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 109

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 918

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 109
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 109

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ARTIN SNIDER. One of the finest farms in Clark County is pleasantly located in Bethel Township,and comprises abont three hundred broad and fertile acres which, un- der judicious management, have been brought to a high state of productiveness and afford a handsome income. It has been placed in a first-class condi- tion as regards the improvements upon it, which include not only the needful, but much of the or- namental. This place is owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, who, beginning his career in life on a small capital, has accumulated a fine fortune, from which he dispenses liberally to wor- thy objects.

The father of our subject was John Snider, a na-

tive of York County, Pa., and born November 2, 1783. He was the son of German parents, who died in the Keystone State. He was reared in his native county, whence he came to Ohio in the spring of 1830, settling on section 9, in the town- ship in which his son now lives. There he spent the remainder of his life, which was devoted to the pursuit of agriculture, and died January 23, 1851. When he arrived in this State he was in the pos- session of less than $600 in money and some stock. He invested his money in land, paying about $6.25 per acre, and while supporting a wife and thirteen children, gradually accumulated additional means. All that he had was made by himself. He was a Democrat all his life, and a member of the Luth- eran Church. His wife, in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Broadbeck, was born February 16, 1786, near Hagerstown, Md., of Swiss parents. She died August 21, 1871, at the homestead in this county, at an advanced age.

Martin Snider is one of the oldest of his father's family, and was born in York County, Pa., Febru- ary 13, 1812. On the farm in the Keystone State he was reared to the age of eighteen years, and then accompanied his parents to Ohio. He re- mained with his father on the old homestead until 1865, some time afterward settling on his present location. For several years after he came to this State he ran saw and grist mills, although he did not entirely abandon farming, which has been his life work.

On April 11, 1865, Mr. Snider was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Sintz, of Springfield Township, the ceremony taking place at the home of her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Sintz. The latter were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively, but prior to their settlement in this State had lived in Virginia. They were among the very earliest settlers in this county, having located near Springfield in 1805. There Mrs. Snider was born, May 23, 1817. She is a notable housewife, a good neighbor and a devoted wife. She owns about two hundred acres of fine land in Springfield Township. No children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Snider.

No man in this vicinity is a more liberal sup- porter of the cause of Christianity, both with mcans

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and personal labors, than Martin Snider. Hc iden- tified himself with the Lutheran Church when a young man, and has been active since that time, both as a member of the congregation and a worker in the Sunday-sehool. He belongs to the Donnelsville congregation. He is a member of the Grange, but is not identified with any other social order.

Portraits of Mr. Snider and his wife are shown elsewhere in this volume.

W ASHINGTON WARD oeeupies an im- portant place among the enterprising and influential business men of Springfield who are taking a prominent part in its upbuilding, and as a leading real-estate and loan agent he is active in promoting its material interests. He comes of good old pioneer stoek, some of his aneestors be- ing among the earliest settlers of the State of Ohio, of which he is a native. His birthplace was in Moorefield Township, Clark County, and January 3, 1833, was the date of his birth. He is a son of Charles Ward, Esq., who was during his lifetime a man of considerable prominence in the county. He was, it is thought, born in Mason County, Ky., while his father, Col. William Ward, is supposed to have been born in Greenbriar, Va. He removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky among its early settlers. After residing there a few years he came to Clark County, about 1796, and was one of the first pioneers of this portion of what was then a part of the Northwestern Territory. Tceumseh and his tribe of Indians still inhabited this section of the country, and he was one of the committee appointed to meet that noted chief to settle a difficulty caused by the Indians killing a white man. He located on what is now the Urbana road, three miles north of this city, and there crected a log house, which is still standing and in good preservation. He secured a large tract of land extending from Springfield to Urbana, and owned the present site of the latter town. He subsequently removed to Champaign County, lo- cating four miles south of Urbana, where he en-

gaged extensively in farming and stock-raising, residing there permanently until death closed his earthly career, and deprived that community of one of its most enterprising citizens. His des- cendants are scattered throughout different States of the Union, one of the best known of them being J. Q. A. Ward, the renowned sculptor.

