USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 12
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
In politics Mr. Brown has always been a Democrat and supports that ticket on national elections, but in local elections he is independent, believing that the personal fitness of the candidates should be considered regardless of party lines. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Apple Creek. to which he gives an earnest and generous support.
On the 22d of February, 1866, Mr. Brown was married to Emily Musser, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Musser, natives of Switzerland and early settlers here, Mrs. Brown having been born March 17, 1841, on what is now the Crosby farm. To this union have been born five children, namely: Wil- liam C., at home ; Louis, who is in the plumbing business at Loraine, Ohio, married Sophia Hofacre, and they have three children, Bessie, Nellie and Leonard; Anna, a twin of Louis, is the wife of L. C. Huguelet, of Akron, Ohio, and they have two children, Lyman and Grace; Mina became the wife of James Graber, of near Mount Eaton, this county, and they have one child, Harlan ; Rosa became the wife of Lyman Critchfield, Jr., of Wooster, and they are the parents of three children, Robert, Henry and Dorothy. William C., who remains at home with his parents, and who has assumed the burden of looking after the farm, is an enterprising and progressive man and has evinced qualities which stamp him as a man of unusual calibre. He has received a good education and is a man of decided literary tastes, and has given effective and appreciated service at various times as the local correspondent for the Orrville and Wooster papers. He is a successful hog raiser and his up-to-date hog barn is well arranged and is equipped with a feed grinder, run by a gasoline engine, which has proven a great convenience, much corn being ground here for the neighboring farmers as well. Mr. Brown is unmarried and devotes himself to the best interests of his parents, to whom he is devoted. He is a lover of the home life and is a close and critical reader of the best literature. Because of his sterling qualities of character he enjoys the high regard and the unbounded confidence of all who know him, his friends being in number as his acquaintances.
JOHN W. BUCHANAN, M. D.
"We build the ladder by which we rise" is a truth which is certainly applicable in the case of the subject of this sketch. He is a type of the pro- gressive spirit of the age,-a spirit which has given America pre-eminence along its various business lines,-and the undaunted enterprise, indomitable
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perseverance and resolute purpose which have characterized his career have been the means of raising him to a position of eminence in the business world. In the past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of commercial activity and those whose names are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter and the victor is he who can most successfully establish, control and operate commercial interests. Mr. Buchanan is un- questionably one of the strongest and most influential men whose lives have become an essential part of the history of Wayne county. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time are the chief characteristics of the man. These, combined with everyday common sense and guided by a strong will power, are concomitants which will insure success in any undertaking.
John W. Buchanan is a native son of Wayne county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in Chester township on the 27th of September, 1860. His father, George R. Buchanan, also was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, his birth occurring in Wayne township in 1823. His death occurred on the 20th of March, 1904, at the age of eighty-one years. In his youth, George Bu- chanan had received a good common school education and on attaining ma- ture years he engaged in teaching school during the winter months, while in summer he labored on the farm. In 1849 he yielded to the allurements of the California gold fields and spent three years in that state. He was suc- cessful in his search for the precious metal and was enabled to bring back to the East several thousand dollars. He then entered the mercantile business at Jeromeville, Ashland county, this state, but a short time afterwards he returned to his native county and assumed charge of the home farm, remain- ing there until his death. He had added to the home farm from time to time and at the time of his death was the owner of extensive landed interests. He was a faithful and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and in his life he exemplified the religion which he professed. He was a man who ex- erted a wide and beneficial influence in the community, holding the unbounded confidence of all who knew him. He was twice married. His first wife bore the maiden name of Mary Dunham, and she died at Jeromeville, their only child having died at birth. On December 22, 1857, Mr. Buchanan married Lydia Firestone, the daughter of David and Elizabeth Firestone, who were natives of Pennsylvania, where they both died. To this union were born seven children, namely: Franklin, Sidney, Ira, all of whom are deceased; John W., the subject of this sketch; Cynthia; Alice, the wife of Harvey L. Piper ; Mary E. and Edward.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
