USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 39
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George W. Bennett was brought up on the home farm, and when but a lad was put to work on the farm during the crop season, attending the common schools in the winter time, and he remained at home until his mar- riage, October 3, 1882, to Sarah Louise Holmes, daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Wasson) Holmes, a prominent family of Monroe township, this
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county. This union has resulted in the birth of three children, namely: Helen G. married J. Clyde Smith, of Pleasant township, this county; Sarah Lena married John Cunningham, of College township; and Edna M., who is at home.
For a period of ten years after his marriage Mr. Bennett lived on a farm about a mile east of where his present farm is located. He came to this present home in August, 1892, and has lived here ever since. developing one of the best farms in the community. His place consists of one hundred and seventy-five acres and is well improved and well cultivated. In connection with general farming he raises a fine grade of horses and hogs, also sheep, and he has been very successful with his live stock, being especially interested in the improvement of the breed of horses.
Politically, Mr. Bennett is a Republican, and he has always been inter- ested in public matters. In local politics he votes independently. He has served as justice of the peace and as a member of the school board of his district, and he has been a frequent delegate to party conventions. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he has been a member of the board of stewards for more than twenty years and has for practically all his mature life been active in church and Sunday school work. He is a man of high ideals in his intercourse with his fellow men and his in- fluence for better public conditions is potent, being an advocate of wholesome living and purity in politics.
ALVA B. DAVIS.
Inheriting the thrifty and frugal habits of a sturdy pioneer ancestry, it is little wonder that Alva B. Davis, well known cement builder and con- tractor of Danville, Knox county, has succeeded at his chosen life work. The people of the locality of which this volume treats have known him as a boy and man, and as his dealings with his fellow men have always been honorable they repose in him the most implicit confidence.
Mr. Davis was born on August 21, 1863, on a farm in Monroe town- ship, Knox county, Ohio, and here he has been content to spend his life, knowing that no better opportunities were to be found in any other country. He is the son of Henry and Nancy (Snedeker) Davis, both parents born. reared and educated in Monroe township, this county, and here they mar- ried and spent most of their lives. The father was a miller by trade, and
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is said to have been one of the best in this locality, so that for many years his services were in great demand. However, the latter part of his life was given over principally to agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Davis both died in early life, leaving five children, namely : Alva B., of this sketch; John B. lives in Licking county, Ohio; Jay is deceased; Earl lives in Mt. Vernon; Alice, deceased.
Alva B. Davis was reared on the farm where he began working when but a child, and during the winter months he attended the district schools, receiving such education as he could; however, being thrown upon his own resources early in life, he did not receive the advantage that one might de- sire in starting out in life, but he received valuable lessons from the "hard knocks" of youth, which have contributed in no small degree to his success later in life. When eighteen years of age he began the trade of stone mason, which he followed until 1905, becoming a very skilled workman. In that year he began the business of cement worker, building blocks and all kinds of cement construction, as well as all kinds of concrete construction. He has won the reputation of being a reliable contractor in every respect, and he is kept constantly busy turning out some important jobs continuously during the building season, many of the best buildings of this class in the county today being monuments to his skill as a builder. He also does a great deal of country bridge and culvert work.
Mr. Davis was married in June, 1899, to Mrs. Caroline Payne, daughter of Archibald and Mary (Devore) Parrish.
Mr. Davis lives in Howard township, one mile west of Danville, where he has a comfortable and attractive home. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he has always been active and interested in public affairs, but he has never been an aspirant to public offices. He is well informed on public matters, being a widely read man, and he is highly regarded both as citizen and busi- ness man.
EDWARD JACKSON.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has long enjoyed prestige as a leading citizen of the community in which he resides, his prominence being the direct and legitimate result of genuine merit and ability. He is one of those optimistic men who look on the bright side of life, advocating that it is no use to complain at the rough places in the road, for he knows that life is a battle to all of us, in which the slothful, indifferent and lazy win no victories, but that the prize is to the strong of heart and the vigilant.
