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 22
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 22
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 22
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In 1810, Maj. Boggs commenced boating, and took the first load of flour to New Orleans that was ever sent out of the Scioto Valley. Ile made three trips to the Crescent City, and returned on foot or on horseback, having to pass through the country of the Indians, and to keep a sharp lookout for robbers in all parts of the journey. He met with no mishap or bodily harm, and with but one loss of money. That was when a tavern- keeper, with whom he and his friend, Daniel Crouse, stopped, picked the lock of his saddle- bags and took from them $300 in silver, with which he paid a debt to Crousc. The Major did not discover his loss until he arrived at home; but, though the tavern-keeper, to whom he applied for
information, acknowledged his guilt, he never re- covered the money.
Maj. Boggs received his title for active service in the War of 1812. He was a man who was uni- versally respected, and, though not a member of any church, was a warm friend to religion, and contributed liberally to aid its progress. He was a Democrat, and a great admirer of "Old Hick- ory." He died February 6, 1862, at the home of his son Moses, that date being the anniversary of his father's death, February 6, 1827, and it is a cu- rious fact that they had attained nearly the same age at the time of death, for had they lived until their next birthday they would have been eighty- seven years old. Maj. Boggs had been twice mar- ried. His first wife died December 31, 1851, and he subsequently married her sister, Mrs. Jane Tay- lor, in Zanesville. He had been living in that place a number of years, when he was taken sick, and he then returned to Pickaway County "to die," as he said.
Moses Boggs, the father of our subject, was the third son, and seventh child, of Maj. John Boggs, and was the last of the family born in the old log eabin which his father built on Congo Creek, near the Logan Elm, the date of his birth being August 27, 1814. He became a farmer and large land- holder, having about twelve hundred acres, and he also dealt in stock to a considerable extent. Au- gust 3, 1841, he was married to Miss Margaret S., daughter of Judge Cook, of Ross County. His death occurred December 7, 1865, when he was not much past the meridian of life. His wife died in 1887, aged seventy years. The following of their seven children are living: John M., a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, a prominent far- mer, residing near La Fayette, Ind., and President of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture; Scott, a farmer of Pickaway Township, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William, a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and now a farmer, residing near La Fayette, Ind., and Sarah T.
Sarah T. Boggs is an intelligent and highly cul- tured lady, who has been liberally educated. She attended a select school at Chillicothe some time during her girlhood. In 1872, she entered Cornell College, at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where she was closely
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engaged in scientific studies for two years. After she left college her mind was further broadened by travel, as she journeyed with her mother, who had poor health, for several years. She has resided at Kingston since 1885, where she has a pleasant home. She is wealthy, and an extensive land- owner, having one thousand and forty-five acres of land in Pickaway Township, of which five hundred and eighty are located on the Scioto Bottoms.
The boyhood days of Lemuel Boggs were passed on his father's farm. He was given every advan- tage to obtain a fine education, laying its founda- tion in the local district school, afterwards pursu- ing his studies at Mt. Pleasant Academy, at King- ston, and finally graduating with honor from the scientific course at the Wesleyan University, in 1866. When his college days were over, he re- turned home, and immediately took up farming and stock-raising. He has four hundred and fifty acres of very fine land in his home farm in Pieka- away Township, known as Elmwood, which is a beautiful and sightly place. ITis large briek resi- dence stands on a high elevation in the midst of a fine grove of forest trees, and other commodions buildings adorn the place. He also has three hun- dred and thirty aeres in Perry Township, and handles a good deal of stock, besides dealing ex- tensively in grain. In 1876, he built an elevator at Elmwood, a station on the Norfolk & Western Railway a few rods from his residence, and has bought and shipped large quantities of grain ever since, as he is surrounded by one of the most pro- duetive corn and wheat regions in the State.
