USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 74
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Mr. Swank was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Farabee, a native of Perry township and a daughter of George Farabee, of Pennsyl- vania. They have five children : Della, Clarence, Ola, Arthur and Louis. Mr. Swank holds mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church and his family attends its services. In his political views and affiliation he is independent, nor does he desire public office, preferring to concentrate . his energies upon his own business interests which fully claim his time and attention and which in return for his close application and well directed labor bring him a gratifying financial in- come each year.
DAVID SCHMID.
Among those who have come from foreign lands to become prominent in business circles in Zanesville is David Schmid, the president and chief stockholder of the Zanesville Art Pottery Company. His success has been marked and his methods, therefore, are of interest to the com- mercial world. The rules that have governed his business career are those of integrity that is unabating and industry that never flags. His en- terprise and progressive spirit have made him a typical American in every sense of the word and he well deserves mention in this volume. What he is to-day he has made himself for he started out in life with nothing save his own energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exertion,
associated with good judgment, he has raised him- self to the prominent position which he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.
Born in Germany, in 1847. David Schmid is a son of John and Margaret Schmid, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland, the former fol- lowing the occupation of farming. The son was reared and educated in Germany and in 1866, when nineteen years of age, he determined to seek a home in America, having heard favorable re- ports concerning its business opportunities and advantages. He located first in Pittsburg, where for a year he worked as a slate roofer. He next came to Zanesville, where he engaged in the slate business on his own account, continuing therein until 1902. He imported and sold slate for roof- ing purposes and for a long period was known as the most extensive dealer in that line in Zanesville. In 1902 he sold the slate business, however, to the Vermont Slate Company and has since given his undivided attention to the management and de- velopment of the business of the Zanesville Art Pottery Company. This company was organized and incorporated in 1890 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, the officers at that time being J. W. Frazier, president ; William Wemer, secretary ; and David Schmid, manager and treas- urer. The purpose of the new enterprise was the manufacture of art pottery ware and the plant was located near Greenwood cemetery, covering there more than twenty acres of land. Success at- tended the new factory from the beginning and employment is now furnished to over one hundred people. From the first Mr. Schmid was finan- cially interested in the concern to a large extent and at the present time he owns and controls the business. In 1891 he became president and in 1893 the capital stock was increased to one hun- dred thousand dollars. The output of the factory is shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada. This is one of the largest pottery plants of Zanesville and its ware finds a ready sale on the market.
Mr. Schmid was married, in 1869, to Miss Rosa Knapp, who was born in Baden, Germany, and died in 1897, at the age of fifty-one years, leaving two children, August F. and Carl, who are associ- ated with their father in business. Thirteen vears after coming from the fatherland Mr. Schmid re- turned to Germany on a visit and persuaded his sister to come to the new world. A short time, thereafter, she acted upon his suggestion and af- ter arrival in Zanesville she married Christ Kirch- ner, and is now the mother of six children.
Mr. Schmid is a Lutheran in religious faith and in his political views is a republican. He is to-day regarded as one of the leading men of Zanesville. He has never had occasion to regret his determi- nation to establish his home in America, where he might have wider fields in which to give full scope
DAVID SCHMID.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
to his ambition and industry-his dominant qual- ities. He found the opportunities he sought in the freedom and appreciation in this growing portion of the western country and to-day he is at the head of one of the great productive industries of his adopted city, having won his success through the utilization of opportunity, the careful man- agement of business affairs and through the meth- ods of the pioneer that have led him into large and successful undertakings. Though born across the water he is thoroughly American in thought and feeling and is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes.
FORRES T. KEARNS.
Forres T. Kearns, a prominent farmer and stockman of Falls township, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, April 14, 1857, and is a son of John and Keziah ( Bell) Kearns, the former a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, while the lat- ter was born in the Keystone state and both were representatives of old families there. Her grand- father Bell was taken captive by the Indians but he afterward succeeded in making his escape and as he journeyed through the forest he lived upon venison until he reached home. John Kearns was reared to farm life and was identified with agricultural interests until 1849, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast and was engaged in mining for three years on the north fork of the American river. He then returned to New York by way of the Isthmus route and again made his way to Pennsylvania. Soon afterward he was married and in 1855 he came with his wife to Ohio, purchasing a half interest in two hundred acres of land in Morgan county, Ohio. About 1865 he purchased a part of the farm now owned by his sons, which place is situated on the Lick- ing river, about four miles northwest of Zanes- ville. He was a successful agriculturist, his prac- tical methods and painstaking care producing ex- cellent results in the raising of crops and of stock. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he served as trustee of Falls township for two terms. His death occurred September 19, 1898; and his widow still resides upon the old homestead, at the age of seventy- two years, with her two children, Forres T. and Grant.
