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 96
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 96
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Dr. Watt, his wife, and their daughter also, belong to the Third United Presbyterian Church of this eity. Not only for the work which he has ae- complished in the fields of professional seience, but for his own upright manhood and personal qualifi- cations and attainments, Dr. Watt is highly re- spected, and fills a prominent place among the eitizens.
OHN G. ZEINER, undertaker and dealer in household furniture, has been for some years doing a thriving business in Jamestown, Greene County, where he established him- self in 1862. He is one of that class of men who began in a modest manner and who by perseverance and industry have worked their way up to a good position, socially and financially. For many years he carried on the manufacture of furniture and caskets, having turned out of his shop nearly four hundred burial eases, before he could receive his supplies from other markets. Many a time he worked all night to fill his orders, especially dur- ing the times of epidemics and at one time worked five nights and five days without lying down on a bed. Ile possessed an iron constitution but his long-continued labors had a sensible effect upon his health. He is now taking life more easily, the business being mostly eondneted by his son Frank.
Mr. Zeiner was the pioneer in this business in Greene County, having established the first furni- ture shop in Jamestown and since then has had very little competition. IIe has always turned out first-class work and is noted for his honesty and re- liability. He is the oldest undertaker in the county and keeps a full stoek of everything required in this line. Considering the fact that he came to this section without incans and $300 in debt, he ecrtainly deserves great credit for the position whiel he now occupies. He has eaneeled liis in- debtedness and acquired a handsome property.
Prior to his removal to Jamestown Mr. Zeiner
was for two years a resident of Cedarville, to which he removed from Lewistown, Pa. He learned his trade there under Anthony Felix, an undertaker and cabinet-maker with whom he served an appren- tieeship of three years. Besides his board and eloth- ing, he received the first year $15, the second year $20 and the third year $25. He consequently had nothing saved and it took hard labor and elose management in order to gain a foothold after eom- meneing in business for himself. He became a skilled workman, however, and was not afraid to exhibit the produet of his handiwork anywhere in the State.
The subject of this notice was born on the other side of the Atlantic in the Kingdom of Bavaria, January 7, 1827. He is of staneh German ancestry, as far back as is known, and the son of John G. Zeiner, Sr., a native of Saxe Coburg, who in early life followed the profession of a musician, and later, for a time, was engaged as a shoemaker, but finally turned his attention to farming. He married Miss Maria Fink, likewise a native of Bavaria and of German parentage. After the birth of three chil- dren they set out in the spring of 1840 for Ainer- iea, taking passage at the port of Bremen on the three masted sailer, "Sophia," which after a tedious and dangerous voyage of two months during which they encountered frightful storins, landed them in the city of Baltimore, thence proceeded to Me Alisterville, Pa. Later they removed to Lew- istown in the vieinity of which they settled and where the father and daughter Margaret died. The former was seventy-three years old. The daughter had been married and died at the age of thirty years. The wife and mother continued to reside in Lewistown and died in 1883, at the advaneed age of eighty-four years. She came of a good family and was the daughter of an officer in the German Government. Both she and her husband were consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
The subject of this notice was married near Lewistown, Pa., February 24, 1853, to Miss Mary Bewer. This lady was born near that place, in 1832, and was a daughter of George and Sarah (Sares) Bower who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Holland-Duteh stock. The parents died in middle life and when their daughter Mary was a small
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child. She was then taken into the home of her unele, Ira Sares, who is still living in Pennsylvania and is now quite aged.
Mrs. Zeiner was treated like an own child, being well reared by her uncle, and given a good educa- tion. Of lier union with our subject there have been born six children, the eldest of whom, James O., died at the age of twenty-three years; he was a promising young man, a blacksmith by trade and one in whom his parents took especial pride. In their sore bereavement they were tendered the sym- pathy of the entire community. The surviving children are recorded as follows: Frank married Mrs. Anna J. Ilickson of Jamestown ; they live on Xenia Street and Frank has the management of his father's business in town; Margaret is the wife of C. L. Crain, a saddler by trade and they live in Cedarville; William married Miss Rosa Harness and they reside on Xenia Street, Jamestown; this son is a carriage-maker by trade. Flora is the wife of C. M. Ridgeway, Jr., and they live at Yellow Springs where he is occupied as a druggist; Albert is unmarried and remains with his parents, assisting his father in the store.
