USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 85
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It was as a result of his services in the Revolution that the Curry family eventually became residents of Ohio. The land patent dated March 16, 1816, shows that Col. James Curry was given one thousand acres of land in part payment for six years and a half service as a captain, although this was only a portion of the services he rendered his country in that struggle.
It is not necessary to follow the details of the life of Col. James Curry further in this connection, since his interesting career is set forth elsewhere in this volume. It should be mentioned, however, that he was married on November 20, 1784, to Marie Burns, the daughter of Capt. Robert Burns, of the Pennsylvania line. To this union were born four sons: Otway, who, during his day, was probably the most noted poet of his country west of the Alleghanies, Robert Burns and Stephenson, who became the father of Col. William L. Curry, with whom this history is directly connected. Capt. James A. Curry, the oldest son, served in the War of 1812. Col. William L. Curry, the son of Stephenson and Sarah D. ( Robinson) Curry, was born June 25. 1839. in Union county, Ohio. His father was born at Greenfield, Highland county. Ohio, December 3. 1801, and died at his home in Union county April 2. 1861. His mother, Sarah D. Robinson, was a daughter of
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James and Jane ( Morrison) Robinson, and was born in Darby township, Union county, Ohio, April 14, 1806, dying November 11, 1881. Stephenson Curry and wife were the parents of seven children: Louisa, deceased; Ot- way, deceased; Mrs. Jane Randall, Plain City, Ohio; John W., Collinsville, Oklahoma; Rev. James, of Newark, California; Mrs. Mary Gill, Union county, Ohio, and Col. William L. Curry, Columbus, Ohio.
Colonel Curry received his education in the public schools of Jerome township and in Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio. He was reared on his father's farm in Jerome township and was still on the farm at the opening of the Civil War. Colonel Curry enlisted for three months' service, April 24, 1861, but his company did not leave the state. He enlisted a second time, September 1, 1861, as a private in Company K, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and, upon the organization of the company, was appointed first sergeant. His successive promotions were as follows: Second lieutenant, June 16, 1862; first lieutenant, March 3, 1863; captain, December 14, 1864. Upon the expiration of his second enlistment he re-enlisted as a veteran at Pulaski, Tennessee, January 4. 1864. He was finally discharged December 30. 1864, at Nashville, Tennessee, as a result of injuries received by being thrown from his horse at Louisville, Kentucky. The regiment of Colonel Curry was in fifty-one different battles and skirmishes. Among the battles in which the regiment participated were Shiloh, Stone's River, Perryville and Chickamauga. His regiment was in the "one hundred days under fire" from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and two colonels were killed in battle. The First Ohio Cavalry was in all of the battles, skirmishes and marches of the Army of the Cumberland and never failed to acquit itself creditably. Colonel Curry was captured at Courtland, Alabama, July 25, 1862, and remained a prisoner until exchanged in February, 1863.
In the military chapter of the county it was stated that Colonel Curry was instrumental in organizing what was known as the "Curry Cadets." The local company, organized at Marysville. became a part of the Fourteenth Regiment of Ohio National Guards and he was the lieutenant colonel of this regiment from 1877 to 1882. He was the assistant adjutant general of Ohio under Governor William Mckinley from 1892 to 1896. He was commis- sioner of soldiers' claims of the state from 1900 to 1910, and from 1910 to 1913 was United States pension agent of Ohio, being appointed to this posi- tion by President Taft. He has always been active in the Grand Army of the Republic post and served as commander of the Marysville Post from 1881 to 1884. He has engaged extensively in historical writing and is at present writing a history of his state in the Civil War. He is the author of "Four
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Years in the Saddle;" "History of the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry ;" "Cav- alry Raids of the Army of the Cumberland," and a "Reference Book of Revolutionary Soldiers." In addition to his historical writing he has written a number of patriotic poems.
