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 43

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 43
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 43
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 43

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The family of which our subject is a member consisted of eleven children, namely: David B, of this sketch; Catherine, who married lacob Dres- bach and resides in Missouri; Julia A., Mrs. Whis- ler, of Hancock County; Adam, a resident of Litchfield, Mich .; Mary, who is the wife of Chris- tian Fogler, of Hancock County; Esther, who be- came the wife of Rev. C. M. Rhenholdt and died in Circleville; Jacob, of Findlay, Ohio; Samnel, who died in childhood; Caroline, Mrs. Dresbach, of Hancock County; John, who enlisted in 1862,

as a member of an Ohio Regiment and died at a hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn .; and Daniel resides in Carey, Ohio.

The subject of this sketch was about twelve years old when he accompanied the family to Perry Township, Fairfield County, and he early began to assist in the pioneer work of developing a farm. He attended school in a log house, where he studied the three "Rs" in the primitive text-books then in vogue. When twenty-two years old, he bought his father's saw-mill and operated it until 1849, when he bought a farm in Pickaway Town- ship, this county. The place consisted of one hundred and sixty acres and was advantageously located six miles southeast of Circleville.

In 1854, Mr. Wagner discontinued his farming operations and, locating in Circleville, embarked in business under the firm name of Einsel, Wagner & Co. After carrying on operations in that way for four years, the firm name was changed to Wag- ner & Dresbach. In 1860, the business was sold out, and the firm commenced to operate as grocers, but after conducting the enterprise for one year, sold their stock, and our subjeet then engaged in business alone. He is known throughout this sec- tion of the State as one of the most reliable and energetic grocers of Circleville, and, undoubtedly, no other business man of the city has met with more unvarying success than he.

January 19, 1845, Mr. Wagner and Miss Leah Dreisbach were united in marriage. Mrs. Wagner is the daughter of the Rev. John Dreisbach, of whom extended mention is made in the biography of M. E. Dreisbach. She was a lady of noble character and lovely disposition, and her death, which occurred March 23, 1891, was widely mourned. Three children had been born of the union, as follows: John, who resides near Frank- fort, S. Dak .; Jacob, who died at Circleville, July 23, 1890; and Jennie, who was graduated at the new school at Circleville and finished her musical course at Naperville (Ill.) College; she married Dr. C. Naumann, a promment physician of Circle- ville.

Socially, Mr. Wagner is identified with the Ma- sonie fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. Prior to

JANE HEDGES

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1852, he was a Democrat, but since that year has been identified with the Republican party. served as Justice of the Peace in Perry Township, and has also been an Assessor for a number of years. He was one of the organizers of the Evan- gelical Association, and at the time of the erection of their church, was chosen Chairman of the Building Committee. He has served for many years as a Trustee and has been Class-leader since 1869. Hle aided in organizing the Sunday-school in 1868, and has served efficiently as Superinten- dent for twenty years. Not only has he contrib- uted liberally of his time to the Sunday-school work, but he has also been generous with his means, having donated a splendid library to the school and in other ways promoted the welfare of the children. He is one of the most substantial and favorably-known citizens of Circleville, and occupies a prominent place in the regard of the people among whom he has lived for many years.

M RS. JANE (CREIGHTON) HEDGES, widow of Cyrus Hedges, and affection- ately known in the community where so many years of her life have been passed as "Aunt Jane Hedges," is a daughter of one of the first settlers of Pickaway County, and is one of the few left within its precincts who were born in its early pioneer homes. It is with pleasure therefore that we present her portrait and the following sketch of her life: She was born in Harrison Township, May 22, 1808. Her parents, Hugh and Nancy (IIunter) Creighton, were natives of Ire- land. Her father's birthplace was in County Tyrone, and he was nineteen years old when he looked his last on the familiar scenes of his boy- hood and set forth for America to found a new home.

