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 59
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 59
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 59
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Albertus Smith, father of our subject, was born in Circleville, Ohio, and learned the harness- maker's trade in Kentucky. Ife remained with an uncle from the age of fifteen until twenty-one, and then started in the harness-making business for himself, continuing this until 1870. During
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the trouble between the North and South, he was a strong Union man, and, as a consequence, he sold ont and returned to Circleville, Ohio. After reaching this city, he embarked in merchandising and has been in business here since. In 1880, he engaged in the grocery business, continued this for eight years, and then returned to the harness -business. Ile married Miss Gardner, a native of Elizabethtown, Ky., and three children blessed this union: our subject; Mary E., at home, and Sarah J. Both the father and mother are members of the Methodist Church.
Dr. J. G. Smith remained in his native State until four years of age and then came with his parents to Circleville, Ohio, where he received his literary education. He left the High School when in the junior year to assist his father in the gro- cery business, and continued to assist him in this until he sold out his stock. His father wanted him to study law, but our subject was of a differ- ent opinion, and when about the age of twenty- one, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Ralph Morden, with whom he continued until the fall of 1888. He then entered the University of Michigan, Homeopathy department of medi- cine, and after remaining there two years, or until 1890, entered the Chicago Homeopathy Col- lege, from which he was graduated with the de- gree of M. D. in 1891. He then returned to Cir- cleville, began practicing his profession, and has met with much success. He is independent in his political views.
b ON. DANIEL J. MYERS. Throughout Southern Ohio, a prominent place in busi- ness and political circles is held by the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch and whose labors as Probate Judge showed the possession of erudition and great ability. He is known and honored, not only in Circleville, where he resides, but also in other cities of the State.
A brief account of the parentage and lineage of Judge Myers will be of interest to the reader. His
father, Daniel Myers, was born in Green Township, Ross County, Ohio, of which Grandfather Myers, a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the earliest settlers and a pioneer farmer, who also engaged in flat-boating down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. Grandfather Myers became ill with the fever at Natchez, and there died. Daniel Myers was reared and married in Green Township,
where he afterward operated over two hundred acres of farming land. In 1876, he rented lis place and located on a tract of land, eleven acres in extent, adjoining the city of Circleville, where he now conducts a fruit and garden business. He owns sixty acres in the Scioto Valley and is in comfortable circumstances.
For six years, Daniel Myers served as Director of the County Infirmary, for two terms was Vice- president of that institution, and has always been prominent in public affairs. Socially, he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in his religious connections is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Foust, was born in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway County. Her father, Christian Foust, was born in Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Salt Creek Township at an early day and was proprietor of an hotel on the Zanes- ville and Maysville Pike. Mrs. Julia Myers died in Green Township, in 1870, leaving six children, as follows: Mary, George, Missouri, Daniel J, Ella, and Isaac Newton, who died in Ross-County, in 1875, at the age of eighteen years.
Born in Green Township, Ross County, July 3, 1851, our subject was reared on the home farm and received the advantages of a common-school education. In 1868, he entered Heidelberg Col. lege, Tillin, Ohio, where he attended until the commencement of the junior year, and then, ceas- ing his literary studies, entered the office of the Chillicothe Advertiser, continuing there until 1874. Ilis health failing, he was advised by his physician to change his business, and accordingly came to Circleville, in March, 1874, where he and his brother George opened a meat market. In 1881, he sold out and embarked in the clothing business with Robert P. Hain, as his partner, the firm name being Hain & Myers. Two years later, the connec-
Very Truly yours Edwin J. Lilly
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tion was dissolved and our subject and his brother George bought the entire stock, the former assum- ing the management of the business.
