USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 73
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
James WV. Hamilton was reared on his father's farm in Taylor township and received such education as was afforded by the district schools of his home neighborhood. He remained on the home farm until his marriage in 1888, and then began farming for himself on his present farm of ninety-six acres five miles northwest of Marysville. He has lived the simple and unostenta- tious life of the good American citizen, doing his duty as he saw it and con- tributing his share toward the welfare of the community about him. While carrying on general farming he has given particular attention to the rais- ing of high-class horses and has met with good success along this line.
Mr. Hamilton was married October 17, 1888, to Clara A. Bouic, of Mill Creek township, and to this union seven children have been born: James, Mary, Ruth, Catherine, George W., William T. and Clara B. James lives in Patterson, Ohio, and Catherine is now a student in the State Uni- versity at Athens, Ohio, and Mary is attending the Ohio State University. Ruth was married December 24, 1914, to Orrin Shaw and resides on a farm in Paris township, while the remainder of the children are still living at home with their parents. Politically, Mr. Hamilton gives his support to the Democratic party. He and his family are members of the Disciples church and are interested in its welfare. Fraternally, he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. He is a past grand of the Odd Fellows lodge at Broadway.
WILLIAM H. GOFF.
A veteran of the Civil War, a large land owner, a successful mill oper- ator, William H. Goff is one of the honored citizens of Union county, Ohio. He enlisted in the Civil War at the age of nineteen, was severely wounded several times, and was on crutches for nearly three years after the war closed. He has taken a prominent part in the life of his community since the Civil War and is one of the largest land owners and most successful farmers of the county. In every respect he has measured up to the highest type of American citizenship, and is eminently entitled to representation in a history of his county.
William H. Goff, the son of Harvey P. and Adeline (Castle) Goff, was born near Concord, Licking county, Ohio, January 23, 1843. His parents were natives of Vermont and early settlers in Licking county, Ohio, coming to that county more than one hundred years ago. Four children were born
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM H. GOFF.
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to Harvey P. Goff and wife: Sanford, who died in 1870; William H., of Broadway, and two daughters who died in early childhood.
Harvey P. Goff was reared in Vermont and came to Licking county, Ohio, when a young man before his marriage. He met Adeline Castle in Licking county. They were married in 1840 and in 1860 came to Union county. Shortly after his marriage, Harvey P. Goff was seriously crippled, but despite this handicap he made a good living and acquired a farm of one hundred acres which he improved. He and his wife were loyal and con- sistent members of the Baptist church. He lived to be seventy years of age and his wife lived to be over eighty. He was a man of considerable educa- tion and used to write special articles for the Marysville Tribune before the Civil War. He was postmaster before the railroad was built through Broad- way and used to keep the postoffice at his own house.
The paternal grandparents of William H. Goff were Samuel and Betsey (Peck) Goff. They were reared and married in Massachusetts, where he followed the trade of a shingle maker. Later Samuel Goff and family came to Licking county, Ohio, and in 1860 to Union county, where they located one mile east of Broadway. They were taken back to Concord, in Licking county, where they were buried, both of them being past eighty years of age at the time of their death.
The Goff family history has a record of a William Goff, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and William H., with whom this narrative deals, has his old flintlock musket, which he carried throughout that war. It was made in Massachusetts in 1775, and has engraved on it the words, "Lib- erty or Death." Harvey P. Goff, the father of William H., was born in Topsham, Vermont, July 25, 1814, and died December 21, 1884, aged seventy years, four months and twenty-six days. Adeline D. (Castle) Goff was born in Essex, Vermont, February 12, 1816, and died at Broadway, Ohio, June 14, 1900, at the age of eighty-four years, four months and two days.
The maternal grandfather of William H. Goff was Sanford Castle, a native of Vermont and an early pioneer of Licking county, Ohio. He was a deacon in the Baptist church at Gradville, and afterwards a deacon in the same church at Alexandria, Ohio, where he died.
