USA > Ohio > Clark County > Portrait and biographical album of Greene and Clark counties, Ohio, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States > Part 103
USA > Ohio > Greene County > Portrait and biographical album of Greene and Clark counties, Ohio, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States > Part 103
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The subject of this sketch was rearcd on the farm and attended the district school during his boy- hood days, after which he pursued his studies at Wittenberg College. When uinetcen years old he went to Sparta, Wis. with his uncle, James Skill- man, a photographer, and engaged in that busi- ness with him until 1864. Then returning to Springfield, he, in 1865, commeneed the study of dentistry under the instructions of Dr. Phillips. Subsequently he entered the Ohio College of Dent- istryat Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1872. In the meantime he purchased the office of Dr. Phillips of which he took charge immediately after his graduation and of which he has since re- tained possession.
Dr. Runyan was married November 5, 1873, to Miss Georgia V. Drury. Mrs. Runyan was born July 20, 1844, in Aroostook County, Me., and is a daughter of the late well-known Jonas Drury, who was a native of Temple, Me. Mr. Drury is duly represented on another page in this work. Hc was the son of the IIon. John Drury, a native of Massachusetts, and the grandson of William Drury who was also born in that State and was of Eng- lish parentage. William Drury spent his entire life in the Bay State. His son John, the grand- father of Mrs. Runyan, was a non-commissioned officer and commanded a company in the war of 1812. He served in the Maine Legislature and was for many years a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, preaching in different parts of the Pine Tree State; he died at Jay, that State.
The maiden name of Grandmother Drury was
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Annic Mitchell. She was a native of Massachu- setts, and died at Wilton, Me. Her son, Jonas, was reared in his native State and became a civil engineer. Later he went to Rhode Island and taught school in and around Providence three or four years. We next find him in Aroostook County, Me., where he purchased a large tract of land which he named "Crystal Plantation" and was the means of having the post-office located on his farm, this also being named Crystal. He was stir- ring and enterprising and in company with others surveyed a large portion of that section of the State.
In 1856, Jonas Drury emigrated to Ohio an I set- tling in Springfield commenced acting as agent and traveling in the interest of various machine companies until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted as a Union soldier under one of the early calls for troops and participated in the chase after Morgan. Later he was engaged in the civil service and assisted in disinterring over ten thous- and bodies of Union soldiers who had perished on Southern battle fields having them removed to a permanent place of sepulture. Mr. Drury was one of the most remarkable weather prophets of the age. He kept a diary for the long period of sixty-five years and, with the exception of a few papers which were accidentally burned, his observations have been carefully preserved, furnishing meteorlogical records which have proved of inestimable value to history and science. Among other predictions was that of a destructive tornado at Xenia which oc- curred several days after his prediction.
Mr. and Mrs. Runyan are the parents of two children-Edith L. and Frank E. Mrs. Rnnyan is a finely educated lady, having attended the high school at Springfield and being graduated from the Ohio Female College in 1862. She possesses more than ordinary talents as a writer, beginning her literary labors in 1879, in the columns of that pop- ular fashion journal Andrew's Bazaar. She suh- sequently began writing for the Ladies Home Journal of Philadelphia, Pa. She has been editor- ially and otherwise connected with the Ladies Home Companion, the Woman's News, the New Era, the Beacon, and other leading journals. She is the author of "Penny Feathers" which was pub- lished in the Daily Republic and other papers
and which attracted much attention. Mrs. Run- yan has two sisters, one of whom, Josie, is the wife of Albert Williams, now deceased. Mary married Ed B. Reifsnider and lives in this city.
Dr. Runyan belongs to Clark Lodge No. 101, F. & A. M .; Springfield Council, No. 17, R. & S. M .; Springfield Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M .; Palestine Commandery, No. 33, K. T .; Protective and Benevolent Order of Elks and the Mystic Circle. Professionally, he is a member of the Mad River Valley Dental Society and Vice-President of the Ohio State Dental Association.
