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 63
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 63
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 63
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The marriage of Mr. Phillips with Miss Ellen J. Ilitler was solemnized April 19, 1862, and is a most congenial union. Mrs. Phillips is a native of Pickaway County, born in Washington Town- ship, and a daughter of Jacob Ilitler, one of its early settlers, of whom mention is made elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have ten children, all of whom have had fine educational advantages. They are Charles, Nelson, Florence E., Josephine E., Della, Maud, Dennis E., Rose O., Lilly C., and Arthur W. Charles married Miss Elizabeth Bart- ley, and lives in Washington Township. Florence E. married Jacob Ludwig and they live in Pick- away Township. The other children are at home. Our subject and his family stand high in social circles, and are noted for the pleasant hospitalities
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which they dispense to their numerous friends in their charming home. Ile is unswerving in his loyalty to the Democratic party. He has served as a Trustee of his township three years, and is a man of genuine public spirit, who generously aids all movements in any way calculated to advance the interests of township or county.
R OBERT C. PARKER is a farmer and stock- man of wide experience and business quali- fications of a high order, who has been an important agent in developing the rich agricultural resources of Fayette, his native county. He is one of the first of his class in Paint Town- ship, where he has a large and finely equipped farm, situated two and one-half miles north, and a little west, of Bloomingburgh. Upon the place he has erected a beautiful residence, a view of which accompanies this sketch.
Mr. Parker was born in Marion Township, No- vember 28, 1828. His father, John Parker, who was one of the foremost pioneers of Fayette County in his day, was a Virginian by birth. Ile was married in his native State to Mary A. White- man, who was born in the same place as himself. Soon after marriage, he brought his bride to Ohio, in 1826, to brave the hardships and trials of fron- tier life, in order to build up a comfortable home for themselves. He bought two hundred acres of land in Marion Township, but after living upon it five years, removed with his family to Paint Town- ship, and bought seven hundred and fifty acres of land, which he afterward developed into one of the finest farms in the neighborhood, and that was his home until he closed his eyes in death, at the age of seventy-three, in the year 1873. Ile was a man of large enterprise, and acquired wealth and prominence as a farmer and stockman. In early life, he was a Whig, and in later years the Repub- lican party had in him an earnest advocate, from the time of its formation until the hour of his death. He was Township Trustee for many years, and had the interests of his community at heart at
all times. Religiously, he was of the Presbyterian faith, and was a member of the church of that de- nomination at Bloomingburgh. His wife survived him until 1883, and then passed away at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of six children, four daughters and two sons, all of whom grew to maturity, and two of whom are still liv- ing, our subject, and his sister, Mrs. Hannah B. Barker, of Paint Township. Their paternal grand- father, Robert Parker, was a native of Virginia, and is supposed to have been of Irish descent.
Robert C. Parker, of this biographical record, is the second child and first-born son of his parents. His education was conducted in the common schools of his boyhood days, and on his father's farm he was well trained in agricultural pursuits. Hle continued to assist his father in the manage- ment of his extensive farming interests until he was twenty-seven years old, and at that age took upon himself the responsibilities of domestic life, being married January 29, 1856, to Miss Margaret Selsor, who has nobly performed her part in the upbuilding of their home, proving to be a true home-maker, devoted to the interests of her house- hold. Mrs. Parker is a native of Madison County, and was born June 13, 1832, a daughter of Fred- eric and Mary (Rankin) Selsor, the former of whom was an early settler of the State, coming here in 1815. Iler father was born in Virginia, and her mother was a native of Fayette County. The former died at the age of eighty-six, and the latter when forty-two years old. Our subject and his wife have had two children: Alice M., who died at the age of eleven years; and William S., who mar- ried Miss Eva Creath, and resides on his father's farm.
Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Parker lo- cated on the farm in Paint Township on which he still lives. It was mostly in its natural condition when it came into his possession, but he has wrought a wonderful transformation, whereby it has become one of the best ordered farms in the county, its four hundred and eighty acres of rich soil nearly all under cultivation, and valuable im- provements on every hand adding to its worth and attractiveness. A substantial class of build- ings adorn the place, the handsome and commodi-
RESIDENCE OF ROBERT C. PARKER, PAINT TP, FAYETTE CO., OHIO
RESIDENCE OF ADAM NEBBERGALL, WAYNE TP., FAYETTE CO., OHIO.
