USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 35
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was under way in charge of Father Lamy. It was a small brick structure and when roofed and plastered, fire broke out and destroyed everything but the walls, and they were damaged. In time work was resumed and on Sun- (lay. October 14, 1849, St. Vincent de Paul's church was dedicated. The pas- tor of the Danville church continued in charge of the Mt. Vernon church until September, 1851, when Rev. Julius Brent was given charge of the Knox county missions and here he remained until his death, nearly thirty years later. He was pastor of both Danville and Mt. Vernon until 1874. when he gave up the Danville church and devoted his remaining years to St. Vincent de Paul's, Mt. Vernon. In 1855 the present brick parochial residence was built. In 1862 an addition was made to the church and in 1872 a neat two-story frame parochial school was built and school opened in September. 1873. From the death of Father Brent in 1880 until September. 1885. Father Lane was pastor and was then succeeded by Father Mulhane, of this sketch, who has faithfully and ably continued the work to the present time in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent sat- isfaction of all concerned. his services here covering a period of over twenty- six years, he having taken charge of the parish on October 1. 1885. His work here has greatly increased the influence of the church and he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him, irrespective of creed. In addi- tion to the material improvements he has made to the church property al- ready mentioned, he erected in 1890 the new school building at a cost of ten thousand dollars, complete with all modern improvements and having an enrollment of more than two hundred pupils. Only recently a large addition was built and a high school established. There are over one thousand par- ishioners, nearly two hundred families and upwards of seven hundred com- municants. The various societies of the church are in good working order and Father Mulhane has the love and co-operation of his parishioners in an unusual degree. He is profoundly educated, having remained a student all his life and as a speaker he is logical, earnest, forceful and not infrequently truly eloquent, his powers of oratory being of a very high order. He is also a writer of a high order of ability, versatile, convincing and pleasing, always fearless in advocating what he believes to be right. He has been a large con- tributor to church and other periodicals. For many years he has made a study of leprosy and the work of the church in behalf of those afflicted with this dread scourge. In 1886 he published a book on the subject which at- tracted widespread attention. He has labored earnestly to induce Congress to establish a national home for lepers and in January, 1900, he visited Cuba and spent a month there. making a special study of leprosy. The result of his
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investigations was given to the world in an article in Donohue's Magazine, which was widely read and commended. He has also written works on the life of General Rosecrans, the great Union leader in the Civil war, also on Hon. Frank Hurd, a native of Mt. Vernon and a distinguished Ohio states- man. During the winter of 1910 and 1911 Father Mulhane made a trip to the Pacific coast in the hope of benefiting his failing health and he furnished several letters covering the points of interest visited, for the local press.
During the twenty-six years as pastor of the parish at Mt. Vernon his labors have been crowned with great success in every way, and because of this fact and partly because of his genial, obliging, unselfish and unassuming disposition he is revered by a vast circle of friends and acquaintances.
LEVI S. BRADFIELD.
Among the men of influence in Knox county, who have the interest of their locality at heart and who have led consistent lives, thereby gaining defi- nite success along their chosen lines, is Levi S. Bradfield, now engaged in the grain and feed business at Mt. Vernon. He has spent his life in this locality in which his family have been well known since the pioneer period.
Mr. Bradfield was born on November 13, 1849, in Brown township, this county, the son of James W. and Sarah A. (Sapp) Bradfield, both the Brad- fields and the Saps being early settlers in this county, the paternal side of the family coming from Virginia when James W. Bradfield was a mere child, and the Sapps came from Pennsylvania. Members of each family have been prominent in the affairs of Knox county ever since they came. The father of the subject was a millwright in his early life, but later devoted his atten- tion to farming. He and his wife are both deceased. Both are buried in the Robinson cemetery in Union township. Eleven children were born to them, of whom these five are living: Levi S., of this review ; Thomas J., of Dan- ville, this county : Mrs Lydia Body, also of Danville; William V., of Mt. Liberty, this county ; and Mrs. Dolly Moore, of Boston, Massachusetts.
The son, Levi S., spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work during crop seasons and attended the neigh- boring schools in the winter time. When a lad he learned telegraphy and afterwards worked as an operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. on the Pittsburg & Ft. Wayne divisions, for several years, giving the com- pany the utmost satisfaction and being regarded by them as one of the effi-
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cient and trusted employes. Following this he was in the mercantile business at Danville, Knox county, for several years, during which he enjoyed a very satisfactory trade; later he was in the same business at Mt. Liberty, this county. After spending several years at the latter place he exchanged his stock of goods for a farm in that locality and while conducting the same he continued to live in Mt. Liberty. While operating his farm he also engaged rather extensively in stock buying and shipping, and he continued very suc- cessfully in these two lines of endeavor for about fifteen years. In February. 1908, he moved to Mt. Vernon and has since been engaged in the grain and feed business, having built up a very large trade which is constantly growing. He has been very successful in whatever he has turned his attention to and is now very well fixed in material things.