G EORGE CONFER. This gentleman occu- pics the post of honor as the head of one of the finest families in Miami Township, Greene County. It is safe to presume that a man's surroundings are usually the indication of his character, his principles and his tastes. Mr. Confer's home is undoubtedly the abode of culture and refinement, while by his industry he has been enabled to gather around himself and family all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Well edueated, fond of books, music and art, the household forms one of the happiest families it is the lot of the biographer to meet. Mrs. Confer is in all respects the equal of her husband, an amiable, intelligent lady, who still retains her youthful ap- pearance, with whom time has dealt lightly and who is thoroughly devoted to her home and her family. The household is a model one and the proprietor enjoys in a marked degrec the esteem and confi- cence of his neighbors. A sketch of his brother, William G. Confer, also a prominent resident of Miami Township, will be found on another page in this volume.
The subject of this notice was the third child of his parents and was born February 8, 1827, in Washington County, Md. He was seven years old when he was brought by his parents to Ohio and received such education as was afforded by the pi- oneer schools, which, however, was quite limited. He remained at home on the farm until after his father's death, and at the age of thirty-four years
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was married, May 2, 1861, to Miss Ann M. John- son. After his marriage he settled on a farm three-fourths of a mile southwest of Yellow Springs, but a year later came to his present place, where, he has since resided. It bore little resemblance then to its present condition, the only improve- ments being a log house and barn and he com- menced at first principles in the cultivation of the soil, which was largely in its primitive condition. He occupied the first dwelling until about 1879, when he put up his present residence. The neces- sary barns and out-buildings have been added from time to time and are all that is required for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. Mr. Con- fer subsequently increased his landed area and is now the owner of two hundred acres, all of which is in a good state of cultivation, enclosed with neat and substantial fencing and yields to the proprie- tor a handsome income.
Mr. Confer came to his present farm with a cash capital of twelve and one-half cents. It is scarcely necessary to say that it required close economy for several years to make both ends meet, and in his labors and struggles he was nobly assisted by his patient and courageons wife. In due time the household circle included six children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Maryetta, is now the wife of Joseph Fernando Shocmaker, and they live at Goes Station, Greene County. They are the parents of one child, Cora May. George Albert married Miss Anna L. Fogle; they live at the home farm and have two sons, Fernando W. and one unnamed. The remaining children-Arthur Upton, William W., Howard T. and Susanna, remain at home with their parents. Mr. Confer's children have all been given good advantages and are well fitted for an honora- ble position in life.
Mr. and Mrs. Confer are members in good stand- ing of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Confer, politically, is an active adherent of the Republi- can party and keeps himself thoroughly posted upon current events. Ile has been a member of the School Board for a number of years and at one time was Township Supervisor. A library of choiee books furnishes to the family abundant reading matter, assisted by the weekly papers and various monthly periodicals. The daughters are
good musicians and a cottage organ frequently as- sists in affording pleasure and recreation to their family and their friends.
Mrs. Confer was born April 15, 1841, in Greene County, Ohio, and is a daughter of James M. and Catherine (Ehrler) Johnson, who were natives re- spectively of Kentucky and France. The mother came to the United States carly in life, settling with her father in Clark County, this State, and remaining with him until her marriage. Afterward Mr. and Mrs. Johnson settled on a farm in Miami Township, Greene County, where the mother died in 1849. Mr. Johnson was married a second time and is still living with his second wife, being now seventy-seven years old. Of his first marriage there were born three children, only two of whom arc living-Mrs. Confer and her sister, Derizah, the wife of John W. Beeth, of Streator, Ill .; the latter has three children.
The father of our subject was George Confer, Sr., a native of Maryland, who married Miss Eliza- betli Bowman, of the same State. They emigrated to Ohio in 1834, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by their son William G. The father departed this life in 1857 and the mother in 1871. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are living.
n ELSON A. FULTON, Postmaster at Xenia, and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans Home, is is a man of high character, well and favorably known throughout the county. His father, Dr. Robert Fulton, was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1811, and brought to Chillicothe, Ohio, when a a child. There he grew to manhood and acquired a good education, after which he studied medicine in Warren County with Dr. Thacker, beginning his practice in Clinton County, where he was also en- gaged in the mercantile business. He subsequently went out of business, and opened an office at Lynchburg, where he devoted himself to his pro- fession for thirty years. He is still living but
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has retired from praetiec. He has held the differ- ent official positions in the Methodist Episcopal Chureh. in which he has been a local minister for sixty years and quite noted as a pulpit orator. He belongs to the Republican party, and has been a prominent political speaker, aequiring a wide repu- tation during the Kansas struggles. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and at one time was Grand Chaplain of the State.
