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 62
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 62
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C HARLES T. COATES. The attention of the traveler passing through Harmony Town- ship, Clark County, is invariably attracted to the many pleasant country homes which have been built up through the perseverance and industry of a more than ordinarily intelligent elass of men. Among these Mr. Coates occupies no secondary posi- tion. In connection with general farming he gives mueh attention to the breeding of live stock in which industry he has gained an enviable reputation. He is a native of the Buckeye State and born January 7, 1846, in Rochester, Warren County. His father, Jolin F. Coates and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Park, were natives of Yorkshire, England, the former born near Hunstanton, in Au- gust, 1802, and the latter near East Motherly, De- cember 25, 1812.
The father of our subjeet remained a resident of his native shire until a man of thirty years and then emnigrated to America, loeating in Cincinnati, Ohio. In England he had been engaged as a shepherd, but after coming to Ameriea began the manufacture of mattresses and furniture and with the exception of one and one-half years which he spent on a farm, was thus occupied the remainder of his life. He died in August, 1868. The parents were married in Cincinnati September 11, 1834. The mother survived her husband many years, her death taking
place September 27, 1879. In their native country they had been members of the Church of England, but after coming to America identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were born to them six children, viz: Francis J., Mary J. who died in infaney, Mary Ann the wife of William W. Spencer, Caroline who died in 1849 when eight years old, Charles T. and Emma Jane.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Franeis Coates, likewise a native of Yorkshire and born in 1760. He was reared to farming pursuits which he followed until coming to America with his son's family in 1832. His wife had died in England. He brought with him to America two children -- James and John F. He located in Cin- cinnati but only lived a short time after coming to this country, his death taking place December 1, 1833. The mother of our subject accompanied her father to the United States, there coming with them also her sister Margaret, the wife of Charles Wood, and who died leaving one child, Alfred. Her sister Mary died childless. The maiden name of Grand- mother Park was Mary Lowther.
Mr. Coates of whom we write was reared in Cin- cinnati, attending first the primary schools and then completed his studies in the Woodward High School. While at school and about a year before the elose of the Civil War, his patriotism got the better of him and leaving his books he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company G, One Hun- dred and Thirty-seventh Infantry in the one hun- dred days' service. After the war was over, he, in 1865, began learning the trade of a machinist, serv- ing his apprenticeship with Lane & Bodley of Cin- einnati. At the expiration of this time his father died and Charles T. with one of his brothers took charge of the furniture business which also included the manufacture of barber chairs.
In 1872, Mr. Coates removed to Clark County and engaged as a farm laborer, leaving the business at Cineinnati in his brother's hands. It was closed out about 1880. Mr. Coates found farm life quite congenial and in 1882 purchased sixty-seven acres of land to which in the year 1883, he added thirty acres and has now ninety-seven aeres which forms a snug little body of land which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He
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has effected many improvements, making fences, planting trees and erecting modern buildings. There is a prospect that he will be able to lay up an ample competence for his declining years. Mr. Coates has for some time been warmly interested in the temperance question and is now an active pro- hibitionist. He belongs to various societies and keeps himself thoroughly informed upon the lead- ing events of the day.
R EV. LUTHER A. GOTWALD, Professor of Theology in Wittenberg Theological Semi- nary, has, for thirty years, been an active laborer in the Master's vineyard, making a specialty of mission work. He is a man of fine abilities, with a finished education and no small literary talent, having been a liberal contributor to the Quarterly Review published at Gettysburg, and various other papers and periodicals, besides pub- lishing a number of pamphlets on historic and ecclesiastical subjects.
Dr. Gotwald received the title of Doctor of Divinity from Pennsylvania College in 1874. From 1874 to 1886 he was a member of the Board of Home Missions over which he presided for a number of years and was also one of the Board of Church Extensions. He was likewise a Trustee of Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg and a Director of the Theological Seminary there, representing it in tlic General Synod of the Lutheran Church. It will thus be seen that he has covered a broad field of usefulness for which his natural talents, aided by lis acquirements, have amply fitted him. Among those who have known him long and well his career has been such as to fully establish him in their es- tcem and confidence.
