USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 55
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Asa G. Bates was born April 2. 1836. and died at his beautiful country home in Union township, Union county, Ohio, April 8. 1894. He was a son of Archibald L. and Darcas D. ( Robinson) Bates. His father was born May 2, 1794, and his mother on December 15, 1801.
Archibald L. Bates and wife were the parents of three children: An- drew R., born April 1, 1853 : Amelia L., born July 31, 1852 ; and Asa G.
Asa G. Bates was reared in Union township and remained at home until his marriage. He then began farming in Union township and followed farm- ing until his death.
Mr. Bates was married September 9, 1858, to Oryntha A. Woodworth. who was born August 8, 1836. Mrs. Bates was a daughter of Asahel A. and Hilah ( Reynolds ) Woodworth, natives of Massachusetts and Union county. respectively. Mrs Bates' father died in 1886 and her mother passed away in 1898.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bates were born four children, Amelia M., Josephine M., Andrew A. and Archie W. Amelia M. Bates was born July 3. 1859, and
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is the wife of Dr. W. Applegate, of Washington, D. C., who is chief surgeon of the Southern Railroad. Josephine M. was born April 19. 1861, and be- came the wife of Florizel Smith, an attorney of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Smith died February 20, 1000. Andrew A. was born May 8. 1865, and married June 10, 1891, to Bertha Stokes, a daughter of Hiram and Clara (Chapman) Stokes. Andrew owns a fine farm east of Irwin and is one of the most extensive breeders of high grade sheep in the state. shipping his sheep all over the United States. The father of the wife of Andrew Bates was born in Union county, while Mrs. Stokes was a native of Vermont. Mrs. Stokes died in 1875 and Mr. Stokes in 1887. The youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Asa G. Bates was Archie W., who was born June 29, 1870, and died at the age of twelve years.
Asa G. Bates was a man who was well known for his hospitality and genial nature and he enjoyed having his friends about him and entertained them with a lavish hand. He was especially kind to those less fortunate than himself and was a man of charitable impulses. He was one of the largest land owners of the county and at one time he and his father together owned twelve hundred acres of excellent farming land in Union county. He built one of the finest homes in Union county, which was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1912. His widow has built on the same site another fine home, where she is now enjoying her declining years.
ELWARD P. SMITH.
One of the best known men of Milford Center, Ohio, is Elward P. Smith, who, after spending nearly a quarter of a century on the road as a traveling salesman, has now retired to Milford Center in order to look after his extensive farming interests. He is a genial and whole-souled man, who delights to entertain his friends at his beautiful country home near this village
Mr. Smith has recently fitted up a fine picnic grounds and club house on one of his farms, where he entertains his friends. In the spring of 1914 he built a fine log cabin with a cement floor on his grounds and has equipped it with furnishings and curios, such as hunters and sportsmen enjoy. His club house and grounds make an ideal place in which to while away many happy hours, and it is a treat to be allowed to visit the place. Mr. Smith built the cabin with his own hands and takes pride in the fact that he was
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able to do so. He has cooking utensils and all of the paraphernalia necessary for ministering to the inner man and also various amusements whereby his visitors can enjoy themselves. The grounds are situated in a beautiful grove, furnished with comfortable seats and a splendid flowing well of fine drinking water. Darby creek runs through the grove a short distance from the cabin, and here boating and fishing, in season, makes one forget the hot days of the summer. Altogether this park of Mr. Smith's is a romantic and inspiring place. No more ideal place could be found in the county for an outing.
Elward P. Smith, the son of Ira and Rose ( Nickeson) Smith, was born in Union township, Union county, Ohio, one mile east of Milford Cen- ter, September 23, 1872. His father was born in Union county and his mother in Wheeling, West Virginia. They were the parents of three chil- dren : Durward B., of Columbus, Ohio; Elward P., of Milford Center; and Lena, who died at the age of twenty-two.
Ira Smith was reared on a farm in this county and was always a farmer and stock raiser. He owned a farm of two hundred and twenty-one acres in Union township, which he improved and on which he lived most of his life. He died in Milford Center in November, 1907. at the age of sixty-three. His wife died in August, 1912, at the age of sixty-four. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ira Smith was a soldier in the Civil War and served for six months as a private. He was a farmer and an in- fluential man in his township, serving as township trustee and supervisor and in several other minor positions.
