USA > Ohio > Fayette County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 12
USA > Ohio > Madison County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 12
USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 12
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Dr. Jones and Miss Frances A. Toland, of this city, were married in 1846. Mrs. Jones is a daugh- ter of Dr. Toland, who was one of the promi- nent and wealthy men of London. He was con-
spicuous in business circles as one of the organ- izers of the Madison County National Bank, of which he was President and one of the largest stockholders of the institution. The Doctor and his wife have had four children, three daughters and one son. Their son William P., who was a bright and promising young man, a graduate of Dartmouth College, died while attending lectures at the Medical University of Pennsylvania. Their daughters are Imogene, now Mrs. E. K. Stewart, who has five children: Frank, Handford, Mar- garet, Alice and Edward; Eva, Mrs. Graham, who has one son, Toland; and Bessie, Mrs. Riley, who has one son, Stewart.
0 RTON A. SPERRY, attorney-at-law and Not- ary Public of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, has the honor of being a native of the Buckeye State. Hle was born in Wayne Township, Fayette County, December 27, 1861, and is the son of John and Sarah J. (Harper) Sperry, the former a native of Ross County, and the latter of Fayette County. When our subject was an infant, his parents re- moved to Shelby County, Ill., where his father died in 1864. The mother, with her two sons, then returned to the home of her father, Robert Harper. Our subject's brother John and himself spent their boyhood days in the home of their grandfather.
Orton Sperry worked at farm labor during the summer months, and attended the village school of Good Hope in the winter season. Thus his time was passed until nineteen years of age, when his grandfather began paying him for his services. He saved his money, and in the fall of 1882 went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and took a course of study in Eastman's Business College, from which he was graduated in March, 1883. It had long been his desire to read law, but his grandfather opposed this plan and compromised on a business course. After graduating, Mr. Sperry found it difficult to secure a position, and so returned to the farm, where he remained until the spring of
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1885. Hle then embarked in merchandising for himself, buying a half-interest in a country store in Good Hope, but after eighteen months he sold out and returned to the farm for his grandfather needed his help He remained ou the old home- stead until the spring of 1887.
In that year, Mr. Sperry saw his long-cherished desire in the way of fulfillment. Ile entered the law office of Worthington & Marchant, of Wash- ington C. H., and in October, 1888, became a student in the Cincinnati Law School. Entering the senior class, he was graduated in May, 1889, and then returned to Washington C. II., where he was engaged in the practice of his chosen profes- sion for one year. Ile came to Mt. Sterling in May, 1890. He had no influential friends or money to give him a start, and during the first six weeks his fees amounted to only twenty-five cents, but since that time a constantly increasing patronage has rewarded his efforts, and he is now doing a good business, his practice building up rapidly.
Mr. Sperry was married September 16, 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss May Vance, of Washington C. H. She was born in Fayette County, Ohio, May 17, 1871, and is a daughter of I. J. and Mollie (Gibson) Vance. They have a pleasant home in Mt. Sterling and rank high in social circles. He was reared in the ranks of the Republican party, and is still a stanch advocate of its principles. His success is all due to his own efforts and he possesses the energy, determm- ation and skill to wiu a prominent place at the Bar.
G
ON. JOHN NOBLE BEACH, M. D., a physician of marked talent and ability, has been brought into close and kindly relation with his patients in and about West Jefferson, in which place he resides. He is the son of the late Uri Beach, who was born in Vermont, December 7, 1789. Ile there spent his early years, and in 1812 came to Ohio, and for a short time worked in Marietta, whence he removed to Worthington, and there, in September 1816, was married to Mrs. Hannah Noble Gorham. 'The
couple then located in what is now known as Canaan Township, Madison County, where they made their home. Here the elder Mr. Beach erected a sawmill, which was the first in that lo- cality, and which proved a great convenience to the early settlers.
The father of our subjeet was a man of great push and energy, who had a faculty of carrying out his plans, and putting them in operation. See- ing the great need of a woolen mill in his commu- nity, he erected a building, and was engaged in the manufacture of woolen artieles for several years. In company with his brother, Lorenzo, Mr. Beach purchased a tract of land in Canaan Town- ship, this county, and laid out the village of Amity, where his decease occurred January 11, 1832. His good wife, who survived him a number of years, died November 17, 1854, firm in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomina- tion her husband was also a member.
