USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 83
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William H. Sidle, a son of Jacob C. and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Sidle, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 18, 1839. His father was born in the same county in February, 1812, while his mother was born in the same county in March, 1812. His parents were reared and married in Mus- kingum county, and lived there until 1846, when they came to Union county and here lived the remainder of their lives. Jacob C. Sidle was a minister of the Methodist Protestant church and was held in high esteem by every one who knew him. He died June 10, 1877, and his widow passed away November 27, 1889.
Jacob C. Sidle and wife were the parents of seven children, including three pairs of twins. These children in the order of their birth are as fol- lows: John, Mary and Martha, William H. and Hannah Ann, C. D. and Sarah Rebecca. John died in Champaign county, Ohio, at the age of sixty- eight. He had lived in Illinois, but returned to Champaign county about a month before he died. He was in business in Chicago up until the time he took sick. Martha, who died in 1867, was the wife of Dr. A. J. Irvin, who died during the Civil War. He was an assistant surgeon in the One
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Hundred and Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and afterwards became the surgeon of the Second Tennessee Infantry, dying at Paducah, Kentucky, while on the way to join his regiment. Mary is the wife of John Jolliff, a farmer of Claibourne township. Hannah Ann. deceased, was the wife of George W. Tanner, also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner both died in Kansas. C. D. is a farmer of Claibourne township, while Sarah R., his twin sister, died when she was about twelve years of age.
William H. Sidle was about seven years of age when his parents located in Claibourne township on a farm. The family arrived here on November 18th of that year, and here his parents made their home the rest of their lives. His father was prominent in the civic life of the township and held a number of offices. He was justice of the peace for many years, and also served as township trustee. From March, 1873, to October, 1874, the family lived in Kansas. William H. Sidle received a good common school educa- tion and in August, 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged on the 8th of Febru- ary of the following year. He was in the battle of Perrysville, Kentucky, which was fought October 8, 1862, and soon afterwards contracted illness, which ultimately resulted in his disability and discharge for that reason.
After he was mustered out of the army Mr. Sidle returned to Union county, and was married in 1865. He at once settled down to the life of a farmer and has devoted his life since that time to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Sidle was married January 5, 1865, to Malissa A. Kenney, who died April 26. 1875, leaving her husband with two children, Jacob C., who died Sep- tember 20. 1874, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Anna E., born October 28, 1874, and now the wife of Roy M. Pence, of Wauneta, Nebraska.
Mr. Sidle was married a second time October 11, 1877, to Martha A. Dilsaver, a daughter of Adam and Mary A. (Thresher) Dilsaver, of Dela- ware county, Ohio. Her mother died in that county and her father later moved to Richwood, this county, with his family, and lived there until his death in 1908. Mr. Dilsaver was born Janaury 3, 1817. To this second marriage of Mr. Sidle has been born one son, Frederick C., who was born September 18, 1878. He graduated from the Richwood high school and later attended the Ada Normal School for three terms. He is now assisting his father in the management of the home farm. Mr. Sidle owns one hundred and twenty-six acres, while his wife has ninety-seven acres. He has placed all the improvements on the farm. and has a fine country home and excellent barns and outbuildings.
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Mr. Sidle has made his home in Union county since his marriage, a half century ago, with the exception of about one year which he spent in Kansas. He went there in the spring of 1873 and returned in December of the fol- lowing year, not finding that state to be all that he had imagined. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for more than fifty-three years, and now has the honor of being one of the oldest Masons in Union county. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Richwood, and also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Sidle is a stanch Republican and has served two terms as trustee of Claibourne township. He has also been a member of the school board of his township for several years.
JOHN M. GUNDER.
A well remembered citizen of a past generation is John M. Gunder, who lived in Union county from the spring of 1875 until his death in the fall of 1910. He was essentially a self-made man and accumulated a fine farm on which he and his wife reared a large family of children to lives of useful- ness and honor. He was a man of fine character, kindly in manner and charitably disposed toward those less fortunate than himself.
