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 72
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 72
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 72
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The father of our subject was reared upon a farm, and learned the trade of a brick-mason when eighteen years of age. In 1839, he came to Ohio with his brother-in-law, Richard Clark. Each of these young men had a horse, and. putting them together, they made a team with which they jour-
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neyed Westward being two weeks on the way. Mr. Graham bought one hundred and ninety-eight aeres of land in the woods, and building a log cabin, proceeded to improve his farm. lle was a hard worker and devoted himself to clearing his farm in the winter and working at his trade in the summer. He was an active member of the Baptist Church, and a leader therein, and politically was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. Hle lived to be seventy years old and died in 1884.
The mother of our subject, Martha Clark, was born in New York in 1819. She became the mother of nine children, seven of whom are still living, namely: Delos R., Melissa A., Albert R., Sophia, Malvina, Ida and Charles. She died at the age of sixty years, and was deeply mourned in social and church circles, having been an active member of the Baptist Church. Her father, Richard Clark, was a native of Rhode Island, and a farmer, who moved to New York previous to his marriage and brought his family to Ohio in 1837, locating in this township, and developing a farm of fifty acres. Ile died at the age of ninety years. IIe was a Baptist in religious matters, and a Whig in politics.
The subject of this sketch was here reared upon a farm, and remembers well seeing herds of deer near his father's home when a boy. Ilis educa- tion was gained in the subscription school of that day, in the old log schoolhouse that had an open fireplace and slab benches. At the age of twenty- one, he began life for himself, but soon left the avocations of peace for the camp and the march, as he enlisted August 16, 1861, in Company II, Thirtieth Ohio Infantry. Ile was mustered in at Camp Chase and sent to Virginia.
Eight days after entering that State, the regi- ment participated in a fight at Carnafax Ferry. Numerous skirmishes engaged their efforts from time to time, and they took part in the battles of the second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antie- tam, and were with Sherman at the siege of Vicks- burg, and later in the battle at Jackson, Miss., and in the conflict at Chattanooga. Later, they took part in the famous Georgia Campaign, where they were in conflict every day until their term of ser- vice expired, and were mustered out of service
September 13, 1864. The young hero would gladly have re-enlisted, but was not considered available as a soldier on account of physical dis- ability.
Ilaving returned home to Pickaway County, the young man decided to go farther West, and spent 1866 to 1877 working on a farm, and in a sawmill in Kansas, after which time he returned again to Ohio. He was married October 16, 1870, to Miss Emma Welsh, of Fairfield County, Ohio, who was born in that county, July 12, 1849. They have only one child, Araminta, who is now the wife of Archibald Griffey, of Commercial Point, and is the mother of one child, Alda.
Mr. Graham has a fine property, consisting of one hundred and ten acres, most of which is in an improved condition, and has been cleared and cult- ivated by himself. Here he carries on mixed farming, raising both grain and stock, and has made considerable of a specialty of raising draft horses. The United Brethren Church is the relig- ious body with which Mr. and Mrs. Graham are connected, and of which he is a Trustee, and they both take an active interest in its affairs. His po- litical views are in harmony with the doctrines of the Republican party, and he is an efficient mem- ber of the Grand Army Post at Ashville.
NDREW S. BELL, whose sketch now mn- vites attention, is proprietor of the Web- ber farm, making a specialty of breeding Jersey cattle. He occupies a prominent place among the stock-raisers of Madison County, and has won success by the earnestness with which he has pursued his calling. His farm is located in Oak Run Township, and is supplied with all the comforts of life, and made cheerful and attrac- tive by the good tastes of himself and his estima- ble wife.
Our subject is a native of this county, having been born in Fairfield Township, November 12, 1846, and is a son of Thomas and Susan (Mont- gomery) Bell. The father, who was a native of Cumberland, England, was born July 14, 1794,
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and came to America when twenty-three years of age. He was twice married, and became the father of eight children, of whom our subject is the sec- ond in order of birth of the four included in the second family. His mother, who was born March 18, 1809, in Ross County, this State, was the daughter of Hugh and Catherine Montgomery. She accompanied her parents to Madison County, where she grew to mature years, and was married to Mr. Bell, April 21, 1844. The father died Feb- ruary 3, 1875, when in his seventy-ninth year.