Mr. Boggs has, on several occasions, served as executor of estates some of them very large. He was executor for that of his uncle, the late John Boggs, which was one of the largest ever set- tled in this county. It comprised large personal interests and about nine thousand acres of land, nearly three thousand of which were located in Pickaway County. Our subject settled up his fath- er's estate, too, and has been actively engaged in business affairs ever since. In 1883, he assisted in organizing the Seioto Valley Bank, at Kingston, and has served as its President ever since 1885, his vigorous and healthy administration of its affairs making it a powerful factor in local financial cir-
eles. He is a thorough business man, is possessed of fine social qualities, and stands high in the esti- mation of all who know him, and his friends and acquaintances are many.
In 1870, Mr. Boggs was married to Miss Jennie, daughter of the Hon. John Groce, who is men- tioned elsewhere in this work, and their domestic relations are of the pleasantest. Three children have been born unto them: Nellie G., Margie C., and John.
Our subject is a staneh and influential Republi- can, and his counsels are often sought by his party. In 1877, he was a candidate for State Senator, showing himself a strong man in the race, but his party was too hopelessly in the minority to elect him. The following year he was honored with the nomination for Representative, and ran ahead of his ticket. His popularity is best shown by the fact that he has held the responsible office of Treas- urer of the Township for the past six years, al- though the township is overwhelmingly Demo- cratic. He is well known in social circles as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of the Knights of Pythias, and of other or- ders of like character.
Le YMAN JONES, who represents one of the old pioneer families of Ohio, is one of the practical, well-to-do farmers of Pickaway Township, his farm, the old homestead formerly belonging to his father, being among the best man- aged and most productive in this section of the county of Pickaway. Mr. Jones is a native of this county, born in Salt Creek Township, near the Ross County line, January 28, 1841. His father, the late Abel Jones, who was widely known and honored as one of our best citizens during his residence here, was born in Ross County, October 31, 1810, a son of Aaron Jones, a Virginian, who came to Ohio about the beginning of the century, and was one of the first settlers of Ross County, where he carried on his occupation as a farmer until his demise. He had three sons, one of whom is living, and six daughters, all of whom are dead.
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The father of our subject was reared under pio- neer influences to stal wart, sturdy, self-reliant man- hood, and in due time began his independent career as a farmer, in which he met with more than ordi- nary success, as he was a cool calculator, was shrewd and sagacious in money matters, and was thrifty and energetic in carrying on his work. He pur- chased a farm in Salt Creek Township shortly after his marriage, having earned his first money by teaching school for some terms, he being very well educated. In early life he dealt extensively in stoek, feeding a bunch of cattle every winter, for which he always found a good market. In the course of years, he became one of the wealthy men of the county, accumulating a valuable property, including some sixteen hundred aeres of land in Salt Creek and Pickaway Townships, and in Ross County, six hundred acres lying in that county.
Mr. Jones continued to live on his farm in Salt Creek Township until 1864, when he removed to Pickaway Township, where he had purchased land, and here his long and well-spent life was brought to a close by his death January 5, 1892. He left behind him a golden record of one who had lived uprightly, had been straightforward and conscien- tious in his dealings, was exemplary in all his acts, and was well worthy of the trust and respect in which he was held by the entire community who knew him so well. He was eminently a self-made man, beginning life with no other capital than a sound, well-trained mind, and good physical powers, and his course might well be followed by the young men to-day, who are just entering upon their careers. Mr. Jones was much indebted for his suc- eess to the faithful and efficient help that he re- ceived from his good wife, who was his counselor and companion for many years, until her death in 1887. Her maiden name was Catherine Dresbach and she was a daughter of Martin Dresbach. Her parents came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day and were among the first settlers of Ross County, where she was born October 3, 1815.
Lyman Jones is the eldest of nine children, of whom eight are living. He was educated in the district school, and he early became familiar with all kinds of farm work. He always remained with his father, affording him valuable assistance in the
management of his extensive interests, and at the same time gaining that clear insight into business matters that has been the keynote of his own suc- cess. He is the executor of his father's estate, a position for which he is well qualified on account of his accurate knowledge of his father's affairs, his excellent administrative ability, and because he will settle everything with perfect fairness and with good judgment.