The paternal grandparents of Elward P. Smith were Orson and Irene Smith, natives of Vermont and pioneer settlers of Union county, Ohio. When Orson Smith came to this county from Vermont he bought several hundred acres of land and lived here most of his life. He died in Delaware county, at the advanced age of ninety-three, and his wife passed away in Hardin county at the age of seventy-five. There were four children born to Orson Smith and wife, Caroline, Alvira, Maria and Ira, father of Elward P. Smith. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Smith were natives of West Virginia. His grandfather, on his mother's side, was a miner by occupation and lived all of his days in West Virginia, where he and his wife reared a family of six children, Rose. Carrie, Alice, Martha, Harry and John.
Elward P. Smith was reared on his father's farm until he was sixteen years of age. Ile was educated in the country schools and completed his education in the Milford Center public schools. At the age of six- teen, he went to Salt Lake City and traveled for Z .. C .. M. & I. general co-
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operative house, remaining with this firm until 1893. He then spent two years at home in Union county, after which he was traveling salesman for the George Wiedemann Brewing Company of Newport, Kentucky, remain- ing with this company until March, 1914. In the spring of 1914 he decided to leave the road and devote all of his time to his property interests in Union county. He owns two good farms in Union township, comprising about two hundred and fifty acres of as fine land as can be found in the county. He also owns a fine home in Milford Center.
Fraternally, Mr. Smith is a member of the Newport Lodge, No. 273, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Newport, Kentucky, and also holds his membership in the Champion City Council, No. 23, United Com- mercial Travelers of America. Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican, but on account of the nature of his business he has not had a chance to engage in political matters.
Mr. Smith has a host of friends in the village and community and his kind-heartedness and generous disposition make him welcome wherever he goes. He is very charitably inclined and with an unostentatious hand helps those who are less fortunate than himself. He scatters sunshine wherever he goes and his optimistic spirit makes him a man who is well liked by everyone he meets.
ANTHONY MORAN.
One of the oldest citizens of Union county, Ohio, is Anthony Moran. whose whole career of eighty-six years has been spent within the limits of this county with the exception of about three years when he was living in Logan county, Illinois. He and his good wife have been married more than sixty years and are one of the oldest married couples in the state of Ohio. Mr. Moran has always taken an active part in the civic life of his community and for forty-two consecutive years was assessor of Union township. He lived to see Union county grow from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition and in the transformation he has had no inconsiderable part.
Anthony Moran, the son of Edward and Eliza ( Lock) Moran, was born July 7, 1829, in Union township, Union county, Ohio. His father was born in Kings county, Ireland, and his mother was a native of Connecticut. Edward Moran came to Union county about 1823 and his wife came here about the same time, although they were not married until they came to Union county, their marriage occurring about 1825. Five children were born to
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Edward Moran and wife. Mary, John, James, Jane and Anthony. Mary was born December 31, 1826, and died May 18, 1899. She was the wife of Joseph Galloway and lived in Logan county, Illinois. John was born Decem- ber 2, 1832, and farmed in Logan county, Illinois, until his death in 1897. James was born June 25, 1834, and died July 12 of the same year. Jane was born April 25, 1837, and died in infancy.
Edward Moran, the father of Anthony Moran, was born in Kings county, Ireland, December 25, 1790, and came to America in 1812. His wife, Eliza Lock, was born March 3, 1802, in Connecticut and died October 6, 1855. Edward Moran died August 6, 1837.
Anthony Moran received his education in the district schools of Union county. He remained on the home farm until his marriage in 1851 and in 1855 moved to Logan county, Illinois, where he farmed until 1858. He returned in that year to Union county, Ohio, on account of Mrs. Moran's health and began farming in Union township where he has since lived. He has retired from active farm life and rents most of his land to responsible tenants.
Mr. Moran was married October 16, 1851, to Imogene Woodworth, a daughter of Ashel and Hilah ( Reynolds) Woodworth, natives of Massa- chusetts and Union county, Ohio, respectively. Ashel Woodworth died September 15, 1898, and his widow passed away in 1902.
