USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
When Captain Greer had to some extent regained his strength he resumed farming and continued in this line of occupation until his death. He carried on general agricul- tural pursuits and was likewise extensively interested in stock-raising, his animals commanding a ready sale upon the market. His prosperity steadily increased, for his methods were always upright, honorable and progressive and he soon
130
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
attained a high position among the substantial and representa- tive men of his community.
Captain Greer was twice married. In 1857 he wedded Miss Mary Ann Crooks, a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Arnold) Crooks. She died in August, 1883, leaving seven children, Thomas W., Kittie, Andrew C., Asa B., Harry A., Guy E. and Rutherford Hayes. On the 5th of February, 1885, Cap- tain Greer married Miss Etta V. Luzader, of Seneca county, a daughter of John and Cynthia (Dibble) Luzader.' His widow still survives him and is operating the farm success- fully, being a very capable business woman possessed of great executive ability.
Captain Greer was a stanch republican and at all times in- terested in the welfare and progress of the community, giv- ing his support to many measures for the public good. He served as trustee of Crawford township for twenty years and held other responsible offices, proving himself an able, con- scientious and upright public servant. In his business deal- ings he was ever straightforward and honorable, enjoying the full confidence of those with whom he was associated, and his death, which occurred in 1902, was the occasion of widespread sorrow and regret. It closed the life of a man loyal in citizen- ship, straightforward in business and faithful to all of the ties and obligations of life and with the added qualification of long and worthy service in his country's defense.
CHARLES FREMONT PLUMB.
The name of Charles Fremont Plumb, known as the dean of banking in Wyandot county, has come to be regarded as synonymous with business development and progress in Upper Sandusky, where he holds a position of distinctive pre- cedence in financial circles as cashier of the First National Bank. He has been connected with this institution for thirty- four years and throughout the time has steadily and conserva- tively directed its affairs where mature judgment and sound discrimination led the way, and he, therefore, stands today among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in this section of the state. He was born in Upper Sandusky,
CHARLES F. PLUMB
133
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
September 17, 1857, and is a son of Thomas and Christina (McCallom) Plumb, natives of England, the former born in 1826 and the latter June 17, 1816. The father was a land- scape gardener in his native country but after he came to Upper Sandusky, in 1849, engaged in farming and also in grading and paving work of all kinds. He died in 1900 and was survived by his wife until 1909. She was reared in Glas- gow and had a distinguished ancestry, which could be traced back in a direct line to the family of the Duke of Argyle of Scotland. Her father, James McCallom, was a very prom- inent engineer in England and Scotland and is well known as the constructor of the Lancaster canal. He died in 1864, at the age of seventy-four. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Plumb became the parents of two children: Frank, who died in infancy; and Charles Fremont, of this review.
The last named acquired his early education in the public schools of Upper Sandusky and was graduated from the local high school at the age of seventeen. He afterward entered Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, com- pleting the course in 1879, in which year he returned to Upper Sandusky and worked at various occupations in his father's employ for two months, afterward clerking for a short time in a dry-goods store. His banking career began in the same year, when he was requested by James G. Roberts, then cash- ier of the First National Bank, to accept the position of col- lection clerk. He soon proved his possession of the quali- ties of accuracy, reliability and business capacity necessary to the successful banker and his rise was, therefore, rapid. He was made bookkeeper after six months and in 1889 was advanced to the office of cashier, a position which he still holds. His judgment has come to be regarded as practically infallible on all questions of banking and finance and the posi- tion which the First National Bank holds among the strong, reliable and conservative moneyed institutions of the state is largely due to his untiring efforts. Under his able manage- ment the bank has passed safely through several bad panics and a large and representative patronage has been built up, for the people of Upper Sandusky have come to regard the institution as thoroughly safe, calling it "the old reliable." Mr. Plumb's splendid business and executive ability have been called forth in this connection and he has put forth every effort to promote the interests of the depositors along con-
134
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
servative lines, while at the same time giving them the bene- fit of a progressive business policy.