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Edward Jackson, whose finely improved landed estate lies in Liberty township, Knox county, and who has been content to spend his life in his home country, was born on May 10, 1859, on a farm in the township in which he now resides. He is the son of John and Susanna (Litzenburg) Jackson, both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, he having come to Knox county, Ohio, when he was small with his parents, George Jackson and wife, early settlers in this part of the county. The Litzenburgs were also early arrivals, and each became influential in their community and well established. John Jackson devoted his life to farming and was a progressive agriculturist and a large land owner. He was one of the substantial and well known men of this part of the county, and active in the affairs of the Democratic party. He served as township treasurer and as township trustee. His death occurred in January, 1893. His widow, a woman of many beauti- ful traits of character, is still living at the advanced age of ninety-four years.
Two children were born to John Jackson and wife, Edward, of this review, and Ella, who married James McKinstrey, of Liberty township.
Edward Jackson was reared on the home farm and when but a boy as- sisted with the general work on the same. During the winter months he attended the public schools of his district. On February 12, 1880, he was married to Adelia Robertson, daughter of Jesse P. and Caroline C. (Mc- Combs) Robertson, of Liberty township.
To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely : Carrie, who married Lester Kile, of Morrow county; Mamie, who married Clyde Thatcher. of Liberty township: Carl is taking a two-year course in agri- culture at the Ohio State University; Hazel lives with her parents and is a student in the Mt. Vernon high school.
Mr. Jackson, since his marriage, has lived on his present farm in Lib- erty township, eight miles west of Mt. Vernon on the new Delaware road. His place consists of two hundred and twelve acres, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and cultivation, and he has one of the choicest, most fertile and desirable farms in Liberty township. In connection with general farming, he makes a specialty of dairying, handling a good grade of Jersey cattle, and he raises live stock of all kinds and is regarded as one of the prosperous and progressive farmers in this part of the county. He be- lieves in adopting the most approved methods and never letting the grass grow under his feet. He has a splendid home and large, convenient out- buildings.
Politically, Mr. Jackson is a Democrat and he has been township clerk for a number of years and also was a member of the local board of educa-
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tion, and in 1907 he was elected justice of the peace. For some time he served his township as a member of the Democratic county central commit- tee and has been a frequent delegate to county and district conventions. He has been a most capable and faithful public servant, always having the interests of his community and county at heart. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, Sparta Lodge. He and his family are mem- bers of the Advent Christian church. His family has long been prominent socially in the community.
Mr. Jackson is one of the representative citizens of Knox county and is a pleasant man to meet.
JOHN CUNNINGHAM.
The work of the farm is greatly relieved by varying it with stock rais- ing and fruit growing. The growth of the cities has been so great-in other words, the growth of the nonproducers has been so great-that the products of the farm command a higher price than ever before. This is notably so with live stock. With present-day prices for his live stock, the farmer can make their raising pay him well for his labor. His work then will consist chiefly in growing the various grains and grasses necessary for the raising and fattening of his animals and in the proper marketing of the latter. Orchard and garden products may be grown as side ventures. Wheat may be raised for the price. it will bring, the same with rye and barley. The growing of oats is an essential branch of farming because all draft animals thrive better on oats, especially in hot weather, than on other grain. One of the most up-to-date of the younger generation of farmers of Knox county who has made an intelligent study of farming with the best results in view is John Cunningham, of the Gambier vicinity, who successfully proves that a system of mixed farming and animal husbandry is necessary for the build- ing up of the soil and for the largest net profits.
