USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 101
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Mr. Thomas and his wife are members of the Church of Christ and deeply interested in its welfare. He is one of the elders of his denomination at the present time. In politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has been deeply concerned in its welfare in local matters. He has served as justice of the peace of Liberty township for many years and is still holding this important position. He is a man highly respected through- out the county on account of his clean and wholesome career.
CHARLES C. WYNN.
The Wynn family has been identified with the history of Union county, Ohio. since 1881, when the parents of Charles C. Wynn came to this county from Pickaway county. Charles C. Wynn was six years of age when he came to this county with his parents. For several years he taught in the public schools of this county and then engaged in farming. He now owns eighty-four and one-half acres of land, one and three-fourths miles west of Sommersville in York township.
Charles C. Wynn is the assessor of York township. He was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 4, 1875. He is a son of Andrew J. and Anna R. (Chew) Wynn. His father was born in 1829, in Pike county. Ohio, and was the son of William S. Wynn and wife. His mother was born in Virginia, in 1835. Andrew J. Wynn was married in 1851 in Pike county, Ohio, and with his family came to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he lived
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until 1881. In that year he came to Union county and farmed until his death, March 23, 1911. His widow died August 20, 1913, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. A. Moore. Ten children were born to Andrew J. Wynn and wife, nine of whom are still living: Mary H., the widow of David Cale, of Union county ; Diantha B., the widow of Benjamin Metzger, of Pickaway county ; Alice, deceased; William S., of Fulton county, Indiana, who mar- ried Martha Miller ; Margaret J., the wife of M. J. Scheiderer, of Richwood, Ohio; Josephine R., the wife of H. A. Moore, of Richwood: John O., who married Elsie Moore, of Richwood; Nancy M., the wife of M. L. Anderson, a farmer living near Richwood; Charles C., of York township; Andrew J., Jr., of Richwood, who married Elida Ward.
Charles C. Wynn came to this county with his parents when he was six years of age and received all of his education in the schools of Union county. Before reaching his majority, he began to teach in the district schools of this county and for nearly ten years was an instructor in the various schools in the county. He ranked high as a teacher and the schoolroom lost an able instructor when he decided to leave it and engage in farming.
Mr. Wynn was married August 11, 1898, to Jennie M. Burnside, the daughter of Samuel G. and Susanna ( Fields) Burnside. Mrs. Wynn's father was born in 1848 in Lagrange county, Indiana, and her mother in Union county, Ohio, in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Burnside were the parents of five chil- dren, three of whom are now living: Sarah E., the wife of O. E. Sherwood; Jennie M., whom C. C. Wynn married, and T. W., of Larue, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn are the parents of three children, two of whom are living : Gladys M .. born March 31, 1902, and Charles L., born March 2, 1905, both living. Cecil M., born in 1899, died in infancy.
Mr. Wynn and his family are members of the Union Baptist church. He has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for eighteen years and he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, at Byhalia, Ohio. They are also both members of the Patrons of Husbandry at York. He has always given his hearty support to the Democratic party and is now serving as assessor of his township, and performing the duties of this office in a painstaking and careful manner.
Mr. Wynn was for a time in the mercantile business at Byhalia, also at Essex, Ohio, and was postmaster while located at the former place. He has always been identified with those things which pertain to the general welfare of the community and especially interested in and connected with Sunday school work, being at present assistant superintendent and teacher in the United Brethren Sunday school at York.
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FRANK E. DODGE.
A prominent fariner and stock raiser of Liberty township is Frank E. Dodge, whose whole career of more than two score years has been spent in this county. His father was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Union county and a public spirited man, who was interested in everything pertaining to the development of the county. The Dodge family have been prominent factors in the life of Union county for over half a century.
Frank E. Dodge, the proprietor of the "Midland Farm" of one hundred and fifty-six acres, located midway between Peoria and Raymond, was born in Jerome township. Union county, Ohio, September 15, 1872. He is the youngest son of John K. and Rebecca ( Rudolph) Dodge, both of whom were natives of Union county. His father was born in Mill Creek township in 1833 and died in Marysville, Ohio, August 30, 1906. His mother was born in Jerome township and is still living in Marysville with her son, J. R. Dodge.