On the 1st of March, 1894, at Upper Sandusky, Mr. Plumb married Miss Florence Estelle Demarest, a daughter of John S. and Sarah (Terry) Demarest, pioneers in Wyandot county and both representatives of old American families, the Terry line coming from Virginia and the Demarests from New York state. The history of this family is intimately connected with the growth and development of Wyandot county and repre- sentatives of both branches have been prominent in public affairs here since early times. Mrs. Plumb's grandfather, Ethan Terry, was the man who surveyed the county seat and was afterward a member of the first board of county commis- sioners. The names have been well known and respected in this section of the country, where they have been borne always by upright, honorable and worthy men, who have left their impress upon the early history of the state.
Fraternally Mr. Plumb belongs to the Masonic order and is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Presbyterian church and, politically, he is a stanch adherent of the republican party. He has been called upon to serve his city in various important capacities and, although he has never sought political pre- ferment, has never evaded the obligations of citizenship. From 1903 to 1910 he was a member of the city council and in this relation was instrumental in securing the installation of the city sewerage system before the paving of the streets was completed. He was recently a candidate on the republi- can ticket for the office of mayor and, although his name was selected without his knowledge and he never campaigned for a single day, the votes when counted showed that he was de- feated by only two votes-a striking evidence of his political power and his popularity. Mr. Plumb is interested in any- thing that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the city and in those public and semi-public measures which are of genuine worth. He is a member of the Upper Sandusky Chamber of Commerce and president of the Carnegie Library building committee-connections which indicate something of the scope and variety of his interests. He is a man promi- nently and widely known in Wyandot county and in Upper Sandusky, where his labors have promoted financial, social
135
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
and political development. His unbending integrity of char- acter, his ability in the discharge of duty and his apprecia- tion of the responsibilities which rest upon him, make him a citizen whose worth is widely acknowledged.
JOHN GAMBER.
John Gamber is living retired in Upper Sandusky, enjoy- ing in ease and comfort the fruits of many years of close identification with agricultural interests of Mifflin and Salem townships. He was born in the latter township, November 12, 1863, and is a son of Adam and Magdalena (Meyer) Gam- ber, natives of Germany, the father's birth having occurred in 1820. He came to America and settled in Pennsylvania in 1851 and afterward farmed in Salem township, this county. He died in 1882 and was survived by his wife until 1904, her death occurring when she was seventy-seven years of age. In their family were eight children. Louisa married William Sherman, a farmer in Kansas, and they have one child. Adam, a salesman with headquarters in Mansfield, Ohio, married Emma Foulk and they have one child. Henry, a retired farmer, living in Upper Sandusky, married Elizabeth Karg and they have four children. John is the subject of this re- view. Magdalena married Phillip Karg, a farmer in Salem township, and they have two children. Salina wedded Thomas Stephens, a farmer in Richland township, and they have two children. Elizabeth is the wife of Carl Havens, a machinist. Emma, the youngest child in this family, married John Ste -. phens, a farmer in Richland township, and they have four children.
John Gamber was reared to the occupation of farming and after completing his common-school education worked upon his father's property until after the latter's death. He then purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty-nine acres in Hardin county and lived upon it for eight years, selling it at the end of that time. He subsequently bought four hundred and fifty-three acres in Mifflin and Salem townships and upon this property carried on general farming and stock-raising, meeting with gratifying success in both branches of his work. Every year he harvested fine crops of hay, corn and oats in
136
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
return for the care and labor he bestowed upon the fields, while his stock-raising interests constituted an important source of his income. In 1911 Mr. Gamber put his son in charge of his holdings and moved to Upper Sandusky, where he is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He makes his home at No. 329 North Eighth street and is well known and highly esteemed as one of the substantial and worthy residents of his native county.
Mr. Gamber was married on the 14th of March, 1890, in St. Paul's Lutheran church in Mifflin township to Miss Louisa Krock, a daughter of Fred and Salina (Weible) Krock, the former a prosperous farmer in that community. Mr. and Mrs. Gamber are the parents of five children: Adam, a farmer in Salem township, who married Miss Annie Beidelschies; Charles, Eva, who is the wife of Henry Weper, a bookkeeper at Columbus, Ohio; John, Jr., and Lucy.