Mr. Kearns of this review was a public-school student in Falls township until he had mastered the principles of learning therein taught. Read- ing, observation and experience have kept him in touch with modern thought and he is to-day a well informed man, practical in his business and successful in his operations. He is a member of
the Kansas City Live Stock Exchange, having spent some years in the live-stock business whereby prosperity has come to him. He is now engaged in the operation of the home farm, com- prising seventy-three acres, and the estate also includes one hundred and twenty acres adjoining. while Forres T. Kearns likewise owns a tract of twenty-eight acres in Falls township devoted to general farming and stock-raising. He has eight acres which are given to the cultivation of strawberries, plums and peaches and his fruit crop adds materially to his income each year.
Mr. Kearns exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the repub- lican party and for the past four years he has been a trustee of Falls township, being prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. In all matters of citizenship he is wide-awake and progressive, desiring the advancement of his community and county in harmony with ideas of improvement, while in his own career he keeps in touch with modern business methods and is to-day enjoying the profits of well directed labor.
E. E. Grant, who resides on the old home- stead and is in partnership with his brother For- res T., was married in 1895, to Miss Emma Burgess. They have three children. Elmer B., May E. and John H. In politics he is a repub- lican.
CALEB BUKER.
Among the men once active in agricultural pursuits in Muskingum county who have been called from this life is numbered Caleb Buker. He was born in Otsego, Ohio, April 12. 1845. and was a son of Alpha and Elizabeth ( Strait) Buker. the former a native of Maine and the latter of the state of New York. In the early years of this residence in Ohio the father en- gaged in teaching school and did much to ad- vance the early educational development of this part of the state. Later he became proprietor of a hotel in Otsego, conducting it successfully for a long period, and he formed a wide acquaint- ance while thus engaged. Subsequently he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and the last years of his life were devoted to the tilling of the soil. His death occurred on his home farm in 1885.
Caleb Buker was reared in his native town and at the usual age entered the public schools wherein he continued his studies until he had mastered the common branches of English learn- ing and was well equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. He watched with interest the progress of events which culminated in the Civil war and when only eighteen years of age he
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offered his services to his country as a defender of the Union cause, enlisting on the 29th of Sep- tember, 1863, as a member of Company F. Seventy-eighth Ohio Infantry, with which he served for twenty-two months, being mustered out on the IIth of July, 1865. He participated in some very important movements and engage- ments of the army, including the seige of Vicks- burg and the celebrated march under Sherman to the sea. On southern battle-fields he displayed the valor and loyalty that would have been credit- able to a veteran of twice his years and with most courageous spirit he defended the old flag until it was triumphantly planted in the capital of the Southern Confederacy.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his services Mr. Buker returned to his home and on the 6th of February, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Schroyer, a daughter of Christopher and Ro- sanna ( Werts) Schrover. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, December 18, 1798, and her mother's birth occurred in Virginia, May 28. 1806. They came to Ohio about 1815 with their respective parents and settled in the neighbor- hood in which Mrs. Buker now resides. There Mr. Schroyer carried on general agricultural pur- suits, working earnestly and persistenly year after year and investing his surplus capital in more land until he became the owner of about seven hundred acres, constituting very valuable realty holdings. His political views accorded with democratic principles and he was one of the leading and influential residents of his com- munity. He died April 20, 1867, while his wife passed away just twenty-two years later on the 20th of April, 1889. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Buker was blessed with four children : Clarence O., born October 21, 1868, married Nancy J. Gaumer and is a farmer residing in Adams township ; Clifton, born February 28, 1870, died December 8, 1872 ; Bernice O., born January 12, 1874. is the wife of Elmer sandel and lives near her mother's home; Nellie O., born October 3. 1883. is the wife of Charles Sarbaugh, a resi- dent farmer of Adams township.
It was on the 12th of April, 1900. that Caleb Buker was called to his final rest. He had been a republican and though he never sought or desired office he kept well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Plainfield, was a member of the Baptist church and in all life's relations was faithful to duty, so that he left his family an untarnished name as well as a comfortable competence. His memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him and his name is now on the roll of Muskingum county's honored dead. Mrs. Buker, still sur- viving her husband, resides about three and a half
miles from Adamsville and her Christian faith is indicated by her membership in the Lutheran church. She owns one hundred acres of land, which under her supervision is cultivated, the place being devoted to general farming and stock-raising. She has seventeen head of cattle upon the place and considerable fruit and the products of the fields and the orchards add each year a desirable fund to her income. She dis- plays in the management of the property ex- cellent business ability and while her womanly qualities win her friends and make her a social favorite she at the same time possesses the ex- ecutive force and keen insight of a good business woman.
WILLIAM H. LONGSHORE.
