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 51
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 51
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 51
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Mrs. Marchant was born June 3, 1838. in High- land County, this State, where she received a good education in the common schools. Mr. Mar- chant has lived on his present farm since 1855. and he has placed it under excellent improvement. It comprises two hundred and twelve and a-half aeres, one hundred and fifty of which are under the plow. The eldest son of our subjeet, T. W., is fol- lowing the profession of law, practicing at Wash- ington C. H. E. C. Marchant, another son of our subject, has been County Surveyor of Hutchison County, Dak.
Our subjeet is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his good
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wife is identified with the Friends. He has been School Director in his district, and in his political affiliations is a Republican. He has been ineumbent of the office of Trustee of Greene Township for one term, Township Treasurer two terms, and Sup- ervisor. During the Civil War, he was one of the "Squirrel Hunters" who went to Cincinnati under Capt. James Burton. He also participated in the Morgan raid, under Capt. James Dowden.
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E DWARD M. BOGGESS, M. D. Prominent among the younger physicians and surgeons of Washington C. H. stands the gentleman who is the subject of this sketch, and who has been engaged in practice in this city since June 1, 1890. Already he has gained an established practice and is one of the rising young practitioners of Ohio, of whose future the most flattering predictions may be confidently made.
Born near Buford, Highland County, Ohio, Jan- nary 12, 1863, and the son of Andrew M. and Mary (Roberts) Boggess, our subject spent his childhood in a somewhat uneventful manner upon his father's farm. Realizing that the acquirement of a good education was to unlock the door to success, he resolved to take advantage of every opportunity afforded him to gain a large fund of knowledge, and therefore, after completing the common-school studies, he entered the Hillsboro High School, and from there proceeded to the Leb- anon Normal School. To state that he employed his time tirelessly in his studies, is but to say what actually occurred.
His studies completed, our subject returned to his father's farm, but shortly afterward commenced to read medicine with Dr. J. W. Mathews, of Bu- ford. Later, he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which institution he was grad- uated in 1887, with a thorough theoretical knowl- edge of therapeutics. The young physician located first at Sugar Tree Ridge, Highland County, where he remained three years, meanwhile building up a lucrative and extensive practice. He then removed to Washington C. II., in order to secure
a broader field for practice as well as a more con- genial place for a home. Ile is desirous of making surgery a specialty, and finds better opportunities in this city than at his former location for gaining a thorough experimental knowledge of the profes- sion. He holds membership in the Highland County Medical Association, as well as in the Medi- cal Institute of Fayette County. In his social con- nections, he is a Knight of Pythias.
Dr. Boggess occupies for his office a nicely- equipped suite of rooms on the corner of Fayette and Court Streets. His residence is conveniently located on North Fayette Street. and is presided over by his accomplished wife, formerly Miss Ada Peddicord, of Highland County, who was united in marriage with him June 30, 1887. They are the parents of one son, Haldor M. Since locating in Washington C. II., Dr. Boggess has, by his kind treatment of all, won hosts of friends, who one and all wish him a continuance of his prosperity in the future.
S COTT BEATTY, a resident of Perry Town- ship, Pickaway County, Ohio, is a native citizen of Marion Township, Fayette Coun- ty, having had his birth September 9, 1850. The father bears the name of I. N. Beatty, and is one of the most prosperous farmers and stoek- raisers in Pickaway County. A sketch of the father will be found elsewhere in this book. The mother was known in her maidenhood by the name of Margaret Hidy, and, with her husband, was a native of Ohio.
Our subject received the advantages of a com- mon-school education, supplemented by a course of two years at the Southwestern Normal at Leb- anon, Ohio. At the age of twenty-one years, he commeneed in active life for himself, taking up farming and stock-raising on the same farm he now occupies and which occupation he still carries on successfully.
Mr. Beatty was married in July, 1875, to Mary Decker, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of A. S.
