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 61
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 61
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 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
C. BOALS, one of the prominent mer- chants in Bellefontaine, is a native of Richland County, Ohio. He was born December 9, 1819, and is a son of Charles and Sarah J. (Richie) Boals, both of whom are na- tives of the same county as is our subject. Charles Boals is a farmer by occupation, and still lives at the place of his birth, where he has been eminently successful in his chosen calling. Of the two sons, M. C. and M. R., the latter is an attorney, a resi- dent of the same city as our subject.
M. C. Boals was educated in the public schools in his native place, and later entered Central Col- lege of Iberia, Ohio. He remained on his father's farm until about twenty years of age, and after finishing his collegiate course, he was engaged as a teacher during the winter months. having a posi- tion in the public schools; later, he took a position in the college at Iberia.
When twenty-four years of age. Mr. Boals went to Pennsylvania, and was accepted as a book-
530
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
keeper of the Dicks Bank, at West Newton. During the latter part of his connection with this estab- lishment he served in the capacity of Cashier. In this place he spent about three and a half years, and thence went to Beaver Falls, in the same State, where he embarked in the general mercantile busi- ness, which he carried on quite extensively until 1884. when he came to Bellefontaine.
Since the date above given, our subject has been energetic in the prosecution of his calling. Ile has occupied the same building up to the present time. It is a commodious two-story brick struc- ture at the junction of Garfield Avenne and Co- lumbus Strect. Here he carries a good stock of general merchandise, including dry goods, groecr- ies, etc. During his career as a merchant in this place, Mr. Boals has built up a very satisfactory business, which is constantly on the increase. ITis whole attention is given to his business, nor does be seek any publicity.
M. C. Boals was married February 13, 1884, to Miss Lulu Piersol, of Beaver Falls, Pa. Our sub- ject is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and both he and his wife worship with the United Presby- terians.
00
NDREW H. NICKELL. One of the men who has controlled circumstances in life and commanded success is Mr. Nickell, a representative farmer of Wayne Town- ship, Auglaize County, Ohio. As a man of ad- vanced ideas and tendencies, he is well known all over Auglaize County, and as a citizen and neigh- hor he is much esteemed. Born in Logan County. December 12, 1832, he comes of an old and promi- nent Virginia family, his father and mother both being natives of that State, and both born in Greenbrier County.
At a very early date, the parents emigrated to Ohio and settled on the South Fork of the Miami River. Their only neighbors were Indians, but they enjoyed friendly relations with them and
cleared their farm without any fear of being in- jured. Wild animals were also very numerous at that time. On this farm in the wilderness their two children, William and Andrew, were born. The mother died about six weeks after the birth of Andrew. A short time afterward, the father was again married and, taking his wife and son William, moved to Missouri. The father died in Davis County, Mo.
Our subjeet passed his youthful days amid scenes of pioneer life and his early scholastic advantages were such as he could receive in the district and subscription schools of his day. A portion of the time he was obliged to walk three miles through the woods and attended school only about three months during the year. In this way, he received his education. At the age of fourteen years, he was obliged to start out for himself and he first worked at farming in Auglaize Connty. When seventeen years of age, he bought the farm where he now lives, and at the age of twenty-nine years he was married to Miss Ann Eliza Herring, a daughter of Benjamin llerring, of Logan County, Ohio.
After their nuptials had been celebrated, Mr. and Mrs. Niekell settled on the farm they now own on sections 13 and 14, Wayne Township, this county, and this they have improved in every way. They have added to the original traet until they now own a fine farm of two hundred and thirty acres and in comfort and plenty they can pass the remainder of their days. Both have been hard-working and industrious citizens, excellent neighbors, and as such they merit and have the respect of all. We take much pleasure in chron- ieling the history of this worthy couple. In poli- tics, Mr. Nickell has been a life-long Democrat. Hle has held the office of Township Trustee twelve years, School Director for the same length of time, and Township Supervisor and Pike Supervisor.
