USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 14
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In politics Mr. Smedley is a stanch and uncompromising Democrat and was honored by election to the position of trustee of East Union township, in which he served for seven years to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is a member of Apple Creek Lodge No. 324, Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Smedley are faithful members of the Apple Creek Presbyterian church, of which they are generous supporters, Mr. Smedley being a member of the board of trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school.
On the 14th of August, 1879, Mr. Smedley was united in marriage to Emma Lachat, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in November, 1862. They have become the parents of three children, namely: V. W., of Iowa; Madie, the wife of John Lechot, of Orrville, this county, and Catherine, who died when seven month sold. Mr. Smedley belongs to the public-spirited, use- ful type of men whose ambitious and desires are directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number, and it is therefore consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that his record be given among those of other representative citizens of Wayne county.
WILLIAM JACOT.
Among the intelligent, progressive and enterprising men who have suc- cessfully directed their attention and labors to the noble work of husbandry in Wayne county and whose prosperity has come as the result of personal effort, is Mr. Jacot, one of the substantial and honored agriculturists of
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East Union township, and aside from his position as a sterling husbandman, he also has the honor of being the present treasurer of his township, the du- ties of which position he is discharging to the entire satisfaction of his fel- low citizens.
Mr. Jacot was born in the township in which he now resides on the 2d of March, 1868, and is a son of Julius and Sophia ( Reichenbach ) Jacot. These parents were both born in Switzerland, the former on March 24, 1841, and the latter on February 5, 1839. Her death occurred in East Union town- ship July 2, 1896. After her death, her husband felt an irresistible longing for his old home in Switzerland and thither he went, and is still living there. This worthy couple were the parents of sixteen children, twelve of whom are living, namely : Fannie, the wife of John Dunham; John L., of Medina; Henry, deputy clerk of probate court at Wooster; William T., the subject of this sketch; J. C. E., principal of the public schools at Smithville, Ohio; George W., a student at Wooster University ; Charles A., also a student at the same institution ; Albert, of Wooster; Alexander; Joseph, a teacher in the reformatory school at Mansfield, Ohio; David, a teacher in the industrial school at Lancaster, Ohio; Mary E., unmarried.
William Jacot was reared on the home farm and has always devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He received a fair education in the common schools of his neighborhood, and supplemented this training by at- tendance at the Ada Normal School. When twenty-one years of age he started out for himself, working by the month at farm labor. After his marriage in 1898 he farmed rented land for awhile, and by dint of the most rigid economy, combined with wise discrimination and sound judgment in his business affairs, he was eventually enabled to purchase a splendid farm of fifty-five acres in section 22, East Union township, which he has con- tinued to operate to the present time. He has made many good improve- ments on the place and has maintained it at a high standard of excellence, so that now it is considered one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Jacot carries on general farming, combined with which he also gives some atten- tion to the raising of livestock, in both of which lines he is achieving a distinctive success.
On December 25, 1898, Mr. Jacot was married to Hannah Litsinger, of Franklin township, Wayne county. She was born on September 21, 1870, and received a good common school education. They have become the parents of two daughters, Mabel S. and Ella M.
In religion Mr. and Mrs. Jacot are faithful members of the Presby- terian church at Apple Creek, to which they give a generous support and of
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which Mr. Jacot is one of the trustees. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and was honored by his party by the nomination for the position of township treasurer, to which his fellow citizens elected him, and he has now given four years of efficient and satisfactory service in this responsible position. The subject has been a hard-working man, but has seen the reward for his labor, his prosperity having come to him as the direct result of energy and perseverance, his career thus illustrating most forcibly the power of patient and persistent effort and self-reliance.
CHARLES B. EYMAN.
In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environment we find an unconscious recogni- tion of a character which not only can endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. Such a man is C. B. Eyman, one of the progressive agriculturists of East Union township who is one of the success- ful men of his community because he has worked for it. He is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, where he was born on January 17, 1868, the son of S. B. and Isabelle (Tinkey) Eyman, a detailed account of whose lives is to be found in the sketch of S. B. Eyman on another page of this work.
