USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 6
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Politically, Mr. Morey is a Republican and is a member of the school board. He is a member of the Disciples church. He is a member of the Grange, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs.
ELMER ELLSWORTH HOLLISTER.
The agricultural interests of Knox county have no better representatives than her native-born citizens, many of whom are classed among its most practical, enterprising and successful farmers. One of this number is Elmer Ellsworth Hollister, of Milford township, who, dependent largely upon his own resources from boyhood, has so applied his energies and ability as to attain a success worthy the name, while his high standing in the community indicates the objective appreciation of his sterling character.
Mr. Hollister was born in Liberty township, this county, December 2. 1861. He is the son of Orange and Loduskey (Osborne) Hollister. The paternal grandparents, Harmon and Mahala ( Bird) Hollister, were early settlers in Liberty township, where they had a good farm, and there they died. The maternal grandparents, John and Nancy Osborne, came from
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Pennsylvania to Morrow county, Ohio, in an early day and there spent the balance of their lives.
The father of the subject was born in Liberty township, this county, in 1834, and the mother was born in Mt. Liberty in 1843. They were married in the latter place and they spent their lives on the small farm which they owned. Their family consisted of three children, two of whom are living, Elmer E., of this review, and Emma A., Alonzo, the third in order of birth, being deceased. Politically, the father was a stanch Republican, but he never held office or aspired to public honors. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mt. Liberty. His death occurred in 1875, but his widow still survives.
Elmer E. Hollister was reared on the farm and he received his educa- tion in the common schools, the Red Hill school house, Morrow county. He started in life for himself by working out by the month, then he rented land for eight years, thereby getting a good start. His wife then inherited a farm in Milford township and there they now own seventy-four acres of excellent land on which they make a comfortable living and have a good home there. In connection with general farming, stock raising is carried on.
Mr. Hollister is a Republican, and both belong to the Baptist church at Lock, and they also belong to the Grange, and the Red Men.
Mr. Hollister was married on June 3, 1883, to Hattie Larimore, who was born on October 1, 1859, on the farm where the subject now lives and here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the neighboring schools. She is the daughter of Isaac and Mary Larimore, old settlers here, the father born in Virginia and the mother in Licking county, Ohio. Isaac Larimore was born in 1821 and he came to Knox county about 1843 and here was married. He was a successful farmer, a large landowner and a well known and well liked citizen. His family consisted of eleven children, five of whom are living. Joseph M., Hattie, James, William and Rose C., wife of F. M. Sutton, of Knox county. Politically, Mr. Larimore was a Demo- crat, but was never an office seeker. He was a member of the Methodist church. His death occurred in 1905 ; his wife was born in 1829 and she died in 1909.
The parental grandparents of Mrs. Hollister, James and Naomi Lari- more, were natives of Virginia, in which state they lived and died. They never lived in Knox county, but they made a visit here. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Hollister, Joseph and Mary Montonja, were natives of Vir- ginia. Each came to Licking county single, but were widower and widow at the time of their marriage.
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LEVI S. BURGER.
One of our most worthy and highly respected pioneers is Levi S. Burger, of Pike township, one of the best known men of the northern part of Knox county. He has lived most of his long and useful life in this locality which he has seen developed from a sparsely settled wilderness and in which trans- formation he has taken no small part, having been a hard worker and a public-spirited man, who believed in encouraging industry and right living in others and fostering material and public improvements while advancing his own interests. He talks interestingly of the olden days when the country was new, conditions different, customs not the same as they are today,-in fact. when everything was changed. Now that the mellow Indian summer of his years has settled serenely around him he is living a quiet life, leaving the active management of his farmstead to others of his family, enjoying a well earned rest, and he can look back over his life path, flecked with sun- shine and shadow, with no compunction for misdeeds and no regrets for un- gentlemanly acts, and he therefore merits the high esteem in which he is held by all.
Mr. Burger was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1833, and is the son of Jacob and Susanna (Rush) Burger. His paternal grand- father, Abraham Burger, most probably came to this country from Ger- many in an early day, locating in Pennsylvania and there lived and died. The maternal grandfather, George Rush, was a native of Germany, who came to America in early life, spending the remainder of his years in Pennsylvania. The father of the subject was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Center county, that state, and there they grew up and were mar- ried, living there until 1835, when they moved to Knox county, Ohio, and here he bought land which his brother had entered from the government and which is still owned by the Burger family. Here he established a good home and spent the rest of his life. Politically, he was a Democrat and was at one time supervisor, but he led a quiet life. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Burger, six of whom are still living.
