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 45

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 45
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 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Six sons and daughters rejoice the parental hearts, although all but one are now settled in homes of their own. Richard married May J. Smith and lives a half mile east of his parents; Lavina is the wife of James B. Toland, their home being in Jewel County, Kan .; Franeis married Ruth Van Bibber, and lives in Lyon County, Kan .; George W. lives

near Columbus, his wife being Flora Benson; Mar- tha A. married William Balden and lives in Madison County; James E. is unmarried and still remains under the parental roof. Richard Kelley is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace and both he and his brother James belong to the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 33, of Springfield.

The long residenee of Mr. Kelley at the same spot has given him a thorough acquaintance in the neighborhood and the position of a landmark in the county. His life since manhood has been marked with no wonderful event, but has been a quiet, industrious, and conscientious one, such as exerts a powerful influence in behalf of the prin- eiples of Christianity and perfect manhood. He has served his neighborhood as a School Director, and his ehureh as a Class-Leader, Steward and Trustce, still holding the latter office. In politics he is conservative, giving his vote to the Republi- can candidates and principles. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church and are heartily esteemed by their associates in that religious body and by their fellow citizens in general.

C HARLES BURDELL. This young gentle- man, in partnership with H. W. Owens, owns and operates a large planing mill and wood-working plant at No. 333 South Detroit Street, Xenia. Mr. Burdell has charge of the mill, which is furnished with the latest improvements in wood-working machinery, the amount being greater than that in any other mill in the city. The two gentlemen have been in business here for the past four years, and have established an excellent repu- tation for reliable workmanship and honorable busi- ness methods.

Mr. Burdell is a son of Asa and Harriett (Mor- ris) Burdell, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, but who grew to maturity in Columbus, in this State. Asa Burdell was born in 1830, and is now living in this eounty, his wife having been rc- moved from him by death some time sinee. He was engaged in the saddlery business at Columbus,

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after having been a conductor on the Little Miami Railroad for twenty-five years. All of the family except our subject are in railroad employ, having latterly been contracting and superintending the work with construction parties. There were nine children born to the parents of our subject, and six are now living.

The natal day of Charles Burdell was August 22, 1859, and the place of his nativity Morrowtown, Warren County. He grew to maturity in Xenia, to which he had come about 1860. He finished his education in Shawnec Agricultural College, after which he became foreman of Hilliker's planing mill, retaining the position for eight years and until he formed his partnership with Mr. Owens. At the home of the bride. in Yellow Springs, January 15, 1881, he became the husband of Miss Agnes McCann, an estimable young lady, who has borne him two children-Frank and Pearl.

Mr. Burdell exercises the right of suffrage in be- half of the Republican party. IIc belongs to the social orders of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Improved Order of Red Men. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and is endeavoring to model his life by correct principles of conduct.

W ILLIAM MAHLON ROCKEL, a native- born citizen of Clark County, is one of the prominent members of the bar in this part of Ohio, having a large practice in Spring- field, where he makes his home. Though still a young man, Mr. Rockel has thus early in his pro- fessional carcer gaincd a high reputation, not only as a lawyer, the acknowledged peer of many of the ablest legal minds of the State, but is considered authority on many points as the joint author with Judge White, of one of the best works regarding a certain class of laws.

Mr. Rockel was born in German Township. Clark County, July 18, 1855, and is a fine repre- sentative of sterling pioneer stock, his father, Peter Rockel, having been born in the same township in May, 1831. His grandfather, Adam Rockel, was