In 1861, he enlisted for three years in Company E, Eighty-second Ohio Infantry, as a private, and was first at Camp Simon, Kenton, Ohio. Two months later, he went to the front at Grafton, Va., and from there to Moorefield, where he was taken sick with measles. After recovering, he was in the various battles of the Army of the Potomac and was in the second battle of Bull Run, at which engage-
1
531
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
inent his regiment was badly cut up. On the 20th of December, 1861, Mr. Niekell was commissioned Second Lieutenant and later First Lieutenant, hold- ing that rank in his company until 1862, when he was discharged for physical disability. He was a brave and gallant soldier and served his country faithfully and well. Returning to his home, he resumed the peaceful pursuits of farming.
J F. LUSK is a representative of the farmers of the present generation who have within a few years stepped to the front to aid in carrying on the great agricultural interests of this county. Ilis farm, which comprises three hundred and eighty acres, is pleasantly located on section 21, Union Township, Auglaize County, and is amply supplied with every convenience for car- rying on agriculture.
Benjamin and Cynthia (Compton) Lusk, the parents of our subject, were natives of Virginia, the father being born in 1809, and the mother in 1817. They were married in their native State, and came to Ohio in 1814, locating on seetion 23 of this township, on a farm which bore no improve- ments whatever. A few years later, he took up his abode on section 26, which he improved, and later sold in order to locate on section 16, which he made his permanentabiding-place. This farm also was in its primitive state, and Mr. Lusk, erecting a log cabin thereon, resided on that place until his decease, which occurred in 1878. His good wife, who still survives, makes her home with her chil- dren, of whom there were nine in number, four of whom are deceased. Those living besides our sub- ject are Frances, Marion, Nora MeDongh and se- bastion. The parents of our subject were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life. but later attended the United Brethren Church at Uniopolis. The father was a Democrat in politics, and, as one of the leading citizens of his township, held the office of Justice of the Peace.
J. F. Lusk was born July 2, 1818, on the old
homestead on section 16. He was educated in the public schools, was carefully reared under excel- lent home influence, and during his boyhood and youth had an experience in farm work that has been in valuable sinee, as he was taught to do things well, and never to neglect an opportunity to im- prove his finances by taking advantage of the mar- kets. He remained at home until his marriage to Miss Clara, daughter of Adam and Jane (Baily) Focht, which occurred in 1867. Mrs. Lusk, who was born in April. 1849, in this township, after her marriage located with our subjeet on the old home- stead, where they resided for four years. Mr. Lusk then purchased his present farm, which in- cludes three hundred and eighty acres, and in ad- dition to that owns eiglity acres of his father's estate.
The present residence of our subject, which was erected in 1881, is equipped with all the con- venienees of modern life and cost $2,300. He also has a large barn which he built in 1882, and all the other necessary structures needful for the storage of grain and shelter of stock. Ile has laid a large amount of tiling on the farm, which by a proper rotation of crops is made to bloom and yield a handsome increase.
The two children born to our subject and his wife are Frank, who married Fannie Johns, and Claude, who still remains at home. In politics, Mr. Lusk is a conservative Democrat.
OIIN F. LUKENS, a prominent farmer and educator, residing two miles south of West Mansfield, Perry Township, Logan County. Ohio, was born in Wayne Township. War- en County, Ohio, on the 7th of January, 1824. His father, Joseph F. Lukins, was a native of Virginia, and was born in Frederick County. where he was reared and married. Ile decided that he would take advantage of the promise held out by the Buck- eye State in 1822 and moved within its borders, locating on a farm in Warren County. In 1833,
25
532
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he removed from there to Logan County, that State, settled three miles north from Zanesfield, in Jefferson Township, and there made his home until 1865. After this, he made his home with his son John F. until his death in the year 1871. His wife, the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Fawcett, was also a native of the Old Dominion, born in Frederick County, where she passed her girlhood and youth. She died in Logan County in 1865. Our subjeet's paternal grandfather, Jonathan Lukens, was born in Berks County, Pa., but subsequently removed to Virginia, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a Quaker in his religions views. The maternal grandfather, John Fawcett, was a Quaker and of Irish descent.