Levi S. Burger was educated in the public schools of Knox county and reared on the home farm, having been about two years old when he was brought here by his parents. The country being new, he had to work hard when a boy and he quite naturally took to farming for a livelihood; later he bought out the other heirs after the father's death and he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres in Pike township, which he has kept well im- proved and under a high state of cultivation and on which he has made a
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good living at general farming and stock raising. When he first came to this place only half an acre was cleared. The rude house and barn that was there gave way in due course of time to six more substantial buildings.
Politically, Mr. Burger is a Democrat. He has been school director, also supervisor for ten years, and he has served on the grand jury frequently. He has been living retired for some time and his sons have operated the place. He purchased a very cozy dwelling in North Liberty some time ago. He and his wife are members of the Brethren church.
Mr. Burger was married in 1859 to Catherine Wolford, a native of Wayne county, and the daughter of George Wolford, one of the old settlers there. Children have been born to Levi S. Burger and wife, named as follows: George, Joseph and John are deceased; Ella, Blanche, Della, Alli- son P., Jacob, James, Edward and William A.
CLARENCE D. SWETLAND.
Energy, sound judgment and persistency of effort, properly applied, will always win the goal sought in the sphere of human endeavor, no matter what the environment may be or what obstacles are met with, for they who are endowed with such characteristics make of their adversities stepping-stones to higher things. These reflections are suggested by the career of Clarence D. Swetland, one of the enterprising and progressive farmers and stock raisers of Wayne township, Knox county, who has not permitted obstacles to thwart him in his life purpose, but has forged ahead in spite of them and is today one of the representative citizens of his community.
Mr. Swetland was born on August 1, 1863, in Sparta, Morrow county, Ohio. He is the son of William and Cornelia ( Hulse ) Swetland, both natives of Morrow county, where they grew up, were educated, married and, in fact, have spent their lives, the father yet living on the farm where he was born ; the mother also survives. They are well known and prosperous citizens of that locality.
The son, Clarence D., of this review, spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm and there he began working as soon as old enough. He re- ceived his education in the country district schools of Morrow county, and on November 19, 1884, he was married to Clara B. Rood, daughter of Will- iam H. and Mariah (Bell) Rood, of Wayne townhip, Knox county. Her father was born in Fayette county, Ohio, and the mother was a native of Ire- land.
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Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swetland, namely : Edith, Roscoe and Florence. Edith married Ray B. Dickson December 21, 19II, and Roscoe married Hazel Trobridge November 8, 1911.
For a period of five years after their marriage the subject and wife lived on the home farm in Morrow county, and in 1890 they moved to their present farm of two hundred acres of fine fertile land three miles southwest of Fred- ericktown, Knox county. Mr. Swetland has been a hard worker and has managed well, his place being under a high state of improvement and culti- vation. He believes in employing modern methods of agriculture, carefully studying all phases of modern farming, in connection with which he raises all kinds of live stock, specializing in sheep raising. He has a large, comfortable home and substantial outbuildings and everything about his place denotes that a gentleman of thrift and good taste has its management in hand.
Politically, Mr. Swetland is a Democrat, and while he takes the interest of a loyal and public-spirited citizen in public affairs, he has never been an aspirant for political honors or the emoluments of offices within the gift of the people, though he has served as a member of the township board of edu- cation. He is a member of Fredericktown Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is one of the promoters and directors of the First Na- tional Bank of Fredericktown. His support may always be depended upon in movements having as their object the betterment of conditions, especially educational, of his community and he is in every way worthy of the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
MAX MEYERS.
No people that go to make up our cosmopolitan civilization have better habits of life than those who came originally from the German empire. They and their descendants are distinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end alone make that country great. When with these two qualities is coupled the other quality of sound sense, which all the Germanic race seems to possess to a large degree, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated hu- manity. Of this excellent people came Max Meyers, prosperous business man and influential citizen of Mt. Vernon, Knox county. He comes of a race that produced the famous "Iron Chancellor," the greatest statesman, all
MAX MEYERS
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things considered, that ever walked this terrestrial footstool. He comes of a race that is noted for its original investigations in the problems of civilized life-such men as Goethe and Heckel, Schiller and Beethoven. The Ger- manic blood is found in many of the greatest men and women of this and former decades, and the subject of this sketch may well be proud of his de- scent from such a race.