The subject of this notice was born at York Springs, Adams County, Pa., January 31, 1833, and is the son of the Rev. Daniel and Susannah (Krone) Gotwald, both natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. The father was a promi- nent minister of the Lutheran Church and the mother a noble Christian lady who transmitted largely of her own piety and her virtues to her son.
She frequently accompanied her husband in his travels, but made her home in her native State. The parental family consisted of twelve children, scven sons and five daughters, of whom only four are now living.
Dr. Gotwald is the fifth child of his parents and spent the greater part of his youth in Center County, Pa. He pursued his early studies in the common school and later attended an academy after which, repairing to Philadelphia he entered a print- ing office and during the time spent there gained a fair knowledge of the art preservative. When a youth of- nineteen years, coming to this State he entered Wittenberg College, passing through the Sophomore year. In 1855 returning to Pennsyl- vania he entered Pennsylvania College at Gettys- burg from which he was graduated in 1857.
Next the Doctor entered the Theological Semi- nary of Gettysburg and after taking a two year's course was duly graduated from that institution in 1859. In October of that same year he was placed in charge of the Lutheran Church at Shippensburg, Pa., where he remained until 1865. That year he came to Ohio as pastor of the First Lutheran Church at Dayton, where he remained until 1869, and was then obliged to resign his charge on ac- count of failing health.
We next find Dr. Gotwald in Chambersburg, Pa., as Pastor of the Lutheran Church, of which he remained in charge from the latter part of 1869, un- til 1874. Afterward for twelve years he was pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in York, Pa. In De- cember, 1885, upon a call from Springfield, he as- sumed the pastorate of the Second Lutheran Church in that city and soon afterward was elected to the Professorship of Practical and Historical Theology in Wittenberg Theological Seminary. He brings to this position a large experience and more than ordinary talents and is in all respects a useful man for the place.
Dr. Gotwald was married October 13, 1859, at the bride's home in Springfield, to Miss Mary E. King. This lady was born April 1, 1837, in Tarlton, Ohio, and is the daughter of David and Almena (Caldwell) King.the former a native of England,and the latter of New Hampshire. The father was brought to America when a child. Of this union there have
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been born nine children, seven sons and two daugh- ters who are named respectively, David K., George D., Robert C., Luther A., William W., Frederick G., Charles, Almena and Mary Susan. The fol- lowing sons are deceased: George D. who was Pastor of the Memorial Lutheran Church of Kansas City died January 12, 1890; Luthier A. and William W. were pursuing their classical course of educa- tion looking forward to the ministry at the time of their deaths; Charles H. died when a babe.
Politically, Dr. Gotwald is a stanch Republican, and during the war was a strong Union man, and did all he could to further the interests of the Union cause. His brother Dr. Jacob H. Gotwald, chief surgeon on board the man of war "Keystone" under command of Rear-Admiral Dupont in the fight at Charleston, S. C., was scalded to death while rendering surgical aid to one of the wounded men. Another brother, Rev. W. V. Gotwald, was a Lutheran minister in Lancaster, Pa., and died there in 1869. A younger brother Rev. W. H. Gotwald, is now Pastor of a Lutheran Church in Washing- ton, D. C. His eldest sister Eliza, was married to the Rev. Jacob Scherer, who was the second Luth- eran minister in the State of Illinois; they are now both deceased.
C APT. AMAZIAH WINGER is the efficient Superintendent of the Superior Drill Com- pany, of Springfield, and to his wise man- agement and careful supervision of his employers' interests it is greatly indebted for its continued prosperity. He is a veteran of the late war, a fine type of the citizen-soldiers of our Republic who went forth from pleasant homes to do battle for their country's honor,and lie in so doing won a noble military record that reflects credit on his county and State, and is one of which he and his may well be prond.