John W. Buchanan was reared by his parents on the home farm. In young manhood he attended the district schools of the neighborhood during the winter seasons, while in summers he assisted in the manifold duties of the farm. Subsequently he spent two and a half years at Wooster University, when, having definitely decided to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered the Cleveland Medical College and later the Ohio Medical College. He eventually matriculated in the Kentucky School of Medicine, where he was graduated on June 2, 1882, with the degree of Doctor of Med- icine. He immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Lodi, Ohio, but remained there but a short time, removing to Mansfield, Ohio. In October, 1884, he finally located at Smithville, where he continued in the practice of the healing art, meeting with the most gratifying success. He continued actively in the practice until within a few years, when his ex- tensive business interests compelled him to retire from the active practice. The Doctor while in the practice stood admittedly in the front rank of Wayne county's distinguished professional men, possessing a thoroughly disciplined mind and keeping in close touch with the trend of modern thought relating to the noble calling to which his life and energies were devoted. He ever maintained his high standing, never descending beneath the dignity of his profession nor compromising his usefulness by countenancing any but noble and legitimate practice. The apparent ease with which he mounted to a commanding position in the healing art marked him as the possessor of tal- ents beyond the majority of his professional brethren and, being a close and critical student, he experienced no difficulty in sustaining the high reputation which his professional abilities and marked success earned for him.
Doctor Buchanan and wife are the owners of seven hundred and fifty acres of land in Wayne county, Ohio, besides large holdings of land in Florida and Georgia, which is rapidly increasing in value. He is a stock- holder, a member of the board of directors and vice-president of the Uncle Sam Oil Company, a powerful and successful corporation, which is capitalized at sixty-one millions of dollars and operating in Kansas and the Indian Re- serve, where it owns hundreds of producing wells, besides miles of pipe lines and many refineries. This company is officered as follows: President, J. W. Thicker ; vice-president, J. W. Buchanan ; secretary, H. H. Tucker ; treasurer, Frank Goble. The Doctor is also a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the United Steel Plant, of Canton, Ohio, which is capitalized at one and a half millions. The Doctor is also interested in a number of other enterprises and his time is fully taken up with his business interests.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
On the 14th of October, 1882, Doctor Buchanan was united in marriage to Lizzie I. Staman, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, November 18, 1865, a daughter of Henry N. and Susan A. Staman. Henry Staman was a man of splendid education and fine personal qualities and was a teacher of wide experience and eminent success. He is now deceased and his widow is mak- ing her home with her daughter, Mrs. Buchanan. To Doctor and Mrs. Bu- chanan have been born the following children: Clarence Staman, born Febru- ary 28, 1884, married Arleen Curtis, of Denver, Colorado, April 19, 1908: John Arthur, born April 11, 1887; Daisy M., born September 26, 1889; Mary A., born December 20, 1892; Walter Firestone, born September 8, 1899.
Fraternally Doctor Buchanan is a member of Smithville Lodge. Knights of Pythias, while in his political belief he is an ardent believer in the doc- trines of the Republican party and he takes an active interest in the success of his party, though he is not in any sense a seeker after public office or pre- ferment of any nature.
In the lives of such men as Doctor Buchanan there is particular justifica- t'on for works of this nature-not only because their lives are such as to gain them a wide reputation and the admiration of their fellow men, but that they have been true to their opportunities and have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all, and have been useful in their spheres of action. In the midst of the thronging demands of a busy life the Doctor is always approachable, being gracious in his association with his fellow men and enjoying a personal popularity which is a natural result of his characteristics. Mrs. Buchanan is a woman of many estimable quali- ties and kindly manner and is well liked in the social circles in which she moves.
