USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 63
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made American. a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults of his neighbors and always stood ready to unite with them in every good work.
James H. Gillespie, the son of James and Mary (Phillips) Gillespie, was born at Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, March 7. 1819, and died at his home in Union county, Ohio, July 23, 1894. His father was born in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, and his mother was a native of Kentucky. His father came to Ohio early in its history and settled near Urbana, where he followed the trade of a tanner until his death in February, 1823. His widow survived him three years, not passing away until September, 1826.
James H. Gillespie learned the tanner's trade and followed that occupa- tion for a number of years at Milford where he located after leaving Cham- paign county. He began work at Milford, March 4. 1841. and continued to reside there until the fall of 1848, when he moved to a farm between Irwin and Milford, which he made his home the remainder of his days.
Mr. Gillespie was married October 2, 1845. to Anna E. Hathaway, a daughter of Doctor Nicholas and Elizabeth ( Mitchell) Hathaway. and to this union were born three children : Mary E., who died September 7, 1910; Harvey M., who died in Pennsylvania, June 21. 1888, and Gertrude, the wife of William D. Parrish, an insurance agent of Columbus.
Dr. Nicholas Hathaway. the father of Mrs. Gillespie, was born Decem- ber 4, 1773. Doctor Hathaway's wife was born at West Newton, Pennsyl- vania, while the Doctor was a native of Freetown, Massachusetts. Dr. Hath- away came to Union county, Ohio, with fifty-one people, arriving in this county July 15, 1817. The party drove through from the East. leaving Massachusetts June 1, and being on the road day by day until they arrived here on the 15th of the following month.
Dr. Hathaway was a graduate of Brown University, at Providence, Rhode Island, and practiced medicine at Freetown, Massachusetts, for a num- ber of years before coming to Ohio. He also practiced for a number of years in Union county. He was one of the first judges of this county, serv- ing at a time when three judges were elected in each county. He was later elected to the Legislature and served two terms, his first term beginning in 1825 and his second term in 1832. He was a large land owner and had one thousand acres of land between Irwin and Milford where he lived. He did not care to continue in the practice of his profession, but as physicians were few in his day in number and poorly equipped for their work. he was fre- quently called upon as long as he lived. With his college training it is safe to say that he was as well qualified to practice medicine as any man in the
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state of Ohio during the twenties and thirties. He died in this county August 24. 1848, and his widow lived until February 15, 1853.
Mr. Gillespie was a life-long farmer and continued to follow this occu- pation until a few years before his death in 1894. His widow is still living on the old home farm and in the same house in which they moved in March, 1849. She now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. William D. Parrish.
JOHN ELLIOTT.
There is no calling, however humble, in which enterprise and industry, coupled with intelligent and well directed purpose, will not be productive of some measure of success, and in the line of agricultural pursuits the qualities mentioned are essential. Among the well known and highly respected farm- ers of Union county, who have attained to a degree of success in their line, is the gentleman who is the subject of this brief review.
John Elliott was born on the farm just across the road from where he now lives, July 25, 1859, and is the son of Wellen and Mary J. (Taylor) Elliott. The father of our subject was born near Belmont, in Belmont county, Ohio, and was the son of John Elliott. Sr., who brought his family to Union county and settled here in an early day. Wellen Elliott had a family of nine children, Asbury, Harvey, Marker, Mrs. Zelda Reams, George, John, Wellen, Alonzo, and one who died in infancy.
John Elliott received his education in the common schools of the county and worked on the farm when not attending school. On January 6, 1881. he was united in marriage with Olive Wood, daughter of Alpheus and Fannie (Staley) Wood, who were natives of Union county and have always resided here. In the Wood family there were nine children. namely: Flora, who married Mr. Shank ; Olive, wife of Mr. Elliott : Lutrell; Sarah, who married Mr. Beightler ; Emnia ; Clara J., who married Mr. Elliott; Mary, who also married a Mr. Elliott : John. and William, deceased.
