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 62
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 62
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 62
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Thanks be to God that such have been, Although they are no more."
W A. SKILLEN, pension attorney for Sid- ney. Ohio, and one of the okl soldiers of this county, is a stanch patriot, and is as loyal to his friends as to his country. He was born on the 5th of January, 1830, to the union of James and Sarah (Jones) Skillen. The father
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was a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., and came to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1816, and from there to Shelby County in 1826, following the pur- suit of farming all his life. After loeating there, he was for many years Justice of the Peace. There be made his home until the year 1854, when he moved to Bremer County, Iowa, and there re- ceived his final summons in the year 1882. The mother had departed this life in the year 1865. Both were faithful members of the New Light or Christian Church, and he was a minister in the same for fifty years.
During his youthful days, our subject divided his time in attending the common schools and in assisting his father on the farm. After reaching his majority, he continued farming for himself, and was married to Miss Caroline Rice, of Salem Township, this county. Seven children were born to this union, five of whom are living: S. W., a United States soldier for the past seven and a half years; D. O., traveling salesman for the Kennedy Cracker Company; Anna M., wife of C. M. Davis, of Piqua; Laura M. and James O. are still attend- ing school. Mr. Skillen continued farming until the 18th of August, 1861, when he was filled with a patriotic desire to aid his country's canse, and he enlisted in Company B, Twentieth Ohio Infantry. He was sent to the Army of the Tennessee, Seventeenth Corps, and participated in the following battles: Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Bolivar, Juka, Middleburg, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River, Vicksburg, Mechaniesburgh, Ft. Hill, and Vicksburg. He was in the expedition from Vicksburg to Meridian. During the battle of Vicksburg, he was wounded five times, and has never fully recovered from the effects. He was afterward at the field hospital and on the hospital boat for some time. He subsequently returned to the army, but was only assigned to court duty for the first year. Ile entered the army as a private, and was promoted through the different degrees, until at the close he was mustered out as a Captain.
Returning to his home, he was engaged in mer- chandising and trading, and is one of the popular and active business men of Sidney. He is an ac-
complished and polished gentleman, both by in- stinct and training, and possesses generous, true- hearted, and hospitable instinets. In him the com- munity has a faithful and unswerving friend, ever alert to serve its best interests, and generous in his contributions towards every movement tend- ing to general advancement. He has been en- gaged in the pension business alone since April 1, 1891, but was with Mr. Van Fossen for several years. He is a member of the Grand Army, and has been through all the offices of the same and nearly through again. He lost his wife in 1880, and his second marriage was to Mrs. Hattie Rike, of Port Jefferson, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio. To this marriage no children have been born.
R OBERT II. CANBY, Superintendent of the City Gas Works of Bellefontaine, was born in Warren County, this State, February 25, 1821. Ile is a son of Dr. Joseph and Mar- garet (Haines) Canby, natives of Virginia, who, on emigrating to this State, made their way down the Ohio River in a flatboat soon after this State was admitted to the Union. They were married at Waynesville, this State, and became the parents of five sons and five daughters.
The father of our subject, who was a very promi- nent physican, pursued his medical studies in the Philadelphia (Pa.) Medical College. Ile was a man of rare ability in his profession, and on coming to Logan County in the spring of 1825 settled on the Great Miami, ten miles west of this city, where his death occurred in 1843. He ran on the Whig tieket as a candidate for the Legis- lature, but after the election it was found he was not eligible for the office. Ile was very much de- voted to his profession, and his success in that line was phenomenal. Ile was also known through- out this section as a skillful surgeon, and in all his efforts received the hearty co-operation of his wife.
Mr. Canby of this sketch was reared in this
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county, and received such education as the schools of that day afforded, later, however, attending school in Piqua. He remained on the home farm until thirty years of age, when he engaged in rail- roading and milling, being connected with the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad for eleven years, in which company he was Director for the same length of time. lle also owned a flour mill, which business he carried on in connection with his other duties until the construction of the Gas Works in this place, when he became Superinten- dent of the company, and has filled that position for twenty years. He has the entire charge of the concern, all of its management devolving upon the Trustees.