LABAN FUNK.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is an uncle of W. D. Funk, whose biography appears on another page of this work, and who is a member of a well known old family. Laban Funk was born in Plain town- ship, Wayne county. August 24, 1845, the son of Hugh and E. K. (Cornell) Funk, the former born near Kingston, Virginia, and the latter born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1809. The subject's paternal grandparents were Jacob and Percella ( Morgan) Funk, who, in 1812, came to Wayne county. Ohio, and settled a half mile south of Shreve, where they entered a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, Mr. Funk having cleared much of the land.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
He was drafted to serve on Perry's fleet on the Great Lakes during the war of 1812. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Cornell, was a native of New Jersey, who came to Wayne county, Ohio, about 1816 and settled near Shreve. He, too, had the distinction of serving on Perry's fleet. After the close of the war he returned to his farm here and lived to be eighty-four years of age. However, he moved from Wayne to Crawford county, Ohio, and in 1834 he moved to Porter county, Indiana, being the first white settler in the southern part of that county, which was then the home of the red men. He lived there until his death, owning at that time five hundred and twenty acres. Hugh Funk was ten years of age when he came to Wayne county, having driven a herd of sheep and cows from Virginia. On this arduous journey, his mother rode horseback, carrying a baby. Hugh's education was very limited, but he became a shrewd business man. He settled where the subject now lives in Plain township in 1834, having cleared most of the place. He was among the first men in the locality to become a Republican, and although he took an active part in party affairs, he never desired public office. In his family were seven children.
Laban Funk, subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools and he has always followed farming. His parents were the pioneers of the Christians in Plain township, having been converted under the ministry of the noted Alexander Campbell. They were charter members of three differ- ent congregations.
In 1877 Laban Funk moved to Porter county, Indiana, but returned here in 1903. He was married in 1876 to Elizabeth Bair and the following children have been born to them : Effie, living in Washington, D. C .; Carson. living in Wisconsin ; Corwin, deceased; Elizabeth and Zola, both living in In- diana; Lyda Loos died in early childhood.
Politically Mr. Funk is a Republican, and he has also worked in the tem- perance cause.
JAMES A. YARGER.
It is interesting to study the career of such a man as J. A. Yarger, who has succeeded in the material affairs of this life not because he was the child of inherited fortune or that some one has helped him, but because he has dili- gently applied his energies in the proper channels. He is a native of Car- roll county, Ohio, where he was born February 22, 1874, the son of John H. and Catherine A. Yarger. He lived on the home farm until he was fifteen
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
years of age. He received his education in the common schools, and began his business career by learning the milling trade. When sixteen years of age, being ambitious to advance himself, he attended night school and received a very serviceable education. While an apprentice in the milling business he served three years for ten dollars per month, the last year receiving twenty- five dollars. He was very adept in this line of work and was given a position in some of the best mills of the county, while yet a mere boy holding the re- sponsible position of head miller, and he has ever since held important posts in many large mills, his services being in great demand owing to his skill and thorough knowledge of this line and his faithfulness to duty. He was in Janesville, Wisconsin, for four years, having been connected with the Blodgett Milling Company, in which he was a stockholder. For a short time he was with the Eckhart & Swan Milling Company of Chicago, also the Bur- ger-Anderson Company's mill and with the Hardesty Brothers at Canal Dover for about two years. He traveled on the road selling flour and other mill products. In the spring of 1908 he purchased the Sellers mill at Dalton, Wayne county, Ohio, which he has repaired by painting and general over- hauling until he has now one of the best mills in the county, well equipped for turning out high-grade flour and other products and the mill is very popular in the eastern part of the county. It has a capacity of eighty barrels per day. Recently this mill has been consolidated with another one at Dalton and Mr. Yarger is treasurer and manager of the new concern. Mr. Yarger also owns one-half interest in the Canton (Ohio) Hay and Grain Company, which is doing a good business. He is the owner of a splendid residence property in Canton, and he is interested in the Dalton Driving Park Association in his home city. He has been very successful in whatever he has been interested. Also he is a director and manager of the Noble Oil and Gas Campany, of Canton, Ohio.