Mr. and Mrs. Moran are the parents of nine children: Ashel .A., born January 16, 1853: Mary J., born September 16, 1855, and died October 23, 1857: Helen, born February II, 1859, and died November 8. 1889; John M., born February 11, 1859, and now living in Idaho; Etta May, born May 2, 1861, and died November 1, 1881 ; Asa G., who died in infancy ; Charles E., born October 17, 1876, and now living in Champaign county, Ohio; Lulu, who died young : and one child born between Etta May and Asa G., who died in infancy.
On October 16, 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Moran celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary and the occasion was made very enjoyable by their chil- dren. grandchildren and many relatives and friends. Mr. Moran is a mem- ber of the Free and Accepted Masons and Mrs. Moran is a member of the Christian church. Politically. Mr. Moran is identified with the Republican party and has been casting his ballot for this party for sixty years. He has held a number of offices and was elected assessor of Union township time after time, holding this important position for forty-two years with satisfac- tion. This fact shows the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens and also the efficient service he gave them while holding the office.
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Mr. Moran has always stood for right living, industrious habits: for educa- tion and morality: for loyalty to his government and for all that contributes to the welfare of his community. He is truly one of the grand old men of Union county and its history would be incomplete without specific mention of his career.
JAMES F. CALDWELL.
A progressive and wide-awake young business man of Irwin, Union county, Ohio, is James F. Caldwell, the proprietor of the largest general store in the county. He is a young man at the beginning of his career and the success which he has attained thus far is indicative of his ability and presages a bright future for him. He comes from a pioneer family of this county. his father having lived all of his life in Union county.
James F. Caldwell. the son of George and Maria ( McAdams ) Caldwell, was born December 25, 1883, in Irwin. Ohio. His father was born in Union township in 1843 and died in 1911. George Caldwell was one of a family of four children, the others being Moses, Harriett and Thomas B., all of whom are deceased. The mother of George Caldwell was Jane ( Fullington ) Cald- well. George Caldwell was a prominent farmer and stock raiser of this county and a man of influence in the community, where he spent his whole life. Five children were born to George Caldwell and wife, Mrs. Harriett Thomas, Mrs. Ella Aumiller, Mrs. Mora Peck, Jinque and James F.
James F. Caldwell was educated in the common school and high school at Irwin and spent two years in the public school at Marysville. After leaving the high school he went with the Green Joyce Company of Columbus, Ohio, and remained in their employ for about three years. He then returned to Union county and bought his present store in Irwin. His store is well stocked with such goods as are found in stores of towns of this size. By his court- eous treatment of his customers and his honest business methods, he has built up a large trade in Irwin and the immediate vicinity. He was appointed postmaster by President Roosevelt and is still filling this position. Since his appointment the office has been placed under civil service, thus he is assured of the office as long as he wishes to hold it.
Fraternally, Mr. Caldwell is a member of the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, belonging to the lodge at Mechanicsburg. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Marysville. He gives his sup- port to the Republican party.
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NEWTON E. LIGGETT.
The telephone history of the country is comprehended within the past twenty-five years and today there is not a hamlet in the whole state of Ohio that is not connected with some telephone system. Alexander Bell little dreamed when he invented the telephone that it would in such a short time be so universally used. Nearly every county, if not every county, in the state of Ohio has one or more telephone systems and it is impossible to calculate the wonderful benefit which the telephone gives society. One of the telephone companies of Union county, Ohio, is the Union County Tele- phone Company, of which Newton E. Liggett is president and general man- ager. Mr. Liggett started in the telephone business for himself twenty years ago. He was for many years a druggist in Marysville, but in 1906 decided to give all of his attention to his telephone business.
Newton E. Liggett, the son of Luther and Maria S. (Wilkinson) Lig- gett, was born in Mill Creek township, Union county, Ohio, June 21, 1857. His parents, both of whom were natives of Ohio, had a family of six chil- dren : Newton E., of Marysville; James A., of Marysville; Louisa, the wife of Gamble Shields. of Marysville: Luther M., of Galion, Ohio; Clara, the wife of William Walgamot, of Marysville; and Henry C., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Luther Liggett was reared in Ohio and came to Union county early in its history and located in Mill Creek township where he bought the Henry Wolf farm. He prospered and year by year added to his possessions until he finally owned more than four hundred acres of land in the county. He reared his family on this farm and died there in 1892 at the age of fifty-six. His widow still survives him and now makes her home with her daughter. Mrs. Walgamot. Mr. Liggett and his wife were both members of the Chris- tian church. He was a prominent man in his community and was elected county commissioner in the early history of the county.