Mr. Bradfield was married on June 22, 1879, to Mary E. Bennedict, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Bennedict. of Milford township, this county. Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennedict, only three are now living, Mrs. Margaret Beeny, of Milford township; Abraham S., of Mt. Vernon, and Mrs. Bradfield. The subject and wife have no children.
Politically, Mr. Bradfield is a Republican, but he has never been an office seeker, though he is always interested in whatever concerns the general pub- lic. He is a member of Canterbury Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife belong to the Disciples church. They stand high in the congregation of the same and have many true friends throughout the county.
CHARLES D. HAYDEN.
It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an emi- nently active and busy life and who has attained a position of relative dis- tinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biography finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is de- manded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each state- ment, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of Charles D. Hayden, prominent attorney and business man, of Centerburg. who, while yet young in years, stamped the impress of his strong personality upon the people of Knox county and is universally recognized as one of the leaders of the younger members of the local bar, and, judging by his past record, the future must needs hold many worthy largesses for him.
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Mr. Hayden was born on October 28, 1879, on a farm near Centerburg, Ohio, and here he has been content to spend his life, having never heeded the voice of the wanderlust that lures most young men from their native heaths. He is the son of John K. and Emma E. ( Halsey ) Hayden, both born in this county, each representing sterling old pioneer families, who were influential here in the days of the far-stretching wilderness and who took a leading part in the subsequent development of the locality. The father of the subject was born in Hilliar township and the mother in Clinton township. The former spent his entire life in his native township, successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, becoming a large land owner, engaging in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He was one of the substantial and influential men of southeastern Knox county, and later in life he engaged in banking, having been connected with the first bank established at Center- burg, which was known as the Centerburg Bank. Later he assisted in the organization of the First National Bank and he was its first cashier, and at the time of his death he was vice-president and a director; much of the suc- cess and popularity of these well known institutions were due to his efforts, his wise foresight, sound judgment and conservative plans. The death of this excellent and prominent citizen occurred on May 4, 1908; his widow still lives in Centerburg. Politically, the elder Hayden was a Democrat and was long active in public affairs, his counsel being frequently sought by party leaders and candidates, and he held positions of public trust in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all con- cerned. He at one time represented Knox county in the Ohio state Legisla- ture, where he made his influence felt for the general good of his community and the party, and he filled numerous local offices, such as land appraiser, a member of the board of education and others. For a number of years he was engaged in the mercantile business in Centerburg, and was interested in a number of other enterprises. He was a man of progressive ideas, broad- minded, well informed on current topics and he did as much, if not more, for this vicinity than any other man. He was a worthy member of the Presby- terian church and an elder in the local church for many years and was a liberal supporter of the church. He was a man of unquestioned integrity, endeavoring to carry the Golden Rule into his every-day life and his obliging, genial and gentlemanly nature made him popular with a wide circle of friends and admirers.
Charles D. Hayden, of this sketch, was educated in the Centerburg pub- lic schools, and he was graduated from the high school there in 1897. He subsequently entered Dennison University at Granville, Ohio, from which he
-
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was graduated in the year 1904 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, for a course in law, receiving a degree of Bachelor of Law with the class of 1906. His father's death necessitated his presence in Centerburg, and since that time he has been engaged in looking after his father's estate and general business interests. He practices law and also does a real estate business and he is secretary and treasurer of the Farmers Fertilizer Company, of Columbus. and he is a director in the Capital Limestone Company, also of that city. Thus he is a very busy man, and is, in every sense of the word, a worthy son of a worthy sire.
Mr. Hayden is a member of the Masonic order, Bloomfield Lodge No. 422, and also a member of Hawthorne Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He be- longs to the Presbyterian church, and in his political relations is a loyal sup- porter of the Democratic party ; however, he has never been active in public matters, nor an office seeker, preferring to devote his attention to his large private affairs.
Mr. Hayden was married December 18, 1911, to Nancy Lillian Lewis, daughter of Dr. R. C. M. and Lou ( Holmes) Lewis, of Marion, Ohio.
Personally he is a young man of pleasing address and is well liked by all with whom he comes into contact.
SYLVESTER ROBERT BEST. M. D.
The medical profession in Knox county has an able exponent in Dr. Sylvester Robert Best, of Centerburg, who while yet young in years, has shown what honesty of purpose, close application and unswerving energy can accomplish, and in every relation of life he has proved to be signally true to every trust. He possesses a social nature and by his genial and kindly attitude to those about him, has won the respect and confidence of everyone. He has been very successful, being known as an able and careful general phy- sician whose integrity and thoroughness are unquestioned.
