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 74
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 74
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 74
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Since his marriage, Mr. Martin has engaged in farming and stock-raising and is recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of the community. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and has since been a stanch Republican. He has served as a delegate to the county, congressional and State conventions, has been a member of the County Central Committee, and in 1889 was elected to the State Legislature. So acceptably did he fill the office, that he was re-elected in 1891. Hle is the only Republican since the organization of the party who has been elected to the Legisla- ture from this county in a year when the State went Democratic. This certainly indicates his popularity and is a high compliment to his ability. Hle is Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and is a member of the Committee on the Deaf and Dumb Institution and on Turnpikes. Religiously, he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bethel. He is a leading and representa- tive citizen of Madison County, and is honored as one of its prominent men.
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C HARLES M. BUTT, Esq., who resides on his farm, three miles south of Plain City, is a business man of much activity and en- terprise, who is well known throughout Madison County. Ile is a native of this State, born in Dayton, Montgomery County, November 21, 1844. Ilis father, Archibald Butt, was born near Har- per's Ferry, Va., in 1810, and was reared amid the beautiful scenes of his birthplace. His father, Charles Butt, was a native of France. The father of our subject was married in Pennsylvania to Sarah Ceilhamer, who was born in Westmoreland County, that State, in 1810, a daughter of Conrad Ceilhamer, who is supposed to have been born in Pennsylvania of German parents.
The parents of our subject came to Ohio at once after marriage, and located on a farm near Dayton, where they spent their remaining years, the father dying at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother at the age of seventy-seven years. The father was a Whig in politics until after the formation of the Re-
publican party, when he became an earnest advocate of its principles. He was a man of much influence in his community, who held various official posi- tions, such as that of Township Trustee, Treas- urer, etc., and he was prominent as a charter mem- ber of Harris Lodge of Odd Fellows of Dayton. He belonged to the German Reformed Church, which is now the Presbyterian Church. Ile and his wife had ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and reared families of their own.
Ile of whom this sketch is written is the seventh child and fourth son of his parents, by whom he was carefully reared under wholesome home in- finences. He completed his schooling in the Com- mercial College at Dayton, where he was very well educated. He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one years old, as- sisting his father on the farm. January 11, 1866, he took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Abbie, the only daughter of Silas and Almira (Bigelow) Doming. Mrs. Butt was born in Canaan Township, Madison County, Angust 3, 1848. Her father was a native of the same county, born in Darby Township, a son of one of its earliest pio- neers. He died at the age of thirty-four years, and his wife, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., died when she was thirty-seven years old. Mrs. Butt had only one brother, Daniel, who re- sides in Plain City, Ohio. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by two children, Bessie and Grace.
Mr. Butt located at once on his farm in Canaan Township after his marriage. This contains forty- five acres of rich, well-cultivated soil, and is sup- plied with neat buildings and all modern improve- ments. Our subject, however, does not pay much attention to farming, as he is so busily engaged in other business, beside having the cares of public office. Ile is a man of great executive ability, having more than ordinary capacity for handling affairs, and is often called upon to settle estates. He is now administrator for the M. D. Smith prop- erty, a large and valuable estate, and also has charge of the settlement of others. Ile is just the man for so responsible a position, as he is clear- headed, is careful and systematic in his manage-
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ment, possesses fine business habits, and is thor- oughly to be trusted. Ile also conducts an insur- ance business with good profit, and is pushing and progressive in all that he undertakes. Ile is a Democrat in polities, and has mingled much in public life, for which he is well fitted. He is now Township Clerk and Justice of the Peace, and brings the same energy and fidelity to the dis- charge of his public duties that characterize his management of private interests. Socially, he is prominent as a Mason, and belongs to Urania Lodge No. 311; to Lodge No. 159, K. P., at Plain City; likewise to the Uniform Rank, and is Captain of Division No. 64, at Plain City.
