USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 64
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Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had two children, one who died in infancy, and Cora B., who married Joseph Grant Gault on October 23, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Gault are the parents of five children, three of whom are living: John
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Bennett. a student in the State University of Ohio: Edgar Howard, who is attending the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. Ohio, and Mary Louise, who is still in the public schools of her home county. Mr. Gault is a leading citizen of his township and county and one of its most progressive and enterprising farmers. He has just built a fine country home and owns one of the largest and best improved farms of the county. He and his wife are giving their children the best of educational advantages in order that they may be the better able to become useful members of society.
John F. Bennett was a Republican in politics and held numerous town- ship offices at various times. He had two hundred acres of fine land in this township and was remarkably successful in all his farming operations. He was an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church and interested in all its activities. During the Civil War he was a member of the Home Guards although he was never sent to the front. His widow is now living on the farm where they moved in March, 1872, about two miles east of Irwin.
LOUIS JOHN ZWERNER.
A member of the official family of Marysville is Louis John Zwerner, who is now filling the important position of city clerk. Although he was born and reared in Marysville, he has spent most of his career since reaching manhood in Columbus, Ohio, in the employ of a paper company in that city. For the past five years he has been engaged in the fire insurance busi- ness in Marysville as a member of the firm of Taylor & Zwerner, and has been very successful in building up a hicrative business.
Louis J. Zwerner, the son of John Michael and Amanda Catherine (Mast ) Zwerner, was born in Marysville, Ohio, February 17, 1882. His parents were both natives of Ohio and reared a family of nine children : Anna, a trained nurse of Marysville: Louis J., of Marysville: William A., of Columbus, Ohio: Clara F., the wife of Harry Sparks, of Geneva, Ohio : Matilda. single, of Columbus: Laura, single. of Columbus; Carl G., of Columbus: and two, Elizabeth and an infant. who died in infancy.
John M. Zwerner was reared in Union county, and when a young man became interested in the carriage manufacturing business in Marysville. For the past fourteen years he has lived in Columbus, Ohio, where he is now employed in the wood-working deparement of the Jeffry Manufacturing
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Company. He and his wife are both members of the German Lutheran church.
The paternal grandparents of Louis J. Zwerner were George and .Anna (Gunderman) Zwerner, natives of Germany and early settlers in Marys- ville. Ohio, where they both died at an advanced age. George Zwerner operated a grocery store, with the striking title "Across the Rhine," for his trademark. George Zwerner and wife reared a large family of children, Adam, John F .. John Michael, George, Anna, Margaret, Mary and others whose history is not recorded. The maternal grandparents of Louis J. Zwerner were early settlers in Union county, Ohio, and later moved to In- diana and settled near Portland, in Jay county, where they died well along in years. Mr. and Mrs. Mast reared a family of several children, George, John, Amanda Catharine, Mary. Katie and others who died in childhood.
Louis J. Zwerner was reared in Marysville and received his education in the German Lutheran parochial school of this place. At the age of thir- teen he was confirmed in his church and then entered the high school, where he was a student for three years. He then went to Columbus and worked for the Central Ohio Paper Company for nine years, after which he returned to Marysville and formed a partnership with John R. Taylor, under the firm name of Taylor & Zwerner. This firm is doing an ever-increasing busi- ness in fire insurance and during the four years it has been in operation has built up a large clientage in Marysville and throughout the county.
Mr. Zwerner was married on November 23, 1904, to Mabel Taylor, the daughter of John R. and Emma ( Bowen ) Taylor. To this union two chil- dren have been born, Elenor, Catharine and John Louis. Mrs. Zwerner was born in Leesburg township, in this county, on a farm. Her father and mother were both natives of this county. Her father is now a partner with Mr. Zwerner in the insurance business. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Ada, Effie, Wayne, Mabel and Opal.
Mr. Zwerner and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active workers in both the church and Sunday school. Mr. Zwerner is financial secretary of the church and is president of the Weaver Bible class. Politically, he has been a stanch Democrat and at the present time is serving as clerk of Marysville, as clerk of Paris township and as clerk of the school board. The Zwerner home is known for its genuine hospitality. Mr. Zwerner and wife take an active part in the various movements of Marys- ville which are advanced for the general welfare of the community.
