USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 102
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THOMAS H. MINTIER.
Thomas H. Mintier, now in his eighty-first year, is a venerable and honored resident of Rich Hill township. He was born April 3. 1824, in Jefferson county, Ohio. His father, Robert Mintier, was a native of Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, and in 1830 removed to Jefferson county, where he was engaged in farming. He purchased a tract of land there and developed it into a good property. He served in the war of 1812 under General William Henry Har- rison before his removal to Jefferson county. He married Elizabeth Hammond, who was a native of Ireland and they became the parents of twelve children: Alexander, John, Thomas, William, Joseph, James, Martha, Mary, Robert J., Eliza. Esther and David, of whom John is deceased.
Thomas H. Mintier spent his boyhood days on the home farm, remaining with his father until twenty-three years of age. He was then united in marriage in 1846 to Miss Rebecca Forsythe and they became the parents of the following
E. V. WALKER.
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children, all of whom are yet living, namely : William, who married Eliza Blackstone; John, who wedded Martha Tomlinson ; Martha, who became the wife of Robert Padden; Robert ; Annie, the wife of . William Elliott ; Emma J., the wife of George St. Clair ; Lucretia; George Howell ; and Thomas H.
Throughout his entire life Thomas H. Mintier of this review has followed the occupation of farming and through his own efforts has ac- quired a fine tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres on which to enjoy his old age. He worked persistently and energetically in his for- mer years and is still quite a hale and hearty man, giving supervision to his place. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and offered his services to his government, volunteering as a member of the Fifteenth Ohio Regiment, but his services were rejected. He afterward became a member of the state militia and he later served at Gallipolis as a member of the one-hundred- clay troops under Colonel Ferguson of the One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was assigned to Company A.
Mr. Mintier has always been a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church and has taken a very active and helpful part in its work. He has been justice of the peace for several terms in both Muskingum and Guern- sey counties and his efforts in behalf of the public welfare have been far-reaching and beneficial. In 1904 Mr. Mintier was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 28th of July, 1904, and lies buried in Salt Creek United Presbyterian cemetery. He is now one of the venerable citizens of Muskingum county and his entire life has been passed in this sec- tion of the state, so that he has been a witness of its development and growth and is familiar with its history from pioneer times down to the present. He has never sought to figure in public life but has been content day after day to do the duty that has come to him, knowing that char- acter is above any position or political honor, above wealth or fame, and as the years have gone by he has made for himself a name which is honored and respected by all who know of his life record.
WILLIAM B. FISHER.
William B. Fisher, a leading farmer of High- land township, was born on his father's farm in Harrison county, Ohio, November 9, 1862, his parents being George and Mary (Spray ) Fisher. His paternal grandparents were George and Ester ( Piper ) Fisher, and the great-grand-
father also bore the name of George Fisher, and was a native of Germany. He became the progenitor of the family in the new world. When quite young, about the time of the Revo- lutionary war, he was kidnapped and brought to this country, where he was sold. He grew to manhood in Baltimore, Maryland, and there he married a lady who was also born in Germany. They became the parents of twelve or thirteen children, including three sons, Thomas, James and George. The great-grandfather died in Maryland.
George Fisher, the grandfather, who was born in that state, spent the days of his boyhood and youth there and was married in Maryland to Miss Ester Piper, a daughter of George Piper. Subsequently they became residents of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, and afterward purchased and located on a farm in Harrison county, Ohio. The grandfather was a gunsmith by trade but in his later years devoted much of his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and he died in 1816, being long survived by his wife, who passed away in 1856. Of their seven children, Eli. George, Jacob, Elizabeth, Caroline, Ester and Maria, all have now passed away.