For a time, Mr. Creighton resided in Pennsyl- vania, but a short time previous to the birth of the daughter of whom we write he came to Ohio with his family, and at first located in Harrison Township. When she was a small girl, he re- moved to Walnut Township, and from that time

until his death was closely identified with its i- terests. He and his wife and children took up their abode in the woods in a log cabin, where he industriously labored to develop the farm now occupied by Mrs. Gerhart and ber family. He was a well-educated man, and had been a teacher and surveyor. In religious work, he was active as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was the first Sunday-school teacher in the community. A very skillful mechanic, he could turn his hand to anything, and his talent in that line was very helpful to him as a farmer. Both he and his wife, who was a member of the Pres- byterian Church, led good Christian lives, and were very highly thought of by all the people around them. Both lived to be old, his death oc- curring at the age of eighty-five and hers at the age of eighty-seven. They were the parents of seven children, of whom these three survive: our subject, Samuel, and the Rev. Joseph Creighton.

Aunt Jane Hedges was reared amid pioneer scenes and in her girlhood experienced all the hardships and privations incidental to pioneer life. She went to school in a log cabin that was furnished with slab seats, a board on pegs driven into the wall between the logs serving as a writ- ing desk, and greased paper taking the place of glass in the openings for windows. She was care- fully trained in the various household duties that occupied the time of housewives of that day, blos- somed into a wholesome, capable womanhood, and was fully equal to presiding over a home when she gave her hand and heart in marriage to Cyrus Iledges in November, 1825. Although she was but seventeen years old when that important event in her life occurred, she bravely shoul- dered her share of the labors necessary in the de- velopment of a new farm and the upbuilding of a dwelling-place, and well might her husband have attributed to her zealous assistance no mean share of the prosperity that followed their united toil. She was likewise active in promoting the religious growth of the community as a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she has been identified since she joined it at the age of sixteen years, her husband also being prominent in its upbuilding, as the donor of the

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land upon which the first Methodist Church of Walnut Township was erected. By her marriage she is the mother of two children, Cynthia L. and Ann B., the latter the wife of Albert K. Smith, who conducts the home farm.

Cyrus Hedges was born in Berkeley County, Va., March 29, 1799, a son of Joshua and Mary Hedges. When he was about four years old, his parents came from Virginia to Pickaway County and set- tled among the early pioneers of Walnut Town- ship on the very farm now occupied by Mrs. Iledges, nearly ninety years later. Their home was a log cabin in the woods, where they were often disturbed by the howls of the wolves at night, and deer and wild turkeys were numerous, as well as other game. There were but very few settlers in the region at that time, and they saw the country almost in its virgin wildness.

Mr. Hedges acquired his education in the rude log schoolhouse typical of pioneer times, which did not afford him many advantages, so that he had to depend mostly on his own resources for his learning. He read what books and papers he could get hold of, and became very well informed; he also had a natural talent for music, which he cultivated to some extent. He did well as a farmer and left a valuable estate of four hundred aeres of as fine land as can be found throughout the length and breadth of Walnut Township. In early life he was a Democrat, but was in full sym- pathy with the doctrines of the Republican party and joined its ranks after its organization. He was a man of good parts, with a mind evenly bal- anced, was possessed of excellent business habits, and his character was without a stain. A kind and loving husband and father, a friendly and obliging neighbor, and a citizen who had the in- terests of the township and county at heart, he was greatly missed when death closed his life, March 26, 1866. He left a great vacancy in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was an earnest working member for many years.

Albert K. Smith, son-in-law of our subject, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., September 4, 1829, and is a son of Peter and Delia A. (Johnson) Smith, who were natives respectively of St. Law- rence and Oneida Counties, N. Y. His grand-

father, Peter Smith, was in the English army that was sent to America to fight against the Colonists during the Revolution. After he arrived, becom- ing convinced that the cause of the Colonists was just, he, with several others, deserted the British standard and, joining the Continental army, did good service in helping his new friends to obtain their freedom, remaining faithful to the Colonists throughout the Revolution. Albert Smith was reared on a farm in his native county and ob- tained his education in the common schools. He came to Pickaway County in the year 1866, and has since resided in this county. In 1846, he began to learn the trade of a machinist, at which he became an expert, and was profitably engaged at that calling for about a quarter of a century. During the Civil War, he was employed in a branch of the celebrated Remington Armory, then located at Utica, N. Y., his business being to keep gun machinery in repair. He now has charge of his mother-in-law's farm, and shows himself to be a capable farmer. In politics, he is a true Re- publican, and a prominent citizen of Walnut Township.