UDGE JACOB P. WINSTEAD, B. S., LL. B., Judge of the Probate Court of Pickaway County, and a highly respected citizen of Cireleville, was born in Clear Creek Town- ship, Fairfield County, Ohio, April 25, 1846. The Winstead family is of English origin. The grand- father, William Winstead, was born in Frederick County, Va., and when a young man emigrated to Ohio, locating first in Clear Creek Township, Fair- field County, and moving thenee to Salt Creek Township, Pickaway County. Ile afterward re- moved to Washington Township, where he engaged in farming untilhis death. He served as an Ensign in the War of 1812, and was afterward Captain in the State Militia of Ohio for several years. He was a well-educated man and a teacher, and he, his son and our subject (his grandson) all taught in the same school. He served as Assessor for sev- eral years, was also a Justice of the Peace, and in politics was a Demoerat. Ilis death occurred at the age of seventy-seven. The maternal grand- father, Mr. Vanhise, was of Holland descent, and served as Captain of the Colonial troops in the Revolutionary War.
Samuel S. Winstead, father of our subject, was born in this county in 1818, and for many years en- gaged in school teaching, after which he engaged in farming in Fairfield County, and later bought a farm of one hundred and seventy acres in
Washington Township, Pickaway County, upon which he made his home until his death, in 1877. He was a Democrat in politics and was a Director of the Infirmary. Ile married Elizabeth Iloffman, who was born in 1816, in Washington Town- ship, and was a daughter of George Hoffman, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1805 and bought a farm of the Government. He served in the War of 1812. He became well-to-do, and was prominent in the circles of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Winstead was a member of that church and died in March, 1890. In her family were only two children, Jacob P. and Mary A., who is the wife of Silas Young, of Washington Township.
From two years of age, our subject was reared in Washington Township, and acquired a good education in the common schools. At the age of eighteen, he began teaching, and followed that profession six terms, being employed two terms in the same distriet in which his father and grandfather had taught. Ile then became a student in Salem Academy, of Ross County, and in the fall of 1868 entered the Miami University of Oxford. He completed the scientific course and graduated in 1869 with the degree of B. S. Ile then read law under JJudge Courtright, and also taught school. In 1872, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in 1873 with the degree of LL. B.
Judge Winstead located in Circleville on the 25th of April of that year, and has since been engaged in practice. He served from 1874 until 1878 as City Solicitor, was Prosecuting Attorney from 1880 until 1885, and in the fall of 1890 was elected for a three-years' term as Probate Judge, entering upon the duties of the office in February, 1891. While serving as Prosecuting Attorney, he was connected with the Lewis mur- der case, and acted as one of the counsel for the defense in the Darbyville riot cases. He has been a successful practitioner, and by his skill and abil- ity has won an enviable position as a lawyer.
In Newton, Iowa, in 1873, Judge Winstead was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie A. McElroy, a native of Highland County, Ohio, and a daughter
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of Hugh McElroy, a farmer of Iowa. She was educated in Salem Academy, afterward engaged in teaching, and is a cultured and refined lady. They have four children, Samuel H., collector for the First National Bank, of Circleville; William MeElroy, Charles E. and Maggie.
Socially, the Judge belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, United Workmen, National Union and Mystic Cirele. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Democrat, has served as a delegate to the county and State conventions, and has been Chairman and Secretary of the County Central Committee. Ile owns some real estate, including his residence on Main Street and a part of the old farm. The Judge has proved a faithful and popu- lar officer, and is highly respected.
ERBERT W. BLUE, who is recognized as one of the leading farmers of Walnut Township, owns and occupies a valuable farm on section 24, on which he was born March 15, 1853, this old homestead having been hewed out of the forests of Pickaway County in the early years of its settlement by his father, who was a prominent pioneer of this region. His name was Ilarvey Blue, and he was a son of Michael Blue, who came to Ohio from Virginia with his family on horseback when this was a new country, still in the hands of the Indians. He first took up his abode in the wilds of Fairfield County, but he subsequently came to this county, and died in Walnut Township.
Harvey Blue purchased the farm upon which our subject lives at an early day in the history of Walnut Township, and by patient labor cleared the land from the forest trees that stood upon it, and developed it into as fine a farm as can be found in this locality. He was fortunate in his undertakings, becoming one of the wealthy men of his community, and leaving an estate valued at over $50,000, all the result of hard work and sagacious judgment in money matters.