Mr. Gamber supports the democratic party and his given evidence of his capability and fidelity in positions of public trust through his service as supervisor of Mifflin township and member of the school board, having held each of these offices for two years. A native of Wyandot county, he has for some time been an interested witness of its growth and develop- ment, and that his life has been ever an upright and honorable one is indicated by the fact that the associates of his boyhood and youth are still numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
FRANK HOLMES.
For many years one of the influential men of his district and a newspaper editor and owner of renown and high stand- ing, at present the popular postmaster of Nevada and promi- nent in fraternal life in a district far exceeding the confines of Wyandot county, due credit must be given to Frank Holmes for what he has accomplished in the interests of the public. When he entered upon newspaper publication, the purpose of journalism still had its educational feature, in addition to the dissemination of general and local news, and had not yet been tinged with that commercial spirit, which seeks through sensationalism to stimulate the curiosity of the pub-
137
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
lic, without regard to wrong impressions. He never deviated from these high principles or lowered his standards or con- sidered it expedient or profitable to do so. He stands as a high type of public-spirited citizenship and never weighed a question of civic or personal honor in the scale of policy. As postmaster of Nevada he discharges his duties systematically and with such faithfulness that never a complaint has been heard and none could be found.
Born on August 4, 1862, at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Frank Holmes is a son of Dr. Samuel W. and Sarah E. (Ensminger) Holmes, the father for many years a physician of Upper San- dusky, county school examiner and an ardent worker in the cause of education. The family is of English extraction.
Frank Holmes received his common-school education in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and as a boy entered the printing business with the Upper Sandusky Union under D. J. Stalter as editor. He later continued with Dumm & Brunner on the same paper. Having gained valuable experience of the me- chanical end of the business as well as in the reportorial and office divisions, he established in May, 1880, in connection with his father, the Sycamore Star, which he continued for three years and in May, 1883, sold out to a company. In that year he formed his present partnership under the firm name of Wilcox & Holmes, engaged in the publication of the News at Nevada, the firm being founded in November, 1883. Under his stimulating influence the paper has ever prospered and gradually a most excellent power equipment was installed and all other appliances provided were of equally up-to-date type. Until November, 1912, Mr. Holmes directed the editor- ial policy of the paper, exerting himself to promoting that which would be of most benefit to the city, always taking a concise and clear position in regard to political questions, condemning sharp practices and commending good measures. The news service has become better and better as the years have passed and is especially complete in regard to local hap- penings. As the paper has advanced from the newspaper point of view its advertising columns have been keeping pace and the patrons who occupy space in its columns are not only representative but numerous. Naturally, circulation has in- creased, not only in Nevada but in the surrounding territory, and the News has become a popular journal with the public and a strong factor in the political life of the section. Al-
138
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
though since 1912 Mr. Holmes has given his attention mostly to his duties as postmaster of Nevada, he is still a partner in the firm. They own the brick block in which their printing office is located on the second floor, the lower rooms being rented to the government for postoffice purposes. Moreover, Mr. Holmes has other important interests, owning extensive realty in the west.
In December, 1883, occurred the first marriage of Mr. Holmes, of which were born two sons: William, who at pres- ent occupies the position of foreman in the Nevada News office; and Oscar, a pupil in the Nevada public schools. On November 29, 1912, Mr. Holmes married a daughter of G. W. Barrick, who now resides with his daughter and son-in-law, having recently removed here from Iowa, where other mem- bers of the family are engaged in agricultural pursuits. The father is an honorably discharged soldier of the Civil war.
