USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 82
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Malcolm M. Cameron received his education in the common schools of this county and started in to work for himself when he was twenty-one years of age. He was married at that time and settled down to the life of a farmer. Through his own exertions and the aid of his good wife, he has a fine farm of seventy-one acres on which he has placed all of the improvements. He has a fine country home and his barns are models of convenience and useful- ness. He raises pure bred Jersey cattle and registered Oxford sheep, and has unusual success in handling his live stock.
Mr. Cameron was married April 18, 1888. to Emma B. Jolliff, a daugh- ter of Andrew and Elizabeth ( Cassidy ) Jolliff. Her parents were early set- tlers in Union county. To this marriage was born one son, Charles Law- rence, who died at the age of eight months. The first wife of Mr. Cameron died July 5, 1891, and on June 13. 1894, he married Mrs. Mary A. (Wurts- baugh) Bacon, a daughter of David H. and Lucinda Wurtzbaugh. She was the widow of P. A. Bason and to her first marriage was born one son, P. G., who is now an auctioneer of York township. To the second marriage of Mr. Cameron have been born seven children; Luella Mae (now Mrs. J. A. Van- atta ), Della Marie, Minnie Irene, Lela Naomi, Marion B., Harold R. and Stanley S.
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Mr. Cameron has taken an active part in the political life of his town- ship and county and has been one of the leaders of the Republican party in local affairs. He has served as supervisor of Leesburg township and as school director in Claibourne township. He was elected as assessor of his township and took the examination and was appointed under the civil service. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry at Claibourne. Mrs. Cameron is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Cameron is a man of decided ability and has always conducted his affairs and those of stations to which he has been elected in such a manner as to meet with the hearty ap- probation of his fellow citizens.
GEORGE HILL, JR.
A farmer and stock raiser of Union township, Union county, Ohio, who has lived in this county all of his life, is George Hill, Jr., whose parents were early settlers in Union county. Mr. Hill has made farming his life work and is now operating a fine farm of two hundred and fifty-one acres about one mile east of Milford Center.
George Hill. Jr., the son of George J. and Susan (Baker) Hill, was born in Liberty township. Union county, Ohio, April 15, 1866. Both of his parents were natives of Ashland county, Ohio, and early settlers in Union county, where his father was a prominent stock raiser. George J. Hill, Sr., handled French Clydesdale and Belgium horses and was known as one of the most prominent horsemen of this section of the state. He died in 1901 and his widow passed away about 1904. Seven children were born to George J. Hill. Sr., and wife: Sedelia. the wife of William Cahill, of Marysville; Emma, the wife of J. Hartshorn, of Newark, Ohio; Charles, a farmer of Paris township; Weldon, who died at the age of thirty; Frank, a farmer. of this county; Cora, the wife of Lewis Amrine, a farmer of Union county living north of Marysville: George. Jr .. and one who died in infancy.
George Hill. Jr., was reared on his father's farm in this county and re- ceived a good, common school education. He remained at home until his marriage and then began farming for himself in Union township. where he has since resided. In addition to the farm of two hundred and fifty-one acres on which he lives he owns forty-seven and three-fourths acres two miles south of Milford Center. He gives most of his attention to stock rais- ing and raises high grade stock of all kinds.
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Mr. Hill was married January 8, 1891, to May Shanks, a daughter of Joseph and Jennie (Hammond ) Shanks, both of whom were natives of Union county, and to this union five children have been born; four of whom are now living : Florence, a stenographer at Columbus, Ohio; Augusta H .; Jennie : Etta and George J. The three younger children are now attending the high school at Milford Center.
The parents of Mrs. Hill were born and reared in Union county, and her mother lived here until her death. May 2, 1897. After her mother's death her father married Flora Barker, and moved to Kenton, where he died March 28, 1908. Mrs. Hill's parents had three children: May, the wife of Mr. Hill; Ella, the wife of Frank P. Miller, a farmer of Union township, and Clinton, who married Sallie Skiles, and now lives at Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, Ohio.