Mr. Yarger was married to Arma Amendt, a native of Medina county, this state, where she was born in 1875 and where her family has long been prominent. To this union two children have been born, William F., March 3, 1894, and Ethyline, December 12, 1897.
Mr. and Mrs. Yarger are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, also members of the Bible class and the Sunday school. Mr. Yarger is a member of the State Millers' Association and the Illinois Traveling Men's Association. Politically he is a Republican, but independent in local affairs. He has won a reputation wherever he has been for fairness and honorable dealing with his fellow men in every respect. He is a good mixer and well liked by all who know him for his industry and excellent personal traits.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
JAMES CUTTER SCOTT.
Another of the native sons of the Buckeye state who has here passed his entire life and by his energy, integrity and progressive methods attained a high degree of success, is Mr. Scott, whose farm homestead of one hun- dred and sixty-four acres lies in section 23, about four miles east of the town of Fredericksburg. He is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the state, since his grandfather was one of the earliest settlers in this sec- tion of the state, and that he has attained his prosperity by worthy means is evident from the unqualified esteem in which he is held in the community where the greater portion of his life has been passed.
James C. Scott was born on the 10th of November, 1862, in Saltcreek township , Wayne county, Ohio, and is a son of William and Charity (Cutter) Scott. William Scott was born in Franklin township, Wayne county, Janu- ary 12, 1837. and was the son of James Scott, who was one of the earliest pioneers of this county. He was a farmer and was a man of splendid stand- ing among those who knew him. William Scott secured a limited education in the subscription schools of that early day, but he was a close observer of men and things and was generally considered a very well-informed man. He was possessed of those sterling qualities of character which make a man of force in a community and his support and influence were always given to those movements which promised to benefit the community in which he lived. He remained with his parents, assisting in the labors of the farm, until his marriage, which occurred in 1861, when he located on the farm which is now operated by the subject of this sketch, where he remained until about seven years prior to his death. He there made many permanent and substantial improvements and was regarded as an energetic and pro- gressive agriculturist. He also owned an interest in what was known as the Scott & Munson mill at Apple Creek, and his death occurred suddenly while at work in this mill on April 27, 1897. He was not much of a politician, but was well known throughout the county, having for a number of years been heavily engaged in the buying and selling of stock, his business taking him to all parts of the county. In religion he was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and his life was consistent with his profession. He was domestic in his tastes and cared little for social life away from home, consequently never joined any fraternity. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charity Cutter, was born in Franklin township, Wayne county, and there she spent her early life. Her parents, who also were early settlers of that locality, had the following children: Jane C. and Laura E., who married a Mr. Gabriel. The mother of these children died on the 22d
James & South
EllenM Scoff
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
of March, 1869, and subsequently Mr. Scott married Mary L. Burbridge, who is now living at Fredericksburg. To this union were born five children, namely : Ida May, who died in infancy; Burton R., of Saltcreek township, this county ; Elmer Ray, deceased; Victor, of Fredericksburg; Herschell, who is a resident of California.
The subject of this sketch was reared to the life of a farmer and secured his early education in the district schools of the neighborhood. He re- mained at home until he had reached the age of twenty-three years, when he was married and started out in life for himself. He is the owner of one of the fine farms of the township, in which he takes a justifiable pride, as the place has been brought up to and maintained at its present high standard of agricultural excellence through his persistent efforts. He is progressive in his methods, keeping in close touch with the latest advances in the science of agri- culture, and he has been rewarded with very gratifying results in his opera- tions. His buildings, fences, machinery and other accessories all indicate the owner to be a man of sound judgment and wise discrimination and he is held in high esteem because of the results which he has attained. He con- ducts farming along general lines, raising all the crops common to this sec- tion of the country and also gives some attention to the raising of livestock.
