USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 99
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
James H. Myers, the son of John and Hannah ( Winn) Myers, was born February 13, 1847, on the farm where he is now residing. His father was a native of Licking county, this state, while the Winn family were early pio- neers in Ross county. Ohio. The father of John Myers was born in Penn- sylvania, and brought the Myers family to Licking county early in its history and lived there until his deathi. His widow then brought the family to Union county and located in Dover township, where she reared her seven children to lives of usefulness. These children are as follows : Lewis, Adam, Michael, John, Joseph, Anna and Jacob.
John Myers was reared to manhood in this county and married Hannah Winn, and to this union were born eight children: Mary, William, Joseph, Anna, James H., Samuel, Jehu and Adam. Three of these sons, James H., William and Josephi, were soldiers in the Civil War. William lost his life while at the front.
James H. Myers attended school in the old log school house in Dover township and worked on his father's farm during his boyhood days. He enlisted as a member of Company F. Sixty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served eighteen months under Colonel Candy. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and saw hard fighting in eastern Tennessee and in the state of Georgia. He participated in the "grand review" at Washington, D. C., May 24 and 25, 1865, and was finally discharged from the service at Chicago, where he was stationed for detail service.
Mr. Myers resumed farming in Union county after leaving the army and after his marriage bought out the other heirs to his father's estate, and has since resided on the home farm. He has given his attention to general farm- ing and stock raising, specializing in Jersey cattle and other stock.
Mr. Myers was married in March, 1871. to Isabella Rittenhouse, and to this union six children have been born: Memphis, who married Mintie Cline, and has two children, Ursal and Opal; Milo, who married Ester Con- rad: Ivan, who married Ethel DeGood and has one daughter, Christavelt : Benjamin E., who married Kate Weidman; Glenna, the wife of Chester Lowe, and has one son, Arthur; Asa, who married Carrie Rodgers, and has one daughter, Winnette.
The Myers family are all loyal members of the Baptist church, in whose welfare they are deeply interested. Mr. Myers is a loyal and enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is actively interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the old soldiers. Ile is quiet and unassuming in his manner and because of his material success, his influence in
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local matters, and the unblemished character which he bears, there is accorded to him the fullest measure of confidence and esteem throughout the com- munity where he has spent his life.
WILLIAM C. DAVIS.
Since the year 1902, William C. Davis has been a resident of Union county, Ohio, coming to this county from Morrow county, where he was born and reared and had lived up to that time. He is a man of excellent education and is a welcome addition to the citizenship of this county. He is essentially a self-made man and the success which has come to him is the (direct result of his own individual efforts.
William C. Davis, the son of Joshua M. and Elizabeth (Dalrymple) Davis, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, October 22, 1859. His father was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and when a child came with his parents to Morrow county, Ohio, where he lived on the same farm until his death. The Dalrymple family were natives of New Jersey and were early settlers in Morrow county, Ohio. Joshua M. Davis and wife were the par- ents of four children : Harriett, the wife of Wilbur Thomas; Mary J., who died at the age of twenty-three; George M., who married Rose Sheffer; and William C., of Union county.
The boyhood days of William C. Davis were spent on his father's farm in Washington township. Morrow county, Ohio. After completing the edu- cation which was offered by the public schools of his home neighborhood, he became a student at the Ohio Northern University at Ada, and later gradu- ated from the commercial course at Fostoria, Ohio. He did not enter the teaching profession or the business world, but decided to engage in farming as his life's work. He returned to Morrow county after his college course was completed, married and began farming. He rented the old home farm until his parents' death and in 1902 sold his interest in the paternal estate and in the same year came to Union county and rented a farm in Washington township for one year. He then purchased a farm in York township upon which he moved in 1904. He lived on this farm until 1909 and then sold it and bought the farm where he lived until the spring of 1915. In Septem- ber. 1914. he sold the farm on which he had been living for six years and bought a farm of fifty-five and one-half acres in Claibourne township, on which he moved in the spring of 1915.
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Mr. Davis was married August 31, 1884, to Dora Harris, a daughter of Nathan and Rachel ( Ullum) Harris and a native of Illinois. To this union have been born eleven children, ten of whom are living: Pearl, the wife of Ernest Doudna ; Glenn, who married Effie Potts; Orville, who mar- ried Lelah Johnson: Ruby, the wife of Benjamin Paugh; Grace, the wife of Grover Dickson ; Edna, single ; Cebert, single ; Clara, single ; Corrinna, single ; Dever, single; and Walter, who died at the age of seven months.