George Fisher (3d) was born in Harrison county, Ohio, August 4, 1808, and was a public- school student in his boyhood days. He removed to Muskingum county, Ohio, about 1864, and here purchased a tract of land to which he added from time to time until he owned one of the best farms of the county, aggregating five hun- dred and twenty acres. This made him a wealthy man and he justly merited the success which came to him as it was the result of his own un- aided labors, careful management and unre- mitting diligence. He was public-spirited, being interested in everything pertaining to the general progress and improvement of his county, and he rendered capable service to his fellow towns- men as justice of the peace, in which office he served for fourteen years. His political views accorded with republican principles and in re- ligious faith he and his wife were connected with the Associate church of Bloomfield, in which he served as an elder for several years. Mr. Fisher was married twice. In 1833 he wedded Mary Welch and they had a family of four chil- dren, Samuel, Walker, Elizabeth and Jacob, but all have passed away. The mother's death oc- curred in 1844, and George Fisher (3d) after- ward married Mary Spray, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Fowler ) Spray. Her parents were natives of Harrison county, Pennsylvania, and were of German lineage. For some years they lived in Maryland and afterward became residents of Ohio, where their last years were
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
passed. By the second marriage of Mr. Fisher there were six children: Milton, who died, leav- ing a family of two children, who reside with their uncle Eli, who was the second member of the family; Addison, who has two children, Mary and George; William of this review ; Caroline, who married Harvey Poulson and 1s hving in Montpelier, Indiana; and Asenath, who resides with her brother Eli. The father died December 7, 1893, and the mother passed away February 26, 1898.
William B. Fisher was educated in the com- mon schools and spent six years in Muskingum College. He was married October 16, 1886, to Miss Nannie M. Maharry, a native of Guern- sey county, Ohio, born September 21, 1862, her parents being John and Elizabeth . ( Braton) Maharry. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living, making her home with her son, H. S. Maharry, in Shelby, Ohio, he being principal of the Shelby high school. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have become the parents of one daughter, Mary Geneva, who was born Septem- ber 21, 1898, and now lives with Mr. Fisher's brother Eli, her mother having died February 20, 1902. Mr. Fisher is the owner of one hun- dred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, entered in 1818, and in connection with the culti- vation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in the breeding and raising of shorthorn cattle. He likewise keeps some sheep and horses and has a splendidly improved farm property. He and his two broth- ers also operate a threshing machine and clover huller and a sawmill, sawing from twenty to sixty thousand teet of lumber each year. They do this work for themselves and for the custom trade and are enterprising, active and useful business men. William Fisher gives his political support to the republican party and for nine years has served as justice of the peace, being the present incumbent in that office. His rul- ings are strictly fair and impartial and have "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." He is a faithful member of the United Presby- terian church.
Eli Fisher, brother of William Fisher, was born in November, 1848, near Scio, and ac- quired his early education in the common schools, after which he completed his literary course in Bloomfield College. He then took up the study of medicine under Dr. Lane, at Bloomfield, and subsequently pursued three courses of lectures in Columbus Medical College and one course in the Ohio Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1880. Entering upon the practice of his profession, he was well known as a physician of Highland township for about eight years, after which he began the manu- facture of lumber, operating a sawmill in con-
nection with his brothers and also carrying on farming. He has followed the dual pursuit since 1891 and is now the owner of eighty acres of fine timber land covered with oak and hickory trees. He has altogether two hundred acres of valuable land which is well improved. He re- sides upon the one hundred and sixty acres that was entered in 1819 with his sister Asenath and they have reared three children, including the daughter of William Fisher, while the other two are children of Milton Fisher. Eli Fisher is now successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, having sheep, cattle and nogs upon mis place, and this branch of his business is proving very profitable. In politics he is a republican and is a member of the As- sociate church at Bloomfield. That he is a man of broad, humanitarian spirit and most kindly disposition is shadowed forth between the lines of this review for only a person of this nature would care for nieces and nephews as he has aone. All who know him respect him for his genuine worth, his genial disposition and his consideration of others.
WILLIAM HAL TANNER.
