USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 102
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Martin Burns, the son of Emanuel and Anna ( Bishop ) Burns, was born April 29. 1868, on the farm where he now lives in Paris township. The great-grandfather of Martin Burns always spelled his name "Born." When they came to America in the nineteenth century, they changed the spelling and the members of the family in America are now known by the name of "Burns."
Emanuel Burns was reared in Baltimore county, Maryland, near the city of Baltimore and came to Union county, Ohio, with his parents, John and Magtalena ( Baughman) Burns, in 1838. John Burns and wife were the parents of nine children, all deceased except one: Adam, Lewis, Alexandria. Phillip, Emanuel, Mariat, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Kate, living. Emanuel Burns took charge of the old home farm and made all the improvements on it. He and his wife reared a family of twelve children : Mrs. Maggie Schoenleb, George, John. Godlip, Philip, Mrs. Mary Rausch, Mrs. Kate Auer, Martin, Mrs. Anna Erich, Mrs. Lena Dasher, Mrs. Carrie Weidman and Martin.
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Martin Burns was educated in the German schools of his neighborhood. He remained at home until he married at the age of twenty-four, then began farming with his father and still rents the estate. He owns a farm of his own of seventy-three acres adjoining the old home farm, which he also man- ages. He also was solicitor for the John Wilde Milk Company for a time. He resigned his position with this company, to devote more time to farming.
Mr. Burns was married September 15, 1892, to Anna B. Gundermann, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth ( Berger) Gundermann. To this union, one son, Leroy, has been born.
Mr. Burns has always been identified with the Democratic party, but has never aspired to any public office. He and his wife are loyal members of the Lutheran church at Marysville, to whose support they are generous con- tributors.
HIARRY H. MCCUNE.
For more than forty years Harry H. McCune has been identified with the history of Union county, Ohio. He has devoted his life to farming and now has a well improved farm of one hundred and ten acres where he does general farming and stock raising. His father was a veteran of the Civil war and served for more than four years at the front. Mr. McCune is a man of patient industry.
Harry H. McCune, the son of James M. and Sarah A. (Tidrick) McCune, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 25, 1868. His father was born in the same county, January 28, 1839, a son of John and Sarahı (McDowell ) McCune. The McCunes are of Irish descent and were early settlers in Coshocton county, Ohio.
John McCune, the grandfather of Harry H., was twice married. By his first wife he had six children, Mary, Martha, Salina, Ellen, James M. and Nathaniel. Two of these children are still living, Salina, of Newark, Ohio, and Ellen, of Kansas. After the death of his first wife, John McCune married Nancy Glen and to this second union two children were born, John and Robert, the latter being deceased. The great-grandfather of Harry H. McCune was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
James M. McCune, the father of Harry H., was one of six children born to his parents. He grew to manhood in Coshocton county, Ohio, and enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the Civil war. He became a member of Company D. Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. on
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the 24th day of April, 1861, and was discharged August 18, 1861. He re- enlisted in Company C. Ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, on October 8, 1862, and served until his final discharge July 20, 1865. On January 15. 1863. at Lexington, North Carolina, he was commissioned second deputy sergeant of Company C, Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, by Colonel Arthur D. Hamilton of the regiment. He was with Sherman on his famous march through Georgia to the sea and fought in many of the hardest battles of that struggle. At the close of the war, James M. McCune returned to his old home in Coshocton county. He was married Christmas Day. 1867, to Sarah A. Tidrick, a daughter of Reed and Millie (Shryock) Tidrick, both of German ancestry.
The Tidrick family were early settlers in Ohio and reared a family of four children: William, a veteran of the Civil war and now a resident of New Comerstown. Ohio: George, a veteran of the Civil war, who died at the age of sixty-six: Sarah, the wife of Mr. McCune, who died in June. 1910; and Mrs. Eliza Carr of New Comerstown, Ohio. The mother of these four children died in 1858 and Mr. Tidrick later married Margaret West and two children, twins, were born to the second marriage. One of these twins, M. W., lives at New Comerstown, Ohio, and the other one, Mrs. William Love, lives in Akron, Ohio.