William H. Longshore, a well-known farmer of Wayne township, has spent his entire life in Muskingum county, his birth having occurred in Brush Creek township, March 29, 1869. His father, Perry Longshore, was also a native of Brush Creek township and was a son of Thomas Longshore, whose birth occurred in the same locality-a fact which indicates that the family have been residents of this part of the state from pioneer days and as the years have gone by and generation has succeeded generation the repre- sentatives of the family bore an active and help- ful part in business affairs and in the work of public progress. Perry Longshore was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Harrop, a native of Muskingum county and a daughter of James Harrop, who was born in Virginia. He followed the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family and died when his son William was but four years of age.
William H. Longshore was then reared by his maternal grandfather in Harrison township, remaining with him until nineteen years of age, during which time he gained intimate knowledge of farm work in all its departments and at the same time mastered the branches of English learning taught in the public schools. On leaving home he operated a sawmill and later he pur- chased one and engaged in the manufacture of lumber on his own account. He still owns a sawmill and actively followed that business un- til purchasing his present farm six years ago. His place comprises fifty acres of rich and arable land near the city limits of Zanesville and coal underlies the place. He carries on generai ag- ricultural pursuits, cultivating the cereais best adapted to the soil and climate, and also raises good grades of stock, and everything about his place is kept in good condition, the fences and buildings being always in repair, while the fields are cultivated by the latest improved machinery.
WILLIAM H. LONGSHORE.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Mr. Longshore was married August 3, 1885, to Miss Loretta Trout, a native of Harrison town- ship, and they have three interesting children : Clarence, Olive and Silvie. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Longshore is a republican. He is serv- ing as treasurer of Wayne township, having been elected by a majority of thirty-five in a town- ship which normally gives a strong democratic majority. He is a self-made man whose success is attributable entirely to his own efforts and his life has been characterized by earnest and persistent toil that has eventually won him a competence.
NIXON STEWART. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart own a farm of ninety acres about four miles north of Adamsville and he is devoting his attention to general agricultural- Nixon Stewart, whose home on section 18, , pursuits, having placed his land under a high
Adams township, stands in the midst of a well cultivated and improved farm, was born May 14, 1842, in Adams township, his parents being John and Mary ( Blair) Stewart. The father was a native of Great Britain and was born August 31, 1804, while his death occurred on the 7th of April, 1876. He was a son of James Stewart, who was born October 7, 1770, and died October 27, 1833. He arrived in Muskingum county in 1820, when his son John was but six- teen years of age, and settled in Adams town- ship. John Stewart was reared amid the con- ditions of frontier life and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Miss Mary Blair, who was born September 10, 1815, and was of Scotch- Irish lineage, her parents having come from the old country to America. As the years passed Mr. Stewart prospered in his farming undertakings and eventually owned two hundred acres of rich and well improved land. He had seven children.
Nixon Stewart was educated in the common schools and remained at home for two years, after which he devoted some time to the ministry. working in the church in Hanover and Londen- derry. He then went west and afterward to Concord, Norwich and Zanesville, and subse- quently he returned to his present place of resi- dence. His life has ever been upright and honor- able, in keeping with his professions as a mem- ber of the church, and his example is in many respects worthy of emulation.
On the 15th of November, 1865, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Shroyer who was born May 11, 1845, in Salem township, a daughter of Christian and Rosanna (Wertz) Shroyer, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Virginia. They be- came residents of Ohio about 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have become the parents of three children : Ora Eva, who was born September 26,
1867, is the wife of John B. Yaw, weighmaster at the mines in Gloucester, Ohio. They have two children, Otto V., born June 9, 1889, and Wil- liam R., born December 11, 1897, both at home. Hattie Edda, born July 9, 1869, is the wife of C. C. Ridgeway, a farmer, living at Cones- ville, Ohio. They have five children, Florence M., born November 1, 1890; Oneta P., born Angust 19, 1893; Cecil M., born November 30, 1895 ; Olive L., born in September, 1901 ; and a little girl born June 7, 1905. Earl M., born July 7, 1871, was graduated at St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1899, and at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1900. and is now successfully practicing medicine at Imperial, Nebraska. He married Hallie Shew, of Clinton, Illinois, June 8, 1905.
state of cultivation and equipped it with mod- ern improvements. In his political views he is a republican and at the time of the Civil war es- poused the Union cause, enlisting in September, 1862, as a member of Company E, Ninety-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until he was sent to the hospital, where he was afterward discharged on account of physical dis- ability in 1863. He suffered from lung trouble in March and as he did not recover his health he was granted a discharge and returned home. He now receives a pension. He participated in the battle of Perryville and in 1864 he again enlisted for one hundred days' service, becoming a mem- ber of Company G. One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry. He was a member of the Home Guards and was at Martinsburg, Virginia, and Maryland Heights. Mr. Stewart is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and both he and Mrs. Stewart hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. They enjoy in large measure the esteem and good will of many friends and have a wide and favorable acquaintance in Mus- kingum county.