William Hal Tanner, chief of the fire depart- ment of Zanesville, was born in Falls township, this county, September 13, 1872. His paternal grandfather, William Tanner, early came to Mus- kingum county, living in Falls township, where his son John Wesley Tanner was born and reared. The latter early became familiar with farm work but at length he abandoned agricultural life and moved to Zanesville in 1876. Here he became deputy sheriff under Orrin Ballon, in which ca- pacity he served for four years. He afterward became interested in brick-making and subse- quently he held the office of deputy auditor un- der Andrew Patterson for two years, or until the time of his death, which occurred in 1883. He was a devoted member of the Second Street Methodist Episcopal church throughout his resi- dence in Zanesville. In matters of citizenship he was always public-spirited and progressive, and he served in the Civil war as did his father. His political support was given to the democracy. In early manhood he wedded Mary Addie Mar- shall, who was born in Falls township, is a daugh- ter of William Marshall and is now living at the age of fifty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner became the parents of four children: Lulu, the wife of L. D. Abel, a coal operator at Zanesville : William H .; Musa, the wife of T. M. Harsh, an oculist of Dayton, Ohio; and Eva, the wife of Clarence Pletcher, a traveling salesman for F. P. Bailey, of Zanesville.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
William H. Tanner began his education in the common schools and advanced through succes- sive grades until he became a high-school stu- dent. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade which he followed for twelve years and aft- erward became a member of the fire department, serving for one year as driver of the ladder truck. He was appointed chief of the fire de- partment in 1897 by Mayor Lewis Gibson and was re-appointed by Mayors L. E. Brelsford, James L. Holden and the present mayor, W. B. Deacon. He is a very efficient chief and has made a study of the possibilities for accomplishment by the department, greatly desiring its excellence and efficiency. The men are well disciplined and everything about the department is kept in the best possible condition, and as chief Mr. Tanner has rendered valuable service to his fellow citi- zens.
In 1901 occurred the marriage of William H. Tanner and Miss Hattie O. Tanner, who was born in Falls township and is a daughter of James E. Tanner, a farmer of Hopewell town- ship, this county. She is a member of the Sec- ond Street Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Tanner belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Improved Order of Foresters. In politics he is a democrat but aside from his position as chief of the fire department he has never sought or held office. He is popular with a large acquaint- ance, enjoys the respect of the members of the department and has the entire confidence of the city officials.
A. A. GEORGE.
When ambition is satisfied and every ultimate aim accomplished then satiety holds sway, effort ceases and activity becomes dormant; it is the men of ambition who are leaders in indus- trial, manufacturing and professional circles and who promote the real progress of the world. In the analyzation of the life record of A. A. George it is seen that ambition is one of his dominant qualities and has led to his success, causing him to advance from one position to another until he is to-day ranked with the suc- cessful lawyers of Zanesville.
His grandfather, John George, was born in the northern part of Ireland and married Sarah Graham, who was also born on the Emerald Isle. He came from his native country to America in i816 and settled five miles west of Zanesville on what was known as Meadow farm in the George settlement in Springfield township, Muskingum county, Ohio. There he followed farming and it was upon that farm that his son Alexander G. George was born September 25, 1832. The
latter was at one time the oldest resident of Zanesville. He spent nearly his entire life in or near this city and for several years prior to his death resided on Van Buren street. He married Miss Hannah Mills, who was born April 4, 1834, a daughter of James Mills, of Culpeper, Virginia, who removed to Muskingum county in 1828 and settled about seven miles from Zanes- ville. For more than a half century Mr. and Mrs. George traveled life's journey together, celebrating their golden wedding on the 4th of November, 1902. On February 17, 1905, how- ever, they were separated by death, Mr. George passing away after an illness of only forty-eight hours at the home of his son, Dr. Virgil M. George, at Columbus, having gone to that city for a visit. . He was long a member of the Fair Oaks Baptist church and was a man of genuine worth, respected and honored because of his fidelity and reliability in all life's relations. He was an eminent scholar, thoroughly versed on all subjects. He is still survived by his widow, who is enjoying good health, three sons and a daugh- ter : Dr. Virgil M. George, of Columbus; Robert G. George, of Chicago; A. A. George, of this city ; and Mrs. Sarah L. Conaway, of McLuney, Ohio.