The grandmother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Anderson, was a native of Vir- ginia, and she and her husband now lie buried side by side on the old homestead three miles from Springfield. The grandfather of our subject had three brothers -- Charles, James and John A. The latter was captured by the Indians when he was a boy of six years, and was adopted by the tribe (Shawanees), reared by them, and married a squaw and was finally killed in battle while fighting thic whites. Charles and James spent their last years in Kentucky.

The father of our subject was eighteen years old when he came to this county with his parents, and here he was married in 1827, to Katherine Folcy, a native of Clark County, and a daughter of James and Mary (Marsh) Foley, natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina, and carly pioneers of this county. Mr. Foley eame to Clark County in 1806, and his future wife residing then near Co- lumbus, he went for her on horseback, and re- turned with his bride riding behind him. He set- tled in Moorefield Township, commencing his wedded life in a log cabin, and resided here until his death, in 1863, at the advanced age of eighty- four years. His wife preeedcd him to the grave some years previous to his deeease. The father of our subject resided in Urbana until his marriage, and then settled on land two miles north of Spring- field on the Urbana Road, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. His death at the age of fifty-four, in 1848, while yet seareely past the meridian of life, was a serious blow to the material and social interests of the place, and was sincerely mourned by all who knew him. He was a kind father, a devoted husband, and his neighbors and friends found in him a wise and safe counselor. He was a stanch Whig in politics, and he served many years as Justice of the Peace. The mother of our subject lived on the old homestead wherc

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her wedded life was passed until 1863, and then removed to Springfield, and here closed her eyes in death in August, 1886, having attained a ripe old age. She had a full experience of pioneer life, and of the primitive modes of living, in her early days. She was an adept at spinning and weaving, and used to cook delicious meals before the fire of an open fireplace before the introduction of stoves. She was the mother of seven children, all of whom she reared to useful lives.

The son of whom we write grew to a stalwart manhood in his native township, and gleaned his early education in the district school. As soon as large enough to be made of use he was set to work on the farm, and at the time of his father's death he had to assume the charge of the old homestead, and though he was but sixteen years old he showed himself to be fully competent for the responsibili- ties that thus devolved upon him. He continued to manage the farm with good results until 1863, and in that year took up his residence in Spring- field. The ensuing two years he was engaged in the grocery business, and since then has carried on his present calling as a dealer in real estate and a loan agent. In 1883 he built his present commo- dious and well appointed residence on Stanton Avenue, and here he and his wife have established a home that is replete with all the modern com- forts and conveniences.

The marriage of Mr. Ward with Mrs. Jane Foley (Swope) Patton was solemnized March 22, 1872, and has proved of mutual benefit. Mrs. Ward is a native of this city, and a daughter of Edward and Millie J. (Foley) Swope, early settlers of Spring- field. Mr. Swope was born in Adams County, Pa., October 12, 1814, a son of Jonathan Swope, who was born of German parentage, and spent his entire life in the Keystone State. Mrs. Ward's father came to Clark County in 1835, and locating in this city, became one of its pioneer merchants. He also engaged in buying stoek, and before there were railways or canals used to drive his cattle across the Pennsylvania mountains to Eastern markets. He resided in Springfield until 1865, and then, after the death of his wife, moved to Buffalo, N. Y., and established himself in the stock business there, which he still continues as a mem-

ber of the firm of Swopc, Hughs & Walsh. His wife was born in Moorefield Township, and was a daughter of John and Jane D. Foley, well-known pioneers of this section of the country. Mrs. Ward has been twice married. She was first wedded in 1856, to Leander D. Patton, a native of Cincinnati. He was a dry-goods clerk for many years, later was a commercial salesman, and at the time of his death, in 1865, was clerk of the gold board in Chicago. By that marriage Mrs. Ward had two sons-Edward and Charles. Her wedded life with our subjeet has been blessed to them by the birth of one daughter, Bertha W. Mrs. Ward is a de- voted member of the Episcopal Church, and her daily life is consistent with her religious profess- ions.

Mr. Ward is a man of good presence and frank address, is progressive in his views, and in business and financial circles his name is held in respect, and he is coneeded to be an honor to the citizen- ship of his native county.