William H. Goff was reared in Licking county, Ohio, and came with his parents to Union county, in March, 1860, and has since made his home here with the exception of the time he spent in the army. He enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for two years and seven months. He was wounded no less than
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four times and had many narrow escapes from death. While guarding a train at the battle of Chickamauga, between Chattanooga and Bridgeport, he was wounded in the face, made a prisoner and taken to McMinnville, where he received hospital treatment. He went back to his regiment in January, 1863, and was wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and wounded so seriously that he could hardly walk for more than two years, being compelled to hobble around on crutches. He was discharged in March, 1865, and im- mediately returned to Union county, where he has since lived.
Upon returning to his home he built a sawmill which he still owns, and which is running yet today with a record of half a century of continuous service. He has invested in land from time to time and is now the owner of two hundred and sixty-three and one-half acres of land in Taylor town- ship, and three hundred and nineteen acres in Liberty township. He owns the sawmill, lumber yard and other property in Broadway. He has divided liis time for the past half century between his sawmill and his agricultural interests, with the result that he is today one of the most substantial men of his county.
Mr. Goff was married August 16, 1870, to Sylvira J. Watson, the daugh- ter of James and Silia ( Lane) Watson, and to this union eight children have been born: Alice, Loren B., Lydia O., Oscar W. (died at the age of two years and ten months), Bertha (deceased). William W., Clarence and Vernon. Loren B. is unmarried and operates the sawmill for his father. Alice was the wife of William S. Fogle, and died, leaving four children, Zutla, George and William, twins, Ruth, deceased, and Gerald. Lydia O. is the wife of William Collins, and has seven children, Harold, Neva, Floe, Mary. Paul. Lonna and Carl, deceased. William W. operates his father's farm and helps to look after the sawmill. He married Ada Blue and has one son, Dwight. Clarence, a farmer, married Mamie Bacon and has one son, Drell. Zula is the wife of Charles Green and has one son, Charles. Vernon died at the age of about seven, and Bertha died at the age of twenty-one.
Mr. and Mrs. Goff are members of the Broadway Baptist church, and Mr. Goff is a trustee of his denomination. He is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and is one of the oldest members of the lodge in Broadway. He is a member of the Ransom Reed Post, No. 113. Grand Army of the Republic, at Marysville, and his wife is a member of the Women's Relief Corps, at Richwood. Politically, Mr. Goff has long been identified with the Republican party, and has served as justice of the peace and township clerk.
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
Mrs. Goff was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and her parents were natives of Connecticut. Her parents, both of whom are now deceased, reared a family of several children : Sarah, Mary and Julia twins, Sylvira and Elvira.
Mr. Goff is one of the most public-spirited citizens of his community and no measure looking toward the welfare of his community fails to receive his hearty support. He served his country well and faithfully during the Civil War and nearly sacrificed his life for the flag that he loved. His life since that time has been such as to commend him to his fellow citizens.
WILLIAM W. GOFF.
One of the youngest farmers of Taylor township, Union county, is William W. Goff, who is now serving as clerk of Taylor township. He is a young man of energy and ability and has already impressed his fellow citizens as a man of influence. He has an excellent education and is well informed on the current issues of the day.
William W. Goff. the son of W. H. and Sylvira J. ( Watson ) Goff, was born September 8, 1883, on the farm where he is now living in Taylor town- ship. His parents, who are now living in Broadway, Ohio, reared a family of seven children, four of whom are now living: Loren B., a mechanic at Broadway. Ohio; Lydia O., the wife of W. F. Collins : William W., of Tay- lor township, and Clarence H., of Taylor township.
William W. Goff was reared on the farm where he is now residing, and after attending the public schools of his home township, entered Ohio North- ern University at Ada. Ohio. After taking the course in that excellent in- stitution he returned home and clerked for two years in a hardware store at Broadway, after which he took up farming, assuming the management of his father's farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres. He is a general farmer, devoting his attention to the raising of grain and live stock with a success which stamps him as one of the coming farmers of the township.
