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 41

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 894


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 41
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 41
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 41


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He of whom we write was in his tenth year when he settled in this township, and through his boyhood he studied in the old log cabin school- house, furnished with slab benches, slab writing- desks on the wall, and large' open fireplace. When the family came here, there was only one man in the township who owned a wagon. Deer were numerous in those days, and wild turkeys had to be shot to keep them from destroying the corn. At the age of twenty-six, the young man began life for himself, having helped his father up to that time. Ile learned the boot and shoe trade, and for some time carried on a store.


Our subject was married February 14, 1856, to Esther A. Crabb, who was born near London, Mad- ison County, Ohio, October 26, 1833. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah (Satchel) Crabb, were both born in Ohio, in Ross County, of which her grand- father, Osman Crabb, was one of the first settlers. Mrs. Gibson's father was a farmer, and owned one


hundred and fifty acres in Ross County, which he sold in 1853, and, coming to Piekaway County, here bought one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he lived until his death, at the age of seventy-six. Mrs. Gibson's mother died at the age of forty-one, and as there were seven children in the family, and most of them were small at the time of the mother's death, much responsibility fell upon the daughter Esther.


Our subject and his worthy wife have had born to them three children, namely: Sarah R., who is married to Littleton Gochenour, and resides on a farm in this township, and Martha A. and Mary J., who reside at home with their parents. When our subject settled here in the woods after marriage, he could not see out to the road, the forest was so dense. They lived in a log cabin, and worked hard to clear up the farm, and make the improve- ments which appear here to-day. Upon this farm of one hundred and ninety and one-half acres, he carries on mixed farming, raising both grain and stock. From his large flock of sheep he makes an excellent profit. Mr. Gibson was a very hard worker up to the year 1881, but since that time he has been an invalid, on account of rheumatism, and for five years has not been able to bear his weight upon his feet. Ife is independent in pol- ities, and uses excellent judgment in his choice of candidates and policy of government. He has a remarkable memory, and has thus laid up in his mind much of value, which he has gained from his broad and extensive reading. His wife is an earnest and efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gibson has been Trustee of the township for one or two terms, and has frequently declined other official positions which have been offered him.


OHN M. DEER. We herewith present the sketch of a prominent and wealthy farmer, whose beautiful estate is pleasantly situated in Concord Township, Fayette County, where he devotes his entire time and attention to its cultivation. He is the son of Absalom and


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Elizabeth (Wilson) Deer, natives of Madison County, Va., where they were married, shortly after which event they came to Ohio and located on Rattlesnake Creek, Highland County. There the father cleared and improved a wild tract of land, continuing to make that place his home for about twenty years, when he came in 1854 to this county, settling upon the old McLean farm in Union Township. There the elder Mr. Deer died in 1865, his good wife surviving until 1888, when she too passed away.


Of the parental family of eight children, two are now living, our subject and Mrs. Amny A. Patch. He of whom we write was born November 22, 1837, in Highland County, this State, where he was given a fair education in the common schools of his distriet. He has always followed the occu- pation of an agriculturist, being thoroughly trained to the duties of that calling on the home estate. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, at which time he was married, December 23, 1858, to Ann Eliza Me- Clellan, daughter of William MeClellan, a native of Maine and an early settler in Concord Town- ship.


Mrs. Deer was born March 9, 1832, in Fayette County, the birth of her parents occurring respect- ively August 7, 1797, and September 5, 1809. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Deer rented a farm for two years in Union Township, after which he re- moved to another portion of the township, making a stay of a like period. He made another removal where he remained for ten years, and then occu- pied the farm of Levi Rowe for five years. In 1878, our subject purchased his present estate, upon which he located the following year. It contains one hundred and thirty acres, and is known as the home farm. He is also the possessor of one hundred and twenty-two and one-haif acres north of Concord Township and one hundred and thirty acres in Union Township, making an aggregate of three hundred and eighty-two and one-half aeres of valuable land, which his industry has placed under cultivation. Ile has erected sub- stantial and suitable buildings on his estate, hav- ing all the improvements which best subserve the interests of a first-class agriculturist. His property


is thoroughly tiled and is so operated as to bring its owner handsome returns.