The late John M. Gunder was born in the state of Maryland on October 18, 1833, and died at his home in Union county, Ohio, August 1, 1910. When he was about one year of age he came with his parents, Abraham and Magdalena Gunder. to Marion county, Ohio, and shortly afterwards the family moved to Crawford county, remaining there several years. Eventut- ally they moved to Wyandot county, where Abraham Gunder and wife lived until her death in 1868. He then came to Union county, where his death occurred in July, 1878. The following children were born to' Abraham Gunder and wife: Jonthan, John M., James M., Daniel H., Nancy J., and Julia.
John M. Gunder received such education as was afforded in the rude district schools of his boyhood days. After his marriage, in the spring of 1859 in Wyandot county, he went to farming there and remained in that county until the spring of 1875. In that year he moved to Union county and settled in York township. He did not have a dollar with which to be- gin housekeeping, but by economy. perseverance and well directed effort he became the owner of a well improved farm of four hundred and twenty acres in York township. In the truest sense of the word he was a self-made
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man. He bought and sold stock and added not a little to his annual income in this way.
John M. Gunder was married February 10, 1859, to Phoebe A. Brooks. She was born November 26, 1840, and is a daughter of Joseph S. and Phoebe ( Swisher) Brooks. Her parents were natives of New Jersey and they came to Ohio and located in Columbus for a short time. They moved from that city to Wyandot county, where they both lived the remainder of their days. Her father was a carpenter by trade and followed that line of effort until his death about thirty-five years ago. Her mother died about 1886.
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Gunder were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living: Charles E., who died at the age of forty-one; P. B., of Kansas City, Missouri; John B., of Marion, Ohio: Z. E., also a resident of Marion, Ohio: H. O., who lives on the old homestead in York township; M. H., of Marion, Ohio; O. H., who died at the age of twenty-six ; James Blaine, of Richwood, and two others who died in childhood.
Mr. Gunder was a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Somerville, and his wife is a member of the same denomination. He never took an active part in politics, although he was always concerned with those efforts to benefit the general welfare of the community. His widow moved to Richwood in 1908, where she is now living a retired life.
ALBERT BURNHAM.
For more than sixty years Albert Burnham has been a resident of Union township, Union county, Ohio. He has been a prominent citizen of his town- ship and county for many years. He is a college man and taught in the public schools of this county for many years before turning his attention to farming.
Albert Burnham was born in the township where he is now living, July 3. 1853, and is the son of Nicholas and Emmeline E. (Hopkins) Burnham. Ilis father was born November 23, 1823, the son of Jacob and Eliza (Meacham ) Burnham, who were married March 20, 1823. Jacob Burnham was born October 27. 1794, and died April 23, 1866. Eliza ( Meacham) Burnham was born May 30, 1802. Jacob Burnham and wife were the par- ents of four children : Nicholas H., born November 23, 1823; Albert H., born November 18, 1825 and died April 10, 1844; Hiram Guy, born June 23, 1828, and married December 30, 1858, to Jane Reed; and Eliza Ann, born May 25, 1834, and married February 24, 1859, to Simeon D. Fairchild.
MR. AND MRS. ALBERT BURNHAM
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Nicholas H. Burnham was married February 13, 1851, to Emmeline Hopkins and to this union four children were born : Albert, with whom this narrative deals ; Elizabeth, born July 16, 1860, and now a resident of Spring- field, Ohio; Harriett, born November 5, 1862, and now the wife of Aaron F. Robinson, of Milford Center, Ohio; and Simeon F., who was born April 1, 1868, and married Maud Martin. Nicholas H. Burnham, the father of these four children, died in August, 1903, and his widow passed away in 1908.
Albert Burnham received his elementary education in the schools of Union county and then entered Oberlin College, where he attended two years, . having previously attended Delaware College one year. In 1880 he became the superintendent of the Milford Center schools and continued in that ca- pacity until 1884, when he decided to leave the schoolroom and engage in farming. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, one mile northeast of Milford Center. He gives his particular attention to the rearing of Holstein dairy cattle and has a fine herd on his farm all the time. He has fine cement floor barns and is one of the few farmers in the county using milking machines.
Mr. Burnham was married. October 16, 1890, to Jennie Robinson, a daughter of John W. and Sarah (Coe) Robinson, both natives of Union county. To this union two children have been born and one daughter, Helen, is now living. Helen was born January 4, 1893, and after graduating from the high school at Milford Center, attended two years at Wooster Uni- versity. She is now teaching in the primary department of the Milford Center schools.