The peculiar fitness of our subject for official positions was recognized by his fellow-citizens and he was nominated by the Republicans for Mayor in the spring of 1887. Although the city had a Democratic majority of about four hundred, he lacked only four votes of being elected, a fact which, of itself, is a sufficient indication of his popularity. In the fall of 1887, he was elected Probate Judge by a majority of two hundred and sixty-six votes against a regular Democratic major- ity of nearly twelve hundred, running ahead of his ticket more than fourteen hundred. Ile as- sumed the duties of the office February 9, 1888, and during his incumbency of the position moved into the elegant new Probate rooms. At the ex- piration of his term, February 9, 1891, he declined a renomination and withdrew from the position which he had honored by his faithful discharge of duties and judicious decisions.
E J. LILLY, M. D., D. D. S., is engaged in the practice of dentistry in Circleville, and has won an enviable reputation for the careful, skillful manner in which he performs all opera- tions. He is well provided with every new appli- ance for making the extraction of teeth as easy and painless as possible, also preserves the natural teeth and tills them, and likewise makes artificial teeth on gold, silver or platina plates, and always guarantees to give perfect satisfaction. Ile stands at the head in his profession, is well read and well posted on all subjects relating to it, as the contri- butions from his pen to dental literature testify; but although he has the M. D. degree he has never practiced medicine as a specialty.
The Doctor was born in Circleville, Ohio, on the Ist of January, 1858, and the people have had every chance to judge of his character and quali- fications, for here he was reared. His father, Dr. W. R. Lilly, was a native of Pickaway County,
Ohio, and a graduate of the Cincinnati Dental College. When a young man, he came to Circle- ville, and, both here and throughout the State, stood high in his profession, which he followed until his death at the family home, June 7, 1892. Ile was always highly respected for his many esti- mable qualities and his upright character, which won him many friends. In politics, he was a Re- publican, and during the late war enlisted in the State troops, taking part in the capture of the celebrated Gen. Morgan, during his raid in Ohio.
Mary E. Robbins, as the mother of our subject was known in maidenhood, was born in Pickaway County and is the daughter of Matthias Robbins, a native of the Keystone State. During the War of 1812, Mr. Robbins served valiantly in defense of the United States, but by occupation was a farmer. Mrs. Robbins is still living and has attained the great age of more than one hundred years. Mrs. Lilly is a devoted member of the Methodist Church, to which her husband also belonged. Of their eight children, six are now living, our subject being the third. John is a physician in Toledo, Ohio; and Robert F., who was graduated from the Circleville High School at the age of seventeen, is also a graduate of the Cincinnati Dental College, in the Class of '92.
At a very early age, our subject evinced a strong love for the profession he is now successfully fol- lowing, and assisted his father when but a boy. He extracted teeth when he had to stand on a chair to do it, and in that way had a fair knowl- edge of the profession before he adopted it. For some time he studied under his father, and after- ward carried on his studies in the Cincinnati Den- tal College, which he entered in 1877. During the following year, he became a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from the department of dentistry in 1879, with the degree of D. D. S.
During the fall of 1879, the young doctor en- tered the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the following year. Subsequently, he practiced dentistry with his father for a few years, or until 1882, when he opened his present office. His dental parlors and operating rooms are ele-
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gantly furnished and contain every facility for carrying on work in the most convenient and successful manner. As a dentist, his reputation is of the highest order; as a citizen, he is highly regarded for his sterling worth; and as a friend, those who know him can best appreciate his noble qualities of heart and mind.
At Circleville, Dr. Lilly and Miss Ada Vernon were united in marriage. Mrs. Lilly was born in this city, where for many years her father, the late Dr. L. C. Vernon, was a prominent physician. There have been born unto them two children, Harel and Stuart, and the family is comfortably domiciled in a pleasant residence on Union Street. Socially, the Doctor is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks. In politics, he affiliates with the Republican party, believing its principles best adapted to the national progress. He holds membership in the Methodist Church and contributes liberally to its support, as he does to all laudable enterprises.