Doctor Best was born on April 5. 1872, in Lock, Milford township, this county. He is the son of Sylvester and Martha (Annett) Best, both natives of Hilliar township, this county, and here they grew to maturity, received their educational training in the common schools and were married. Grand- father Peter Best came to this county with his family in 1839 from New Jer- sey. He was of Scotch descent. He settled in Hilliar township and there be-
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came a large landowner and one of the substantial and influential citizens of those early days. Sylvester Best, father of the Doctor, devoted his life to farming and became well established. He was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted on April 11, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a corporal and he saw much hard service. He was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864, and perma- nently disabled. He has a fine record as. a soldier. After the close of the war he studied photography and followed this for a number of years at various points, later returning to farming on a part of the old homestead in Hilliar township. He remained on the farm until a few years ago; when he gave up active work and is now living with his son in Centerburg. His wife died in August, 1909. Politically, he is a Republican and he has filled several local offices. He has always been a strong advocate of temperance and for some years affiliated with the Prohibition party.
Dr. Sylvester R. Best spent his youth on the farm and he attended the country schools and was graduated from the Centerburg high school in 1892. Following his graduation he clerked in a store in Centerburg for about three years. He had taken up the study of medicine while clerking, and later he entered the Ohio Medical University at Columbus and was graduated from that institution in 1898, having made an excellent record there. He at once began practicing medicine at Brandon, Knox county, where he remained one year, then came to Centerburg and has been here ever since, having enjoyed a large and ever-growing practice from the first and taking a high rank among the medical fraternity of this locality. He has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession, being ever a student. He has paid con- siderable attention to surgery and has met with much success.
Doctor Best was married on October 22, 1897, to Madge Cook, daugh- ter of Capt. E. B. and Elizabeth (Howe) Cook, of Centerburg, where Mr. Cook was long prominent in business. The father of Mrs. Best served through the Civil war as first lieutenant of a company in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and he served with distinction dur- ing almost the entire war. He was a successful business man and was in- fluential in Republican politics, holding a number of public offices. His death occurred in the spring of 1900, his wife having preceded him to the grave several years previously, when their daughter, Madge, was a child.
Two daughters have graced the union of Doctor and Mrs. Best. Mar- garet Cook and Ellenor R.
Doctor Best is a member of the Knox County Medical Society and the Ohio Medical Association. He is a Mason, a past master, and is now secre-
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tary of Bloomfield Lodge No. 422, Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of Camp No. 62, Sons of Veterans, Division of Ohio. Politically, he is a Republican and has been active in political matters. He has served on the Republican county central committee, and has been a delegate to county, district and state conventions, and has held various offices. He has served as town clerk, and in the fall of 1909 he was elected mayor of Cen- terburg, and has proven to be one of the best mayors the city has ever had. doing much for its permanent good, being a man of progressive ideas, broad- minded and optimistic. During his term he has acquired a water works sys- tem and other valuable public improvements. He was the candidate of his party in 1910 as representative from Knox county to the state Legislature, but Knox being a Democratic county, he was defeated, though he made a splendid campaign and an excellent impression on the voters. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in church and Sunday school work. He is a popular and progressive citizen and stands high throughout the county.
FRANK V. OWEN.
Achieving an honorable record in the legal profession and as a public servant, Frank V. Owen, of Mt. Vernon, is esteemed for the many qualities that go to make up the inherent and finer attributes of head and heart of the refined gentleman. He is regarded by all classes as one of Knox county's enterprising, progressive, public-spirited citizens, quick to act and aid in any project that means prosperity and growth of the locality honored by his resi- dence, and cherishing a deep interest not only in material and civic affairs, but also in educational and moral matters.
Mr. Owen is the scion of a sterling old pioneer family of this county, and he was born in Middlebury township, Knox county, Ohio, in 1857. He is the son of Gilbert R. and Elizabeth (Green) Owen, the former being of New England stock, his father, Warren Owen, having come from Vermont to Ohio among the early pioneers, settling in what is now Middlebury town- ship, Knox county, when that locality was almost uninhabited and was an al- most interminable forest, the abode of Indians and abundant wild game of all kinds. Here he built a cabin and began clearing and improving a farm, which in due course of time ranked among the best in the township, Mr. Owen becoming one of the leading farmers of his time and a prominent citi- zen in the affairs of the county. His death occurred in Delaware county, this state, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. On the old family home-
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stead in Middlebury township, this county, Gilbert R. Owen, father of Frank V., of this review, was born, reared and educated and there spent his entire life, engaged in farming, becoming well established through his industry and honesty, being a highly respected citizen. His death occurred in 1863, in the prime of young manhood, being only thirty-eight years old. His wife, Eliza- beth Green, was the daughter of Benjamin Green, who came to Ohio from Baltimore, Maryland, and he died in Perry township, Morrow county, where he was successfully engaged in farming.