Dr. Fulton married Miss Mary Morgan, of War- ren County, Ohio, who bore him eight children who grew to maturity and are still living. The The first-born, Theodore, is in business at Cinein- Dati, his home being at Lynchburg; Adelia, now Mrs. John L. West, lives in Hillsboro; the third in order of birth is our subject; Theodocia is now Mrs. W. L. West, of Clinton Valley; Mary E. is the wife of W. Miller, of Martinsville; S. Q. lives in Milwaukee, Wis., and is manager of the North- western Adamant Manufacturing Company; Laura is the wife of Samuel Peale, of Lynchburg; Robert S. resides at Germantown. The mother of the family died in 1888, at the age of seventy-four years.
Nelson Fulton, of whom we write, was born in Warren County, March 15, 1839, and remained with his parents until 1860, when he engaged in business in Cincinnati, where he was at the break- ing ont of the Civil War. He enlisted for the three months' service in Company C, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, his eaptain being Don Piatt; and after- ward re-enlisted for three years in Company D, Eleventh Ohio Infantry. During the first year of the service he was in West Virginia, going through the battles of Cotton Mountain and Hawk's Nest. In 1862, the regiment went with Gen. Cox to Eastern Virginia and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Monocaey, South Mountain and Antietam. On the latter field of battle the Eleventh stormed the bridge, their colonel being killed during the charge.
The regiment was then ordered baek to West Virginia and went into winter quarters at Somer- ville. While there they were sent one night on a thirty-mile scout and succeeded in their attempt to capture a rebel out-post. The weather turned cold very suddenly, the mereury falling to twenty-four
below zero, and a deep snow covering the ground; many of the Union soldiers were badly frozen and they obliged the rebels to run in order to keep them from freezing as they were poorly elothed. Both vietors and vanquished endured great suffer- ing on that oeeasion. After the hattle of Stone River the command in West Virginia was ordered out of winter quarters and sent to Tennessee in January, 1863. They went by river from Kanawha Falls to Carthage, Tenn., on Roscerans' extreme left, Gen. Crook in command of the division. While there they had to forage for themselves and horses and fight for their supplies every day with Wheeler's Cavalry. On April 14, Gen. Crook took the entire brigade across the river to give Wheeler battle. A detachment of the Eleventh and Eighty-ninth regiments were mounted, and under ecmmand of Captain Spears, of the First Tennessee Cavalry, were ordered to skirmish with Wheeler.
While on this mission Mr. Fulton was captured by the Eleventh Texas Cavalry, and after being confined at Chattanooga, Knoxville and Lyneli- burg, was finally sent to Libby Prison, where he was detained forty days. Seven hundred prisoners were then taken to City Point and paroled; there they were paid off and sent to their respeetive States. Mr. Fulton eame to Columbus on parole and his term of service having nearly expired he was discharged June 20, 1864. From hard service and the poor fare which he had while in prison he con- tracted ehronie rheumatism which permanently crippled him in both feet.
After being innstered out of the service Mr. Ful- ton aeted as elief elerk under Maj. Starr in a mustering and disbursing office in Columbus, re- maining there eight months. Hle then went to Cineinnati and engaged as a salesman in a whole- sale dry-goods house, sojourning in the Queen City of the Ohio twelve years. In 1876 he removed to Xenia, embarked in mereantile business for him- self and carried on a sueeessful business earcer for thirteen years, when having recived his appoint- ment of Postmaster, he sold out to George A. Thompson, whom he had bronght up in the business.
Mr. Fulton has been an active Republican worker but not a politieal aspirant, the fine petition
Afkiler Age 80
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which was sent to President Harrison, asking his appointment as Postmaster, bearing the signatures of the best eitizens of both eity and county. His ap- pointment was received on September 6, 1889. The office is a free delivery one, employing twelve clerks. Mr. Fulton has been Chairman of the Re- publican Executive Committe two years. He be- longs to the Masonie fraternity and to the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In Highiland County, Ohio, in September 1863, Mr. Fulton was united in marriage with Miss Han- nah Graham, whose womanly graces and virtnes had won his regard, as they do the respect of her acquaintances. She is a daughter of Robinson and Elizabeth (Strain) Graliam, who owned and oper- ated a farm upon which Mrs. Fulton lived until her marriage. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Fulton died in infancy.