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ARTHUR BURDETT SIMONS.
Among the more recent additions to the bar of Richwood, and one who gives promise of becoming an influential member of the legal profession in this town, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
Mr. Simons is a native of the Empire state. He was born in South New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, July 20, 1881. He is the son of Jewett Burdette Simons and Alice Cady Simons, but of whom are natives of New York state. They had five children, namely, Charles, of New Berlin, New York : Earl, of South New Berlin, New York; Arthur B .. the subject of this sketch : Audella, wife of Ray Sprague, of Albion, New York; and J. Cady Simens, who is living at the old home in Sidney, New York. The father of this family was born and reared on a farm in Chenango county, New York, and followed the occupation of farming for several years. It was about the year 1889 that he decided to change his occupation and turn his attention to other lines of business. With that purpose in view he removed to Sidney, New York, and made investments in real estate and engaged in business in that line. He and his wife are both living and still have their residence in Sidney, and are respected citizens of that community. They are both ad- herents of the Baptist faith and are faithful members and actively interested in affairs of that church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Elisha A. Simons: the maiden name of his wife was Abigail Sage, both natives of New York. The elder Simons was also a farmer in Chenango county of his native state. He was among the early settlers in that county and experienced the toil and priva- tion incident to those early times. He and his wife lived on this farm until their death at an advanced age. Only one of their small family, Jewett B .. lived to the age of maturity. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was Jewett Simons, who was distinguished by honorable service as a soldier in the War of 1812. On the maternal side the grandfather was William Cady, a native of New York. He had a family of five children. William, Willis, Celia Wall, Lewis and Alice. Lewis was a soldier in the Civil War, was taken prisoner and died in Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia.
Looking back along the line of the Simons ancestry, as far as it can be determined, it appears that they were principally engaged in farming, the older representatives of that family being among the hardy pioneers to whom the country is indebted for its early development and later progress. It is from such ancestry as this that Arthur B. Simons comes, although he has
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departed somewhat from the ancestral line of occupation. While he first saw the light of day on a farm he did not see it early enough to enable him to see much of farm life. Before he was of sufficient age to answer the call to the field of toil and perspiration, the parental home was removed to Sidney. where the most of his youthful years were spent.
Whatever there may have been of deprivation in the lack of industrial training in agricultural pursuits incident to a life on the farm, was com- pensated by the greater advantages for acquiring an education, afforded by the schools of Sidney. And Mr. Simons made good use of these educational advantages. He completed the course of study in the Sidney schools and graduated from the high school in 1900. Deciding to enter the legal pro- fession, he at once took up the study of law. He matriculated in the law department of Cornell University, graduated from that institution in 1903 and was admitted to the bar that same year. His first venture in practical application of his chosen profession was in Dunkirk, New York, where he opened an office and engaged in the practice for one year. He then returned to Sidney, his home town, where he formed a partnership with Charles H. Seeley and continued in this practice for four years. In 1908 he came to Richwood, Ohio, and engaged in the wholesale produce business in partner- ship with R. C. Case, his brother-in-law. in which business arrangement he is still interested. In a few years the desire to return to his first love pre- vailed, and turning the management of his mercantile business over to his partner on February 1, 1912, he opened a law office in Richwood and again engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. On the first of March, 1914, he associated himself with Milton Haines, a brief biographical sketch of whom appears in another place in this volume.
On October 11, 1905, Mr. Simons was united in marriage with Rose Case. a daughter of Jason and Lavonia (Lenox) Case. Three children have been born of that union, Jason, Elizabeth and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Case are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in everything pertaining to its maintenance and welfare.
In fraternal affairs Mr. Simons is a member of Sidney Lodge, No. 801. Free and Accepted Masons, and the Knights of Pythias lodge of Sidney. New York. Politically, he has always been a Republican and always ready to devote his time and his best efforts for the promotion of his party's inter- ests. He is city solicitor of Richwood at the present time.