John K. Dodge spent his whole life in Union county, where he was born. He was a life long Republican, served two terms as county commissioner and was a man who took an active interest in the civic life of his county. He was president of the Union County Fair Board for a number of years and in this capacity was a prominent factor in the advancement of the agricultural interests of Union county. Nine children were born to John K. Dodge and wife, eight of whom are still living : A. J., a farmer of Darby township ; J. R .. of Marysville ; Glenna, deceased, was the wife of E. W. Bonnett ; Thomas J .. a farmer of Jerome township, who now owns the old home farm; Jennie, the wife of B. V. Smith; Will M., a farmer of Mill Creek township; Tella, the wife of J. W. Lee; O. J., a graduate of the Ada Normal School and Chicago University, and now the superintendent of the Delta schools and a member of the Board of School Examiners; and Frank E., the subject of this sketch.
The education of Frank E. Dodge was received in Jerome township, where he was reared to manhood, and in two terms at the Ada Normal Col- lege at Ada, Ohio. He remained at home until the time of his marriage at the age of twenty-one and then began farming on his present farm. He has engaged in general farming although he has given his attention to stock rais- ing. In 1914 he had eighty-five acres of alfalfa on his farm and feeds all of it to stock which he fattens for the market. His farm is well improved and he has all of the modern machinery necessary for the successful farmer.
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Mr. Dodge was married November 30, 1893, to Clara Ruhlen, who was born in Jerome township in this county. When she was two years of age, she moved with her parents to Allen township and in 1897 her parents moved to Liberty township, where they have since resided. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dodge: Robert E., born November 18, 1901; and Lucile, born August 24. 1904.
Mr. Dodge and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Royal and Select Masters at Marysville. He is also a member of the Raper Commandery and the Mystic Shrine at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Dodge and his wife are both members of the Eastern Star at Marysville. He also is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has always been identified with the Republican party, but has never cared to take an active part in political matters. He always advocates every measure which he feels will advance the welfare of his community.
DAVID H. INSKEEP.
Any farmer in Ohio, owning seventy-five acres of land in Union county is sure of a fine living. Many farmers raise more on seventy-five acres of land than others on twice that acreage, and David H. Inskeep is one of the many. He has been a resident of this county only a few years but has won for himself a large circle of friends and acquaintances because of his fine character.
David H. Inskeep, the son of David F. and Mary ( Ballinger ) Inskeep, was born in Logan county, Ohio, November 18. 1873. His parents were born in Logan county, his mother the daughter of Henry Ballinger. His mother died in Logan county, October 29. 1906, and his father still makes his home in that county. Four children were born to David F. Inskeep and wife: W. L., a farmer of Logan county ; Sadic, the wife of John Johnson ; J. O., a farmer of Logan county, and David H., of Union county.
The younger days of David H. Inskeep were spent on his father's farm and he received his elementary education in the district schools of that county. He then spent two years in Central Ohio College, at East Liberty, where he completed his education. There he clerked in a store and helped on the . home farm. When he was twenty-one years of age, he had saved five hun- dred dollars. After his marriage in 1905, he came to Union county, where
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he has since resided. He purchased a fine farm of seventy-five acres, one and one-fourth miles south of York Center and has since greatly improved the farm.
Mr. Inskeep was married September 25. 1905. to R. Della Kerns, the daughter of William and Emma ( Watson ) Kerns. Floyd Kerns, a nephew, has made his home with them since his mother's death.
The father of Mrs. Inskeep was born in Highland county, Ohio, and her mother in Logan county. They were the parents of nine children, Eliza, Robert R., Della, Thomas. Casper. Iva, Walter, Willie and Stella.
Mr. Inskeep is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at West Mansfield, and has filled all of the chairs in the lodge. He and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. He gives stanch support to the Republican party and. at the present time, is a member of the school board of York township.
JOSEPH H. RITTENHOUSE.