The lady to whom our subject was married in 1843 was Miss Ann Leister, and to them was born one son, Joseph L. Ilis wife dying, Mr. Canby. in 1847, was married to Catherine Wolf, by whom he has two sons and three daughters: Edward, Frank L., Maggie (Mrs. B. F. Allen). Carrie (Mrs. R. F. Tremain) and Fannie, who married William Miller, of Detroit, where he is engaged in the manufac- ture of furs. In social affairs, our subject is a Thirty-second Degree Mason. and has been very liberal in his contributions to the general welfare of the community, who hold him in high esteemn. He is identified with the Lutheran Church, of which denomination his wife is also a member, and they are among its most earnest workers.
ARIUS GLICK. For more than thirty- five years a resident of his present farm in Jackson Township, Shelby County, Mr. Gliek has been instrumental in cultivating the soil and embellishing the place with substan- tial improvements. At the time of its purchase, the farm was unimproved save by a hewn-log house, and it required the most arduous exertions through a long series of years in order to effect the improvements visible to-day. After having given
a goodly amount to his children, Mr. Glick retains two hundred and forty-six acres, beside a one-half interest in the homestead in Fairfield County, where his father made his early home.
The grandfather of our subject, Peter Glick, was a native of Pennsylvania and an early settler of Ohio, locating in Fairfield County in 1806, when that section of the State was little more than a dense wilderness. He was accompanied by his family, which included a son, Benjamin, who was six years old at the time of the removal. The latter grew to manhood amid the primeval seenes of Fairfield County, where he was married to Anna Swanders, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daugh- ter of Frederick Swanders, who removed to Ohio during the year that witnessed the arrival of the Gliek family.
After their marriage, the parents of our subject settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the gift of Grandfather Glick. There were born to them six children, namely; Daniel, Reuben, Mrs. Mary Ware, Darius, Lucas F., and Joab, the latter of whom died leaving a family of eight children. The wife and mother dying in 1840, Mr. Glick was married again, choosing as his wife Mrs. Sarah (Woodring) Slusser, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1879. The father remained on the old homestead until his death, which occurred in June, 1887. lle was an upright man, and an ac- tive worker in the German Reformed Church, in which he was an Elder for fifteen years. Politi- cally, he was a Democrat. and held a number of local offices, including those of Supervisor and School Director.
Born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 8, 1831, our subject grew to man's estate on the old homestead. At the age of seventeen. he com- nienced to learn the trade of a shoemaker, serving an apprenticeship of two years at Royalton, after which he worked as a journeyman for one year. He then embarked in business for himself and was thus engaged for six years. Meanwhile, lie estab- lished a home of his own, his marriage. April 6, 1851, uniting him with Miss Ellen W. Ware, who was born in Fairfield County, December 20, 1831. The parents of Mrs. Glick were Conrad and Elizabeth (Slusser) Ware, natives of Pennsylvania and early
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settlers of Ohio, where they resided until death. Mrs. Glick died in 1867.
Seven children were born of this union: Ben- jamin, who died leaving a wife and one child; Joab C., of Jackson Township, who married Lor- etta Clayton and has a family of six children; Almina Jane, wife of Andrew Stapleton, of Jack- son Township, and the mother of five children; Elmer E., who resides in Jackson Township, his family consisting of his wife, formerly Mary Wen- rick, and their one child; Mary E., Mrs. Jacob Rostorfer, of Auglaize Township, who is the mother of three children; Ellen, wife of Harry Wenriek, a resident of .Jackson Township, they being the parents of one ehild; and Anna M., who died in infancy.
In 1856, Mr. Gliek removed to Shelby County and located one mile north of his present resi- dence, whither he soon afterward removed. He has cleared one hundred and twenty acres and brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. At the time hie located in Jackson Township, the country was sparsely settled and the now thriv- ing village of Jackson Centre was not then in ex- istence, its site being marked only by a small shanty. During the thirty-five years in which he has resided continuously upon his present farm, he has witnessed many changes in the surround- ing country, and has himself contributed not a lit- tle to effect its advancement, having contributed $2,500 in the construction of pike roads alone.