Mr. Cunningham was born on August 16, 1878, on his father's farm, one mile southeast of Gambier, and there he grew to manhood, assisting with the general work during crop seasons and attending the public schools of Gambier and the Kenyon Military Academy, also spent two years in Kenyon College, making an excellent record in each. He is the son of Rob- ert P. and Laura Susan (Gaines) Cunningham, the father born in Harrison county, Ohio, and the mother in Howard township, Knox county. The father came to Knox county with his parents in 1851 when only one year
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of age and settled in College township, where the family home have ever since remained, and there the parents of the subject reside today, having spent their lives engaged in agricultural pursuits, developed a good farm and established a comfortable home. The elder Cunningham has always been one of the leading stock feeders of his community, and a man of influence there. He has paid especial attention to sheep feeding, sometimes keeping from seven hundred to eight hundred in a flock, also fine cattle and hogs. He is the owner of one of the choice farms of the township, consisting of over three hundred acres of well improved and productive land, all under a high state of cultivation. He has long been regarded as one of the sub- stantial and progressive agriculturists and stock men of the county. Polit- ically, the elder Cunningham is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Cunningham, six of whom are living at this writing, namely: Mary, John, Richard G., of Toronto, Canada ; Isabelle ; Edith M., now the wife of Rev. John R. Stocker, of Cleveland, an Episcopal minister; James L .; Rebecca; Jacob B. died of membraneous croup at the age of four years, and two who died in infancy.
John Cunningham, of this review, has spent his entire life on the home farm, and he has met with encouraging success in his chosen life work. He was married, on June 3, 1908, to Sarah Lena Bennett, daughter of George W. and Sarah Louise ( Holmes) Bennett, a highly respected family of Mon- roe township. This union has been graced by the birth of two children, a daughter, bearing the good old name, Sarah Louise, and a son named John Gordon Cunningham.
Young Cunningham is a member of the Ohio Corn Improvement Asso- ciation and the Knox County Corn Improvement Association. He is now president of the state association and secretary of the local body. He has done much to make both potent factors in the lives of Ohio farmers, and his work in this connection has won him wide influence and respect. He has made a careful study of modern and scientific methods of agriculture, and has been of great influence in bettering conditions in his locality. He is an extensive corn and alfalfa grower. In the year 1910 he was awarded second prize in the yield per acre in the state corn growers' contest and he has first place among the corn growers of Knox county, and is the most extensive grower of alfalfa in this county. He devotes much attention to raising live stock and is a breeder of fine thoroughbred Percheron horses and all kinds of the very best live stock, having done much to improve the grades in this locality. He is a recognized authority on agricultural matters, lecturing be-
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fore farmers' institutes, and what he has to say is always greatly appreciated and carefully considered.
Politically, Mr. Cunningham is a Democrat, and he has always been active in public matters. He has served as a member of the county board of elections for six years, and he is a member of and chairman of the Demo- cratic county central committee and a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions, in all of which he makes his influence felt for the good of the party and his district. He is decidedly a man of affairs, broad- minded and progressive in all that the terms imply, and he is always alert to adopt all that is best in his line of work. He was his party's candidate for the state Legislature in 1904, and, although he made an excellent race, went down in the Republican landslide that swept the state.
Fraternally, he belongs to Mt. Zion Lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, at Mt. Vernon, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 140, at Mt. Vernon. He belongs to the Episcopal church and is a vestryman in the same. His wife holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are active in church affairs and are prominent in the social life of the community.
JOSEPH M. LARIMORE.
Among those in this part of Knox county who have built up a highly creditable reputation and have won the good will and confidence of their neighbors and acquaintances through right and honorable living is Joseph M. Larimore, a successful farmer and stock raiser near Lock. His promi- nence in the affairs of the community is conceded and his deeds will speak for themselves. Some men speak loudest by talking volubly and frequently, while others speak loudest by their actions. Mr. Larimore is not only able to ex- press himself well when talking is needed, but also well qualified to carry into execution his thoughts. He is a strong factor in this community, where there are many men of sound sense and ripe judgment. He is a worthy descendant of our sterling pioneer element.
Mr. Larimore was born in Knox county, Ohio, September 5, 1846, and is the son of Isaac P. and Mary ( Mantonya ) Larimore. The paternal grand- parents, James and Naomi Larimore, were natives of Jersey Mountain, Hamp- shire county, Virginia, and there they lived and died on a plantation. James
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Larimore's grandfather was a native of county Down, Ireland, and when a boy he killed a rabbit ; this being the king's, he was compelled either to serve seven years in the army of Great Britain or flee to America, so he voyaged to our shores and located at Jersey Mountain, Virginia, and there reared his family of fourteen children. Two of his brothers later came in search of him, one of whom finally settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the other in North Carolina. The southern branch of the family spell their names Lat- timore and Lattimure.