John Elliott has seven children in his family, namely: Lutrell, who married Jessie Beard; Debbie, who married I. Parthmer, and has a family of five children, named Cecil, Hershell, Sylvia, Harold and Ludell: Pearl, Hazel, Lewis, Arthur and one who died in infancy. Mr. Elliott is con- nected with the United Brethren church of which he has been a life-long member and a consistent communicant. He is identified with all the activ- ities in which his church is engaged, and he is interested in every cause that
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tends to the betterment of the community and the encouragement of Christianity.
The farm which Mr. Elliott owns and operates is not one of the larger farms of the county but it contains some of the finest land in the county. There are fifty-two acres in his farm and it has been brought to a high state of cultivation under Mr. Elliott's judicious management. In addition to his farming he engages extensively in stock raising which adds considerably to the revenue received from the farm. Politically, Mr. Elliott is a Repub- lican and has firm faith in the policies of that party, believing, with McKin- ley, the favorite son of Ohio, that Republican policy is the synonym for prosperity.
FRANK P. MILLER.
Union township. Union county, Ohio, has been the home of Frank P. Miller since he was born more than forty years ago. He is now operating a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-four acres which he has been manag- ing for one year. He is taking an active interest in the life about him and has so lived as to merit the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
Frank P. Miller, the son of James and Elizabeth ( Romine) Miller, was born in Union township, Union county, Ohio, February 2, 1871. His father was born in Pennsylvania. His parents reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living: Oscar, of Milford Center ; Abbie. the wife of John Brown. a farmer of this county: Arthur, who lives at Alger, Ohio; Anna, the wife of William Lloyd, of Dayton, Ohio; Lydia, the wife of Thomas Hinton. a farmer of this county; George W., of Mechanicsburg, Ohio: Mary, who lives near Milford Center ; Frank P .. with whom this nar- rative deals: and one who died at the age of two. The mother of these children died March 6, 1874. and the father is now living at Alger, Ohio, with his son.
Frank P. Miller was educated in the schools of Union township and remained at home until his marriage. He then began farming and has lived in this county all his life except seven years which he spent in Champaign county on a farm. He has engaged in general farming and stock raising and ha- met with good success in this dual line of activity.
Mr. Miller was married October 25, 1893, to Ella Shanks, the daughter Joseph and Jennie ( Hammond ) Shanks, natives of Union county. To
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this union were born four children, two of whom are living, the other two dying in infancy. Cecil B. and Ercil F. are the two children now living and are at home with their parents.
The mother of Mrs. Miller died in Union county, May 2, 1897, having been born and lived all of her life in this county. After the death of her mother. her father married Flora Barker and moved to Kenton, Ohio, where he died March 21, 19II. To the first marriage of Joseph Shanks were born three children, Mrs. May Hill, Mrs. Frank P. Miller and Clinton, who mar- ried Sallie Skiles, and now lives in Mechanicsburg, Ohio.
Fraternally, Mr. Miller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Sons of Veterans. His father enlisted in 1862 from Champaign county, Ohio, as a member of Com- pany V. Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for about a year and a half, being discharged on account of disabilities arising from wounds. Mr. Miller has given his hearty support to the Republican party but is not a partisan in any sense of the word, always casting his ballot for the best men in local affairs, irrespective of their political affiliations.
OLIVER P. LENOX.
Holding distinctive prestige among the leading business men of Rich- wood, Union county, Ohio, and standing out clear and distinct as one of the public spirited citizens of his community, Oliver P. Lenox has an honor- able record. and is worthy of special mention among the representative busi- ness men of the county of which he is a native and in which he has always made his home. His life has been one of unceasing industry and persever- ance, and his strict integrity and honorable dealings with his fellow men have gained for him the confidence and esteem of the community. He is eminently worthy of the place which is conceded him among the progressive enterpris- ing citizens of the town, one of those to whom the town is largely indebted for its advancement.
Oliver P. Lenox was born in Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, December 4, 1848. He is a son of John T. and Rachel Lenox, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Delaware county, Ohio. There were seven children in this family, namely: William H., of Marion, Ohio; Lavonia, wife of Jason Case, of Richwood, Ohio; Oliver P., of Richwood; Cynthia, wife of W. C. Hastings, of Richwood: Anna, wife of F. M. Mun-
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ford, of Harriman, Tennessee; Lemuel, deceased, and one who died in in fancy.