AMES HENRY RABBITTS, managing ed- itor of the Springfield Daily Republic-Times and the Weekly Republic, was born in this this eity April 1, 1853, and is a son of Charles Rabbitts who was born on a farm near Herningsham, Wiltshire, England. The date of the latter's birth was September 7, 1820, and he was the son of George Rabbitts, who was born on a farm in Rodden Parish, Somersetshire, England. His father, George Rabbitts, Sr., was, it is sup- posed, a native of the same locality and of pure English ancestry. He spent his entire life at farm- ing pursuits and died in Somersetshire.

The paternal grandfather of our subject spent his boyhood and youth on the farm and when married located in Wiltshire, where he prosecuted agriculture until 1832. Then not being satisfied with luis condition or his prospeets, he set out to cross the Atlantic with his wife and seven children, embarking at Bristol, January 10, on the sailer, "Emily," and was obliged to land on Staten Island on account of cholera, from which the ship's pas-

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sengers and crew had suffered for a period of forty- nine days. When able to proceed on his journey he started for Cleveland, Ohio, via the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo and thence by the lake to his destination.

From Cleveland, Grandfather Rabbitts procceded to the vicinity of Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until his death, in 1848. His wife, whose maiden name was Rhoda Nuth, was a native of Somerset- shire, England, and the daughter of William Nuth. She spent her last years with her daughter Anna, in Lancaster, Ohio. Her children were named respectively: Elizabeth, Anna N., Charles, Frances, William N., Sarah, George and Charles.

The father of our subject was a lad of twelve years when he came with his parents to America and he resided with them on the farm until twenty- two years old. Repairing then to Newark, Licking County, he entered a woolen mill and commenced learning the trade of a weaver and manufacturer, and was occupied at this business until 1847. We next find him erecting a woolen mill at Springfield, on Buck Creek, and which was the first institution of the kind in this part of the country. The farm- ers around were all engaged in sheep-raising and carried their wool to town to be manufactured, so that for some time Mr. Rabbitts was mostly cn- gaged in custom work. During the Civil War the mill was operated to its fullest capacity. Mr. Rab. bitts occupied himself as a woolen manufacturer until 1875, then commenced dealing in real estate and finally retired from active business altogether, simply looking after his private interests.

The parents of our subject were married May 8, 1848, the mother bearing the maiden name of Margaret Robison. She was born in Wooster, Wayne County, and was a daughter of James and Margaret (Wilson) Robison, who were natives re- spectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The five children born to them were named respectively: James H., William S., Anna, Mary, and Charles R. Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitts are members in good stand- ing of the Second Presbyterian Church. The father in the early days was a member of the old Whig party, but since the organization of the Republican party has been a stanch supporter of the principles

of the latter. The subject of this notice was reared in his native city where he attended the common schools and later entered the preparatory depart- ment of Greenway Institute, which was under the principalship of Chandler Robbins. Upon leaving this he became a student of Wooster University, whence after a four years' course he was graduated in the class of '74-the first class which was grad- uated from that institution. During his vacations he worked in his father's mill and learned the tradc of a wool spinner.

After being graduated Mr. Rabbitts entered upon the study of law in the office of Keifer & White. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1876, and practiced law alone until January 1, 1878, when he became associated with his former instruc- tors under the firm name of Keifer, White & Rab- bitts-the senior members being J. Warren Keifer and Charles R. White. Mr. Rabbitts was engaged in the duties of his profession until 1881, when he was chosen as the Republican candidate for Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, receiving two thousand majority for the nomination at the prim- ary election. At the regular election he was duly placed in office having no Democratic opponent. He discharged his duties faithfully and was re- elected in 1884-87.

In August, 1889, Mr. Rabbitts purchased an in- terest in the firm of A. D. Hosterman & Co., pro- prietors of the Springfield Daily Republic-Times, and assumed his present position. Finding his ed- itorial duties incompatible with his official duties, he resigned his clerkship in January, 1890. Mr. Rabbitts was married December 7, 1882, to Miss Cornelia, daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Burt,D.D. and Rebecca A. (Belden) Burt. Dr. Burt was for many years pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield. He went to Europe on account of failing health and died at Rome in 1874. His re- mains were laid to rest in Rome, Italy, beside those of the poet Keats. Mrs. Burt was born in New Jersey and is still living, being a resident of Spring- field.