born in Lehigh County, Pa., while his great-grand- father Rockel was born in the same county of German parentage. Adam Rockel was a farmer, and in 1822, in early manhood, while he was still unmarried, he crossed the border line between Pennsylvania and Ohio, accompanied by five or six sisters, the removal being made with team, and cast in his lot with the early pioneers of German Township. He bought a tract of heavily timbered land, built a log cabin, and at once entered upon the hard task of clearing away the forest trees from his homestead and improving a good farm. The surrounding country was then sparsely settled, with but little indication of its present wealth and prosperity, with no railways or canals, and with scarcely any other signs of the coming civilization. In the comfortable home that he built there his long life was brought to a close, in 1884, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. Four of his sisters survived him, and the combined age of the five was four hundred and twenty years. ITis wife, whose maiden name was Mary M. Baker, was a daughter of Philip Baker, well known as one of the carly pioneers of Clark County; he came here in 1813, and settled one half mile west of Eagle City Mills, in German Township. There he bought several hundred acres of land, heavily timbered, of which he cleared quite a large tract before his death. The grandmother of our subject died at his father's home in 1886, aged seventy-six years. The grandfather was a veteran of the War of 1812, serving under Gen. Henry Dearing, and for his good services in that conflict was a pensioner dur- ing his last years.

The father of the subject of this notice was reared to the life of a farmer on his father's large homestead, and was an inmate of the parental household until his marriage. He then bought land one mile cast of Tremont City, where he lived until 1867. In that year he rented his farm, which he had brought to a high state of improvement, and bought another located east of his original home- stead on the Urbana pike. There lic still makes his home, enjoying the comforts procured by the competence that he has acquired by persistent and well-directed industry. Ile has been twice mar- ried. The maiden name of his first wife, mother

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of our subject, was Margaret Shiek, and she was a native of Carroll County, Ohio, and a daughter of William Shick, a native of Virginia, and of Ger- man antecedents. He was a pioneer of Ohio, and in 1844 moved to Logan County and located one mile north of Bellefontaine, where he still resides, being now eighty-four years of age. His wife who is eighty-one years old, is spared to be the companion of his declining years. She was born in early pioneer times in Ohio, and hier maiden name was Catherine Shawver. The mother of our subjeet died in 1865, leaving behind her the gra- eious memory of a true womanhood. His father married for his second wife Miss Sarah A. Ilges, who is devoted to his interests. .

William M. Roekel, of whom we write, was the only child of his parents. He laid the foundation of a solid education at the local distriet school in his native town, and was then given the advantages of an excellent course at the Bellefontaine High School, from which he was graduated with honor in the class of '76. He then pursued his studies in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and was graduated from the commercial department. After that he took a miseellaneous course in the same in- stitution, making a specialty of languages. With his mind thus thoroughly trained, after teaching one term in the Franklin School in this county, he commeneed the study of law, toward which his ambition had long pointed, and for which his natural abilities peculiarly fitted him. He became a student in the law office of Keifer & White, was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1879, and in the fall of that year opened an office in Springfield, and for more than a decade has been in active practice in this eity, his well-known ability and faithfulness to the interests of his patrons bringing him in a fair clientage. During his busy career he has been able to devote considerable time to the literature of his profession, and is the joint author with Judge White of a valuable work, entitled "Mechanics and Sub-Contractors Liens," which has been very highily commended for its erudition and the elear exposition of the laws in such cases. Our subjeet has also contributed to the English and American Encyclopedia of Law, as well as a work of selected questions from the Ohio Supreme

Court Reports, for the use of students, ete. On Memorial Day, 1889, he delivered the address be- fore the Grand Army Post of Vienna, which, at their request, was published, and has been read with deep interest by Grand Army circles far and wide. He is a valued member of Clark Lodge, No. 101, A. F. & A. M .; and of Red Star Lodge, No. 205, K. of P. In April, 1890, Mr. Roekel was nominated by the Republican party for Judge of Probate.

As showing the estimation in which Mr. Roekel is held by his fellow-citizens, we will insert the following as voicing their sentiments, which we quote from two leading local papers: From the Sentinel-"Williamn M. Roekel, who is announced in the Sentinel this week for Probate Judge, is well known to our readers. He is a farmer's son, being a native of Moorefield Township, this county, has never held an office, has had ten years experience at the bar, is the joint author, with Judge White, of a legal work on Mechanie's Liens, and was appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio to examine applicants for admission to the bar; has served on the Clark County Republican and Executive Committees during the past seven years, one year as Secretary and two years as Vice-Chair- man; was temporary and permanent Chairman of our last county convention, and is in every respect worthy and well qualified." From the Sunday News -" William Roekel is making a strong fight for the Probate Judgeship He is, perhaps, one of the best equipped candidates for the position. It has never been said that at any time he ever misman- aged or neglected any business entrusted to liis care. As a legal author, his is a very creditable reputation. His knowledge of the German lan- guage would make his selection an accommodation to our large German population. The old sol- diers will remember his very able and patriotie address made on last Memorial Day at Vienna, and printed by request of the Grand Army Post in full in the Republic-Times. While pronounced in his Republicanism, he is always a fair and honor- able opponent. His long, active, efficient and unrewarded service in the committee and on the stump, in behalf of the Republican eause, with his unquestioned qualifications, appeal very strongly in his behalf for this nomination."