James M. McCune, the father of Harry H., moved from Coshocton county to Union county, Ohio, in 1873 and settled in Clairbourne township, one mile from Claibourne Station on the farm where his son now lives. On this farm he spent the remainder of his life. Both he and his wife were loyal members of the Methodist church. He was a stanch Democrat but was never an aspirant for public office. He died May 3, 1907.
Harry H. McCune was four years old when his parents located in Union county and received all of his education in the schools of this county. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old and then began working for himself. After his marriage, Mr. McCune bought forty-five acres of land and built a good country home, excellent barns and out build- ings. After the death of his parents, he inherited twenty acres of land and he has since added his sister's share of the estate, making a total of one hundred and ten acres in Claibourne township. The land is well improved and yields bountiful crops year after year.
Mr. McCune was married August 18, 1897, to Olive N. Thompson, a daughter of John L. and Emma ( Kile) Thompson. Her father was born in Virginia and her mother in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents
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of four children: Olive, the wife of Mr. McCune; Edward of Richwood, Ohio; Arthur of Marion, Ohio; and Ernest of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are residents of Richwood.
Mr. McCune is a stanch Republican but has never cared to be an active participant in politics. He has devoted himself to farming and stock raising and prided himself on keeping his farm in an attractive manner. Every- thing about his place indicates his thrift, while his daily life has been such as to win the hearty approbation of those with whom he mingles.
WILLIAM P. BEIGHTLER.
One of the members of the official family of Union county, Ohio, is William P. Beightler, who is the present surveyor of the county. He is one of the many county officials who have spent all of their lives in this county and consequently is well known by a majority of its citizens. He started to learn the surveying business before reaching his majority, and when only twenty-two years of age was appointed surveyor of the county to fill out an unexpired term, and such was his excellent service that he was re-elected. He then engaged in the cigar business, and for many years was president of the Perfect Cigar Company, of Marysville, a position which he still re- tains. After being out of the surveying business many years, he was nom- inated by his party to fill this office again, and is now administering its duties in a very satisfactory manner.
William P. Beightler. the son of Andrew and Louisa (Little) Beightler, was born in Paris township, this county. January 18, 1868. His parents, who were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Union county, had two children, Frank, of Columbus, Ohio, and William P., of Marysville.
Andrew Beightler was a farmer in Paris township, and died there in 1881, when he was about forty-eight years of age. His wife died in 1877. being only about thirty-four years of age at the time of her death. Both were loyal attendants of the United Brethren church.
The paternal grandparents of William P. Beightler were Tobias Beight- ler and wife. The latter's wife was a member of the Amrine family, one of the earliest pioneer families of the county. Tobias Beighitler died in Paris township at the age of eighty-five, his wife having passed away several years previously. Tobias Beightler and wife reared a family of several children, Samuel, John, Harrison, Andrew, Madison, Daniel, Abraham, and others who died in their early childhood. Little is known of the history of the
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maternal grandparents of William P. Beightler, but it is known that his maternal grandmother was a pioneer of this county and died at the age of seventy-five. Louisa, the mother of William P. Beightler, was the only chikl.
William P. Beightler was reared to manhood in this county, and has made this his life-long home. He commenced to farm when he was about twelve years of age on rented land. He attended the district schools of his home township, and later was a student in the Marysville high school and in the Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He then went to work for A. S. Mowry, abstractor, and incidentally learned surveying. He remained with Mr. Mowry for nine years during his summer vacations, and at the end of that time was a practical surveyor and had an intimate knowledge of the abstracting difficulties of Union county. When only twenty-two years of „age he was appointed county surveyor to fill the unexpired term of Charles S. Lee. and gave such eminent satisfaction that he was elected upon the ex- piration of his appointment. He was then re-elected to the same position. serving in all three years at that time. He then became interested in the man- ufacture of cigars, and for fourteen years, or until he took up the duties of his position as county surveyor again, he was interested in the Perfect Cigar Company, of which he is now president. He is now filling the position of county surveyor, after having been out of the business for fourteen years, and is giving excellent satisfaction in the discharge of the duties connected with this important position.