Politically, Mr. Burnham is a Republican and has served as a member of the board of education of his township for nine years. The family are members of the Presbyterian church at Milford Center and deeply inter- ested in its welfare. Fraternally, Mr. Burnham is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Marysville, while he holds his membership in the commandery at Urbana. He also belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry at Milford Center.
JOHN GEORGE GASE.
A well remembered man of a past generation is John George Gase, who was a prosperous farmer of Union township, Union county, Ohio. He was a man who won the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens by his upright life, and the clean and wholesome manner in which he conducted his every-
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day affairs. He was devoted to his family, faithful to his friends and a man who always took an active interest in the life of his immediate community.
The late John George Gase was born on April 25, 1863, and died Octo- ber 24. 1892. He was a son of Christopher and Barbara (Rausch) Gase, both of whom were natives of Germany. He was reared to manhood and after his marriage, at the age of twenty-one, he located in Union county, Ohio, where he followed farming until his heath. He was a very successful farmer and accumulated an estate of two hundred and fifty-six acres by hard work and good management. Since his death his widow has built two fine homes, one for her son and the other for herself. The home farm is located about two miles northeast of Milford Center.
John George Gase was married April 16, 1884, to Mary Nicol, the daughter of Conrad and Lena (Colbacher ) Nicol, natives of Germany, and to this union were born three children : William Michael, a farmer in Union township; Magdalena. born October 18, 1889. the wife of Edward Schei- derer, a farmer of Darby township, this county, and Christena, born May 2, 1892.
ARTEMUS R. KLIPSTINE.
One of the college trained men who are in business in Richwood, Ohio, is Artemus R. Klipstine, the proprietor and manager of the Richwood Lum- ber Company. Mr. Klipstine is the son of Louis and Isabella (Kinney) Klipstine, and was born near Versailles, Ohio, in Darke county, August 21, 1883. His parents were both natives of Ohio. Louis Klipstine was twice married. His first wife was Isabella Kinney, and her death occurred in 1885, at the age of twenty-nine years, when Artemus R. was only about two years of age. She was a member of the German Reformed church. The second wife of Louis Klipstine was Minnie Bowman. For several years Louis Klipstine was a farmer and later was auditor of Darke county for six years. He is now president of the People's Banking Company, at Versailles, Ohio. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Klipstine were William and Louise ( Haack) Klipstine, both natives of Germany and early settlers of Darke county, Ohio. William Klipstine came to that county when he was six years of age with his parents and grew to manhood in that county. He made an overland trip to California and returned by way of the Isthmus of
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Panama and New York city. He died in Darke county in 1896, and his wife passed away several years later. Ten children were born to William Klipstine and wife, Louis, John, Caroline, William, Clara, Amos and four who died in childhood.
The maternal grandparents of Mr. Klipstine were Robert and Rebecca (Olentine ) Kinney, natives of Ohio. Mr. Kinney was a farmer and an early settler in Darke county, Ohio, where his death occurred at the age of seventy- five. Nine children were born to Robert Kinney and wife, Ann, Louise. Etta, Rebecca, Isabella, and four who died in infancy.
Artemus R. Klipstine was only about two years of age when his mother died and he was then taken by his grandparents Kinney, and remained with them until he was eleven years old. After their death he went to live with his grandparents Klipstine, and after his father's second marriage he went to live with him. He was reared to manhood on the farm and attended the country schools and taught school three years, after which he entered the Ohio Northern Normal at Ada, Ohio. Later he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and graduated from that institution in the spring of 1908. Immediately after leaving college he took some preliminary train- ing in the lumber business at Sidney, Ohio, and in 1909 came to Richwood and took charge of the Richwood Lumber Company. In addition to carry- ing a large stock of lumber, the company operates a planing mill and carries all kinds of building supplies.
Mr. Klipstine was married November 23. 1909, to Alta Roop, the daughter of Henry and Melissa ( Goodall) Roop. Mrs. Klipstine was born on a farm near Fort Laramie, Ohio, and her parents were both natives of this state. Her father was of Dutch descent and her mother of English ances- try. Her father died in 1885, and her mother is still living at Versailles, Ohio. Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Roop, Ada, Bess and Alta. Her father had been previously married, and by his first marriage had two daughters, Anna and Minnie.
