History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 85

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 85

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EORGE L. MOORE. one of the lead- ing business men of Ohio City in the line of real estate, loans and insur- ance. has resided here since 1891. He was born in Clemont County. Ohio, May 14. 186. and is a son of Lysander S. Moore, who was a native of Belmont County, Ohio. but died on his farm in Clermont County.

George L. Moore was reared and educated in Clermont County, and when prepared for business, he came to Ohio City and joined his brother. J. C. Moore, who was the first mayor of this municipality. One year later. in 1892 he succeeded his brother in the hardware busi- ness. and successfully conducted it for six years. He then sold out and has since engaged in the real estate. loan and insurance business. The latter includes fire and cyclone insurance, and he represents these reliable companies : the North America. Glenn Falls. Germania, Con- necticut and Phoenix. He handles a large amount of valuable property. including farm- ing land and city real estate. Mr. Moore is treasurer and director in the Liberty Oil Com- pany. large producers in the Ohio City oil- field.

In 1803 Mr. Moore was married to Emma R. Boltzell, who is a daughter of Samuel Bolt- zell. one of Ohio City's esteemed retired citi-

zens. Mr. Boltzell was born at Cincinnati De- cember 28, 1832, and was reared and educated in Hamilton County. Later he came to Van Wert County and resided on his valuable farm in Liberty township until 1894. when he set- tled at Ohio City. For the past 52 years Mr. Boltzell has been a member of the Odd Fel- lows.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore have four children, viz. : Samuel, Paul. Hazen and Marcus. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ohio City.

Fraternally, Mr. Moore is a Royal Arch Mason, a Maccabee and an Odd Fellow. In the latter organization he belongs to the En- campment, and he is financial secretary of the Ohio City lodge.

R. EVANS,one of the leading citizens of York township. and a substantial and representative farmer, resides on his fine farm of 300 acres. situated in sections 24 and 25. Mr. Evans was born in 1853, in Brown township. Franklin County, Ohio, and is a son of Richard E. and Mary (Jones) Evans.

Richard E. Evans was born in 1816, in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and died on the farm now occupied by our subject. on June 4. 1890. after a long and useful life of 77 years. He married in Wales, and his wife died in 1882. In 1845 he emigrated to America, and settled first in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio, but in 1854 he removed to Van Wert County, and settled in section 24, York township. taking up 170 acres of forest land, to which he subse- quently added 120 acres, all choice land. For his 170 acres he paid $3.50 per acre. As long as he was active, he continued to improve his property, and it is today one of the most val- uable farms of the township. Both he and

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wife were stanch in their adherence to the Welsh Presbyterian Church, and were liberal in their support. A deed is on record, bearing the date of May 8, 1855, which shows a trans- fer of land from Richard E. Evans and wife to Rev. Hugh Pugh, this land being in section 23, -the west one-half of the north-east one-quar- ter. Of their eight children, five still survive, viz. : Richard M., of Jennings township, who married Ellen Evans, and has seven children : David H .. of Mercer County : and Hugh W. and J. R. (twins). the former a farmer of Ridge township, and the latter living on the homestead.

J. R. Evans was reared on the home farm and obtained his early education in the local schools. He then spent three terms at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, after which he engaged in teaching. For 20 years, off and on, he taught school in Van Wert and Allen counties, usually the winter sessions, as his summers were spent in farming. In 1893 he purchased the interests of the other heirs, and assumed control of the homestead, which now contains 300 acres. Mr. Evans has made a feature of raising fine cattle and now owns a fine herd of Polled Angus and Hereford cattle. as well as a large flock of Shropshire sheep. This land is all very productive, and Mr. Evans has a 20-acre tract, which he is certain will yield as high as 85 bushels to the acre in corn. He is a heavy stock feeder, and has met with most satisfactory success in every branch of agriculture.

In February, 1903, Mr. Evans was mar- ried to Jennie Davis, who is a daughter of John J. and Catherine (Morgan) Davis. They have one daughter. Emma, who came to them on Thanksgiving Day. 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are attendants of the Welsh Presby- terian Church at Venedocia, of which she is a member.

