USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 94
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Mr. Lockwood was married in 1871 to Martha J. Elliott, who was born in Union county, Ohio, in 1848. To this union eleven children have been born, nine of whom are still living, Harry E., Abner, Clara, John J., Otto, Otis, Robert, Austin and Etta. The two daughters are married; Clara is the wife of O. E. Willitt and Etta is the wife of Lemuel Patrick. The deceased children are Della and Clarence.
All the members of the Lockwood family are loyal adherents of the Friends church and are deeply interested in its welfare. Politically, Mr. Lockwood gives his allegiance to the Republican party, but beyond casting his ballot for the candidates at election time has never taken a very active part in political affairs. He is a man who is highly respected because of his excellent character, his honesty and the interest which he takes in the public welfare.
JOHN B. WELLER.
Ohio was not lacking in loyalty during the dark days of the Civil War, and at the time when the ship of state was almost stranded on the rocks this state contributed more than three hundred thousand brave and valued men to assist in preserving the integrity of the government. Union county sent hundreds of her brave boys to the front and among these John B. Weller, a prominent farmer of Dover township, bore an honorable part. The ranks of the boys in blue are rapidly thinning by the one invisible foe, and it is eminently fitting of Union county to pay special tribute to those who served during the greatest civil war known to history.
John B. Weller, the son of Edward and Philadelphia (Burgess) Wel-
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ler, was born December 3, 1838, in Mill Creek township, Union county, Ohio. His father was born at Hastings, England, about sixty miles south of London, and was twenty-two years of age when he came to America and located in New York. A year later Edward Weller went west and located in Sandusky, Ohio, and in 1832 came to Union county and located in Mill Creek township on the farm now owned by the Henderson family. Some years later the father of Edward Weller came to this country where he spent the remainder of his days. Nine children were born to Edward Weller and wife, Malinda, Harriett, Joseph, Thomas, Betsy, John B., Ed- ward, Mary and Melissa.
John B. Weller received a limited education in the old log schoolhouse which stood in his neighborhood. His father was a well educated man, and he received more of his education at home than he did on the rude log on which he sat in the primitive schoolhouse in the woods. As a lad he worked on his father's farm and in a brick-yard, and was at home when the war broke out in 1861.
Mr. Weller enlisted in August, 1861, and was a member of Company D. Thirty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served continu- ously until after 1864, when he was finally discharged from the service. He fought in some of the fiercest battles of that terrible struggle, among them being the battles of Fayetteville, Wittville and Charleston, fighting in these three battles under the leadership of Col. A. S. Payette in West Virginia. He was under General Crook, who was on the staff of General Sheridan, and most of his service was in the eastern states.
Immediately after his discharge from the service Mr. Weller returned to Union county and bought a farm in Dover township, where he has since resided. He has added to his farm from time to time and now has a well improved farm of three hundred thirty-two and one-half acres on the Delaware and Marysville road, about three miles east of Marys- , ville. The half century which he has devoted to agriculture has been crowned with success, which speaks well for his industry and unflagging applica- tion to his daily duties. He is now retired from active farm life but still gives his careful attention to the general supervision of his farm.
Mr. Weller was married December 30, 1875, to Emily Judy, the daugh- ter of Michael and Sarah (Turner) Judy. To this union four children have been born: Victor B .. who married Lida Loveless and has two chil- dren, Beatrice and Victor Carlisle: Edward, deceased; Ethel, who married Walter Diehl and has two children, Iva Eloise and Fahy Eugene, and Fred, the youngest child, at home. Mrs. Weller died November 6, 1909.
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Politically, Mr. Weller has been a life long Democrat and always took an interest in the welfare of his party. He served as treasurer of Dover township for two terms with entire satisfaction to his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Ransom Reed Grand Army of the Republic post and takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the old soldiers. He has a reputation for honesty and integrity, which has been the direct result of his square dealings through his long years of residence in this county, and for this reason has won the esteem of his fellowmen by the clean and wholesome life which he has lived.
CHARLES COE.
