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 46
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 46
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 46
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Their son, Nathan Buteher, father of our sub- ject, first saw the light of day in Virginia, and was but a boy when his parents emigrated to the far West. He assisted his father in elearing the farm, and in 1843. when but twenty-one years of age. he took a deed for the farm. He married Miss Elizabeth Sullins, a native of Virginia, who came to Licking County, Ohio, with her parents when but seven years of age. When twenty-eight years of age, she was married to Mr. Nathan Buteher, and went with him on the before-men- tioned farm. She was a devoted wife and mother. a true and faithful friend, and a woman widely and favorably known for her many excellent and womanly qualities. She died in 1885. Mr. Buteher was a Democrat in politics.
The original of this notice was born in Licking County, Ohio. in 1838, and received a common- school education, as good as the time and circum- stances would admit. At the early age of fifteen, he started out to fight his own way in life, and first went to live with his grandmother, whose farm he worked until nineteen years of age. when the grandmother died. He then farmed this for the heirs two years longer, and then entered a farm in Knox County, on which he remained until 1861. From there he moved to his present farm, and cleared it of the wood and brush covering it. This tract of land consisted of eighty acres at that time, and was in Logan Township. Since then, Mr. Buteher has added to the original traet until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of as good land as is to be found in the section. It is nearly all improved, is ornamented with good, substan- tial buildings, and. being progressive and wide- awake. he has all the modern farm appliances to operate it.
Miss Catherine Crotinger, who became his wife in 1859, was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1840, and her father was Henry Crotinger, of Lick- ing County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Butcher's union was blessed by the birth of eight children. all hy- ing: William Henry, Sarah, Alice, Ellen, Martha, Cora. James. and Clarence. Four are married and three of them are residing in Buekland, this county. and one resides in Waynesfield. These children are all well educated, and are bright and
intelligent. Mr. and Mrs. Butcher are prominent and active members of the Church of the Disci- ples, and in politics the former is a striet Democrat. Ile has been Justice of the Peace for the last twenty-two years. and has a large legal business at his office. He is a pushing, enterprising farmer, and has many warm friends.
ILLIAM W. HAMER. M. D., a wide-awake and progressive physician of Bellefon- taine, was born in Logan County, March 9, 1851, and has been well fitted for his life work. In the State of his nativity he began his school life, and his early training was supplemented by a regular collegiate course. When it came time to make a choice of some business which he would wish to make his life work, he determined to en- gage in the practice of medicine, and with this end in view, entered the medical department of the Butler University at Indianapolis. Ind., from which institution he was graduated in 1881, after having pursued a thorough course.
The parents of our subject were John and Char- lotte (Spellman) Hamer, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The family is of Ger- man extraction, and the parents came to Ohio in an early day. Three brothers emigrated from Pennsylvania to this State in 1828, and were among the prominent professional men of this see- tion. The father of our subject was a farmer by vocation, and died while residing in Logan County.
Dr. Hamer of this sketch was the only son born to his parents, and supplemented the knowledge gained in the public schools by an attendance of one year at Delaware. Ohio. After completing his studies, he engaged in the drug business at Urbana and De Graff for some time, and later on. remov- ing to Fowler, Ind., also purchased a stock of drugs, in the retailing of which he was employed for three years. In the meantime, having read medicine, he entered the Butler University at In- dianapolis, and was graduated therefrom in 1881.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
After receiving his degree of Doctor of Medi- cine, our subject practiced for two years at Quincy, this State, and eight years at De Graff. In April of 1891, he took up his abode in Bellefontaine, where he has built up an extensive practice. He started out in life on his own account, without a dollar in money, and worked his own way through college. lle is to-day in comfortable circumstances, has an office fully equipped with all the appliances necessary for the practice of medicine, and also has a nice residence in the city.
In 1875, Dr. Hamer and Miss Anna E. Hender- son were united in marriage. Ile takes an active part in medical societies, being identified with the American Medical Association and the Logan County Medical Society. Ile also holds a certifi- cate from the Chicago Polyelinie School, which he attended for one term lle is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias, and is a man of broad knowledge and exceptional abil- ities, and among the many able practitioners of this city occupies a very prominent position.