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ous residence, of a pleasing style of architecture, being built in 1881, at a cost of $6,000. Mr. Parker is now interested principally in raising stock, devoting the most of the grain grown on his farm to feeding his stock. He has three hun- dred hogs, fifty head of cattle of superior breeds, beside other well-bred stock.
Our subject is endowed with strength of mind and native ability, and his sensible, practical views on all subjects with which he is familiar give him weight and influence in the community. In his active and busy career he has not stayed to ask if life is worth living, but has made it so by always doing the duty nearest at hand. In this way he has acquired wealth, and gained the universal re- speet of his community. Ile is a Republican, who stands by his party whether defeat or victory perches on its banners. He was Township Trustee some years, and made a good record as a civic offi- eial, who looked carefully after the interests en- trusted to him.
DAM NEBBERGALL, who has for many years been engaged in farming and stock- raising in Wayne Township, occupies a high place among the farmers of Fayette County, to whose intelligence and industry is greatly owing its substantial progress. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred in Ross County in 1819. he being the youngest of twelve children born into the pioneer home of Henry and Nancy Neb- bergall, who were natives of Virginia.
The mother of our subject died at the time of his birth and his father followed not many years after, as he never saw him but once after he was large enough to remember. Thus sadly orphaned on the very threshold of life, our subject was at once taken by his aunt, Mrs. Wagy. At the age of eight years, he was bound out to Isaac Monroe, but as that gentleman had a large family of his own, he could not clothe and care for the little orphan properly, and so two years later he went to live with an elder brother, with whom he remained a short time, and until he was seventeen years old
he lived with several different people, finding no permanent home. At that age, he went on a farm to work by the month for a small amount of money, and remained there eight years.
When our subject was twenty-five years old, he was married to Eliza, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Parrett, whose sketch is given in that of John II. Parrett. After marriage, Mr. Nebbergall came at once to Fayette County and for a short time rented a farm. Later, he bought twenty-five acres of land that are now included in his present farm, borrowing money with which to make the first payment. The ambitious, energetic and diligent young pioneer set to work with a good will to im- prove a farm, having but $14 left after he had set- tled on his homestead. He possessed a thoughtful, vigorous intellect, was a good scholar, and keenly feeling his early lack of school privileges, set about obtaming a higher education after he was of age, and went to school until he was fitted for a teacher, which profession he followed both in Ross and Fayette Counties, proving to be a most excel- lent instructor. His principal occupation through life has been farming, however, and he has met with more than ordinary success in his vocation. He has purchased over four hundred acres of land, paying for it all with money obtained by his own labors, and is one of the most prosperous farmers of his township. His first house was built of logs and had a clapboard roof and a mud and stick chimney. This has been superseded by a roomy modern dwelling, and a good set of farm buildings adorn the place, a view of which is presented to our readers.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nebbergall have been born three children, of whom two are deceased: Sarah A., who died in infancy, and Joseph M., who died at the age of twenty-three. Their only surviving child is Mary E., the wife of Emmit King and the mother of five children.
Our subject is a Republican of excellent stand- ing in his party. His first vote was cast for Gen. William II. Harrison, and during the last Presiden- tial campaign of 1888, he had the pleasure of sup- porting the grandson of the hero of Tippecanoe at the polls. During the late war, when Morgan, the bold rebel raider, was creating terror and havoc through-
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out the southern part of the State, Mr. Nebbergall promptly responded to the call for troops to drive the rebels away, and did good service during the fifteen days in which they were engaged in routing them. He has also shown himself to be a public- spirited and useful civic official in the various township offices that he has held from time to time. Ile is an Elder in the Pisgah Church and a man whose Christian living proves the sincerity of his religions belief.