WILLIAM E. THOMAS.
William E. Thomas, who is employed in the rolling mill of Zanesville, is also connected with the agricultural interests of the county, owning a farm of twenty-nine acres near the city, on which he is successfully engaged in the raising of fruit and poultry. His home is in Washington town- ship and his place is well improved. He is a na- tive of the state of New York, born March 20. 1864, and his parents were Charles H. and Sarah ( Westwood) Thomas, the former a native of England, whence he came with his parents to
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the United States in his boyhood days. He was reared in New York and was there married to Miss Sarah Westwood, a native of that state.
Under the paternal roof William E. Thomas spent his boyhood days and his first employment was in carrying the mail. Later he worked in a mill and has been engaged in similar labor to the present time, being now employed in the sheet mill in Zanesville. He came to Ohio when twenty-four years of age, but later spent three years in Pennsylvania, at the end of which time he returned to Zanesville, in February, 1902, and has since been connected with the rolling mill of this city. This does not represent all of his busi- ness activity, however, for he is the owner of twenty-nine acres of land in Washington town- ship, just northeast of the city, on which he raises fruit and poultry, having seven acres planted to fruit. He is meeting with success as a horti- culturist and the products of his orchards and vines find a ready sale on the market, while his labors in raising Plymouth Rock chickens also add materially to his yearly income.
Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Delora Coss, a native of Martin's Ferry, Ohio, and they have two children, Howard and Russel O. Mr. Thomas votes with the republican party and so- cially is connected with the Foresters and the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of lodge and chapter. He and his wife now have an attractive home in Washington township, there extending generous hospitality to their many friends, and this property is the indication of his busy life, as all that he possesses has been acquired through his own labors.
GEORGE F. YOUNG.
Business interests have undergone marked changes within the past quarter of a century. This is an age of gigantic enterprises and at the head of manifold business concerns are men of marked energy, having the power to recog- nize and utilize opportunities accurately, solve in- tricate business problems and to shape existing conditions until they prove resultant factors in winning success. George F. Young, of Zanes- ville, possesses the typical American spirit that has led to the rapid growth and development of the middle west along commercial and industrial lines. He is to-day secretary and manager of the Roseville Pottery Company and in this con- nection controls one of the great productive in- dustries of his adopted city.
Mr. Young was born in Washington county, Ohio. in 1863. His father, Theobald Young, was a native of Germany and in 1850 came to the United States, settling at Lower Salem, Ohio.
He is a blacksmith by trade and for many years followed that pursuit but is now living retired at the age of seventy-four years. At the time of the Civil war he joined the home guard, organized to protect the state against the invasion of Mor- gan and his men. He belongs to the Odd Fel- lows society and his religious connection is with the German Lutheran church. He married Dora Zumbro, also a native of the fatherland, having been brought to America by her parents, who located near Whipple, Washington county, Ohio. She, too, was a member of the German Lutheran church and died in that faith in 1897, at the age of sixty-three years. In the family were six children.
George F. Young, the third in order of birth, acquired his education in the schools of his native county and afterward engaged successfully in teaching for four years. He came to Zanesville in 1884 and here pursued a course in a business college, after which he accepted a position of bookkeeper with the Singer Manufacturing Com- panv, acting in that capacity for six years. In 1892 he became general manager for the Rose- ville Pottery Company at Roseville, Ohio. He was soon afterward chosen to the office of sec- retary and at the close of the first year was made secretary and treasurer. He remained in Rose- ville until 1898, when he came to Zanesville, the plant of the company having been removed to this city. They had purchased the plant of the Clark Stoneware Company and the same year that of the Midland Pottery Company at Roseville. These plants were then enlarged and improved, being equipped with the latest machinery known to the trade. In 1901 the Muskingum Stoneware Company's plant was added and the Roseville Pottery now controls and operates four different plants under the present firm style. Each has its superintendent and altogether the employes of the company number three hundred and twenty- five. A large line of pottery ware is manu- factured, the most famous kind being perhaps the Rozane art ware. They also manufacture the ox-blood red rouge flambe art ware, which, up to the time they placed their ware upon the market was considered a lost art, the methods of manufacture being unknown since the time the Chinese manufactured a similar ware centuries ago. It is made by only one other concern in the world at this time. In addition to these the firm manufactures several distinct art lines, including vases, jardinieres, pedestals and other ornaments. They also manufacture utility ware, including pitchers, bowls. toilet sets and cooking utensils. The capacity of the plant is such that the sales amount to about five hundred thousand. dollars each year and the output is sent to all parts of the United States, Canada, the West In- dies and Mexico. The company was incorporated
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