Mr. Beightler was married in 1890 to Josie MI. Sprague, the daughter of Judge F. B. and Joanna ( Leeds) Sprague, and to this union have been born four children, Robert S., Donald S., Charles S. and Mary Louise. Mrs. Beightler was born in Sunbury, Ohio, her parents being natives of this state also. Her father is deceased and her mother passed away in 1903. Six children were born to Judge Sprague and wife; Frank P., Mary, Clara, Arthur, Clarence and Josie.
Politically, Mr. Beightler has been a life-long Republican, and has always been interested in local political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and holds his membership in the lodge at Marysville. He and his wife are both earnest members of the Presbyterian church and generous contributors to its support. Mr. Beightler is also a member of the United Commercial Travelers Association. Mr. Beightler is a very genial man who easily makes a stranger feel at home, and is known throughout the county as a man who is charitable to the faults of others and who tries to help all those who are in distress. He is a big whole-souled, generous man who makes friends wherever he goes.
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NATHANIEL BROOKS.
The Brooks family, represented in this volume by Nathaniel Brooks, has been connected with the history of Union county since 1833, when the grandfather of Nathaniel Brooks first located in this county. Mr. Brooks has been a resident of this county for nearly seventy years, consequently he is widely known throughout the county. He served during the Civil war in the one-hundred-day service and, upon returning from the war, settled down to the life of a farmer. That he has been successful is shown by his well improved farm of two hundred acres, one and one-half miles north of York Center, known as the "Maple Heights Farm."
Nathaniel Brooks, the son of A. G. and Rhoda W. (Coons) Brooks, was born in York township, Union county, Ohio, on the farm where he is now living. September 23, 1845. His father, who was the son of Nathaniel Brooks, was born in the state of New York, while his mother was a native of Licking county, Ohio. Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., came to Union county in 1833 and located in York township, being one of the first settlers in this township. He cleared away a small piece of land and used the logs he took off of the land to build a rude log cabin. The two hundred acres cost him two hundred dollars and shortly afterwards he sold one hundred acres for a similar amount. He lived on the farm only three years, dying in 1836. Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., was a school teacher. He built a saw mill in New York where the city of Rochester now stands. He had bought a farm near that place. A. G. Brooks was a prominent man in this county and, upon the organization of the Republican party in 1856, he took an important part in the Democratic party at that time. Two children were born to A. G. Brooks and wife, Nathaniel and Latitia, who became the wife of Samuel S. Davis. Latitia died in 1877, leaving two children, both of whom are now deceased. It is interesting to note that Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., was one of a group of men who organized the first Methodist Episcopal church in York township and he became its first class leader. He continued in this capacity until his death. Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., gave the name of York to this township.
Nathaniel Brooks was reared on his father's farm in York township and educated in the district schools and later in the Marysville graded schools. Desiring to pursue his education still farther, he became a student in the State University at Columbus, Ohio, leaving the university in the spring of 1864 to enlist in the Civil war. He was mustered in as a member
NATHANIEL BROOKS.
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of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment enlisted for a period of one hundred days and his enlistment expired in August of the same year.
Immediately after the close of the war, Mr. Brooks returned to his home in Union county and began to farm. He has a fine farm of two hun- dred acres, upon which he has made his home for over half a century. Dur- ing this time he has devoted himself to general farming and stock raising with good results.
Mr. Brooks was married in 1868 to Mary S. Penhorwood, a native of Delaware county, Ohio. To this union was born one daughter, Anna May, who became the wife of J. S. McGinnis, of York township. Mr. McGinnis and his wife have two sons. The first wife of Mr. Brooks died in 1877 and in 1880 he was married to Louise Bowers, who was born in New York state, January 2, 1845. She is a graduate of the Mount Vernon high school and before her marriage, taught in the common and high schools of Ohio. There are no children by this second marriage.