The parental family of our subject included seven children, of whom Dr. John was the young- est but one. He was born in Amity, in Canaan Township, January 27, 1829, where he was reared to manhood, and received his early education in the common schools. After attaining his fifteenth year, he took a course of study in the Ohio Wes- leyan University, at Delaware. and three years later began the study of medicine with the late Dr. Charles McCloud. Entering the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Dr. Beach completed the course of study in that institution, and in due time received his credentials as Doctor of Medicine, be- ing at that time only twenty-one years of age.
Dr. Beach began the practice of medicine in Unionville Center, Union County, where he re- mained for three years, and then came to Plain City, Madison County, where he made his home for five years, at the end of which time he located in West Jefferson, Madison County, in 1858, where he has since been engaged in active practice, with the exception of the time spent in the army. The following is a copy of the promotions of Dr. John N. Beach, which appear in the History of the For- tieth Ohio Infantry: "Surgeon, April 11, with rank from April 1, 1862. On staff duty as follows: Surgeon of the Third Brigade, Army of the Kana-
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wha, in the fall of 1862, at Gallipolis, Ohio; Medi- cal Director of the District of Eastern Kentucky in the winter of 1862-63, at Cattletsburg, Ky .; Medi- cal Director of the Third Division, Army of the Ohio, in the spring of 1863, at Franklin, Tenn .; Surgeon of the First Brigade, First Division, Re- served Corps, Army of the Cumberland, July 24, 1863, until after the battle of Chickamauga; Sur- geon of the Second Brigade, First Division Fourth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, October, 1863, which position he held at the expiration of his term of service; Operating Surgeon in Field Hospital of First Division, Fourth Army Corps, during the Atlanta campaign, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., December 6, 1864."
On returning home from the army, Dr. Beach again located in West Jefferson, where he has been active in various phases of political work. He be- lieves in doing right at all times and under all eir- eumstances, regardless of the opinions of the pub- lic, and his actions as well as his opinions have been characterized by manly independence. In the fall of 1875, he was elected to the Ohio Legis- lature on the Republican tieket, and served the full term of two years. In 1878, he was appointed Surgeon to the Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Na- tional Guard, which position he held for a period of five years, although, in 1880, he was commis- sioned Surgeon-General of Ohio, by ex-Governor Foster, being the incumbent of that position for four years.
Dr. Beach stands very high in social affairs, and has been Commander of Wilson Burrows Post No. 389, G. A. R .; is a member of the Loyal Legion of the Ohio Commandery; has been on the Staff of Gen. ITurst as Aide and Department Commander, and has also served on the Staff of Gen. Alger, Na- tional Commander, G. A. R. Dr. Beach is a mem- ber of the Madison County Medical Society, also of the District Medical Society, State Medical So- ciety, National Medical Association, the Inter- national Medical Congress, and the National As- sociation of Railway Surgeons.
The lady to whom our subject was married in Champaign County, this State, June 31, 1858, was Miss Eliza J. Snyder. She is a native of the above county, and the daughter of Daniel and Anna
.
(Kiser) Snyder. By her union with Dr. Beach, a family of two children has been born, the elder of whom, Edith, is the wife of Prof. John R. Rath- mell, of Chattanooga, Tenn .; Anna, who married Charles A. Shinn, also makes her home in that city. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church for a number of years. They are both well and favorably known throughout Madison County, and the tasteful ar- rangement of their beautiful residence displays the culture and refinement of its inmates.
LONZO C. WEST, proprietor of the Pal- ace Livery and Feed Stable, on Market Street, between Fayette and Main Streets, Washington C. II., is an active and enter- prising young man and controls a good business. Fayette is his native county, Jefferson Township the place of his birth, and June 13, 1861, the date of that important event in his life.