The career of Charles Coe began in Allen township, Union county, Ohio, fifty years ago, and in this same township he has lived since his birth. Mr. Coe is a thriving farmer and while advancing primarily his own indi- vidual interests has not neglected to participate in the affairs of the com- munity about him. He and his wife are rearing an interesting family of daughters, to whom they are giving the best of educational advantages. Mr. Coe himself is a college man, his wife is a graduate of the high school, and his children are now students in the high school.
Charles Coe, the son of Philip and Louisa (Smith) Coe, was born in Allen township, Union county, June 29, 1865. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, while his mother was born in Union county, Ohio, and to them were born eight children : Anna, the widow of E. G. Piper : Mary, the wife of Rev. E. W. McDowell, both of whom are now missionaries in Tur- key; Lottie, the wife of Rev. F. M. Myers, of Plain City, Ohio; William, de- ceased: Charles, of Allen township: James, a farmer now living on the old home place : Martha, the wife of Rev. Vernon Sydenstricker, a Presbyterian minister, and Walter, a farmer living near Westerville, Ohio.
Charles Coe was reared on his father's farm in Allen township, and after completing his education in the common and high schools of his home county became a student at Wooster, Ohio. After remaining in college one year he returned home, married and began farming. He has been identified with the agricultural interests of Allen township as an independent farmer for the past score of years, during which time he has ranked among the most progressive farmers of the township.
Mr. Coe was married May 15, 1895, to Ida Wood, the daughter of
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J. D. and Addie (Wilber) Wood. Mrs. Coe was born in this county and is a graduate of the Marysville high school. Mr. Coe and his wife have a family of four interesting daughters, Ruth, Mary, Elizabeth and Marjorie. Ruth is a graduate of the Marysville high school and the other daughters are following in her footsteps.
Mr. Coe and his wife are loyal and consistent members of the Presbyter- ian church at Milford Center and are deeply interested in everything which pertains to its advancement. Mr. Coe is a member of the board of trustees of liis denomination. Politically, he is a Republican, but while giving his stanch support to his party, has never been an aspirant for public office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Royal and Select Masters. He is a member of the Raper Commandery. He and his wife are both members of the Patrons of Husbandry at Milford Center. Mr. Coe and his family are held in high esteem in the community where they live, being people of refinement and culture, and vitally interested in the general welfare of their particular lo- cality.
ARTHUR GRAHAM.
An enterprising and progressive farmer and stock raiser of Dover town- ship, Union county, Ohio, is Arthur Graham, who has a well improved farm of one hundred and two and one-half acres on the Perkins pike road about six miles northeast of Marysville. Born and reared in this county, he has spent his entire life within its limits, and is consequently well known to a large number of citizens throughout the county. His whole life has been such as to commend him to his neighbors, and it is safe to say that no man has a higher standing in the community. In the civic life of his township he has taken a commendable part and is now serving with credit as trustee of his township.
Arthur Graham, the son of Jasper and Louisa ( Battees) Graham, was born in Mill Creek township, Union county, Ohio, August 9, 1875. His father was born in the same township, the son of Ralph and Hannah (Bur- dick ) Graham. Ralph Graham, the grandfather of Arthur Graham, was born in England, and came to this country when a young man and settled in Mill Creek township, in Union county, Ohio. Jasper Graham and his wife have reared a family of seven children. all of whom are still living. Lyde, Levi, Alvi, Arthur, Edith, Charlie and May.
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Arthur Graham was educated in the common schools of Mill Creek town- ship, and early in life decided to follow the vocation of a farmer. He re- mained on the home farm until he reached his majority and then worked for farmers in the immediate neighborhood. In about 1899 he went to Dover township, and in 1910 bought his present farm where he has since resided. He has placed many improvements upon this farm since acquiring it, and has engaged in general farming and stock raising with a success which places him among the most progressive farmers of his township.
Mr. Graham was married in 1909 to Nettie Owen, the daughter of A. A. and Mary (Davis) Owen, and to this union have been born two children, Faye M. and Dwight L.