Mr. and Mrs. Deer have had born to them a family of six children, two of whom are deceased: James W. is a traveling salesman; Edward L. married Carrie Cline, resides in Union Township and has one child; Rufus L. took for his wife Miss Carrie Reed and makes his home in Chicago, Ill .; Cary O. is at home. They have all been given excellent educational advantages, James W. and Rufus L. being graduates of the Valparaiso (Ind.) Normal School. The youngest, Cary, is a student at Ada, Ohio.


Mrs. Deer departed this life August 24, 1886, firm in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church and greatly mourned by her numerous friends and acquaintances. Our subject is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and has served as a member of the School Board for a number of terms. At the present time he is an inenmbent of the office of Township Trustee and is widely and favorably known throughout this section as a man of prin- ciples and upright and honest life. Ilis son, James W., while a resident of Washington C. H., was Postmaster of that city.


BEL II. JANES. The beautiful home of this gentleman is one of the pleasant sights which is seen by the traveler along the highways of Jasper Township, Fay- ette County. His industry and perseverance have made a success of farming, as he is at present the proprietor of one hundred and ninety-five acres of land, located in Jasper Township. It is well cultivated, Mr. Janes believing that the best meth- ods and latest improvements in agriculture bring him in the largest returns.


William P. Janes, the father of our subject, was born in 1809, in Pendleton County, Va., and ten years later accompanied his father's family to Fay- ette County, locating for a year in Paint Town- ship, later going to Jefferson Township. The present site of the village of Jefferson occupies a portion of that farm which, at the time they located


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upon it, was in its original wildness; it has been in the possession of the family ever since. The elder Mr. Janes was very prominent in township affairs, and for a number of years served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace. In politics, he always cast his vote and influence in favor of Democratic principles and candidates, believing that party to be in the right. William P. de- parted this life in 1866, greatly mourned by all who knew him.


The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Mock; she was born in Greene County, this State, in 1814, and was the daughter of Jolm Mock, a native of North Carolina. The latter was a pa- triot in the War of 1812, and located in Greene County in an early day. He later removed to Jefferson Township, Fayette County, where he passed his last days. Mrs. Janes died . in 1883, after having become the mother of twelve chil- dren, eight of whom are living. Two sons par- ticipated in the Civil War, Evan L. and he of whom we write. Mrs. Janes was a member in good standing of the Methodist Protestant Church, and died firm in the faith of that body.


The original of this sketch was born February 11, 1839, on the old Janes homestead, where he grew to manhood and received a district-school education. Hle did much hard pioneer work in the early days, and, when old enough, began life for himself on the old homestead. On the out- break of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company II, Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, joining his regiment in the Shenandoah Valley. Ile participated in the engagement at Harper's Ferry, where he was taken prisoner, but was soon paroled. Ile was then sent to Annapolis, going on foot from Harper's Ferry, and from that city to Baltimore, and thence to Chicago, where he was mustered out. In 1864, Mr. Janes again enlisted in defense of his coun- try. and became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry, being mustered in as First Lieutenant. He participated in the Morgan raid, and received his honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment. Ilis soldiers were known as the "Squirrel Ilunters." They were State militia. While a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth


Regiment, our subject was again taken prisoner, June 11, 1864, at Cynthiana, Ky., while on the Mor- gan raid, and he received very cruel treatment; he was afterward paroled near Claysville, that State.


Miss Almeda Hays was married in January, 1867, to our subject. She was the daughter of Morgan Hays, a resident of Paint Township. Fay- ette County, where he has attained to the ripe old age of seventy-two years. Mrs. Janes was born April 2, 1845, in Fayette County, where she was given a good education and received a certificate to teach. He of whom we write moved on his present farm in 1868, where he has his entire acre- age under cultivation, with the exception of fifty acres. He is engaged in general farming, and his success in that line has placed him in the foremost rank among the agriculturists in the county.