As is but natural in the career of a newspaper man, Mr. Holmes has actively participated in the public life of his community and was elected and filled the office of city clerk for a period of ten consecutive years. His political affiliation is with the republican party and in 1912, during the presi- dential campaign, he was invited by the state executive com- mittee of that organization to participate as speaker. His fraternal affiliations are extensive and worthy of special men- tion. He is a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 234, Knights of Pythias, having filled every official position in the lodge and district; a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 625, I. O. O. F., hav- ing held all offices therein and now having served as secretary thereof for twelve years; a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 343, F. & A. M., serving his second term as secretary; member of Nevada Chapter, No. 184, R. A. M., holding official position in this lodge also; member of Nevada Court, Tribe Ben Hur, and has been secretary thereof since it was established in 1898; and member of Nevada Camp, No. 9406, M. W. A., hav- ing served as officer therein for several terms. He has done eminent work for these organizations as public speaker and reader, achieving a distinction which has gained him a state- wide reputation.
The progress of a section is largely due to the high views of life such men as Mr. Holmes take. Every worthy enter- prise finds in him a champion and he has ever exerted his pow- ers to give credit to what is right and condemn what is wrong,
139
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
and, moreover, he endeavored to teach the public as to what is right and wrong, not only in political life but also in regard to everyday affairs. His influence upon the moral upbuilding and the intellectual advancement of Nevada and its tributary district should not be underestimated, and his support to any measure that has for its purpose commercial expansion is ever enthusiastically given.
THADDEUS F. CLEMENS.
Thaddeus F. Clemens, who in an influental way has for many years been identified with farming interests in Salem township and whose enterprise has contributed much toward the agricultural development of the community, was born in Crane township, near the Oak Grove schoolhouse, June 27, 1863. He is a son of Alfred Clinton and Nancy (Radebaugh) Clemens, the former a native of Uniontown, Maryland, and the latter of Fairfield county, Ohio. The father came from his native section to Ohio with Abraham Clinton Clemens, grand- father of the subject of this review, and with him settled in Fairfield county, whence he afterwards moved to Salem town- ship, where he carried on farming until his death, which oc- curred September 19, 1893. He was one of the best known men in this community and highly esteemed for his many sturdy and upright qualities of mind and heart. His wife was born in 1822 and was a year old when she came with her father to Fairfield county, where she grew to womanhood. Her death occurred on March 20, 1898.
Thaddeus F. Clemens is the youngest in a family of five sons and five daughters. He was one year old when his par- ents removed to his present farm and there he grew up, ac- quiring his education in the district schools. He laid aside his books at the age of eighteen and obtained employment upon a neighboring property, working for two years as a farm hand and returning home at the end of that time to as- sume the management of his father's farm. When he was twenty-two years of age he went west and spent two years in Wyoming, intending to make that state his future home, but in 1893 he was called back by the death of his father. He and his brother, Chase, operated the home farm in partner-
140
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
ship for two years, after which Mr. Clemens of this review purchased his brother's interest and has since conducted the enterprise alone. He has improved the property with a comfortable residence and has kept the barns and outbuild- ings in good repair, adding to them when necessary and in- stalling modern farm equipment. He has since made his home here, carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and he has achieved such a substantial degree of success that he is numbered among the influential and prominent men of this community.
In 1896 Mr. Clemens was united in marriage to Miss Jen- nie Walborn, a daughter of Jonathan Walborn, and both are well known throughout the township. Mr. Clemens is a man of high moral character, industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and integrity of character have always merited him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
ARTHUR NOBLE SMITH, M. D.
Among the foremost of the younger representatives of the medical fraternity in Upper Sandusky is Dr. Arthur Noble Smith, who since 1909 has engaged in general practice here. He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, December 1, 1885, and is a son of Dr. D. S. and Anna M. (Ritter) Smith. The father was born in Adams county and grew to manhood in that sec- tion, later graduating in medicine from the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, receiving the degree of M. D. in 1879. He was for over thirty years in active practice in Ross county and during that time treated over fifteen hundred cases of typhoid fever and never lost a single case. This is a most remarkable record and is a clear evidence of Dr. Smith's abil- ity as a physician. He and his wife now make their home in Upper Sandusky.