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Mr. Rockel has the advantage of a fine education the basis of his professional knowledge, and brings to his task a well-disciplined mind. He is devoted to his profession, and is still a hard student whenever his onerous duties permit him to give attention to his books. He is an extremely easy and fluent speaker, having a fine command not only of the English, but of the German and other languages, and at the same time he is logical and coneise in his statement of the facts of a case.

A lithographie portrait of Mr. Rockel is shown on another page of this volume.

S AMUEL K. TURNBULL. Among thie early residents in Cedarville Township, Greene County, it would be hard to and one more favorably known than the subject of this sketch, who is familiarly known as "Sam." He pos- sesses a genial nature, in his life work has displayed an abundance of energy, industry, and thrift, and in his dealings with mankind is ever honorable and trustworthy. He is a representative of a family which has been well known in this section sinee quite early in the century, and members of which are numbered among the first families in other sec- tions of the Union.

It may be well before outlining the history of our subject, to make a brief mention of some of his progenitors. His grandfather, Turnbull, lived near Nashville, Tenn., adjoining the well-known Hermitage of Gen. Jackson, and there his son John, the father of our subject was born in 1800. When the latter was thirteen years of age, the family re- moved to this county, having first stopped in Cen- terville, Montgomery County, and from there eame to within three miles of Cedarville, on what was then a road eut through the woods, but is now known as the Columbus Pike. Grandfather Turn- bull reared a family consisting of the following named sons and daughters: Alexander, Thomas, Gilbert, Jolin, James, David, Betsey, and Isabella. The latter married Jolin Chalmers, and Betsey be- eame the wife of Joseph Sterratt. About the year 1833 Mr. Turnbull and his sons Alexander, Gil-

bert and David, turned their footsteps Westward, settling at Monmouth, Ill., where many of their de- seendants are yet to be found.

John Turnbull married Miss Margaret, daughter of Samuel Kyle, near Cedarville, who held the po- sition of Judge of the County Court there for thirty- two years. After their marriage, which was cele- brated in 1825, Mr. and Mrs. John Turnbull came to the farm where our subject now lives, having pureliased one hundred and sixty acres of wood- land. To it the husband came with his ax and cut & away the trees with which, and in whose place to build a log cabin, in which he and his family lived until about 1842. The dwelling was made of un- hewn logs, with a floor of sawed lumber, two small glass windows in the one room of which it consisted, and a fire-place so large that it would take a baek log as large as four men could earry into the house. A fine large frame house was afterward built to take the place of the old log cabin, but on the very night on which it was finished, it was nearly de- stroyed by fire, having caught from the old home which stood near, and which had taken fire. The injured cdifice was then fixed up as a one-story building, and in it the family lived several years, when a brick addition was made. In this condition it remained until it came into the hands of our sub- ject, about seventeen years ago, when he entirely removed the brick part, and rebuilt the rest, mak- ing a large two-story frame building. This change was made a few years before the death of the father, which oeeurred in 1880. The mother of our sub- jeet died in 1852, and the father married a second time, by the two unions becoming the father of nineteen children, all of whom lived to maturity but three, and ten of whom now survive.

