USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 45
USA > Ohio > Logan County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 45
USA > Ohio > Shelby County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 45
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The parental family consisted of ten children, only three of whom are now living: our subject, Mrs. Maggie Maxson and Marion Omer. The first- named was born January 2, 1843, and passed his early childhood days in his native place, Clarke County. Hle received a common-school education at Port Jefferson, whither he removed with his parents when a child of six years. When seven- teen years old, he commenced to work for his uncle,
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Joseph Davis. on a farm in Clarke County, receiv- ing $13 per month, half of which he gave to his father while the remainder was used in buying his clothes.
August 9, 1862. our subject enlisted in Com- pany I. One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, and with his regiment marched to Parkersburg, Va., where he did guard duty for two weeks. Thenee he proceeded to Clarksburg. Va., from there to New Creek, the same State, and aecompan- ied the expedition to Winchester, where he partici- pated in the engagement of June 14, 1863. He was in the hottest of the fight, and while repulsing the enemy's charge was twice wounded. a minie-ball penetrating the left elbow and breaking the joint, while another ball cut a gash four inches long across his body. Through a fierce fire of shot and shell from both sides, he walked one and one-half miles to the hospital. which on the following morn- ing fell into the hands of the enemy. Fifty of the inmates were retained there, our subject among the number, until August 1, when the hospital was recaptured by the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Our subject was removed to Harper's Ferry, and three days later was taken to the Jarvis United States General Hospital at Balitmore, Md., where he remained until January 1, 1864.
On being transferred to the Second Battalion, Vet- eran Reserve Corps, by a general order dated March 23, 1864, Mr. Littlejohn was put on duty at New- ton University Hospital. on the corner of North and Lexington Streets, Baltimore, where he re- mained until July 26. He was thien transferred to Annapolis. MId., where he was on duty as Acting Hospital Steward at the Naval Academy Hospital until May 4, 1865. his special duty being to receive Union prisoners from Andersonville. Lastly, Mr. Littlejohn was sent to the Hicks I'nited States General Hospital at Baltimore. where he remained as Company Clerk until the expiration of his term of service. After having served with valor and distinction for three years, one month and twenty- four days, he was honorably discharged. October 2, 1865. and, returning to Ohio, resumed farming operations in Clarke County.
January 3. 1867, Mr. Littlejohn was married to Miss Emily A. Smith, who was born in Champaign
County, Ohio, February 3, 1845. Iler parents, John H. and Elizabeth (Buraker) Smith, were early settlers of Ohio, coming to Clarke County about 1835, and removing thence to Champaign County and from there to Jackson Township, Shelby County. By a previous marriage, Mr. Smith was the father of nine children. and he and his second. wife also had a family of nine children. Five of his sons were soldiers in the Civil War, and one of them, David, died at Nashville, Tenn., in 1864. Joseph was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, a portion of his skull being injured so as to necessi- tate removal and the insertion of a silver plate in its stead. Ten years afterward, he died from the effects of the wound. Mr. Smith died October 20, 1865, and his widow receives a pension on account of his services in the War of 1812.
After their marriage. our subject and his wife settled on a farm in Green Township. Shelby County, but two years later removed to Orange Township, where they made their home on thirty acres of partly-improved land. In 1876, they lo- cated on the homestead where they still reside and where they own ninety-six acres of good land. Their nine children are all living, with the excep- tion of Ida. who died when eleven months old. Harry, her twin brother, now lives in California; Denton W. is a resident of Wisconsin; Luella, Mrs. Marion F. Clayton, resides in Jackson Township and is the mother of one ehild; William Orla, Ollie E .. Charlie. Eva and Nellie are at home.
For fourteen years, Mr. Littlejohn has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has served as Steward, Class-leader and Trustee. His wife has been identified with the same denom- ination for over thirty years. For sixteen years. he has served as Director of his school district and has been a member of the Township Board of Edu- cation for the same period. Socially, he is a mem- ber of Lodge No. 458. F. & A. M., at Jackson Cen- tre, and has occupied the positions of Senior and Junior Warden, Treasurer and Senior Deacon. Ile is also identified with Smith Post No. 61. G. A. R., at Jackson Centre, the Sons of Temperance and the Grange, in which he has served as Master. In his political belief. he is a Republican and east his first Presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln at his
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second election. His fellow-citizens have called him to several positions of trust, where he has been able to render effective service for the community. For three terms, he was Trustee of Orange Town- ship and for one term filled the same office in Jack- son Township. He also served as Assessor for one term, and in addition has ocenpied other offices of a local nature.