Colonel Curry was married in Union county, Ohio, December 21, 1865, to Martha Jane Robinson. She was born in Jerome township April 12, 1843, and is a daughter of James D. and Martha Eliza (Mitchell) Robinson. Her parents reared a family of eight children, Georgiana, James Edgar, Thomas L., Albert W., Henry, Ida. Myrtle and Martha Jane. Colonel Curry and his wife have had three children, Don Grant, Ivaloo and Lucille C. Don Grant was born February 22, 1868, and died September 27, 1870. Ivaloo was born March 3. 1874, and was married to Lorin Hord November 22, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Hord are residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lucille C. was born June 1, 1881, and married Frederick C. Jeannot May 4, 1904. They have three children: Mary, born July 13, 1905; Martha, born March 17, 1907; William Curry. born January 29. 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Jeannot reside at Wilmington, Ohio.
Colonel Cury has always been identified with the interests of the Re- publican party and has taken an active part in the welfare of his party. He served as auditor of Union county for three terms, from 1875 to 1882. The family have, for several generations, been active members of the Pres- byterian church. The fraternal relations of Colonel Curry are with the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Legion of Ohio. He is also the registrar of the Sons of the American Revolution of Ohio. After the close of the war, he was in the mercantile business in New California until 1869 and the next two years was a merchant in Plain City.
From 1871 to 1875 he was a resident of Richwood and for the next quarter of a century resided at Marysville. For the past fifteen years he has been living in Columbus, and he is now working on the Civil War History of Ohio.
SIMON STALEY.
Simon Staley is one of the large landowners and one of the most exten- sive farmers in Union county. He owns a farm of two hundred acres of fine land located on the gravel road about three and a half miles northwest of Marysville, and farms about six hundred and seventy-five acres alto- gether, all in Paris township. On his farm he has a fine home and commo- dious and well-arranged barns, etc., with all the modern improvements and
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conveniences of an up-to-date farmer. He was born on the Woodburn farm and has had the training and education of a farmer from his youth.
Simon Staley first saw the light of day November 15, 1858. He is the son of William and Roxie (Amrine) Staley, both natives of Ohio. William Staley, father of the subject, were born in Greene county, near Xenia, Ohio. The paternal grandfather was Samuel Staley, who came from Pennsylvania in an early day and settled in Greene county, where he lived for some time. He then came to Union county and engaged in farming here the remainder of his life. He was buried in Amrine cemetery, located in this neighborhood. William Staley, father of the subject, came to Union county with his parents when he was a boy and spent his early youth working on the home farm. He learned the blacksmith trade and worked at that business for some time. When he quit the blacksmith trade he returned to the farm and devoted his time to farming for the remainder of his active years. He is now retired and living with his son-in-law, Harrison Enoch. His children were: Julia, who married Mr. Turner; Josephine, deceased; Simon, the subject of this sketch; Walter; Harriet; George; Nettie, who married Harrison Enoch; Jennie, who married William Vliet.
Simon Staley was born in one of the first of the old frame houses erected in the township, and afterwards went to a new double-log house such as was common in those times. The log houses built by the pioneers who settled in the woods were not constructed according to plans and specifications pre- pared by an architect. But the arrangement for the comfort and convenience of those who occupied these primitive log houses could not be improved by any of the modern skilled architects. The skill of the pioneer woodsman who hewed the logs and the men who fitted the logs in the corners in the construction of the house is not equalled by any of the present day mechan- ics. with all their improved tools which were unknown to the pioneer build- ers. The subject received his education in the country schools and worked on the farm during all his school period. When he was nineteen years old he started out to make his own living. He found employment in a mill, where he continued for some time. His inclination, however, was for agri- cultural pursuits, for which he had training and experience from early youth. So he went back to the farm and took up farming as his life vocation. Mr. Staley is the largest feeder of live stock in this part of the state, buying thousands of bushels of grain besides what he raises. Sheep and hogs have been his specialty, but he also feeds cattle.
Mr. Staley was thrice married, first to Jennie Burnes, and to this union one child was born, which is deceased. His second marriage was to Lilly
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Thompson, to whom two children were born, Dana and Howard. His third marriage was to Alma Watkins, who is still living and the two children of this union are William and Gertrude, both at home.