In 1886 Mr. Scott took unto himself a helpmeet in the person of Ella M. Stauffer, who was born in Saltcreek township, this county, September 2, 1865. Her father, John Stauffer, was a native of Germay, and came to the United States in his youth, becoming one of the early settlers of Wayne coun- ty. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott the following children have been born: Lenora, aged twenty-one years ; Orpha, aged nineteen ; Stella, aged seventeen ; Minnie, aged fifteen ; Lloyd, aged twelve ; Reva, aged ten; Mabel, aged eight ; Mildred, aged three. Their first born died in infancy.
Mr. Scott has been progressive and public spirited and has for a good many years run a threshing machine in season, being well known in this capacity throughout the county. In many other ways he shows his enterpris- ing spirit and any movement looking to the improvement of the community in any way receives his endorsement and support. He has taken a live and commendable interest in local public affairs and during the past six years he has been rendering efficient service as trustee of the township. He is an ar- dent supporter of the Democratic ticket and is one of the leaders of the party in the county. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith he was reared, the members of his family also being members of this society. Because of his genial disposition and fine personal qualities, he has won and retains a host of warm personal friends.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
GEORGE C. BIDLE.
The general public has ever taken great pleasure in tracing the history of a man who started on life's career handicapped in many ways, but who, notwithstanding innumerable obstacles, pushed forward manfully and finally reached the goal of success set before him. The career of the widely known and public-spirited citizen whose name appears above affords an impressive example of what energy, directed and controlled by correct moral principles, can accomplish in overcoming an unfavorable environment and lifting its possessor from a comparatively humble origin to a position of usefulness and comparative affluence. Mr. Bidle is too well known in East Union township to need an elaborate formal introduction. Eminently a self-made man, hav- ing carved his own way in the world, and honestly earning every dollar in his possession, he ranks with the most enterprising and successful of his compeers and has won a name and reputation which place him among the representative citizens of his native county.
George C. Bidle traces his ancestral line to Philip Bidle, who was a native of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was reared and married. In 1852 he brought his family to the United States, the slow-going sailing ves- sel on which they took passage requiring fifty-two days to cross the Atlantic. The family located in Stark county, Ohio, where the father was employed at day labor. He eventually acquired a small piece of land, but never suc- ceeded in getting much ahead financially. He was the father of eight chil- dren, six daughters and two sons. Of these, all the daughters are still living. Of the sons, John Bidle, the subject's father, was born at the ancestral home in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1838, and in 1852 accompanied the family on their emigration to the United States. During his boyhood and young manhood it was necessary for him to labor constantly to assist in the support of the family, in consequence of which he was not enabled to attend school after coming to this country, his education being confined to this training in the German schools. He continued to work at day labor and he also ac- quired a small farm, to which he devoted his attention as far as possible when not otherwise engaged. He was a hard worker and succeeded in keeping his family in fair circumstances. He married Nancy Stauffer and to them were born three children, namely : One that died in infancy unnamed; George C., the subject of this sketch, and Melissa A.
George C. Bidle was reared by his parents and in his youth he was enabled to attend the common schools, securing a fair education. During his minority he worked as a farm hand, and after he attained his majority he
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retained his own wages, which prior to that time had been faithfully given to assist in the support of the family. From this time on Mr. Bidle made rapid progress. He was a hard worker, a good manager, and exercised a wise economy, so that in due time he found himself in a position to buy land. In 1893 he bought ninety-seven acres and later, in 1898, he bought eighty- three acres of land located in section 21, now owning one hundred and eighty acres, and this land he occupied in 1906 and has since devoted himself faithfully to its cultivation. A number of splendid improvements have been made on the place by Mr. Bidle, including a large, commodious and well-ar- ranged barn, and in many other respects he has shown his good judgment and wise discrimination. He carries on a general line of farming and also gives some attention to the raising of livestock, on both of which lines of effort he is meeting with a very gratifying degree of success. Starting with practically nothing excepting a pair of ready hands and a stout and willing heart, he persistently fought his way upward step by step and today his land alone is conservatively estimated to be worth at least sixteen thousand dol- lars.
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