Our subject has a fine farm of two hundred acres that he inherited from his father, who bequeathed it to him in his will. He and his sister are living together on the old homstead, and have here a very pleasant home, comfortable and cozy in the ex- treme. Mr. Jones is a sound Republican in poli- ties, and is in every way a good citizen of his na- tive county, with whose interests his own are so closely connected.
S AMUEL E. ADAMS. One of the most notable examples of success furnished by the mercantile establishments of Washing- ton C. H. is that of the dry-goods and no- tion store owned and conducted by Mr. Adams. Although of recent inception, it has enjoyed a steady increase in facilities and trade, until at the present time it is one of the leading establishments of the kind in Fayette County.
The proprietor of the store, to whom is due the large measure of success enjoyed, is a native of Fayette County, and was born in Perry Township, August 19, 1850. His father, Trustin Adams, re- moved from Delaware to Ohio in 1832, and began merchandising in Monroe, Highland County, where he remained for some time. The latter part of his active life was spent in farming pursuits, in which he met with success until the infirmities of age compelled him to cease from his labors. He passed away from this life February 9, 1892.
At the age of fourteen, our subject began clerk- ing for his father and, while quite young, gained a practical idea of business. His father selling out to his brother and brother-in-law, he remained with them for a time, but being desirous to in-
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crease his education, he took a commercial course in the business college at Portsmouth, Ohio. After- ward, he clerked for G. W. Anderson & Co., of that city, then visited Kansas and spent a short time at Wamego. Returning to the old home- stead, he assisted his father in his farming opera- tions until 1871, when he entered the store of his brother, W. B. Adams, at Greenfield, Highland County.
After remaining twenty months with his brother, our subject came to Washington C. HI. and in Jan- uary, 1882, embarked in business as a grocer. His store building was a small building on Court, between Fayette and North Streets, but after get- ing fairly started, he removed to a larger building in the same block. He continued in the grocery business, which he constantly enlarged, until Sep- tember 9, 1887, when he sold out. November 10 following, he embarked in the notion trade, and in the spring of 1888 added a full line of dry- goods. In September, 1891, he removed to the block which he at present occupies, on the corner of Court and Fayette Streets. He gives constant employment to three clerks, and is often compelled to add extra help during the busy seasons.
When freed from business cares, Mr. Adams finds leisure and enjoyment of all the comforts of home at his residence on the corner of Washing- ton Avenue and Hopkins Street. The other mem- bers of his family are his wife, formerly Miss Alice Gustin, of Wilmington, Ohio, to whom he was married July 5, 1883, and their three sons: Lee Offa, Gilbert Gustin and William Eben. Mr. Adams is Steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is also a devoted mem- ber.
W ILLIAM H. JONES, M. D. This highly esteemed gentleman, who is making his home in Jeffersonville, Fayette County, was born in North Wales on the 12th of February, 1816. His parents were William and Jane Jones, both natives of Wales. The father was by trade a miller and carried on that business in his native country until his death, which occurred in 1815.
He ran a watermill, and when a farmer sent his grain to his mill he would weigh it and put the amount down in a book, and when ground and bolted he would again weigh it and then make out a ticket stating the weight of the grain and its products, thus showing whether or not the customer received his own product or not. At his death, he left a wife and six children: Thomas, William H .; Davis, who is a resident of Cincinnati and has a very prominent family of sons engaged in the electric business; and Abel. The rest of the number are deceased.
The subject of this life history was educated in his native country until fourteen years of age, having studied Latin and the histories of all for- eign countries. He was taken from school and bound out in a printing office for a period of seven years, but after a short time his eyesight became very poor, and he was released from his appren- ticeship. Mr. Jones then went to work at the trade of a cabinet-maker and carpenter, and fol- lowed this for some years. When about twenty- three years of age, he went to Manchester, Eng- land, and in 1842 set sail for America, taking passage at Liverpool on a sailing-vessel and landing at New York City after an uneventful voyage of seven or eight weeks. He remained a short time in this great city, when he went to Washington, D. C., and there met a Senator from Ohio, of whom he asked something in regard to Ohio. He was only answered in a short and rude manner, which he did not at all like. Not believ- ing all the people of the Buckeye State to be like this one whom he had met, he went to Cincinnati and began working at stair-building. Subse- quently, he began the study of medicine and was graduated from the Eclectic Medical College in 1849, having built the stairs in the college for part of his tuition.
