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 70
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 70
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 70
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The father of our subject, although trained to the life of a farmer, when choosing an occupation, learned the trade of a tailor. In 1848, he came to this State a single man and located in Darbyville, where he erected one of the first stores, and en- gaged in the general merchandise business. He was successful in all that he undertook, and at the time of his decease, was well-to-do in this world's goods. In his political relations, William Miller
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was an old-line Whig. During the late war, being too old to enlist, he gave liberally of his means to aid in the Union cause. He departed this life Oc- tober 30, 1875.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Paulina Hill Thompson, who was born in Darby- ville, and was the daughter of Samuel II. Thomp- son, one of the pioneers of that city. He married Miss Hannah Hill, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Hill, an old pioneer clergyman and missionary, and the early explorer of this county. Grandfather Thomp- son was a farmer near Darbyville, where his de- cease occurred. Mrs. Paulina Miller was educated in the log schoolhouse of her district, and when completing her studies, taught school for several terms. She is at present residing in Darbyville with a daughter, and has been an invalid for the past twenty-five years.
The parental family of our subject included five boys and three girls, six of whom are living, and of whom Samuel W. was the third youngest. IIe was reared in Darbyville, where he attended the district school, and when fourteen years of age taught his first term of school. He continued to be thus occupied for the four succeeding winters, attending college during the summer months at the West Ohio University at Delaware, and being compelled to abandon his studies when in his Soph- omore year. When about twenty years of age, in April, 1879, our subject bought out Mr. Davidson, who was engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness at Ashville, and, in company with his brother James D., organized the firm of Miller Bros. At that time they were the second merchants in the place, which was but a small village of a few houses, and, at the time of his departure, contained eight hundred inhabitants. Miller Brothers con- tinned thus until our subject purchased the inter- est of his partner, and continued alone. He was instrumental in incorporating the village, of which he was made Treasurer, and later its Township Clerk, being elected to the latter office in a Demo- cratic Township, by a majority of one hundred and ten.
In 1887, our subject was nominated on the Re- publican ticket for County Auditor, and was elected to that position by a majority of sixty-
eight. He was the first County Auditor to occupy the new court house, and was the incumbent of that position until September, 1891, when he re- tired to private life. Ile gives his entire time and attention to the real-estate business, handling large amounts of land in this county. The County Treasurer, J. M. Lane, appropriated about $50,000 of the county's money and skipped out, "jump- ing" his bond. It was through the efforts of our subject that the new bond, which had been missing, was found and filed in time to save the county losing the money. Mr. Miller is very popular in his community, where he is recognized as a shrewd, honest and upright business man.
In social matters, he of whom we write is a mem- ber of the Free and Accepted Masons at Circle- ville, the Royal Areh Masons, the Knight Temp- lars, being identified with Consistory Scottish Rite and Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In his political relations, he is, and always has been, a true-blue Republican.
SAAC B. BARNES. Of the various enterprises that have made Circleville one of the progres- sive cities of the State, the lumber trade has always held an important place, employing large capital in its conduct, and giving to other indus- tries a decided impetus by the energy and ability displayed in its development. Among the promi- nent business firms engaged in this line is that of 1. B. Barnes & Co., who have their headquarters at the corner of Ohio and Pickaway Streets.
Our subject was born on a farm near New Lex- ington, Perry County, Ohio, on the 9th of March, 1858, and is the son of A. R. and Barbara (Bailey) Barnes, natives of Perry County, Ohio, and Penn- sylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer and owned large tracts of land. He was an extensive sheep-raiser, keeping only the best blooded stock, and was one of the foremost men of the county. His buildings were all of a first-class order; a neat and tasty residence added very much to the looks of the place, and he had large bank barns, capable of hold-
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ing two hundred tons of hay. Ile sold out in 1874 and came to Circleville, where he has been engaged in the lumber business with his son ever since. In this, he makes as much of a success as in agricul- tural pursuits. His father, the Rev. Isaac Barnes, was a native of Bedford County, Pa., and of Eng- lish descent. He was a pioneer Baptist minister of Perry County, Ohio, a man highly esteemed for his many estimable qualities, and lived to be sev- enty-six years of age. Grandfather Bailey was of Irish deseent, he being the only son of an Irish nobleman, but his marriage against the wishes of his father caused an estrangement between them and he was consequently eut off by will from his inheritance and patrimony.