Fraternally, Mr. Brooks is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a charter member of York lodge, No. 597, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Brooks named the lodge, Honor Lodge, at York. He is a past chancel- lor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the grand lodge of Ohio. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at York, a church which his grandfather helped to organize in the early thirties. In politics, he has long been one of the stalwart Republicans of his county and always taken an active interest in local political matters.
HARVEY F. TORMOHLEN.
There is no one nation that has contributed to our American citizenship an element of more sterling worth, or of greater value in the growth and development of our country and the support of our national institutions than has Germany. From the fatherland have come men of sturdy integrity and of industrious habits and business sagacity. No class of citizens have been more loyal to their adopted country, none have been of more benefit to com- munity and state, than the descendants of the sturdy yeomanry from Ger- many.
The gentleman who is the subject of this brief biographical sketch may (67)
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entertain a just pride in the fact that his ancestry was of this class. His paternal grandfather was born in the province of Westphalia, Germany, as was also the paternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Anna Noel. They were of the large emigrant colony that came to Indiana and settled in Dubois county, that state. This Indiana county was largely settled by the Germans, who found in this section of the state much broken lands covered with unbroken forests. These conditions were not specially attractive to settlers of American birth, on account of the prospective hard labor that would be necessary and the uncertainty of development of productive farms in these Dubois county hills. But the German immigrants found here a country somewhat similar to that to which they had been accustomed in their native land, and which, from experience, they knew how to farm.
The grandfather of the subject was among the early German settlers who came to Dubois county, bought a tract of land and contributed his full share in the development of the country. He was engaged in farming from the time of his marriage until his death, which occurred at Holland, Dubois county. at the age of seventy-four years. His widow is still living and is now eighty-two years of age. They had a large family, several of whom died at an early age. Those who lived to maturity were John, Daniel, Henry, Fred, Frank, Mary and George.
The maternal grandfather was William Hemmer and the maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Hildebrand. They were natives of Hanover, Ger- many. They were members of a German emigrant colony who came to America, and were among the early settlers in Dubois county, Indiana, set- tling on a farm near Holland. Here they lived and labored until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-seven years; his wife lived to the age of seventy-one years. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Mary, Henry, Sophia, Anna, Louis and Lizzie.
The father of our subject was Daniel, the second son of George and Anna (Noel) Tormohlen ; his mother was Mary, the eldest daughter of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Hildebrand ) Hemmer, mentioned in the foregoing part of this sketch. The father was reared on the home farm in Dubois county, Indiana. In his young manhood he was engaged part of the time as a miller, and, in the meantime, he took up the study of veterinary medicine and sur- gery, in which profession he is now engaged in practice at Holland, Indiana. Politically, he is one of the sturdy German Republicans of Dubois county. That county has not been noted as very prolific in the growth of citizens of this party faith, but those who maintain Republican party allegiance in Dubois county are well grounded in the principles of the party and can
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always be relied on, and ready at all times to give a reason for the faith they profess. That Mr. Tormohlen was of this kind of faith, and that he had the confidence of the appointing power in Washington and of the com- munity in which he lived, is evidenced by the fact that he served as postinas- ter of Holland for four years. He and his wife are active members of the German Methodist church.
The children of this family were : Harvey F., the subject of this sketch; Anna, wife of E. H. Kunz, of Oklahoma; Lena, wife of Oscar Klausineir, of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Louis, of Holland; Cora and William W., both living at home.
Harvey F. Torinohlen was born in Holland, Dubois county, Indiana, July 12, 1882. He was reared on the farm and trained to the habits of industry that served a good purpose in the development of body and mind and in an equipment for a broader sphere of usefulness in after life. His education was obtained in the public schools, graduating in the high school in 1902. He then attended the Baldwin Wallace College, at Berea, Ohio, graduating in that institution in 1906. With a view of taking up the pro- fession of the ministry, he began the study of theology while in this college, and, after his graduation, he entered upon the work of the ministry for three years. He then completed his theological course at the Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 1911. While in this institu- tion he supplemented his theological studies by a stated preaching appoint- ment, at Garden Prairie, Illinois.
