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 39
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 39
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 39
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with promptness and fidelity, which won him the commendation of all. On the 29th of November, 1890, he embarked in his present business and has had a constantly increasing trade, which has now assumed excellent proportions.
W ILLIAM H. DIAL, a member of the firm of Dial & Fullerton, the leading real-estate, loan and insurance men of this section, is doing an extensive business in that line in Washington C. H., where he has been located for the past seventeen years. He was born in Clermont County, this State, sixteen miles east of Cincinnati, September 26, 1847. His parents, Joseph S. and Lucinda (Weaver) Dial, were early settlers of the Buckeye State, the former being in his seventy-second year. He was a resident of Cin- cinnati for many years, or nntil until moving to his pleasant farm, sixteen miles east of Cincinnati, where he is living in retirement.
W. H. Dial, of this sketch, received his educa- tion in Cincinnati, having taken a High School and commercial course, and, soon after completing his studies, located in Washington C. H. He was mar- ried in 1870 to Susie T., daughter of Capt. John S. Foster, who for many years resided in Cinein- nati but at present makes his home in Greenville, Darke County. Mr. Foster served all through the Civil War, in which conflict he received the title of Captain, and, being very prominent in local affairs, held the various positions of trust within the gift of the people, at one time being Sheriff of Brown County.
He of whom we write, on locating in this city, entered the real-estate, loan and insurance busi- ness, and has occupied a pleasant office at the corner of Court and Main Streets for the past sixteen years, during which time he has built up the larg- est business in his line in the county. In addi- tion to the business already mentioned, he is Pres- ident of the People's Savings and Loan Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and has been actively connected with it since that time.
The capital stock of the company is $1.000,000, it having been increased by an amended charter from $200,000. The firm of Dial & Fullerton rep- resent the largest insurance companies doing busi- iness in the United States, and handle large amounts of city and farm property. Mr. Fullerton has been associated with our subject since June, 1887, and being a man of keen foresight and abil- ity in his partienlar line, is well fitted to be the associate of such a man as our subject.
Mr. and Mrs. Dial are the parents of three chil- dren: Sallie F., Georgia M. and John F., respec- tively. Our subject was a Councilman from the Second Ward at the time Washington C. H. was advanced from a village to a city, and while thus connected accomplished much good in advancing common-sense ideas, which were sustained by sci- entifie experiments.
Le EMUEL H. LOOFBOURROW, who ranks among the successful and progressive agri- enlturists of Fayette County, was born in Madison Township, in the house in which he is at present residing January 31, 1861. Hle is the son of Lemuel P. and Elizabeth (Graham) Loofbour- row who are still living, making their home in Mt. Sterling. Our subject was reared on the home farm and when reaching his majority went to Summer County, Kan., where he remained about three years engaged in farming.
On his return from the West, our subject was married February 9, 1887, to Miss Alta, daughter of Edwin and Elizabeth (Timmons) Clarridge. She is a native of this county and township, her birth occurring February 3, 1864. To them have been granted a family of four children, viz: Oel E., who was born November 29, 1887; Gertrude, March 3, 1889; Grace Inez, June 10, 1890, and Ruth October 11, 1891. Mr. Loufbonrrow has always resided upon the home farm, which in- cludes two hundred and seventy well-improved aeres, with the exception of the time spent in Kansas. He cast his first Presidential vote for Cleveland in 1884, and while in Kansas served as
Anos. J. Howard
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School Director. In social matters, he is a Knight of Pythias and with his wife is highly respected in the county where they make their home.
Mrs. Loufbourrow's father, who is now deceased, was born in Madison Township, this county, Oct- ober 9, 1826. IIe also followed farming for a time, and, having been given an excellent education, taught school for a number of years in Clarks- burg, and Waterloo. He was married October 4, 1859, to Elizabeth Timmons, who was also born in this county, April 5, 1835. They became the parents of three children, of whom Mrs. Loufhour- row was the second-born. Her sister Inez is now Mrs. B. W. Leavell, and her brother Howard, who was born September 6, 1873, resides at home. Mr. Clarridge died May 6, 1882, and his wife still re- sides in Madison Township. Previous to her mar- riage with the father of Mrs. Loufbourrow, she was the wife of John Leavell, by whom she became the mother of one child, Benjamin, who makes his home in Chicago.