Isaac B. Barnes, the fourth in order of birth of the seven children born to his parents, remained in Perry County, Ohio, until fifteen years of age and received a good practical education in the district school. Hle then came to this county and began tilling the soil on a farm his father had purchased in Deer Creek Township, and this con- tinued until 1881, when he began attending the West Point schools. After this, he started in the lumber business near Foresman Bros'. Mills, and continued there until 1885, when he brought his stock to Circleville. Ile and his father bought two acres between Pickaway and Washington Streets and erected several houses on it. Since then, they have erected several residences in the Fifth Ward and others in different parts of the city. They handle a large amount of lumber, and are thorough-going, wide-awake business men. Their sheds are among the finest in the State, slate roof, double deck and two hundred and fifty feet in length. They are engaged in contracting and building and handle a greater variety of wood than any other house in the city, walnut, cherry, oak, ash, sycamore, elm, maple, etc. They deal in lumber, lath, shingles, doors, sash, blinds, frames, heavy building timbers, molding, pickets. posts, fencing, etc.
The firm have a fine residence adjoining their yards, surrounded with all the comforts and con- veniences of life. Isaac B. is a member of the Council, representing the Fifth Ward. He was the only Republican ever elected in that ward, and it
speaks well as to his popularity, he being elected by a good majority. He is recognized as one of the influential Republicans of the county, and has served as Central Committeeman. He is a Knight Templar and at the present time is Eminent Com- mander of the Scioto Commandery. He is a Methi- odist in his religious views and has been Steward of the church for some time.
AMES S. BRANNEN, whose home is to be found in Union Township, Fayette County, is a son of William Brannen, of Irish de- scent, who came to Ohio and settled in Fayette County in 1810. He married Mrs. Case- bolt, nee Bartlett. They had a family of four chil- dren, and all of them grew to maturity. The three who are now living are William, Thomas and our subject. The eldest son resides upon a farm in Union Township, and Thomas is a farmer in Mis- souri. The only daughter, Elizabeth, died at the age of eighteen years.
When William Brannen first came to this county, he bought two hundred and thirty acres of land in Union Township, but died before much of the land was cleared. Ile was a prominent man in the township and was a Republican in his polit- ical views. James Braunen was born March 28, 1832, in Union Township, and here received his edu- cation in the district schools of this and Wayne Townships. Ile was bound out when about thirteen years of age to Mr. Rogers, of Wayne Township, this county, and lived with him for seven years. He then worked for his brother and for Mr. Coff- man until he was married, February 4, 1851, his bride being Hannah Betzer, whose father, John Betzer, was a prominent farmer of Ross County, this State. Of the eight children in the Betzer fam- ily, only two are living, Mrs. Brannen, and Harriet, who married Andrew Post.
After marriage, Mr. Brannen moved onto a farm that he had inherited from his father on Paint Creek. After living there some eight years, he sold the place and moved to the one where he now resides. It then comprised a tract of ninety-
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four acres, part of which was cleared. He re- duced it all to a state of cultivation and has made of it a fine farm. One child has blessed this home, Alzina, who is the wife of Robert L. Silcott, of Union Township. She is the mo- ther of four children: James, Harry, Clara and Ames.
Our subject is a member of the Sugar Grove Methodist Church, in the work of which he takes an active interest. Ilis political views bring him into alliance with the Democratic party, although he is not active in politics. At the present time, he has forty-seven acres of land, all in excellent condition and highly cultivated. He raises large crops of grain and has much stock upon his place.
ENRY B. CONVERSE. Madison County is greatly indebted to her native-born sons for the part they have taken in forwarding her various interests since they came upon the stage of action. It is of one of these that this sketch is written. Henry B. Converse is a young man of rare ability, energy and progressiveness as a farmer and stock-raiser, who has one of the best- equipped farms in Canaan Township, advanta- geously located five miles south of Plain City.