A. A. George was born in Putnam about the time of the close of the Civil war and having acquired his education in the schools of Zanes- ville he worked with his father in a pottery for several years. He then took up the study of telegraphy at his home and soon became profi- cient in the art, after which he accepted a posi- tion as operator for the Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley Railroad. He acted in that capacity for some time and afterward entered the service of the Ohio Central Railroad, there attaining the height of his ambition in that direction for he was advanced until he was holding one of the most important positions in connection with the telegraph department of that road. He was for more than ten years in a railroad office, during which time he completed his education. He has always been a student with the ambition to broaden his knowledge that he might fill posi- tions of greater importance and responsibility. While still in the railroad service he became im- bued with the idea of studying law and his leis- ure hours were largely devoted to mastering the principles of jurisprudence. In the winter of 1894 he gave up railroad work and returned to his old home in Zanesville. Since that time he has devoted his entire time and energies to the study and practice of law and is to-day a ca- pable member of the bar, well equipped for im- portant practice and in the courts he has han- (lled litigation that has attracted widespread at- tention, having gained some notable victories in the federal courts. Mr. George has in his law
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
office a complete set of credentials from every officer of the Ohio Central Railway, including the general manager. These give testimony concerning his ability and faithfulness during the long period of his service with the com- pany, and Mr. George has every reason to be proud of these papers. He was one of the first to join the Order of Railway Telegraphers, which society was instituted in 1886, and his connection therewith dates from that year. As an attorney he has made a splendid record. He is a young man, vigorous, intelligent and alert, is a hard worker, and his devotion to his clients interests is proverbial.
In 1886 occurred the marriage of A. A. George and Miss Margaret E. Sterling, of Co- lumbus, Ohio. They became the parents of six children but two have passed away. Those liv- ing are: Grover G., who is on his second year in Muskingum College; Mary F .: Emerson R. : and Flossie M. Mr. George is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge and is supreme eminent ruler for the Munificent Order of Camels. He is also asso- ciated with other fraternal organizations and is very popular with his brethren of these societies because of his genuine brotherly love and his unfaltering loyalty to the beneficent spirit which permeates such organizations. On the 4th of June, 1905, Mr. George was appointed attorney and secretary of the Zanesville workhouse for the fourth time, having served three terms of one year each. There have been many applica- tions for the position each time. Perhaps his appointment is due to the fact of his great suc- cess in opposing habeas corpus cases on the part of the prisoners.
JOHN DICKEY.
John Dickey, a farmer and stock-raiser living on section 23, Madison township, was born in Licking township, Muskingum county, June 3. 1849, and is a son of Robert and Mary Ann (Clark) Dickey. The father was born at Nash- port, Ohio, while the mother came to this state from Maryland. A farmer by occupation, he followed that pursuit throughout his entire life in order to provide for his family and became the owner of fifty-two acres of land. He died about 1901, having long survived his wife, who passed away in March, 1883. They were the parents of four children, of whom three are living: Richard, of Madison township; Mrs. Mary Lush Taylor, of Licking township ; and John.
In the common schools near his home John Dickey was educated and after putting aside his
text-books he gave his entire attention to as- sisting his father in the work of the old home- stead until twenty-two years of age, when he began farming on his own account. He first rented land, but when his labors, economy and enterprise had brought him sufficient capital he made purchase of a farm, becoming owner of the place upon which he now resides. Since that time he has given his attention to the further development and improvement of his property and he now owns one hundred and forty acres of good land about five miles from Dresden. Here he carries on general farming and stock- raising and everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful supervision, methodical habits and persistency of purpose.