It is very interesting to preserve the experiences of the old soldiers who fought their country's battles during the Rebellion of the sixties. These gallant old soldiers are rapidly passing away and it is important that we preserve their personal experiences. In this history of Union county will be recorded the lives of scores of men who fought for their country's flag. One of the honored boys in blue, who can recall many interesting incidents of the great Civil War is Joseph H. Rittenhouse, a highly respected citizen of Sciota township, Delaware county.
Joseph H. Rittenhouse, the son of Henry and Margaret ( Latta) Rit- tenhouse, was born in Ross county, Ohio, May 31, 1844. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Ohio. Henry Rittenhouse and his wife lived in Ohio until 1872, when they moved to Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Seven children were born to Henry Ritten- house and wife, four sons and three daughters, five of whom are still living : T. C., of Winfield, Iowa; D. M., of Winfield, Iowa: J. E .. of Muscatine, Iowa: Emma, the wife of Samuel Connor, of California. and Joseph H .. of Delaware county, Ohio.
The early days of Joseph H. Rittenhouse were spent in Dover town- ship. Union county, Ohio, where his parents had moved when he was a small child. After finishing the common schools, he remained at home until
UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
the outbreak of the Civil War. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted as a member of Company B, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was inustered into the service August 8, 1862. He remained with this regi- ment for a short time and was then transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment of infantry, serving in this regiment until the end of the war. He was wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864, recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment and was present when it was mustered out of the service the first day of June. 1865. Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Rittenhouse returned to Union county and took up farming until a few years ago, when he moved to Ostrander, where he now lives.
Mr. Rittenhouse was married September 20, 1866, to Amanda M. Carr. She was born in Delaware county, Ohio, April 30, 1847, and died December 6, 1906. To this union were born five children, H. C. of Colum- bus, an engineer on the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad; H. E., a train- master at Middleport, Ohio; Ivalew. the wife of I. N. Gardner of Colum- bus. Ohio; E. W., who is a traveling salesman for the W. J. Hamilton Coal Company of Columbus, Ohio, and Bertha, the wife of Harry Mack of Lib- erty township.
Joseph Rittenhouse is a member of the Joseph Tanner Post, number fifty-six, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a past commander. He has always been identified with the Republican party and has given it his hearty support for the past half century. During his long life in Union county, he has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
WILLIAM SHIPLEY.
Since the close of the Civil War the Shipley family have been identified with the history of Union county, Ohio. William Shipley has been a life- long farmer in York township, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for nearly half a century. His life has always been guided by proper motives and he has so conducted his affairs as to win and retain the hearty friendship of all those with whom he has been associated.
William Shipley, the son of Milton M. and Ann (Adams) Shipley, was born in Knox county, Ohio, November 25. 1848. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Knox county, Ohio, with his parents, Benedict Shipley and wife, and grew to manhood in that county. Milton Shipley mar-
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ried Ann Adams, the daughter of Joseph and Ann ( Simmons ) Adams, who were residents of Knox county, Ohio. To this union eight children were born, four of whom are now living: J. A., of Richwood, Ohio: John, of Portland, Oregon; Henry, a bachelor farmer now living in York township. and William, whose history is here recorded.
Joseph Adams, the maternal grandfather of William Shipley, was born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and came with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, in its early history. After his marriage, Mr. Adams settled on a farm one mile east of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and lived there until his death, being over eighty years of age at the time he passed away. The Adams family are of Scotch-Irish descent, while the Shipleys are of English ancestry.
Milton M. Shipley located in Knox county, Ohio, after his marriage and lived there until the spring of 1861, and was moving to Kentucky when they heard the news of the fall of Fort Sumter. The family resided in Kentucky during the war and in February. 1865, they returned to Ohio, locating in Union county, where Milton Shipley had purchased a large tract of land in York township before going to Kentucky. On this farm Milton Shipley lived until his death: in October. 1897. He was a prominent man in the com- munity, an active member of the Presbyterian church, a Democrat in politics, and was honored by his party with the nomination for state representative. In addition to carrying on general farming, he was engaged in the sawmill business for a quarter of a century.