Our subject is a son of Edmund West, a well- known resident of Jefferson Township, of which his parents were early settlers. They had come to this county from Virginia, his native State, when he was a boy, and from that day the name of West has been familiar as connected with the rise and growth of Fayette County. The grand- father of our subject lived to a good old age, dy- ing in 1880. Our subject's mother was Mary Edge before her marriage. Of her seven children, six are living. The father of our subject is a stanch Republican and takes much interest in politics. He is prominent in the religious life of his com- munity as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Hle of whom we write is the youngest of the family. After completing his education in the public schools of the county, he gave his atten- tion to farming for eight years. Abandoning that calling, he came to Washington C. II., in October, 1891, to establish himself in the livery business, to which he has since devoted himself with financial success. Ilis stable is well equipped and supplied
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Sincerely yours I. E. le vomley
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with carriages, buggies, sleighs, and all vehicles that are in demand in a city like this, and the horses, which are well kept, are good roadsters, combining speed and endurance. Our subject conducts his business in a manner that has won the confidence of his patrons, his name is good in financial circles, and he has a good deal of cus- tom. He is a man of pleasant social qualities, and he stands high among the young Republicans of his native county in politics.
Mr. West and Miss Armeada A. Creamer were united in marriage October 10, 1886, and they have made for themselves a home as comfortable and cozy as possible, and the scene of true hos- pitality. Three children complete their house- hold: Mary, Nina and Roy. Mrs. West is a daugh- ter of William A. Creamer, an old settler of Jas- per Township, this county.
ON. THADDEUS E. CROMLEY, A. M., the former popular, enterprising and useful Representative from Pickaway County to the Sixty-eighth and Sixty-ninth General Assembly of Ohio, is at present residing in Walnut Township. IIe is a native of this county, having been born in the above-named township, June 21, 1843. His parents, William and Sarah E. (Staige) Cromley, were natives, respectively, of Pennsyl- vania and Pickaway County, this State. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject, Richard Staige, entered from the Government the land whereon the Hon. Mr. Cromley makes his home at the present time.
William Cromley emigrated to this State at an early day, from Lehigh County, Pa., and located with his father, Conrad Cromley, in Walnut Town- ship, where the latter-named gentleman passed the remainder of his life. To the parents of our subject two children were born: Thaddeus E., and Mary J., who is now the widow of William H. Morris, of Ashville, this State. Mr. Cromley was very prominent in local affairs and served Walnut Township in the capacity of Trustee for several
years. In his political belief, he was a Democrat and was warmly interested in all measures advo- cated by his party. At his death he left an estate of eight hundred acres of valuable land, a sufficient proof of the fact that he was a successful business man and a good financier.
Thaddeus E. Cromley was reared on his father's - farm and attended school in a little log cabin, with a puncheon floor, slab seats, etc., until about twelve years of age. Four years later, he entered the Circleville Union Schools, there preparing himself for college, and in 1861 became a student in Ken- yon College, at Gambier, this State. He took the full collegiate course and was graduated in 1865 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later, the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him.
Owing to close application to his studies while in college, Mr. Cromley's health failed him, and instead of choosing a professional life he preferred outdoor employment and became an agricul- turist. Hle has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and served as a member of the School Board for a number of terms He has been the recipient of various official positions, for a number of years being identified with the Town Council of Ashville, and Trustee of Walnut and Harrison Townships. He has been an active worker in the ranks of Democracy, and in 1886 was selected by that party as a Representative from Pickaway County. On the expiration of his term of office, he was re-elected, in 1888, serving until January, 1892. In 1890, he was nominated for Secretary of State, but was defeated by about ten thousand votes.
October 6, 1870, our subject was united in mar- riage with Mary R., daughter of Isaac D. and Sarah A. Miller, the former of whom is deceased and the latter makes her home in Harrison Township. Mrs. Cromley was born in the above-named township and in her youth was given a good education. She is a most estimable lady and has many warm friends in this locality. Her parents were early settlers of Harrison Township and were born in the Old Dominion.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cromley have been born eight children. all of whom are living with one exception.
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They bear the respective names of Charles E., Alvah M., Metta M., Amy L., Annie G. (deceased), Willie C., Anna M. and Thaddeus R. Mr. Cromley is the proprietor of a magnificent estate of eight hundred acres which bears excellent improvements in the way of buildings and machinery, for the owner believes that the best methods and latest improvements bring him in the largest returns.