Mr. Davis and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Somerville in York township and actively interested in its welfare. Politically, he is a member of the Prohibition party and firmly convinced that it is the one party which is making a stand against the greatest curse of this country. Mr. Davis and his family are highly esteemed in the community where they reside and have many warm friends who delight to partake of their hospitality and enjoy their friendship.
VINTON D. MCCRARY.
A farmer of York township, Union county, Ohio, who has spent all of his life within this county, is Vinton D. McCrary, who now has a farm of fifty-five and one-half acres, one-half mile west of Sommersville. Mr. Mc- Crary's father lost his life in the Civil War and left his widow with four small children. At the age of sixteen, Mr. MeCrary started out in the world to make his own way and the farm which he now owns he has made himself.
Vinton D. McCrary, the son of Benjamin F. and Somelia ( Leeper) McCrary, was born in Leesburg township. Union county, Ohio, February 12, 1860. His father was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and his mother in Union county, Paris township, the daughter of William Leeper and wife. The Leeper family was among the first settlers of Marysville. Benja- min Mccrary was a soldier in the Civil War as a member of Company K. Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, this company being under the command of Captain H. C. Hamilton. After he was in the service about six months, he was killed in battle. Four children were born to Benjamin F. McCrary and wife : Clara, the wife of Obe Cooksey, of Lima, Ohio; Vinton D., of York township: Mary, the wife of John Richards, of Perry county, Ohio; and Benjamin F., Jr., who married Lena Chambers.
Vinton D. McCrary was very young when his father died in the Civil War. He remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, helping his
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mother with the work on the farm. He then started out for himself, working by the day and month and at the age of twenty-three, he married and started farming on his account. In a few years he was able to purchase his present farm and has since devoted himself to general farming and stock raising.
Mr. McCrary was married January 19. 1883, to Aurilla White, a daugh- ter of Daniel A. and Minerva ( Bennett) White, natives of Indiana and early settlers in Union county, Ohio. Mrs. McCrary was born in Union county, Ohio, January, 1865. and died December 27, 1898, leaving her husband with four children: Asa, who married Iva Rush; Guy, single; Edna, the wife of William Green; and Edward. single.
Mr. McCrary was married a second time July 30, 1900, to Alberta Hedges, who was born in Union county, and is a daughter of Abraham and Mary ( Winfield) Hedges. To this second marriage two children have been born : Paul R., born in 1901, and Mary, born in 191I.
Mr. McCrary and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sommersville and are active in all church and Sunday school work. Mr. McCrary gives his hearty support to the Democratic party but, while believing in good government, has never taken an active part in the councils of his party. Mr. McCrary is a quiet, unassuming man, and by a life directed along proper lines, has won the high esteem of his fellow citizens.
SYLVESTER M. LENTZ.
The whole life of Sylvester M. Lentz has been spent in Allen township, 'Union county, Ohio, where he was born in 1861. His father died in service in the Civil War. Sylvester Lentz has made this county his life-long home, farming from his earliest days.
Sylvester M. Lentz. the son of Samuel and Catherine ( Poling) Lentz, was born May 5, 1861, in Allen township, Union county, Ohio. His parents were born and married in West Virginia, and came to Union county, Ohio, about 1860, locating in Allen township. His father enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company K, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and died of the measles while in service. His widow later married Samuel C. Boord, and to her second marriage two children were born. a son and daughter. C. M. and Viola, the son now living in Richwood. Ohio.
Sylvester M. Lentz has spent his entire life in the neighborhood where
RESIDENCE OF SYLVESTER M. LENTZ.
MR. AND MRS. SYLVESTER M. LENTZ.
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he was born. He was educated in the district schools and managed his mother's farm until he was forty-three years old. During this time he had acquired land of his own and now owns one hundred and fifty-six acres, eighteen acres of which was a part of the home farm. He is a general farmer and stock raiser.
Mr. Lentz was married in February, 1904, to Clara Davis, a native of this county and daughter of James H. Davis and Mary Whelpley.