The paternal grandparents of Newton E. Liggett were and Millie (Carr) Liggett, natives of Delaware county, Ohio, and early settlers in Union county. They settled in Mill Creek township and died there well advanced in years, having reared a family of eight children, Luther, Amos, Gideon. Ann, George, Joseph, Susan and Emma. The maternal grandpar- ents of Mr. Liggett were James Wilkinson and wife, early settlers in Ohio. They lived in Marysville a number of years and moved to Nebraska in November. 1857, and located at David City, where Mr. Wilkinson engaged in farming. Mr. Wilkinson started the town of David City and died there
NEWTON E. LIGGETT.
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well along in years. Mr. Wilkinson and his wife were the parents of seven children, Maria S., Mrs. Frank Kinney, Augusta, Emily, William, John and James.
Newton E. Liggett was reared on his father's farm in Mill Creek town- ship and after attending the country schools for a few years graduated from the Marysville high school. He then became an apprentice in the drug store of S. N. McCloud in Marysville and became an expert pharmacist and drug- gist. In the fall of 1890 he engaged in the drug business for himself. He continued to follow this particular line of business until 1906, when he sold out and has since devoted himself solely to his telephone company.
His first experience in the telephone business was in the spring of 1895, when he started the present telephone company which covers the central part of the county. He continued alone until 1906 when the Union County Tele- phone Company was incorporated with a capital stock of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, with officers as follows: N. E. Liggett. presi- dent : J. S. McCrackin, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, secretary; Luther Liggett, of Marysville, treasurer ; and Frank L. Beam, of Mt. Vernon, vice-president. In 1897 Mr. Liggett erected a handsome business block of three stories. The first floor is occupied by The Citizens' Home and Savings Bank and the Asman & Smith drug store. The second floor is used for office rooms and the telephone exchange occupies the entire third floor.
Mr. Liggett was married September 10, 1890, to Anna Gibson, the daughter of George and Angeline ( Mathers) Gibson. To this union two sons have been born, Luther and George E. Luther is assistant wire chief in the telephone exchange and is a graduate of the Marysville high school. George, who is also a graduate of the local high school, is employed in Hoff- man's garage. Mrs. Liggett was born in Marysville. as were her parents, who are now deceased. They had four children, David, Richard. Lucinda and Anna.
Mr. and Mrs. Liggett are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active workers in the church and Sunday school. Mr. Liggett is one of the church stewards and is the president of the Merrill Bible class of this church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Royal and Select Masters, Rapier Commandery of Urbana, Ohio, and Aladdin Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Columbus, Ohio. He also holds his membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. In politics, he has always cast his ballot for the Democratic party, but owing to his extensive business interests has never been active in political circles.
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DR. WILLIAM CARY VIGOR.
The Vigor family have been residents of Union county, Ohio, for more than half a century, and the father of Dr. William Cary Vigor was the first physician to locate in Taylor township, settling near Broadway in the fall of 1864. The father of Doctor. Vigor was also a physician and three of his sons have made this their chosen profession. Doctor Vigor has been prac- ticing for the past thirty years and most of this time has been spent in Union county. He has been true to his profession and earnest in his efforts to enlarge his sphere of usefulness, and for this reason is one of the true bene- factors of his county. He stands well in the front ranks of Union county's professional men, and has established a sound reputation along medical lines as well as winning the esteem of his fellow citizens by the upright character of his life.
Dr. William Cary Vigor, the son of Henry and Joanna ( Cary) Vigor, was born at Etna. Licking county, Ohio, August 31, 1860. His father was born in Frome. Somerset, England, January 24. 1821, and his mother was born in Morris county, New Jersey. August 17, 1821. His mother traces her ancestry back to the Pilgrim fathers who came to Massachusetts in 1634.