After his graduation, Dr. Jones began to prac- tice in Oak Hill, Jackson County, Ohio, remaining at that place about two years. At the expiration of this time, he came to Jeffersonville, Fayette County, and has since then been engaged in his practice in this place and is highly honored and esteemed by every one with whom he comes in contact. The Doctor is now in his seventy-sixth
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year and has a fine experience as a physician, and has performed some very difficult and noted operations in surgery. By his perseverance and thrift, he has laid up for himself and family a comfortable competency for a rainy day and makes his home in a handsome dwelling one mile from town.
Dr. Jones was married, February 7, 1852, to Olivia Hidy, by whom he has six children living: Humphrey, William, Mary J., Carey, Emma and Minnie. The two sons are prominent attorneys in Washington C. H. Emma O., the second daugh- ter, is a graduate of the Chicago Medical College and has held some important positions in hospi- tals, etc. She is now practicing medicine at .Jef- ferson ville with good success. She has had sev- eral severe cases of diphtheria, but has never lost a case. Dr. Jones and his estimable wife are mem- bers of the Universalist Church.
M. BAER is Chief of the Fire Department at Circleville. There is nothing which adds so much to the safety and security of the people of a town or city as an active, well- trained, vigilant and excellently equipped fire de- partment. The history of the measures for fire prevention in Circleville is an interesting one, for the handy "blue bucket," and the nimble feet of such as would help, composed the equipments of the early residents. Now there is a fire depart- ment that is a credit to the city. Mr. Baer, who is Chief of the Fire Department, is a practical and first- class engineer, and is one who thoroughly under- stands his business. He was born in Jackson Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, as was also his father, John Baer. The grandfather, John Baer, Sr., was originally from the Keystone State, but an early settler of Pickaway County, Ohio, where he purchased a wild piece of land in Jackson Town- ship, on Darby Creek. On this he erected a rude log hut, and there passed the remainder of his days. He was of German descent.
John Baer, Jr., father of our subject, was reared
amid pioneer scenes, and received his scholastic training in the log schoolhouse of early days. At an early age he commenced farming and stock- raising for himself, purchased a farm, and on this died, September 20, 1852, when about thirty-five years of age. He was married in Pickaway County to Miss Catherine Starritt, a native of Pennsylva- nia, who came with her father, Solomon, to Ohio, when but a child. Here she grew to womanhood, and married Mr. Baer. After the death of her husband, she kept the family on the farm until 1867, when she sold out and moved to Marion, Ohio. There she resides at the present time, and is now Mrs. Wilson, having married again. By her marriage to Mr. Baer she became the mother of six children, as follows: An infant (deceased), J. M. (our subject), Elizabeth (Mrs. Rector), who resides in South Bloomfield; John, with our sub- jeet in the fire department; Sarah (Mrs. Morn, of Columbus), and Franklin, who died at the age of twelve years.
Our subject's birth occurred on the 6th of Jan- uary, 1845, and his time was divided in youth be- tween working on the farm and attending school taught in the primitive log schoolhouse of pioneer days. He attended principally during the winter months until seventeen years of age, and at the age of twenty he began farming on a part of the old place, the same, consisting of five hundred and six acres, being left by the grandfather. This he continued for two years, and then rented a farm four miles from Circleville, and carried on seven hundred acres, when only twenty-three years of age. In 1879, he located in Circleville, and for two and one-half years was engineer in the Heffner ware- house. Previous to this, when about sixteen years of age, he was engaged with a threshing-machine and continued with it all one fall. He had always delighted in machinery of all kinds, and when he was seventeen years of age he came to Circleville and began learning the machinist's trade. Eight months after, he returned to the farm, but his love of machinery lingered with him, and when twenty years of age he was the owner of a threshing-ma- chine, used steam, and threshed all over the western part of the county. He became one of the best- known threshers, and continued in this business
4
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for twenty-two years. He then came to Circleville, as above mentioned, and in 1881 became Engineer of the Fire Department, holding that position for two years. He then resigned, and one year later was placed on the police force, which position he held for thirteen months, and again resigned. For four years after this he was in the employ of what was then the Portage Straw Board Company, but what is now the American Straw Board Company; and after this, in May, 1889, he was appointed Chief of the Fire Department, by Mayor Bolin (now deceased), and re-appointed by Mayor Lowe.