Mr. Zeiner, politically, is an uncompromising Democrat. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Blue Lodge, No. 352 which he joined at the time of its organization.
W ILLIAM J. RAMSEY. The farmers of Clark County are generally men of intelli- genee, good eharacter and enterprise, who manifest their zeal not only in furthering their worldly prosperity but in advaneing every worthy cause. They are desirous of bestowing upon their deseendants better opportunities than they them- selves enjoyed and encourage to the utmost the aspiration of the young toward all that is elevating and progressive. Of this elass is the subject of this sketch, who is numbered among the citizens of Madison Township.
The natal day of our subjeet was September 7, 1842, and his birthplaec the City of Brotherly Love. His parents were Samuel and Catherine (Elliott)
Ramsey, who came to Ohio in 1856. Here the father died June 16, 1883; the mother is still living and is now sixty-six years of age. She is a daugh- ter of George Elliott of Philadelphia, formerly from Ireland, who married a Miss Reid. The gen- tleman of whom we write received his education mainly in his native city which he left at the age of thirteen years. The first few years of his life in this State were devoid of unusual interest, his time being spent very much as was that of other youths. After the breaking out of the Civil War he desired to assist in the preservation of the Union, but was at first refused on account of an injured arm. He finally succeeded in his desire, and becoming a member of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth In- fantry went to Fayette County, W. Va., where the command did garrison duty. After having served his termi and won his honorable discharge he re- turned to his home and the duties of eivil life.
On December 18, 1866, Mr. Ramsey led to the hymeneal altar Miss Jennie Murray, who for nearly a quarter of a century has shared his joys and sor- rows and ever shown herself a loving and devoted wife and mother. She is a daughter of George Murray, one of the old settlers of the county. The young couple settled on the old Murray homestead where she was born. After living there about thirteen years they removed to their present loca- tion about a half mile from the village of South Charleston. They have six children: Murray E., George E., Nellie K., Joseph M., Annie Berniee LaFarehe, and C. Wilbur.
The oldest son is a physician in Sonth Charleston and now has a fair practice. IIe was graduated from the High School of South Charleston and afterward took a several years' eourse at the Ohio Umiversity where he studied civil engineering. He chose the medical profession and after studying with Dr. M. H. Collins, he entered the Medieal College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, where, after a three years' course he was graduated. He had studied hard to obtain his diploma which he did at the age of twenty-one years, being the youngest graduate from the institution up to this time. The second son is also a graduate of the South Charleston sehools, and is at present attending Delaware Col- lege. He is now in his Sophomore year and will
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graduate in '92. Already he is a fine linguist, hav- ing a natural aptitude for the study of languages. Nellie K. will graduate from the South Charleston selools this year and if she keeps her health will also obtain a college education, as she is very am- bitious to exeel in mental acquirements. Joseph is now fifteen years old and with the younger mem- bers of the family is attending sehool.
Mr. Ramsey has been a member of the School Board for six years and was President of that body five years. In polities he is a thorough Republican. He belongs to Fielding Lodge, No. 192, A. F. & A. M., of South Charleston, of which he has been Worshipful Master several times; he is also a member of Adoniram Chapter at London, this State; and the Palestine Commandery of Knights Templar at Springfield.
ON. WILLIAM BALDWIN. This name is familiar to a large portion of the eitizens of Clark County as belonging to one of its most prominent and popular men. He has filled many offiees of trust and responsibility both here and elsewhere and has made for himself a fine reeord as a man and a eitizen. His home for the last eight years has been on seetion 5, Moorefield Township, where he prosecutes farming to a mod- erate degree and also lias various other interests de- . manding his attention. He is looked upon as a representative eitizen-one who has been no unim- portant factor in promoting the material interests of his township and eounty.