After completing his course in the Evanston institution Mr. Tormohlen came to Marysville, Ohio, where he found opportunity to engage in the Young Men's Christian Association work, for which he had an inclination and to which he had given much time and study during the years of prepara- tion for the ministry. He was appointed secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Union county, and for the past two years has been devoting his time and energies to that important work.
Mr. Tormohlen was married June 19. 1912, to Beatrice Wilcox, daughter of William and Mae ( Eggleston) Wilcox, of Rockford, Illinois. They have one child, John William. Mrs. Tormohlen was born at Rock- ford, Illinois, and both of her parents were born in the vicinity and made that their home until their death, which occurred some years ago. Mrs. Tormohlen was the elder of the two children of her father's family : a sister, Margaret, died at the age of sixteen years.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Tormohlen was the Rev. John Wil- cox, who was a native of England. His early years of education were in
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London, and for some time he was employed as clerk in the postoffice of that city. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Weber, whom he married in Pennsylvania, sometime after coming to this country. They found a home near Rockford, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a time. While thus engaged he devoted much time to study, with a view of fitting himself for the ministry. He was successful in his ambition and was ad- mitted to the regular ministry in the Congregational church, devoting his life to that calling. The children of this family were Clarence, Mary, Weber, William, Lillian and Burt.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Tormohlen was John Eggleston, who was a Pennsylvania German. They came to Ohio in an early day and settled in Hocking county, and followed the occupation of farming. They both lived to a good age. Their three children were Mae, Eva and Oscar.
Mr. and Mrs. Tormohlen are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are actively interested in the work of the church, and in every cause that has for its object the uplift of humanity and instruction in prin- ciples of a better life.
WALTER R. WEIDMAN.
One of the manufacturing industries which has done and is doing much in the promotion of the growth and prosperity of Marysville is that of the Weidman Brothers, engaged in the manufacture of interior and exterior mill work. This enterprise was established several years ago, and, by the energy and push applied to the business by the proprietors, it has been made a success, with an established trade in manufactured product, not only in the immediate vicinity, but extending to several states.
Walter R. Weidman, the senior member of this enterprising firm, is of German ancestry, and he has inherited all the commendable traits of industry and business enterprise for which that race is noted. He was born in Marys- ville, Ohio, July 12, 1875, and this has been his home ever since. He is the son of John and Mary Jane ( Ferguson ) Weidman. His father was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany: his mother was a native of New York state and of Scotch descent. They had four children, namely : Anna L., deceased, who was the wife of Frank Iludson; Pearl R., of Cincinnati, Ohio; James O .. of Marysville, and member of this manufacturing firm; and Walter R., the subject of this sketch. His father was twice married, his first wife a native of Germany. The children by the first wife were : John C., of Marys-
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ville, also a member of the firm of Weidman Brothers; Mollie, who married Mr. Kreischer, of Deschler, Ohio: William L., another member of the firm; Mina, wife of Charles Ilundobel, of Richmond, Indiana.
The father of the subject was only about seven years old when he came to America, and was one of the pioneers of Union county, Ohio. He grew to manhood on the farm where his parents settled, in Union township, and afterwards followed the occupation of farming on his own account for a short time. He then engaged in general merchandising in Marysville, and later engaged in the business of general contractor and builder. He is de- ceased. His second wife died in 1891, at the age of about fifty-five years. The father was raised in the Lutheran faith: the mother was a Methodist. He was a member of Palestine Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and actively interested in the promotion of the welfare of that order.
The paternal grandfather of the subject was Louis Weidman: he and his wife were natives of Germany. He was an officer in the German army, and had the training and discipline of the strict military service required of soldiers of that army. After his army service in that country he, with his wife and family, came to America and settled in Union county, Ohio, where they both died. They had a large family, of whom John, Louis, Conrad, Barbara and Margaret grew to manhood and womanhood. The maternal grandfather of our subject was named Ferguson: he and his wife were both of Scotch nativity. They emigrated to New York state, and after a short residence there came to Logan county, Ohio, where they both died, well along in years. The children of their family were Mary Jane, Anna and James.
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