Politically, Mr. Hill is a Republican, although he is not by any means a partisan. He casts his ballot for the best men in local affairs, irrespective of their politics. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Milford Center.
JOHN JOLLIFF.
The oldest living married couple in Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, is John Jolliff and his wife, who have been married for fifty-five years. Mr. Jolliff came to this county with his parents in 1850, and is now living on the next farm east to that which his father settled on in that year. He has engaged in farming and stock raising all his life, although he is now re- tired from active work.
John Jolliff, the son of Lewis and Mary Catherine (Swartz) Jolliff, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, August 7, 1837. His father was born in Stark county, Ohio, while his mother was a native of Wayne county, their marriage occurring in the latter county. Five children were born to Lewis Jolliff and wife, two of whom are living: George W., deceased; Eli P., deceased ; Jolin, of Claibourne township; Isaac, also living in Leesburg township. and Barbara, who died in infancy.
Lewis Jolliff followed farming in Holmes county, Ohio, until 1850, and in that year moved to Union county and located in Claibourne township, on the farm just west of his son, John. At the time Lewis Jolliff came to this county Claibourne township was practically a wilderness and he lit- erally had to carve a home for himself and family out of the virgin forest.
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The wife of Lewis Jolliff died shortly after the family moved to this county and he later married Hannah Pennypacker, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Pennypacker, old settlers of Union county. There were no children born to his second marriage. Lewis Jolliff died in 1882, and his widow is now living with J. D. Jolliff in York township, this county.
John Jolliff received a good common school education and when the Civil War broke out hie enlisted as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the service in August, 1862, and served for three years. He was with Sher- man on his famous march through Georgia to the sea, and for a period of one hundred and sixty days was under fire practically all of the time. He was wounded at Peach Tree Creek and was always ready for duty when duty called.
After the close of the war Mr. Jolliff returned to Union county and re- summed farming on the old Sidle homestead. He later bought a small piece of land and owned two hundred acres when he sold out in 1873, having lived there only eighteen months, then returned and bought his present farm of fifty-six acres and later added to it until he has a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, now one of the best improved in the county.
Mr. Jolliff was married December 23, 1858, to Mary Sidle, a daughter of Jacob C. and Elizabeth ( Hamilton) Sidle. Her father was born Febru- ary, 1812, and her mother was born in March of the same year, both being natives of Muskingum county, Ohio. They were married in that county and arrived in Union county, November 18, 1846, and settled on a farm in Clai- bourne township. Mr. Sidle died June 10, 1877, and his widow passed away November 27. 1889.
Mr. and Mrs. Jolliff are the parents of six children, all of whom are still living: Sarah E., born July 24, 1860. the wife of Isaac N. Gibson. of Claibourne township; John D., born May 23, 1863, a farmer of York town- ship: W. T. S., born July 21. 1866, a resident of Claibourne township; Mar- tha A .. born January 31. 1870. the widow of William Cunningham, now living with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were the parents of five children, Estella. Zella. J. W .. Harry and Edward. Eva C., the fifth child of Mr. and Mrs. Jolliff, was born May 8, 1873, while Charles E., the young- est. was born March 13. 1876.
Mr. Jolliff retired from active work in 1907. but still makes his home on the old farm. He and his wife are not only the oldest living couple in Clai- bourne township, but one of the oldest in the county. The 23d of Decem-
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ber, 1914, was the fifty-sixth anniversary of their marriage. They are loyal members of the Methodist Protestant church at Bethlehem and have always been interested in its welfare. Mr. Jolliff has always given his hearty sup- port to the Republican party, but has never taken an active interest in politi- cal matters. Mr. and Mrs. Jolliff are most estimable old people, and are highly esteemed in the community where they have spent so many years together.
FORREST E. MOSHER.
An enterprising merchant of Essex, Jackson township, Union county, Ohio, is Forrest E. Mosher, who has been engaged in business in that vil- lage since 1909. Previous to that time he had engaged in general farming and stock raising in the county and was meeting with marked success in that line of activity. He has been no less successful in his business venture in Essex, and has built up a large and lucrative trade in the northeastern corner of the county.