YRUS MAKEMSON. It is with pleasure that we present to our readers a life sketch of the oldest resident of Pleasant Township, and possibly the oldest in Logan County. We mean oldest in that he made his home here at an earlier date than any other of our pioneers who still survive. He was born in this county, on the farm where he now lives, July 26, 1820, and in- herits Scotch blood from both the paternal and maternal sides of the house. llis father, John Makemson, was born in the Blue Grass regions of Kentucky in 1781, and there followed farming until 1806, when he decided to locate in Ohio. IIe made the journey by ox-team, and camped out on the way. He bought the farm now owned by our subject, one hundred and sixty aeres, from the Government, and was the first white settler in the township. Indians were very numerous. and he was on intimate terms with the friendly Indians.
traded with them, and often assisted them in con- strueting their rude log cabins. Deer, bears, wild hogs and other animals abounded, but Mr. Makem- son cared very little for hunting, preferring to spend his time in improving and clearing his place. His brother Thomas, however, was a great hunter and killed a great many bears and deer. Mr. Ma- kemson had to do all his trading at Urbana, a small place with only a few log cabins, and during sev- eral Indian raids he and his family, as well as his neighbors, would go to Urbana and seek safety in the block-housc. He served in the War of 1812. Ilis cabin here was made of round logs, with an open fireplace, mud and stick chimney, etc., and here he passed the closing scenes of his life, dying in 1843. Ile was a member of the German Bap- tist Church, and a Whig in politics.
By his marriage to Miss Margaret Lindsey, a na- tive of Kentucky, seven children were born, as fol- lows: Vincent, deceased; Elizabeth. deceased; Jolin, deceased; Lindsey; Mary ( Mrs. Henderson); Cyrus and James, deceased. The mother was a member of the German Baptist Church, and died in 1875, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Her people were of Scotch descent. Our subject was reared in this county and passed his youthful days in assisting on the farm, attending school, taught in the primitive log schoolhouse of pioneer days, and in playing with the Indian children, with whom he was on intimate terms. The log school- house of his remembrance had greased paper for window lights, a large open fireplace capable of taking in immense logs, mud and stick chimney, and slab benches. All were subscription schools then. Our subject used to go on horseback to market and, as there were no roads, he followed a path through the woods. Ile saw lots of deer and wild turkeys. but he never hunted much, Assisting in clearing the farm was his chief employment in youth and for recreation he would go to log-roll- ings. spelling matches, etc.
After the death of the father, our subject took charge of the farm and eventually bought out the other heirs to it. In 1845, he married Miss Ara- bella Huber, a native of Virginia, born in 1825, and the fruits of this union were six children : Eman- uel, John, Mary (Mrs. Pool). Margaret ( Mrs. Horn),
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Barbara ( Mrs. Kenan). and Winfield. Mrs. Makem- son passed away in 1890. Mr. Makemson is the owner of three hundred and ninety acres of land, nearly all improved, the most of which he has done him- self. In connection with farming, he is engaged in stock-raising, and has fattened a great many cattle, making a specialty of that kind of stock. He built his present large brick residence in 1871, and his substantial barn in 1861. Our subject is a Methodist, as was also his wife, and is always a liberal supporter of his church. In politics, be sides with the Republicans. and has held a number of township offices. lle has been very successful, and has made nearly all his wealth by industry and perseverance. Ile has seen the entire growth of the county and bas done his share toward its progress and development. He has one of the finest places in the township, is one of its repre- sentative citizens, and has many i iends and few, if any, enemies.
n ICHOLAS STALEY is one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Shelby County, owning a fine farm in Perry Township. where he is held in high consideration as a citizen, who earnestly strives to advance its best interests. lle is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Cobel) Staley, natives of North Carolina, the father's birth occurring in 1780 and the mother's about 1782. The latter died in 1817 and Mr. Staley was again married and, coming to Ohio in an early day, lo- cated on a new farm nine miles north of Dayton. in Montgomery County. There his death occurred in 1867. By his second marriage three children were born. only one of whom is now living. The father was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Lutheran Church. and voted the Democratic ticket.