William Shipley was reared to manhood in Knox county, Ohio, and in Kentucky, and was seventeen years of age when his parents returned to Ohio in the spring of 1865. He has been eminently successful as a farmer and stock raiser and ranks among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Union county.
Mr. Shipley was married in April, 1870, to Evangeline Youmans, a daughter of Isaac and Ann ( Marriott ) Youmans. Mrs. Shipley was reared in Union county, Ohio, and has lived here all of her life. Mr. Shipley and his wife are the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Fred W., who married Eva Goff: Milton M., who married Cora Graves; Ilerbert A. and Henry M .. twins, who are now living in Canada: Walter, who died in 1905, and Carrie A., who still makes her home with her parents.
Mr. Shipley gives his support to the Democratic party, but while taking a deep interest in the general political issues of the day, he has never been active in the councils of his party. He is a quiet and unassuming man, charitable to the faults of his neighbors, honorable in all of his business deal- ings and highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
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WILLIAM A. ACTON.
Although not a native of Union county, Ohio. William A. Acton has made this county his home since 1868, and since his marriage in 1872, he has been farming for himself. He started in to farm in Dover township, and a few years later bought his present farm in Washington township, one and one-half miles east of Byhalia. Mr. Acton made a distinguished record in the Civil war, enlisting during the first year of the struggle and continuing in active service until the fall of 1865.
William A. Acton, the son of Jacob L. and Luticia (Keene) Acton, was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 6. 1842. His father was born in Ross county, as was his mother, and there both grew to maturity and were mar- ried in the same county. When Jacob Acton was a young man he joined the United States navy and served on a war ship for a few years. He then engaged in the harness trade at Bourneville, Ohio, where he lived until his death. Jacob Acton and wife were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living.
William A. Acton was reared to manhood in Bourneville, Ohio, and after leaving the public schools, learned the harness and saddler maker's trade with his father. In June, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served continuously until August, 1865, being in the service more than four years. His regi- ment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and took part in a large number of battles, among them being the following: Perrysville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Bentonville, and many others. He was wounded at one time in the right elbow, but soon rejoined his regiment and continued in the service. He was promoted from the ranks to a corporal of his company, and was mustered out with this rank.
After the close of the war, Mr. Acton returned to Ross county. Ohio, where he worked at his trade as a saddler and harness maker with his father. In 1868, he came to Union county and worked on farms in this county by the month, from 1868 to 1872. In the latter year, he married and at once moved on a rented farm in Dover township, where he lived for seven years. In 1880 he bought eighty-three acres in Washington township, and has since made his home on this farm.
Mr. Acton was married March 12, 1872. to Catherine Thomas, a daugh- ter of Timothy and Jane (Gates) Thomas. His wife was born in Licking
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county. Ohio, September 16, 1850. To this union has been born one daugh- ter, Rella, who is the wife of Canterbury Boggs. Mr. Boggs and his wife make their home with Mr. Acton.
Mr. Acton and his wife are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal church at Byhalia, and he served as a class leader for more than fifteen years. He is an enthusiastic member of the W. D. W. Mitchell Grand Army of the Republic post, and is now the officer of the day. He is also a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Byhalia. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs both belong to the Daughters of Rebekah, his wife being a past grand. Mr. Acton is a Republican, and has served as trustee of Washing- ton township for six years. Personally, he is a jovial man of kindly dis- position and well merits the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
JOSEPH L. STIMMEL.
An early member of the Stimmel family, Joseph L. Stimmel, of Mill Creek township, came to Union county in 1844, and the farm of the grand- father of Mr. Stimmel has been in possession of the family for more than seventy years. Mr. Stimmel has been a life-long farmer and is now living in the house where he was born, nearly half a century ago. He has met with success, is highly admired by his fellow citizens, and was elected as one of the trustees of his township in the fall of 1913.