Onr subject, the second in order of birth of three childen and the first son, had the advantages of the common schools of early times, and when twenty-two years of age began teaching during the winter months. This he continued for eleven years, and during that time made strenuous efforts to educate himself, spending his spare moments in study. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, on the 1st of January, 1863, to Miss Lonisa K. Swartz, the daughter of Martin and Hannah Swartz, and a native of Stark County, Ohio. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College, Stark County, and a lady of more than average intelligence. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lukens located on their present property, which he had purchased in 1848, and began improving the raw land. Ile owned one hundred and twenty acres in the woods, and on this the ambitious yonng couple settled, prepared to work hard to become the owners of a comfortable home. Iu this they were successful, for now they can sit down and enjoy the comforts and convenienees brought about by their early struggles. They are now the owners of two hundred and forty-four acres of tine farming land, one of the very best tracts in the county, and on this are substantial buildings of all kinds. Apart from the house, Mr. Lukens has a beautiful office of brick, and this he uses as a study, having a fine library of standard books. He is a civil engineer and surveyor and followed this business in Logan County for twenty years.
In connection with his other business enterprises he is also an inventor, and author of three patents.
Ile raises stock and all his farming operations are conducted in a manner suggesting thorough- ness and completeness. Ile has met with more than the ordinary degree of success and is a man whose sound judgment and excellent business acumen have brought him in good returns. He has kept a diary for thirty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Lukens are the parents of one child, Charles H., who was born in 1869, and is a graduate of the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio. Hle is a bright young man and a very fine penman, having been Professor of Penmanship in the Cen- tral Ohio College, where he was graduated in 1887, before attending the medical college. He is now practicing his profession and resides with his par- ents. Our subject is an ardent Republican in pol- ities, was an Abolitionist in early times, takes an active interest in the political issnes of the day, and is a fluent and forcible speaker. He has been School Director for many years and is thoroughly interested in educational matters.
AMES SLACK, EsQ., who is engaged in the sale and repair of machinery, and is one of the finest machinists in . Auglaize County, is prominently connected with the official life of New Knoxville and Washington Township in various civic capacities. IIe is a native of Ohio, and was born in Cincinnati, July 11, 1851. His father, Benjamin Slack, and his grandfather, James Slack, were born in Pennsylvania. The latter was a farmer, and came to Ohio in an early day. The father of our subject learned the trade of a carpen- ter in yonth, and worked at it in Cincinnati and other places in this State. But he was not a ro- bust man, and he died in 1860, at the age of thirty-four years, while yet in the prime of man- hood. llis wife, Christina Slaek, nee Kuck, a Ger- man by birth, survives him. She is a member of
533
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the German Reformed Church, and a sincere Chris- tian in every respect.
Our subjeet is the eldest in a family of four children, and the only one living. Ile came to New Knoxville with his parents in 1859, when he was a chikl, and has made his home here ever since, proving, when he attained man's estate, a valuable addition to its citizenship. He attended the eom- mon distriet schools in his boyhood, but he is mainly self-educated. learning much by intelligent reading and by observation and experience, as his health was poor for several years when he was a child, so that he could not always go to school regu- larly. He early displayed a decided genius for mechanics, and even in his boyhood could handle tools very skillfully. He is a first-class machinist, and ean do anything he sets his hand to. This talent is of great use to liim, as he can make it very profitable by repairing all kinds of machinery, which forms a part of his business, and he also sells thresher's supplies, including steam engines and other machinery.
Mr. Slack and Miss Fanny Graessle, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Philip and Julia Graessle, were united in marriage in 1875, and two children complete their happy household, Cora and Bertha. Mrs. Slack's father is in the Methodist ministry, and is now stationed at Pomeroy, Ohio. Our sub- jeet and his family have a very pleasant home in a large modern frame residence, which is sur- rounded by a neat and attractive lawn, every- thing both within and without the house indieat- ing a high degree of taste. Mr. Slack has other valuable property, including the natural gas plant that supplies New Knoxville with light and fuel, and of which he is the sole proprietor.