Mr. Staley is not identified with any church, but is liberal in contribut- ing to the support of the church, believing that all churches have an influ- ence for good in the community. In politics he affiliates with the Repub- lican party.
HARRY L. AGNER.
It is a well known fact that public opinion really rules this country. It was the insistent cry of the public which forced through the last two amend- ments to the Constitution of the United States, and it was this influence which led President Wilson to insist upon the reduction of the tariff and the pas- sage of the new monetary bill through Congress. Public opinion, however, would be useless without it had the opportunity to find expression. There is no way by which public opinion can find its full expression except through the newspapers. For this reason it is not too much to say that the news- papers of our country are the real rulers, but they have more power in con- trolling the destinies of our nation than Congress itself. Congress can do no more than voice the will of the people as expressed in the newspapers. There are few towns in Ohio today which do not have a publication of some kind, and each paper exerts an influence in its respective community which is hard to calculate.
Harry L. Agner has been in the newspaper business since he was six- teen years of age. beginning his trade in the Marysville Tribune office. He was born in New Moorefield. Ohio, March 29. 1868, and is the son of Will- iam H. and Margaret H. (Burns) Agner, natives of Virginia and Ohio. respectively. His parents reared a family of four children : Arthur Joseph Burns Anger, who died at the age of twenty-seven; Angie L., wife of John O. Fleck, of Marysville: Harry L., of Milford Center; and Ada M., wife of Thomas N. Brown, of Franklin, Ohio.
William H. Agner was reared in Virginia by an uncle and came to Ohio when a young man, and located in New Vienna. Clark county, where he engaged in the cooperage business. From New Vienna, Mr. Agner went to New Moorefield, where he followed the same business for several years. Later he engaged in the mercantile business in New Moorefield, and was postmaster there at the same time. In 1879 he moved to Marysville and
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operated a fish market, later engaging in the grocery business, which he was following when he died in 1908, at the age of seventy-three. His wife died in 1895, at the age of fifty-nine. William H. Agner and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The paternal grandparents of Harry L. Agner were early settlers of Clark county, Ohio, where they lived the remainder of their days. His grandmother lived to be more than ninety years of age.
The maternal grandparents of Harry L. Agner were Joseph and Eme- line Burns. His grandfather, on his mother's side, was a distant relative of Robert Burns, the Scotch poet.
Harry L. Agner was twelve years of age when he moved with his par- ents to Marysville, and in that village he grew to manhood. He left school at the age of sixteen to enter the office of the Marysville Tribune, where he learned the trade of a printer. He moved to Milford Center, Ohio, in April, 1910, where he purchased the Milford Center Ohioan, an independent weekly newspaper, which he is now publishing. In addition to publishing the news- paper weekly, he does a general job printing business. Mr. Agner is a prac- tical newspaper man, devoting his life to the profession, and since taking charge of the paper at Milford Center he has increased its circulation as well as the general quality of the paper.
Mr. Agner was married July 4, 1894, to Catharine Christine Lachen- mier, the daughter of George Lachenmier and wife. To this union two children have been born, William Edward and Margaret Louise.
Mrs. Agner was born and reared in Marysville. Her parents were na- tives of Germany and came to America and located in Columbus, later mov- ing to Marysville, where her father died in 1894 and her mother in 1874. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lachenmier, Tillie, Louise, Lizzie and Catharine. The father of Mrs. Agner married the second time, his second wife being Margaret Smith and to this union five children were born, Frank, Fritz, Flora, Joseph and Martine.
Mr. and Mrs. Agner are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics, he is a stanch Republican and has always been one of the leaders of his party in his community. At the present time he is serv- ing as mayor of Milford Center and giving conscientious service to his fel- low citizens in this capacity. He is a man of genial disposition and, although lie has been a resident of Milford Center but a few years, he has already won a large circle of acquaintances throughout the community.
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BENJAMIN HARRISON TURNER.