He of whom we write spent his boyhood days on the farm and in attendance at the common schools, beginning for himself when sixteen years of age by working out on farms by the month. Ile was thus engaged for three or four years, and then rented his father's place in Fairfield Town- ship until the parents removed to what is now his present estate in 1874. Ilis property includes one hundred and fifty-four acres of excellent land, fifty acres of which he has cleared himself. He devotes his time and attention to the breeding of Jersey stock, many of his animals being registered. Among these is " Miss Clifford," No. 27,962, in the A. J. C. C. Herd Book, which made a record of seventeen pounds fifteen and one-half ounces of butter in seven days. Mr. Bell also owns her daughter, " Miss Clifford Second," registered as No. 56,149, whose record is sixteen pounds four and one-half ounces of butter in seven days, and " Casta Belle," No. 56,148, whose record is four- teen pounds and fifteen ounces of butter in seven days. In addition to these fine animals, he owns five daughters of " Miss Clifford," which are rap- idly coming to the front.
Our subject has always been a lover of fine ani- mals, but did not give his attention to Jersey stock until his wife urged him to invest in that breed of animal, and, indeed, he gives to her the credit of bargaining for the first Jersey in 1881. He ships his cream to Columbus, and in keeping an account of the product of his animals finds that they yield him over $100 per head per year.
The lady to whom our subject was married, No- vember 11, 1874, was Miss Esther Ella, daughter of Job and Eleanor (Hunt) Edwards. She was born in Fairfield Township, this county, June 19, 1853.
In politics, Mr. Bell is a Republican, and has served on the School Board for a number of years, also as Supervisor for one term, Trustee for four or five terms, and Assessor and Treasurer one year each. He was elected Director of the County In- firmary for a term of three years, and has been a delegate to the county and congressional con- ventions many times.
OSEPH SHOEMAKER. The first land en- tered in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway County, was in May, 1801, when the father of our subject made an entry of land, and the patent issued to him bore the date April 20, 1802, and was signed by President Jef- ferson. Subsequently, this pioneer took up claims to large tracts of Government land in other por- tions of Pickaway County, as well as in Fairfield County, which he developed from its primitive condition. Ile removed his wife and children to the claim in Salt Creek Township, and there re- mained until death terminated his useful career, about 1814. He was in the War of 1812, returning from the service in feeble health and never fully recovered from the effects of exposure and the hardships of army life.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth Huy, and she was a native of Berks County, Pa., where her husband was also born. After the death of Mr. Shoemaker, she was united in marriage with Dr. Ballard, who was an early settler of Pickaway County, coming here in 1817. and continuing in practice for many years. Mrs. Ballard was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church and lived a consistent Christian life until called hence, in 1862. The Doctor survived until 1878. Of her first union three children were born, but Joseph is the only one now living.
In the village of Tarlton, our subject was born February 8, 1808. ITis schooling was gained in the pioneer log schoolhouse with its limited ad- vantages, the academy at Lancaster and the schools of Circleville. When his education was completed, he was engaged for one term as a teacher, receiv-
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ing $50 in compensation for his services. He had been reared on a farm and had a love for that occupation, which induced him to enter it for his life calling. In connection with general farming, he was interested in stock-raising, and was accustomed to drive hogs to Baltimore, the journey occupying fifty-six days. Ile also made occasional trips over the mountains with cattle, and through these journeys gained a fund of ex- perience which was helpful to him in later years.
May 22, 1832, Mr. Shoemaker was united in marriage with Eliza W. Carpenter, a native of Vermont, who accompanied her parents to Athens, Ohio, and was engaged as a school teacher prior to her marriage. After more than a quarter of a century of wedded life, she passed away in 1858. She was the mother of four children, namely: Otis B., deceased; Cynthia S., wife of Henry R. Miller, of Greenfield, Ohio; Mary E., who married the Rev. T. R. Taylor, Presiding Elder of the Chillicothe (Ohio) District; and Anna E., the widow of Joseph Ward.