John T. Lenox was reared in Maryland and came to Ohio when a young man. He settled first in Delaware county and was married while living there. He came to Union county in 1848 and located about two miles north- west of Richwood where he bought one hundred acres of land and engaged in farming. He added other acres to his original purchase from time to time until he had a landed estate of six hundred and forty acres, mostly covered with the native forest at the time of purchase. The clearing of this forest and the changing of the primitive wild into cultivated acres required an amount of labor and toil that can be fully appreciated only by the pioneer settler. To this labor and toil the father of our subject applied himself. He cleared the forest, fenced the ground and cultivated the fields, which were very productive and yielded good returns for the labor expended. In time he had one of the largest and best farms in the county. As a farmer he was fully abreast of the times, employing all of the improved methods and ma- chinery known to farmers of his day. On this farm he had a comfortable home and here he lived and reared his family. He died here in 1880 at the age of sixty-one years. His wife died in 1892, aged seventy-two years. They were both members of the Methodist Protestant church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Lenox and the maiden name of his wife was Phillips. They were born in Maryland and were of English descent. Their children were John T., Susan, Luke, Mary, Richard and Elijah. The maternal grandfather was John Hoskins and his wife's maiden name was Perry. They were natives of Wales and coming to American in early years they settled in Delaware county and were among the pioneers in that county. They both died there. he at the age of fifty-five and she at the age of sixty years. They had eight children, Elizabeth. Jane. Ann, Rachel, Lavonia, Jacob, Perry and Ebenezer.
Oliver P. Lenox was reared on his father's farm and lived there until he was thirty years of age. From early youth he was trained to the rugged work required of farmers in the time in which he lived. As a boy he con- tributed his share in this required rugged work and as a young man he con- tinued to devote his energies in the development and improvement of his father's farm. By practical methods and intelligent application of ideas in the business of farming he was no small factor in the development of the farm to the high state of cultivation which it attained. His education was obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood, which he attended with as much regularity as permissible of a farmer boy. When he left the farm
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he moved to Richwood but continued to operate the farm for two years. Then he and his brother, William, engaged in the live stock and grain business until 1886, when they bought the Camp. Randall & Lyon elevator. His brother retired from the firm in 1900 and Oliver P. continued the business alone until 1913. Since then he has been retired from active business, occupying his time in looking after his property interests, his son, Ralph W .. having succeeded him in the grain business.
Mr. Lenox was united in marriage, September 12, 1878, with Ruth Fisher, daughter of Larkin D. Fisher. Five children have been born to this union. Ralph W., Oiver P., Marian. Helen and Robert S. As has been stated, Ralph W. is his father's successor in the grain business in Richwood. He married Vera Van Winkle. Oliver P. died at the age of thirty years, lacking one day : he married Mayme Hickey. Marian died at the age of six months. Helen is a graduate from the Columbus high school and Ohio State University and is now living at home. Robert S. is at home.
Mr. Lenox is a stockholder and director in the Fairbanks Steam Shovel Company, of Marion ; is president of the Richwood Telephone Company : a stockholder in the Richwood Banking Company, and is interested in two live stock commission firms in Cleveland. Aside from his various business inter- ests he takes an active interest in political affairs. His affiliations are with the Republican party and he is an ardent advocate of the principles of that party. He believes that the simple name, Republican, is sufficient to cover all the principles for which that party has always stood and for which it stands now, without any prefixes or affixes. But if there is a classification necessary for the political faith to which Mr. Lenox adheres it should be understood that he is a Republican "standpatter."
Mrs. Lenox was born in Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, Octo- ber. 1859. Her father and mother were early settlers in Union county and spent their lifetime here, the mother's death occurring at the age of thirty-six and the father's at the age of eighty-four years. In their family of children there were Ruth, Charles M., Fannie, and two who died in youth. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lenox was Benjamin Fisher ; the maiden name of his wife was Cramer.