Mr. Lentz has been a Republican all his life. He is a member of the Marysville lodge of Knights of Pythias, and takes an active interest in this order. Mr. Lentz has not concerned himself solely with his own interests, but has taken an active part in the busy life of the community in which he lives. Such men are a help to their community. Mr. Lentz has won the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the town- ship and county.
Mr. Lentz's brother, C. M. Lentz, is superintendent of schools at Rich- wood.
JOHN F. WILKINS.
Born on the same farm where he is now living in York township, Union county, Ohio, John F. Wilkins has spent practically his whole life on this farm. He was in Kansas for two years during the early seventies but, with that exception, he has lived all of his life in York township, where he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has a well improved farm of sixty-two and one-half acres, two and one-fourth miles north of Sommers- ville, where he has been farming for himself since his marriage, thirty-five years ago.
John F. Wilkins, the son of Charles E. and Martha M. Wilkins, was born July 12, 1856. His grandfather, Beriah P. Wilkins, was born in Sara- toga county, New York, May 26, 1792. He was a son of James Wilkins, a distinguished soldier in the Revolutionary War. Beriah P. Wilkins was reared to manhood in New York and married Amanda Rhodes, who was born October 19, 1797, a daughter of Captain James Rhodes. The grand- parents of John F. Wilkins reared a family of three children : Charles E., the father of John F. : Joseph R. and Alfred F.
In 1836 the father of Charles E. Wilkins came to Union county, Ohio, and bought two hundred and ten acres of land in York township. In 1837. he located on his farm with his family and for the first few years endured
(65)
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all of the hardships and privations connected with pioneer life in a new country. On this farm the father of Charles E. Wilkins died in October, 1858. He served as trustee of York township and was an influential citizen of the community where he resided. His widow died in August, 1877.
Charles E. Wilkins was born March 6, 1822, in New York state and when fifteen years of age, came with his parents to Union county, Ohio. He was married May 18, 1847, to Martha M. Raymond, who was born July 26, 1826, in Saratoga county, New York. Her father, Nathan Raymond, was born in 1779, in Connecticut, and his father, Nathan, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. When a boy, Nathan Raymond moved to Saratoga county with his parents, where he married Martha Chard, and to this union seven children were born. In 1839, Nathan Raymond came to Union county, Ohio, where he remained until his death, November 7, 1847, his wife hav- ing died September 4, of the same year. Charles E. Wilkins and wife are the parents of six children: Edwin R., deceased; Amanda, deceased, who was the wife of W. H. Cusick; John F., of York township: Mary, the wife of P. J. Jones, of Chicago, Illinois; Hattie M., the wife of John W. Davis, of Delaware county, Ohio; Kizzie, the wife of J. S. Reed of York township.
John F. Wilkins was reared on his father's farm in York township and attended the district schools of his home neighborhood until he was eighteen years of age. He then went west in company with his brother and located in Kansas, where the two brothers farmed during the years 1873 and 1874. In 1875, Mr. Wilkins returned to his home in Union county, Ohio, where he has since resided. He made his home with his parents until his marriage and then located on the farm where he is now living, it being part of the Beriah P. Wilkins homestead.
Mr. Wilkins was married October 7, 1880, to Alice J. Mills, of Marion county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Leander and Jane Mills of Licking county, Ohio. Mr. Wilkins and his wife are the parents of four children : Daisy W .. of Columbus, Ohio; Clyde L., who married Osie Phelps, and now makes his home in Urbana, Ohio; Charles E., single, and an employe of the Erie Railroad Company : and Hazel, who is still single and living with her parents. Clyde L. and his wife have two children, Mildred and Harold.
Mr. Wilkins is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sommersville and has filled all of the chairs in his lodge. Mrs. Wilkins and her daughter, Hazel, are members of the Daughters of Rebekah at Sommers- ville, and Mrs. Wilkins is a past noble grand of the Rebekahs. Politically. he is a Democrat but, while taking an intelligent interest in the current issues of the day, yet has never been active in political matters.
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JAMES H. GAY.
To a great extent the prosperity of agriculture is due to the honest industry, sturdy persistence, unswerving perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the farmers of the Buckeye state. Among this class of excellent citizens may be mentioned James H. Gay, who has spent his whole life in this county. By years of indefatigable labor and honest effort he not only has acquired well merited prosperity, but also has richly earned the high esteem of all with whom he is associated. He is interested in all public movements and takes a kindly interest in the welfare of his fellow citizens.