J ARTHUR HINES, M. D., one SI Van Wert's leading physicians and surgeons, was born in this city. Sep- tember 12. 1842, and is a son of Dr. Philip John and Relief ( Morse) Ilines.

Jacob Hines, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Maryland and owned a plantation and slaves. The latter he freed before the opening of the Civil war. His life between 1840 and 1850 was passed in Van . Wert County. He died in 1874, aged 97 years. His children were: Mrs. W. Barker, of Wash- ington. D. C .; Philip John, father of our sub- ject : and Johanna R., deceased.

Philip John Hines, the only son of Jacob and Susannah Hines, was born August 11. 1815. at Fredericksburg, Maryland. His fath- er was a government official for a number of years and the family resided at Washington, where Philip John was educated both in litera- ture and medicine, completing his medical esu- cation in the University of Maryland where he was graduated in 1837. His early medi- cal reading was done with the well-known Washington physician, Dr. Thomas Miller. long since passed away, who had been the at- tending physician of many of the Presidents of the United States. In 1838 Dr. Hines came to Ohio, remaining for a short period at Bucy- rus, but settling permanently in the little vil- lage of Van Wert, which at that time had but lately emerged from the forest. Dr. Hines not only taught school and practiced medicine in those early days, but he took a leading part in public matters. He was one of the committee appointed in 1839 to convey the county records from Willshire to Van Wert. when the latter place became the county seat. In 1847. and again in 1848, he was elected a member of the State Assembly, and some years later served as clerk, as auditor and as coroner of Van Wert County. From 1852 to 1856, under the

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administration of President Pierce, he served as postmaster at Van Wert. In 1849 he went to California, but returned to Van Wert in 1852, resuming his place in the county's public life and taking up his practice. He was the pioneer physician of Van Wert County, and continued to practice here until 1869. From that time until his death, September 12, 1884, he engaged in the drug business. He estab- lished the first drug store in Van Wert and possessed in the highest degree the confidence of this community as to his professional attain- ments and as to his uprightness as a man and citizen.

On March 6, 1841, he was united in mar- riage with Relief Morse, who had come from New York to teach the first school established at Van Wert. She died October 20, 1886. Dr. and Mrs. Hines had six children, viz. : J. Ar- thur, of Van Wert; Mary A., wife of W. W. Hillerman, of Springfield, Ohio; Robert, de- ceased; Sarah A., deceased; John B .; and C. E., of Van Wert. Our subject's grandparents and his parents were all consistent supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, their mem- body at Van Wert.

Under his capable father, J. Arthur Hines prepared for his medical career, and in the local schools for his higher literary training. In 1859 he entered the Columbian National Col- lege, at Washington; but the college building, in the earlier years of the Civil war, was taken for hospital purposes, and the young man re- turned to Van Wert. In 1866 he entered Georgetown University, where he was gradu- ated from the medical department. He natur- ally returned to his native place, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since, making a specialty of the diseases of women and children. He has served as county physician and also as pension exam- iner.

On September 6, 1874, Dr. J. Arthur Hines was married to Elizabeth J. Hays, who was born in New York, April 22, 1857, and is a daughter of James and Elmira (Lown) Hays. They have two children, Frank H. and Mary Eva. Dr. and Mrs. Hines are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His fraternal associations are with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He is a valued member of the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medi- cal Association.

6 EORGE WASHINGTON ROUSH, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Middlepoint, belongs to one of the pioneer families of this section of the State. He is an honored mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, being one of the surviving heroes of the great Civil war, the results of which se- cured to the present generation the peace and prosperity they enjoy. Mr. Roush was born in Hocking County, Ohio, January 15, 1831, and is a son of William and Susanna (Meyers) Roush.

The Roush family is of German extraction, but for generations has been loyally American. Our subject not only bears an honored mili- tary name, but he comes of military ancestry. His paternal great-grandfather took part in the War of the Revolution, as a soldier in the patriot army. His uncle, Joseph Roush, served with equal patriotism in the War of 1812. Mr. Roush and a younger brother proved their loyalty to the old flag by becoming members of the Union Army in 1862. The latter gave up his life in defense of his principles, dying before Vicksburg, after the brave attack made by his company on the out-posts. He was a member of the 114th Regiment. Ohio Vol. Inf.