BDAEL G. KILER. It is said of the subject of this notice that he has been one of the most useful men in his community. He has certainly been very active and industrious, and maintained a uniform interest in the welfare and advancement of his township, be- ing concerned in the building of most of its churches, and having a hand in the erection of some of its finest residences. He is a skilled areh- iteet, and in the early days inade a business of furnishing plans and specifications for the ereetion of buildings, also superintending the work, and giving employment frequently to a score of men. He forms one of the old landmarks of Miami Township, Greene County, and his name will be held in kindly remembrance long after he has de- parted hence.
The native State of Mr. Kiler was Maryland, and the date of his birth, February 18, 1810. Living at a day and age when the advantages en- joyed by the young were far inferior to those of the present, his early education was necessarily limited, and at the age of fifteen years he began his apprenticeship to the trade of a carpenter, en-
tering the employ of Robert Mitchell, in Washing- ton, D. C. Later he worked at his trade for a short time in Hagerstown, Md., thien went success- ively to Pittsburg, Pa., Cincinnati, Dayton, and finally Greene County, Ohio. There was, however, but very little demand at that time for his servi- ees at that trade, and so his father rented Patter- son's sawmill and Abdael G. had the oversight of this for six montlis.
At the expiration of this time our subject re- paired to Dayton, where he was occupied at his trade for two years. We next find him in Xenia, where lie sojourned eighteen months, and in the meantime assisted in the crection of the structure well known as Galloway's Building. Thence lie removed to Clifton, where he put up fourteen houses the first season. Later he frequently vis- ited the West and speeulated considerably in lands. Nearly all the chapels in Miami Township and vicinity were erected under his supervision and much of the work was done by his own hands.
On the 5th of March, 1835, Mr. Kiler took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Maria, daughter of Jacob and Polly Ann (Furnace) Pau- lin. The parents of Mrs. Kiler were natives of Kentucky, whenee they emigrated to Ohio with their respective parents prior to their marriage, which took place in Greene County. They were among the earliest pioneers of Southern Ohio. Of the seven children born to them only tivo are living. Mrs. Kiler was born February ' 14, 1815, and de- parted this life at her home in Miami Township, February 17, 1861, at the age of forty-six years and three days.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kiler there was born a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Henry was born July 8, 1838, and is a resident of this township; Mary Matilda was born March 7, 1841; Jacob P., July 12, 1843: William H., May 12, 1846; George W., August 27, 1848; Charles M., September 10, 1852. For the past twenty-five years Mr. Kiler has been a consistent member of the Christian Church.
Mr. Kiler contracted a second marriage July 23, 1885, with Mrs. Leah (Littleton) Booth. This lady was born in Warren, Ohio, March 29, 1832, to Joel and Hannah (Woolard) Littleton who were na-
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tives of Virginia. She remained with her parents un- til her first marriage, with Thomas Smith. After his death she married Mr. Booth. Mr. Kiler cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, being a member of the old Whig party. Later lie iden- tified himself with the Republicans, and during his younger years was quite active in politics. For twenty-two years he has served as a member of the School Board, and has served as Road Super- visor several terms. For a period of six years lie was a Lieutenant in the State Militia. He is a member, in good standing, of the Christian Church, in which he has officiated as a Trustee, and contributed thercto a liberal support.
The father of our subject was George Kiler, a native of Pennsylvania, and who for a number of years was engaged in the mercantile business at Woodsbury, Md. Later he returned to Pennsyl- vania, whicre he owned a farm and also opened a lumber yard and conducted a hotel, on the banks of the Susquehanna River. In 1825, he removed to Washington, D. C., where he engaged in the hotel business for four years, on the corner of G and Fifteenth Streets. He then removed to Sev- enth Street and operated a grocery and billiard room, remaining there. one year. Thence he re- moved to Hagerstown, Md., where he sojourned three years, and in 1828 came to Ohio. In this latter journey he traveled alone, having left liis family in Maryland. Eighteen months later he returned after them, and they all took up their abode in a cabin on the new farm in Madison County, where the father spent the remainder of his days. He served as a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War, and was a Captain under Gen. Washington, later was concerned in the whiskey insurrection, and also participated in the War of 1812. Elsewhere in this volume appears a litho- graphic portrait of Mr. Kiler.