The second marriage of our subject, June 2, 1862, united him with Miss Nancy C. Meeks, a native of West Virginia, and they are the parents of two children: John W., who is married and lives in Tarlton; and Joseph, who is at home. First an old-line Whig and later a Republican, Mr. Shoemaker has always favored those issues which will elevate society and promote the inter- ests of his fellow-citizens. In 1832, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during the sixty years that have come and gone since then he has labored for the upbuilding of the church. Ile has served as Trustee, Steward, Class-leader, and was Superintendent of the Sunday-school about twenty years. He has also been a delegate to annual conferences and has contributed liberally to religious enterprises. A firm supporter of tem- perance, he never used tobacco in any form, and in the early days never furnished liquor in har- vest times, as was the universal custom.
The home farm of Mr. Shoemaker adjoins the village of Tarlton and consists of two hundred and fifty acres, besides which he owns one hun- dred and fifty acres in Fairfield County, directly north of Tarlton. The homestead is watered by
Salt Creek and Hay Run, and is in a high state, of cultivation. The brick residence is one of the old landmarks of the country, erected in 1834, and is a substantial and roomy dwelling. Farm- ing has been the life calling of Mr. Shoemaker, with the exception of two years spent in the mer- cantile business at Tarlton.
The parents of Mrs. Shoemaker were William and Nancy (Vincent) Meeks, both Virginians, who died in 1874 and 1861 respectively. They were descendants of one of the F. F. V's and were people of worth and kindliness of heart. Of their twelve children, eight are living at the present time. In her religious belief, Mrs. Shoemaker ad- heres to the faith of her parents and is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which she is quite active. She is a lady of culture and refinement, devoted to the welfare of her family and prominent in the social circles of the community.
M ISS HANNAH E. LEAVELL. This work would fail in its idea of placing before its readers and patrons in Fayette County the life history of its noted men and women, were we to omit the name of Miss Leavell, who is a native of Madison Township. She is at present superintending the operation of five hun- dred and fifty acres of land, a portion of which is the property of her sister in St. Louis. She is gifted with physical and intellectual activity, de- cision of purpose and calm judgment, which traits have been very useful to her in the conduct of her affairs.
Miss Leavell was born on the place where she is at present residing, and is the daughter of Maj. John and Cynthia A. (Hedges) Leavell. Her father was born in Culpeper County, Va., in 1775, and came to Ohio when a lad of eight or nine years from Kentucky, whither they had removed. He received his title of Major in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of St. Clair, where his brother Gabriel was killed. The parents of our subject
Jancoliz Valentine
RESIDENCE OF JACOB Z. VALENTINE, SEC. 7, CIRCLEVILLE TP, PICKAWAY CO., O.
$
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were married in Pickaway County, this State, and at the time of his decease in 1854, Mr. Leavell owned nearly one thousand acres of land in Mad- ison Township, Fayette County. The children comprised in the parental family were Mary Ann, who married William Clarriage; Cornelius G., who resides in Madison Township; John was next in order of birth; Benjamin F. was the fourth child; William C. died in infancy; Nancy M. is a practicing physician and makes her home in St. Louis; and Hannah E., who is the youngest of the family.
The original of this sketch received a common- school education, and made her home with friends in Pickaway County for six years after her mother's decease, which occurred in 1834. She now culti- vates her large estate in a most intelligent and profitable manner, having had charge of the same since 1888. Possessing marked force of character and unswerving honesty, no resident of the county enjoys greater esteem than she and no one has proved to be more thoroughly reliable and trust- worthy.
ACOB Z. VALENTINE. This gentleman, who is one of the oldest native-born resi- dlents of Pickaway County, is also one of the prominent and successful farmers within the limits of Circleville Township. His estate is under line cultivation, for he believes that the best methods and latest improvements in the way of farm implements bring him in the largest re- turns. Not the least among the substantial build- ings on his place is a large, commodious briek res- idence in which he intends to spend his declining years, in the quiet enjoyment of the prosperity which his carly toil has assured. Although in his eighty-fourth year, he is hale and hearty, and his life has been such that he bears the good-will of all who know him.