William Roush, father of our subject, was

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born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and was about 12 years of age when his parents removed to Hocking County, Ohio. There he grew to manhood. He was married in Fair- field County, to Susanna Meyers, who was also born in Pennsylvania. When she was four years old she came to Ohio with her parents, who located in Fairfield County. After her marriage she accompanied Mr. Roush to his home in Hocking County, where he owned a farm of 80 acres, on which our subject, the eldest of their nine children, was born.

George WV. Roush attended the district schools and assisted his father in farming until he was of age. In 1853 he married, and two years later, removed with his wife to Marion County, Illinois, where he had purchased 80 acres of timberland. When he visited the land, he discovered its undesirability as a home, and after remaining for 11 months in Illinois traded the property for a small sum of money and a good team of horses. The latter he utilized in returning to Ohio. In 1356 he traded the team for 40 acres of wild land in Washington township, Van Wert County. There were many disadvantages about this property, much of it, like other por- tions, being swampy and subject to overflow. He remained here for three years, making the first clearing and building a cabin; but he dis- covered that the property was about knee deep in water the greater part of the year, and there- fore took advantage of the first opportunity to dispose of it.

Mr. Roush then bought 80 acres of land located in the southwest part of Putnam Coun- ty. The first few seasons on the new farm were almost as discouraging as on the old one, beginning with the necessity of cutting a road through swamp and woodland in order to reach the place. In many places the water was so high that it covered the wagon-beds.

However, Mr. Roush and family lived on this farm for 22 years, conditions improving year by year, under his persistent industry. It was a wild place at first, a two-days journey by ox- team from Delphos; surrounded on every side by dense woods in which wolves howled all night, frequently visiting the lonely little cabin. Mr. Roush succeeded in clearing all this farm with the exception of a few acres, and erected here a comfortable home and made many sub- stantial improvements. In 1881 he sold the Putnam County farm for the sum of $4.000. and then removed to Jackson township. Van Wert County, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres, paying $3.000. This land also proved subject to overflow, and Mr. Roush calculates that he spent fully $400 in ditching before he could put in any crop. On this prop- erty he erected a substantial barn and a hand- some resident which cost fully $1.000. He became a large raiser of horses, doing more in this line than in cattle raising. Subsequently he sold 40 acres in order to improve the rest of his farm and here he resided for 22 years. In 1899 he sold this property, which he had made a very desirable one. to John Swander. for $4.000. By this time his children had lett the old home, three of them having passed away, and the other three having homes of their own, and Mr. Roush decided to settle at Middlepoint and enjoy the relaxation due one who had lived so busy and so successful a life.

George W. Roush became a Union soldier on August 18, 1862. enlisting at Delphos, in Company F. 118th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He entered the army as a private. but was subse- quently promoted to the rank of corporal. Be- fore being honorably discharged on July 2. 1865, this loyal. farmer-soldier had fought in 22 battles and participated in 35 engagements. He was never absent from his company during this long period, with the exception of three

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days, when, under orders, he remained in a school building recuperating after an unus- ually wearisome march. The regimental records prove that the gallant 118th Ohio trav- eled 12,000 miles, and it must be recalled that a large portion of this was through mountain districts, swamps and morasses and included the fording of rivers, often when the weather was at the freezing point, probably one half of this distance being traveled on foot.

Corporal Roush served first in Eastern Tennessee under General Burnside, and later under other distinguished commanders. Later he came under General Sherman's com- mand, but his regiment was sent to General Thomas when Sherman started on his memor- able "March to the Sea." The campaign of General Thomas was brilliant enough and. from commander to the humblest private, won merited admiration. After the dispersion of Hood's army, the regiment was sent to Cin- cinnati, then to Columbus, from there to Wash- ington and then on to Fort Fisher. It assisted in the capture of Fort Anderson, where his division had the honor of planting the flag on the ramparts. On Washington's birthday, 1865, the regiment crossed Cape Fear River and entered the city of Wilmington, North Carolina. A few days of rest prepared them for the three days' weary march through mud and water to Kingston. At this point the com- mand joined General Sherman and they were in the vicinity of Raleigh, North Carolina, on the way to Richmond, when the joyful news reached them of the surrender of Gen- eral Lee and then of the surrender of General Johnston. The regiment entered into quarters at Raleigh, where they were stationed when the sad news was flashed over the wires of the assassination of President Lincoln. From Raleigh the regiment was marched to Salis-

bury, thence to Cleveland and from there to Columbus. Mr. Roush draws a pension of $30 per month.