Mrs. Rabbitts was born in Baltimore, Md., and came to Ohio with her parents. Of her union with our subject there are three children : Burt, Margaret and Frances. Mr. Rabbitts cast his first Presiden-

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tial vote for Rutherford B. Hayes, and has always been an ardent Republican. He was a member of the County Executive Committee seven years and Chairman three years. Both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Second Presby- terian Church. Soeially, Mr. Rabbitts belongs to Anthony Lodge, No. 455, F. & A. M .; Red Star Lodge, No. 205, K. of P .; the Phi Kappa P'si and the Gamma Chapter of Wooster University.

OHN LUDLOW, banker, Springfield, is a true representative of a pioneer family, who are so well known that the name is familiar to all, and his life has been of that energetic stamp that is characteristic of the first settlers, who have contributed the best years of their lives to the development of Clark County. His father, Cooper Ludlow, was a native of New Jersey, born June 11, 1783, and was married, in 1803, to Miss Elizabeth Reeder, daughter of Jacob Reeder, of Reading, Ohio, and in 1804 they, accompanied by the Reeder family, came to the Mad River country, settling about three miles west of where Springfield is located, where they established a tannery elose to what is now the second crossing of the Delaware & Springfield Railroad. Here were born their ehil- dren-Ellen, Mary, Stephen, John and Jaeob, the latter of whom died in infancy, and, in 1813, Mrs. Ludlow also passed away. In 1815 Cooper was again married to Miss Elizabeth Layton, daughter of Joseph Layton, to whom were born the following children: Joseph, Jason, Silas, Abram, George, Cornelius, James, Catharine and William, all but three of the children being yet living; and, in 1832, Cooper Ludlow died, aged fifty-five years. He was the nephew of Israel Ludlow, one of the founders of Cincinnati, and his father, John Lud- low, came from New Jersey to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1790, and was the first Sheriff of that county The subject of this sketch was born in this eounty, Deeember 8, 1810, and his education was obtained in the log schoolhouse of the primi- tive days. Upon reaching maturity, he chose the business of a druggist in preference to other

pursuits, and was for a number of years in the em- ploy of Moses M. Hinkle, his pharmaceutical edu- cation being completed while in the employ of Goodwin & Ashton, of Cincinnati, and he was after- ward engaged with Dr. W. A. Needham, of Spring- field. After the death of Dr. Needham, he became associated in business with Cyrus T. Ward for many years; afterward forming a partnership with Joseph Wheldon, whose interest, after a time, he purchased, and continued the business alone, his experienee as a druggist extending over a period of more than thirty years. In 1851 he was elected a Director of the Springfield Bank, and, upon the death of Oliver Clark, became its President, a posi- tion which he has continued to fill up to the pres- ent time. In 1864 the name was changed to the First National Bank of Springfield, with a capital of $300,000, the stock being subsequently raised to $400,000, and to-day it has on hand $123,000 of surplus and undivided profits. Mr. Ludlow was married, August 31, 1835, to Miss Elmina Getman, daughter of Frederiek and Mary Getman, of Herkimer County, N. Y., of which eounty Mrs. Ludlow is a native, and of this union three ehil- dren were born, viz: Ellen, the wife of Asa S. Bushnell; Frederiek, who resides in California ; and Charles, the suecessor of his father in the drug business, in Springfield. Politically, Mr. Ludlow was a Whig, casting his first vote for Henry Clay, in 1832, and, on the formation of the Republican party, he joined its standard and still clings to its principles. He has no official aspirations, but feels proud of the distinction of having for fourteen years held the office of Treasurer of the Clark County Bible Society, devoting much time to this eause. For forty years he has been a member of the Episcopal Church, of which denomination his wife is also a eonsistent adherent, and both are in the enjoyment of good health and vigorous old age. Mr. Ludlow was one of the projectors of Fern Cliff Cemetery, was one of its first Directors, and has been President of the Board of Trustees since its organization. He was well acquainted with all the pioneers of Clark County, John Daugherty, David Lowry, Griffith Foos, John Humphreys, Maddox Fisher, and many others, whose names will appear in the history of Clark County.