Jacob Z. Valentine was born in Pickaway County, August 22, 1808, and was the son of John Valen- tine, who was born in Frederick County, Md., in 1781, and removed to this county in 1805. The
grandfather of our subject, Jacob Valentine, was born, lived and died in Maryland. Previous to locating here on the date above mentioned, John Valentine had visited Ohio and taken up Govern- ment land for himself and brother. He was mar- ried in 1804 to Margaret Zigger, whose birth oc- curred in Bucks County, Pa. Her father, JJacob Zigger, was also a native of that State and came to this county in 1802, having visited this section previously and entered land where the city of Cireleville now stands. Ile was the father of a large family and was one of the earliest settlers in this locality.
At the time the father of our subject made this county his home, it was thinly populated, wild ani- mals, especially deer, being very plentiful in those early days. Ile lived to see a large portion of his tract of land put under cultivation and died in 1815. Ilis wife had preceded him to the better land some years. They were both members in good standing of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The original of this sketch was the eldest of the parental family of eight children, all of whom are deceased with the exception of himself and his brother Israel, who makes his home in Circleville. llis educational advantages, like those of most pio- neer youths, were limited, but he acquired enough learning to give him an impetus to pursue his stud- ies alone. The primitive schoolhouse contained an old-fashioned fireplace at one end of the room, with slab seats and a puncheon floor. As soon as he was old enough to work, our subject began clearing the land and chopping wood. He was employed some by other parties, but during the busy season aided his father in cultivating the home farm.
When starting out in life on his own account, Jacob Z. Valentine purchased one hundred and fifty-four acres of land in Circleville Township, upon which he located in 1845, and where he has since made his home. He was married in 1844 to Elizabeth, daughter of George Myers, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Valentine had previously been married to David Young and passed from this life in 1881, aged seventy-five years. One child was born to our subject and his wife, a son, Jacob, who died in his twenty-seventh year. He had been married to Sarah, daughter of Bently and
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Matilda Groce, and became the father of three children, only two of whom are living: Mabel and Jacob.
Mr. Valentine has always voted the Democratic ticket, casting his first vote for "Hickory" Jackson. He has been the recipient of many local positions of responsibility and trust, all of which he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to all con- cerned. He united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church soon after reaching his majority, and has been a zealous member of that body since, serving in the capacity of Elder for many years.
The landed estate of Mr. Valentine comprises two hundred and six acres, all of which have been accumulated by his persistent industry and good judgment, as he started out in life a poor boy. The details of improvement and the gradual evolu- tion from the original state of the land to its present prosperous air of rural life, is as familiar to him as his own daily life, and all his early associations are connected with the district in which he is now a resident and where his friends are as numerous as his acquaintances.
Elsewhere in this volume may be found a view of the attractive home of Mr. Valentine, also a portrait of himself.
G EORGE W. WILSON, an undertaker of Mt. Sterling, was born in Darby Township, Pickaway County, July 21, 1847. Ilis fa- ther, Absalom Wilson, was born in Virginia, and was brought to Ohio when two years of age, his home being in Madison County. Ile followed farming throughout his life, his death occurring in Pleasant Township, Madison County, November 9, 1883. He married Elizabeth Alkire, a native of Pickaway County. Unto them were born six children, all of whom are yet living: John R. re- sides with his wife and two children on the old homestead; George is the next younger; Henry makes his home upon a part of the old farm in Pleasant Township with his wife and two children; Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, of Monroe Township, Pickaway County, has four children; Mrs. Wilson
Bazler resides in Columbus and has one child; Charles A. is a school teacher and owns fifty-two acres of land in Pleasant Township. He has also married and has three children.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyoood days upon his father's farm and acquired a com- mon-school education. For a number of years he engaged in farming and stock-raising with his fa- ther and brother. He was married, November 26, 1868, to Miss Louisa Bell, who was born in Darby Township, Pickaway County, December 23, 1846, and is a daughter of John W. and Susan A. (Hen- derson ) Bell, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ross County, Ohio. The father died in 1861, and the mother met her death by accident. She was run over by a train on the Cincinnati & Columbus Midland Railroad, about two miles above Harrisburgh.