AMES H. VALENTINE. Personal popu- larity, it cannot be denied, results largely from industry, perseverance and the close at- tention to business which a person displays in the management of any particular branch of trade; and in the case of Mr. Valentine this is cer- tainly true, for he has adhered so closely to farm- ing, and helped in so many ways to advance all worthy enterprises in this community, that al- though young in years, he is classed among the representative men of the county.

He was born in Cireleville, Ohio, where his birth occurred on the 12th of October, 1853, and is a son of Israel and Caroline (Stout) Valen- tine, both natives of Maryland. The mother is now deceased, but the father is living and makes his home in Cireleville, Ohio. He is now seventy- three years of age but is comparatively strong and active. Ile has followed agricultural pursuits all

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his life and is well known as a successful tiller of the soil.

The original of this notice was reared to matur- ity in Pickaway County, Ohio, and assisted his father in work on the farm until he started out in life for himself. He very naturally preferred the occupation to which he had been reared, rather than to branch out into something altogether for- . eign, and in agricultural pursuits he has continued up to the present time. That he has been success- ful can not be questioned for a moment, when a glance is cast over his broad acres. Careful and painstaking in the cultivation of his land, and thorough in everything connected with its man- agement, it is, perhaps, not to be wondered at that he is meeting with success.

He divided his time in youth between attending the district school and working on the farm, and is well informed on the general topics of the day. His marriage occurred February 12, 1880, at which time Miss Priscilla Cromley became his wife. This union has resulted in the birth of two children: William, born November 24, 1880, and James L., born March 20, 1884.

In 1881, Mr. Valentine settled on his present farm in Harrison Township, this county, and is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land. Everything about the place is kept in good condition, all necessary buildings forming a prom- inent feature of the improvements. Mr. Valentine is a loyal Democrat through and through. Ile and Mrs. Valentine are members of the Lutheran Church.

6 HOMAS R. ROBISON. Robison is a name that has been familiarly known in Pickaway County since the early years of its settle- ment. John R. Robison, the father of the gentle- man whose name heads this biographieal review, was one of its distinguished pioneers, and the son of whom we write holds a prominent position among its leading farmers and stockmen to-day. He is one of the oldest residents of Monroe Town- ship as regards the time of his coming here, which

was sixty-four years ago. He is a man of wide experience in transactions connected with farming and is one of the best of financiers.

Mr. Robison was born in Clarke County, March 8, 1823. His father is supposed to have been a native of Georgia, while his mother, who bore the name of Mary Edmiston, was born in Tennessee. The elder Mr. Robison was reared on a farm, and when a young man came to Ohio to seek his for- tune in the virgin wilderness. Ile at first took up his abode in Madison County, but he soon removed to Clarke County, where he married. Ile only lived there a short time, however, when he came to Madison County and cast in his lot with its pioneers. lle was poor at that time, his father and mother having died when he was young and left the family in his care, so that he worked out by the day for a time after coming here. He was shrewd, far-sighted, and a capable business man, and he did so well in his undertakings that he be- came one of the wealthy men of the township. At one time, he owned five hundred acres of choice land in this and Madison Counties, and he farmed extensively. Ile was widely known, and was prom- inent in public life as Justice of the Peace, which office he held twenty-four years. He tried many cases, and so wise and just were his decisions he never had one reversed by a higher court. He was a Democrat until Jackson vetoed the United States Bank Bill, and he then became a Whig, when he naturally gravitated to the Republican party. In his religious affiliations, he was connected with the Christian Church as one of its most consistent members. In 1882, his long and honored life was brought to a peaceful close by his death. His wife, who died at the age of fifty-seven years, was also a member of the Christian Church. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity and married; two are deceased: James W. and Mary D. The others are Elizabeth, John S., David E., Thomas R., Samuel S., Rachel, and .Jo- seph H.