The subject of this brief sketch was born and reared on the place which he now occupies, and has never lived elsewhere. His edueation was obtained in the district schools, and his manly habits ac- quired by careful home training. In 1857, while yet a young man, he took to himself a bride in the person of Miss Kate Funston, a worthy scion of good families. Her father, John Funston, was a son of Paul Funston, the paternal ancestors having been of Irish descent, and come from Ireland to America in the eighteenth century. Her mother,

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formerly Keziah Scott, was a daughter of Thomas Seott, of Lexington, Ky. The home of the Funs- tons was in Clark County, not far from the place where our subject lives.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull comprises one son and three daughters: Flora became the wife of C. D. Dobbins, of Hardin County, who fol lowed farming near Lyman until recently, when he came to help his father-in-law on his farm. They have five children-Olin Allen, Alma Fern, Mary Kate, Fred Ernest, and Grace Darling. John Ed- win, the only son of our subject, married Miss Jennie Smith, and is now living on a part of his father's place, where he has an attractive little dwelling and snug surroundings; he and his wife have one daughter, Nellie; Fannie Fern is the wife of C. M. Barber, a farmer of Cedarville Township, and a son of J. M. Barber; they have two children, Collin and Marie. Melda M. is the wife of E. O. Bull, of Cedarville, and a son of Rankin Bull.

Mr. Turnbull has voted the Prohibition ticket for several years past, although he was brought up to a belief in the principles of Democracy, his father and his grandfather having voted the Demo- cratic ticket, and the latter having been a supporter of Gen. Jackson. Mr. Turnbull belongs to the United Presbyterian Church at Cedarville, as do all of his daughters; his wife was reared in the Pres- byterian Church.

OUIS WEIXELBAUM, a prominent mem- ber of the editorial profession, is the pro- prietor and manager of the Springfield Journal, the only German paper published in Clark County, and through its columns his facile pen wields a wide and wholesome influence. A Bava- rian by birth, our subjeet was born in Hessdorf, near Wurzburg, June 23, 1836. His father, Maier Weixelbaum, was a native of the same locality, as was also his father, Moses Weixelbaum. Both were butchers by trade and spent their entire lives where they were born. The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Getta Ehrlich, and she was born in the village of Lohrhaupten Curhes-

sen, located about twenty-five miles from his birthplace. In the latter place she passed her life after marriage, and there died at the venerable age of ninety years. She was the mother of seven children, of whom the following are now living: Moses in Munich, Bavaria; David in his native village; our subject; Clara, who married and lives in Hintersteinau.

The son of whom we write was the only member of the family to come to America. He was reared in the Fatherland, and in its excellent schools gleaned a liberal education. He was at one time a student at a teacher's seminary, where he pur- sued a thorough course of study, amply fitting him for that profession, which he adopted when twenty-one years of age, his first experienec being at Rulzheim, Bavaria, where he followed his voea- tion till 1860. In that year, ambitious to see more of the world, he resolved to emigrate to the United States of America, to see what life held for him here in this land of splendid opportunities. He boarded a steamer at Havre in the month of Oe- tober and landed in New York the same month. Going from there to Baltimore he secured a posi- tion as teacher, and was thus employed in that city the ensuing five years. At the expiration of that time he turned his attention to mnereantile pursuits, and for a year carried on the faney goods business. In 1866 he took an important step in life which redounded to his future comfort and happiness, as on the 30th of January, that year, he was united in marriage to Miss Mina Stern. She was born in Heppenheim, Hesse, Germany, and eame to the America in September, 1860. Their domestic life has been blessed to them by the birth of six children, namely: Meyer, Moses, Beulalı, Clara, Mattie and Alma. After marriage Mr. Weixelbaum came to Ohio, and established himself as a dry-goods merchant in Ironton. Later he en- gaged in the grocery business, which he managed profitably, and at the same time taught in thic public schools and edited a German newspaper, carrying on these varied occupations with eharae- teristie energy, and making each one a success. In 1874 he elosed his business, professional and literary labors in that eity, and came to Spring- field, as here his keen vision saw a fine opening for