This township is his birthplace, the date of his birth being January 8, 1850. His father, James N. Converse, was also a native of Madison County, born in Darby Township, October 29, 1823, in the early days of the settlement of this part of Ohio. Ile was a son of Charles Converse, who was a native of Vermont, and came to Ohio in 1814, casting in his lot with the few hardy pioneers who had pre- ceded him in Darby Township. Our subject is also descended from the early pioneer stock of Ohio on the maternal side of the house, his grandfather, James Calhoon, being a son of people who were among the first to settle in Portage County, where he was born. The mother of our subject, Julia A. (Calhoon) Converse, was born in Canaan Town- ship, October 30, 1826. The parents of our sub- ject were married in their native county by old
Squire Allen, who performed the ceremony that made them man and wife in Plain City. They took up their abode in Canaan Township on a farm, and there the father passed his remaining days, dying at the age of sixty-four years. The mother is still living in Canaan Township, and is sixty-six years old.
Ilenry Converse and his sister Elizabeth, Mrs. Cary Millikin, of Jefferson Township, are the only children of their worthy parents. Our subject laid the foundation of his education in the district schools of his native township, and was subse- quently an attendant one winter at Capital Uni- versity in Columbus. He next pursued an excel- lent course of study at J. A. Peasley's Business College in the same city, and, when he began life in earnest, was well fitted for the work that lay before him in the calling with which he had al- ways been familiar, which Horace Greeley styled "the noblest of professions," and his success as an agriculturist is undoubted. He has improved a choice farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres, mostly under cultivation, and handsomely ap- pomted with as fine a set of buildings as can be found in the township of Canaan. In 1884, Mr. Converse erected a brick house, of a modern and appropriate style of architecture, at a cost of $6,000, and he has built a large barn, 104x62 feet in dimensions, and a model of its kind, besides having other substantial buildings. Ile makes a specialty of raising sheep, and now has a fine flock of twelve hundred of high grade.
Mr. Converse was married September 16, 1875, to Miss Lizzie H., second daughter of Uri and Eleanor (Downing) Beach. Two sons and a daugh- ter have been born unto them: Walter, who is at- tending school at Plain City; Julia, who is at home with them, and Uri Beach, who was born June 3, 1892. Mrs. Converse is a representative of the early pioneer families of Madison County, of which both her parents were natives. Her paternal grandfather, Uri Beach, was born in New Hampshire December 7, 1789, and was one of the original settlers on Darby Plain, where he located in 1817. His memory is honored as the founder of the town of Amity, which he laid out, and where he established two flourishing industries by building a sawmill and a.
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woolen factory. Mrs. Converse's parents had seven children, of whom three others are living beside herself: Timothy, Isaac and Uri. Mrs. Converse is a lady of fine character and superior culture, who well graces the important social po- sition she holds with her husband in the commu- nity. She was a student at the Western Univer- sity, at Delaware, which she entered in the fall of 1871, closing her connection with that institution of learning, as a student, in the year 1874, which was her Junior year. She is Secretary of the Beach Family Association, which holds reunions annu- ally.
Our subject has long been prominent in the councils of his fellow-townsmen, and so popu- lar is he that he is often called to responsible offices, notwithstanding that he is a Democrat, while the majority of the citizens of the town- ship are Republican in the ratio of two to one. He is now one of the Trustees of the town- ship, and has been Treasurer thereof. He is like- wise a conspicuous figure in various social organ- izations, as follows: Urania Lodge No. 311, A. F. & A. M., at Plain City, of which he is Senior Warden; Adoniram Chapter No. 73, R. A. M., at London; London Council No. 41, R. & S. M .; Mt. Vernon Commandery No. 1, K. T .; the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Society, at Cincin- nati, in which he has taken the Thirty-second De- gree; the Serion Temple, at Cincinnati; and Lodge No. 159, K. of P., Plain City. He was once a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows.
G
B ALDEN CLIFTON CARPENTER. AI- though not an early, or, at least, one of the very early settlers of this part of the State, Mr. Carpenter may well be classed among the pioneers who laid so well the solid foundation of Pickaway County's growth, are still concerned in its progress, and are bulwarks of its present prosperity. Our subject was for some time after his advent in this county, in the vigor of early manhood, one of its most enterprising merchants, but for many years he has been identi-
fied with its farmers and stockmen, and still has a large farm in Muhlenberg Township, which he rents, while he makes his home in Darbyville.