He died September 17, 1882, and Walnut Town- ship treasures his memory as one of her early set- tlers who was an honor to her citizenship. He belonged to the Old-school Baptist Church, and was in deed and word a Christian. His wife, whose maiden name was Emily A. Bowman, had preceded him in death, dying November 6, 1881. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom these nine survive: Alvin; Celesta, wife of .James Plum; Herbert W .; Julian M .; Harvey O .; Clara, wife of Charles Dressback; Orrin P .; Clayton E., and Clinton. Samantha, Lorain and Emma are the names of those who died.
The subject of this brief life record has been a life-long resident of Walnut Township, and has risen to be one of its first farmers. Even in his boyhood there was need of pioneer work, and he assisted in clearing, and has driven as many as three yokes of oxen in breaking land. He was educated in the local public schools, and when he was ready to enter upon an independent career, chose the occupation of farmer, with which he had become thoroughly familiarized. Ile has given much of his time to buying and dealing in stock, and has done well financially in that line. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land that is of a fine quality, is under the best of tillage, and is amply supplied with the necessary buildings and all that goes to making a first-class farm.
Mr. Blue was married October 4, 1876, to Miss Emma A. Culp, who is also a native of Walnut Township, born December 26, 1852. She is a daughter of Lewis and Sophronia (Westenhaver) Culp, who were early settlers of this part of Pick- away County. Her mother was a sister of Eman- uel Westenhaver. Her paternal great-grandpar- ents were among the first pioneers to penetrate to the wilds of Pickaway County, coming here from Pennsylvania when her Grandfather Culp was a boy. IIer father died in 1876, and her mother March 15, 1891. Five of their seven children are living: Henry; Alice. wife of George Spindler; Emma A .; William B., and Charles C. Mr. and Mrs. Blue are blessed with three children, of whom the following is the record: Amaretha was born September 8, 1877; Orrin P., July 30, 1880, and Turney R., August 15, 1883. Our subject and his
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wife have also reared her sister's child, Irena M. Noeeker, caring for her as tenderly as if she were their very own. Mrs. Blue is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is greatly inter- ested in its welfare, doing all that she can to pro- mote it.
Mr. Blue is prominent in social circles as a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Aslıville, having passed through all the chairs. He is publie spir- ited and encourages all plans to improve the township, which he has served as School Director.
ILLIAM W. GRAHAM. This remarkably successful man began life as an orphan with nothing but his honest determination to succeed, his good strong arm and his native abilities. He is now a prominent farmer, living near Commercial Point, in Pickaway County, and has the respect and good-will of his neighbors. He was born in Ross County, eight miles from Chillicothe, Ohio, November 18, 1837, and his father, Charles Graham, was also a native of Ohio, while the grandfather, George, was born in Mary- land, and was of Irish descent. George Graham was a farmer and carpenter who came to Ohio in the early part of the century, traveling by team over the mountains, and lived in Ross County to a good old age.
- The father of our subject carried on farming and made his home in Ross County until his death in 1838, when this son was only three years old. The mother, whose maiden name was Anna Maria Bowdel, was a native of Maryland and lived to rear her four children: Sarah A., who is now Mrs. Becket; Martha .J., who died at the age of sixteen; William W., and Rachel, who is now Mrs. Welch. The mother was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and died at the age of sixty-eight.
Farm life and the drill of the district school in its most primitive form occupied the early days of our subject, and at the age of fourteen he went to reside with his uncle, George Grimes, with whom he continued to live until he reached his majority. Ile had worked out by the month from the time
he was large enough to hold a plow until he was twenty-three years old. At first he plowed for twenty-five cents per day but latterly he re- ceived $10 per month. In this way he made his start in life, as he saved every dime that he could possibly lay by. Ile was married June 2, 1861, to Mary J. Johnson, who was born in this township, October 9, 1836.