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the publication of a German paper, to cater to the intellectual needs of a large population of his countryman, and with ready enterprise lie grasped the opportunity, and soon was issuing the Spring- field Journal, one of the ablest and best managed of the Teutonic publications in this part of the West, and he has conducted it successfully ever since, making it a progressive, newsy and enter- taining newspaper that meets the demands of a large list of subscribers. Mr. Weixelbaum, starting with the basis of a solid education, has, through his wide experience and keen analytical powers, gained a large fund of information, which his lit- crary ability enables him to put before the public in an attractive style. He does not publish his paper in the interests of any party, but preserves his political integrity by an independent course. reserving to himself the right to support what- ever candidate he thinks best fitted for the office. He was appointed a member of the Board of Elec- tions by Gov. Foraker, in 1889. The educational interests of this city have had the benefit of his wisdom and advanced views in regard to educa- tion, as he has served on the City School Board seven years. He and his wife are people of carnest religious feelings, which find expression in the Hebrew faith, in which they were reared.

M ARCELLUS D. JOHNSTON. The manu- facture of cigars in these later days bas become an art and a science, and there are few who have a better understanding of the business than Mr. Johnston, who inaugurated his present enterprise in September, 1888, and does a wholesale business in cigars. His experience in this business commenced in 1868 in the city of Springfield, of which he lias since been a resident.

Mr. Johnston was born in New Carlisle, Clark County, this State, March 3, 1851, and is the eldest son of John and Mary (Garst) Johnston, the former of whom was born in the above-mentioned county, February 8, 1825. The paternal grandfather, James Johnston, was a manufacturer of nails, having es- tablislied the factory in Springfield in 1816. The

nails were all made by hand and were sold at twenty-five cents per pound. Later, he turned his attention to farming, which lie followed the re- mainder of his life.

The mother of our subject was a native of Vir- ginia, whence she emigrated with her parents wlien quite young. Her father, John Garst, spent his last days in Clark County. Mrs. Jolinston died at New Carlisle, in February, 1863. The three chil- dren of the parental family were named respect- ively : Wurden, who died when about two years old; Charles E., a traveling salesman for the firm of Johnston & Son; and Marcellus D., our subject. The latter was a youth of seventeen years when he came to Springfield with his parents. He obtained a good education, completing his studies by a year's attendance at Wittenberg College. Later lie became a bookkeeper for the firm of Kidder, John- ston & Co., manufacturers and dealers in tobacco, acting in this capacity eight years, and was then admitted as a partner into the business.

In due time Mr. Johnson purchased the interest of Jacob Seitz in the above-mentioned firm, Mr. Seitz having succeeded Mr. Kidder, and the firm now became Johnston & Son, as at present. They transacted a wholesale tobacco business until 1888, but since that time they have done a very large jobbing business in cigars, and manufacture of the same. Their trade extends throughout Ohio, East- orn Indiana. Illinois and Chicago.

John Johnston, the father of our subject, was for twenty-eight years a merchant in New Carlisle, Clark County. Having begun business there in 1837, he sold out in 1865, and in 1868 moved to Springfield, and here became a partner of the firm of Kidder, Johnston & Co. He is also a staneli Re- publican and a member of the Methodist Church. He joined the Masonie Lodge in New Carlisle in 1850, and has attained to the degree of Royal Arch Mason.

The store building of Johnston & Son comprises Nos. 115 and 117, East Main Street, and they give employment to thirty men besides their traveling salesmen. The family residence is pleasantly lo- cated at No. 295, Southi Fountain Avenue. Mr. Johnston is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, in

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which he officiates as a Trustee, and has been See- retary of the Sunday-school for the past eight years.

The subject of this notice was married, Novem- ber 25, 1875, to Miss Luey Slack. Mrs. Johnston was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1855, and is a daugliter of Peter and Maria Slack, who were na- tives of England. The father is living and the mother is deceased. The five children of this union were named respectively: Harry W., Viola M., Clarence M., Mabel F. and Laura Ruth.

AVID W. HEBBLE, M. D., probably the youngest physician and surgeon of Enon, evidently possesses the energy and deter- mination which will rapidly elevate him to a leading position in the medical profession of Clark County. He has been an industrious student, is possessed of more than ordinary ability and what he lacks in experience he will make up in close application and the determination to excel. IIe has all his life long been familiar with the ordin- ary methods of practice as he is the son of a well- known physician of this county, Dr. Joseph Hebble who is still living in Enon.

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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 45

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