MOS J. HOWARD. The name of this gentleman will long be remembered in Southern Ohio as one of the sturdy and true-hearted pioneers who aided in the progress of Summerford Township, Madison County. In many affairs, both public and private, he did good service to the vicinity, developing the material resources of the country and advanc- ing the welfare of the people. Side by side with him, his excellent wife labored for many years, they being thoroughly identified with the progress of the community, with whose most highly re- spected and useful pioneers they were classed.
The original of this sketch and of the accompany- ing portrait was born in Grafton County, N. II., March 29, 1803, and was a lad of six years when his parents moved to Virginia, where they re- mained for one winter. In 1809, they came to Ohio, the elder Mr. Howard locating in what is now Summerford Township. Here Amos J. grew to manhood, his early life being passed in much the same fashion as that of other boys of his age-at-
tending the common schools and being trained to farm pursuits. He, however, made the best of his opportunities in an educational way and taught school for a number of years in his district. Ilis chief business in life, however, was that of farm- ing and stock-raising, in which he was more than ordinarily successful. At one time he was the proprietor of an estate which comprised fifteen hundred broad acres. IIe adorned his place with a substantial set of all the necessary farm build- ings, and made upon it first-class improvements.
Mr. Howard was married in what is now Summer- ford Township, December 23, 1825, to Rachael Kirkley, who was born in this township, July 8, 1811. She was reared to womanhood in this locality, where she has always resided, with the exception of one year spent in Champaign County.
To Mr. and Mrs. Howard was born a fam- ily of nine children, viz: Napoleon, who was a druggist in Lima, Ohio; Mary J., the wife of Judge Lawrence Weldon; Miriam, who died when nineteen years of age; John Mills, a farmer in Champaign County; Clinton, a resident of Pana, Ill .; Benton, who died in his twenty-sixth year; Edwin M., who departed this life when twenty- four years of age; Marion, a farmer in this town- ship, and Elizabeth, who departed this life when a young lady of nineteen years. The mother of these children died at her home in this township, September 4, 1858.
The lady whom our subject chose as his second wife was Miss Elizabeth Ann Cowan, their mar- riage being celebrated in Missouri, March 24, 1861. Mrs. Howard was born in Delaware County, N. Y., July 27, 1821, and was fourteen years of age when she went with her mother to Canada, whence they came, three years later, to Ohio. She began to teach school when fifteen years of age, which occupation she followed much of the time for twenty-four years. She is a most intelligent and cultured lady and aided her husband greatly in attaining the high standing which he occupied in this community.
Amos J. Howard departed this life in Summerford Township, April 16, 1882, greatly mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was
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a liberal contributor to the Episcopal Church, and socially, was a member of the Masonic fraternity and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. With few advantageous surroundings, with no monied capital, he nevertheless acquired a competence which enabled his family to live in comfort. He possessed those sterling traits of character that mark a thoroughly conscientious and upright man, and was greatly respected by all about him.
ILLIAM ERB. When a man is known to have labored hard to make his way in the world, it is a source of gratification to his friends to know that he has succeeded in reaching a height that enables him to "take life easy." This is the case with the gentleman above named, whose career should encourage others to renewed energy, as it was not luck but pluek that brought a com- petence. For many years a prominent agricul- turist of Madison County, he is now living retired in Lilly Chapel, where his home is supplied with all the comforts of life.
Martin Erb, the father of our subject, was a na- tive of Baden, Germany, while his mother, Cather- ine, had her birth in the same country. She de- parted this life in Missouri, when our subject was a lad, his father dying in Harrison County, Ind .. in 1862. They were the parents of six children, of whom William, who was born April 5, 1827, in Baden, Germany, was the second in order of birth. He was an infant of eighteen months when his parents emigrated to the New World, and was here reared to farming pursuits. When old enough to do for himself, he engaged in working out for other parties and for several years was employed as fireman on a steamboat plying the Ohio River.