Mr. Graham rented a farm for two years, paying grain rent, and after that had it three years for cash rent. By this time he had gained means to purchase a team and some cows and had $600 in money. He bought sixteen acres of land for $800, and upon this he lived for two years and improved it so that he was able to sell it for $1,000. Later he came to this township and purchased seventy acres of land for $3,600, running in debt for it $2,750. This debt lie has liquidated and has added to his possessions so that he now has one hundred and twenty-three acres which are all improved, with the exception of four acres of timber land. Here he carries on a successful business in mixed farming, raising wheat, corn and stock. He has a neat briek residence and a small frame barn. Ilis political views bring him into alliance with the Republican party. He has been a close attendant upon his business and though he began it in straightened circumstances he has gained a handsome property. His wife is an esteemed and active member of the Presbyterian Church and the family is looked upon with respect by all who know them.
OSEPH BRUBACHER. This retired and respected gentleman of Jeffersonville, Fay- ette County, has been a resident of this place for more than half a century. Ile is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Lancaster County, May 11, 1815, and is a son of Henry and Barbara (Neff) Brubacher, natives of the Keystone State.
Some of his ancestry served in the War of the Revolution, and were early settlers in Pensylva- nia, dating as far back as William Penn's settle- ment. The father of our subject was a miller by
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trade, and also kept a public inn in Columbia, Pa., for a period of over thirty years, and was well known throughout his section of country.
The parents of our subject came to the Buckeye State at an early day in its settlement, and spent their last days in Darke County. They had thir- teen children born to them, of whom our subject is the only survivor. He was brought up in Ohio and educated in the common schools. Ile
learned the trade of a saddler, and traveled for a number of years as a journeyman, but in 1847 de- cided to locate in Jefferson ville, this county, and here engaged in business for himself, and carried it on successful until a few years past, when he re- tired from manual labor, and is now taking life easy enjoying all its comforts.
The original of this life history was married in 1850 to Samantha A. Powell, and by their union three sons and one daughter were born. The sons are yet living, and are as follows: Marcus, born May 25, 1852; Harry, September 17, 1859; and Joseph, July 3, 1864. The good wife and mother died on the 23d of September, 1870, and her death has been an irreparable loss. The daughter died October 30, 1873. Mr. Brubacher is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, to which his good wife belonged, and he is one of the oldest residents of his place, and stands high in the regard and esteem of every one. He is very active for his age, and one would judge him to be ten years younger than he is.
AMES M. CLARK, who is engaged in the grocery business in Mt. Sterling, was born in the city which is still his home April 10, 1854. Ile is a son of Alex and Lydia (Atkins) Clark, both of whom were natives of Orange County, Va. They became acquainted in their native State, but were not married until after their removal to Ohio. They now reside in Madison County. C. A. and William Clark, two brothers of our subjeet, are represented elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Clark remained in his native town until five years of age, and was then in Madison Mills, Fayette County, until ten years of age. His next place of residence was in Palestine, Pickaway County, where he spent four years. He then re- turned to Madison Mills, where he resided until twenty years of age. As a boy, he worked in his father's shop and on a farm, and was allowed to use his wages for himself. He operated a black- smith shop of his own until twenty-five years of age, a part of that time being spent in Mt. Sterling.
Mr. Clark was married on Christmas Day of 1877 to Miss Ida May Mitchell, of Mt. Sterling, who was born in Williamsport, Pickaway County. Two children have been born of their union: Dennie A., who was born in Five Points, Picka- way County, January 16, 1879; and Benjamin Franklin, born in this place, April 23, 1883.
Before his marriage, when Mr. Clark was about nineteen years of age, he took a trip through Michigan. In company with another boy, he left home, not asking permission, and went to Waslı- ington C. H., where he took a train for Spring- field, Ohio, and thence went to Urbana. As their money was then exhausted, they walked to Carey- ville, where they got work in a blacksmith shop. Two weeks later, they took the train for San- dusky and went to Detroit. Their money being again exhausted, they made their way to a little town, where they worked for a short time and then went to Bay City. Mr. Clark then shipped as a deck hand on a steam propeller bound for Chicago, a distance of five hundred miles, and returned in the same way to Bay City. A month was thus passed. During this time, he had all his clothing stolen except that which he wore. In the winter of 1873, he went to the lumber woods of Michigan and, after working for about six weeks, drew his money and returned home.