Mr. Goff was married March 16, 1905. to Ada D. Blue, a daughter of Jacob Blue, of Taylor township. Mrs. Goff was born in Jackson township. in this county, in 1886, and graduated from the Broadway high school with the class of 1904. Mr. Goff and his wife have one son. William Dwight, who was born June 23. 1907.
Mr. Goff and his wife are both loyal and consistent members of the
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UNION COUNTY, OH10.
Baptist church, and take a deep interest in all church and Sunday school work. At the present time Mr. Goff is superintendent of the Sunday school of his church in Broadway. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. They have both filled all the chairs in their respective lodges. Mr. Goff is a member of the Taylor Township Protective Association and the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, he gives his support to the Republican party, and was nominated and elected by his party as clerk of Taylor township in November. 1911. At the expiration of his first term he was re-elected and is now filling this position in a manner satisfactory to the citizens of the township, irrespective of their political affiliations.
WILLIAM STEPHEN FOGLE.
For a quarter of a century, William Stephen Fogle has been identified with the business life of Broadway, Union county, Ohio. He started in sell- ing buggies, when a young man. He bought two buggies on credit, came to Broadway and for two months, one summer, sold buggies, clearing two hun- dred and eighty dollars. Thus he made his start in life. He is essentially a self-made man and has met with more than usual success along the pathway of life. He has given his careful attention to his business interests and has had the satisfaction of seeing his business increase from year to year.
William Stephen Fogle, who is the proprietor of a general hardware and implement store at Broadway, Ohio, was born in Leesburg township, Union county, Ohio, February 6. 1866. He is the son of George and Martha (Parr) Fogle, natives of Noble county and Licking county, respectively. George Fogle and wife were the parents of two children, William S. and Adeline, who died in California in December, 1912. She was the wife of John Laughery, and after his death she married John Bowlus.
George Fogle was reared in Noble county, Ohio, and was a life-long farmer. He served three years in the Civil War as a private under General Garfield, and participated in many of the hardest fought battles of that strug- gle. After the close of the war, he farmed in Leesburg township, in Union county, on a farm of fifty acres. Later he sold this farm and bought one hundred and six acres in Taylor township, on which he lived for a number of years. He then sold this farm, bought one in Hardin county, lived on it for several years and finally sold it and bought property in Marion, where
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM S. FOGLE.
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he lived for some time. Late in life he moved to Broadway, bought a resi- dence and was living here at the time he was killed by a runaway team in 1903, at the age of sixty-five. His wife still survives him and is now seventy years of age. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The paternal grandparents of William S. Fogle were William and Ellen (Gipson) Fogle, natives of Pennsylvania, and early pioneer settlers of Union county. Ohio, where they lived to a good old age. William Fogle and wife were the parents of a large family of children, Eli, Jacob, Rufus, George, Albert, James, Sarah Ann, Mary Elizabeth, Francina, Mary, Lydia and Emma. The maternal grandparents of William S. Fogle were Stephen and (Moore) Parr, natives of Licking county, Ohio, of German descent. Stephen Parr was a blacksmith by trade; he served in the Civil War and was an influential man in his community. Stephen Parr and wife reared a family of six children, Martha, Millie, Mary, Flora, Jennie and David.
William S. Fogle was reared on his father's farm in Leesburg town- ship until he was fourteen years of age, and then moved with his parents to Taylor township, where he remained until he reached his majority. He then married and worked for his father-in-law for seventy-five cents a day and a furnished house, remaining with his father-in-law for one year. He then went to Columbus, Ohio, where he purchased two buggies on thirty days credit. He started at the four corners at Broadway, and during that sum- mer, sold enough buggies to bring him a profit of two hundred and eighty dollars. With this money he began to buy poultry. He and his wife dressed the poultry themselves and by the spring of the following year they had five hundred and twenty dollars in the bank. which represented their profits for a few months. He continued in the poultry business for two years, and then the D. M. Osborn Company wanted him to handle their line of machinery. He signed a contract with them and came to Broadway in 1889 to put their goods on the market. Here he has remained since and has added a full line of hardware to his buggies and farming implements. He has also engaged in the manufacture of cement products and has built up a considerable busi- ness in this line. He is a man of keen business ability and exercises that excellent judgment which has made him so successful.