NELSON MS COLLISTER
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Decker, a native of Switzerland. The father came to this country at an early age and engaged in the business of harness-making, which vocation he has ever since continued. Ile married, in 1850, Cath- erine Timmons, a native of Ohio, and by this union two children have been born, Mary, the wife of our subject, being the elder. J. B. is now living in Fayette County. One child has come to bless the home and fireside of our subject and his esti- mable wife, to whom they have given the name of Maggie Alma, who was born July 3, 1876.
Our subject is a stanch Republican in his politi- cal views, and, in his religious belief, is a Univer- salist. He is a member of F. & A. M. Lodge No. 392, at New Holland, and also belongs to the John A. Logan Lodge, K. of P., and has belonged to the School Board, and been President of the same for years. His fine farm consists of two hun- dred and forty broad and fertile acres of finely improved land and is located three and one- half miles from New Holland. On this place he carries on general farming, and is an extensive dealer in stock, having some of the best in the township. Ile is a man who is well liked by every one who meets him, and is a whole-souled and genial man, who has hosts of friends and acquaint- ances.
AMES McCOLLISTER. The family of which this gentleman is an honored and able repre- sentative was among the earliest settlers of the Buckeye State, coming hither when dense forests occupied the present site of prosper- ous villages and fertile farms. Since that early day, the various members of the family have con- tributed to the development of the State, and especially of Pickaway County, clearing the land of its forest growth, tilling the soil in which they turned the first furrows, and erecting buildings adapted to farming purposes.
Our subject, who is one of the popular farmers of Wayne Township, Pickaway County, was born in Jackson Township, this county, August 26, 1845. His grandfather, Jacob McCollister, was born June
16, 1778, removed from Maryland to Ohio in pio- neer times and settled first in Ross County, whence he removed to Pickaway County and followed farming pursuits. His death occurred April 21, 1844, while a resident of Jackson Township. His wife, Margaret MeCollister, was born June 1, 1783. and died July 24, 1852. The father of our subject, Nelson McCollister, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, was one of a large family and was born in Ross County, November 6, 1809. He grew to manhood upon a farm and engaged as an agri- culturist all his life. ITis farm was in Wayne Town- ship, where he owned and operated a fine estate. During the early days, he was Captain of a Com- pany of State militia, and served as Trustee of the township of Wayne for about ten years. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years prior to his decease, which occurred October 15, 1888. A man of broad infor- mation and culture, he stood high in the estimation of his neighbors.
The mother of our subject was Elizabeth, daugh- ter of James Thompson, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio very early in the history of this State, married here and reared a family of children. Mrs. Elizabeth McCollister, who was born December 26, 1817, is still living and makes her home with her son James. Religiously, she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is the mother of five children, four daughters and one son, namely: Margaret, wife of James E. Elliott, of Ottawa, Kan .; Sarah, Mrs. E. L. Ilall, who lives near our subject; James, of this sketch; Mary E., wife of Joseph Hall, a resident of Wayne Township; and one that died in infancy.
Since his parents settled on the homestead in Wayne Township, it has been the residence of our subject. Hither in 1888 he brought his bride, Mary E., daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Owens) Neff, and a native of Jackson Township. Her mother died when she was only about fourteen years old, and her father is now a farmer in Jackson Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. McCollister lived together in happiness until separated by the death of the wife, which occurred January 5, 1892. She was sincerely mourned in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a faithful member; in the circle of
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warm personal friends, whom she had gathered around her, and especially in her home by the bereaved husband and orphaned boy. Two children had blessed the union: John Nelson, born August 11, 1889, and James Leroy, born July 15, 1891, who died in infancy.
In his political preference, Mr. McCollister has always been a strong temperance advocate and is now a Prohibitionist. His farm consists of eighty- eight acres of well-improved land, and he is also the half owner of eleven hundred and sixty acres in White County, Ind. In connection with general farming, he is interested in stock-raising, in which he has met with success.
IIOMAS J. HOUSTON. One of the many fine farms in Madison County is located in Summerford Township, and comprises two hundred acres of land, the most of which is under excellent cultivation. Our subject has placed on his estate various substantial buildings, supplied it with an adequate amount of machinery, and gradually developed the land until it may justly be ranked among the finest homesteads in the township. Mr. Houston has further improved his land by erecting thereon a nice brick residence, which is presided over by his amiable wife.