A native of Champaign County, this State, Mr. Baldwin was born January 11, 1834, and is a son of Judge Samuel V. and Catherine (Van Metre) Baldwin. The father was a native of Berkeley, Va., whenee he eame to Ohio with his parents at the age of ten years. The father seeured a traet of land in Moorefield Township, adjoining that owned by his son, where he opened up a good farm, while at the same time prosecuting the profession of law. The Baldwin family beeame widely and favorably known in this part of the State. Samuel V. was a man thoroughly educated and one who kept abreast
of the times, interesting himself in all that per- tained to the welfare and advancement of his adopted State. The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Joseph Baldwin, who for many years conducted a tannery in Girardstown, Va. One of his brothers had purchased land in Clark County which he finally traded for the tannery plant in Virginia, and then Joseph Baldwin and his family emigrated to Ohio and settled on this land which has been in the possession of some member of the family up to the present time. Grandfather Bald- win liere spent. the remainder of his days, dying about 1848 or 1850 in the house oeeupied by our subjeet.
Judge Samuel V. Baldwin praetieed law the most of his life and for many years was the Prosecuting Attorney of Champaign County. When the office of Probate Judge was ereated, he was the first man eleeted to the diselarge of its duties which he ful- filled with great eredit to himself up to the time of his death. He began his law studies under the instruetion of Gen. Israel Hamilton, a noted at- torney of Urbana, in whose offiee he spent two years. He took great pride in his ehosen profes- sion, was a close student and an extensive reader and there were few points in common law of which he had not a thorough understanding. To him and his estimable wife there was born a family of seven children only four of whom are living, viz: Will- iam, of this sketeli; Joseph, a resident of Spring- field; Caroline, Mrs. James Anderson, of Urbana, and Frank, a farmer of Moorefield Township. Sam- uel Baldwin, when first becoming a voter joined the old Whig party and was a warm admirer of Henry Clay. Upon the abandonment of that party he cordially endorsed Republiean principles of which he remained a firm supporter. The mother de- parted this life Mareh 31, 1871, the deeease of her husband occurring in September, 1861.
Samuel Baldwin, the father of our subjeet, had four brothers, namely : William, Joshna, Frank and John. William was a large land owner and was very prominent, being one of the very few who had money at that time; this he often loaned to those whom he considered reliable, and by so doing. as- sisted many to proeure homes for themselves. He remained unmarried, and was a commissariat officer
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in Ifull's army. Subsequently he founded the first Western wholesale dry-goods house in New York City under the firm name of Baldwin, Dibley and Work; in this enterprise John and Joshua after- ward beeame partners. The New York house is still extant, operated by Frank Work. The other SOD, Frank, went to sea early in life and was never heard of afterward. The brothers successfully re- tired from business, William and John returning to Clark County, and Joshua settling in Columbus, Ohio. The only child of the latter, a daughter, married Thomas Rhinard, of New York City, and removed there, dying some years ago.
Mr. Baldwin, of whom we write, spent his ehild- hood and youth on the farm with his parents, assisting in developing the land and becoming fa- miliar with the various pursuits of rural life in the pioneer times. He pursued his early studies in the public schools of Clark and Champaign Counties and at an early age signified his intention of fol- lowing in the footsteps of his honored father, and after due preparation in the office of Ichabod Cor- win, of Urbana, he entered the law department of Cincinnati College, where, after completing his studies, he successfully passed a rigid examination and received a diploma. He commenced the prac- tice of his profession in Urbana and followed it until the outbreak of the Civil War, and then upon the same day that Ft. Sumter was fired upon, he determined to respond to the eall for troops to as- sist in the defense of the Union, and enlisting was at onee elected Captain of Company K, Second Ohio Militia, and went out with the ninety days' men, doing duty in and around Washington City for about four months. They also went into Vir- ginia at the time of the battle of Bull Run and sub- sequently Capt. Baldwin was in command of the Post at Camp Upton, which contained large amounts of army supplies.