Mr. and Mrs. Klipstine are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Fraternally. Mr. Klipstine belongs to Mount Carmel Lodge No. 303. Free and Accepted Masons, and to Rising Sun Lodge No. 71, Knights of Pythias. In politics, he is a Democrat, but his business interests have been such that he has not had time to engage in political campaigns. However, he gives his hearty support to all measures of good government and is interested in every measure which promises to be of general benefit to his community.
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GEORGE W. COWGILL.
A highly respected citizen of Union county, Ohio, who has passed to his reward is George W. Cowgill, who spent his whole career of sixty years within this county. He was not only a successful farmer and man of affairs, but always took an active part in the civic life of his community. For more than a score of years he served his township and county in one official ca- pacity or another, and during all of this time gave his fellow citizens faithful and efficient service. The Cowgill family were early settlers in this county and have always been prominent factors in its history from the beginning. Not only has Mr. Cowgill passed to his reward, but his wife has also passed away. They left a family of seven children, all of whom are still living.
George W. Cowgill, the son of George W. and Mrs. Elizabeth ( Robin- son) Cowgill, was born in Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, Sep- tember 11, 1854, and died at his home in Jackson township on the Ist day of October. 1914. His mother was the widow of the late J. Robinson, of Logan county, Ohio, and to her first marriage were born three children, Marion, Reuben and George W. The parents of George W. Cowgill, Sr., were Alexander and Mary Cowgill. Alexander Cowgill came to Union county at the age of fifteen with his parents and located in Leesburg town- ship, near what is now called Magnetic Springs. He was first married in 1835 to Susan Smart, and to this union five children were born, three of whom are living. Isaac, Sarah and Martha. Shortly after moving to this county in 1835 he purchased a farm of two hundred acres on Fulton creek in Claibourne township, where he resided until 1876, when he moved to Jackson township. His wife died in March, 1849. Later George W. Cow- gill. Sr., married Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson. George W. Cowgill, Jr., was reared and educated in the township where he was born. He located on a farm after his marriage in April. 1881, and was successful in all his agricul- tural operations. At the time of his death he owned three hundred and sixty acres of fine land in the county.
Mr. Cowgill was married April 12, 1881, to Inez Harraman, a daugh- ter of Lafayette and Martha Harraman, and to this union were born seven children: Ira E., born January 5. 1882: Elva G., born April 12, 1884. the wife of J. A. McDaniel, of Jackson township: Elmer E., born January 16, 1886: Sherman, born .August 7. 1890: Oliver P., born July 29, 1891 : Eva M., born December 2. 1894: Marie, born February 4, 1897. The mother of these children died August 8, 1908.
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Mr. Cowgill was a stanch Democrat in politics, and was elected com- missioner of Union county in 1911 and served until the first of June, 1914. At that time his health failed and he resigned his position on the board. He was a member of the school board of his township for seventeen years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill were loyal members of the Finley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church.
BYRON L. TALMAGE.
A veteran of the Civil War and a banker of Richwood, Ohio, for more than forty years, Byron L. Talmage richly deserves the success which has attended his efforts. Those who faced every danger and death itself upon the battlefields of the Civil War and bore suffering and made sacrifices for their country's sake are especially deserving of mention in these annals. The younger generation should never forget that to them is due a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.
Byron L. Talmage, the son of Byron and Abby (Jackson) Talmage, was born in what is now the eastern part of Morrow county, Ohio, May 19, 1841. Four children were born to Byron and Abby Talmage: Columbus, deceased ; Clarinda, deceased ; Harriet, deceased, who was the wife of Edwin Breese, and Byron L., of Richwood.
Byron Talmage. Sr., was the son of Joseph and Catherine (Beers) Talmage, pioneers in Knox county, Ohio, and later residents of Marion county. Joseph Talmage was one of the prominent farmers of his com- munity and one of the most substantial citizens of his county. He was a cattle dealer and collected large herds of cattle and drove them from Ohio to Philadelphia, where he sold them. He was a stockholder in the first bank established in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He lived to be well along in years, and his wife lived to the age of ninety-two. Four children were born to Joseph Talmage and wife, Byron, Phoebe, Nancy and Ezubie.