n ENIEMIAII NEDDS, a retired farmer, resid- ing in London, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., September 6, 1832, into the home of Jacob and Margaret (Miller) Nedds, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1838, they came to Ohio, and for a time the father was en- gaged in farming at Columbus, in Franklin County. Later, he went to Indiana, and was similarly em- ployed in that State. Ile subsequently returned to Ohio, and the remainder of his life was spent at his occupation at Dayton. Ile and his good wife were among the foremost members of the Presby- terian Church, of which he was Trustee several years. Politically, he was a Democrat, as was his father before him. He served with valor in the War of 1812 as Lieutenant of his regiment. Of his eleven children, three are living: Mrs. Eliza- beth Webster, of Franklin County; Mrs. Mary Reed, also of that county; and our subject. Their paternal grandfather, Godlip Nebbs, was born in Germany. He came to America early in life, and lived thereafter in Pennsylvania until his death,
following the trade of a hatter. He and his wife reared a family of some six children to goodly lives. He belonged to the German Reformed Church, and was strict in religions matters.
Nehemiah Nedds, to whom these lines refer, was a small boy when his parents came to Ohio, and his life for some years thereafter was passed on a farm in Franklin County, where he obtained his education. He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was nineteen years old, and he then began his independent career. He tried wag- on-making first, but did not like that trade, nor was he any better pleased with the weaving and coloring business to which he next turned his at- tention. The calling of a farmer, to which he had been reared, and in which he had had a good train- ing, better suited his tastes, and for some four years after abandoning weaving, he worked as a farm hand by the month. By that time, he had made a good start, and, desirous of establishing a home of his own, he was married to Miss Rhoda Roderick, of Madison County, daughter of Lud- wick and Rebecca (King) Roderick, who were na- tives of Maryland and early settlers of this county. In his wife, our subject has found a capable help- mate and a cheerful companion, who has greatly aided him in securing the competency that is the fruit of their early labors. They have two chil- dren living: Milton W., an engineer; and Albert T., a painter.
After his marriage, our subject continued to work as a farm hand for some ten years in Madison Coun- ty, and then for a like number of years he rented farms. He subsequently purchased twenty acres of land in Union Township, erected suitable build- ings, and lived on the same some six years, adding to it in the meantime by buying other land until he had quite a good-sized farm, with well-tilled fields and substantial improvements. At the end of six years, he removed to London, having bought four lots located on West High Street, on which he built a neat and well-planned residence, which he has since made his home. He is a man of solid worth, who is looked up to by his fellow-citizens in the city and township, where he is well known. He and his wife are consistent Christians, their daily lives showing the value of their religious
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professions, and in them the Methodist Episcopal Church has two of its most efficient working mem- bers. He was a Class-leader for several years and Sunday-school Superintendent for a time. Politi -. cally, he is a Republican of the true stamp.
AMES FRYBACK. Among the representa- tive men of this county, none are more fav- orably known or more highly respected than the above-mentioned gentleman. His prom- inence arises from personal worth, which the public are not slow in recognizing, as well as from dis- tinguished family connections, for he represents one of the oldest families in the county. A native of Pickaway County, Ohio, born in Pickaway Township on the 20th of January, 1834, he is the son of John and Letitia (Emerson ) Fryback, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. The grandfather, George Fryback, was a native of Germany and was left an orphan at a tender age. He and his brother crossed the ocean to America and both served in the Revolu- tionary War, the former enlisting when sixteen years of age. After the war, they returned to Pennsylvania, but later, George Fryback moved to Maryland, where he remained until about 1797. In the spring of that year, he came on horseback to Ohio, settled in Pickaway Township, Pickaway County, and raised some corn and put up some hay. He then returned to Maryland for his family, and in the fall came back to Pickaway Township, settling on three hundred and twenty acres of new land on the Congo Creek. Ile erected a rude log house and immediately began improving his farm. He was a hard-working, industrious man, and died in December, 1833.
John Fryback was born in the year 1788, and was nine years of age when he came with his par- ents to Ohio. Ile received a common-school edu- cation and remained under the parental roof until the breaking out of the War of 1812, when he en- listed to fight the British and Indians. He served as Sergeant in a rifle company until the close of the war and then returned to his home in Ohio.