James H. Gay, the son of Nicholas and Hannah (Lowe) Gay, was born January 14. 1876, in Leesburg township. Union county, Ohio. His father was born in Albemarle county. Virginia, the son of Charles Gay, and he came to Union county, Ohio, when he was about twenty-two years of age. Nicholas Gay settled in Leesburg township, and lived there the remainder of his days. Two sons were born to Nicholas Gay and wife. Charles, who resides in Dela- ware county, Ohio, and James H.
James H. Gay was born after the death of his father and as a lad did not have the parental care which is the birthright of every boy. Hle received a good, common school education in the schools of Leesburg township, and worked on the farm from his earliest boyhood days. At the age of eighteen he began working out on the farms in his neighborhood by the day, and at the age of nineteen married and began working for himself. Through his own efforts he has accumulated a farm of fifty-one acres of fine land on the Pharisburg and Dover road, and has placed many improvements upon this farm since acquiring it.
Mr. Gay was married on Christmas day. 1895, to Bertha Phillips, the daughter of Adam and Mary ( Hudkins) Phillips. Mr. Phillips was a native of Fulton county, Indiana, and came to Union county. Ohio, several years ago and bought a farm in this county. To the first marriage of Mr. Gay were born four children: Ethel. Edith, Susan and Albert, deceased. The first wife of Mr. Gay died August 3. 1912, and is interred at Richwood. She was a loyal and consistent member of the Baptist church.
Mr. Gay was married a second time on December 25, 1913, to Mary B. Myers, the daughter of Samuel and Alice ( Lee) Myers. Samuel Myers, and wife, who was the daughter of Addison and Mary ( Bellville) Lee. reared a family of five children : Mary B., the wife of Mr. Gay: Lue, who married
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Birdie DeWitt : Maude G., the wife of A. F. Edelblute; Imo E., who married Phillip Blumenschein: Joseph, who married Helen Moehn.
Fraternally, Mr. Gay is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Gleaners, and Patrons of Husbandry. He is also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. He and his family are consistent members of the Baptist church, to whose support they are generous contributors. Politically, Mr. Gay is a Republican, and at the present time is serving as a member of the school board of his township. Mr. Gay is still a comparatively young man and is now in the very prime of life, and his past success gives assurance of much yet to come. His life shows what a young man can do who starts out with nothing and is determined to succeed in spite of all obstacles and hindrances.
GEORGE W. POTTS.
A pioneer settler of York township. Union county, Ohio, is George W. Potts, who has been actively interested in everything pertaining to this county for more than a half century. He has been a life-long farmer and now has a good farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres a quarter of a mile south of Centerville, where he has been living since 1859. During his long career in this county, he has impressed his individuality upon his fellow citizens in such a way as to command their respect and win their hearty friendship.
George W. Potts, the son of James and Ruth ( Moore) Potts, was born in Pike county, Ohio, March 25, 1836. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and an early settler in Pike county, later moving to Ross county, where he followed agricultural pursuits. James Potts was a great hunter and was known to kill as many as five deer in a day. There were fifteen children born to James Potts and wife and seven are still living: Ellen, the wife of John Murphy ; Abbie, the wife of Thomas Mitchell; Elizabeth, the wife of Bud Hildrith; John, of Ross county, Ohio; George W., of Union county ; Samuel, of Richwood, Ohio; and Henry, of London, Madison county, Ohio.
George W. Potts was two years old when his parents moved from Pike county to Ross county, Ohio, and in the latter county, he received such educa- tion as was afforded by the district schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then began working for himself. In 1859 he came to Union county and bought a farm from his uncle, John Potts, pay- ing forty dollars an acre for the land. His uncle had entered the land from the government and it has remained in the Potts family since that time.
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George W. Potts was married to Catharine J. Potts, a cousin, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, the daughter of David Potts. To this union four children were born: David. Ora. Roscoe and Nettie. His first wife died and he then married Jane Clark and to this second union six children were born ; Arthur, Cora. Ernest, Effie and Grace.
Mr. Potts is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at York. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party but has con- fined his political activity to the casting of his ballot for the candidates of his party.