Mr. Baer was married in Jackson Township, Pickaway County, to Miss Virginia Buckles, a na- tive of Darby Township, the same county. The fruits of this union have been three children : Cynthia, a graduate of the High School of Circle- ville; Franklin, at home; and Cora. Mr. Baer's second marriage was to a sister of his first wife, Miss Rosaltha Buckles, who was also a native of Darby Township, Pickaway County, Ohio. Her father, Rev. Abraham Buckles, was a minister in the Methodist Church. Mr. Baer had the misfor- tune to lose his second wife. She left two chil- dren, Walter and Henry. Mr. Baer is a Democrat in his political views, and is a member of the Dem- ocratie Club. He has been a delegate to county and State conventions, and is at present Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee. In 1891, he was Chairman of the Executive Commit- tee of the county. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
LBERT HANER, M. D. This esteemed resident of Plain City is a New Yorker by birth, having been born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., October 16, 1832. His fa- ther, IIenry H. Haner, was also a native of the Empire State, and was born in Rensselaer County, seven miles from Albany. He was a farmer by oe- cupation and as early as 1838 removed to what is now Wyandot, Ohio, where he continued his work as a farmer. Later, he made his home in Franklin County, Kan., seven miles from Ottawa, where, in
1863, he bought a farm and there resided until his death, which took place when he was eighty-seven years old. His father, Philip Haner, a native of Germany, lived to attain the very venerable age of one hundred and ten years.
The mother of our subject was known in maiden- hood as Sarah Strope, daughter of John Strope, a German by birth. She was born in the State of New York, and lived to be sixty-nine years old. There were nine children in the family into which our subject was born, seven being daughters and two sons. All grew to years of maturity and five are now living. Dr. Haner, who was the sixth child in order of age, was only six years old when he came to this State with his parents. His first school advantages were given him at Wyandot, and he began his medical studies at the Eclectic College of Cincinnati, where he attended lectures during the years 1856, 1857 and 1858. Having taken his diploma in that institution, he located in Cincinnati, and for seven years carried on an ac- tive practice in that city. It must have been rather startling to a young practitioner to be called, as he was, in the very first case that was put into his hands, to a small-pox patient.
It was in 1861 that the young Doctor removed to Urbana, where he remained for two years, and in 1863 came to Plain City. which has since been his home. His marriage took place in Wyandot, Ohio, in 1852, his bride being Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Leonard, a native of Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Haner are the parents of two sons. Their eldest, Jacob Leonard, is a graduate of the law depart- ment of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, taking his degree there in 1891. He is mar- ried to Lydia, the daughter of Harrison Miller, of Union County, Ohio, and makes his home in Columbus. The second son, William Ilenry, is in the grain business at Plain City, and is carrying on an extensive trade in buying, selling and ship- ping. Ile is united in marriage with Rosa, the daughter of Jeremiah Douglas, of Putnam County, Ohio.
Dr. Haner has an extensive practice and at one time carried on a drug trade of a considerable ex- tent but closed out this line of business on account of his large practice. He is a Mason, and a mem-
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ber of the Urania Lodge of Plain City, besides being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, of Plain City. Mrs. Haner is in busi- ness and carries on one of the best dry-goods houses in the city, and the family, one and all, have the esteem and respect of those with whom they are brought into business and social relations.
OBERT MILLIKIN, residing on his well- developed farm, which is very pleasantly situated on the East Turnpike, six miles south of Piain City, on the fertile lands of Canaan Township, is one of Madison County's sturdy, thrifty, forehanded farmers, who under- stands well how to conduct agriculture with good profit.
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