C. B. Eyman was the oldest of a family of five children. When about two years of age his parents brought him to Wayne county, Ohio, and he was reared in East Union township where he has spent the major portion of his subsequent life. His boyhood days were spent on the home farm, which he worked during the crop season and in the winter months he attended the dis- trict schools, receiving a common school education. Naturally he took to farming and remained with his father until he reached manhood. Having started in life empty handed, he deserves a great deal of credit for what he has achieved. He rented land for the first eight years he worked for himself. and thereby got an excellent start ; then he purchased the farm of one hundred and eight acres in section 27, known as the Simon Bott farm, one of the most excellent farms of this township. Since taking possession of the place he has greatly improved it, making it rank with the best in the community. He has a good dwelling and other buildings and he keeps some good stock, being known as a horseman, having for a number of years engaged in buy- ing, feeding and selling horses and other stock. He is an excellent judge of livestock of all kinds, especially horses, and some fine ones are to be found on his place at all times, no small part of his income being derived from this
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source ; however, general farming constitutes the principal line of business which claims his attention and the bounteous harvests yielded by his well cultivated fields would indicate that he has mastered the science of agriculture.
Mr. Eyman married Millie Smedley, daughter of William Smedley and a native of East Union township, this county, where she grew to maturity and was educated, her parents being well known here. This union has re- sulted in the birth of two children, Stanley, born in 1901, and Doyle, born August 18, 1905.
Mr. Eyman is a member of the Reform church at Apple Creek, this township, and politically he supports the Republican ticket. He takes great interest in whatever tends to the welfare of his community and county, though he prefers to devote his time to his farm and stock rather than seek public office.
WESLEY SPANGLER.
The well-remembered and honored ex-county commissioner of Wayne county, Wesley Spangler, was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born near Carlisle, Cumberland county, in 1825, and during his long and useful career he noted many wondrous changes, playing well his part in whatever phase of the country's development he was in touch with. Yost Spangler was the name of the pioneer of this family in America. He was born in Germany and, when eighteen years of age, in 1769, left his native land and came to the United States. He settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and there engaged in surveying; the country being new and many settlers com- ing in, he was kept busy at his profession. He was twice married, having wed two Weinholt sisters, by whom he became the father of eight children. those by his first wife being : John, Philip, Samuel, Peter, Mary and Barbara ; those by the second were Hannah and Yost. From Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, this old pioneer moved to Lancaster county, that state, later to Cum- berland county, where he followed farming for a number of years previous to his death. Peter Spangler was the fourth son born to Yost Spangler, his birth occurring in 1791 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania ; he married Susan Zinn, and to them ten children were born. In 1829 Peter Spangler, wife and five children came to Wayne county, Ohio, and purchased fifty acres of land, formerly owned by A. McMonegal. He finally became the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of land. Peter Spangler was a cooper by trade and he followed the same for a period of forty years in connection with farm- ing. His death occurred in 1863, when he was seventy years of age.
WESLEY SPANGLER
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Peter Spangler's son, Wesley, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools and the Canaan Academy, and he early in life decided to devote him- self to agricultural pursuits. He was married in 1854 to Malinda Stair, and to this union three children were born, namely : Viola and Arabella, each of whom became teachers, received their education at the Smithville Academy and Ada Normal; the other child is Charles W., who is engaged in farm- ing.
Mr. Spangler resided in Chester township from the spring of 1859 to June, 1893, when he purchased the farm where his family now resides, con- sisting 'of one hundred and fifteen acres. He was very successful as a farmer and stock raiser and in his old age he found himself surrounded by plenty as a result of his active life and good management.
This excellent citizen was called to his rest on June 12, 1893. He was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1881 and re-elected in 1884; this was a rare thing for a Republican to do in those days, for the county was strongly Democratic, but it showed the excellent standing of Mr. Spangler among his constituents. He was also justice of the peace in Chester town- ship for twelve years. He and his family were all members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Congress. He continued to be actively engaged in farm- ing until his death. He was known as a good neighbor, kindly, generous, honest and obliging.
