fact his wound was so severe that it necessitated his discharge at Murfreesboro after he had been with the army for fifteen months and fifteen days.
No longer able to aid his country at the front Mr. Marvin went to Water- town, New York, where in the year 1863 he was married to Miss Caroline Sherman of that city. While a resident of the Empire state he was largely engaged in the nursery business and there remained until 1897, when he once more came to Shelby to spend the evening of his life in the city where his carly boyhood was passed. He is a most respected resident here, receiving from his fellowmen the veneration and esteem which should always be accorded those who have traveled far on life's journey and whose path has been one of rectitude and honor. His home is what was known in early days as the Marvin Mansion, having been erected sixty-five years ago. His sister Laura occupies this with him, for his wife died in 1896.
Mr. Marvin now belongs to Harker Post, G. A. R., at Shelby, having transferred his membership from Joseph Spratt Post, with which he was identified while at Watertown. From early boyhood he has made constant progress along intellectual lines, for he has ever been a close and keen observer and possesses, moreover, a retentive memory. He has also read broadly and has learned many lessons from nature. During his travels he has collected various interesting relics and souvenirs, which are treasures to him as well as objects of interest to his visitors. He has long been associated with interests that have promoted knowledge and intellectual development. While in New York he organized the Jefferson County Historical Society at Watertown and acted as its librarian for many years. His devotion to his native town and his interest in its progress was indicated when in 1901 he gave to Shelby the beautiful old Dr. Bricker residence to be used as a public library. He remod- eled the building, fitted up the ground and placed a library upon a working foundation with the sum of eighty-five hundred dollars. Shelby citizens are truly appreciative of this gift, which was an outright donation, having no ten per cent maintenance provision attached to it. Mr. Marvin is not a wealthy man, but out of the means which he accumulated he gave freely for Shelby's
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benefit and for years to come the citizens will bless his memory as they enjoy the privileges and benefits of the library. It may well be termed a Marvin memorial, for it will stand as a monument to his memory long after he has passed away and will be an indication of his philanthropic spirit. This alone would entitle Mr. Marvin to representation in this volume, but in other ways, too, he has stood for public progress, while his personal worth has made him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
GILES KUHN.
Giles Kuhn was born April 5, 1869, on the farm on section 19, Plymouth township, where he yet lives. The place is endeared to him through the asso- ciations of his boyhood as well as the connections of manhood, and he is now busily engaged in the operation of the farm, which comprises one hundred and five acres of rich and productive land. He is a son of Elijah and Julia Ann (Kirkpatrick) Kuhn, who were likewise natives of this county. The father still resides at Shelby, but the mother died on the home farm in 1905 at the age of fifty-six years. They were the parents of three children : Giles; Jesse, living in Plymouth township; and Mabel, who is living with her father in Shelby.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Giles Kuhn in his boyhood and youth. He attended the public schools and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm, which was originally owned by Samuel Kuhn, one of the earliest settlers of the county and a native of Pennsylvania. Giles Kuhn has never sought to follow any other occupation than that to which he was reared, and in his farming opera- tions he is meeting with success, for the fields are well tilled and annually bring forth golden harvests, yielding abundantly in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them.
In 1896 Giles Kuhn was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Melick, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, January 28, 1873. and is a daughter of Andrew and Frances Melick. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn are now the parents of five children : Jason, Donald, Herman, Frances and Zilla. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which their children are also connected. They belong to the Mount Pleasant church, of which Mr. Kuhn is a trustee, and in the work of the society he takes an active and help- ful part. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. On the contrary, he prefers to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success.
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