At the expiration of his first term of enlistment, the Captain re-enlisted as a private in Company G, Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, but was almost imme- diately appointed Second Lieutenant of the Twenty- sixth Regiment, which he soon afterward joined in West Virginia. Later under the command of Gen. Sherman he went with the Atlanta campaign, par- ticipating in the famous march to the sea. On the
18th of June, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain, he was shot in the knee and disabled. While confined at the Cincinnati Hospital he was appointed a member of the Military Commission which tried the Ken- tucky guerrillas for crimes and misdemeanors com- mitted against Union soldiers and citizens. He served with the Commission nearly one year, then rejoined his regiment with which he remained. Later he was appointed the First Lieutenant of Company C, Third Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, and served for some time after the war had ended. Before finally returning home he was oc- eupied as a clerk in the Paymaster-General's office at Washington, D. C., but finally resigned this po- sition and returned to his native county where he engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The next important event in the life of our sub . ject was his marriage which oeeurred April 9, 1869, with Miss Emily Read. Mrs. Baldwin was a native of the same county as her husband and was born August 28, 1840. Her parents, Joel and Leah (Weldon) Read were carly settlers of Champaign County in 1818. Mr. Read was a native of Dela- ware while his estimable wife was born in Pennsyl- vania. They spent their last years in that county.
Shortly after his marriage Mr. Baldwin removed to Kansas and settling in Wiehita put up the first dwelling of any importance in that eity. He re- sumed his law practice and sojourned there for a period of eight years. In 1876, returning to Washington, D. C., he was given a position in the War Department, and remained there five years and during the administration of President Hayes, remaining until after the incoming of President Garfield. He finally resigned and returned to Ohio. In Wiehita he served as City Attorney five years, also as Probate Judge of Sedgwick County one term and as a member of the Kansas Legislature.
In Mareh, 1865, Mr. Baldwin had been com- missioned by President Andrew Johnson as a Bre- vet-Major and after going to Kansas he served as a Colonel in the State Militia on the Staff of Gov. Osborn. While with the Veteran Reserve Corps he was the Commandant of old Ft. Sullivan, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Old friends and old associations, however, proved a strong attrac- tion and he finds himself nowhere so contented as
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Vincent Glass
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in his native State. He is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace in Moorefield Town- ship and is also a member of the Township Board of Education. It is hardly necessary to state that in politics he is a sound Republican. He has been for many years identified with the Masonic frater- nity and while at the Capital was a Master Mason in the C. B. French Lodge.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, the eldest of whom, William Jr., makes his headquarters in the city of Springfield; Blanche, a well-educated young lady, occupies herself as a teacher; Leah and Read are at home with their parents. Mr. Baldwin has seventy acres of land, where with his family he lives comfortably and en- joys the confidence and esteem of those around him. He is looked upon as a liberal and public-spirited citizen and one who tenders a uniform support to the various projects calculated for the good of the people around him.
INCENT GLASS. A long course of perse- vering industry and prudent management on the part of the gentleman above named, has resulted in the accumulation of a competence which has enabled him to retire from the toils of life, and spend his declining years in ease and en. joyment. For seven years he has been living on a small farm in Silver Creek Township, Greene County, to which he retired from the larger estate upon which he had spent thirty years of his active life. He still owns the farm which was the scene of his long and successful labors, it being located in the southern part of the township, and com- prising one hundred and sixty acres. His present home is situated on the Washington and James- town Pike, and is supplied with every comfort. Here, surrounded by children and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Glass are passing "gently down the stream of time," their mental faculties unimpaired, and their good temper unchanged by the flight of years and the struggles through which they have passed.
Mr. Glass was born in Campbell County, Va., June 3, 1815, and remained in his native State
until he had entered his teens. He then came to Ohio with his parents, who located in this county. Their journey was made by teams, some four weeks being consumed in travel, during which time they camped by the wayside. The parents being poor and their family a large onc, they made their start on rented land, all who were able to work assisting in various ways to build up the family fortune. Our subject, therefore, had no educational advantages, but being by nature en- dowed with good judgment and a bright mind, he ranks in the scale of intelligence with many who have received good advantages.