Mr. Carpenter was born in Fleming County, Ky., April 22, 1811, his father, Simon Carpenter, a na- tive of Virginia, having been an early settler of that region, and one of its most prosperous farm- ers. Ile owned two or three farms in that part of Kentucky, and was potent in promoting its devel- opment. Ile lived to a ripe old age, dying when about eighty years old; and the record that he left behind him was of a life well spent. He was a Whig in politics, and was all that a loyal citizen ought to be. The maiden name of his wife, who died at a venerable age, was Sally Fee, and she was also a Virginian by birth. They reared a fam- ily of four children.
Our subject was reared amid pioneer environ- ments, and his character was doubtless strengtli- ened thereby, as he early displayed manliness and resolution. ITis boyhood was passed on a Ken- tucky farm, and his education was obtained under difficulties, so the modern scholar would think. He had to go two miles to school, over rough paths, and through creeks that he had to wade. But his recollections of those times are pleasant. Hle still retains a picture in his memory of the old log schoolhouse, with its open fireplace and rude slab benches, and recalls how he used to play with zest "Blackman Andy Over," and similar games common among the children of those days. At the age of seventeen, he began life in earnest, splitting rails for a hving, receiving seventy-five cents a hundred, and chopping wood at seventy- live cents a cord, working from daylight to dark. Hle could cord twenty-one cords of wood and split forty rails in a single day, and he has split as many as four hundred and eighty rails in a day, as he worked with extraordinary celerity and made every stroke of his axe count.
In October. 1837, our subject set out from the old Kentucky home on horseback on an ever-mem- orable journey to seek a new dwelling-place, and arrived in Piekaway County on the 31st of the month. At that time, he was without money, but he lacked neither a stout spirit, enterprise, nor the requisite energy and insight into business matters
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to insure success. Hle soon opened a store for the sale of general merchandise in Darbyville, and carried it on for nearly twenty years. At one time, his store was broken into and goods to the value of $10 stolen. He, however, tracked the thief and secured payment. He used to go to New York and Boston for all his merchandise, often driving cattle to the former city, disposing of them at a good price, and returning home with articles for his store. He built up a large trade, people coming to purchase of him for miles around, and it was no uncommon sight to see as many as forty teams in front of his establishment at one time.
In 1857, Mr. Carpenter sold out and took two hundred and fifty acres of land in part payment for the store. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, farming the land, or hiring it done, and buying and fattening many cattle and sheep. He purchased additional land when- ever he had a good opportunity, and at one time owned thirteen hundred acres, but he has given his sons a hundred acres each, and now has but six hundred acres in his own name. He rents this, some for cash and some for grain, and thus derives a handsome yearly income. He does not live on his farm, but resides in Darbyville in a large brick residence, which he purchased six months after it was built, and has made it his home ever since.
Our subject was married in October, 1850, to Miss Anna English. Mrs. Carpenter is a native of Oswego, N. Y., born September 22, 1829, to Abram and Hannah (Gratesinger) English. IIer father was a farmer, and came to this county with his family in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have had eight children, as follows: Winfield S .; Theo- dosio .; Thomas II .; Florence, who died when three years old; Simon N .; Job; Ilarry B .; and Minnie, who died at the age of eleven years and six months.
Mr. and Mr. Carpenter are highly thought of by all who know them, and in them the Presbyterian Church has two of its most valued members, whose every-day life shows the consistency of their re- ligious profession. In politics, Mr. Carpenter was a Whig until the Republican party was formed, and he has since been unswerving in his advocacy
of Republican principles. He held the responsible office of Township Treasurer for a number of years, and has ever manifested true public spirit as re- gards the welfare of the community of which he has so long been a member. He is one of our self-made men, who began life without means, and have worked themselves up to positions of honor and wealth. He is quiet and unostentatious in his manner. honesty and fairness have character- ized all his dealings throughout his business career, and in the accumulation of his property he has shown that he is a man of accurate judgment and of keen understanding in financial matters.