REV. R. M. MOOMAW.
Among the honored and respected citizens of East Union township. Wayne county, Ohio, none stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. As a min- ister of the gospel of Christ he has exerted a beneficent influence over hun- (reds with whom he has come in contact personally or through the pulpit, while as a private citizen he has won for himself an enviable reputation. He has by a life of sterling integrity and persistent industry honored the com- munity in which he lives and he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.
Rev. R. M. Moomaw was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, October II, 1875. In tracing his ancestry in the agnatic line, it is learned that he is descended from one Peter Moomaw, who was a native of Germany, where he was reared and educated. He came to America in a very early day and set-
(65)
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tled in Pennsylvania, where he married and reared a family. Among his children was Martin, who had a son Peter, who was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Peter Moomaw came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1834 and settled in Tuscarawas county, where he spent his remaining years and died. He was a miller by trade and was engaged in the operation of a grist-mill for many years, being a prominent and well-known man in that county for many years. His son Martin, father of the subject, was born in Tuscarawas county, and in that county he was reared, lived his entire life and died. He married Elizabeth Keim and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom seven are now living, four of them being residents of Wayne county. Those living are Samuel, George, Sarah, Martin G., Anna L., R. M. and C. C.
R. M. Moomaw was reared on his father's farm and early became accus- tomed to the arduous labors incident thereto, being an able assistant to his father. He received a good common school education, which he liberally supplemented by attendance at the normal school at Stone Creek and the Smithville Academy. He then engaged in teaching school, in which vocation he was employed eight terms. Subsequently he became a minister in the Church of the Brethren and is still engaged in the work of this sacred calling. He is the owner of a splendid little farm of thirty-six acres in East Union township, where he resides and which he is engaged in operating during the active farm season, while during the winter season the greater part of his time is devoted to the work of his church. Scholarly, deeply pious, devotedly attached to his church, a vigorous and honest preacher, and an excellent cit- izen, he has proven a power for good wherever he has proclaimed the Christ message and many have been influenced through his persuasions to live better lives. As an agriculturist, the subject has attained a definite success. Though his farm is not as large as many about him, none have received more faithful and painstaking attention and under his careful management the place has been made to return a nice profit to its owner. He has made a number of good improvements on the place and here he carries on a gen- eral line of operations, raising all the crops common to this section of the country.
On the Ist day of January, 1901, Rev. Moomaw was united in marriage to Ada May Murphy, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, May I, 1879, where she was reared and secured a good education in the common and normal schools. This union has been a most happy and congenial one and has been blessed in the birth of two children, namely: Lois May, born May 4, 1906, and Miriam Elizabeth, born October 10, 1907.
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Such men as Mr. Moomaw reflect honor on any community and in every phase of life's activities in which he has been placed he has so conducted him- self as to earn the approval of all who know him. With untiring effort and with a nature so hopeful as to ever baffle discouragement, Mr. Moomaw car- ries forward his work of improving the moral condition of his fellow men and aiding in the development of sterling character, which represents all that is of definite and permanent value in life,-the only thing that commands true respect and honor and that broadens the nature and fits it for the progres- sion of the life to come.
RUDOLF SCHMID.