AMES HARVEY HUGHES, for many years identified with the interests of Clark County as one of its leading agriculturists, and as the proprietor and manager of a valuable stone quarry, now lives in retirement from active
business, having rented his farm and leased his quarry, both of which are within the incorporated limits of Springfield, where lie makes his home in the fine residence that he has erected on his home- stead. He is the son of a former well-known early settler of the county, and comes of fine old pioneer stock in other directions.
Mr. Hughes is a native of this State, born in Clinton County, May 15, 1819. His father, Capt. David Hughes, was a Kentuckian by birth, and his father, Jesse Hughes, a Virginian, while the great- grandfather of our subject was a native of Ireland, who came to this country in Colonial times and settled in Virginia, where he passed the remainder of his life. The grandfather of our subject was rcared in his native State. He was a man of marked decision of character, a deep thinker, and possessed a sound, well-balanced intellect. He was an Abo- litionist, and as men of his sentiment were not re- garded with a very kindly spirit in the Old Do- minion, he left that State for Kentucky, where he made his appearance in the carly days of its set- tlement. About 1803 lic crossed the Ohio into this State, and was one of the first pioneers to lo- cate in Clinton County, settling there some years before the county was organized. A man of his presence and talent could not fail to make an im- pression on the public life of his adopted State, and he soon took a prominent place among his fellow-pioneers, and from the "History of Ohio," published by Henry Howe, we learn that he was one of the first associate judges of Clinton County ; and that the first court ever held in that section was convened in his barn. He was on the bench twenty-six years, presiding with noted dignity and ability, and was finally succeeded by his son, Jesse. He made his home at Wilmington, the county seat, where he died full of age and honor. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Drake, and she is supposed to have been a native of Virginia, and of English antecedents, numbering among her ances- tors thic illustrious Sir Francis Drake.
The father of our subject was very young when le came to Ohio with his parents. That was the first year of Ohio's Statehood, and it was not far advanced in civilization. The pioneers had not made much headway in its primeval forests, and
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deer, bears, wolves, and other wild animals still roamed across the country at will. Hle grew to manhood in the wilds of Clinton County, remain- ing there until 1828. In that year he came to Clark County and cast his lot with its early pio- neers, locating cast of the city of Springfield, not far away. He resided there many years and then bonght the farm where our subject resides, pur- chasing one hundred and twenty-three and three- fourth acres at $6.623 per aere. The land was well-timbered and the family occupied the two log cabins that then stood on the place. There were no railroads or eanals here, and consequently,no mar- kets for farm products, except at the distilleries. At the time of his death, July 19, 1870, he had cleared and improved a valuable farm, and was numbered among the substantial citizens of the place. He was a man of sterling worth, possessing in a large degrec those characteristics that had marked his father as a man of more than ordinary ability. Hle was a good citizen, and at the time of the War of 1812 raised an independent company, of which he was chosen Captain, and he tendered the services of the company to the Government, which were gratefully received, and he and his brave men acting independently, fought through- out the war, winning an honorable record for ef- ficiency, daring in battle, and gallantry at all times and places. The maiden name of the mother of onr subject was Emily Whitsett. She was a native of Kentucky and a daughter of one of its pioneers, Joseph Whitsett, a native of England. During the last years of her life she was a welcome inmate of the home of her son, our subject, dying here August 18, 1886, aged eighty-five years and three months.
James HI. Hughes, of whom we write, was but nine years old when he came with his parents to this county, and twelve years old when they set- tled where he now lives. At that time Springfield was but a village and a mile distant from his home, and he has witnessed its steady growth until it has become a flourishing city with upwards of forty thousand inhabitants, and his farm is now included within its limits. He was bred to agricultural pur- suits and followed farming many years, and in connection with it operated a quarry, which was
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