The original of this sketch is the only survivor of the family of seven children. bis birth occurring May 14. 1810. on the old homestead in the above-
named county. He received a limited education and when thirteen years of age was bound out to John Staley until reaching his majority. When starting out in life for himself, he had $75 in money and worked out for the farmers in the vicinity of his home, making rails at twenty-five cents per hundred.
The lady to whom Mr. Staley was married Octo- ber 5, 1837. was Miss Mary, sister of David Baker. whose sketch will be found on another page in this volume. She was born March 8, 1819, and re- ceived a thorough training by her excellent par- ents. In 1831, our subject came to this county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 8, Salem Township, for which he paid the United States Government $1.25 per acre. The land and surrounding country in that early day were in their primitive state and the Indians and wild animals, which were very numerous, often proved troublesome in the extreme. Mr. Staley killed fifty-two turkeys in two weeks, which gives ns some idea of the wildness of the region.
On locating in this State, he of whom we write entered five or six different pieces of land from the Government, baving to go on foot to the land- office at Piqua. His good wife died February 11. 1884, they having become the parents of eight children, of whom the following are living: Mar- garet Ann is the wife of John Bruner and lives on the old Staley homestead; Henry married Priscilla Dingman and lives in Green Township; John T. married Jennie Cargill and makes his home in Salen Township; Sarah Jane is the wife of Port Blue and makes her home in Henry County; Susan D. mar- ried John Ward and resides in Perry Township; Squire N. married Tena Brendel and is located in Perry Township.
Mr. Staley has been a member of the Christian Church for forty years and has always been a reg- ular attendant and taken an active part in all the meetings of that body, having served as Deacon for some time. In local affairs. he has been School Director and as an adherent of the Democratic party east his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, by whom his patent for land in this region was signed. He has rendered efficient service to the traveling publie while Supervisor of Roads.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD:
and now in his eighty-second year is hale and hearty.
Our subject has been the architect of his own fortune, his fine property being the result of his savings. Besides the old homestead, which com- prises one hundred and thirty-one acres, he owns eiglity acres in this township, nearly all of which he has cleared himself. Ile now occupies a good residence and has on his place a ten-aere locust grove, every tree of which he set out himself. Our subject has given to his children a share of his land as well as a start with other assistance.
OHN SMITH, a prominent old settler and large landowner on section 6, Harrison Township, Logan County, was born at the head-waters of Yellow Creek, in Jefferson (now Carroll) County, Ohio, March 15, 1816. His father, Michael Smith, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, born on the Susquehanna River, and his grandfather, Martin Smith, was born in Germany, where he followed farming for a livelihood.
The father of our subject came to this country at an early date and, in 1802, settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, having bought land from the Gov- ernment. He built a log cabin in the wilderness. and being a good shot, many deer and other ani- mals fell at the erack of his ritle. Pn 1833, he moved to Logan County, settled on a farm in what is now Lake Township, and there tilled the soil for many years, enduring the hardships of pioneer life. He became the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres before his death, which oc- curred when he was in his eighty-third year. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. The lady whom he selected as his com- panion in life, and who stood faithfully by his side in all the trials and privations of pioneer life, was Miss Mary Beard, a native of the Keystone State, also born on the Susquehanna River. The eight children resulting from this union reached mature years. and are as follows: Elizabeth. Mich-
1
ael, Catherine, Barbara, John (our subject), Mary, Margaret and Eva, all of whom became members of the Lutheran Church. The mother lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years. Iler father, Jacob Beard, was born in Germany, and served through the entire Revolutionary War. He was a farmer by occupation and died in Pennsylvania, when nearly one hundred years old.
John Smith secured a rather limited education in the pioneer log schoolhouse of his day, and eame with his parents to Logan County on the 10th of April, 1833. They made the journey overland and camped in their wagon until they could build a log cabin. When twenty-two years of age, our subjeet started out for himself and agri- culture has been his principal ealling in life. When he first located in Logan County, Bellefon- taine was a village of a few cabins, and settlers were few and far between. He often assisted at log-rollings and eabin-raisings. To market and trade. he was obliged to go to Dayton.