Forrest L. Mosher, the son of George and Emily J. (Lampson ) Mosher, was born in York township, Union county, in 1879. His parents were both born in Lieking county, Ohio, and were married there. They came to Union county about forty years ago and located in York township, where George Mosher followed farming until his death in 1904. He was a member of the Seventy-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three and one- half years. His widow is still living in that township. He was a Democrat in politics and served as road supervisor in his township for many years. Both he and his wife were earnest members of the Friends church at Somer- ville. George Mosher and wife were the parents of five children, all of whom are still living: May, the wife of William Sanders, of Richwood ; Cary, a farmer of York township; Ella, the wife of Sherry Temple, who died about 1900; Jennie. the wife of Elmer Malone, a farmer of this county, and Forrest E., of Essex.
Forrest E. Mosher received a good common school education and started for himself in 1902. For seven years he engaged in farming in York town- ship with a success which demonstrated that he had those qualities which characterize the successful farmer. In 1909 he located in the village of Essex in Jackson township, where he bought a store of general merchandise goods. In addition he has since put in a complete line of farming imple-
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ments and under his good management his trade has constantly increased since the beginning.
Mr. Mosher was married February 24, 1902, to Effie Wells, a daughter of Jay and Jane (Morrison) Wells. Her parents came to Union county early in its history and made this county their home for the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Mosher have four children, three of whom are living: Bernice, born in September, 1905; Mildred Vaughn, born Decem- ber 18, 1907, died in February, 1908; Byrle, born in September, 1910; Garld, born in 1912.
Mr. Mosher is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, holding his membership in the lodge of Richwood. He is a stanch Republican in politics, but has never taken an active part in the affairs of his party. He is a capable man and the success which has attended his efforts during the short time that he has been in business indicates that he has a prosperous career before him.
ELI JOSEPH MORRIS.
The life and business career of Mr. Morris, who, with limited oppor- tunities in his younger years, and with environments that were not always calculated to offer encouragement to a young man seeking to make his way in the world, furnishes an example and an inspiration to those in like cir- cumstances. This is only one case of many that illustrates and emphasizes the possibilities afforded every young man, who is inspired with a will and determination to succeed. It exemplifies the opportunities of American youth under the benign influences of American institutions and educational advantages.
Eli Joseph Morris was born July 24, 1877, in Franklin county, Ohio. The place of his birth was about eight miles from Columbus. His parents were Joseph Morris and Mary (Griffin) Morris, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father, a son of Henry Morris, was a native of Lancaster, Ohio, and the mother was born in Lancaster county on a farm near Mount Victory. They had a family of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. The other members of the family were as follows: Henry, who died in infancy; Edward Franklin, Marysville, Ohio; Ambrose, of Lima, Ohio; Torrence, deceased; Ralph, of Round Head, Ohio; Almeda, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Buchanan.
The father of this family was a farmer for several years after his mar-
ELI J. MORRIS.
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riage, and it may be taken for granted that the boys of the family who were of sufficient age to assist in farm work were never without an occupation. After several years engaged in farming the Morris family removed to Columbus, where the father was engaged in business until the time of his death, August 3, 1890, at the age of forty-one years. The mother died December 12, 191I, at the age of fifty-three years. Both were faithful mem- bers of the Catholic church.
During the days of the Civil War the father of the subject of this sketch responded to the call of his country in defense of the flag. It was during the Morgan raid, when the citizens of Ohio, Indiana and other Northern states were greatly alarmed because of the aggressive movements of the daring Confederate raider north of the Ohio river, and they rallied in great numbers for the protection of their homes and property. In response to the call of the governor of his state, Mr. Morris enlisted as a private in the one- hundred-days service, and contributed his part of faithful service for the period of enlistment. If there be those who are disposed to regard lightly the service of the hundred-day soldiers they should be reminded that they did their part in the great drama of the Civil War, and contributed in no small measure to the work of the veteran armies in the field in bringing that war to a successful conclusion.