On January 13, 1853, Mr. Roush was mar- ried to Mary Ann Davis, a daughter of Jabe and Jane ( McCoy) Davis, of Guernsey Coun- ty, Ohio. They have had six children, namely : Sarah Jane, born December 24, 1854, who married William Tong, of Delphos, now de- ceased-she and her 10 children reside near Marion, Indiana; William Leander, born February 4, 1856, who married Emma White of Delphos, has four children and re- sides at Toledo: Hugh Clarence, born Febru- ary 4, 1858, who married Angenetta Hamil- ton, of Washington township, and has three children; Margaret Ann, born July 2, 1860, who died November 24, 1881 ; Mary Elizabeth, born June 12, 1863, who married Reuben Tim- bers, of Washington township, and died at Fort Scott, Kansas, July 7, 1889, leaving three children : and John Fletcher, born May 2, 1866, who died December 28. 1879.

Mr. Roush reared his children carefully, giving them good, common school advantages, and always looking after their welfare. He is a man of substance in his community, owning over 18 acres of valuable land adjoining his home at Middlepoint, on the west, and a num- ber of houses and lots in the town which are proving good investments. Had he not been, through life, a man of kind heart and sympa- thetic nature, he would not have lost a small fortune. On a number of occasions he has been led to endorse notes in order to assist friends out of difficulty, with the result that in the last 22 years he has been obliged to pay bail debts amounting to $2,000.

Mr. Roush is one of the leading members of the Presbyterian Church at Middlepoint. and for some years has served as one of the

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1! ustees. Few citizens of the county are more entitled to the esteem of their fellow-citizens than is George Washington Roush.

L AFAYETTE SNYDER was for many years one of the highly es- teemed residents of Liberty township, where his death occurred in 1888. He had the distinction of being the first male child born in the village of Lafayette, Madi- son County, Ohio, and was named for his birthplace. His parents were Jacob Frederick and Christina (Arres) Snyder, natives of Ger- many. By trade the father was a blacksmith and he followed that occupation for some 16 years at Lafayette, Ohio. He then moved to Mercer County and settled on a farm of 41 acres, which is situated just across the public highway from our late subject's home, this highway being the line between Mercer and Van Wert counties. Mr. Snyder's health was poor and he survived his removal to Mercer County but a few years, and at his death left a widow with one son and five daughters, heavy responsibilities thus falling upon the son (Lafayette) when he was little over 16 years of age.

Lafayette Snyder was a well-informed man, having been educated in the district schools of Madison County. He was consid- ered an excellent farmer and, during his long residence in Van Wert County, enjoyed the unwavering respect of his fellow-citizens.

On September 26, 1860, Mr. Snyder was married to Milberry Sidenbender, who is a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Van Gundy) Sidenbender. Mrs. Snyder was born in 1837 in Mercer County, Ohio, her father being a native of Ross County, Ohio, where he sub- sequently married, immediately afterward

moving to Mercer County, near the Van Wert County line. There he entered 160 acres of land, reared his eight children and died in 1880. The mother of Mrs. Snyder died Feb- ruary 20, 1898, aged 89 years, 4 months and 14 days, having been born October 4, 1808, near Chillicothe, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Lafayette Snyder were the parents of these children: Willis, who mar- ried Mary Ayers and died in 1899, leaving three children; Annie, who married Alonzo Bechtol, and resides at Elida, Ohio; Joseph, a graduate of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, who is a well-known teacher; Margaret, who resides at Lima; Lillian A., who lives at home; Clyde, a teacher in the Rockford (Ohio) High School, being a graduate of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, who mar- ried Anna Hawk; and Sophia, who married Charles Temple and has three children- Helen Lucinda, Carl Lafayette and an infant.