Mr. Fogle was married on January 1. 1890, to Alice Goff, the daughter of William H. and Sylvira ( Watson) Goff. To this union six children have been born, Zula, George, William, Ruth, Dwight and Gerald. Zula married Charles Green and has one child, Charles. George is employed in a milk
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plant in Pasadena, California. William, who is a twin brother of George, is interested with his father in the cement works. He married Cecil Free- man. Ruth and Dwight are both deceased, the former dying at the age of eight and the latter passing away in infancy. Gerald, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Fogle, is in school at Broadway. The mother of these six children died in June, 1911, at the age of thirty-eight. She was a loyal mem- ber of the Baptist church, and spent her whole life in this county. Her parents were natives of Licking county, Ohio, and are now residents of Broadway. Mrs. Fogle was one of several children born to her parents, Alice, Lydia, Bertha, Loren, William, Clarence and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Fogle was married July 12, 1912, to Mrs. Laura Freeman, the widow of E. J. Freeman, and the daughter of Parker and Amy (Nash) Wyeth. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Fogle were David and Sallie Wyeth.
Politically, Mr. Fogle is an independent voter and casts his ballot for the best men, irrespective of their political affiliations. Mrs. Fogle is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, Mr. Fogle is a mem- ber of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He owns a farm of fifty acres two miles from Broadway and also a fine home in the village, as well as other property in the town.
ALBERT U. MARTIN.
For more than half a century Albert U. Martin has been identified with the agricultural interests of Taylor township, Union county, Ohio. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, two and three-fourths miles east of Broadway, where he has been living since his marriage. He and his wife have taken a prominent part in the life of their community in various ways and have always given their support to all measures of pub- lic welfare.
Albert U. Martin, one of the trustees of Taylor township, was born in Leesburg township. Union county, Ohio. December 3. 1863. He is a son of Charles and Hettie ( Slife ) Martin, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Five children were born to Charles Martin and wife, three of whom are still living: Minerva, the wife of David Laughrey, of Craw- ford county, Illinois : Monroe, a farmer of Leesburg township. Union county, and Albert U., of Taylor township.
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
The boyhood days of Albert U. Martin were spent on his father's farm in Leesburg township and in the same township he received a good common school education. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age and then began farming for himself on his present farm in Taylor town- ship. He has a fine country home, large and commodious barns and a farin which presents an attractive appearance. He gives his attention to general farming and stock raising and by careful attention to his affairs has become known as one of the most progressive farmers of his township.
Mr. Martin was married October 25, 1887, to Belle Barnett. Mr. Mar- tin and his wife have no children of their own, but are rearing a girl, Agnes Fletcher.
Mr. Martin became identified with the Progressive party upon its or- ganization in the summer of 1912 and has since given it his hearty support. An indication of the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens is shown by the fact that they selected him as one of the trustees of his town- ship, a position which he is filling in a very efficient manner.
Fraternally, Mr. Martin is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Improved Order of Red Men ; while he and his wife are members of the Pythian Sisters, Daughters of Rebekah and Pocahontas. He is a past grand of the Odd Fellows and past sachem of the Red Men. Mrs. Martin has passed all of the chairs in the Pythian Sisters and is now a member of the grand lodge of the Pythian Sisters.
REV. HENRY C. KNUST.
The Germans of the southern part of Union county, Ohio, are nearly all members of the German Lutheran church. The Lutheran church of Chuckery, Darby township, has been in charge of Rev. Henry C. Knust since 1893. Rev. Knust has been the leader of his people, not only in religious affairs, but in educational affairs as well since that time and it is safe to say that no man in his community is so highly respected or has greater in- fluence than his.
Rev. Henry C. Knust was born in Germany, June 4, 1871, and was the son of Carl and Malusine ( Sommer ) Knust. His parents came to this coun- try in 1883 and located in Iowa, where thousands of Germans had previously located. Both of his parents are still living at Lacona, Iowa, where his fa- ther is a prosperous farmer. They have reared a family of six children,
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
all of whom are living: Rev. Henry C., of Union county, Ohio; Dora, the wife of Albert Bote, of Iowa; Carl, of Iowa; Gustave. who is married and lives in Iowa : Elvina, single; and Theodore, single.