September 1, 1867, Mr. Gliek was married to Mrs. Jane E. Clayton, whose parents, John and Jane ( Anderson) Darnell, were natives of Ken- tueky, whence they removed to Ohio in an early day. Mrs. Glick was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 11, 1829, and is one of ten chil- dren. Two of her brothers and two brothers-in- law served in the Civil War, and three gave their lives in defense of the Union. The only child born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gliek is Emery D. O., a young man of great ability and promise, who is now teaching in Shelby County.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Jackson Centre numbers Mr. and Mrs. Glick among its most faithful and active members, and he has served as Trustee. Steward and as Class-leader for
thirty-three years. They are especially interested in Sunday-school work, and have been teachers for many years, Mr. Glick having also served as Super- intendent. Ile is a member of the Masonie fra- ternity, in which he has filled the various chairs and was Master for two years. Realizing the ad- vantages of good schools, he has been instrumental in effeeting many needed improvements while serving as Director and as a member of the Town- ship Board of Education for eight years. Formerly he was a Republican, but when he could no longer conscientiously adhere to its principles, he joined the Prohibition party, with which he has been identified for three years. Ile has filled the posi- tion of Township Treasurer for two years and also served as Constable. IIe and his wife have been active workers in the cause of temperance, and she served as President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union for two years.
ANLOVE C. HOLMES. Retired from the active business of life, our subject is now in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early labors. Ilis residence in the thrifty and beautiful city of Sidney is well adapted for the peaceful enjoyment of the serene years of older life, and he enjoys the advantages to be derived from a residence in a city so bounteously gifted in various ways as is this. He is one of the rep. resentative men of the county, as well as one of its early settlers, having been a resident of this and Logan Counties since 1834.
The immediate progenitor of our subject, John Holmes, was born in Berkeley County, Va., and there grew to manhood and was married to Miss Margaret Chambers, whose parents were from Del- aware. After marriage, he and his family moved to Quiney, Logan County, Ohio. and Mr. Holmes built the second house there. At that time, the surrounding country was all woods, and Sandusky Indians were plentiful, as were also wild animals. The father was a cooper by trade and was the first
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one in the county. He followed his trade here until his death in 1840. Hle left the following children: Violet, wife of John S. Jordon; Man- love; Margaret, wife of David Weaver; Nancy died on the day the father passed away; Louisa; William and John B. Only our subject and John B. are now living, the former engaged in agrieul- tural pursuits in Champaign County, this State. The mother died in 1886. The father and mother were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The original of this sketch was born in Musk- ingum County, near Zanesville, this State, June 29, 1822, and received his scholastic training in the schools of Quiney. But after the death of the father, the care and support of the family fell on the shoulders of our subject, who. having learned the cooper's trade from his father, carried on the shop in Quiney until the tocsin of war sounded. Previous to this, on the 26th of March, 1846, he was married to Miss Eva Jane Joseph, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and the result of this union was four children. two of whom survive, Alonzo. now in Galion, a railroad man. and Lucy, wife of Albert Sayre, of this city, who has three children, William. Cora and Walter.
Upon the opening up of hostilities between the North and South, our subject enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, and was sent to the eastern department of the army. After being out for three months, he was injured by a fall through a bridge, after being at Petersburgh, etc., and was discharged for disability. Returning to Quiney, he resumed his trade and soon afterward lost his wife. Mr. Holmes remained in Quiney until 1888 and during that time held the office of Marshal, Street Commissioner, ete., and discharged the duties of the same in a very satisfactory manner. Hle is now entirely retired from active business pursuits and is a man highly regarded for his many excellent qualities. IIe has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1865, and is a member of Joe Taylor Post, G. A. R., of De Graff. Ile has been Noble Grand Secretary and Viee-Grand Chancelor through the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' lodge. He has resided in the Big Miami Valley for fifty years and has been considerable of a
traveler in his day, having been all over the West. He is a man of broad knowledge, excellent judg- ment and excellent business principles. In his travels, he took his son with him to complete his education.