Joseph L. Stimmel, the son of Robert L. and Rebecca ( Hutchinsson ) Stimmel, was born July 15, 1866, on his father's farm in Mill Creek township, Union county, Ohio. His father was born six miles south of Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin county, December 14, 1837, and died in Columbus in November, 1901. His mother was born in Union county in 1839, and lived all her life there. Eleven children were born to Robert L. Stimmel and wife, eight of whom are still living: Alvin, a farmer of Mill Creek township: Irwin. Eldorado Springs, Missouri: Emma, the wife of the Rev. D. L. Myers, of Dayton, Ohio; the Rev. R. T., of Wellston, Ohio; Violo, the wife of J. F. Haggard. of Marysville; Hattie, of Marysville: Blanche, of Dayton, Ohio, and Joseph L., of Mill Creek township.
The younger days of Joseph L. Stimmel were spent on his father's farm in Mill Creek township, and he was educated in the schools of that vicinity. He remained at home until his marriage and then farmed part of his father's farm. Several years later he moved to Dover township, farmed there until
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1903. at which time he moved back on to the old home place. He now lives in the same house where he was born. He is the owner of one hundred and seventeen acres of land which his grandfather purchased from Kendal Thomas in 1844.
Joseph L. Stimmel was married March 14, 1889, to Alma Longbrake, . the daughter of George W. Longbrake, of Mill Creek township, and to this minion have been born two sons : Hugh O., born October 6, 1891 and Roy M., born May 10, 1896. Hugh is now assisting his father on the home farm, while the other son has just graduated from the Ostrander high school.
Mr. Stimmel is a Democrat and was elected by the citizens of that party as a trustee of Mill Creek township. He took his office January 1, 1914, and is giving it careful and conscientious attention. Fraternally, Mr. Stimmel is a very active member of the Marysville lodge of Odd Fellows.
P. R. SHERWOOD.
P. R. Sherwood is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres located on the Marion and Richwood road. in Union county, and he is entitled to rank as one of Union county's enterprising and prosperous farmers. Mr. Sher- wood is a native of the Buckeye state, as were his ancestors for a generation or more. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, March 4, 1860, and is the son of James J. and Caroline ( Seaman ) Sherwood. James J., father of our subject, was also born in Delaware county, the son of David and Margaret ( Bishop) Sherwood. David Sherwood, who was the founder of the family in Union county, was born in Virginia, but he came with his family to Dela- ware county in an early day. He had a large family of children, consisting of five sons and four daughters. Of this number only one daughter. Har- riett, is living. The names of the children of this family are: Levi, Lewis. James, Jesse. Kate, Harriett, Sarah, Rachael. Jonathan. James, the father of our subject was a tanner by trade and later took up farming near Colum- bia City, Indiana, and continued in this business at that place until his death, which occurred several years ago. He was buried in the cemetery at Colum- bia City. He had a family of four children. One who died in infancy ; John. deceased; Lewis, deceased : Margaret, who married James A. Main; and P. R., who is the subject of this sketch.
P. R. Sherwood received his education in the public schools of Dela- ware county which he attended in his early years. He worked on his father's
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farm during his schoot life and afterward worked for some time in Marys- ville. For the past ten years he has been engaged in farming. He was mar- ried in 1882 to Sadie Jewell, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah ( Edward) Jewell. To this union four children were born: Carrie, who married Fred Trapp, and has one daughter, Ermie; Jennie, Frank D., Kenneth J. Mrs. Sherwood is dead and was buried in Delaware county. Mr. Sherwood is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in his party but has not sought for any honors for his party service. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and takes an active interest in its affairs. His church relationship is with the Baptist church of which he is a faithful and regular attendant and to the support of which he contributes liberally. In all his relations of life he bears the reputation of an upright and honorable citizen.
MARTIN BURNS.
Every nation on the earth has contributed to the population of the United States, but no nation has furnished better citizens than Germany. Wherever Germans are found they are always substantial citizens of their community, thrifty and frugal, and the example set by them has been very beneficial to our native American citizens. Among the many German families who came to Union county, Ohio, early in its history, the Burns family occupies a prominent place, and Martin Burns, a prosperous farmer of Paris township, is a worthy representative of this excellent family.
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