In February, 1852, Mr. Erb came to Madison County, and for four years worked for the late John Byers. At the end of that time, he went to Pennsylvania, where he was married and resided for eighteen months and then returning to this county, cultivated rented land in Fairfield Town- ship for five years. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and
served in the Union army for two years and nine months, being mustered out at Camp Chase, near Columbus, this State, July 4, 1865.
On returning from the field of battle, our sub- ject purchased land in Jefferson Township, and after a residence there of five years, sold out and purchased another farm of one hundred acres in the same township, which he operated for nine years. In the fall of 1881, he removed with liis family to Lilly Chapel, where he owns a nice brick residence and is living retired from active work of any kind.
The lady to whom our subject was married in Beaver County, Pa., March 20, 1856, was Miss Caroline Gerhart, who was also a native of Baden, Germany, having been born January 22, 1838. She was the daughter of Christian and Magdalena Gerhart, also natives of the Fatherland, but who are now deceased, the mother passing away in Col- umbus, and the father while residing in West Jef- ferson. To Mr. and Mrs. Erb has been born a family of seven children, five of whom are living. Matilda married Samuel Sidner; Katie became the wife of William Neff; John married Belle Rine; Mary is now Mrs. Frank Horn; and Maggie became Mrs. Wesley Lilly. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and are enjoying the respect and confidence of their many acquaintances.
BRAHAM L. HASTINGS, jeweler of Mt. Sterling, is one of the self-made men of Madison County. He was born in Muh- lenburg Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, July 31, 1850, and is one of nine children who were born unto Kendall W. and Hester A. (Mitchell) Hastings. Ilis father, a native of Put- nam County, Ohio, was born December 25, 1826, and his mother was born in Piekaway County, July 8, 1830. Mr. Hastings follows farming and now resides in Van Wert County. Seven children are yet living: JJohn G., a farmer residing in Anglaize County, Ohio, who has two children; William, who resides with his family upon a
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farm in the same county; Isaac, a machinist of Payne, Ohio, is married and has two children; Mary J. is the wife of Dr. Worley, a practicing physician of Wetsel, Ohio; Mrs. Druzella Moore is living in Van Wert, Ohio, and has three children; and Mrs. Mattic B. Sween resides with her three children in Melrose, Ohio.
Our subject grew to manhood upon a farm, his father having removed to a farm in Madison County, near Range. He acquired a good Eng- lish education in the common schools, and re- mained under the parental roof until he had at- tained his majority, when he started out in life for himself, working by the month for about two years. As a companion and helpmate on life's journey, he chose Miss Anna A. Woodman, of Range, their union being celebrated February 6, 1873. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, May 2, 1848, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Carr) Woodman.
After his marriage, Mr. Hastings followed vari- ous occupations for two years, and then engaged in building fences for three years. After that time, he engaged in farming on rented land for two years. Subsequently, he removed with his family to Mt. Sterling, and established what has developed into his present business. He began with only a bench, and repaired watches and cloeks. He is a natural mechanie. As a boy, he was always working in that line, and his genius and enterprise insure his success. Sinee coming to Mt. Sterling, in 1880, he has constantly en- larged his business until he now carries a jewelry stock valued at $2,000, and does a large amount of repair work, his trade being almost greater than he can attend to.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hastings were born seven children, but five died in infancy. The two still living are Iva Florence, who was born in Range, Madison County, November 21, 1873, and was graduated from the Mt. Sterling High School in June, 1892; and Auloa Anna, who was born in Mt. Sterling, May 4, 1888.
Mr. Hastings cast his first Presidential vote in 1872 for Horace Greeley, and has since been a Democrat. He served as a member of the City Council, but refused the office of Justice of the
Peace, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Mystic Circle. Whatever suc- cess he has achieved in life is due to his own ef- forts. He well deserves the liberal patronage which he receives, for his life has been a busy and useful one.