Hle was a great humter and was considered a fine shot, even in those days when all had a use for the gun and when there were very few poor marks- men. Our subject now owns the gun used by his father and grandfather. The latter built the old brick house which is now the oldest brick building in the county. It is quite a large house now and must have been considered very fine in its day. The father of our subject followed farming and trading in cattle for many years, and was very successful in both pursuits. He owned six hundred and forty acres of land near Circleville, also other tracts in different portions of the county, and gave each of his eleven children a good start. Ile was a stout, fine looking man, and about six feet. one inch in height, and his death, which occurred in 1876, was caused partly by a fall, when he sprained his hip. He was a great horseback rider and delighted in this exercise. Ile was a liberal supporter of all enterprises of a worthy nature, assisted in building churches and was active in all good work. He was an old-line Whig in politics, but was not radical in his views. His wife, who was also a member of the Presbyterian Church, died when seventy-seven years of age. Eleven of their twelve children grew to mature years, and seven are living at the present time.
James Fryback, the youngest son and tenth child, was early trained to assist on the farm, and his youthful days were passed in cultivating the soil and in attending the log schoolhouse, where he sat on a slab seat, used a quill pen, and warmed him- self at the immense fireplace. Later, a brick school- house took the place of the primitive log cabin, and gradually other improvements were made. Young Fryback attended the winter terms princi- pally, for there was plenty of work on the farm during the summer months, and when seventeen years of age he entered Kingston Academy, and remained there for two years. Returning home, he remained there until twenty years of age and then went to Indiana, where he passed a year or two, engaged in cultivating the soil. In 1865, he bought two hundred and forty-five acres of land, part of the old home place, and there engaged in farming and in the stock business. IIe raised a fine grade of cattle and was quite actively engaged in
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buying, selling and feeding stock. Seeing the need of more land, he bought eighty-five acres near Hayesville, and also improved sixty-eight and one-half acres in South Pickaway County. Hle has a fine farm, has it well improved, and is one of the substantial and prosperous men of the county. In 1889, he rented his farm and has since resided in Circleville. Ile takes a deep interest in all public enterprises and is one of the many pub- lie-spirited citizens of the county. He has found a great many Indian relies on his farm, which is a historical spot in Ohio, the Indian Chief, Corn- stock, having had his village on this place many years ago. There is also a noted Indian spring on the farm, and in clearing around this spring seven gun barrels were found. Mr. Fryback has a large barn on his farm and a wind-pump, as well as other improvements of like character. Grandfather Fry- back bought apple seed, planted it, and thus had an orchard, but not a tree is left at the present time.
Our subject was married on the 28th of Septem- ber, 1875, to Miss Mary W. Sharp, daughter of John Denny Sharp, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born in 1803. Grandfather John Sharp, a Virginian, married a Miss Denny, a distant relative of Maj .- Gen. Denny. Ile came to Chillicothe at a very early day and settled in that city, or rather place, when there was but one house beside his own. Ile kept store and traded with the Indians, trusted them at first but found it did not pay, and later went on a farm. Ilis father, Gen. Sharp, who was of Irish descent, was an officer in the Revolu- tionary War under Washington. Ilis wife was a Taylor, a relative of Zachary Taylor, and of Scotch descent. Grandfather Sharp located in Pickaway Township, this county, in 1803, on three hundred and twenty acres of wild land, and was in the War of 1812. He was a Presbyterian in his religious views and lived to be sixty-six years of age. The father of Mrs. Fryback was a farmer on the old home place of three hundred and twenty acres in Ross County, and later he added enough to the original tract to make three hundred and forty-five acres. He was a Republican in his political views, and a Presbyterian in religious matters, and was an Elder in his church. Ile died on the 26th of December, 1891, and his mind was clear and vig-
orous to the last. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Corwin, was born in Pike County, Ohio, and the daughter of Samnel Corwin, who was a native of the Keystone State but an early settler of Pike County, Ohio, and of English descent. Ile owned a good farm here and in the West, and was a prosperous man. Mrs. Fryback's mother died in 1843. They were the parents of four chil- dren, three of whom grew to mature years, our subject's wife being third in order of birth. She was born in Pickaway Township, this county, and when fifteen years of age entered Marysville Acad- emy at Marysville, Ohio, and remained there two years. She had two brothers in the army. Cor- win enlisted in the Seventy-third Ohio Infantry in 1862 and served until the close of the war. He was wounded at Resaca. The other brother, John Taylor, was also in the same com- pany, and now resides on the old place. Mrs. Fry- back began teaching school when sixteen years of age, three years in one district, seven in another and all in sight of her father's home. To our sub- jeet and wife have been born two children: Le- titia E. and Sue. Mrs. Fryback has been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years, and she is a member of Groce Post, W. R. C. Mr. Fryback is a Republican in his political prin- ciples.