Mrs. Snyder resides on the old family homestead, which is situated in Liberty town- ship, directly across the road from Mercer County. The farm contains 115 acres. 15 of which are in Mercer County, and the re- mainder in section 34, Liberty township, Van Wert County. Mrs. Snyder is a member of the Church of God.

OHN BENJAMIN WILSON, M. D., the genial and popular physician of Scott, was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 31, 1858, and is a son of George and Eliza J. (Woods) Wilson. Both parents were natives of Ross County, where they grew up and were married. The father was born in 1835 and the mother in 1832. They now reside in Paulding County, near Scott, and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing both

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their children ( they have but two) occupying prominent positions in the medical profession. Richard S. Wilson, M. D., the brother of our subject has been practicing in Berne, Indiana, for about 21 years, having commenced to prac- tice before he graduated from the Fort Wayne Medical College in 1890.

John Benjamin Wilson spent the early years of his life, up to his 15th, on the farm in Ross County. His parents at that time com- ing to Middlepoint and taking a farm nearby, he engaged in agricultural pursuits until he had reached his 23rd year. Having received a course in the district schools, he took prepara- tory work in the graded schools of Clinton County and, in 1883. began the study of Medi- cine in the Fort Wayne Medical College. Graduating from this institution in March, 1889. he began the same month to practice in Scott, where he has since remained. Dr. Wil- son has been most successful in his practice and has, virtually, all the work within a large radius of Scott. Since he located here, doctors have come and gone, but Dr. Wilson kept on his way. adding new patients to the already long list. When he first opened his office in Scott, the village had four physicians. Now besides Dr. Wilson, there is only one who located in the village about two years ago.

Dr. Wilson was married in 1882 to Susart A. Stiverson, whose home was near Delphos. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Joel and Eliza- beth J. (Roush) Stiverson, and has been a help and inspiration to the Doctor in his arduous work. They have had four children: Wash- ington H. and Ida May, both of whom live at home: Jessie Elizabeth, who died at the age of three years : and Russell O., who died in in- fancy. Dr. Wilson owns a good farm of 120 acres located near Scott. in Paulding County. His residence was erected by him in 1903. and is at once comfortable and attractive in appear-

ance. Dr. Wilson is a Democrat, and was pen- sion examiner under Cleveland's last admin- istration. He was coroner for a time, is presi- (lent of the present School Board, has served on the Council and as mayor of Scott. He served as trustee of Washington township be- fore locating at Scott, and has always taken a prominent part in the good government of the village. Dr. Wilson is a member of Lodge No. 791, I. O. O. F .; and Lodge No. 102, Im- proved Order of Red Men.

ILLIAM E. FRYE was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Novem- ber 28, 1856, and passed into the higher life April 25. 1900. He possessed to a remarkable degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men, and never, by word or deed, was that confidence be- trayed. He was known as a leading agricul- turist of Jackson township, and an honorable upright man. His parents were William and Caroline (Fegley) Frye, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Delaware County.

Mr. Frye spent his early years in Delaware County, and was accorded all the advantages of a good education. Leaving the public school, he spent three years in the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware, and then turned his attention to farming. When he was 20 years of age, he came to Van Wert County and made his home here until his death. He was always devoted to agricultural pursuits and engaged in that occupation here. In 1882 he purchased a tract of 40 acres in section 33, Jackson township, to which an adjoining 40 acre tract was added at a later time, and the entire farm was improved and cultivated.

September 15. 1883. Mr. Frye was married

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to Allie Reed, daughter of James C. Reed, an agriculturist of Hoaglin township, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. This union resulted in the birth of one son, H. Glenn, who was born August 2, 1887, and who with his widowed mother, resides on and car- ries on the farm. Two children are deceased : Myrtle, who died at the age of 18 months, and a son, who died at birth. Mr. Frye was a Republican and was elected for two terms as assessor of his township, but resigned after his second election. He was a prominent mem- ber of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Jackson township, as is also Mrs. Frye. and for many years was class-leader in the church. He was also connected with the I. O. O. F. lodge at Middlepoint.

J AMES K. P. JOHNSON, one of the prosperous and progressive agricul- turists of Hoaglin township, residing on his farm in section 34, is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in But- ler County on November 19, 1844. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mustard) John- son, prominent residents of that county, of which they were both natives.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 85

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870