In Champaign County lived John and Susannah (Beaver) Stanley and their family. They were natives of Virginia and South Carolina respect- ively, were married in the South, and had a family of four children when they determined to make a home north of Mason and Dixon's line. Early in the present century they settled on a new farm in Madison County, Ohio, where on September 15, 1815, a daughter was born that they named De- lilah. Some time afterward the family removed into Champaign County, near Mechanicsburg, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives, living to quite an advanced age. Mr. Stan- ley was a Whig and a Republican, and both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were righteous people in all that terin implies, and under their charge their children grew to maturity with a clear understanding of their duties and of the beauty of right living. Their entire family comprised twelve children, tbe larger number of whom are yet living.
Miss Delilah Stanley having been wooed and won by Vincent Glass, became his wife and true help- inate, sharing in every way possible in his strug- gles, as she has in his successes. She has borne him ten children, two of whom are deceased. These are, Susannah, who died at the birth of her first child, who has been reared by the grandpar- ents and is called Ida M .; Louisa also left one child, Louisa Jennie, and this little one likewise was cared for by the grandparents. Of the sur- viving children of Mr. and Mrs. Glass we note the following: James A. married Lottie Stewart, and lives on a farm in Jefferson Township, Fayette
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County ; Elias, who married Lavina Hatfield, is operating his mother's farm in Silver Creek Town- ship, this county; William married Samantha Creamer, and is farming in this township; Lu- cinda is the wife of Samuel Tidd, a farmer in Del- aware County, Ind .; Emeline is the wife of John Hargrave, whose home is in Jefferson Township, this county; Flora is the wife of Daniel Bailey, a farmer in this township; Rebeeea is the wife of Benjamin Byran, of this township; Charles inar- ried Ella Johnson and farms in this township.
In Campbell County, Va., William Glass and Lovina Ross were born, grew to maturity, and be- gan their wedded life, in a farming community. Twelve children were born to them, and one had been removed by death before they came to Ohio, the youngest member of the family being at that time three years old. The subject of this sketeh is the fourth son and sixth child. Five sons are yet living, all farmers and residents of the same township. For some time after their arrival in this State, life was quite a struggle to the family, but the father finally secured a home, where be and his good wife spent their last days. Mr. Glass was eighty-three years of age when he breathed his last, and his widow, who survived some time, reached the age of eighty-four years. She was a member of the Christian Church. He was a Whig and later a Republiean, a man of excellent charae- ter and well respected. Although he lived many years he never had the pleasure of riding on the ears.
Mr. and Mrs. Glass, of this notice, are members of the Christian Church, and the husband is a stanch Republiean. They have a host of friends in the county, where their reputation for honesty and goodness is unexeelled. The many friends of Mr. Glass will be pleased to notice his portrait elsewhere in this volume.
OFTUS W. LINTON. As a member of the farming community of Jefferson Township, Greene County, Mr. Linton has been a de- cided sueeess. He resides a short distance from Bowerville, and makes a specialty of stock-raising,
giving mueh attention to Poland-China swine. He settled upon his present farm in March of 1887, having removed hither from Clinton County. He was born in Wilmington, that county, March 21, 1864, and is the son of the Hon. Nathan M. Linton, who is still engaged in the practice of law at Wil- mington. The father of our subject was also born in .Wilmington, and fairly earned his title of Hon- orable by representing his eounty in the State Legislature. He was married in Clinton County, to Miss Mary A. Linley, who only remained his companion for about seven years. At her death four children were left motherless, of whom Loftus W., our subjeet, was then only two and one-half years old, and is the only survivor.
The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Seth Linton, a native of Union Township, Clinton County, this State, where he was reared and mar- ried, and where he is still living at the age of sev- enty-four years. His wife, formerly Miss Sarah A. Moore, likewise a native of Clinton County, was a daughter of one of its pioneer families. She is still living, and although seventy-one years old, is ac- tive and healthy, and in full possession of all her faculties. Both she and her husband were reared in the Quaker faith in which Grandfather Linton served as an Elder, and the grandmother a preacher. The father of Seth was Nathan Linton, a native of Pennsylvania, a descendant of William Penn, and also a Quaker in religion.
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