John M. and Maria E. (Cartmell) Houston were natives respectively of Kentucky and Clarke County, this State, and after their marriage re- sided in the above-named place until 1837, when they came to Summerford Township, and there made their home for forty years. They then re- moved to London, where they were residing at the time of their death, the father passing away in Feb- ruary, 1879, and the mother December 25, 1890. Mr. Houston was actively engaged in farming until his removal to London, where he was ranked among the best citizens.
Thomas J. Houston was the fourth child in the parental family of ten. He is a native of this township, his birth occurring April 24, 1842. HIe was reared on his home farm and received limited school advantages in his neighborhood. Novem-
ber 9, 1875, he was married to Miss Kate Locke, daughter of John B. and Lovisa (Morris) Lauck, whose biography the reader will find elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Houston was the eldest but one in their family of six children and was born in this township, August 2, 1849.
Soon after his marriage, he of whom we write located in London, where he conducted a grocery business for about two years. At the end of that time, selling out, he returned to this township, and for three years operated the old home farm. Again returning to London, he carried on a thriving hardware trade for nearly twelve years, since which time he has made his home on his splendid estate of two hundred acres. Mr. and Mrs. Hous- ton have a family of four children, viz .: Eva, Ora, John L. and Elden B. Ora departed this life when young.
Mr. Houston has taken quite an active part in political affairs, being a stanch member of the Re- publican party. He is one of the enterprising and wide-awake farmers of this locality and has been prominently identified with the upbuilding of Madison County, Ohio.
ILDINE SNYDER is an old and honored resident of Pickaway County, who for many years has been prosperously en- gaged in farming in Walnut Township, owning one of its well improved farms, pleasantly located on section 25. He is a native of North- ampton County, Pa., born April 7, 1828. His parents were Daniel and Catherine (Solt) Snyder, who were of Pennsylvanian birth and of German extraction. Early in the '30s, they migrated to Ohio with their children and with his brother's family, making the journey with team and wagon. camping wherever night overtook them, and were several weeks on the way. They first located in Fairfield County, but subsequently came to Pick- away County and were among the early settlers of Walnut Township. A short time thereafter, the father's career as a useful pioneer was terminated
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by his untimely death. The mother lived to be a nonogenarian, dying several years ago, when past ninety-one years old.
The subject of this biography was reared to manhood under pioneer influences, receiving his education in the primitive schools of the time, and early learning to do all kinds of farm work. At the age of nineteen, he began life as a farm hand in the employ of others, his wages rang- ing from $7 to $10 and $12, and even $16 a month, and in that manner he obtained capital to start for himself, after being thus en- gaged for several years. He is a self-made man, and by the aid of his wife, who has been a true helpmate and a wise counselor, he has built up a home replete with comfort, and has improved one of the best farms of the township. It comprises three hundred and twenty-two acres of choice land, which is well tilled, and is provided with a good set of buildings, his barn being one of the finest built in this section. Mr. Snyder is well known for his strict honesty and unswerving in- tegrity of thought and aet, and he and his wife enjoy a high reputation for their unbounded hos- pitality and charitable spirit. They have wit- nessed the many changes that have been wrought in this township and they have played well their part in its material and social development. He has served as School Director and has never ne- gleeted an opportunity to do all in his power to promote the progress of the community. He and his wife are sincere Christians, and his religious relations are with the Lutheran Church, of which he is a member, while she belongs to the Method- ist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Snyder entered upon their wedded life November 20, 1856, and it has been blessed to them by the birth of nine children, namely: Sarah F., wife of Daniel Stein; Mary C., wife of William May; Louisa J., wife of Lyman Reigle; Emma J., wife of John May; Clara B., wife of William Hall; Flora E., a student at the Normal School at Ada; Edson J., also attending school at Ada; Ada F., and an infant who died unnamed.