Up to the time of his retirement in 1913, Mr. Lenox was the oldest con- tinuous business man in Richwood, covering a period of over thirty years. In all the various business enterprises in which he has been engaged, while concerned in the advancement of his personal and private interests, he has not placed private interests above the welfare and development of his town.
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FRED J. AUER.
The Marysville Wire Fence and Lumber Company is one of the pros- perous business establishments of Marysville, and under the efficient man- agement of Fred J. Auer has come to occupy a prominent place in the busi- ness life of Marysville and. Union county. Mr. Auer was born in this county and has spent practically all of his life since reaching the age of fifteen in Marysville. Starting in as a carpenter, he afterwards organized the Marysville Cabinet Company, with which he was connected for many years and here secured that wide experience which has made him such a suc- cessful manager of the Wire Fence and Lumber Company of Marysville.
Fred J. Auer. the son of Peter and Mary (Geer) Auer, was born in Darby township. Union county, Ohio, August 3, 1858. His parents were natives of Bavaria, Germany, and Union county, Ohio, respectively, and reared a family of six children in this county: Fred J., of Marysville; Maggie, the wife of Frank Maas, of Olympia. Washington: Barbara, de- ceased, the wife of Frank Roher: John, of Marysville: William, of Marys- ville : and Bertha, the wife of J. L. Miller, of Marysville.
Peter Auer was reared and educated in Germany and there learned the trade of a dyer. He came to America when a young man, in 1856, and located in Darby township. in this county, where he followed farming until 1869. In that year he moved to Kansas and lived five years in Shawnee county, near Topeka. He then returned to Union county, Ohio, and went into the butcher business, following this until his death, in 1899. at the age of sixty-eight. His wife died in May, 1914, at the age of seventy-six. Both were members of the German Lutheran church.
The maternal grandparents of Fred J. Auer were Leonard and Barbara (Preiss) Geer, natives of Germany and early settlers in Union county, Ohio. where they were farmers in Darby township. Mr. Geer died on the farm, while his wife passed away in Marysville. Four children were born to Leonard Geer and wife, Margaret. Barbara. Leonard and Mary. Mr. Geer's widow married a second time, to Mr. Wagner, and to her second union one son, John, was born.
Fred J. Auer was reared on his father's farm in Darby township until he was fifteen years of age. He then came to Marysville and learned the carpenter's trade and became an employe of the Robinson-Curry Company. Subsequently, he organized the Marysville Cabinet Company and remained at the head of this establishment for about sixteen years as general manager.
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After spending about one year in the saw mill business at Bellefontaine. Ohio, he returned to Marysville and became associated with the Marysville Wire Fence and Lumber Company as assistant manager. Four years later he was made general manager of this company, which position he has since retained. This company was incorporated in 1909 with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Mr. Auer was married in 1880 to Nettie Schmidt, the daughter of Henry and Annetta Schmidt. To this union three children have been born, Wilhelmina, Marie and Chester L. Wilhelmina became the wife of Charles L. Schlegel, of Marysville, and has one daughter, Florence. Marie is the wife of Louis Taylor, of Plain City, Ohio, and has three children, Eugene, Russell and Alnett. Chester L., who married Georgia Jewell, is in the ce- ment stave silo manufacturing business in Marysville.
Mrs. Auer was born in Galion, Ohio, her parents being natives of Ger- many and early settlers in that place. Both are now deceased. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, Henry, Nettie, Reinhardt. Frederick and Lizzie.
Mr. Auer and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He gives his hearty support to the Democratic party and has served two terms as a member of the council of Marysville.
ROWLAND C. MOULTON.
A review of the life of the honored and lamented Rowland C. Moulton must of necessity be brief and general in character. To enter fully into the interesting details of his career, particularly the struggles of his early man- hood and the successes of his later days would far transcend the limits of this biography. He filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public spirited men of his day and generation and the luster of his deeds and the memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of Union county, where he did his work and achieved his success. Sufficient is submitted to prove him entitled to the honorable position he long occupied among the energetic. self made men of Union county, Ohio, who, by enterprise and unswerving integrity, forge to the front despite all opposition.