On the 13th of April, 1871, Mr. Dickey mar- ried Miss Catherine Mast, who was born Febru- ary 7, 1852, in Wittenburg, Germany, and is a daughter of Mathias and Christina (Meyer) Mast. Her father came to this country with his family in 1854, locating in Nashport and he purchased and operated a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. In the family were six children, of whom five are living. Mr. and Mrs. Dickey have three living children and have lost tivo. Those who still survive are: Charles. who was born November 13, 1872, and resides upon the Stump farm in Madison township, having mar- ried Cora Skinner : Fred, living near Dresden. who was born September 25. 1878, and married Cora Shirer ; and Katie M., who was born Octo- ber 30, 1882, and is the wife of Will Skinner. of Madison township. Mrs. Dickey is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church. Mr. Dickey votes with the republican party but has never sought or desired office. His undivided atten- tion is given to his farming and stock-raising interests and all that he possesses has been ac- quired through his own labors. As the archi- tect of his own fortune he has builded wisely and well, being now in possession of a fine farm. constituting one of the valuable properties in Madison township.
FRANK P. BISANT.
Frank P. Bisant is the owner of a farm of one hundred acres all under cultivation. It is situated in Springfield township and is the old home place upon which he was born, Decem- ber 18, 1851. His parents were John and Susan ( Mitchell) Bisant, and his paternal grand- father was William Bisant, an honored pioneer settler of the county, coming to Ohio when it was a frontier district and entering land from the government. He then began the develop-
JOHN DICKEY AND FAMILY.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
ment of a farm, which he continued to make his home until his death, and following his mar- riage John Bisant remained upon the old home- stead, which comprised one hundred and fifty acres of land. Later he purchased seventy acres adjoining, so that his farm comprised two hun- dred and twenty acres. He, too, devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits and gave to his property his careful supervision up to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1872. His wife, surviving him for about eight years, passed away in 1880. They were the parents of six children : William, a cattle dealer living in Zanes- ville; Martha, also a resident of Zanesville ; Frank P .; and three who died in childhood.
Frank P. Bisant was a student in the district schools of Springfield township, gaining the knowledge there that fitted him for life's prac- tical and responsible duties. He also had ample training in farm work, for at an early age he began assisting his father in the development of the fields, and upon his father's death in 1872 came into possession of one hundred acres of the old home farm. He has always lived upon this place and has the entire land under cultiva- tion, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, so that annually he harvests good crops. His work is well managed, and his methodical habits, keen discrimination and rec- ognition of opportunities have been strong points in his business career.
In January, 1873, Mr. Bisant was married to Miss Esther Smith, a daughter of S. B. Smith, of Zanesville, who was a blacksmith by trade. Their home has been blessed with two children : Stella, who is now the wife of Frank Curran, in the mail service at Zanesville; and Fred F., who resides at home. In his political views Mr. Bisant is a democrat, having supported the men and measures of that party since attaining his majority. He needs no introduction to the read- ers of this volume, being a representative of one of the old pioneer families, and in his life he has carried forward the work instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father and like them he has also been a valued citizen-the champion of every measure for the general good.
GOTTLIEB HARSCH.
Among the men of German birth or parentage who have helped to make Muskingumi county what it is to-day-the center of a rich agricul- tural and commercial district-none are more deserving of mention than Gottlieb Harsch, who since 1880 has lived upon his present farm in Wayne township, where he carries on the rais- ing of fruit and garden products. He was born
in Brush Creek township, June 10, 1846, a son of John Harsch, whose birth occurred in Witten- berg, Germany, in 1809, and who came to the United States with his parents in 1833, when twenty-four years of age. They settled in Mor- gan county, Ohio, where the grandfather pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land. John Harsch was married at the age of twenty- seven years, to Miss Elizabeth Burkett, also a native of Germany, and in 1836 they removed to Muskingum county, where Mr. Harsch pur- chased a quarter section of land in Brush Creek township. This he cleared and improved, turn- ing the first furrows in the fields and planting the seed which in due time brought forth good harvests. He continued farm work there until 1862, when he purchased and removed to the Fritz farm in Wayne township, comprising fifty acres of bottom land, on which he lived until his death, which occurred when he was seventy- two years of age. He had thirteen children but only three are living: Jacob A., a resident of Wayne township; Elizabeth, the wife of Fred Fritz, of the same township; and Gottlieb.
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