OSEPH MARION PARRETT, who is one of the best-known residents of Union Town- ship, Fayette County, is a son of Joseph Parrett, who was born in Virgina in 1811, and spent his early days in the Shenandoah Val- ley. At the age of eighteen, he came to Ohio with his parents, Isaac and Mary Parrett, about the year 1830, and settled in Ross County, Ohio. After some eight or ten years, the family moved to Fay- ette County, where Joseph Parrett was united in marriage with Elizabeth Harper, daughter of Jolm Harper, a prominent farmer of the county.
After this marriage, the young people settled in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, and lived there until their death, the wife passing from earth about the year 1845, and the husband living until the 1st of April, 1876. He was married a second time, to a widow, Mrs. Glaze, of Fayette County.
Joseph Parrett had a farm of four hundred and twenty acres of land in Jefferson Township. Three of his children are still living, the eldest of whom, James M., enlisted in the Ninetieth Ohio Infantry, and suffered much in health during his term of service, and finally died of measles, having just returned home. He was a young man of ehar- acter and promise, and was deeply mourned by those who knew him. Following him are Emeline, who married Mr. Sancus, and has now passed from life; our subject; Christiana, who married Daniel Webster Kestler, and makes her home on the old homestead, and Lewis Hamilton, who has a farm in Paint Township.
The father of our subject was a successful man and prominent in his neighborhood. He was a
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Deacon in the Presbyterian Church for twenty years. In his political tendencies, he was a Demo- erat. His son, our subject, was born May 11, 1843, in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, and had his education at home in the district schools. After concluding his studies, he worked for his father upon the farm about a year and a half before he was married, and then removed to the farm where he now lives, which was purchased for him by his father. On the 17th of August, 1872, he was united in marriage with Hulda Wright, daughter of a prominent farmer of this county, Allen Wright.
The young couple after marriage went home to the farm, and it has been their home ever since. In this farm there are now two hundred and forty- one acres, all well improved and in a good state of cultivation. Grain is the principal product raised upon the farm, but Mr. Parrett pays some attention to stock. Mrs. Parrett is a lady of more than or- dinary amiability and strength of character, and is esteemed most highly in her neighborhood. Mr. Parrett is an excellent manager, and has the re- spect and good-will of the community. His polit- ieal views bring him into harmony with the Dem- oeratic party, but in local polities he always votes for the man whom his judgment endorses as best for the position. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an active worker therein, and his fellow-members have made him one of the Trustees, for his business reputation and integrity give him the confidence of that body.
G EORGE H. PONTIUS. It is a trite ob- servation that "there is no royal road to fortune," and this just statement is fully verified by a study of the lives of the successful business men of Ohio. When such a man as George II. Pontius starts out for himself, as he did, with no pecuniary help and with no fortune except good health and robust strength, and yet sue- ceeds in seeuring a fine property and that degree of confidence which allows him to live in the en- joyment of the good things of life, we can surely
realize that the old saying has not outgrown its lease of life.
The original of this sketch is President of the School Board of Circleville, was Clerk of Pickaway County, and is now engaged in the active prac- tice of law, being a member of the firm of Folson & Pontius. He is truly a self-made man, as he began at the bottom round of the ladder of life and has worked his way up to his present high position in business cireles. He was born in Washington Township, just two and one-half miles east of Circleville, August 6, 1856, which was the birthplace of Amos Pontius, his father.
The grandfather of our subject, Daniel Pontius, was a native of Pennsylvania and was one of the early settlers in this State, where he became the proprietor of a large estate, numbering sixteen hundred aeres. He was an active worker in the United Brethren Church, to the support of which body he was a liberal contributor. The father of our subject was reared to man's estate in this county and received his education in the primi- tive log schoolhouse. When starting out in life for himself, he became the proprietor of a quarter- section of land, which he improved and operated until his removal to Circleville. He was very prominent in township affairs, holding many of the minor offices, the duties of which he discharged in a creditable manner. The United Brethren Church, of which the family were members, was located on a part of the old homestead.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Catherine Earnhort; she was a native of this coun- ty, her birth occurring in Washington Township. Mrs. Pontius was a daughter of William Earnhort, a native of Maryland, and an early settler on the Pickaway Plains, where he became the proprietor of a large tract of land. He later located in Washington Township, where he made his home until his decease. He was a conscientious mem- ber of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Pontius departed this life in 1889, after having become the mother of six children, five of whom are liv- ing. The original of this sketch is the third eld- est in the family and remained under the parental roof attending the common schools, until reaching his eighteenth year. He then began teaching
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school, thus paying his own way through col- lege, being a graduate of the National Normal School at Lebanon, finishing with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1879. Hle then returned to Circleville, where his father was residing, and engaged in teaching school. In the fall of 1884, he was elected County Clerk on the Democratie ticket with an increased majority. He was re- elected to that position in 1887, and thus has many friends throughout the county.