Among the many honored and thriving citizens of Wayne county that the republic of Switzerland has sent from her mountains and cities that should be accorded special mention in a book of the nature of the one at hand is Rudolf Schmid, who was born in the canton of Berne in 1856, the son of Benedict and Mary Schmid, who lived and died in the old country, and who were thrifty and highly respected citizens. Their son, Rudolf, re- ceived his education in his home country. He had heard wonderful stories of the opportunities to make a comfortable living in the great republic of the new world and when a mere boy he conceived the idea of coming to America to make his fortune; consequently, in 1884 he began the long tedi- ous trip, landing on our shores in due time. He came directly to Wayne county, Ohio, and settled near the old Schaum mill. He had learned the carpenter's trade in the old country, and he followed this for a period of eight years after coming here. He saved his money and took up farming. He rented land for several years and made money, thereby being enabled to buy an excellent farm in 1898, consisting of one hundred and forty-two acres, and on which he still resides. He has made a success at farming and is now well fixed, having a well-improved place, well stocked with various kinds of livestock, poultry, etc., and he has a neat and comfortable home. From 1898 to 1903 he turned his farm over to some of his children to man- age while he continued to rent land. In the meantime he erected splendid new buildings, building his barn in 1901 and his commodious dwelling the following year. In 1903 he established his permanent home on this place. In 1904 he and his wife made a trip to his old home in Switzerland, which was a source of a great deal of gratification to Mr. Schmid, for he was re- turning in ample circumstances to his native land, which he had left when
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a boy, practically without capital. In January, 1905, Mr. Schmid purchased another fine farm of eighty-two acres, just across the road from him in Congress township. He raises an excellent grade of livestock, especially horses and cattle, and he carries on general farming very successfully,-in fact, he is one of the leading farmers of the township.
Mr. Schmid was married, in 1877, to Margaret Bingley, the daughter of a highly-respected family, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Ernest, deceased; Mary married William Shephard; Adolph married Myrtle Baughman; Rudolf married Etta Bear; Lena, now Mrs. C. A. Steiner, of Plainfield, Illinois. The following children are all at home, with the exception of Clara, deceased; Fred Charles, Benjamin, Daisy, Grace. The first five children named were born in Switzerland, the remainder after Mr. and Mrs. Schmid came to America. Each member of this family is highly respected in the community where they live. Religious- ly, Mr. Schmid is a member of the Reformed church, in which he is a deacon and elder. Politically he is a Democrat. He is one of nature's noblemen, whom it is a pleasure to meet.
REV. L. CODY MARSH.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Sometime after the year 1880, in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, at some time in the day, some place in the city, I, like most other persons, was born. The subject of dateology has never been my forte, so you must excuse the approximate figures which must abound in this article. So far as I know, I undertook adventures with such common boyhood heroes as Mr. Colic, Miss LeFevre, Jim Mumps, etc. I do not remember meeting Miss Fitts. They told me afterwards that I did little talking or crying, in fact, no talking until I was two years old, and since then the stream has not stopped.
My father was in the real estate business in Cleveland, Ohio, about this time and was one of those early blazers of the trail. He, with my grand- father, opened and built up many of Cleveland's streets, Beechwood, Alanson, Auburndale and Penrose being some of them. My father was born some time before the Civil war, but was not old enough to fight, bleed or flee for his country. It would have been on the other side anyway. His people belonged below the Mason and Dixon line. They were tobacco plantationers and owned "niggers." My parents met near Cleveland and were married about
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1880, the maiden name of my mother being Cody. "Buffalo Bill" (William F. Cody) is my cousin. No American has lived who is so well known as he.
Now that you know my parents, I'll tell you what they did with me. They sent me to school, which made me sore. I was rather on the hot house order, so they had to travel to California, Mexico, Colorado and Florida every winter with me. It was taking education and travel and health all in one. Central high school managed to hold me for a period of four years. In Cleveland I also studied medicine for about two years in the hospital, in- tending to make it my profession. I played several leading and other parts in the Cleveland Shakespeare Club. I received offers from theatrical com- panies to sign up, but it never appealed to me.
Two years was served by me in Battery A, Artillery. It was the crack battery of the state.
At the time I went to college my father had lost his business through severe reverses, so I went down to Kenyon and worked my entire way through. Hence I know that any young man who wants an education may have it. During my first year my mother died. This and other matters led me to consider the ministry and later I decided on it, took the necessary four years in college, three in the seminary and was ordained in June, 1909. Dur- ing my seminary course I held the parish at Jefferson, Ohio, and East Ply- mouth, St. Ignace, Michigan, and many short supplies. On November I, 1908, I came to Wooster, was appointed to the parish by the bishop in the spring, ratified by the parish and in August took up my position as minister in charge. The parish, being without a minister for three years, was in bad shape, but is growing satisfactorily.