Politically, Mr. Graham is a stanch Republican and has taken an active part in Republican politics in his township and county for many years. At the present time he is serving as trustee of Dover township, and is filling this office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of the township, irrespective of their politics. He and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Baptist church and are interested in all church and Sunday school work. Mr. Graham is a trustee of his church at the present time. He is a man of large acquaintance and has many friends and a host of well-wishers throughout the township and county. He has ever given his aid in serving the general interests of his locality and is at all time public- spirited in his attitude toward all things for the benefit of his community.
JOHN EASTON.
A public spirited citizen and an enterprising farmer of Dover township, Union county, Ohio, is John Easton, who is now serving as trustee of his township and filling this position with eminent satisfaction to all concerned. He has been a resident of this county for the past half of a century and has taken an active interest in everything pertaining to the material, moral, civic and educational advancement of the county. He is a man of generous im- pulses and a firm believer in those principles of honesty and integrity which he has always employed in his private affairs. He is a man of simple and domestic tastes, devoted to his family and to his church, and because of his clean and wholesome life in this county he has won the esteem of his friends and neighbors.
John Easton, the son of Joseph and Margaret (Wagner) Easton, was born November 17, 1860, on a farm in Coshocton county, Ohio. His father
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was born in Sussex, England, and came to this country when he was six- teen years of age with his brother, Daniel. Upon landing in America Joseph came to Ohio and located in Coshocton county, where he found work on a farm in the county. Later he worked on the railroad and after his marriage lived a few years in that county. In 1865 Joseph Easton came to Union county and located in Jerome township, where he lived some time. He then bought a farm in Mill Creek township where he lived the remainder of his days. Eight children were born to Joseph Easton and wife, Mrs. Mary Kirby, John, Artensa, Mrs. Martha Clarke, Meronda, deceased, William, Mrs. Lou Graham and C. H.
John Easton was about five years of age when his parents moved from Coshocton county to Union county and, consequently, all of his education was received in the schools of Union county. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age and then began working on the farms in his immediate neighborhood. He is essentially a self-made man and his present farm of ninety-five acres has all been made by the sweat of his brow. Fifty-seven acres of his farm are on the Easton road about five miles northeast of Marysville. The rest of his farm, thirty-eight acres, is located one mile north of his other farm. His land is well improved and under his skillful management yields a satisfactory return year after year.
Mr. Easton was married March 20, 1901, to Margaret Bown, the daugh- ter of Charles and Catherine (Burgis) Bown. To this union have been born four children, Joseph, Erma, Paul and Fred, three of whom are now attending school at Dover.
Charles Bown, the father of Mrs. Easton, was born in England, and came here with eight children in 1873. He was the son of John and Anna (Crees ) Bown, who lived all of their days in England. Ten children were born to Charles Bown and wife, Charles, Frederick, Frank, Harry, John. Arthur, Margaret, Stanley, Ernest and Norman.
Politically, Mr. Easton has always affiliated with the Democratic party and has taken more or less of an active part in its councils for many years. At the present time he is filling the office of trustee of his township in such a manner as to elicit the commendation of all the citizens, irrespective of their politics. He and his family are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Easton is a trustee of the church. His earnest labors and his honest dealings with his fellow men have resulted in winning for him a large measure of success in a material way, while at the same time he has earned the confidence and admiration of his neighbors and fel- lowmen.
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WALTER M. STALEY.
A widely known farmer and sheep raiser of Union county, Ohio, is Walter M. Staley, who has been a resident of this county for the past half century. He has built up a reputation as a sheep breeder which extends far beyond the limits of his own state, and his herds of Spanish Merino sheep have taken numerous prizes in county and state fairs. His rams have been shipped as far away as South Africa, as well as to all parts of the United States where sheep are raised. He owns a fine farm of more than two hun- dred acres and ranks among the most progressive and enterprising farmers of the county.