OHN MAY. No State in the forty-four gives greater encouragement to a man who desires to devote himself to agricultural life than does Ohio. As a grain-growing State, this ranks among the first in the Union and in the raising of live stock it is truly notable. Our subject is one who has found success in the line of agriculture and now follows general farm- ing and stock-raising in Jefferson Township, his residence being four miles east of Bellefontaine. He was born in Highland Township, Muskingum County, on the 9th of November, 1827, to the union of Alexander and Margaret (MeLanghlin) May, both natives of Washington County, Pa., the former born in March, 1788, and the latter on the 12th of February, 1793. The paternal grand- father, Samuel May, was a native of Maryland and followed the occupation of a school teacher in his native State for many years. The maternal grand- father was a native of the Emerald Isle, but was descended from Seoteli ancestors.
The parents of our subject were reared in their native county in Pennsylvania, where they mar- ried, and the same year resolved to try their for- tunes in the State of Ohio. They made the journey on horseback, and located in Muskingum County, where they took up Government land. They erected a log cabin on the farm and, there being no door to it, a blanket was hung up to take its place. They remained in that county and im- proved their farm until 1833, when they came to Logan County, settling on the farm where our subject now lives, in a log house. There the father died in 1833. He was a member of the Union Church and one of its most active workers, as was also his wife. She died on the 4th of July,
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1874. This worthy couple became the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, who are in the order of their births as fol- lows: James, now residing in Linn County, Ore .; Samuel, a resident of this county; Jane, the widow of William Taylor, of Monroe Township, Logan County; Margaret (Mrs. Bishop), deceased; John; Nancy, Mrs. MeLaughlin, residing in this county, and Mary Ann, who died when twelve years of age.
Our subjeet was but six years of age when he eame with his parents to Logan County, and his first attendance at school was in Jefferson Town- ship of that county in a little rude eabin. His father died when he was but six years of age and the mother was left with a family of seven children, the eldest being thirteen years of age and the youngest an infant. Ile remained with his mother until twenty-one years of age and later she lived with him until her death. On the 6th of June, 1861, Mr. May was married to Sarah M. Rockwell, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born August 21, 1840. Her parents, Charles and Mary Ann (Marquis) Roekwell, were natives of Cornwall, Vt., and Washington County, Pa., respectively, the former born on the 16th of Octo- ber, 1812, and the latter on the 3d of January, 1816. Charles Rockwell was abont twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Ohio. His father, Jeremiah Roekwell, was a native of Ver- mont and was married in his native State. Mrs. May was one of ten children, four of whom are living at the present time: James O., Mrs. Nancy Worth, Mrs. Smith R. Thompson and Mrs. May.
Directly after marriage, our subject located on the old homestead, where he now lives and is the owner of two hundred and twenty-two aeres, the principal part of which is under cultivation. He follows general farming and is engaged in breed- ing fine Short-horn eattle. In 1882, he erected a good barn, 40x60 feet, with a basement, at a cost of $1,200, and now has one of the best farms in his section. Ile is enterprising and progressive and has made a success of his chosen occupation. Two children were born to his marriage, IIelen, the wife of W. E. Smith, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Anna, who died when but nine months old. In
politics, Mr. May is a Republican and his first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Seott in 1852. He was Trustee of Jefferson Township for over twelve years and is now School Director. He is not connected with any church but is a believer in all good work and a liberal contributor to the same. Mrs. May is a lady in every sense of that term and is intelligent and refined.