Our subject is a man of fine mental and moral calibre, is well informed in the current events of the day, and has the esteem and full confidence of all with whom he associates. ITis opinion is valued by his fellow-citizens, who often seek his counsel, and they have entrusted to his guidance several important offices. . He has been connected with the School Board for several years as Clerk and Treasurer; has been Justice of the Peace twelve years, and is Notary Publie, transaeting considerable business for his neighbors in that
capacity; and for nineteen years he has been Clerk of Washington Township. In polities, he is a decided Republican. Religiously, both he and his estimable wife are Methodists, and true Christian principles are manifested in their daily acts of charity, consideration for others, and kindly thoughts for all.
R .EV. CLINTON D. HOOVER, who for a number of years has been aiding in the spread of the Gospel, devotes himself with assidnity and loving zeal to the work of the ministry. The center of his present field of labor is in the city of Wapakoneta, where he is pastor of the Presbyterian Church. He is a man of broad intelligence, decided literary ability and the digni- fied yet winning manners so thoroughly in keeping with his profession.
He whose name heads this sketch was born in Hagerstown, Md., October 19, 1859, and is the son of David and Elizabeth (Stephey) Hoover, also natives of Maryland, where the father, who is a retired farmer, is still residing. They were the parents of three sons and five daughters, three of whom are now living, and of whom our subject is the only son. Ile received a literary education in the High School at Hagerstown, and was reared to mature years on the home farm. Having joined the church about eighteen years ago, Mr. Hoover took immediate action to prepare himself for the ministry, and entering the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, in 1879, was graduated with the honors of his class in 1883. Thenee he went to Yale 'College, and after a three-years course in that well-known institution, was graduated there- from in 1886.
After completing his ministerial studies, the Rev. Mr. Hoover was engaged for five months in general missionary work and in organizing and build- ing churches in Northwestern Dakota. In 1887, he eame to Columbus, where he was ordained and given a pastoral charge over a church at Cirele-
53.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ville, where he remained for two years. In 1889, he came to Wapakoneta, where his labors have been expended in behalf of the church here, the congregation representing the leading families of the city.
Mr. Hoover was married June 27, 1889, to Miss Sadie Albaugh, of Circleville. Our subject in so- eial matters is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and a Knight of Pythias. He is a talented young man, an able minister, and the work which he has accomplished in the uplifting of humanity can only be measured when time shall be no more.
OHN C. NOBLE is a descendant of a promi- nent pioneer family of this section of Ohio, and has himself been potent in developing and extending the rich agricultural inter- ests of Anglaize County, his farm on section 5, Salem Township, ranking among the first within its borders in all the essentials of a well-appointed, skillfully managed farm. Mr. Noble has a fine military record, although he was but a boy when he entered the army, during the trying times of the Rebellion, and fought side by side with the bravest and sturdiest veterans of his regiment, serving with credit in many of the severest battles of the war.
Mr. Noble is a native of the adjoining county of Mercer, born in the town of Mendon, March 9, 1845. Ilis ancestry is traced back to three brothers, who emigrated from England in Colo- nial times, one of them having settled in Mary- land. The great-grandfather of our subject was a Revolutionary soldier, and the grandfather of our subject bore a gallant part in the War of 1812. Elisha Noble, from whom our subject is descended, was born on the Eastern shore of Maryland. and emigrated thence to Ohio in the early days of its settlement. Ile became a pioneer of Clinton County, and later of Mercer County, of which latter place he was an early and prominent settler, living there
many years. He was Commissioner of the county, and held other ollices of trust.
The father of our subject, who bore the same name as himself, was born in Clinton County, and was young when his father removed to Mercer County. lle became a farmer, and had a bright and promising career before him, which was sud- denly closed by his death in 1844, at an early age. The mother of our subject was Isabelle Hamilton prior to her marriage, and was a daughter of Judge Justin Hamilton, one of the prominent and best-known pioneers of Mercer County. Ile was surveyor, Legislator, Judge and Brigadier-General of State militia, and was noted for his intelligence and force of character. He reared a family of re- markable children. The mother of our subject was twice married, becoming the wife of Lewis Brewer after her first husband's death. By her first marriage, she had two children, and five by her second union.