As before stated, Eli Joseph Morris was born in Franklin county, Ohio. He lived on the farm until he was eight years old. He then went to Colum- bus and worked in different shops until he was fifteen. Even thus early in life he had acquired industrious habits and a disposition to turn his hand to any kind of work that was offered. His early life on the farm was con- ducive to well rounded physical development, and accustomed as he was to the habits of industry incident to farm life, he grew up with well defined ideas of the responsibilities of life, and the necessity of dependence on one's own resources to achieve success in life.
His next inove was to Hardin county, where he found a home with some of his uncles and aunts, and found work with Charles Richler in a grocery store at McGuffey, Ohio. After a short time in this store he found employment in the store of F. M. Sams and he remained in his employment for about two years. From this place he went to East Liberty, remaining there a short time, and then to Kenton, where he found employment in a restaurant. Here he remained for a little over two years. These various moves were not without advantage in the experience gained and in the knowl- edge of business, and business opportunities, in different localities. But this sort of experience is not usually conducive to the acquirement of wealth.
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It was in 1898 that Mr. Morris came to Marysville, where he has since made his abiding place .. His first employment here was with Mr. Henderson in the Oakland hotel. He remained in this employment for a year or more and then was employed for eleven years in John Auer's grocery store. It was in this line of business that he first found employment in McGuffey, and at various times after that, and it seemed to be the line of business that ap- pealed to him, and to which he was best adapted. So, in 1909 he formed a partnership with Adrian C. Turner and they bought a grocery store of their own. This partnership continued for a little over a year. Then Mr. Morris bought his partner's interest and has since conducted the business alone. He is doing a large and a successful business, carrying a large and well selected stock of everything in the grocery line, catering to the best trade.
On December 12, 1902, Mr. Morris was married to Bertha Brown, a daughter of Joshua and Sarah M. (Dixon) Brown. Mrs. Morris was born in Union county, Ohio, eight miles north of Marysville. Her parents were natives of Union county. Her mother died May 20, 1914; her father is still living. The living children are George, Elmer, Bertha, William and Effie.
As already intimated, Mr. Morris has made his own way in the world from the time he was a small boy, and he is now recognized as one of the substantial business men of Marysville. He is industrions, enterprising and public spirited, and well deserves the large patronage he receives. He be- longs to the Maccabees, and his political affiliations are with the Democratic party, but prefers to vote for the man rather than the party nominee, in case the party nominee does not measure up to his standard.
CORNELIUS D. SIDLE.
A pioneer farmer of Claibourne township, Union county. Ohio, is Cor- nelius D. Sidle, who has been a life-long resident of that township. The Sidle family were early settlers in this county and have always taken an active part in advancing the educational, moral, material and religious wel- fare of the community where they resided. Mr. Sidle is a man of high in- tegrity and excellent business ability, as is shown by his well improved farm of two hundred and two acres in Claibourne and Leesburg townships. He has won his success by hard and faithful work and well merits the prosperity which has attended his efforts.
Cornelius D. Sidle, the son of Jacob C. and Elizabeth ( Hamilton) Sidle,
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was born in Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, March 17, 1848. His parents were natives of Muskingum county, Ohio, and came to Union county about 1846, where his father died on June 10, 1877, and his mother on No- vember 27, 1889.
Cornelius D. Sidle was educated in the common schools of his county and before he had reached his majority had branched out into business for himself. He bought and sold horses and had already accumulated consider- able money before he was married, at the age of twenty-one. He has bought and sold several different farms and has always made it a point to improve his different farms and sell them at a good profit. He is a man of excellent judgment and his investments have always been such as to yield a handsome return on the money invested. As a farmer he has long ranked as one of the leaders of his community, although he has now practically retired from ac- tive work.