Mrs. Simons is a native of Richwood, Ohio, as were her parents, who still reside there. They have two children, Ralph C., and Rose, the wife of Mr. Simons. Jason Case was among the young men of Ohio who responded
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to the call of their country and did faithful service during the Civil War. He is still living in the enjoyment of honors that belong to those who, in patriotic devotion, offered their lives as a sacrifice in the time of their country's need. The maternal grandfather was John Lenox ; the maiden name of his wife was Hoskins.
OTTWA A. KEIGLEY.
Among the men who have been identified with the newspaper business and who have made good in that line of industry the gentleman whose name heads this article is entitled to special mention. Ottwa A. Keigley was born in Madison county, Ohio, June 9, 1876, the son of McCrea and Margaret (Watkins) Keigley, who are also natives of Ohio. In the Keigley family there were five children, namely: Anna, wife of Howard Ray, of London, Ohio; William, of Madison county, Ohio; Catherine, living at home; Ottwa A., the subject of this sketch, of Richwood; and Carl, of Madison county, near London.
McCrea Keigley was born in Perry county, Ohio, and when he was about fifteen years old he came to Madison county and engaged in farming. This occupation he has followed all his life and he is thus engaged. The only interruption in his agricultural pursuits was when the rebels fired on Fort Sumter, a shot that electrified the nation and aroused the patriotic zeal in every loyal heart. The father of our subject was among the first of the loyal sons of Ohio to respond to the call of President Lincoln to defend the flag that had been outraged and dishonored at Fort Sumter. He en- listed as a private in the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment that rendered conspicuous and valorous service in the Civil War. After a four years' service in this regiment he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home and resumed the peaceful pursuits of farm life.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was William Keigley, and his wife was - (McCrea) Keigley, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Perry county. The grandfather died in Hocking county at the age of eighty-seven years. In this family of children were McCrea, Robert. Maria and Anna. The maternal grandfather was Robert Watkins and his wife was Catherine ( Carrell) Watkins. He was born in Lebanon, Tennes- see : his wife was born in Clark county, Ohio, of English descent. He was a farmer and stock buyer in Madison county, Ohio, where he resided the
OTTWA A. KEIGLEY.
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most of his married life. He was living here at the time of his death, in 1911, at the age of ninety-three years. The wife was eighty-two years of age at the time of her death. Their family consisted of seven children, David, Amanda, Margaret, William, Sarah, Alice, and one who died some years ago.
Ottawa A. Keigley was reared on his father's farm in Madison county. In common with all boys with like environments he was trained to habits of industry from his youth up. There is never any trouble in finding some- thing for the boy on the farm to do and his hours of labor are not governed by the union scale. FFrom early inorn till dewy eve he is expected to be busy and there is generally a controlling influence to see that he meets the require- ments in case he should be inclined to overlook a chance. While he may not so regard it at the time, such training and discipline are most essential ele- ments in the promotion of healthy physical development and strength of character, fitting him to compete successfully with others in the activities of life. He remained on the farm until he grew to manhood, receiving a good elementary education in the district schools which he regularly attended. He then went to Columbus and was employed for some time as bookkeeper for the Hocking Valley Railroad Company. Coming to Richwood, Novem- ber 18, 1908, he began work in the Gazette printing office and has continued in that employment ever since. He is now the manager of the office, a posi- tion which he is well qualified to fill, as he is himself a practical printer and thoroughly familiar with the mechanical work and business details of a printing office.
Mr. Keigley and Lulu Worden were united in marriage September 6. 1908. Mrs. Keigley is a daughter of George W. and Sylvia (Stephenson) Worden. She was born in Richwood on April 9, 1883. Her father was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, February 5, 1859, where he grew to manhood and followed the printer's trade. He came to Richwood in the seventies and here met the girl who afterwards became his wife. They returned to Shelbyville after marriage for about a year and then came to Richwood. In 1881 Mr. Worden purchased the Richwood Gasette, which was estab- lished in 1872, and he continued as publisher of that paper for a period of twenty-three years. He always took an active interest in public affairs and was a strong advocate of public improvements. He was largely instrumental in securing paved streets, the fine cement sidewalks and other important pub- lic improvements in Richwood. The Gazette has always been independent
(43)
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in politics and always an advocate for things best for the community. Mr. Worden died February 27, 1913, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. His wife, who was born May 4, 1860, is still living. Since early youth she has been a member of the Church of Christ, with which church her daughter, Mrs. Keigley, is also connected.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Keigley was Elisha Worden and his wife was Rebecca ( Wingate) Worden, natives of Indiana. The grand- father was a soldier in the Civil War and died in Shelbyville, Indiana, when a young man. His wife died on December 30, 1912, at the age of eighty- seven years. They had four children, George W., William, Anna and Smith. The maternal grandfather was L. H. Stephenson and his wife was Abigail (Graham) Stephenson. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, April 25. 1823. They had three children, Sylvia R., Rachel and Bluma Arabel.