For many years after his marriage, Mr. Wilson continued to engage in farming and met with ex- cellent success in his undertakings. He is indus- trious and enterprising, and was ranked among leading : griculturists of the community, but in order to better educate his children, he removed to Mt. Sterling in October, 1887, renting his farm. He then embarked in his present business and has since been engaged in undertaking. Mr. Wilson attended the Oriental School of Embalming, at Columbus, Ohio, from which institution he received a diploma. Ile still owns one hundred and two aeres of land in Pleasant Township, and one hun- dred and three acres in Darby Township, Picka- way County.
The family circle numbers four sons and a daughter: William Edward, born in Pleasant Town- ship, December 18, 1870, attended the Columbus Medical College, also the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, where he pursued courses of lectures on embalming. He also attended the Egyptian School of Embalming, from which he received a diploma in November, 1891, and is now connected in business with his father. John A. was born in Pleasant Township, November 1, 1872; Ida E. was born November 25, 1874; R. B. Hayes, Novem- ber 23, 1876; and Walter, on the 7th of November, 1878.
Mr. Wilson is a stalwart Republican and cast his
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first vote in 1868, for U. S. Grant. He has never been an office-seeker. He served as a member of the Board of Health, but refused to serve a second term when appointed by the council to that posi- tion. Hle is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fellows' society and the Encampment, and has tilled all the chairs in the last two named. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, to which his eldest son and daughter also belong. The family is well and favorably known in Mt. Sterling and vicinity and has many friends.
Le EVI RUNKLE was born in one of the pio- neer homes of Pickaway County, March 13, 1834, and is now one of the prosperous and well-to-do farmers, with a finely improved farm on section 3, Walnut Township. He is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Kroninger) Runkle, who were well known among the early settlers of this region, and of whom mention is made in the biog- raphy of his brother Henry, who is represented in this volume.
Our subject was reared to manhood under whole- some home influences on his father's farm in Wal- nut Township, and has done much pioneer labor in his life, both in assisting his father and on his own account. He is mainly self-educated, having learned from observation, experience and reading more than was taught in the primitive schools of his day, which were held in rude log cabins with slab seats and boards placed against the wall, on wooden pins driven into the logs, to serve as desks upon which to write. He early became familiar with all kinds of farm work, and has managed his farm since it came into his possession with great skill, making its one hundred and eighty- four acres of rich soil return him abundant har- vests in repayment for his eare and toil. Suitable buildings adorn the place, which is also amply sup- plied with good machinery, and everything about it wears an air of comfort and thrift pleasant to behold.
Mr. Runkle took an important step in life,
whereby he has been greatly benefited, Septem- ber 15, 1855, by his marriage on that date to Miss Lydia Hall, who is also a native of Walnut Town- ship. She was born April 15, 1836, to David and Elizabeth Hall. natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Walnut Township. Further mention is made of them in the sketch of their son, Peter Hall, on another page of this volume.
Mr. and Mrs. Runkle have six children, namely: William J .; Henry M .; Alma E., wife of Charles Karsten; Emma A .; Edson E .; and Alvin D.
Our subject is a man of good parts and sterling sense, and is never backward in helping forward all good causes that will in any way advance the welfare of his native township and county, much of whose growth he has witnessed, and whose pioneer seenes he can recall vividly. In his po- litical views, he is pre-eminently a Democrat, and stands firmly by his party whate'er betides. Mrs. Runkle, who is a sincere Christian, is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church.
G MEINHARD VAN HEYDE, a leading in- snrance agent of Circleville, was born in Pyrmont, Germany, May 14, 1832, and is a son of Bernhard and Caroline (Meinberg) Van Heyde. The father was born in 1783, and served under Napoleon in the war with Russia in 1812. He was a merchant of Pyrmont, and engaged in the manufacture of knitted goods, doing a whole- sale business. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and died at the age of eighty-five years. The year previous to his death he was visited by our subject, who returned to his native land tosce his aged father. The mother had died in 1857. In the family were eleven children, eight of whom grew to mature years, while four are yet living. Three came to America: William, who for several years was a resident of Cireleville, removed to New Streetsville, where he served as Mayor, and spent his last days. Frederick died in Cincinnati.
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