The Captain comes of a long line of honorable ancestry, and from a history of the Winger fam- ily, compiled by the Hon. B. F. Winger, of Green- castle, Pa., we extract the following: "The founder of the family in America was Karl Michael
Wenger, who emigrated from the Canton of Zu- rich, Switzerland, in 1736, and settled on Groff's Run, north of Bareville, now Earl Township, Lan- caster County, Pa. He bought a traet of land from the original proprictor, the title of which still remains in the hands of a lineal descendant of the same name as himself, and the chain of title from William Penn down shows no break in the Winger blood. His son, Jacob Wenger, grand- father of our subject, was born in 1783, and he changed the family name from Wenger to Winger, and his descendants adhere to that spelling. As far as known, he spent his entire life in his native county. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Weaver, and it is also supposed that she spent her entire life in Pennsylvania.
Jacob Winger, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., August 6, 1810. He learned the trade of a carpenter and followed it in that county until the year 1837, when, ac- companied by his wife and two children, he emigrated to the State of Ohio, making the jour- ney with a team. He located in Springfield, among its early settlers, and as his means were limited at that time, lie rented a house, but not long after was enabled to buy a home. He was a man of much enterprise and a great worker, and made money sufficient to buy a farm in 1843, located one mile east of Springfield on the National pike. He resided there and carried on his trade and superintended its improvement until 1850, when he sold that place and retired to the city, and in 1852, in company with William Whitely and others, he erected a shop on the corner of Wash- ington and Limestone Streets. and engaged in car- building, and then conducted the manufacture of agricultural implements, the firm manufacturing the first reapers ever made here. Mr. Winger fin- ally resumed house building, and was thus actively engaged until 1869, when failing health compelled him to retire from business. He died in the home of his son-in-law, in May, 1886, and thus passed away another pioneer who had ever been promi- nent in advancing the industrial interests of city and county for a period of nearly fifty years. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Trout. She was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and now
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makes her home with our subjeet. Of her ten children, six are now living, namely: Amaziah; Kate A., wife of Charles S. Ramsey, of Cheboygan, Mich .; Hannab, wife of John Sites, of Columbus, this State; George W., living in Springfield; John M., a resident of Springfield; Mary, wife of Theo- dore Troupe, of Springfield. Three of her ehil- dren died in infancy. Her son, Hezekiah, sacri- fieed his life on the altar of his country, having been an officer in the army during the late war. He was born in 1839 and was reared in Spring- field, and early learned the trade of a carpenter. On the first eall for troops, when the Rebellion broke out he was among the first to spring to arms, enlisted in Company F, Second Ohio Regiment, going out in the first company that went from Springfield, and took part in the first battle of Bull Run. He was honorably discharged with his regiment after the expiration of lis term of enlist- ment. He soon after assisted in raising Company I, Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant, served three years, then veteranized in the Eighth Cavalry and was pro- moted to the captainey of his company. He was wounded while fighting bravely at the battle of Lynchburg, Va., and from the effects of that wound never recovered, his death occurring in February, 1866. Thus died one whose gallant heart had beaten with true patriotism, and had led him to sacrifice even life itself for the old flag. The poet says: "He who for country dies, dies not, but lives forevermore."
The subject of this biographieal sketch was born in Lancaster County, Pa., September 13, 1835, and was two years of age when he was brought to this State. Ile attended the publie schools in Spring- field quite steadily until he was eigliteen years of age, and being studious, he gained a sound edu- cation. At that age he commenced to work in a a lumber yard, and was thus employed until 1860, and then engaged in the lumber business for him- self, and continued in it until 1862. He had been watching the course of the war with intense inter- est, and he determined to take part in it, and set- ting up his business affairs, he enlisted in June, 1862, in Company A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, commanded by Gen. Todd, and he did gallant
service throughout the remainder of the Rebellion. The most important battles in which he took an active part were those at Perryville, Stone River, Chicamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and in the battles along the way when he accom- panied Sherman on his mareh to Atlanta, and the siege and eapture of that eity. From there lie went, with his command, to Savannah, and thence through the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington, where he and his gallant men took part in the Grand Review. Throughout his whole career in the army lie displayed marked talent for military affairs, and his promotion from the ranks through the various official grades to be Lieutenant and thien to be Captain of his company was due entirely to his bravery and ability displayed on every oceasion that ealled for action on his part. The Captain was honorably discharged with his regiment, in June, 1865, and returning home, quietly resumed his old business as a lumber merchant. He carried it on until 1885, building up a paying trade, and then became connected with the Superior Drill Company, and for the past three years has been Su- perintendent of the works. He is a man of taet, diserimination and shrewdness, and is well endowed with activity and firmness, and mechanical ingenu- ity and skill, and is in every way fitted to occupy the responsible position that he holds in the over- seeing the work of one of the leading industries of the city.