Rowland C. Moulton, the son of Fenius and Maria ( Cotton ) Moulton. was born in West Randolph, Vermont. February 5, 1821, and died at his
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home in Champaign county, Ohio, May 27. 1908. He received a good com- mon school education in the public schools of his native state and later entered a law school and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was also interested in music and in his younger days taught vocal music at various places.
In 1848 Rowland C. Moulton came to Ohio and remained here for about two years, after which he went to Illinois and stayed a few months. From that state he went to Wisconsin and for a year lived at Sheboygan. He then returned to Ohio and taught vocal music and also practiced law.
Mr. Moulton was married June 6, 1854. to Olive Pearl Howard, a daughter of Anson and Olive ( Pearl) Howard. Anson Howard was born April 3. 1781, and his wife was born July 1. 1790, both being natives of Windham, Connecticut. Anson Howard and wife were married at Wind- ham January 2, 1812, and came west in 1817. locating in Union township. Union county, Ohio. They made the long overland trip in a wagon and during the first winter in Union county lived with a man by the name of Culver. In the following spring of 1818, they moved to Champaign county and Mr. Howard entered into partnership with Mr. Burnham in the dairy business. They bought dairy cattle and made butter and cheese, hauling their product to Cincinnati by wagon. For nearly two years Mr. Howard followed this business and then bought the farin on which his daughter, Mrs. Moulton. is now living. This was military land and owing to the peculiar manner in which it was surveyed, Mr. Howard was compelled to make many trips on horseback to the land office on the Ohio river. He added to his land holdings from time to time and at the time of his death owned five hundred acres of land where Mrs. Moulton is now living, and also had a half interest in five hundred acres in Champaign county, Ohio. Mr. Howard died March 28, 1849, and his widow passed away October 6, 1860. Anson Howard and wife were the parents of four children: Anson Pearl, who died July 29. 1901 : George Pearl, who died April 14, 1855 : Charles Phillip, who died July IT. 1829, and Olive Pearl, the widow of Rowland C. Moulton.
Mr. Moulton and his wife were the parents of two children, Olive Pearl, who died September 11. 1863, and Mary, the wife of Charles B. Whiley, of Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Whiley have two children, Dorothy Bell. who married Philip R. Peters, and Olive Pearl.
Mrs. Moulton is now living on the old homestead in the same house which was built by her father in 1834. She still enjoys good health and is beloved by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
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JOHN FOSTER BENNETT.
An enumeration of those men of a past generation of Union county, Ohio, who were successful in their life work and at the same time left the impress of their strong personalities upon the community, men who won honor and recognition for themselves, and at the same time conferred honor upon the localities in which they resided, would be incomplete without the mention of John Foster Bennett, who for many years occupied a prominent place in the history of this county. Although he is now sleeping the sleep of the just, his influence still pervades the lives of those who were so fortunate as to enjoy his acquaintance and his name is deeply engraved on the pages of Union county history. His life was a busy one, but he never allowed it to interfere with his Christian obligations, or the faithful performance of his daily duties, so that his entire life was a steady effort for the worth of Chris- tian doctrine. Quiet and unassuming in his daily life, yet he was a man of strong convictions and one who could never be swerved from the path of duty.
John Foster Bennett, the son of William F. and Experience ( Foster ) Bennett, was born in Vermont, November 22, 1834, and died at his home in Union county, Ohio, October 23, 1906. His father and mother were both natives of Vermont and spent all of their lives in that state.
John F. Bennett came west with his aunt, Mrs. Anna Smith, when twelve years of age. He received his education in the schools of Vermont and this county. He came by water to Cleveland, Ohio, and then drove in a carriage to Union county, where he found work on the farms and a home in one of the hospitable log cabins of Union township. This was his first step in the world after leaving school. He worked on a farm about two miles east of where his widow is now living. He grew to manhood in this county and spent his entire life in this county on the farm.
Mr. Bennett was married December 9, 1857, to Harriett McBride, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth ( Melenety ) McBride, natives of Peun- sylvania, of Irish descent. The McBride family came from Pennsylvania to Union county, Ohio, in 1855, and here lived the remainder of their days. Alexander McBride died in September, 1882, his wife having died many years before, November 1. 1861.
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