Arthur N. Smith acquired his early education in the public schools of Chillicothe, which he attended until he was twelve years of age, after which he entered the high school in Twin township, graduating from that institution in 1902. He then took a course in the Ohio University at Athens and subse- quently, having determined to follow in his father's footsteps, studied medicine in the Ohio Medical University at Columbus,
DR. A. N. SMITH
143
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
receiving his degree of M. D. in 1909. He at once opened an office in Upper Sandusky, being at that time the youngest practicing physician in the state of Ohio, and his patronage has constantly grown in volume and importance as he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems which frequently confront the physician. Doing important research work in bacteriology and embryology, Dr. Smith makes a specialty of diseases of women and children and is favorably considered by the profession and the public on account of successful work along this line. He is a young man of pronounced ability in his chosen profession and undoubtedly a brilliant future lies before him.
Dr. Smith married on the 5th of August, 1908, at Columbus, Ohio, Miss Meema O. Kline, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kline, the former a well known lawyer of Hunting- ton, West Virginia. Dr. Smith is prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership in the Masonic Order, the Im- proved Order of Red Men, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He belongs to the Home Guards and to the Phi Delta, an important medical fraternity. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and in 1912 was elected coroner of Wyandot county. He has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians of Upper Sandusky and by his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling characteristics has justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public.
S. S. BARRETT, A. M., M. D.
Anyone who has in any manner become acquainted with the village of Nevada, Ohio, has known Dr. S. S. Barrett, whose reputation as a skilled physician has extended far be- yond the limits of Wyandot county. His birth occurred on the old family homestead near Sciotoville, Scioto county, Ohio, on the 22d of October, 1861, his parents being Henry and Jane (Farney) Barrett. His paternal grandparents, Henry and Elizabeth (Hatch) Barrett, were natives of New Hampshire, the former born on the 1st of December, 1786, and the latter on the 13th of February, 1790. Coming to Vol. II-8
144
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
Ohio, they purchased and located on a section of government land in Scioto county, situated three miles from the Ohio river and bounded on one side by the Little Scioto river. There they spent the remainder of their lives, Henry Bar- rett, Sr., passing away on the 21st of October, 1858, and his wife on the 13th of February, 1872. Their marriage was celebrated on the 14th of May, 1807, and they became the parents of the following children: Lavina, who was born on the 18th of December, 1808; Abigail, whose birth occurred on the 5th of December, 1810; Thornton, whose natal day was January 4, 1813; John, born January 9, 1818; and Henry, Jr., who was born on the 3d of November, 1825. The ma- ternal grandparents of our subject were William and Eliza- beth (Foster) Farney, the former born on the 28th of August, 1801, and the latter on the 6th of May, 1806. They were mar- ried December 25, 1827, and had the following children: Marcus, who was born on the 6th of January, 1829; Minerva, March 3, 1830; John, whose birth occurred June 9, 1831; Jane, born January 10, 1833; Amanda, September 5, 1834; Van, March 21, 1836; and Clark, who was born December 21, 1837. The father of this family passed away on the 28th of July, 1838, and the mother afterward married again, having a son by her second marriage, Vernon Rowe, who was born on the 3d of December, 1843. Her demise occurred on the 10th of August, 1879.
Henry Barrett, Jr., the father of Dr. S. S. Barrett, was born on the farm which his parents had acquired from the government and thereon spent his entire life, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits until called to his final rest on the 30th of September, 1871. On the 26th of No- vember, 1856, he wedded Miss Jane Farney and unto them were born the following children: James J., whose birth occurred on the 30th of September, 1857, and who passed away on the 27th of October, 1858; George G., born January 9, 1859, who resides upon and operates part of the original family homestead in Scioto county; Samuel S., of this re- view; John, who was born December 18, 1864, and likewise cultivates a part of the old family homestead; Vernon R., born February 6, 1868, who is engaged in business at Ports- mouth, Ohio; and Van F., born February 6, 1868, twin brother of Vernon. The last named is a practicing physician of Lake- view, Ohio. The parents of these children were consistent
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.