Capt. Wing has been twice married. In 1867 he was wedded to Mary A., daughter of William and Susannah ( Barnett) Crothers, a native of Springfield. Two children were born of their mar- riage-Fanny C. and Laura. After a union of five years Mrs. Winger departed this life, leaving a pleasant memory of what she had been as a daughter, wife, mother, and friend. The marriage of our subjeet to his present wife took place in 1876, and the eozy comfort of their home and its delightful hospitality is due in a great part to her thoughtful eare. Her maiden name was Mary Barr, and she was a daughter of Amos Barr, and at the time of her marriage with the Captain was the widow of James Torbert.
In this brief review of the life of our subjeet it will be seen that as a man and a citizen his ree-
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ord is a high one, and that lie is a valued member of the community with whose interests, materially, socially and religiously, he has been so long and honorably associated. He and his wife are act- ive members of the First Presbyterian Church. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Mitchell Post, No. 45; and he is also identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons as a member of Clark Lodge, No. 101.
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OHN DICK, landscape gardener and Super- intendent of Ferncliff Cemetery, has, with hard labor guided by true genius, made this resting place of Springfield's dead a beauti- ful and attractive spot, one of the finest examples of a garden cemetery in the State. Mr. Dick is a native of Scotland, and he was born in Ayrshire, Jauuary 14, 1834. His father, David Dick, and his grandfather, John Dick, were also natives of that country, and both were practical gardeners, the former spending his entire life in the land of his birth. The father of our subject carried on his calling in Scotland for many years, but finally came to America with his wife and two children, and after residing in Cincinnati a few years, came to Springfield, and in this city passed the remain- der of his life, honored and respected by all who knew him, for his integrity and uprightness, that made him all worthy of trust. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Jessie Charles, and she was born in Edinborough, Scotland, and her remains now repose beside those of her hus- band, in Ferncliff. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of the following six children: John, Agnes, widow of James B. Hay, who resides in Springfield; David, deceased, who lies sleeping his last sleep in Ferncliff; James a resident of Ken- tucky; George; and James C., who died young.
John Dick, of this biographical review, passcd his early years in his native land, receiving the advantages of a sound education in the excellent academy in Kirkcudbright, spending some years there very profitably, and making rapid advance- ment in his studies. After leaving school he went into training for the vocation which his father and
grandfather had followed before him, and for which he seemed to have a special aptitude, due perhaps to hercdity. He received a thorough preparation for his work, serving an apprentice- ship of seven years at landscape gardening, and then attending the Royal Botanic Gardens, of which Prof. McKnabe was curate, Prof. Balfour, the renowned botanist, being the instructor in that branch of study. Our subject spent two years there, earnestly devoting himself to the acquirement of a practical knowledge of the work that lay before him in his future career in his chosen vocation. At the expiration of that time he came to America, as a fine field in which to exercise his calling remuncratively, and he soon obtained a position as gardener on Long Island, remained there a year, and then went to New Rochelle, N. Y., to remodel an estate. A year was consumed in that work, and he afterward revis- ited Scotland. A year later he returned to the United States, and was employed in Philadelphia, Pa., at liis trade one year. Lexington, Ky., was his next place of residence, and he worked at gar- dening in that city six years, and from there he went to Cincinnati, where he remained till 1863, and in that year he came to Springfield to take charge of Ferncliff, then a new cemetery which had not yet been platted, and has since been a res- ident of this city. He brings to his work an original, thoughtful, well-trained mind, and his decided talent has been so developed by education, he being thoroughily grounded in all the natural sciences that have a bearing upon his calling, that as practiced by him with his exquisite taste, is an art. And the citizens of Springfield who are so justly proud of this lovely cemetery, amid whose beauties their beloved dead lie sleeping, consider themselves very fortunate in securing the able ser- vices of such a man. His exceptional knowledge of botany and kindred subjects, and the informa- tion his acute observational powers have enabled him to glean, and his intelligent acquaintance with books and other matters render him an interesting companion. His character for firmness, kindly thought for others, and for unswerving integrity has made him widely respected in this city, where he has made his home for so many years.