The maternal grandparents of the subject were Joseph and Mary Man- tonya. His father, probably named Joseph also, was a native of France, who, during the Revolution, was smuggled to America in an American ship, se- creted in a hogshead, and here he worked as a cannon moulder, following that business for the United States government. After the close of our war for independence he became a contractor on our early canals. He came to Ohio to help on the Walhonding canal and here the family permanently lo- cated.
Joseph and Mary Mantonya were natives of Hampshire county, Vir- ginia, from which they emigrated to Ohio in a very early day and located at Union Station, where he engaged in work on the canal ; selling out when the canal was finished, he moved to Knox county and here he built one of the first saw mills, also one of the first grist mills in the country, and here he spent the balance of his life, about twenty-five years. He was a toolmaker by trade, making axes, chisels, etc.
Isaac P. Larimore, father of the subject, was born on March 10, 1821, on Jersey Mountain, Virginia, and there he grew to manhood. In 1844 he came to Knox county, Ohio, on horseback. His wife, Mary Mantonya, was born near Union Station, Licking county, Ohio, in 1829. She came to Knox county with her parents in 1834 and here grew to womanhood, met and married Mr. Larimore. The father of the subject devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of about six hundred acres of val- uable land, for years being regarded as one of the leading farmers and in- fluential citizens of this part of the county. He was active in the affairs of the Democratic party and once made the race for sheriff of Knox county. He was a strong supporter of fairs, and was for many years president of the Hartford Agricultural Society. He was a local preacher in the Christian Union church. His family consisted of eleven children, five of whom are living. During the Civil war he was colonel of militia and did effective ser- vice in organizing local troops. He carried the title of colonel until his death, and was widely and favorably known. He died on March 2, 1905, his widow
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surviving until March 11, 1909. He farmed on an extensive scale and made a specialty of Durham cattle.
Joseph M. Larimore, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm and re- ceived his education in the district schools, and early in life he took up farm- ing for a livelihood, working for some time by the month, then farmed the home place for several years, then bought forty-three acres in Milford town- ship; selling this he purchased a part of the home farm, and, having inherited a part, he thus had one hundred and fifteen acres, which he later sold. He is now the owner of one hundred and thirteen acres of fine land just west of Lock. He has placed it under high grade improvements and cultivation, and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, and, having laid by a competency, he has for some time been living retired.
Politically, Mr. Larimore is a Democrat and he has served his township as trustee and as constable. He and his wife are members of the Congrega- tional church.
Mr. Larimore was married on May 12, 1867, to Rachael L. Spellman, a native of Knox county, where she grew to womanhood and received her education. She is the daughter of James and Sarah A. (Writesman) Spell- man, he born on January 5. 1821, devoted his life to farming and is now de- ceased; his wife was born on September 30, 1823.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Larimore were Nathan and Martha Spellman, natives of Massachusetts, from which state they came to Ohio in a very early day. The maternal grandparents, Gabriel and Matilda Writes- man, were natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Knox county.
To James Spellman and wife five children were born, two sons and three daughters, three of whom are living, namely: Albert: Lester, who died in infancy ; Elizabeth A. is deceased : Mary J., and Rachael L., wife of the sub- ject.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Larimore, namely : Ber- tha, Metie. Tessie, Charles, Lanton, Clifton, Cora and Jesse.
JOHN W. SWARTZ.
A happy combination of characteristics is possessed by John W. Swartz. farmer of Union township. Knox county, for he has shown through his life- long residence here that he is a man of industry and integrity, sobriety and kindness; these, combined with his model home life and his willingness to
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lend such aid as he can in furthering any public good, have brought him the good will and respect of his many acquaintances. Believing that better op- portunities awaited him right here in his own community, he wisely decided to remain here, for the natural opportunities are to be found here by the dili- gent and earnest worker, and those who fail in tilling the soil here can, as a rule, blame no one but themselves.