JOHN N. LAIRD.
The chief executive officer of Union county, Ohio, is John N. Laird, who has been filling the sheriff's office since the fall of 1912 in a manner which places him among the most efficient officials the county has ever had. His father was a native of Ireland and when he died in this county in 1896, he was one of the largest land owners in .Leesburg township, and a man who was highly respected by everyone who knew him. Mr. Laird for many years has been connected with the business interests of Marysville and has so con- ducted his affairs as to gain an enviable place in the estimation of his fellow citizens.
John N. Laird, the son of Moses and Phoebe ( Hanawalt) Laird, was born in Leesburg township. Union county, Ohio, October 12, 1859. His father was a native of county Londonderry, Ireland, and his mother of Ross county, Ohio, and in this county they reared a family of twelve children : George H., deceased: John N., of Marysville; Allen, of Marysville; Anna, of Marysville: Lincoln, of Coal City, Indiana ; Mollie, the wife of Charles Sands; Lula, the wife of Albert Fields, of Dayton, Ohio; Ray, of Leesburg township; Frank, of Dover township: Clarence, of Dover township; Bessie. the wife of Roy Stiner, of Paris township, and Harry, who died at the age of fourteen.
Moses Laird was reared in Ireland and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. He was a descendant of one of those families who came from
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Scotland and settled in the northern part of Ireland, and a representative of that large group of good American citizens who are known as Scotch-Irish citizens. In 1838 Moses Laird came to America and first located in Phila- delphia, later settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. From that state he came to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he lived for several years and eventually permanently located in Union county. Upon coming to this county he cleared and improved a farm of two hundred acres in Leesburg township and gradually added to his land holdings until at the time of his death he owned five hundred acres of well improved land. He died in 1896 at the age of seventy-nine and his wife followed him in 1898 at the age of sixty. Both were loyal members of the Methodist church .. Moses Laird was married three times. His first wife was a Miss Parker and to this union four children, Isaac, Samuel, William and James, were born. His second wife was a Miss Rittenhouse and to this second union three children were born, David, Washington and Henry Nelson. His third wife was the mother of John N. Laird.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Laird were Thomas Laird and wife, natives of Ireland of Scotch-Irish descent. Thomas Laird came to America late in life and died in Pickaway county, Ohio. Five children were born to Thomas Laird and wife, Thomas, James, Moses, Jane and Catherine Rebecca. The maternal grandparents of John N. Laird were George and Becky ( Latta) Hanawalt, natives of Ross county, Ohio. The parents of both George Hana- walt and his wife were born in Pennsylvania. George and Becky Hanawalt came from Ross county to Union county, Ohio, early in the history of the county, and Mr. Hanawalt helped to cut the first road which ran from Plain City to Watkins. George Hanawalt located in Mill Creek township where he died at an advanced age. A large family of children were born to MIr. Hanawalt and his wife, Allen, John. William. Thomas, Phoebe, Hester, Mary and Sarah.
John N. Laird was reared in Leesburg township on his father's farm and received his education in the schools of that township. He then farmed on the home farm for several years and in 1883 came to Marysville, but re- turned shortly afterwards to the old home farm where he lived until 1890. In that year he returned to Marysville where he has since resided. For twenty years he managed a feed and sales stable on Sixth street. While lie is filling the position of sheriff of the county he is renting his stable in order to give all of his attention and time to his official duties.