On the 16th of September, 1838, Miss Indiana Tullis became the wife of Mr. Smith. She was born in Bellefontaine on the 15th of January, 1816. Eleven children were the fruit of this union, viz: Samuel, Michael, David, Rebecca. Mary A., James, John W., Elias, George W., Laura and Robert R. Michael, David, Mary A., Elias, Laura and Robert R. are deceased. Mrs. Smith, who was a most exemplary and worthy member of the Methodist Church for many years, joined with the Lutherans during the latter part of her life and died in that faith on the 11th of July, 1864. After his marriage, our subject located in a rude log eabin in Logan County, but three years later erected a fine frame residenee. Ile has made nearly all the improvements on his place and now has probably the finest farm in Harrison Town- ship. All his buildings are substantial and com- modious and would be ornaments to any farm. He has three hundred and twenty-one acres in a body with roads all around it, and is engaged in farming and stoek-raising. He is a splendid rep- resentation of the typical Ohio farmer. and posses- ses to a marked degree the regard which is given to the pioneers of this section. For some time, he was actively engaged in raising Short-horn cattle
JOHN SMITH
RESIDENCE OF JOHN SMITH , SEC. G., HARRISON TP. INGAN CO., OHIO.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
and is now interested in sheep-raising. In 1868, he erected a fine frame residence, a view of which is shown on another page. Ile has two large barns on his place, one erected in 1875 and the other in 1879.
The second marriage of our subject occurred on the 16th of September, 1886, to Miss Clara E.
1 Roberts, a native of Union County, Ohio, born August 8, 1865, and the daughter of Philip and Sarah (Latson) Roberts, natives respectively of Union and Knox Counties. Ohio. Her father was a farmer and died in Union County when fifty- nine years of age. Afterward. the mother married again and moved to Harrison Township, this county. By her first marriage, she became the mother of two children, Mrs. Smith, and Hezekiah, who died when eight months ofl. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been born one child. Myrtle Fern. whose birth occurred on the 230 of February, 1890. Both our subject and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, although his father and brothers were all Democrats. He took an active part in the campaign of 1840, for William II. Harrison, assisted in building log cabins to carry around on wagons in the parades during that campaign, also split rails on wagons during the Lincoln campaign in 1860, and has great faith in the election of Benjamin Harrison this fall (1892). He has held a number of local positions. but has never been an olliee-seeker.
IRAM JOHNSTON. residing one and a- quarter miles west of East Liberty, Logan County. Ohio, is one of the substantial and much-esteemed citizens of the county. Ile was born in Richland County, Ohio, on the 11th of Angust, 1824, and is the son of Robert and Catherine ( Harris) Johnston. natives of Pennsyl- vania. the father having been born in Butler County on the 18th of April. 1800, and the mother in November. 1802. The paternal grandfather of
our subject, William Johnston, was born in the Emerald Isle, but came to America when a young man and located in Pennsylvania, where he met and married his wife. About 1815, he decided to locate in Ohio, and came to this State, where he made a settlement in Knox County, taking up Government land. There he made his home until his death, when about eighty-seven years of age. He was a striet member of what is now the United Presbyterian Church and was deeply interested in all religious work. He served in the War of 1812. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Mary MeCanless, was also born in Ireland. and died on the old homestead, in Knox County.
Our subject's maternal grandfather, Warren Harris, was a native.of Virginia, and in that State grew to years of discretion. Ile was married in Pennsylvania and in 1811 came to Ohio, settling in Wayne County, where he took up land from the Government. There he received his final sum- mons. when sixty-six years of age. Ile was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church and was interested in all worthy enterprises. He was the father of fifteen children. twelve of whom reached mature years.