The Hon. Thaddeus E. Cromley is a member of the Grange and the Knights of Honor, serving the latter order as Dictator of Lodge No. 3005. While in the Legislature, he was Chairman of the Com- mittee on Military Affairs, and was Chairman, pro tem, of the Committee on Agriculture. He was the framer and author of a Farmers' Institute Bill, mak- ing the Farmers' Institute a permanent organization in different counties. He was also identified with the development and with the practical work of the Ohio Experimental Station, at present located at Columbus. These two bills, especially, gave him a State reputation and were the means of securing him the nomination for Secretary of State. As a Legislator, he reflected great credit upon himself and his constituents, the welfare of the public al- ways being held in view by him in the light of patriotism. He is a cultured and educated gentle- man, of high financial and social standing, enjoy- ing the entire confidence of the public. The biog- rapher found him to be genial, hospitable, enter- taining and thoroughly conversant with the lead- ing topics agitating the body politic to-day. We are, therefore, pleased to be able to place before our readers the life sketch and portrait of so hon- orable and influential a gentleman, who is widely and favorably known throughout the State as a man of uprightness and thorough honesty of heart.
OIIN M. SHAFFER, who combines the oc- cupation of a manufacturer of drain tile, building blocks and pressed brick with that of a farmer, is residing at Sedalia. He was born in Jefferson County, this State, November 10. 1837, and is the son of Jacob and Christina (Coff- man) Shaffer, the former of whom was born in
Shenandoah County, Va., April 7, 1790, grew to manhood in that county, and attended school with Zachary Taylor.
Soon after his marriage, the father of our sub- ject enlisted in the State militia and participated in the War of 1812. He moved to Pennsylvania in 1827, locating in what is now Braddock Fields, where he followed his occupation of a blacksmith. His eldest child, Maria, was born in Shenandoah County, in 1814, and the remainder of the family were Barbara, Anna II., Susan; Noah N., who was Lieutenant-Colonel in the secret service during the Civil War, Martin C., who was born in 1825; Am- brose B., in 1827; Margaret .J., in 1830; Sarah Cath- erine, in 1832; Alex C., in 1834 and our subject in 1837. He of whom we write lived in Jefferson Conn- ty until 1853, when he removed with his parents to Wheeling, Va. His father, in the meantime, had abandoned blacksmithing and operated a gristmill on Short Creek, in which line of work our subject was employed till he went to the Old Dominion. In Wheeling, he began elerking in a general store, which he followed for three years, and then re- maved with his parents to Marion County, Mo., which was their home until the fall of 1859. While residing in the West, Jolm M. worked in a woolen mill until the above date, when, the slavery ques- tion being agitated warmly, the family came to Mari- etta, this State, and he began working on the Cle- ona Fruit Farm, owned by E. J. Plumbley, a good old Quaker gentleman.
In 1860, after casting their vote for Abraham Lincoln, our subject and his brother, Alex C., loaded a vessel with produce, which they marketed at New Orleans for Mr. Plumbley, receiving $45 per month for the trip. It was a very dangerous procceding, as men were shot down on all sides, and their lives were only safe when hiding in the bottom of the boat. They returned in the spring, and that summer Mr. Shaffer operated a drill, boring for oil in the vicinity of Marietta.
September 7, 1861, he of whom we write enlisted in Company L, Ohio Cavalry, under Capt. T. J. Patton, and was mustered in at Camp Chase. There he remained until, with his regiment, he was sent to Kentucky, and near Lexington waited until they received their arms. He participated in many skir-
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mishes and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing came up with the reserve on the day after the bat- tle. He was wounded on the road between that city and Corinth, an artery being severed in his right leg just above the knee. In addition to that misfortune, he was taken with the fever, and being sent to the field hospital, remained there seven or eight days, when he was taken to St. Louis, and ten days later to Camp Chase, thence home to Marietta. In December, he was ordered to Columbus, where he received his honorable dis- charge on the 10th of that month. He was at that time given a pass to travel wherever he pleased in the army, and fitting himself with a stock of goods, peddled his wares among the boys, thus furnish- ing them with many necessary articles which they could not have otherwise obtained.