Walter M. Staley, the son of William and Roxie J. (Amrine) Staley, was born July 24, 1864, in Marysville, Ohio. His mother was born in this same county. Eight children were born to William Staley and wife, seven of whom were still living in 1914: Julia, the wife of Solomon Turner ; Simon, a farmer and stock raiser of Paris township; Josephine, deceased ; Walter M., of Allen township; Harriett, of Cleveland, Ohio; George W., a farmer and stock raiser of Paris township: Nettie, the wife of Harrison Enix, of Paris township, and Jennie, the wife of W. A. Vleit, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Walter M. Staley was about two years of age when his parents moved from Marysville to a farm in Paris township, the same farm on which Mr. Staley is now living. He was educated in the common schools of Paris township and remained at home until his marriage, when he began farming in Allen township. He has given particular attention to the raising of Spanish Merino sheep and has made a pronounced success of the sheep indus- try. He has been a frequent judge at county and state fairs throughout the state of Ohio, as well as in other states, and is recognized as one of the lead- ing authorities on sheep in the state. For four years he was a judge at the Ohio State fair. Within the past few years he has sold sheep in South Africa, receiving three hundred dollars for some of his best rams. In addi- tion to his sheep he raises other kinds of high grade stock. His farm of two hundred and twelve acres is four and one-half miles southwest of Marys- ville. on the Lewisburg pike, and is one of the most attractive farms of the county. Mrs. Staley has raised Bronze turkeys for the past twenty years and shipped turkeys to every state in the Union for breeding purposes.
Mr. Staley was married November 15, 1891, to Della Leonard, a native of this county and a daughter of Jacob and Mary Jane McGill. both deceased.
WALTER M. STALEY.
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To this union two children have been born, Phyllis Bell and Walter M., Jr., both of whom are attending the public schools of their township.
Mr. Staley has been a Republican in politics and has taken a leading part in the political activities of his party in this county. He has served as committeeman from his township and been a delegate to various conventions. He is a member of the Union County fair board as a representative from Allen township. Mr. Staley is one of the township trustees at present and has also served as a member of the school board. He has made all the im- provements on his place. He has a fine brick home, a new barn, forty-eight by eighty-six feet, one of the strongest and best barns in the township, built in 1906.
JOHN H. SHEARER.
The Shearer family have been identified with the newspapers of Marys- ville, Ohio, since 1858, when John H. Shearer, Sr., located in this city. When he arrived in Marysville, Mr. Shearer was poor in purse, but full of ambition. He had already learned the printer's trade and was fully com- petent to manage a paper alone. He bought the Marysville Tribune the same year lie came to the county, and from that year until his death in 1896 he remained its editor, having some years previous taken into business partnership his eldest son, Will O. Shearer, who was identified with the business as editor and manager until the latter's death, April 19, 1913. In 1896 the younger son, John H. Shearer, Jr., succeeded to his father's half interest in the business and on the death of W. O. Shearer he came into full possession of the business. The Tribune is recognized as one of the best in this section of the state.
John H. Shearer, Jr., the son of John H. and Joan Abigail (Carson) Shearer, was born in Marysville July 3, 1870. His father was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married September 8, 1842, was Matilda Ream, who died in Marysville in March, 1865, leaving her husband with two children, Mrs. Retta Zeigler, of Columbus, Ohio, and W. O. Shearer, who died April 19, 1913. The second marriage of John H. Shearer, Sr., was with Mrs. J. A. Johnson, whose death occurred October 22, 1881, leav- ing her husband with one son, John H., Jr.
John H. Shearer, Sr., was born in Perry county, Ohio, December 10. 1816, and was a son of Daniel and Martha ( Miller) Shearer. Daniel (62)
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Shearer was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1781, and removed to Perry county, Ohio, in the autumn of 1805. Daniel Shearer died in 1820 at the age of twenty-nine, leaving his widow and four children to struggle alone in developing a half improved farm. The widow later married a Mr. Kishler, and died in Marysville in 1875, being eighty-five years of age at the time of her death.
John H. Shearer, Sr., was the fourth child and second son of Daniel and Martha (Miller) Shearer. When a mere lad he showed a marked apti- tude for schooling and although he had to walk two and a half miles each day to attend school it did not dampen his enthusiasm for an education. The school was taught by a woman of Catholic faith, and according to the testimony of Mr. Shearer, later in life, she was an excellent instructor. Within a few years a new schoolhouse was built within a half mile of the Shearer home, and here he completed his elementary education and, in fact. all he ever learned within the schoolroom.