Mr. Noble is the younger and only living ehild born to his parents. He attended the district schools until he was seventeen years old, and ob- tained such an education as the times afforded, when primitive, rudely furnished log schoolhouses were the order of the day. War broke out between the North and the South while he was conning his lessons in the old schoolhouse, and at length he abandoned his studies that he might join the brave boys in blue to help fight his country's battles, al- though he was but seventeen years old. He en- listed in August, 1862, in Company E, One Ilun- dred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, and for six months was engaged principally in scouting with a detachment of his company in Kentucky, and then he and his comrades were ordered to join Burnside in Eastern Tennessee. They did some hard fighting in the battles of Mossy Creek, Loudoun, Campbell's Station, Kingston, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain. Lost Mountain, At- lanta, Franklin. Nashville, Ft. Anderson and Wil- mington, and in all these famous engagements the men of the One Hundred and Eighteenth won high reputation as among the bravest and best soldiers in the field. At New Berne, N. C., our sub- ject at length succumbed to the hardships which
535
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he had to undergo, was placed on the sick list in the hospital, and was unfit for further active ser- vice. Not long after the war closed, he was mustered out at Salisbury, N. C., and received his final discharge papers at Cleveland.
Returning home at the end of his soldier's career, Mr. Noble turned his attention to complet- ing his education, and spent the ensuing two years at the Normal University at Lebanon. Ile left that institution with a high reputation for scholar- ship, and for several years taught school winters, and devoted the remainder of the season to farm- ing. In 1872, he located on his farm ou section 5, Salem Township, which he has cleared and im- proved from a wilderness, besides buying and placing under cultivation one hundred and sixty more acres. Ile now has three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, which he has transformed into one of the choicest farms in all Auglaize County, with fields admirably drained and tilled; a frame house and barn and substantial buildings for all needed purposes are indicative of thrift and plenty, while the farm is supplied with every con- venience for carrying on agriculture after the best modern methods. as our subject is an intelligent, thoughtful, practical farmer, and brings a clear, well-trained brain to his work. A man of his calibre and well-known integrity necessarily oe- cupies an important position in his township, and we find his name among the list of office-holders. lle has served as Trustee, and as Assessor two terms. Ile has been a Republican in politics, and a member of Kishler Post No. 83, G. A. R., and was Commander in 1889, and Lieutenant Colonel of Auglaize Battalion. Our subject for the past two or three years has identified himself with the Labor party and was the State delegate to the St. Louis Labor Conference of February 22. 1892. of that party. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and is a manly, earnest Christian, whose exemplary life is an influence for good in his com- munity.
Mr. Noble attributes his success in life to his beloved wife of sainted memory, to whom he was wedded November 1. 1871. Theirs was a true marriage, whose only sorrow was in her death that ended it January 11. 1891. It had been hallowed
by the birth of three children: Edith, Charles and Elbert. Mrs. Noble's maiden name was Josephine E. Richardson, and she was born in Mercer County, February 17, 1843, of which place her parents, who were from New Jersey, were early settlers. She had a fine mind, was well educated, and taught several sneeessive terms. She possessed much literary ability, wrote in an easy, pleasing style, having a large stock of information from which to draw, and she was often called upon to prepare notices for the papers, to write essays or articles for publie occasions, and her graceful pen was always prompt in response to such demands. Her accomplish- ments made her by no means negligent of her domestie duties or of the comfort of her loved ones. On the contrary, she was a superior house- wife, and was noted for her good management of her household affairs, possessing unusual common- sense and judgment. She made her husband's interests her own, and was his guide, counselor and friend. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a faithful worker in the fold, who was always doing good whenever opportunity of- fered, and
" All hearts grew warmer in the presence Of one who, seeking not her own, Gave freely for the love of giving, Nor reaped for self the harvest sown."
""Tis hard to take this burden up, When such have laid it down; They brightened all the joys of life, They softened every frown; But oh, 'tis good to think of them When we are tempted sore!
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.