Byron Talmage, Sr., was reared principally in Knox county and was a life-long farmer. After his marriage he located in Morrow county, where he had a farm of one hundred acres, which he cleared, improved and lived upon until his death, in 1842, his wife dying in 1845. The maternal grand- parents of Byron L. Talmage were pioneers in Knox county, Ohio.
Byron L. Talmage was reared in Morrow county, at Mt. Gilead, and received his education in the public schools of that place. He fitted him- self for a bookkeeper, but before he had a chance to follow his chosen
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work the Civil War came on apace and he offered his services for his coun- try. He enlisted in 1861 in Company C, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and served a little more than three years. He was in many of the hardest fought battles of the war. Being a good penman and book- keeper, he was detailed as a clerk in the brigade quartermaster's office, and continued in this capacity until he was discharged in 1864. Upon returning home he was given a position in the office of a provost marshal at Lima and remained in this place until the close of the war.
After leaving the office of the provost marshal Mr. Talmage came to Richwood, Ohio, and opened a grocery store, which he operated for nine months. In the following spring of 1867 he helped to organize the Bank of Richwood, and was made cashier of this bank, a position which he held until 1911. For more than forty years he served the bank faithfully in the capacity of cashier, and it is safe to say that lie is as well known as any man in the community. He retired from the bank in 1911, but still retains his interest in the bank and continues as a director in the Richwood Banking Company.
Mr. Talmage was married in November, 1867, to Clara C. Doherty, whose parents died of cholera when she was an infant. A daughter, born to Mr. and Mrs. Talmage, Ethel, died at the age of twenty-nine. She had prepared herself for teaching music and was a very accomplished musician, but never devoted much of her time to teaching. The first wife of Mr. Talmage died on the 4th day of March, 1907, and on September 10, 1913, Mr. Talmage married Mrs. Georgiana Curry, the widow of Otway Curry. She is a daughter of James Dixon and Martha Eliza ( Mitchell) Robinson, and was born in Columbus, Ohio. Her parents were natives of this state and early settlers in Union county, living at New California and Marysville. The mother of Mrs. Talmage died in 1850, at the age of thirty, and her father died at the age of eighty-four. Four children were born to James D. Robinson and wife: Martha Jane; Sarah Jane, deceased wife of Col. W. L. Curry, who is the editor of the historical portion of this work; Geor- giana, the wife of Mr. Talmage, and Fulton, deceased. Mrs. Talmage had two children by her first marriage, Ernest S. and Lena T. Ernest S. Curry is in the undertaking and furniture business at Wadsworth, Ohio. He mar- rie I Della Rickert. Lena T. is the wife of A. V. Horn, of Plain City, Ohio, and has one child, Ernestine.
Mr. Talmage is a Republican in politics and has always been more or less interested in local political matters. He served as township trustee for
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nine years and gave excellent satisfaction to his fellow citizens during his incumbency. Mr. Talmage is a man of quiet and unassuming demeanor and has always stood for those measures which he felt would be of benefit to his village and county.
JOHN MARTIN COLEMAN.
There are several hundred citizens of Union county, Ohio, who are de- scended from early German settlers in this county, and among them John Martin Coleman, a prosperous farmer of Paris township, occupies a promi- nent place. His father came from Germany with his parents and located in Union county upon coming to America and lived here the remainder of his days. Mr. Coleman is one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of his township, as is shown by his well-improved farm of two hundred acres one mile southeast of Marysville.
John M. Coleman, the son of George and Mary ( Miller) Coleman, was born July 21, 1871. on the old Coleman farm in Paris township, and is one of a large family of children born to his parents.
George Coleman was born in Germany and came with his parents, John Coleman and wife, to America in his boyhood days. George Coleman was reared to manhood in Union county and married Mary Miller, a native of this county.
John M. Coleman was educated in the district schools of his township and also attended the German school at Marysville for a time. From his earliest boyhood days he worked on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-one he received the paternal estate of one hundred acres, thirty-five acres of which has been cleared by Mr. Coleman since that time. He has made all of the improvements which are now upon the farm and has since added to it until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of excellent land. He devotes his attention to general farming and stock raising with a suc- cess which stamps him as one of the most enterprising and progressive farm- ers of the county.
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