AMES H. WALKER, whose farm and resi- dence are situated on the Wilson Pike in Canaan Township, six miles southwest of Plain City, is well known throughout Mad- ison and adjoining counties as a dealer in horses, who handles none but the best, and is conducting a successful business in that line in connection with general farming. Mr. Walker is a native of this State, and was born in Brown Township, Franklin County, February 23, 1855. His father, Daniel Walker, was of New England birth and an- tecedents, born in the State of Vermont in the year 1818. He was twelve years old when his par- ents became pioneers of Madison County, coming to this State in 1830, and here he met, and after- ward married, Isabella, daughter of Mathias and Sarah Slyh, who were early settlers of this county, where she was born.
After marriage, the Walkers located on a farm in Brown Township, situated on the banks of the Big Darby, Franklin County, where the father of our subject passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1887. Ile accumulated a comfortable property by his industry, and left behind him a golden re- cord as a man and a citizen, who was true in all the relations that he sustained towards others, and was well worthy of the regard in which he was held by all who knew him. His wife survives him, and is now fifty-seven years old. They were the parents of four children, one daughter, Sarah J.,
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and three sons, Frank, James H. and Price. Their daughter married .J. L. Converse, and died in 1890, leaving two children, a son and a daughter.
Our subject is the second child and second son of his parents, who reared him carefully under wholesome home influences. He attended the local schools of his native town, and by close study and observation was well equipped for any call- ing or any walk in life that he might choose to pursue. His inclinations led him to take up farming and stock-raising, and while with his fa- ther, with whom he remained until he was twenty- three years old, assisting him in the management of his farm, he gained a thorough practical experi- ence of agriculture in all its branches. When he was ready to settle on a farm of his own, he bought the beautiful place on which he resides in Canaan Township, and has here one hundred acres of very fine farming land, besides one hundred acres in his native township. A neat house, good barn and other necessary buildings are on his homestead, and he has every convenience for car- rying on general farming. He raises the finest breeds of horses, making a specialty of buying and selling Percheron draft horses and imported coach horses, and he also breeds them. Ile had four sales this last winter (1891-92) and some of his horses brought from $1,800 to $2,500 a piece. Ile has two Percheron stallions, valued at $2,500 and $1,600, respectively. Our subject is also breeding the best trotting strains of horses to be found in this part of the State. Ile is also interested in raising fine Shropshire sheep and Short-horn cattle, and has his farm well stocked with both.
Mr. Walker was married May 9, 1879, to Miss Anna M., daughter of Francis and Mary JJones, who were born in Wales, and came to the United States in 1835. Mrs. Walker was born in 1854, in the same township in Franklin County that is her husband's birthplace. Immediately after mar- riage, they established their home on the farm in Canaan Township, where they have ever since lived, and their pleasant household cirele is com- pleted by their two children, Blanche and Kenneth.
Our subject has a high reputation in the busi- ness world as a perfectly honorable, straightfor- ward, candid man, of irreproachable habits, out-
spoken in his opinions, and free-handed in the use of his means. In politics, he is identified with the Prohibitionists. In his social relations, he is a member of Lodge No. 157, K. P., at Plain City.
OLOMON McCLIMANS. This representa- tive farmer of Range Township, Madison County, is at present engaged in farming and stock-raising on his fine estate, located one-half mile south of Danville. He is a native of this township, having been born August 15, 1835, and is the son of Isaac and Mary (Parker) McClimans. The father was born in Ross County, this State, March 23. 1805, and was about seven years of age when his father, JJohn McClimans, came to Range Township, and located on a piece of land on the Yankeetown and London Road, which property is still in the possession of the MeClimans' family.
Isaac MeClimans was given a good education, and here married our subject's mother. She was a native of this county, and received a fair educa- tion in a country school. The paternal grand- father of our subject was a native of Pennsylva- nia, and was of Seotch origin. At his death, he left a family of nine children, among whom he divided his estate of two hundred acres. They bore the respective names of George. John, Will- iam, Samuel, Isaac, David and James ; Margaret, who married William JJohnson, and Sarah, who became the wife of Isaac Howsman.
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