C HARLES E. THOMSON. There are very few branches of business, if any, that re- quire more consideration and sympathetic feeling than that in which our subject is engaged, funeral director and embalmer. Their services are only called in under the most trying circumstances that can befall a family or friends, and the utmost tact, coupled with decision and perfect, unostenta- tions knowledge of the business, is required. In these points, Mr. Thomson, whose office is at No. 824 Main Avenue, is well grounded by nature and experience, and is one of the most prominent in his line in the State. Ile has been engaged in this business here sinee 1887, and was the first em- balmer in this part of the State.
Mr. Thomson was born in Troy, Ohio, on the 16th of March, 1858, and is a son of Joel T. and Helen (Gilkerson) Thomson. The grandfather was first Sheriff of Miami County, and our subjeet's father was born in the jail residence, and was of Seotch parentage. The latter was engaged for many years in the furniture and undertaking business, but later in life embarked in the undertaking busi- ness alone. The original of this notice was in busi- ness with him for twelve years, and at the time of the death of the father they had buried eleven thousand people. Joel T. Thomson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years. Ilis wife was a native of the Blue Grass regions of Kentucky. and eame with her mother to New Carlisle, Clarke County, Ohio, where she made her home until married. Eight children were born to them. two of whom are now deceased.
Charles E. Thomson received his education in the Union School of Troy, Ohio, and learned the trade of an undertaker of his father, remaining with him for some time. After doing common embalm- ing, he spent one year in a medical college, per- fecting himself in arterial embalming, and was one of the first who followed practical, thorough em- balming in this State. Mr. Thomson was with his father in the business in Troy until 1887, and owned a half-interest in the business there. He then disposed of this to his brother at Troy, and has since followed business at Sidney. He has been ealled to Cineinnati and other cities around to do thorough embalming, and his territory ex- tends twenty miles in every direction.
On the 24th of October, 1877, he was married to Miss Jennie L. Armstrong, of New Carlisle, and the two children born of this nnion, Jessie and Walter, died at the age of five and a-half years and eighteen months, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and are highly esteemed in the community. Mr. Thomson has shown his appreciation of secret organizations by becoming a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is an active member of both organi- zations. He bas buried two thousand three hun- dred and fourteen people, and has improved the business of undertaking in Sidney from the old way to the fine and scientific manner of to-day, He has resided in the Buckeye State all his life, and is a gentleman highly esteemed for his many intrinsie qualities.
AVID J. DAVIS, Postmaster of Wapakoneta, is well known in this city, and greatly respected for those qualities of head and heart that have won him the esteem and confi- dence of all with whom he associates. He is pop- ular in his official capacity, and is discharging the duties of his position with characteristic fidelity and greatly to the satisfaction of all concerned.
A native of this State, onr subject was born July 23, 1850, in Spring Valley, Greene County,
Thomas Halhuf M.A.
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and is a son of James and Mary (Colledge) Davis, both of whom hail from England. They were quite young when they came to the United States, the father taking up his abode in Pennsylvania, where he was a woolen manufacturer. Thence he came to this State, and in 1867 located in Wapa- koneta, where he is now living retired from the active duties of life.
Young Davis, of this sketch, learned the trade of a woolen manufacturer from his father, which line of work he followed until he was appointed Deputy Postmaster in 1876, being the incumbent of the position for seven and one-half years. During the Presidency of Mr. Arthur, he was ap- pointed Postmaster and served one term, then engaging in the grocery business. he built up a fine trade, and continued so employed until appointed to his present position by President Harrison. He has been a resident of this city nearly all his life, and has an extensive acquaintance through- out the county.