Mr. and Mrs. Janes have become the parents of five children, four of whom are living, namely : William M., Cass G., Jennie P. and Chester II. They have all been given good educations, and are well fitted to become useful and progressive cit- izens. Mr. Janes has served on the School Board, and socially is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Milledgeville, having been through all the chairs of that organization. IIe is a member of the I. Gilbert Grand Army Post, of Jeffersonville, and in politics is a Repub- lican, with which party he has always cast his vote. HIe stands high among his fellow-men, who re- gard him as a man whose word is as good as his bond, and in public life he has represented them as Trustee of Jasper Township.


ORGAN J. JENKINS, M. D. Among the British-American citizens of Plain City none is more worthy of respect and notice than he whose name appears at the head of this brief narrative, as his private life in our midst and his professional standing place him in the front rank. He was born in South Wales, November 15, 1853. His father, Thomas Jenkins, was a Congregationalist minister of Wales and


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was located at Merthyr Tydvil. After his emi- gration to this country, he made his home in Pennsylvania, and is now in charge of a congre- gation in Wilkesbarre.


The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ann Jones, and is also a native of Wales. She is still living and is the mother of six children, four sons and two daughters. All have lived to the years of maturity, with the exception of one who died in childhood, and he of whom we write is the second child and second son of this house- hold. It was when he was only ten years old that his parents moved to this county, and this son had his early training and education at Johns- town, where he remained until he reached the age of seventeen. There he received his first schooling, and afterward became a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, after which he went to Richwood, Ohio, and there be- gan the study of medicine under the guidance of Dr. P. H. Bauer. During the three years of his tutorship under this able physician, he also at- tended lectures at the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, spending his winters in that city. His diploma was granted him there in March, 1878, and during the same year he took up his residence in Plain City.


The political tendencies of Dr. Jenkins have brought him into active sympathy and co-opera- tion with the Republican party, and his intelli- gence and professional standing have made him a leader among his fellow-citizens. He is now filling the position of Health Officer, and was for some time a member of the Board of Education. In the Masonic fraternity, he belongs to Urania Lodge No. 311, and is also a Knight Templar and a member of the Mt. Vernon Commandery. As an Odd Fellow, he is a member of Lodge No. 193, of Plain City, and he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of the Plain City Lodge No. 159. He was elected Grand Outer Guard in 1890, and the following year was made Grand Inner Guard of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.


The professional standing of the Doctor is evinced by his membership in the State Medical Society of Ohio, also in the Central Ohio Medieal


Society and in the Madison and Union Counties Medical Society, and he was at one time the Presi- dent of the last-named body.


The marriage of Dr. Jenkins took place in Rich- wood, Ohio, December 24, 1879, and he was then united with May, the eldest daughter of Oren and Ellen Beem, of that place. Dr. and Mrs. Jenkins have become the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, to whom they gave the names of Thomas and Rose. The latter was taken from them by death at the age of three years, and in her loss they feel deeply bereaved.


AURICE BRADFIELD owns and occupies a farm of goodly size in Jefferson Town- ship, Madison County, where the work of his hands is plainly indicated by its pres- ent condition. The property consists of one hun- dred and ninety-five acres and bears the usual improvements made by a man of enterprising spirit and good judgment, and presents an appear- ance of home comfort attractive to the passer-by.


Abner Bradfield, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Georgesville, Franklin County, this State, in 1870, where also the mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Luekens, departed this life. Like her husband, she was a native of the Keystone State and reared a family of seven children, of whom Maurice was the fifth in order of birth. He was born in Franklin County, JJanuary 19, 1839, and, being reared to farm pursuits, has made that calling his life occupation.


March 13, 1862, he of whom we write and Miss Jane, daughter of Robert and Ann (Stump) Worthington, were united in marriage. The par- ents of Mrs. Bradfield were natives of Pennsyl- vania and died in Pleasant Township, Franklin County, this State. They reared a family of six children, of whom Miss Jane was the eldest, her birth occurring in the above-named county, Sep- tember 20, 1842.


After his marriage, our subject located on a farm in Pleasant Township, Franklin County,


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where he made his home until December, 1878, when he took up his abode in this county and located on a farm in Jefferson Township, of whichi he is the present owner. Our subject enlisted in the one hundred days' service of 1864, and re-en- listed for twelve months, or to the close of the war, and received an honorable discharge in Sep- tember, 1865.