Mrs. Snyder, whose maiden name was Syrena Walters, is a native of Ohio, born in Fairfield County, February 16, 1835, into the pioneer home
of Daniel and Mary ( Peters) Walters. Her father was a Pennsylvanian, while her mother was a native of Maryland, and was of German descent. Her paternal grandparents were early settlers of Fairfield County, having located there when her father was eight years old. Mrs. Snyder is one of eleven children, of whom these six are living, John, Samuel, Festus, Caroline (Mrs. Reuben Murray), Josephine (Mrs. Thomas Griffin) and Mrs. Snyder.
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OSEPH M. HOWELL, M. D., Secretary of the Board of Pension Examiners and a lead- ing physician and surgeon of Washington C. H., was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, March 17, 1863, the son of Joseph G. and Jane (Miller) Howell. His youth was passed upon his father's farm, and, like so many who have since attained to usefulness and conspicuous positions in the professions, he engaged in tilling the soil during his boyhood. He was a studious child, possessing unusual mental acuteness and keen per- ceptive qualities. Facts gleaned from his text- books were stored in his mind, until he had accum- ulated a large fund of knowledge from which to draw as occasion suggested.
His course of study completed in the common schools of the neighborhood, our subject, ambi- tious to excel and desirous of increasing his knowl- edge, entered the Ohio University at Ada, where he completed his literary studies. On starting out for himself, he taught for three winters in a select school in his native county, and employed his leisure time in reading medicine with Dr. 11. 1 ... Mann, of Wapakoneta, for one year, and with Prof. R. W. Thrift, of Lima, for about the same length of time. He took courses of medical lec- tures at the Starling Medical College, in Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated March 4, 1885.
Opening an office in Corning, Perry County. Ohio, the young Doetor soon established a good country practice. but feeling that his interests would be better subserved in another and larger
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city, he went on a tour of inspection through the West and Southwest, traveling some eight thou- sand miles, but returning better satisfied with the Buckeye State than ever before. In 1888, he located at Lumberton, Clinton County, from which place he removed to Washington C. H. in 1890. Although his residence in this city has extended over a comparatively brief period, he already is deeply engrossed in professional labors and has little time for social enjoyments and recreations. During the administration of President Harrison, he was appointed a member of the Board of Pen- sion Examiners, through the influence of his inti- mate friend, Col. Doane, Member of Congress for this district, and soon after the appointment, Jan- mary 11, 1891, was elected Secretary of the Board.
In the enjoyment of the society of his wife and children, the Doctor finds one of his greatest pleasures. He was married April 10, 1884, to Miss Eva, daughter of Dr. J. M. Flood, of Springfield, Ohio, and they are the parents of two bright and intelligent children, Lorena and Fred. Dr. and Mrs. Howell are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and sincere Christians, ever endeav- oring to make the world better for their presence in it. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is identified with both the Fayette and Green County Medical Societies, and also the State Medical Society.
OSEPH P. MILLER. Among the esteemed and representative citizens of Walnut Township, there are none more worthy of a place in this record than the subject of this sketch and his good wife. He is a native of this part of Pickaway County, born September 10, 1832, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Scothorn) Miller, honored pioneers of this county, who were natives respectively of Berks County, Pa., and of Green- brier County, Va.
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When a young man, Peter Miller emigrated to this county with his parents and other members of the family, coming with team and wagons, and settling on section 3, Walnut Township, taking up
their abode in the woods, and being among the first pioneers to venture into these parts. They had to endure many hardships in their frontier life and to deny themselves of many comforts. Their somewhat limited fare was reinforced by wild game, as deer and other animals were them plentiful here. Peter Miller did good service as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a man of a great deal of character, whose counsel was often sought, and he rose to prominence in his adopted county. For twenty-one years, he was Justice of the Peace, and so well did he administer the laws that in all the many cases tried before him there was never an appeal made to a higher court, the litigants ap- pearing before him having the highest confidence in his honesty and fair spirit. He married nearly a hundred couples while acting as Justice. he be- ing a favorite with the young people, who often came a distance of many miles on horseback, ac- companied by their friends, to have him tie the nuptial knot. He served as County Commissioner several terms in an early day, and was otherwise active in public life. He was a Whig in politics, and voted for Gen. William Henry Harrison. He was an exceedingly charitable man, and while not a church member, contributed liberally to churches, and used his influence to promote morality and elevate the social status of the community. He was thrown from a horse and killed in 1849, and was greatly lamented by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. His name is still cherished for his valuable services as a pioneer of the county.