In those days boys with an ambition began to look around early in life in order to learn some trade. In the spring of 1836 John H. . Shearer, Sr .. saw a brief notice in the Western Post, which definitely decided his fu- ture career. This notice was to the effect that this paper desired an appren- tice, and in his enthusiasm Mr. Shearer answered the advertisement in per- son. The WN'estern Post was published in Somerset, a village near his home. For the next three years he spent all of his time learning the printer's trade. In 1839 he attended school for a very short time and then bought a half interest in the Somerset Western Post. He remained with this paper until 1844 as half owner and then acquired the sole interest in the business. Some time shortly after he acquired the sole ownership of this paper the county seat was moved from Somerset to New Lexington, and this fact, together with some unfortunate endorsements for other people, caused him to stop the publication of his paper. He had become security on notes for some of his friends and the payment of these notes left him practically penniless.
The next chapter in the history of the career of John H. Shearer, Sr., begins in August, 1858. As the sun was going down on one of the days in the latter part of that month he walked into Marysville, Ohio. The Tribune of this city was owned at that time by C. S. Hamilton and Samuel Mc- Bratney, and Mr. Shearer soon found that the office was for sale. The owners asked fifteen hundred dollars for the plant, and with not a dollar to his name Mr. Shearer finally entered into a contract to secure McBrat-
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ney's interest in the paper. He was to pay three hundred dollars within the first few months, and it is to his credit that he had the money ready when the notes became due. For the next thirty-eight years John H. Shearer, Sr., piloted the Marysville Tribune and during all of that time he made it a paper always welcome in every home in the county. He died at his home in Marysville July 5, 1896. His last words were, "All is peaceful." Thus ended the career of one of the noblest citizens Union county has ever had.
John H. Shearer, Jr., received his elementary and high school edit- cation in the schools of Marysville, graduating from the high school in 1888. He succeeded to his father's interest in the Tribune in 1896, and purchased the interest of his half-brother. W. O. Shearer, when the latter died in 1913. His whole career has been spent in the newspaper office, and consequently he is fully acquainted with every detail of the publishing busi- ness. He is a Republican in politics, as was his father before him, and his paper reflects the sentiments of his party.
Mr. Shearer was married February 19. 1896, in Columbus, Ohio, to Lucia C. Daniels. She was born at Reno, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Lucian H. and Emma (Cook) Daniels. Mr. Shearer and his wife had one son who died in infancy.
The family are all members of the Congregationalist church at Marys- ville, and the senior Shearer was a pillar in the church during all the time he lived in Marysville. Fraternally, Mr. Shearer is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to all the degrees up to and including the Mystic Shrine.
HEBER H. HERD.
A prominent public school teacher of Union county, Ohio, is Heber H. Herd, who is district superintendent of the schools of the special district of Peoria, Liberty, York and Taylor townships. Mr. Herd was born in this county and has spent practically all of his life within the limits of the county. He is a man of high educational qualifications, a college graduate, and deeply interested in everything pertaining to educational matters. As an instructor of youth he not only has the acquired ability to instruct but also has those high qualities of character which should dominate every teacher.
Heber H. Herd, the son of James and Docie (Caley) Herd, was born
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in Liberty township, Union county, Ohio, April 2, 1881. His parents, both of whom are still living, were born in Union county, Ohio, and England, respectively. His mother came to the United States with her parents when she was five years of age and settled in Knox county, Ohio. She came to Union county at the age of twenty and after her marriage she and her hus- band moved to Iowa, where they lived for a number of years. Then James Herd and his family returned to Union county, Ohio, where they have since resided. He is a prosperous farmer and has four hundred and fifty-two acres of well improved land in this county. There has been twelve children born to James Herd and wife, nine of whom are still living: Emma, a graduate of the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and the wife of Claude L. Williams; Will, also a graduate of the National Normal School, who married Ida Ballinger; Ida, single; Charles, who still resides at home; Fay, who married Winnie Smith ; Flora, the wife of Frank I. Brown, of Dayton, Ohio; Cora, the wife of W. F. Knight; Bry, a farmer of Liberty township, and Heber H., of Liberty township.
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