And then comes that time in every man's life that a clergyman speaks of as "Cana of Galilee." The first miracle that Jesus performed was for man's pleasure, for man's wedding. So few of us realize the human side of Jesus and thus few expect a human side to a clergyman. He is just as human as anyone else. True divinity is true humanity. Our Lord showed us that the life of God was the ideal life of man. But the publishers did not ask me to write a sermon and I started to tell you about getting married. The finest woman that ever lived was born and raised in St. Louis. She now lives in the St. James church rectory, the wife of the dominie. She was Miss Mary Eleanor Blake. With a great deal of pride I here make immortal the fact . that her grand father was the first graduate of Kenyon College. Our marriage took place in St. Louis, June 26, 1909. It was the hottest day in history. That is probably why our love is still so warm. You will always find the rectory a most pleasant place to visit. When you come I'll prove it. Before
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leaving this .section, I must tell you that Mrs. Marsh comes from a long line of Episcopal clergy. Her father varied the line by proving to the world that a Blake could excel in business. The Blakes excel in everything,-well, so do the Marshes.
I have felt my principal work to be among boys and young men. In view of this, I have started a boys' club, calling them the Knights of St. James. St. James was known as "the just" and I want these boys to be just men, full of good works. I have taken what was said about the boy- hood of Jesus for outline of development. "He increased in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man." I want them to have an all-around educa- tion, such as an American gentleman should have. I want them to have a well developed physique so that their bodies may be ready for any test. I want them to grow in favor with men, by being morally clean, attractive in personality, able to handle themselves, unselfish and lovable. They must grow in favor with God by attending His worship, holding the idea of woman in purity, using the spiritual faculties of prayer and good thought. We have secured a club room to be fitted up with gymnasium apparatus, books, maga- zines, games, with also provision for lecturing to the boys on business, poli- tics, etc. In the summer time we hope to take camping trips. I might say that there are one hundred boys in the Boys' Club. They have a beautiful ritual which they put on with great devoutness. They are increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. The older boys take up debating, extemporaneous and public speaking, law, business and,-well when you see presidents and governors and senators, and other history-mak- ing men in the future, you will find their names on our roll. Here is what they say the club does : "It gives us a good time without harm;" "it gives us exercise without bad influence"; "it gives us inspirations to be great, and wise and skillful in good things and not in bad." Here is hoping that a Young Men's Christian Association will succeed us. The boys have been enthusiastic about the club and the good people of the town have taken hold with me by purse, hand and heart. I can conclude no better than by saying that in Wooster I have found hospitality, a considerateness and a group of friends that I doubt could be matched anywhere.
JOHN P. KOEHLER.
Prospects were not very encouraging to Conrad Koehler, a native of Germany, when, at the age of eighteen years, he found himself in a new world, surrounded by people of strange customs and manners and with little
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capital in his pockets and no work at hand. But he had come to America to wrest a fortune or at least a good living from her resources and he was not to be daunted; consequently he made the best of his surroundings and soon obtained work, having come to Wayne county, Ohio. His first em- ployment was by the year for the sum of sixty dollars; this offer was made by a Mr. Downey, with whom he stayed for three years; being economical, he saved enough to get a foothold in a short time. He married Katherine Allman and then moved on part of Mr. Downey's farm, renting the same for about four years; later he rented another farm and continued to work rented land for a period of sixteen years. Having by this time laid up some money, he was enabled to purchase a farm near Dundee of one hundred and forty-seven acres and there he lived for many years and prospered. He now lives retired in his beautiful home which he built in Beech City. His wife is also living at this writing. They are the parents of ten children, namely. John P .; Prof. C. F., manager of a business college at Winona, Minnesota ; G. W., of Beech City, Ohio; George H., a lumber dealer in Bol- ivar, Tuscarawas county, this state; Mary, wife of Emil Kapitzky, a bank cashier ; Frank is a teacher at Canton, Ohio; H. C. is an attorney at Alliance, this state; James A. is a practicing physician at Shelby, Ohio; Daniel is a traveling salesman; Clark has remained single and is living at home.
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