Dr. Henry Vigor left England in 1840 and came to the United States. locating in New York, where he followed the tailor's trade for a short time. He then began the study of medicine and was engaged in the active practice of medicine from 1853 until his death in Knox county, Ohio, in 1910. On October 4, 1864, Dr. Henry Vigor came into Union county. Ohio, for the first time and immediately began the practice of his profession in Taylor township, near Broadway. He continued to practice here until 1872, when he moved to Knox county, Ohio, where he lived until his death. Dr. Henry Vigor was married August 16, 18.45, to Joanna Cary, and to this union twelve children were born, five of whom are still living: John H., who served dur- ing the Civil War as a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was killed in a railroad accident in Cin- cinnati: Dr. Frederick A., who practiced medicine in New Dover. Union county, from 1879 until his death in 1903: Dr. J. F., who is a practicing physician at Pomona, Kansas; Emma L., the wife of James E. Safford, of Knox county, Ohio: Ida M., the wife of W. F. Cranston, of Harrisburg. Pennsylvania: Dr. William C., of Union county, Ohio, and Charles E., of Marion, Ohio. Five children who were born to Dr. Henry Vigor and wife. died in infancy, and the mother died May 9. 1901.
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Dr. William Cary Vigor was only four years of age when his parents moved to Union county. His elementary education was received in the schools of Taylor township. After completing the education which was pro- vided by the schools of the county he entered the Columbus Medical Col- lege at Columbus, and graduated in the class of 1884, and immediately located at Long Lake, Minnesota, where he practiced for three years. He then re- turned to Ohio and located at Leonardsburg, in Delaware county, where he practiced for one year. On June 21, 1887, Doctor Vigor located in New California, Jerome township. Union county, Ohio, and here he has been practicing ever since. He is a member of the Union County, Ohio State and American Medical Societies, and deeply interested in everything pertain- ing to the advancement of his profession.
Doctor Vigor was married April 29, 1891, to Margaret Anna Parrett, a daughter of Charles, Sr., and Mary ( Bown) Parrett, natives of Somerset- shire. England, who came to America and located in Union county, Ohio, about 1870. Charles Parrett was born in England, January 7, 1820, and, coming to the United States, located in Union county, Ohio, about 1870. His death occurred here July 27. 1909. Mary ( Bown) Parrett was born in England, October 17, 1828, and died in Union county, Ohio, January 31, 1903.
Doctor Vigor and his wife are the parents of four children, William P .. Emma Gertrude, Mary Alice and Anna Laura. William P. was born Janu- ary 30, 1893, and is a graduate of the township high school and also of the Marysville high school, and has spent two years at Otterbein University. He is now living with his parents. Emma Gertrude was born February 25. 1896. and after graduating from the Jerome township high school, began to teach school in Jackson township in this county. Mary Alice was born May 1, 1899, and died August 4, 1900. Anna Laura, the youngest child of Doctor Vigor and wife. was born February 12, 1901, and is attending the common schools of Jerome township.
Politically, Doctor Vigor is a Republican and has served as clerk of Jerome township since September 1, 1890. a period of nearly twenty-five years. The family are all loyal members of the United Presbyterian church and have taken a deep interest in its welfare. Doctor Vigor is an elder in the church and a member of the board of trustees. Doctor Vigor has an interesting chest which has been handed down from his mother's side. It was in possession of John Cary, who brought it to this country in 1634. During the Revolutionary War the chest was in Morristown, New Jersey.
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It so happened that George Washington was stationed at the house where his chest was then kept, and in a secret drawer in this chest General Wash- ington kept some of his papers. It is needless to say that Doctor Vigor values this chest very highly.
ERNEST G. McCANN.
Among the worthy citizens of Marysville, Ohio, whose residence here has contributed in no small degree to the prestige of the vicinity, is Ernest G. McCann. While laboring for his individual advancement he has never for- gotten his obligations to the public and his support of such measures and movements as have been for the general good has always been depended upon. He is essentially a self-made man and from the age of thirteen has made his own way in the world. Through the long years of his residence in Marysville, he has always been true to the trusts reposed in him. His repu- tation in a business way is unassailable, and his whole life has been such as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held.
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