UGHI SNIDER, whose life sketch we now present to our readers, resides in Union Township, Fayette County, and is the son of William Snider, who came to this State with his parents from Virginia, in which State he was born in 1805, while his parents were on the jour- ney. For fifty years the father of our subject pur- sued the work of a drover and trader, and in those early days used to drive stock across the mountains. He was for many years one of the most extensive drovers, and is now the oldest trader, in that line, in Fayette County.
The mother of our subject was Margaret, daugh- ter of Hazard Hopkins, and she became the mother of six children, all but one of whom grew to man's
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and woman's estate. Those who are living are Sarah, now the widow of John Davis; Elizabeth, wife of G. W. Taylor, a Kansas farmer; Henry C., who is at Dayton in the Soldiers' Home, and who served his country faithfully during the War of the Rebellion, and our subject.
Ilugh Snider was born April 16, 1832, on Paint Creck, five miles from Washington C. Il., and there had his early training and education, study- ing in the district schools of Wayne Township. He worked with his father until after he was twenty years of age, and was married November 28, 1852, to Rebecca, daughter of William and Elizabeth Marchant. Mr. Marchant was a farmer and black- smith in Fayette County, and came here among the early settlers.
The young couple passed a year on the old homestead and then came to the farm which they now occupy and which was purchased by the young man of his father. But little of it was then cleared but now it is all in a good state of cultivation. Ilis spade turned the first soil that was ever turned on Pone Creek, and he has spent all his life in putting in excellent condition the farm that he bought when a young man. When he first settled here. he lived in a log house that had an old log fireplace, which took firewood so large that the young man used to drive his horse into the house to roll the log onto the fire, a log so large that it would last several days.
John Rowe, Abraham McCoy and our subject are the only ones of the old settlers now living in the neighborhood. In the early days they found abundant opportunities for kindly interchange of work, and Mr. Snider says that he has sometimes gone every day for two weeks, helping his neigh- bors to roll logs. In 1873, Mr. Snider pulled down his log house and put in its place a hand- some and substantial brick residence, adding an excellent barn also to his farin. Ilis only child, Clara, is the wife of Frank Lidy, who is in the oil business in Washington C. H., and is an enterpris- ing and successful young man.
Mr. Snider has his farm in a fine condition and all the barns and outbuildings are creditable to his taste and good judgment. Ilis crops are principally in grain and he also raises some stock.
In his political views, he is in sympathy with the Republican party and in the early days was a Whig. In former times he was a School Director, but aside from that has not cared for official posi- tion and has not taken an active part in politics.
N. BEATTY. Among the prominent and representative farmers and stock-raisers of Perry Township, Pickaway County, we are glad to present to our many readers the life his- tory of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in this county, April 18, 1821, and is a son of James and Margaret (Gibson) Beatty. The father was a native of Virginia and removed to Ohio in 1818, and located in Fayette County, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
The subject of this sketch is the eldest of five children born to his worthy parents. The family comes of a long-lived race who were strong and robust, the grandfather, Charles Beatty, being eighty-two years old at the time of his death. Our subject has been a resident of Fayette and Picka- away Counties all his life and is one of the most successful and prosperous farmers in the county. Stock-raising and dealing have been his chief occu- pations, besides engaging in mixed farming.
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