yours truly July M. III. Jaunce
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An important event in the life of our subject, and one that has had an important bearing on his weal and comfort, was his marriage, in July 1863, to Miss Catherine Fitzsimmons, a native of Ire- land, though of Scotch antecedents. The joys of their wedded life have been partly in the birth of their four children-Charles, James, Jessie and Mary, and the sorrows have been in the death of two of them, Charles and Mary.
"If the Power maketh thus his pastures green, Maketh thus His quiet waters, Out of waste his heavens serene, Ye ean trust the mighty Shepherd Loseth none he ever led ; Somewhere yet a greeting waits thee On the faces of thy dead."
W. C. GANNETT.
Mrs. (Fitzsimmons) Diek departed this life Oc- tober 17, 1879, at her home in Springfield, and lies sleeping by the side of her children in Fern- eliff. Mr. Dick contraeted a second marriage with Margaret Simons, daughter of the Rev. Jacob Simons, of the Lutheran Church, a native of Penn- sylvania, born in 1800, now deceased. This mar- riage was celebrated January 15, 1881, and no chil- dren have been born of this union.
ELVILLE M. GAUNCE. Among the numerous well-edited papers of Xenia is the Democrat-News, of which Mr. Gaunee is the editor and proprietor. It is a four- page, nine-column folio, with a cireulation of fifteen hundred, and having the reputation, which it has justly earned, of being firm in the advocacy of what it believes to be right, both politieally and morally, it is widely read and en- joyed. The weekly organ of the Democratie party, it is their only representative in the vicinity. On the opposite page is shown a portrait of Mr. Gaunce, who, being a praetieal business manager as well as possessing superior ability, intellectually, is worthy of prominent mention among the wielders of the pen in Greene County.
A native of Kentucky, Mr. Gaunce was born
near Headquarters, Nicholas County, in January, 1833. His father, Martin Gaunee, was a substan- tial farmer, and was held in high esteem for his many sterling traits of character, being pre-emi- nently known for his honesty and honorable deal- ing.
Our subject remained at the 'homestead until eighteen years of age, when lie became a student at Asbury, now DePauw University, Greeneastle, Ind., at which institution he remained for two years. He then entered upon a course of study at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, being graduated from it in 1858. The following year he attended the Law School at Albany, N. Y., from which he received his diploma as a graduate in June, 1859.
Mr. Gaunce first located, in the practice of his profession as an attorney, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there went to Texas, where he sojourned for a short time engaged as a teacher. Later he set- tled in Hannibal, Mo., in the practice of the law, but the War of the Rebellion breaking out soon afterward, he returned to the old homestead in Kentucky, and there remained until 1862, when he was appointed County Clerk of Nicholas County, a position that he filled about nine months.
It was during Mr. Gaunce's oeeupaney of this office that Gen. Kirby Smith made his famous raid into Kentucky, and our subjeet then volunteered and served as a soldier in the Home Gnards. The serviee was a brief one, and after the advance of Kirby Smith's army, the rebels were so much en- couraged and emboldened in that section, that it became extremely unsafe for a Union man to live in that vicinity, and especially for one who, like Mr. Gaunce, had been appointed to and filled a political office in the place of its former rebel ineumbent, who had absconded or entered the rebel army.
It was on this account that Mr. Gaunee left the Blue Grass State and removed to Greenville, Ohio, where he practiced law for two years. In 1866 he located in Xenia, where for the next twelve years he followed the various duties of his profession. In the meantime he served as City Solicitor for two years.
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