PHILIP RUPRIGHT.
The family of this name is of German origin and has been identified with the various states of the Union for more than seventy years. The family of which the subject of this sketch is a member has been living in Union county all these years and are among the most prosperous and respected citizens of the county. The father and mother founding this Union county family were born in Bavaria, Germany, and were educated in the schools of that country. They came to America and to this county in 1841 and settled on a farm south of Marysville.
Philip Rupright, our subject, was born on this farm October 15. 1851, a son of John G. and Catherine ( Kriteline) Rupright. In this family there were eight children, namely: John G., Jr., Margaret, who married a Weid- man ; Catherine. deceased, who married G. Eirick: Dorothy, who married a man by the name of Arnold: Philip and J. C., twins, the latter marrying a Lizzie Geman, of Van Wert. Ohio. Martin J., deceased, who had married a Miss Rausch : and Mary, who married a Nuetzel. Our subject worked on the farm and attended the district schools in his early years. When he was eighteen years old, his older brother, John G., enlisted in the army and Philip was taken out of school and required to make a full hand on the farm. When he attained his majority he started out to make his own way in the world. His first employment was at Van Wert, Ohio, where he drove a team for some time. Then he came back to the farm and resumed his early occupa- tion, which he has made his principal business ever since.
On April 15. 1875, Mr. Rupright was united in marriage with Anna B. Bunsold and to this union five children were born : John M. C., who married Anna Weaver: Laura. who married W. M. Otte, and their children are, Annette, Louise, Elizabeth. Margaret and one who died in infancy: Frank,
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married Marie Weidman and has two children, Robert P. and John G .; Louis P. is at home : Augusta M., married Clair Crooks of Van Wert. Mrs. Rupright is a daughter of John G. and Dorothy Bunsold. Her father was born in Bavaria. Germany, and came to America in 1840, settling in Union county. The family religious faith is Lutheran.
Philip Rupright is an extensive farmer and breeder of fine stock, mak- ing a specialty of Holstein cattle. He has a fine farm of one hundred and forty-three and a half acres, located on the Waldo road, about two and a half miles northeast of Marysville. This farm is known as the Buckeye Stock Farm and it is well adapted to agriculture and stock raising. Mr. Rupright has devoted many years of his active life to this business and has met with success commensurate with his efforts. He has kept fully abreast of the times and has availed himself of all the improved machinery and modern methods used by up-to-date farmers. His substantial and attractive residence, commodious and conveniently arranged barns and other buildings, his well kept fence all bear evidence of wise discrimination and excellent taste on the part of the owner.
Mr. Rupright affiliates with the Democratic party in political matters. He was elected as a candidate of that party to the office of township trustee and land appraiser and is now serving in that position. As a public official and as a private citizen he holds the respect and confidence of the people of the county in which he has spent so many years of his life.
JOHN MULCAHY.
The only people in York township, Union county, Ohio, of Irish descent are the members of the Mulcahy family, worthily represented by John Mul- cahy. Although he was born in this state, his parents were both natives of Ireland. His father was a resident of this county from 1875 until his death. Mr. Mulcahy is an enterprising farmer and stock raiser and owns one hun- dred and forty-six acres of well improved land in York township, where he lives.
John Mulcahy. the son of John and Margaret (Maher) Mulcahy, was born in Madison county. Ohio, January 14, 1863. His father was born in Limerick, Ireland, and his mother in Tipperary county, in the Emerald Isle. His father came to the United States in 1849 and first located in Madison county, Ohio, and his mother came to this country in 1851 and located in
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Union county, Ohio. After their marriage in 1856, John Mulcahy, Sr., and wife located on a farm in Madison county, Ohio, which they rented. They continued to reside in that county until 1870, when the mother died and in 1875 John Mulcahy, Sr., came to Union county and bought forty acres in Claibourne township, where he lived until 1883. In that year he moved to York township, where he lived until his death, January 20, 1903. There were six children born to John Mulcahy, Sr., and wife, four of whom are now living : Margaret. John, Thomas and Nora. Thomas is a lawyer of Henry county, Ohio, and has served as prosecuting attorney of that county for four years. Nora has taught school for the past twenty-nine years in the state of Ohio, and is now principal of the New California schools in Union county.
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