Miss Zidana L. Layton, a native of Anglaize County, Ohio, became the wife of our subjeet in 1874. and the two children born of this union bear the respective names of Otho C. and Wilbur L. The parents are members of the First Presby- terian Church, of which denomination the two sons are also firm adherents. Mr. Davis is in social matters a Knight of Pythias, having passed all the chairs in that order, and at the present time is Alternate. He is also connected with the Royal Arcanum, and was Representative to the Grand Lodge two terms. He is considered one of the most substantial and best respected resi- dents of this city, and is a man of much en- ergy, tact and business capacity.
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HOMAS WALKUP. M. D. The medieal profession has at all times attracted to its practice men of broad knowledge and ex- ceptional abilities. The village of Loramie's has been the home of several able practitioners, among whom none are held in greater esteem than the
gentleman whose portrait and biographical sketch are here presented. He was born in MeLean Town- ship, this county, November 23, 1858, and is the son of John Walkup, who came from his native coun- try, Ireland, to America with his parents when quite young. The latter located in Sidney, and came from there to MeLean Township, where the father of our subject grew to manhood and followed the occupation of a farmer. Ile is still residing there, and occupies a high position among the agricul- turists of his community. For twenty years he has held the office of Township Trustee and has served as County Commissioner for two terms.
The mother of our subject was known in her maidenhood as Mary Jane Edwards and by her union with Mr. Walkup became the mother of a family of six children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Ile was reared on the home farm and was given a good education in the schools near his home. He aided his father in carrying on the estate until reaching his majority, and when start- ing out for himself became a contractor and builder, erecting many of the edifices in his community, also building pikes, bridges, etc. It was his desire to become a bridge-builder, but he was obliged to abandon that line of work on account of sickness. He then decided to adopt the calling of a physician. and began the study of medicine in 1883, reading with Dr. E. B. Hamer, of Loramie's. Ile later took a course at the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cin- cinnati, from which college he was graduated in 1887 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
On receiving his diploma, Dr. Walkup located in Minster for the practice of medicine, but after re- maining there a few weeks, was called to Loramie's by the death of his former instructor, Dr. Hamer, and succeeded to his large practice. He is public- spirited, progressive and influential in all matters connected with his community, and enjoys the con- fidence and esteem of all with whom he is connected in business. as well as the affection of his more inti- mate associates. Ilis practice is constantly increas- ing and he is deserving of all the good fortune that may be allotted to him.
Dr. Walkup and Miss Mary. daughter of Clements Drees, were united in marriage in 1887. Her father is a native of this State and is engaged at his trade
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of a carriage-maker at Minster. To the Doctor and his wife has been born a daughter, Helen. Mrs. Walkup is a Catholic in religious matters. In poli- ties, the Doctor is a Democrat and has served as a member of the Village Board for some time. He is connected with the Minster Building and Savings Company, and is always willing to contribute his time and money to promote any worthy public enterprise.
LEXANDER MARTIN. Among the in- fuential and representative citizens of Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio, Mr. Martin stands pre-eminent, and a short sketch of his life will no doubt prove inter- esting. Ile was born in this township, February 20, 1834, and is a son of Benjamin Martin, and the grandson of Rev. George Martin, a native of Germany. it is supposed, who was a preacher in the Omish Church. The latter came to Ohio some time in the year 1800, and was one of the earliest settlers of Champaign County. Ile had a son Daniel, who served in the War of 1812, and died in his ninety-second year. Another son, Abram, and a daughter, Polly, are still living and have been residents of Champaign County, Ohio, for the past seventy years. Neither have ever married and Abram is about eighty-one years of age and Polly about eighty-eight years.
Benjamin Martin, the father of our subjeet. was born near Harrisburgh. Pa .. and when but a small boy came with his parents to Ohio. Ile sub- sequently made his home in Logan County, and was married there to Miss Elizabeth Burnside, a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1808. She was but eight years of age when she came with her parents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Gillin ) Burnside, to Ohio. and in the Buckeye State she passed her girlhood. She is now living and enjoys comparatively good health for her eighty-four years. The father died when fifty-nine years old. They were the parents of 1
seven children, three daughters and fonr sons, all but one now living, and all born in Logan County. They were as follows: Harriet, wife of David Short; Mary, Mrs. Underhill, of Logan County; Gabriel, who resides on the old homestead with his mother; Alexander, our subject; Abram, a farmer of Davis County, lowa; Elizabeth, wife of Harrison Pellet, of Fort Scott, Kan., and Benjamin who died in the service of his conntry in 1862.