Mr. Meyers was born on November 17, 1843, in Prussia, near Berlin, Germany. He is the son of Herman and Rose Meyers and was one of a family of nine sons and one daughter. The father was a tailor and for many years followed his trade in the city of Berlin. The son, Max, was educated in the schools of Berlin, and when only fourteen years of age he began clerking in a store, where he remained three years. He then became a traveling salesman for a tobacco firm and this he followed with success until he was twenty-one years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York on July 3, 1865, with nothing but the clothing he wore, his strong body and an ambition to work and succeed. He could speak no English, and he was forced to take any employment he could get. His first job in the new world was in a hat and cap factory, where he remained until the season closed in January, 1866, having advanced to the position of shipping clerk, and during that time became acquainted with our language. He then went to Hornellsville, New York, where he took a position as clerk in a clothing store, later driving a wagon with a man who sold tinware over the country and buying junk at the same time, also hides, furs, etc. Here he re- mained until 1871, when his employer came to Columbus, Ohio, bringing Mr. Meyers with him and he continued in that gentleman's employ until 1872. He also worked in Cincinnati for a time, but cast his lot with the people of Mt. Vernon in 1872 and here he has since remained, having begun business for himself. He first started with a peddling cart, selling tinware and glassware or trading it for junk. His business prospered until he had several wagons on the road selling tinware and gathering junk, hides and furs. His teams and wagons traveled over this section of the state for about twenty years, his business prospering all the while. In 1874 he added a stove and tinware store to his business and later a plumbing department, and by fair dealing and close attention to business all of his enterprises pros- pered. After discontinuing his road wagons, about 1894, he gave all his at- tention to his store and plumbing business, which has long since grown to large proportions, and which he still continues. However, in 1908, he turned over the plumbing department to his sons, George R. and Joseph H, who are both practical workmen and who carry on that department of the busi-
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ness in a most successful and able manner, the elder Meyers giving his en- tire attention to his tin and stove business. The former line is conducted by the sons under the firm name of the Knox Plumbing & Heating Company. The subject also has other business interests. He owns and occupies a large, sub- stantial and modern business building at the corner of Gambier and Sandusky streets, his attractive, up-to-date residence occupying the opposite corner of the street. He has been very successful in all his undertakings and, having been a man of integrity and straightforward principles, he has won the con- fidence and respect of all who know him and is in every way deserving of the large success which is today his.
Mr. Meyers was married on October 25, 1868, to Sarah Shaw, of Hornellsville, New York, and to this union six children have been born, three of whom are living at this writing; they were named as follows : George R. and Joseph H., who are associated with their father in business ; Cora married Carl Ackerman, of Columbus; Charles and Elizabeth are de- ceased, and one child died in infancy.
Mr. Meyers is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic order. Politically, he is a Democrat and has long been an influential factor in local politics and a leader in public affairs. For a period of ten years he served as a member of the city council of Mt. Vernon, repre- senting the second ward in an able and praiseworthy manner, and in 1909 he was a member of the city board of real estate appraisers. He is the only member of the family who came to America and he is glad he came. He is a fine example of what thrift, energy and honesty can accomplish when rightly directed, notwithstanding early handicaps.
ROBERT S. GAINES.
The name of Robert S. Gaines, of Howard township, is too well known to the people of Knox county to need much comment, for the readers of this work nearly all know him as an excellent representative of the better class of farmers and stock men of the United States. However, he is at present living in practical retirement, after a long life of industry. He comes from an ancestry that figured more or less prominently in the affairs of the country in pioneer days and it would seem that he has inherited many of their sterling traits which have guided him in useful and successful channels. Mr. Gaines has dignified his every station in life with a charm that has constantly added
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to his personal worth and has discharged the duties of citizenship with the earnestness and loyalty characteristic of the true American. His popularity extends wherever he is known, his probity is recognized by his fellow men, and his sterling character both as a private citizen and public servant has won him the lasting regard of the people of his township and county.
Mr. Gaines was born on October 4, 1843, on a farm in Brown township, this county, four miles north of Howard. He is the son of Thomas B. and Susanna (Burkholder) Gaines, both natives of Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, where they grew up, were educated and married. They emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, in April, 1834, and settled in Brown township when the country was new and little developed and here they worked hard to get a start, but in due course of time had a good homme, in fact, the elder Gaines became a large land owner and prosperous farmer. He was an extensive sheep raiser, being among the first large sheep raisers of this county, assisting to further an industry for which the Buckeye state has been noted for three- quarters of a century. His stock and wool clips were always high grade and found ready markets. Although a Virginian by birth and his father a slave owner, Thomas B. Gaines was not an adherent of the customs prevailing in the Old Dominion, but was a Republican in politics and he was active in the affairs of his township and county, holding various local offices. His death occurred here on July 26, 1876, his wife having preceded him to the grave only a few days. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Jacob, of Mt. Vernon ; John C., of Danville; Sarah, who married H. H. Workman; Joannah is deceased; Mary E. married Worthington Hyatt; Robert S., of this sketch; Louisa married H C. White, of Brown township; Uriah lives in Mt. Vernon.
Robert S. Gaines grew up on the home farm, where he early in life be- came acquainted with hard work. In the winter time he attended the public schools of his district. On October 20, 1869, he was united in marriage with Isabelle Baker, daughter of Joseph and Margaret ( Love) Baker, of Union township, and to this union seven children were born, named as follows : Thomas, of Danville; Joseph, of Brown township; Chaney, of Danville ; Elizabeth married Elmer Parker, of Howard township; Harry, of Danville : Sherman, of Harrison township.