The six children comprised in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bradfield bear the respective names of Albert W., Hermann E., Sarah A., Robert M., Bayard T. and May. Albert married Miss Rosa Lilly, Herman married Ella Summers, and Sarah is the wife of William Durflinger. In politics, Mr. Bradfield votes with the Republican party, and, re- ligiously, his good wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which body she has many friends.


n ELSON FAMULENER was born on the old Famulener homestead in the southeastern corner of Pickaway Township, April 25, 1835, and has always lived amid the pleasant scenes of his birth. He is a representative of one of the old families that came to Ohio in the early years of its settlement, and ever since he attained man- hood has identified himself with the agricultural interests of Pickaway, his native county.


The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Famulener, and his father, Jonathan Famulener, were natives of New Jersey. The grandfather came to Ohio with his family in a very early day of its settlement and was a pioneer of Ross County, where he reclaimed a farm from the primeval wil- derness. There is not one of the original family now living. The father of our subject was one of the eldest of the children, and, coming to this county in early manhood to cast in his lot with its pioneers, he became a prosperous farmer of Picka- way Township, where he spent the remainder of his life, which was brought to a close in 1875, in his seventy-seventh year. It is supposed that the Famuleners are descended from the old Quaker stock of New Jersey. The mother of our subject,


who was born in Pennsylvania, February 21, 1803, and emigrated to Ohio with her parents, is still living at a venerable age. Her maiden name was Anna Long. She is the mother of five children, as follows: William, a farmer, who is married and lives in Knox County, Ill .; Jacob, a farmer, who is married and lives in Warren County, Ill .; John, deceased; Nelson; and Rachel, wife of Thomas Brundige.


He to whom these lines refer grew up on the old farm amid pioneer surroundings, gaining his education in the primitive log schoolhouse of the times, which was furnished with slab seats, and had none of the conveniences of the modern school. He has always lived on the homestead that belonged to his father, and since it came into his possession, has kept it up to the same high standard of cultivation and improvement that it had attained while he was assisting his father in its management in the years that followed his ma- jority. The farm, which contains two hundred and thirty-nine acres of fine, alluvial soil, and is situated on section 36, Pickaway Township, is well watered by Kinnickinnick Creek, which runs through it, and is remarkably productive. On another page will be noticed a view of the place. It is amply supplied with buildings of a good class and with modern machinery, and is well adapted to general farming purposes, to which Mr. Famulener devotes it, raising and feeding cattle, and shipping a load or two each year with good profit. Our subject is not only of large physical proportions, tipping the scales at four hundred and fifteen pounds, but he is a whole man in other directions, well balanced in mind, big-hearted, open-handed, a true friend at all times, and one to be thoroughly trusted in all things. In his political views, he is a pro- nounced Republican.


Mr. Famulener was married, in 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Goodman, a native of Hocking County, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Sarah (Weaver) Goodman, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and had come to Ohio with their parents when young. Her father became a prosperous farmer, and rounded out a long life of seventy-six years in 1876. His wife survived him until 1889, and then she passed away at the age of eighty-three


HIEFEE


9


RESIDENCE OF NELSON FAMULENER, SEC. 3G , PICKAWAY TP., PICKAWAY CO.,O.


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years. She was a Lutheran in religion, while her daughter of whom we write is a Presbyterian, and an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom ten are living. Mr. and Mrs. Famulener have had four children, of whom two are living, Samuel and Jesse. Those deceased are William, who died October 29, 1890, and Ida.


G EORGE G. BLAIR, Postmaster of West Jefferson, is worthy of honor as a veteran of the late war and enjoys the full confi- dence and esteem of his community. He was eigh- teen years of age when he entered the army, enlist- ing in August, 1862, in Company K, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, and during his campaign life took part in a number of the most famous battles of the war and others less well known but equally haz- ardous to those who participated. The list includes Richmond (Ky.), Jackson (Miss.), siege of Vicks- burg and Gunstown, Miss. In the last-named en- gagement, Mr. Blair was slightly wounded, and June 10, 1864, was taken prisoner, but was paroled the following December and exchanged April 5, 1865. He was confined in Andersonville, Millen, Ga., and Savannah, weighing at the time of his capture one hundred and sixty-one pounds; nine days after his release he weighed only one hun- dred and three pounds. After being exchanged, Mr. Blair returned to his regiment and took part in the siege of Mobile, and when mustered out re- turned to his old home in Jefferson Township.