Our subject was only five years old when the family came to this place and made their home in a log cabin in the woods. He was reared under pioneer influences, and can remember well when this part of the country was scarcely more than an

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unbroken wilderness, there being but one house between the humble pioneer dwelling of his par- ents and Five Points, four miles distant. He has seen as many as fourteen deer in a drove on this farm, and hundreds of wild turkeys, of which he has killed many, besides shooting an occasional deer. He was educated in the primitive pioneer schools of early times, which were conducted on the subscription plan, and were held in log houses that were heated by means of a fireplace, and were furnished with rude slab benches that were held up by wooden pins. His schooling was confined to the winter seasons, as at other times he was obliged to work on the farm as soon as he was large enough to make himself useful. He began life on his own account at the age of twenty-one, living in the parental home until his marriage, cul- tivating the soil and raising and fattening cattle for the markets in partnership with his father and brothers.

Our subject was married March 22, 1849, to Miss Ellen Sawyer, who was born in Fayette County, February 8, 1829. The fruit of their marriage is nine children, of whom seven are living: Mary E .; William H., Alice, Thomas C., Albert L., Maggie, and Henry F. John F. and George are the names of the ones that died. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Robison kept house for his father one year, and in 1850, settled on this farm, of which but little had then been cleared, an old log cabin and a log stable being the only evidences of im- provement. Of their children the following are married: Mary E. married John T. Walters, and lives in Madison County; they have eight children; John F. married Hester Willoughby, and at his death, May 9, 1892, left four children; William II. married Clara Dennis, and they live in Monroe Township, and have five children; Alice married Henry Hosler, and they have two children. The other children are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have six great-grandchildren.

When he started out for himself, Mr. Robison had but little means, a team of horses being his only property, but he had health, strength, ambi- tion to succeed, and the natural talents to do so, together with an amiable, helpful wife to assist him in the upbuilding of a home. Ile worked hard to

put his land under good cultivation, became pros- perous, and now has a landed estate of over six hundred acres of finely improved land, of which two hundred and twenty-five aeres are in Madison County, and the remainder in this township. He has engaged in mixed farming, and besides raising large quantities of corn, wheat and oats, has raised a great deal of stock, from which he has made the most of his money. Ile has fifty head of cattle now besides other stock. One year he lost one hundred and fifty hogs from cholera. He farms a part of his land with the assistance of his sons at home, but his other sons manage the most of it.

Our subject and his wife are. Methodists in re- ligion, having been members of the church for many years, and they truly live up to their faith in all that concerns their daily life and their rela- tions with others. In polities, he is a true Repub- lican, and during the war he rendered valuable assistance to the Government by using his time and influence in securing recruits for the army. He has been Trustee of the township eight times, and in 1860 was Assessor.

ARNESS RENICK. No family has been more prominently identified with the his- tory of the Scioto Valley than that of which our subject was a member. He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, September 29, 1810, and was a son of George Renick. His father, with two brothers, Felix and William, emigrated from Hardy County, Va., to Ohio almost a century ago, and were among the most sturdy farmers and pioneers of this locality, who have done so much for the upbuilding and advancement of the State. They were men of sterling worth, who believed in law and order and in the power of public officials. They were possessed of large estates but claimed no superiority on this account. Their lives were commendable examples of industry and frugality. Their sons and daughters were instructed in every branch of rural industry and were required to aid in all the labor of the farm and household. They were proud of their calling and the honored, up-

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right lives of the Renick brothers exerted an in- fluence which has not ceased to have its effect upon the community. Further mention is made of the father of our subject in the sketch of William Renick on another page of this work.