Robert Johnston. father of our subject, was but a small lad when he came with his parents to Ohio. and in this State he passed his boyhood and youth. Hle was married in Wayne County, Ohio, to Miss Harris, and afterward located in Richland County. this State, near Perryville, where he was engaged in sickle-making and blacksmithing for about three years. Ile then returned to Wayne County. Ohio, and remamed there engaged in farming and blacksmithing until 1836, when he moved to Ken- ton, Hardin County, Ohio, when the country was wild and unsettled. He located in the city of Kenton. engaged in merchandising and hauled his goods from Cinemnati with teams. His was the second store started in Kenton and he remained there about two years. From there he went to Galion, Crawford County, Ohio, was engaged in general merchandising there for about three years. and then traded his store for a farm in Richland County. Ohio. Later. he traded this farm for one in Shelby County. Ill .. and resided on this less than two years, when he moved to Muneie. Dela-
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ware County, Ind., and located on a farm. From there he moved to Bellefontaine, Lake Township, Logan County, Ohio. and there died in 1866. In polities, he, was formerly a Whig, but later a Republican, and voted with that party until his death. Ile was a member of the Presbyterian Church in his last days and took an active part in all relig- ious work. Ilis wife died in Bellefontaine in 1872. They were the parents of fifteen children, six sons and two daughters growing to mature years, and five sons and one daughter now living. The children who lived to be grown are as follows: Hiram, our subject; Solomon, of Michigan; Will- iam, of Logan County, Ohio; John C., of Marion County, Ohio; Robert F., who was killed at Pitts- burg Landing on the 15th of June, 1864, when fighting for the Stars and Stripes; Allen M., who is a blacksmith of Bellefontaine; Mary G., widow of Samuel Amsmoker, of East Liberty; and Sarah Jane, deceased.
Hiram Johnston, the eldest son and second child, received the rudiments of his education in the town of Orville, in a little log schoolhouse which he attended two years, and then finished his schol- astic training in Richland County, Ohio. Ile re- mained with his parents until nineteen years of age, and then began working by the month, re- eeiving as compensation $8 per month. The spring he was twenty years of age, he rented his first farm in Richland County. and everything was furnished him. Ile carried on the farm for three years, and was married the second year he rented his farm. or in 1845, to Miss Caroline Pollock, who was born and reared in Richland County. A year later, he rented another farm in the same township and remained there until 1849, when he located one mile north of Zanesfield on a rented farm. A few years later. he bought a farm of sixty-two acres in Union County, Ohio, in the woods, but subse- quently traded it for sixty-four acres now owned by George Grubbs. erected a house on this and there made his home for four years. After this, he sold out and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Jefferson Township, this county, but shortly afterward sold this and bought one hun- dred and twenty acres one mile north in the same township. In March. 1864, he bought one hundred
and thirty-seven acres three miles north of Belle- fontaine, and located on it in July of that year; but again he sold out and then bought the prop- erty he now owns, which consists of one hundred and sixty-six and one-half acres, nearly all under cultivation. IIere he has resided ever since and is one of the progressive and enterprising agricul- turists and stock-raisers of the county. He is a great trader in stock and is now engaged as agent for the Landenbak Fertilizer Co., Urbana, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of ten children: Charles M., deceased; Marietta, at home; Delia M., wife of D. O. Marquis, of Lexington Ky .; James R., deceased; Elmer E .; Emma V., at home; Robert F., at home; one, who died in infancy; Henry, deceased; and Irene, wife of Charles Cron- kleton, of Perry Township, this county. Mr. John- ston has a very pleasant home, is surrounded with every comfort and convenience, and is also the owner of several lots in town. In politics, he is a stalwart Republican, and he has held the office of Trustee of Perry Township. All the improve- ments of his farm have been made by Mr. Johnston and family, and although when he first came to this county he had but $34, he is now one of the snb- stantial men of the county. When he first came here he cut cord-wood for thirty-seven and one- half cents per cord and boarded himself the first year. He shocked corn for fifty cents per day and cut four acres of wheat with a cradle for $1 a day. He is a self-made man in every sense of that much- abused term and merits the respeet of all.
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AMUEL DETRICK. one of the oldest set- tlers and most substantial farmers of Un- ion Township, Logan County, Ohio, was born in Rockingham County, Va., in the Shenandoah Valley, eleven miles north of Harris- burg, on the 11th of July, 1827, and comes of a prominent and influential family of that State.
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