Among the early pioneers of Madison County was Alex Blair, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was born in Virginia of Scotch parents. He died in this country in 1825, having become the father of eleven children, of whom John Blair, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the younger members. He was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1788 and was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1814, he located in London, this county, where he was engaged in the hatter's trade and remained at home until forty-five years of age, then


removed to Jefferson Township, where the mother died in 1868 and the father two years later. They were the parents of seven children, of whom George W., the father of our subject, was the eld- est. He was born in London, this State, May 20. 1817, and, when reaching mature years, was mar- ried to Miss Rachael C. Goodson. Two years later, the young couple located in Jefferson Township, where the mother died November 13, 1883, and the father, March 29, 1886. The elder Mr. Blair was engaged in the building of the Blair Pike from 1868 to 1870, and operated the first steam thresher in Madison County, where also he introduced the first reaping-machine.


Our subject was the second in order of birth in a family of ten children, and was born in this county and township, March 2, 1844. He was reared on the old homestead, and, as before stated, entered the army when eighteen years old. When he could not longer serve his country on the fields of battle, Mr. Blair returned home and with his father engaged in building the Blair Pike. Ile later was employed as foreman for Smith & Wood- ward, who were under contract to the Little Miami Railroad Company from 1869 to 1874. Our sub- ject afterward engaged in the sawmill and lumber business on his own account for several years, and then selling out, rented about eight hundred acres of land in Jefferson Township, which he operated, together with the estate belonging to Samuel Woodward. He was thins employed for some three years and then began farming on the old homestead.


On removing to West Jefferson, he of whom we write was appointed Justice of the Peace and in addition to performing the duties of that office, carried on a thriving insurance business. Ile was appointed Postmaster of West Jefferson, in May, 1889, under Postmaster-General Wanamaker, and by the satisfactory manner in which he discharged the duties imposed upon him, has become very popular with the people in this community.


Mr. Blair, of this sketch, and Miss Esther A., daughter of William and Mary J. Clark, were united in marriage in 1866. Her parents were na- tives of Ireland and the father departed this life in Springfield, this State. Mrs. Blair was born in Springfield, October 15, 1839, and by her union


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with our subject has become the mother of three children: Clara M., the wife of A. L. Hayes; Albert C. and Edith J. In social matters. our subject is Senior Past Grand of West Jefferson Lodge No. 412, I. O. O. F., and is connected with Post No. 389, G. A. R .. Ile has also served his fellow-towns- men in the position of School Director, and has al- ways been unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party.


ARVY D. LOMBARD. We are pleased to represent in this volunne this veteran farmer of Madison County, who has long been closely identified with its agricultural interests, and has placed under improvement one of the many fine farms for which this section of the country is noted, his homestead lying in Darby Township, six miles west of Plain City.


Our subject is a native of Kentucky, and was born on the 15th of August, 1822, a son of Jesse Lombard. Ilis father was born in Windsor County, Vt., in the year 1793, and was reared to the life of a farmer among the breezy hills of his birthplace. His father, David Lombard, was also a native of the Green Mountain State. Ile came to Ohio after his son had lived here several years, but he returned to Vermont to die. The maiden name of the mother of our sub- ject was Olive Carleton, and she too was a native of Vermont. She died at the age of sixty-six years. She was a daughter of Freeman Carleton, who was born in Vermont, and died there in the fulness of years. The parents of our subject had six children, three daughters and three sons: Jesse Harrison, who was born in Vermont in 1816; Laura was born in Kentucky in 1820; Harvy D .; David Ransom was born in Kentucky in 1824; Anna was born in Kentucky in 1826; and Olive was born in Ohio in 1828.




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