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He furnished the Clark County Historical Society a number of his personal reminiscences of the early history of the county and city of Springfield, which papers are now on file with the Historical Society of Cleveland, and his assistance in furnishing data for the present work has been invaluable. He is noted for his liberalty for charitable purposes, and has ever been foremost in using his means for the development of the business interests of the city ; kind and obliging in his manners, his course in life has been such that he scareely ever had an enemy, and his warmest friends are those who know him best.

The home of Mr. Ludlow is just outside the city limits in an elegant residence of the Eliza- bethian style of architecture, his grounds being equal in beauty to any in the city, and here the aged couple, happy in the enjoyment of each others society, are journeying down the hillside of life hand in hand, loving and trusting cach other, while the lingering sunset of old age casts its shadows baek o'er long years fruitful of good and usefulness.

ROF. HEZEKIAHI R. GEIGER is distin- guished in the educational annals of Ohio as one of the founders of Wittenberg Col- lege, whose erudition and earnest labors in its behalf, while holding one of its professor- ships, contributed largely to raise it to the highest eminence among the literary institutions of its elass in our land. He severed his connection with the college after many years service within its walls, only to accept a position with the United States Geological Survey, remaining with it sev- eral years until his resignation in 1890.

The Professor is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Greencastle, Franklin County, January 10, 1820, a son of Henry Geiger, who was born in Schuyl- kill County, the same State. His grandfather, Charles Geiger, was born of German parentage and at the time of the Revolution was living near Philadelphia, and bore an honorable part in the struggle for freedom between the Colonists and the

mother country. He was a miller by trade, and so far as known, spent his entire life in Pennsyl- vania. The father of our subject was rcared and married in his native State, and resided there un- til 1832, and tlien, animated by the same spirit that led some of his ancestry to cross the waters from the German fatherland, he emigrated to a more newly settled country, coming to Ohio with his wife and seven children. He located first in Columbiana County, but later removed to Cham- paign County and cast in his lot with its pioneers. He bought property in Urbana, and lived retired in his last years, spending the latter part of his life with his children, but died in Dayton at the house of his eldest son, Dr. Geiger. Ile was a man of good mental calibre, and sober, earnest convictions, a good citizen, and, true to the blood of the Revolutionary grandsire coursing through his veins, he was intensely loyal in his patriotic devotion to his country, and at the breaking out of the war, eagerly offered his services to defend the honor of the old flag, but to his sorrow lic was rejected on account of his advanced age. In the time of the war of 1812 he was an ardent Demo- crat and served as a soldier in that war and par- ticipated in several of the important and hard fought battles along the lakes under Gen. Scott. He was a man of brave and sterling qualities as a soldier and a patriot, but afterward joined the Whigs, and when the Republican party was or- ganized he fell into its ranks. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Lutheran Church, showing by the rectitude of their lives the reality of their religious professions. His wife died some years before he did in their home in Urbana. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, eleven sons and one daughter.

The son of whom we write was the third in or- der of birth. His early life was passed in his ira- native State, where he was given every advantage to gain a liberal education, and he was graduated from Pennsylvania College in the class of 1846, with a high rank in scholarship. After leaving college he came to Springfield and became identi- fied with its best educational interests as one of the founders of Wittenberg College, and to his devoted work in its behalf it owes much of its

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success. When the college opened he accepted a professorship and became instructor of natural sciences and mathematics, and during his connec- tion with the institution he was one of its most earnest and cultured teachers; his thorough famili- ality with the subjects taught, his easy and clear method of instruction, combined with his ever courteous and kindly considerations for, and sin- cere interest in the welfare of the students who were so fortunate to sit under his teachings made him a general favorite with all, and he still holds a warm place in the hearts of many who have since gone forth in the world and have risen to places of prominence in various walks of life. As the school grew in numbers, thic Professor's duties grew more arduous and he had to resign the chair of mathematics, and devote himself exclusively to teaching the natural sciences. He was thus en- gaged for many years till his resignation in 1882, much to the regret of the college authorities, and all connected with the institution. The same year, 1882, he accepted a position as a member of the United States Geological Survey, for which his well-trained mind amply qualified him. He re- mained with the Survey until 1890 when he re- signed his position.

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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 109

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 918