Mr. Laird is a stanch Republican in politics and has taken an active interest in political affairs in his county. He was elected to the position of
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county sheriff in 1912 and filled this office with such universal satisfaction that he was re-elected on November 4, 1914, by the largest majority of any man ever elected to an office in Union county. He was chief of the fire department of Marysville for nine years and was deputy marshal of the village for two terms. He was president of the board of agriculture for six years and a member of the board for about twelve years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men.
CYRUS C. WILLIAMS.
The three score and ten years which have covered the career of Cyrus C. Williams thus far have all been spent in Union county, Ohio, where he was born. Serving as a mere youth in the Civil War, he returned to his home county at the close of that struggle and has been engaged in peaceful pur- suits for the past half century with a very flattering degree of success. Year in and year out he has taken his part in the community's affairs and has had unusual pride in the general advancement of civilization in his county. As a business man he is one of the oldest in the county and as president of the Williams & McIntire Company, he is one of the leaders in the business life of Marysville.
Cyrus C. Williams, the son of Matthew and Sarah ( Mather ) Williams, was born in Marysville, Ohio, November 1, 1845. His parents, both of whom were natives of Ohio, reared a family of five children : Cyrus C., of Marysville: Dorcas A., deceased, who was the wife of Samuel P. McIntire : Florence, the wife of James McAdams, of Marysville; Robert, of Columbus, Ohio. and Elias, who died in infancy.
Matthew Williams was born in Ross county, Ohio, and reared in Union county, where he spent most of his life. His birth occurred in 1815 and he died at New Dover. Union county, in 1895. His widow survived him about three years and passed away at the advanced age of eighty. Matthew Will- iams and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian church for many years and later transferred their membership to the Methodist Episcopal denomination.
The paternal grandparents of Cyrus C. Williams were Daniel and Christiana ( Badley) Williams, natives of Maryland and pioneer settlers in Ross and Union counties, Ohio, dying in the latter county. Three children
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were born to Daniel Williams and wife, Matthew, Elias and Hester. The maternal grandparents of Cyrus C. Williams were James Mather and wife, natives of Virginia and pioneer settlers in Union county, Ohio. James Mather was a soldier in the War of 1812 and he and his wife reared a large family of children in Union county, Aaron, John, Sarah, Maria, Mary, Angeline, Rebecca and Caroline.
Cyrus C. Williams spent his boyhood days in Marysville and attended the public schools of this city. Later his parents moved to New Dover, in this county, where he continued his schooling until he enlisted for service in the Civil War in 1863. He was a member of Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment which was mustered in for a six-months' service. At the expiration of his enlistment he came home in March, 1864, and six days later he re-enlisted in Company F, Sixty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a veteran regiment, and served until the close of the war. He was mustered out in June, 1865, and discharged in the following month.
After the close of the war Mr. Williams returned to his home in Union county, married and began farming in Dover township. A few years later he went into the timber and lumber business and has followed this line of activity since that time. For many years he was in company with S. E. McIntire in the manufacture of lumber and drain tile. In 1909 the company was incorporated under the name of Williams & McIntire Company with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. This company is now doing a large business throughout this section of the state. The company has forty acres of land in connection with their plant and are equipped in such a man- ner as to turn out a large quantity of goods each year.
Mr. Williams was married April 12, 1866, to Margaret A. Filler, the daughter of Adam and Mary Ann (Griffith) Filler, and to this union seven children have been born, Willerd, Lewis, Claude, Charles, Fred, Harry and Mary. Willerd, who married Annie White, is secretary of the Williams & McIntire Company. Lewis is in the insurance business in Delaware, Ohio. He married Vertie Hobert and has two children. Max and Erdine. Erdine married Bernard Cody and has two children. Claude is treasurer and gen- eral manager of the Williams & McIntire Company. He married Emma Hurd. Charles, who died at the age of thirty-five. married Maggie Mader and had four children, Marguerite, Paul, Donald and Ernest. Fred, who married Anna Otte, works in his father's factory. His wife died, leaving one daughter, Anna, and he afterwards married Gertrude Walker, a native of Tennessee, and by his second marriage he has two sons, Harold and John.
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