Immediately on the close of his college career, Mr. Pontius chose the profession of law, and while a teacher studied under Judge Winstead, and in March, 1888, was admitted to the Ohio Bar by the Supreme Court. February 9, 1891, he formed his present partnership with H. P. Folson, and is engaged in the regular practice of law. Decem- ber 8, 1887, Mr. Pontius was married to Miss Ora Ilall, who was born in Logansport, Ind., but was reared and educated in Circleville. She was orphaned at an early age by the death of her par- ents, and was then taken into the home of her uncle, Stephen Miller, and given a good educa- tion at Ladoga, Ind. To Mr. and Mrs. Pontius has been born one son, Miller H.
He of whom we write is President of the County Board of Elections and was the first Presi- dent in this county under the Australian Law. He is also a member and Director of the Opera House Company and a member and Director of the Board of Trade, of which organization he has been Secretary. Socially, he is identified with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar and Knights of Pythias. He is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination he is one of the Trustees. His political views led him to identify himself with the Democratic party, and in 1890 he served as Chairman of the County Central Committee. Mr. Pontius resides in a comfortable home on East Main Street, in the city of Cirele- ville.
Mr. Pontius has been very successful in all his undertakings and at the present time is a mem- ber of the Circleville Land Improvement Com- pany. He has traveled perhaps more than any other man of his age in the county, in 1879 spend-
ing two weeks in Canada and sailing on the Lakes. In 1886, he crossed the Western plains and the Rocky Mountains, visiting the various places of interest in Colorado, Utah, California, Oregon and Washington, and spent several days in the beautiful and picturesque National Park. In 1887. he took a trip East, visiting the large cities, but returned thoroughly satisfied with his Western home. In 1891, he took a trip to New Orleans, and thus has visited the various States, North, South, East and West. Mr. Pontius has ever taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the locality and State, and is an enterprising business man, of broad and intelli- gent views. He is deservedly very popular, as he has always proved honest and true to the trusts reposed in him.
CLAY JOHNSON, a grocer of Mt. Sterling, is a successful business man and a promi- nent citizen of the community. Ile was born in Lancaster, Ohio, January 16, 1857, and is a son of William and Malinda (Hunter) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Fairfield County, Ohio, and were of English descent. The father lost his life by the eaving in of a gravel bank and, at the age of two, our subject went to live with his maternal grandfather, Andrew Hunter, a farmer of Fairfield County, with whom he re- mained until he was about ten years of age. Ile then went to live with his mother, who had mar- ried again. She still survives, and makes her home in Rich Valley, Ind.
Mr. Johnson remained with his mother until about seventeen years of age, when he started out in life for himself and has since been dependent upon his own resources. For a time he operated his step-father's farm in the summer months, and in winter attended school at Lancaster and Royalton, in Fairfield County, thus acquiring a good educa- tion. Ile was married on the 20th of December, 1876, to Miss Anna Williamson, a native of Fair- field County. born September 10, 1856, and a daughter of Isaac N. and Elizabeth (Peters) Will-
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iamson. Unto them have been born five children, three sons and two daughters: Lillie P., born in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, January 25, 1878; Glenn H., born in Royalton, August 28, 1880; Emma Belle, born in Royalton, November 21, 1882; James Blaine, born June 1, 1885, and died December 8, 1886; and Clay, born in Mt. Sterling, on the 23d of April, 1891.
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