Rev. Knust attended the schools of his native land until his parents came to this country and then attended the public schools of Iowa for three years. When he was fifteen years of age he entered Concordia College, at Springfield. Illinois, with the intention of preparing himself for the minis- try. He attended school for seven years and upon his graduation he came to Union county, Ohio, and took charge of the German Lutheran church at Chuckery, in Darby township. He organized the St. Paul church at Chuck- ery and also opened the parochial school. He was instrumental in having a church and parsonage built, the church being erected in 1902 and the par- sonage in 1894. A residence for the teacher was built in 1909. Rev. Knust has taken an active part in the life of the community and gives his hearty support to all public-spirited measures.
Rev. Knust was married October 3, 1894, to Minnie Kuhn, of Hilliards, Ohio, and to this union one son was born. Paul, who died at the age of six months. The first wife of Rev. Knust died and he was married a second time on May 12, 1897, to Louisa Werfelman, the daughter of Rev. John Werfelman, the pastor of St. John's Lutheran church of the German settle- ment in this county. To this second union have been born four children, who are still living with their parents, Meta, Hilda. Olga and Frieda.
GEORGE W. LONGBRAKE.
Union county, Ohio, had no difficulty in furnishing all the soldiers apportioned to it during the Civil War. One of the many hundreds of young men of the sixties who enlisted from this county is George WV. Long- brake, who is now a highly respected farmer of Mill Creek township. He did not enter the service from motives of sport or frolic, but saw beneath the surface and realized that the South was determined to break up the Union for the purpose of establishing a Confederacy of slave-holding states. From his earliest years he had been taught to hate slavery and to'do all he could to blot it from this country's escutcheon. He regarded it as a foul blot on our flag and was willing to offer his services in order that the institu- tion might be forever eliminated from our country.
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. LONGBRAKE
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
George W. Longbrake, the son of Jacob and Susan (Farnum) Long- brake, was born January 4, 1842, in Shelby county, Ohio. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in New York state. She came to Madison, Ohio, when she was a girl, and a short time later removed with her parents to Union county and located in Mill Creek township, where she was living at the time of her marriage. Jacob Longbrake came to Clark county, Ohio, from Pennsylvania and later to Union county, where he married and lived the rest of his life. Five children were born to Jacob Longbrake and wife, three of whom are living: Marinda, the widow of Robert Thompson ; Roxey ( deceased), wife of James Bethard; Ida, the wife of Jefferson L. Richey : George W., of Mill Creek township, and one girl who died in child- hood.
George W. Longbrake was two years of age when his parents located in Dover township, Union county, Ohio, and eight years later they moved to Mill Creek township where he has spent his life since with the exception of the time spent in the service of his country during the Civil War. He received such education as was afforded by the rude subscription schools of his boyhood days, and remained at home until he enlisted for service in the war. He was mustered in as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in May, 1864. Previous to this time he had served as a member of the Home Guards of his state. He served his country until the close of the war, and then returned to Union county, where he took up the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Longbrake has been living on the same farm since 1852. When he retired from farming he had three hundred and ten acres of land in this township, which he still owns.
Mr. Longbrake was married April 7, 1868, to Isabel J. Richey, who was born in Union county, Ohio, September 26, 1852. To this union four chil- dren have been born, three of whom are still living: Alma E., the wife of J. L. Stimmel, of Mill Creek township; Linna, the wife of W. E. Piersol, of Freedom, Pennsylvania, and Mark F., a farmer of this township, who mar- ried Buretta Shields.
Mr. Longbrake has been a life-long Republican, and has served as trustee of his township. He is a member of the Ransom Reed Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Marysville, and has always been interested in the welfare of the veterans of the Rebellion. The family home, which lies six miles south- east of Marysville, presents an attractive appearance, and here Mr. Long-
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