S AMUEL TAYLOR, who is one of the prominent farmers of Darby Township, Madison County, was born on the farm where he now lives, August 23, 1817. He is thus one of the oldest residents of the township and is well and honorably known to all the citi- zens of Plain City, as his farm, which is located on the banks of the Big Darby Creek, lies only one- half mile east of the city. His father, Richard Taylor, was probably a Kentuckian by birth and his early training was received in Kentucky. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Polly M. MeDuffe, and was also a Kentnekian. They came from their native home to Union County, Ohio, and located in what is now Plam City in 1805, but after that they returned to Ken- tucky and remained for two years before perma- nently settling in Darby Township. Their farm was covered by a dense forest, and Indians were their most numerous neighbors. When they first moved into their log house, it had no floor, and wild animals were frequently about their door. There they made their home through life, the mother dying at the age of seventy years and the father surviving to enter upon his tenth decade. Of their seven children, all but one grew to reach years of maturity.
Our subject is the youngest in his parents' fam- ily and the only one who is now living. His whole life of seventy-five years has been spent upon the farm where he was born. In 1839, he was united in marriage with Eunice Allen, and they became the parents of two children, who grew to woman-
hood, namely: Mary, who is now the wife of Eli Shover, of Darby Township, and Sarah, who is Mrs. David Brown, and resides near Mechanies- burgh, Ohio. Mrs. Taylor died about 1850, leav- ing the daughters motherless.
The present Mrs. Taylor was known in maiden. hood as Rosina Kent, and to her were born two daughters and one son. The eldest, Rachel, is the wife of Wayne Kiser, of Plain City. Mahala is Mrs. Roy Ramsey, and she and her husband reside with her father. Samuel E. was called from earth after he reached the age of thirty-seven years.
Our subject has a farm of over four hundred acres on his home place, and another of two hun- dred acres elsewhere in the township, besides two hundred and fifteen in Jerome Township, Union County, and most of this is under cultivation. When his father first came to this region, there were no schoolhouses and no pikes here and he has helped to build many miles of the latter. He is now the oldest native-born man in the county, and has been a Republican from the time he was old enough to vote, and has heid various local offices, having been School Director, and Township Trustee for many years, and hav- ing filled the office of Supervisor of Roads. Al- though he is not a member of any church, he is a believer in the doctrines of Christianity and a liberal contributor to the support of its institu- tions. His present home is in a handsome.brick house which he erected many years ago.
NDREW J. VAN NESS, a hardware dealer of Mt. Sterling, began business in this line in 1891. Ile was at first associated in partnership with Mr. Passwater, but after six months the connection was discontinued and our subject has been alone. He has already built up a good trade by his industry, good manage- ment and courteous treatment, and has secured the confidence and good-will of all. He was born in Rossie Township, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., on the 3d of May, 1841, and is a son of Jeremiah and Maria (Vrooman) Van Ness. His parents
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were also natives of the Empire State, both born and reared near Schenectady, N. Y., and were of Holland Dutch deseent. The father was a glass- blower in early life but followed farming in St. Lawrence County.
Our subject was born and reared upon the farm. Ilis early education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a two-years' course in the Antwerp Academy, which he attended be- tween the ages of nineteen and twenty-one years. Hle then returned home and began operating his father's land. In December, 1864, he determined to seek his home in the West and came to Madi- son County, Ohio. For about two years, he was engaged in carrying the mail between Washington C. HI. and Columbus, going on horseback when the roads were bad and with a hack when the roads were passable, at which time he also carried pas- sengers. He next worked by the month at what- ever he could find to do and from his earnings managed to save a small sum.
When he had a little capital, Mr. Van Ness was united in marriage, December 14, 1871, to Miss Sarah Douglass, one of the fair daughters of Mt. Sterling. Her parents were David II. and Dorothy (Yocum) Douglass. Two children have been born unto our subject and his wife: Zoa, who was born February 9, 1872, and graduated from the Mt. Sterling High School in 1891; and Wade D., born August 26, 1880. They also lost a daughter, Ella, who died October 10, 1888, at the age of twelve years and was buried in Pleasant Cemetery.
After his marriage, Mr. Van Ness engaged in business with his father-in-law as a dealer in gen- eral merchandise and continued his operations in that line for some thirteen years with good suc- cess. In this way he got a start in life and secured a home. In 1885. under President Cleveland, he was appointed Postmaster and served for four years, when the change in administration caused his retirement. About a year later, he embarked in his present business as before stated. IIe is sagacious and far-sighted and well deserves a prosperous career.