In 1881, Mr. Clark embarked in the grocery business, which he continued for three years and then sold out in 1884. For a year, he then again gave his attention to blacksmithing, and in 1885 began clerking in a grocery store, where he was employed three years. Once more he embarked in business for himself in that line, and for the past seven years has been a leading grocer of Mt.
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Sterling. By fair and honest dealing and cour- teous treatment, he has built up a good trade, and now has a liberal patronage. Socially, he is a member of the Odd Fellows' Society and, in poli- tics, was originally a Democrat, but is now a Pro- hibitionist. He is a member of the Method- ist Church, to which Mrs. Clark also belongs and is a teacher in the Sunday-school.
AMES HIALL. "The food we eat" is a vitally important question, and one that concerns the health and happiness of every man, woman and child. It is but natural to suppose that the best groceries are to be found in those establishments which transact the largest business. One of the finest appointed groceries in the city of Circleville is that owned by Hall & Ilammel, who are reliable and wide-a-wake business men who enjoy the confidence of all who know them. Their stock embraces everything in the line of fancy groceries, provisions, teas, coffees; in fact, every thing usually found in a first-class house. While in this house can be found the best, it may also be stated, with equal truth, that here, too, can be bought the cheapest, a fact which has consider- ably contributed to the store's success.
Mr. Ilall is a native-born resident of this county, his birth occurring in Washington Township on the 10th of April, 1842, and he is a son of James Hall, and the grandson of Benjamin IIall, who was born near Hagerstown, Va. The latter was reared and married in his native town and about 1809 he came to Ohio, making the trip by horse and cart. Hle located in Circleville and here tilled the soil for many years. Ile was a private in the War of 1812 and served for one year, after which he resumed agricultural pursuits in Pickaway Town- ship, then Washington Township, and later in Walnut Township, where he remained until his death. llis father, James Hall, was an English- man and came to America when about eighteen years of age, locating in Maryland. Grandfather Benjamin Hall married Miss Elizabeth Bending, a native of Maryland, and they became the parents
of ten children, James Hall, the father of our subject, being the second in order of birth. All are now deceased but the youngest, Caleb Ilall, of Circleville.
James Hall, the father of our subject, was born in Circleville, Ohio, and after growing up he fol- lowed the occupation to which he had been reared, farming first in Walnut Township and afterward in Washington Township. About the year 1840, he went to Illinois on horseback and purchased two hundred acres of land in Shelby County. He subsequently returned to Washington Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and there died in 1812. just previous to the birth of our subject. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Pontius, was born in Washington Township, this county, and was the daughter of Samuel Pontius, who was born in Pennsylvania, and who came to Pickaway County, Ohio, with his parents when a boy. Here he grew to manhood and followed agricultural pursuits on one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Lancaster Pike. When he first came to this State, game was plenty and much of his time in youth was given up to hunting. He killed bears and deer and was considered the finest shot in the country. The mother of our subject died in 1814 and when but two years of age, our subject, who was the only child, was an orphan. He was reared by his Grandfather Pontius, who resided three miles from Circleville, and received his education in the district schools. Ile remained on the farm and assisted his grandfather until twenty-one years of age, when he branched out to fight life's battles for himself. Ile worked for his uncle Caleb for three years.
Our subject was married in Fairfield County, in 1867, to Miss Catherine Heffner, a native of ('ir- cleville, Pickaway County, Ohio, and the daugh- ter of Henry Heffner. After his marriage, he lo- cated on a farm in Fairfield County, remained there a number of years, and in 1869 came to Pick- away County, where he began dealing in grain, buying and shipping in the Keys Elevator, under the firm title of Ileffner & Co., and continued in this for seven years. After this, he engaged in the boot and shoe business with a Mr. Miller, under the firm title of Miller & Hall, and continued this
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