Five of the eight children born to the parents of our subject are living: Elizabeth, wife of Enoch Hines; Stephen; Mary A., wife of Adam Klar; Will- iam H. and Joseph P. Ile of whom this sketch is principally written was reared to man's es- tate under pioneer influences, and has done his share of pioneer labor. His education was con- ducted in the early district schools of Walnut Township, which did not offer the advantages afforded to the youth of to-day, but by reading and observation our subject has become well in- formed and is posted on current topics. When the war was raging the fiercest, he deemed it his duty to leave his family, to place his interests in the hands of his watchful wife, and go forth from
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his beloved home to do what he could for the honor of the old flag, for which his father had nobly fought when it was assailed by foreign foes in the early part of the century. Accordingly, he identified himself with the Home Guards, becoming a member of Company C, One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Regiment, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He was placed on guard at Norfolk, Va., and acted in that capacity subsequently at City Point and White House Landing, and also at Martinsburg, Va. He was honorably discharged August 27, 1864, at the expiration of his term of enlistment of one hundred days. His army life is commemorated by his connection with Parson Post No. 670, G. A. R., at Nebraska, of which he is one of the leading members. He has served the post as Sergeant, and is now Chaplain thereof. He is a credit to the citizenship of his native county in every way, and is deeply concerned in all that pertains to its well being. He has assisted in the management of the local schools as Director, and in him the Republican party finds an intelligent supporter. Mr. Miller returned to his home in Madison Township after he left the army, and found that his capable wife had kept his farm in good order, keeping it up to the same high state of cultivation that it had reached under his foster- ing care. He still retains that farm, which com- prises one hundred and twenty-two acres of well- improved land, but after living on it a quarter of a century he removed with his family to his pres- ent pleasant place of residence on section 16, in his native township.
Mr. Miller was married, October 1, 1854, to Miss Mahala Culp, also a native of Walnut Township. Mrs. Miller was born June 7, 1835, and is a daugh- ter of Henry and Sarah (Spangler) Culp. Her par- ents came to Pickaway County in the early days of its settlement, and for a time lived in Salt Creek Township. They then came to Walnut Township, and resided here for years, the father dying in 1872, and the mother in 1864. Ile was one of the early auctioneers of Walnut Township. In poli- tics, he was a Democrat. Both he and his wife were valued members of the Lutheran Church. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom these six are living: Amos; Harriet, wife of George
Cromley; Cynthia, widow of John Zaayer; Naomi, widow of Monroe Bradley; Lorain, wife of Benj- amin Brobst; and Mrs. Miller. Our subject and his wife have been blessed with two children: Sarah A., deceased, and Henry E.
OSHUA C. ROBINSON, a retired farmer living at Bloomingburgh, has been a resident of Fayette County for nearly seventy years. and is one of its oldest and most venerated citizens, who is deserving of honor as a pioneer, in that he has reclaimed a goodly farm from the wil- derness that prevailed when he came here as a boy.
A native of Ohio, our subject was born February 3, 1810, in one of the earliest pioneer homes of Ross County, that was situated five miles from Chillicothe. ITis father, whose given name was William, and who was a Pennsylvanian by birth, came to this State in 1796, in Territorial days, and purchased Government land, which he developed into the farm just mentioned as the birthplace of his son, and on that he spent his remaining years, diligently engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in attending to the duties of his office as Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he served many years in Ross County. He was a man of firm religious convictions, and the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member, found in him one of its mainstays. In politics, he was a Whig. Ile was of sterling Irish ancestry, both of his parents having been born in Ireland. He was twice married; the maiden name of his second wife, the mother our subject, was Sarah Conwell, and she was a native of Penn- sylvania. Her parents also came from Ireland. She lived to be seventy-five years old. Of her eight children, all grew to maturity but one, who was drowned when young.
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