John M. Shaffer and Miss Almeda Sims were un- ited in marriage August 6, 1863. IIe had first met the lady when a cavalryman, when she was so frightened at the sight of the soldiers that, on be- ing asked for a drink of water, she replied that she would go to the spring to get some, but the moment she was out of sight ran as if for her life. Mrs. Shaffer was born in Franklin County seven miles from Columbus, August 24, 1845, and was the daughter of Edward J. and Sarah ( Rose) Sims.
Our subject amassed quite a little fortune in peddling among the soldiers but he later lost it by investing in a panorama of Lincoln's death. In 1865, he removed from Columbus to Spring Hill, Madison County, and operated a sawmill for three years, at the end of which time he began the manufacture of tile. In 1881, he moved to Mid- way and established in that line of business, mann- facturing pressed brick, building blocks, etc., hav- ing an income of about $3,500 per year.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have become the parents of ten children: Rhodolp S. is engaged as a printer in Midway, and also is employed with his father in the manufacture of tile; Ellen M., Mrs. J. T. Crabb, lives in Columbus; Ora A. married M. J. Busick and resides in Chenowith, Madison County; Eva J. be- came the wife of E. J. Clawson and makes her home in Clarke County; Arthur died October 15, 1876; Leona, Walter H., Bessie P., Carl A. and Newell B. are at home with their parents.
Our subjeet supported the Republican party from 1860 until of recent years, when he joined the Prohibitionists. Ile has been JJustice of the Peace six years, in Fairfield Township, Madison County, and Constable two years. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he has been Trustee. Socially, he is a Mason and has been Chaplain in the Blue Lodge. Ile is also an Odd Fellow, and has been through the encampment, holding membership at Lilly Chapel and London. He is a charter mem- ber of Vincent Allen Post No. 678, G. A. R., and has attended the State National Encampment of that order. He is also a member of the Sons of Tem- peranee and belongs to the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, of which he has been Chaplain.
S. ALKIRE. A large number of the young gentlemen of Madison County are occu- pying positions of honor and responsibility in their various townships, and are entering upon careers which give every indication of future wel- fare and affluence. Among this number is the subject of this biographical notice, who was born in Pleasant Township, March 1, 1865, and is suc- cessfully engaged as a farmer and stock-raiser on the old homestead where he was born.
The history of the Alkire family in America is quite fully given in the biographies of Abraham R. and Gabriel Alkire, presented in another por- tion of this volume. The former gentleman, who is the father of our subject, is one of the most prominent citizens of Mt. Sterling and a man whom everyone honors for his sterling traits of character. T. S. grew to manhood on his father's farm, where he early acquired a practical knowl- edge of agriculture, meanwhile receiving his edu- cation in the schools of Mt. Sterling, which village adjoined the farm.
After finishing his education, our subject car- ried on the homestead with his father until the latter moved to the village in 1888. He then di- vided the farm among his sons, the home place of sixty-eight acres becoming the property of om
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subject, beside three hundred and eighteen acres in Darby Township, Pickaway County. The land is mostly in grass, which fits it splendidly for the raising of stock, a successful department of the agricultural work.
September 21, 1891, Mr. Alkire was married to Miss Bessie, daughter of the Rev. S. T. and Sarah A. ( Wallis) Morris, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. In his political atfiliations, Mr. Alkire is a stanch adherent of Republican principles, and cast his Presidential ballot for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. In his social con- nections, he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, having joined that order in 1890. A man of stanch integrity and utmost probity, it is not strange that his friends look to his future with great expectancy of honors and success.
L EWIS C. MALLOW. Prominent in social and business circles of Jasper Township, Fayette County, is the family of L. C. Mallow, whose attractive home and beautiful farm is one of the finest in the county. His estate com- prises the magnificent sum of eight hundred and eighty acres, all of which are under the best meth- ods of improvement.
The father of our subject, Simeon Mallow, was a native of Ross County, this State, his birth oc- curring in 1813. Ilis father, Adam Mallow, hailed from Virginia, where his father, also named Adam, was born, and where the family were among the F. F. V's. The last-named gentleman was captured when six years of age, together with his mother, by the Indians, and was kept in bondage six years. The mother was traded, after a period of two years, to some Frenchmen, by whom she was taken to New Orleans, but later returned home.
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