Mr. Van Ness proudly cast his first vote in 1864 for Gen. George B. McClelland, and has since been a stalwart advocate of Democratic principles. He
has served for two terms as Justice of the Peace and for two terms as City Councilman, and his duties were promptly and faithfully performed.
OSEPH C. HARPER, Treasurer of Pickaway County and City Treasurer of Circleville, is widely known throughout Ohio and well deserves representation in this volume. He was born five miles west of Lancaster, in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 2, 1831. Ilis paternal grandfather came to this State about 1801, but af- ter two years returned with his entire family. He was a planter and was of Scotch-Irish descent, be- ing a direct descendant of the founder of Harper's Ferry.
Alex Harper, father of our subject, was born in Berkeley County, Va., and about 1825 came to Ohio. He located and improved a farm near Lancaster, where he remained until 1840, when he removed to Lima, Ohio. Ile afterwards returned to Fair- field County and subsequently engaged in the hotel business in Tarlton, Pickaway County. He was also one of the early teachers of the State. In 1855, he settled in Peoria, Ill., where he died three years later, at the age of fifty-eight. Of the Meth- odist Church he was a prominent member. Ilis wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Cunning- ham, was born near Laneaster, in 1812. The death of Mrs. Harper occurred in 1881. She was a men- ber of the Methodist Church. Her father, Robert Cunningham, was a native of Berkeley County, Va., and went by team to Fairfield County, in 1801. Ile enlisted in the War of 1812, under Gen. San- derson, and was killed at the battle of Ft. Meigs. Ilis wife reared the family and lived to be eighty years of age. She could handle a rifle as well as a man and was a remarkable woman in many respects. She was well read and was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject's great unele, Samuel Harper, built the first gristmill in Fairfield County.
In the family of Alexander Harper were four sons and two daughters who grew to mature years: Samuel A., who enlisted at the first call for troops
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and served throughout the late war, becoming Lieutenant, now resides in Peoria, and is prominent in Grand Army eireles, having served as Comman- der of Illinois; John J., who was in the one hun- dred days' service, was ten years Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the Portsmouth district and is a prominent attorney of Washington C. H .; William H. is a prominent farmer of Peoria County, Ill .; one sister died in that county, and Mrs. Mary Williamson is living in the same county.
Our subject was the eldest of the family. He acquired a common-school education and at the age of nineteen began teaching. After teaching in the district schools, he served as Principal of the schools in Lancaster, Ohio, from 1862 until 1865, was Superintendent of the Bucyrus schools for six years, of the Sidney schools for one year, the Waverly schools for two years and the Newark school for three years. He was eminently success- ful as an instructor. In 1880, he located in Col- umbus and was interested in railroad projects. In 1884, he located in Cireleville and for six months was Principal of the Madison Township High School. In the fall of 1885, he became Deputy County Treasurer and in 1888 was elected Treas- urer and was re-elected in 1890.
On the 6th of October, 1853, in Tarlton, Prof. Harper married Miss Susan Foust. Her father, Andrew Foust, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio, was a carpenter by trade and died in 1883. He was also a prominent politician, representing his county in each house of the Legislature. His father, Jacob Foust, a native of Pennsylvania, was the first white man who ever raised a crop north of Colum- bus, Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Harper, whose maiden name was Rachei Drum, is seventy-nine years old. They have an adopted daughter, Mary E., whom they reared from childhood. She grad- uated from the Pleasantville Collegiate Institute and is the wife of T. E. Mithoff of Flagstaff, Ariz. Iler only daughter, Marvene Harper, finds a home with our subject.
Mr. Harper is the owner of a highly improved farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres in Salt Creek Township, besides his pleasant residence on Scioto Street. Since 1853, he has been a member of the Odd Fellows' society and holds membership
with the Reformed Church. In politics, he is a stalwart Democrat, has served as a member of the City Council from the Fourth Ward, is serving his second term as County Treasurer and is also City Treasurer. His public duties have been discharged with promptness and fidelity, thus winning him the commendation of all. In connection with edu- cational interests, Mr. Harper has formed a wide acquaintance throughout the State. He was instru- mental in organizing the first Teachers' institute in Fairfield County, and has lectured and taught in various institutes throughout the State. He is acquainted with all the prominent teachers in Ohio, for his lecture and institute work have brought him in contact with many. He deserves much credit for what he has done in the interests of edu- cation and his work has been of acknowledged worth.