The younger generation of farmers, of which the subject of this review is one, can have but slight conception of the advantages they enjoy compared with the advantages afforded the farmers of the pioneer times. In the early times farming was very much of a drudgery, with incessant and arduous toil and an expenditure of muscle and brawn, with little opportunity for the cul- tivation of the mental faculties or the enjoyment of the social amenities of life. Fifty years ago the science of agriculture was in its infancy, in fact it was not generally regarded as a science. For one to suggest the idea at that time that a scientific course in college was essential to qualify a man for a successful farmer, would have subjected the person making the suggestion to ridicule. But today there are schools and colleges in every state teaching agriculture as a science and are turning out thousands of young men well trained in the scientific methods of farming, and these young men are forg- ing to the front in every agricultural community. Farmers of the younger generation who have not had the advantage of a college scientific training have caught the spirit of the times and have become well informed on mod- ern methods by intelligent reading and study of literature devoted to scien- tific farming. So that now farming has risen to a place of dignity, of which it is well worthy, among the industrial activities.
Benjamin Harrison Turner was born on a farm on which his parents were living, one mile north of Marysville, September 15, 1888. He is the son of Solomon and Julia (Staley) Turner. The father was born in Shef- field, England. in 1847, and came with his parents to this country on a sail boat when he was young. The grandfather of the subject was Edmond Tur- ner. Coming with his family from England, he settled in Union county, Ohio, and engaged in farming, following this occupation the remainder of his life. He had a family of six children, Harriett, Edward, Solomon, Ste- phen, Samuel and Richard. Stephen and Samuel were soldiers in the Civil War and were both killed in battle.
Solomon Turner, father of the subject, commenced farming in Paris township and has lived here all his life. He was twice married, first to Ar- mintha Amrine and to this union the following named children were born : Edward, Joseph. Charles, Hallie, Minnie and Smith. His second marriage was to Julia Staley and to this union were born the following children : Benjamin Harrison, Hazel and Ralph.
Benjamin H. Turner received his education by attending the school at
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District No. 5. and afterwards the Marysville high school. During all his school period he worked on his father's farm, making a full hand in the busy season. He was married January 16, 1910, to Florence Hoover, daughter of Frank and Lucy (Pollett) Hoover. They came from Pennsylvania and bought a farm in Paris township, Union county, where they are both still living.
After his marriage Mr. Turner moved to his father's farm of one hun- dred acres, located about three and one-fourth miles northwest of Marysville, and engaged in farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite suc- cessful. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have two children, Geneva B. and Mildred C. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are both highly esteemed in their church relationship and among the large circle of friends in the community in which they are so well known. That Mr. Turner is a Republican may be easily surmised from the honored name which he bears. It may also be easily surmised that his father before him was a Republican at the time of the birth of the subject, 1888. Benjamin Harrison, a native of Ohio, and afterwards a distinguished citizen of Indiana, was nominated and elected President in 1888, as the Republican candidate, and filled that high office with unusual ability and honor to himself and his country. The name is one of signal honor and the one who bears it may well take pride in the fact, and find in this an inspiration to emulate the example of his distin- guished namesake.
ROBERT LAWSON WOODBURN.
In contemplating the many estimable qualities of the late Robert Lawson Woodburn, of Marysville, Ohio, integrity and industry appear as prominent characteristics. Born in this county he spent his whole career here with the exception of the time he was at the front during the Civil War. For many years he was identified with the legal profession of the county, and here he attained high rank. The fact that he was recognized by his fellow citizens as a man of ability is shown by the fact that he was elected to the legislature of his state, while his career in that law-making body was such as to justify the trust reposed in him. Mr. Woodburn had the greatest sympathy for his fellow men and was always ready to aid and encourage those who were struggling to assist themselves. Always calm and straightforward, never demonstrative, his life was a steady effort for the worth of Christian doc-
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trine, the purity and grandeur of Christian principles, and the beauty and elevation of Christian character.