Mr. Sidle was married April 18, 1869, to Amret F. Wood, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary ( Hunt ) Wood. Her mother was a native of Vir- ginia and came to Union county early in its history. Mr. and Mrs. Sidle are the parents of five children, all of whom are still living: Lura, the wife of D. G. Burgner, a clothing merchant of Paulding City, Ohio: Cornelius D .. Jr., who lives on the home farm with his parents: Jacob P., who is a farmer living in Claibourne township, near Richwood; John W., who is still at home, and George E., who is an instructor in industrial arts in the schools at Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio.
Mr. Sidle holds the honor of being the first delegate to the State Grange Convention from Union county. His wife is also a member of the Grangers and they have always taken a great deal of interest in the work of this or- ganization. Mr. Sidle is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to all of the degrees, including that of Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, holding his membership in both lodges at Richwood. He and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, the Pythian Sisters and the Order of the Eastern Star. The family are members of the Methodist Protestant church, of Claibourne.
The mother of Mrs. Sidle died in March, 1865, her father having passed away in November, 1860. Benjamin Wood, the father of Mrs. Sidle, was born in New Jersey of English descent, and Mr. and Mrs. Wood were mar- ried in Clark county, Ohio, and shortly afterwards came to Union county. Mr. Wood was a blacksmith by trade and followed this occupation in con- nection with his general farming.
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CHARLES E. BLAIN.
The present surveyor of Union county, Ohio is Charles E. Blain, who was elected to this responsible position in the fall of 1914. He has been a resident of this county since 1883, and before assuming the office of county surveyor he taught school, farmed and followed his profession of civil en- gineering. He is a young man who has taken advantage of his opportuni- ties and his election as surveyor of his county is a tribute to his ability as a civil engineer and to his worth as a citizen.
Charles E. Blain, the son of Edward W. and Catherine (Keneaster) Blain, was born in Pickaway county. Ohio, November 11, 1871. His father was a native of Pickaway county and the mother of Fayette county, Ohio. They came to Union county in 1883 and located on a farm five and one-half miles west of Richwood, and lived in that neighborhood for more than thirty years. Edward W. Blain and wife were married at Jackson Center, Shelby county, Ohio, September 18, 1870, and Charles E. is their only child. Ed- ward W. Blain owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township and made this his home after coming to the county until 1913. In that year he bought a fine home in Richwood and he and his wife are now liv- ing there. He was a member of Company G, One Hundred Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was only four months past sixteen years of age when he enlisted. He served eleven months and ten days.
Charles E. Blain was educated in the common school of Pickaway and Union counties, and later graduated from the normal school at Ada, Ohio, completing the civil engineering course in that institution in 1892. After his return home he taught two years and then farmed until 1903. In that vear he took up his profession as a civil engineer and followed that until his election as county surveyor November 3. 1914. In the administration of the affairs of this office he is proving an efficient and painstaking servant of the people, and it is safe to say that no man has ever entered his office with bet- ter qualifications.
Mr. Blain was married December 15. 1894, to Mary M. Doner, a daugh- ter of Christian and Mary ( Davidson) Doner. Her father was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and her mother of Pickaway county. The Doner family moved to Union county in 1881, and located on a farm in Jackson township, where Mr. Doner died in 1907. His widow passed away four years later. Mr. and Mrs. Blain have two daughters, Ethel E., born July 30,
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1897, and Mary M., born May 23, 1901. Both are now students of the high school at Richwood.
Mr. Blain is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mrs. Blain is a member of the Women's Relief Corps at Richwood. Mr. Blain owns a well improved farm of eighty-nine acres in York township, but has not lived on it for the past two years, having made his home in Richwood for about two years. In the spring of 1913 he moved to Richwood in order to devote his entire time to his engineering duties and give his children the advantages of the Richwood schools.
WILLIAM H. SIDLE.
A pioneer farmer of Claibourne township. Union county, Ohio, is Will- iam H. Sidle. He came to this county with his parents in 1846, and has lived here ever since, with the exception of one year which he spent in Kan- sas. He has been a life-long farmer, and he and his wife now have a well- improved farm of two hundred and twenty-three acres, where they make their home. He was in the Civil War and made a creditable record in that conflict and, returning from the war, settled down to the life of a farmer in Claibourne township.
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