Alexander Martin was the fourth in order of birth of the above-mentioned children and his first and only schooling was received in Monroe Town- ship, this county. Until twenty-eight years of age, he remained with his father on the farm, and in 1855, he and his two brothers, Gabriel and Abram, took a 85,000 contract on the Bellefontaine & Dela- ware Railroad, and after accomplishing about 82,500 worth of work the railroad company failed. He and his brothers took property in Bellefon- taine for pay and traded this for land in the town- ship. They received no pay from the company and of course lost considerable. On the 10th of March, 1864, our snbjeet was married in Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio, to Miss Rachel J., daughter of James A. and Louisa (Jacobs) Wilgus, and a native of Logan County. Ohio, born on the 8th of April, 1844.
Following his marriage, Mr. Martin located in Rush Creek Township, Logan County, Ohio. but subsequently removed to his present property, where he has continued ever since. Although Mr. and Mrs. Martin have no children of their own, they have reared five children. Our subject has a farm of sixty-five aeres and has a good breed of stock on his farm. lle is enterprising and progressive and makes every aere pay. In politics, he is a Republican, and socially a member of Lodge No. 424 .. I. O. O. F., at Zanesfield. He is a member of the Friends' Church of Westland, Mon- roe Township. and gives liberally of his means to further its interests. He comes of a long-lived stoek and has an unele who, although ninety-two years old. does a man's work. Another uncle re- siding in Davenport. lowa. is over eighty years of age. The longevity of the Burnside family is also unusual. grandfather Burnside having lived to be ninety-nine years of age. The latter had an
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innt who reached the marvelous age of one hun- Ired and fifteen years. She was a Virginian and t is said that at ninety years of age she could land on the ground and jump on the back of a common horse.
R EV. GEORGE W. HAMILTON. For more than seventeen years this gentleman has been aiding in the spread of the Gospel, devoting himself with assiduity and loving zeal to the work of the ministry. The center of his present field of labor is the United Pres- byterian Church in the city of Bellefontaine, where he has held pastorate for four years. He is a man of broad intelligence, decided literary abil- ity, and the dignified, yet winning, manners so thoroughly in keeping with his profession.
Our subject was born in New Wilmington, Pa .. March 1, 1848, and is the son of George and Re- becca (Strain) Hamilton, both natives of the Key- stone State and of Scotch-Irish descent. The grandfather, James Hamilton, came to America in 1792. and located in Beaver County, Pa., where he carried on his oeeupation of a farmer. Ile had two sons who participated in the War of 1812.
George Hamilton, Sr., was also a farmer and took considerable interest in local affairs, being the incumbent of many county offices. He emi- grated to lowa in middle life, where his deeease occurred. He was the father of a family includ- ing seven sons and three daughters, of whom our subject was the sixth in order of birth. The latter completed his education in the Monmouth ( III.) College, from which institution he was graduated in 1872. Ilaving decided to follow the ministry, he pursued his theological studies at Xenia. this State. and also took a course at the North western Theological Seminary at Chicago, under the in- struction of Dr. F. L. Patton. D. D.
Mr. Hamilton, of tlus sketch. was licensed to preach in June, 1875, and was ordained and given a charge at Elvira. lowa. in March. 1877. Three
years later, he became pastor of a church at Little York, Ill., and in 1886 was engaged in organizing missions in the Northwest, after which he ated as representative and financial agent of the Mon- mouth College for about eighteen months. Mr. Hamilton next assumed the pastorate of the United Presbyterian Church of this place, taking up his residence here in December, 1888, just after the completion of the new and elegant ehureh edifice. The growth of the congregation during his resi- dence here has been gratifying, and the good which the Rev. Mr. Hamilton has accomplished in the uplifting of humanity can only be measured when time shall be no more. The church is one of the oldest organizations in the city, it hav- ing been established with the settlement of the country.
Mr. Hamilton of this sketch and Miss Anna C. Young were united in marriage in 1878. His wife dying, our subject in 1890 chose for his second companion Mrs. Ella (Howenstine) Miller. MIrs. llamilton is the mother of three children by her first marriage. and by her second marriage one child, Helen. Our subject is a member of the College Board of his Alma Mater, and is one of the representative ministers of his denomination.