Robert Lawson Woodburn was born in Jerome township, Union county, Ohio, November 26, 1843. and died at his home in Marysville, Ohio, Septem- ber 19. 1910. He was a son of Samuel B. and Levinnia ( Henderson ) Wood- burn. His father was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1812: moved to Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1816; to Greene county, Ohio, in 1817; and to Union county, Ohio, in 1841. In 1876 Samuel Woodburn located in Marysville, where he lived until his death, May 22. 1900. Levinnia Hen- derson, the wife of Samuel B. Woodburn, was born November 8. 1820, and died in Marysville February 11, 1897. Ten children were born to Samuel B. Woodburn and wife, all of whom are deceased but three, Cloyis Heber, Florence A. and Lieuella. The other children were Robert Lawson, Hamer, Eugene, David Henderson. Emma A., Josie and Maude. Maude, the young- est child, married Mr. Sharrer, and left one daughter, Ruth, at her death. Ruth is now living with her two aunts, Florence A. and Lieulla Woodburn.
On the paternal side of the family the Woodburns trace their ancestry back to the Scotch-Irish covenanters. The first member of the family to come to the United States was Robert Woodburn, who located about 1776 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There he married Mary Laidley, a native of Ken- tucky, who died. leaving her husband with three sons. This Robert Wood- burn again married, his second wife being Sarah Barr, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and to this union ten children were born, one of whom, Samuel B .. was the father of Robert Lawson Woodburn.
Robert L. Woodburn was educated in the common and high schools of his home county. When he was nineteen years of age he enlisted for service in the Union army in June. 1863, in Company B. Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in February, 1864. He was the first corporal of his regiment. After the close of the war he returned to his home in this county and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1869. He then entered the law office of Robinson & Piper, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He entered into partnership with J. W. Robinson, one of his preceptors, and this firm continued in partnership until the death of Mr. Robinson. After that Mr. Woodburn continued to practice alone until his death, in 1910. He was prosecuting attorney of Union county from 1877 until 1881. and a few years afterwards was elected to the legislature of Ohio.
Mr. Woodburn was an active Republican in politics and always took an
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intelligent interest in the welfare of his party. He was active in church work and was an earnest worker in the Presbyterian church all of his life. He organized the first teachers' association of this county, and was a member of the board of county examiners and clerk of the board for many years. He was one of the founders of the building and loan association at Marysville, and one of its officers until the close of its successful career. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a Mason he had taken all of the degrees, including the thirty-second, belonging to the consistory at Cincinnati.
Mr. Woodburn was a successful man of affairs and became one of the substantial citizens of his town. . He left a fine farm of more than two hundred acres, besides city property and bank stock. His fine home at Marys- ville is now occupied by his two sisters, Florence A. and Lieulla. Mr. Wood- burn was an intensely philanthropic and charitable man, as is shown by the fact that he donated a large number of volumes to the free public library at Marysville, and also set aside a considerable fund to be used in the purchase of books for the library in future years. His life was a busy one, but he
never allowed anything to interfere with his Christian obligations or the faithful performance of his church duties. He was proud of Marysville and of the great state of Ohio and zealous of their progress and prosperity. He was a man who in every respect merited the high esteem in which he was universally held, for he was a man of public spirit, intelligent attainment and exemplary character.
GEORGE R. GUM.
It is the highest honor to have served in the great Civil War which was fought in the sixties. One of the youngest, if not the youngest soldier to enlist in the Civil War in the state of Ohio was George R. Gum, who en- listed when he was only thirteen years of age, although he was not mustered in until later. As a matter of fact, he was so anxious to serve his country that he enlisted no less than six times before he was fifteen years of age, and was mustered into the service January 20, 1864, four months before he was sixteen years of age. Such patriotic zeal was uncommon for boys of his age, but it is certainly a tribute to his courage and devotion to his country. He was one of the thousands of Ohio boys who left their homes
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to save their country, and it seems eminently fitting that his career be set forth in this volume.
George H. Gum, the present clerk of Clairbourne township, Union county, Ohio, was born in West Liberty, Logan county, Ohio, May 22, 1848. His parents, Jacob M. and Mary (Martin) Gum, were natives of this state and reared a family of three children : George R., with whom this narrative deals: Elizabeth, the wife of J. E. Howe, of Richwood, and one who died in infancy.
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