Mr. Gaines began his married life on the farm adjoining the home place in Howard township, and engaged in general farming, stock raising and feeding, and for many years he was engaged in buying and shipping all kinds of live stock in the east end of Knox county, becoming widely known as an
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excellent judge of stock and a fair and square dealer. He had a fine farm and kept it well improved and under a high state of cultivation, at one time being an extensive land owner, but in recent years he has reduced his hold- ings and business cares, retaining only eighty-eight acres, and is practically retired from all activities, as before intimated. He has a splendid place and is enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil. The death of his wife oc- curred in October, 1904, since which time he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Parker. He was also extensively engaged in wool buying for many years, being an expert judge of this commodity.
Politically, Mr. Gaines is a Republican and has always been very active and influential in party affairs and public matters. Though he has never been an office seeker, he has filled a number of township offices, such as a member of the township school board, which position he occupied for a num- ber of years. He has always been alert to the best interests of the county. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, faithful in the work and support of the same, his wife having also held membership in this denomination.
GEORGE J. EWERS.
Among the substantial men whose labor and influence have given im- petus to the agricultural interests of Middlebury township and to the public improvement of Knox county, is George W. Ewers, who, while laboring for his individual advancement, has never lost sight of his duties to his neighbors and the general public, and he is therefore held in the highest esteem by all classes.
Mr. Ewers was born in Brown township, this county, on April 1, 1848. He is the son of George, Sr., and Elizabeth (Johnson) Ewers, the father born in Middlebury township, Knox county, Ohio, May 27, 1812, and the mother in Vermont in 1813. The paternal grandfather was David Ewers, a native of Virginia, from which state he emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, in 1810, when this country was a wilderness and the home of the red men, who were none too friendly. He married Menassa Baldwin, member of a Quaker family. The maternal grandparents were James and Abigail John- son, who came from Vermont and settled in Middlebury township, Knox county, Ohio, in an early day, and here entered land from the government which they cleared and improved. Of this the father of the subject owned ninety-six acres. George Ewers, Sr., was first a Whig and later a Republi-
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can. He was a hardworking, homeloving man and, like his father before him, enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. His family consisted of three sons, namely: George J, of this sketch; William O. and James E., both soldiers in the Union army, died toward the close of the war, 1864, while in the service, their deaths having occurred within two days, due to typhoid fever. The mother of these children died in 1875, the father surviving until 1891.
George J. Ewers, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm, where he made himself useful as a boy during the crop seasons, attending the Caywood school house in the wintertime. Later, having had a bent toward the law, he began reading Blackstone, and attended the law department of the University of Michigan for one term, but not finding a legal career entirely to his liking he took up teaching in the schools near his home, which he followed suc- cessfully for four terms, giving much promise as an educator; but the freer life of the agriculturist finally lured him back to the soil, and he purchased ninety-six acres of the home place, of his father, and to this he later added seventy-seven and one-half acres, now owning one of the choice farms of Middlebury township, which he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation, employing modern methods of farming and stock raising, and he has met with uniform success. Everything about his place denotes thrift, prosperity and good management.
Mr. Ewers has long manifested an abiding interest in public affairs, and is an influential factor in local Republican politics. He has served as jus- tice of the peace, as trustee and treasurer of Middlebury township, giving eminent satisfaction as an able and conscientious public servant to all con- cerned, irrespective of party alignment. As a justice his decisions were al- ways characterized by fairness to all concerned, with a splendid conception of the law, and they have seldom met with reversal at the hands of a higher tribunal.
On December 18, 1877, Mr. Ewers was united in marriage with Nettie Adams, who was born in Berlin township, Knox county, Ohio, on September 13, 1854. She is the daughter of Jacob and Sabrey (Brown) Adams, a highly esteemed family here. She grew to womanhood and received her edu- cation in her native county. These parents were natives of Berlin township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ewers four children have been born, named as follows: Frank, who is a graduate of Berea College, Kentucky, and of the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, is now a practicing physician at Akron, Ohio. The second son, James E., is a successful lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts, having graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School. Floyd was the third in order of birth, and Walter, the youngest, is deceased.
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Mr. Ewers is a well educated man and an advocate of higher learning ; he has given his children every opportunity in educational matters, and they are thus exceptionally well equipped for life's duties.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Ewers, John and Catherine Adams, came to Knox county, Ohio, from Pennsylvania, driving overland with a team and wagon about 1812, and were thus early pioneers. Jacob Adams was born in 1821 and his death occurred on March 14, 1893; his wife, Sabrey Brown, was born on February 20, 1829, and her death occurred in 1902.
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