ILLIAM TSCHIUDIN, a prominent citizen and an ex-soldier, who served his country faithfully in the late unpleasantness be- tween the North and South, was born in the pic- turesque and lovely mountains of Switzerland on the 16th of November. 1844, and his boyhood days were passed in the city of Basle. where his birth occurred. His father. Jacob Tschudin. was also a native of Switzerland and a silk weaver by trade, working in the factories where silk ribbons were made. His wife. the mother of our subject, after the death of her husband brought our sub- jeet to this country. and here passed the remainder of her days, dying on the 3d of January, 1885. when in her seventy-first year.
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The subject of this sketch received a good prac- tical education in the schools of his native town, and was about thirteen years of age when he came to this country with his mother. This was in 1857. They sailed from Havre, France, and in crossing the ocean, young Tschudin was very siek, only recovering when he reached American soil. Immediately after landing, he came direct to Cin- einnati, where he attended school for a short time. lle then learned the shoemaker's trade, but aban- doned it for a short time, and in the spring of 1861. while in Cincinnati, he enlisted in Company D. Twenty-eight. Ohio, for three years, under Col. A. Moore. On the 10th of September of that year, he participated in the battle of Cannibick's Ferry (W. Va.), then Princeton (Va.), Sontlı Mountain, Antietam, Piedmont and others. Hle was discharged at Cincinnati at the expiration of his three years of service. In 1862, he was siek for some time and was given a furlough to come home, but later, on the 31st of May, 1868, he re- enlisted in the regular service, and was assigned to the Eighth United States Cavalry, being sent to Oregon. lle went by way of the Isthmus from New York, and served five years, participating in several Indian expeditions and seeing much of Western life. Ile was on duty at Camp Logan (Ore.). Camp MeDermit (Nev.), and Ft. Union, (N. M.). From there he was sent on a scouting ex- pedition to Arizona and was thus engaged most of the time. Ile was in most of the Territories, was in many encounters with the Indians, and had his horse shot from under him. In 1872. he was dis- charged at Ft. Garland, Colo., having been pro- moted to be Sergeant in the regular service.
Returning to New Bremen, Mr. Tschudin en- gaged in the carpenter's trade. and this continued up to about 1886, since which time he has been engaged in house painting. lle has been twice married, first on the 30th of October. 1873, to Mrs. Margaret (Entrees) Wachtler, who was also twice married. She passed away on the 9th of August. 1887. leaving no issue. On the 220 of November, 1889. Mr. Tsehudin united his fortune with that of Miss Louisa Weimburg, a native of Germany, who came with her parents. Frederick and Dora Weimburg, both natives of the Old Country. to
America in 1849, and located with them in Cincin- nati. There her father followed the trade of a wagon-maker for some time, but moved to Ports- mouth and lived in various other places until 1859, when he came to New Bremen and here worked at his trade until his death, when forty-two years of age. The mother is now living and finds a com- fortable home with our subject. Mrs. Tschudin is the only daughter of four children, all of whom are living, and she was educated in the schools of New Bremen. Mr. Tschudin is a Republican in his political views, but has never aspired to any poli- tical position. Ile and wife hold membership in the St. Peter's Lutheran church, and he is a Trustee and Treasurer of the same. Mrs. Tschudin has stock in the New Bremen Natural Gas Company, and also owns stock in the Piqua National Bank. They have a fine residence on Franklin Street, New Bremen.
S. BUTCHER. It is with pleasure that we recount the experiences of those of the citi- zens of Auglaize County, Ohio, who came here in the early days, and underwent hard- ships and privations that they might develop the rich resources of this region and bring about the condition which we see to-day. Among these brave and hardy men was the grandfather of our sub- jeet, James Butcher, who was a descendant of an old and prominent Virginia family. ITe was born in the Old Dominion, and at a very early day emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, then an almost unbroken wilderness, and there set about clearing and im- proving a farm. On this fine tract, which he im- proved in every way, he remained until about sev- enty years of age, and then moved to Indiana, and died in that State in 1868, when ninety years of age. Ile had married Miss May Cowden, a native also of that grand old State, Virginia, and she also passed away in Indiana, about 1850, when seventy-live years of age.
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