Mr. Swartz was born in Knox county, January 6, 1859. He is the son of Ernest and Sophia ( Dean) Swartz, both natives of Germany, the father born in 1817 and the mother in 1825. There they grew to maturity and were married, the father working for years as a coachman in the city of Hanover. The parents of Sophia Dean came to America about 1832 or 1833 and settled in Ohio, where the father found employment on the canal. Sophia Dean lived with her grandmother in Germany and there she and Ernest Swartz were married and in 1856 they emigrated to America, and located in the vicinity where her parents lived in Knox county, Ohio. Mr. Swartz was a day laborer and he arrived in the city of Cleveland without any money. So he left his family there and came on to Mt. Vernon and hunted up his wife's relatives, from whom he borrowed money with which to bring his family on to Knox county. He was a hard worker and economical and in a reasonable time he had saved enough to buy a farm here, owning sixty-five acres. His family consisted of three children, namely : Amelia, deceased; Sarah, and John W., of this sketch. Before coming to America Ernest Swartz served his allotted time as a soldier in the German army. His death occurred on his farm here in 1908, his wife having died in 1906.
John W. Swartz was reared on the home farm and received his educa- tion in the public schools. While still a young man he began farming as a renter. About 1897 he bought forty acres of the home place, to which he added forty acres more in 1904, a part of the Baker farm. Later he added thirteen and one-half acres of the Walters farm. His mother having willed him the rest of the home place, he now has a fine farm, which he has kept well improved and cultivated, and in connection with general farming he handles a good grade of live stock. He has a pleasant home and has built a large, convenient barn, one of the best in the community.
Politically, Mr. Swartz is a Democrat, but has little desire to be a public man. He is a member of the Maccabees, and he and his wife belong to the Baptist church.
Mr. Swartz was married in 1881 to Phoebe A. Garba, a native of Cosh- octon county and the daughter of Peter and Dorcas ( Whitesill) Garba. The father was a soldier in the Union army and had the misfortune to be taken
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prisoner and died in Andersonville prison. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swartz, namely : Sophia is the wife of Carl Dunmire: Fred- erick, Miller, Claud, Howard, Amelia, Elizabeth, Mamie and Thomas.
Peter Garba was born in Germany and his wife, Dorcas Whitesill, was born in Coshocton county. Ohio, and there they were married, he having emi- grated to America when a young man. He was a farmer by occupation and finally became the owner of a good farm. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Garba, three of whom are living. After the war the mother re-married, her last husband being John Elfert. She died in 1874.
WILLIAM HENRY WAGNER.
It would indeed be hard to find in northern Knox county a more up- to-date, painstaking, progressive agriculturist than William Henry Wagner, whose well-kept landed estate lies in Middlebury township, in which he has been pleased to spend his life, wisely deciding, it would seem, that it were useless to follow the wanderlust spirit to other fields and new arenas of endeavor, for right here at home existed for such willing hands as his an unlimited field for advancement. He is the scion of one of the sterling old families of the county whose excellent record he has done nothing to depre- ciate in the eyes of the people of Middlebury and adjoining townships, for he has ever been an advocate of progress along not only material lines, but civic and moral as well, and he is therefore well deserving of the esteem in which he is universally held.
Mr. Wagner was born in the township in which he still resides on No- vember 8, 1856, and is the son of Henry and Sarah Anne (Jeffries) Wag- ner. The paternal grandparents. George and Mary Wagner, were natives of Germany, the father having come to America as a "bound boy" and had to pay for his passage after reaching our shores. These parents located in Pennsylvania and there they were married, and in 1824 moved to Middle- bury township, Knox county, Ohio, and secured a farm where Robert Mar- tin now lives, and there they spent the balance of their lives, both being now deceased. The maternal grandparents, Parson and Sarah (Dickerson) Jef- fries, were natives of New Jersey. He was a canal boatman a while and later in life came to Knox county, Ohio, and located in Wayne township, later moving to Middlebury township, where he bought land and there spent the balance of his days.
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