The son, Frank V. Owen, spent his youth on the farm, assisting in the ordinary duties about the place and he attended the district schools in that vicinity. Early in life he was seized with an ambition to become a lawyer and he began bending every effort in that direction, finally entering the law office of Col. William C. Cooper & Moore as a student and he was admitted to the bar in 1884, since which time he has practiced at Mt. Vernon. Always a student, he has continually added to his knowledge of the law and has been very successful in the practice. His recognized ability, his diligence and faithfulness to every trust reposed in him have brought him a clientele of the highest character and he has grown to be recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of this section of the state. Mr. Owen is a man of intense energy and application. He goes into court with his case completely in hand. The labor of preparation is not considered. Everything depends on work and study-the study of men as well as books. In council he is inquisitive, exact- ing and exhaustive, wanting to know the truth and the facts. As an advo- cate he is earnest, honest and resolute, persuasive, but seldom drawing upon his powers of forensic oratory when the plain, straightforward facts are pref- erable in presenting his argument. He is industrious and untiring in his profession and in his duties as a public servant, and it is a rare thing to find him when not busy and in action.
The domestic life of Mr. Owen began in 1894, when he was united in marriage with Bessie Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Johnson, an influential family of Mt. Vernon. This union has resulted in the birth of two children, Elizabeth and Isabelle. By a former marriage Mr. Owen became the father of two sons, Charles and Robert.
Politically, Mr. Owen is a Republican and has always stood for what is best in political and public life. In 1887 he was elected as Knox county's representative to the state Legislature and while a member was active in se- curing important legislation. He served on some of the most important com- mittees and was an active and earnest advocate of such measures as most inti- mately affected the interests of the people. During his term he introduced and secured the passage of a bill known as the "Owen Sunday Closing Law."
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requiring all the saloons of the state to be closed on Sunday, which has since been copied by many other states. At the expiration of his term he declined a second nomination, preferring to devote his time and talents to his pro- fession and he has since declined all political preferment. His career in the House stamped him as a man of keen civic insight, rare ability and public spirit and won the hearty approval of his constituents.
Fraternally, Mr. Owen is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of recognized ability and professional attainments, is a companionable and congenial gentleman and universally popular.
GEORGE W. McNABB.
That the plenitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to be considered a most beneficial deprivation, for where ambition is satisfied and every ultimate end realized, if such be possible, apathy must follow. Ef- fort would cease, accomplishment be prostrate and creative talent waste its energies in inactivity. The men who have pushed forward the wheels of progress have been those to whom satisfaction lies ever in the future, who have labored continuously, always finding in each transition stage an incen- tive for further effort. Such a man is George W. McNabb, well known citi- zen of Mt. Vernon, whose well directed efforts have gained for him a position of desired prominence in the commercial circles of Knox county and his energy and enterprise have been crowned by success.
Mr. McNabb was born on November 25, 1867, on a farm in Bedford township, Coshocton county, Ohio. He is the son of John and Susan (Adams) McNabb, the father born in Harrison county, Ohio, and the mother in Coshocton county, this state. John McNabb came to Coshocton county when young and there engaged in farming, stock buying and shipping, also bought and shipped wool on an extensive scale. In 1880 the family moved to Howard, Knox county, where the father engaged in the hotel and livery business until 1893, when he moved to Mt. Vernon, continuing the livery business here. His death occurred in 1905, his wife having preceded him to the grave in August, 1897. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters, all living but two sons.
George W. McNabb' was educated in the public schools of Coshocton county, and when the family moved to Knox county he began clerking in the store of W. H. Ralston, of Howard, at the age of fifteen years, remaining there for six years, during which time he mastered the ins and outs of mer- chandising. then bought the business of his employer and continued general
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merchandising until 1896, having built up a large patronage through his close application, tact and honest dealings. Then, seeking a larger field for his operations, he moved to Columbus.
While living in Howard, Knox county, Mr. McNabb was married on June 6, 1889, to Lydia Tracy, daughter of Joshua and Mary ( Rightineyer) Tracy, of Knox county, and to this union two children have been born, Helen, who is living at home, and Dwight T., also at home and a student in high school; the daughter is a talented musician.
On moving to Columbus, Mr. McNabb engaged in the grocery business for three years and for the three succeeding years he was secretary and treas- urer of the Columbus Sporting Goods Company. Although his career in the capital city had been successful in a business way, he returned to Knox county in 1903 and opened a retail grocery business in Mt. Vernon, in which he has continued to the present time with ever-increasing success, his trade covering a large territory and constantly branching out to new fields. He always car- ries a large, up-to-date and carefully selected stock of staple and fancy gro- ceries and he has a well arranged store building, his present location being at No. 139 Main street. In the spring of 1911 he also opened a grocery store at Gambier, which has been a most successful business venture. He has won a position in the front rank of enterprising and progressive business men of this locality and proven himself to be a man of rare acumen, foresight and sound judgment.
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