Harness was the last surviving son of the brothers, and his noble life of four-score years was like those of his brothers in its virtue and enterpris- ing public spirit. He was reared as a farmer lad and acquired his education in the public schools. He was married in La Fayette, Ind., October 18, 1836, to Miss Elizabeth S. Seymour, who was born near Moorefield, Ilardy County, Va., as was her father, Garrett Seymour. The grandfather, Abel Sey- mour, was a Virginian farmer and belonged to the first families of Virginia. Her father enlisted in the War of 1812. In 1836, he emigrated Westward, and after six months spent in Ohio, removed to LaFayette, Ind., where he engaged in farming for a few years. Hle then retired and came to Bain- bridge with his son, R. Seymour, at whose home he died. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah McNeil. Mrs. Renick was the youngest daughter and fourth child in the family of six children who grew to mature years.

After their marriage, our subject and his wife located upon a farm in Muhlenburg Township, Pickaway County, and began house-keeping in a log cabin. This was afterward replaced by a com- fortable frame residence, which continued to be their home until 1856, when they removed to Circleville, where Mr. Renick resided until his death. His father and his uncles were the pioneers in the great business of breeding and grading cattle in this locality and our subject was the last survivor of the shareholders of that company. He continued in that business until his death. For many years he was among the most conspicuous of American breeders of registered Short-horns. In

1855, he had a large sale on his fine estate on Darby Creek. The stock were driven from the pastures into the sale yard without any preparation, very few of the cattle having been sheltered even in winter; however, they would compare with any herd in any country, and for hardness of consti- tution could hardly be surpassed.

About 1840, Mr. Renick joined the Presbyterian

Church of Genoa and after his removal to Circle- ville joined the Old-school Presbyterians. He was a man of profound convictions and had the greatest contempt for a mean thing. His life was characterized by charity and benevolence. The poor and needy found in him a true friend, yet there was no ostentation about his giving. He did not let his left hand know the good deeds of his right. If in reading the religious papers he saw an appeal for help for some poor missionary or needy institution, he would meet it with a ready response. He was very fond of the study of nature, and for nearly forty years he had a meteorological record, which had commanded the attention of the department at Washing- ton, D. C. He also kept a diary, in which he recorded all important events as they occurred. He was a clear, forcible and ready writer and con- tributed many interesting articles to leading papers on subjects with which he was well acquainted, such as agriculture, stock-raising, forestry, in which he took great interest, and on scientific subjects. Mr. Renick was a man of taste and skill and his home abounded with beautiful specimens of his handiwork. He was a great Bible student and spent much of his time in the study of the Holy Scriptures, which he believed revealed the will of God and the plan of salvation. He passed away January 2, 1891. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."

ON. ACE GREGG, ex-Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Third Sub-divi- sion of the Fifth Judicial District, compris- ing Ross, Highland and Fayette Counties, was born on Rattlesnake Creek, Jefferson Town- ship, Fayette County, October 4, 1845, and was a son of John F. and Mary (Liggett) Gregg. The father was one of the early settlers in this locality, having come here at the time of his marriage. one- half century ago. He was a native of Clermont County, this State, and was a farmer by occupa- tion, departing this life at the old homestead, in November, 1890.

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The children included in the parental family were our subject; Nye, the present County Pros- ecutor; Polk, an attorney at Jeffersonville; Mary and May, the latter of whom is the wife of Will- iam R. Plyly, of Ross County, this State. The parents of our subject were members of the Uni- versalist Church of Jeffersonville, and were active contributors toward its support.

Ace Gregg, of this sketch, received his early edu- cation in the country schools of his district, which was later supplemented by attendance at the Nor- mal School at Lebanon. After completing his studies, he taught school for a time, and then re- turning home, took a course in the business college and subsequently went into the office of M. J. Williams, the present Supreme Justice of the Su- preme Bench, to study law. Mr. Gregg, in 1871, was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, with the degree of LL. B., and, locating in Washington C. II., formed a part- nership with A. R. Creamer, which connection lasted until he was elected to the bench. These gentle- men had known each other from boyhood, having gone through college together, and were connected in business for ten years, when one was elected Judge, and the other to the State Senate.

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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 43

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

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