W ILLIAM RENICK was for many years one of the most prominent agriculturists of the Scioto Valley. Ile died at his home in Circleville, in May, 1881, and in his death the com- munity lost one of its best citizens. Tradition says that the Renick family is of German origin, its an- cestors having emigrated from the Fatherland to Scotland to escape religious persecution. The name underwent a change from Reinwick to Renwich. In time, one of the family was created a peer. He pur- chased the property of his two brothers, who, with their father, emigrated to America and settled in Eastern Pennsylvania, whenee they removed to Hardy County, Va., locating on the south bank of the Potomac. Their descendants are now scattered all over the country. In the meantime, the name was again changed to Renniek, and finally one N was dropped, making it its present form. For more than two hundred years the Renick family has been rep- resented in this country, and many of its members have attained prominence in various lines of busi- ness. One characteristic of the family is that of never being office-seekers.
William Renick, grandfather of our subject, was a direet descendant of the emigrants, and was
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reared in Hardy County, Va. For a time, he served as Deputy Surveyor under Lord Fairfax. He had four sons, Felix, George, Thomas and William, who all located in the Scioto Valley, between the years of 1797 and 1803. llis daughters all mar- ried, but remained in Virginia. George Renick, father of our subject, was born in Hardy County, Va., September 7. 1776, and spent his early boy- hood days upon a farm, and in his youth elerked in a store in Moorefield, Va. He was twice mar- ried. In September, 1802, he wedded Miss Doro- thy Harness, of his native county, and they had ten children, seven of whom are living. She died in December, 1820, and in 1825 Mı. Renick mar- ried Mrs. Sarah Boggs, a sister of Gen. James Denny.
Mr. Renick first visited Ohio in 1797. A few months later, he again came, and witnessed the mailing of the first shingle that ever graced a roof in the city of Chillicothe.' He afterward went through the wilderness to Kentucky, where he spent the winter, returning to Virginia the follow- ing spring. He did not make a permanent loca- tion in Ohio until the antumn of 1802, when he was married and took his bride to Chillicothe. He opened the largest general merchandise store in that place at that time, and afterward engaged exten- sively in stock-raising. With wonderful foresight, he saw that corn would become one of the staple products of the valley, and believed it could be raised and fed to cattle with good advantage. In the winter of 1804-05, he fed a considerable num- ber, which he marketed the following spring in Baltimore. The result was highly satisfactory, and in 1808, having accumulated a large landed prop- erty, he retired from merchandising and devoted his energies to farming and stock-raising, having at this time a number of blooded horses, cattle and hogs. His health, which was never robust, failed him in 1816, and on the advice of Dr. Scott, he removed to Woodford County, Ky., selling off much of his fine stock. Hle retained only a few head of favorite cattle. His health received no benefit from the change, and he returned to Ohio in the fall of the same year. From that time, he gave his attention almost exclusively to the raising of fine cattle, and raised some of the largest animals
of this kind ever produced in the United States. Ile was very successful, and was an honored citi- zen. In 1844, he was made a Presidential elector on the Whig tieket, and voted for Henry Clay, his early personal friend. In religious belief, he was a strong Presbyterian.
William Renick, the subject of this sketch, was born in Chillicothe County, November 12, 1804, and commeneed doing an extensive business at the early age of fifteen and a half years, on account of his father's health. It was intended that he should pursue a full classical education, but this interfered with his doing so. On attaining his majority, he entered into active business life on his own account, and became a prominent and wealthy farmer and stock-raiser. He engaged in feeding and grazing cattle on an extensive scale, having on hand as high as three hundred head. Ile made extensive shipments to the Eastern markets, and was one of the largest drovers in the State. Ile purchased and brought from Texas, in 1851, twelve hundred head of cattle, the first lot of Texas cattle in large numbers ever brought to this county. He was a sagacious and far-sighted busi- ness man, and was widely known as a leading drover.
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