S. VAN HORN. In narrating the lives of the many wealthy citizens and prominent old settlers of Logan County, Ohio, we find no one more worthy of mention, or whose long life of nsefulness is more worthy to be chron- icled, than the much esteemed and successful farmer, J. S. Van Horn. His parents, William and Mary (Davis) Van Horn, were natives of West Virginia, the father being born in Harrison County. The latter was married in his native State, and in 1828 he and his family emigrated to the Buckeye State and settled in the woods in Clarke County. There he resided until 1839, wlien he made a settlement in Logan County. There were very few settlers here at that time, and Mr. Van Horn bought eighty aeres from one of them, and also bought land from the Government, paying $1.25 per aere. A few Indians were in the county and they had their camp a mile and a half from his home. He settled in a round-log cabin with a elapboard roof, puneh- eon floor, ete., and amid these rude surroundings, and in this primitive manner, he began laying the foundation for his subsequent prosperous career. He was a hard worker, and although deer, bears and other wild animals were plentiful, he eared very little for hunting and spent all his spare time in clearing the farm of the heavy timber with which it was covered. This was the first farm in the county, and at the time of his death, which ocenrred in 1857, he was the owner of between four and five hundred aeres of land All this was the result of his own industry and good manage- ment, for he started out with very little else than
1
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a pair of stout arms and a determination to suc- ceed. ITis marriage resulted in the birth of twelve children, eleven of whom reached mature years. They were named as follows: Sobrina, Jacob, Su- seilla, Minerva, Amy, Job, Eli, Johu and William and Lewis (twins). Maria Louisa Josephine and Mary Josintha Eglantine (twins). The mother died when forty-five years of age. Both parents were Seventh-day Baptists all their lives, and the father was a Demoerat in polities.
The subject of this sketch was born in Clarke County, Ohio, September 8, 1828, and was but ten years of age when he came with his parents to Lo- gan County, Ohio. He assisted in driving sheep to this point and remembers the journey perfeetly. After reaching this county, the sheep were kept in tight rail pens to keep away the wolves, but after all many were destroyed in that way. Our subject attended the pioneer log schoolhouse, with slab seats, clapboard roof, weighed down with poles, and the large open fireplace. Part of the time these were subscription schools. Ile was obliged to go to West Liberty to do his trading when they first settled in this county, and when seventeen years of age he branched out for himself. He used to attend log-rollings and all the other gatherings of those days. When seventeen years of age, he went to Clarke County, Ohio, and worked out in order to get money to buy clothes. Instead of the clothes, however, he bought forty acres of land on the canal in Defiance County, Ohio, but subse- quently traded that for forty acres in Logan County, and after his marriage located there.
Mr. Van Horn was married on the 15th of Feb- ruary, 1848, to Miss Charity Taylor, a native of Washington County, Pa., born December 31, 1829, and the fruits of this union were nine chil- dren: Henry (deceased). Eli, James, William, Evangeline (deceased), John (deceased), Alonzo (deceased), Jacob and Irvin. Mrs. Van Horn came to Ohio with her parents, James and Nancy (Smith) Taylor, in the year 1811, and settled in this township. where the father opened a fine farm. Here his death occurred a number of years later. After marriage, our subject moved on his forty acres and commenced housekeeping in a log cabin. Not a tree had been eut on his place and he went
to work with much determination to improve and make a pleasant home. Ile and his economical and thrifty wife worked hard and put up with all inconveniences to make improvements on their place. For bedsteads Mr. Van Horn took logs, bored holes in the ends and in these inserted poles for legs. He used bark for bed cord. Later, he bought eighty acres additional, traded that for the old liome place, and then bought his present prop- erty, settling on the same in 1865. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres here and about two hundred and eighteen acres altogether. lle owned at one time four hundred acres here, but gave his children considerable land. Ile is engaged in mixed farming, raising grain and stock, and for some time he was actively engaged in buying and selling stock. Hle built his present fine residence in 1882, at a eost of over $5,000, and has it nicely furnished. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn are both Sev- entli-day Baptists in their religious views, and in polities he atliliates with the Democratic party. Mr. Van Horn is now one of the most successful and influential farmers of the county, and after his loug life of usefulness, he and his wife can sit down and thoroughly enjoy the fruits of their labor.
AMUEL II. JUSTICE is a man of intelli- gent mind and superior character, exem- plary in his habits, manly and straightfor- ward in his dealings, and true in the various relations that he sustains toward others as husband, father, neighbor, and steadfast in his friendships. He is self-made in all that that term implies and has showed marked ability as a farmer by transforming his beautiful estate, which is lo- cated on section 21, Union Township, Auglaize County, into a fruitful, highly-cultivated farm, which is amply supplied with modern improve- ments and all the appliances and machinery for facilitating agricultural labors.
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