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 75
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 75
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 75
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for a year or two. In 1881, he embarked in the grocery business under the firm name of Hall & Hammel, and has met with unusual success in this calling. In 1882, the firm erected a fine brick block at the corner of High and Court Streets, in a good business locality. The store has a frontage of thirty-three feet, is eighty feet long, and is two stories in height. Mr. Hall also built a tasty brick residence on High Street, between Court and Pickaway Streets, and also owns resi- dence property in different parts of the city. He is a Democrat in polities and has been a delegate to county and State conventions. He is well known and well respected all over the county, and, while in the grain business here, he was acquainted with every man of business in the county.
AJ. SAMUEL G. DAVENPORT. During the late war many of the citizens of Piek- away County left homes and loved ones and volunteered in the service of the Union, offering their lives, if need be, for the good of their country. Among this number was the gentleman whose name introduces this sketeli, and who as a veteran of the war and an enterpris- ing farmer and stock-raiser of Salt Creek Town- ship, deserves considerable mention in this vol- ume.
During the year 1830, a young man named Charles Davenport accompanied his father on a prospecting tour from England to America, and, visiting New York, both were so pleased with the prospects offered settlers, that they returned to England, disposed of all interests there, and in 1832 made a final removal to the United States, accompanied by the other members of the parental family. After a monotonous voyage of six weeks, they reached New York, whence they proceeded to Ohio, and purchased land in Walnut Township, Pickaway County. A short time after locating here, the father of the family, Samuel G. Daven- port, passed away from earth. Hle was a man of large education and liberal views, and while in England had been Crown Surveyor. There is now
in the possession of our subject a valued heirloom in the shape of a fine gold watch and double bar- reled shot gun, which the grandfather brought from England.
The father of our subjeet, Charles Davenport, was one of twelve children, all of whom are de- ceased. During his residence in England, he re- ceived a thorough education, and for some time engaged in the study of medicine with a view of practicing, but after emigrating to America, he abandoned the idea and followed farming pursuits, although he was often sent for by his neighbors in times of sickness. Purchasing a farm in Pick- away Township, he located upon it and made it his home until death called him henee. Ile was a man of soldierly bearing and dignified address, and while in England belonged to a military or- ganizati: n.
About 1832, a young lady named Martha Wilkes accompanied her parents from their native home in Dorston, England, across the Atlantic to Amer- ica, and located near Circleville, where she first met Charles Davenport. Their marriage, which soon afterward took place, was blessed by the birthi of six children, four of whom are still living. The mother died in December, 1888, and is remembered with affection by all who knew her. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, which her hus- band attended. Our subject prizes highly a sword which was once the property of his Grandfather Wilkes, and had been used by the Wilkes ances- tors in 1559-60, during the Cromwell Wars.
In Walnut Township, Pickaway County, our subject was born, January 25, 1836. He acquired the rudiments of his education in the log school- houses of the township, and for four terms was a student in the High School at Cireleville. He com- meneed farming operations in the summer of 1866, in Pickaway Township, and in December of the following year located in Salt Creek Township, where he still lives. Prior to locating here, he was united in marriage, in May, 1866, with Miss Eliza J., daughter of Abel Jones, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Five children were born of the union, two of whom, Minnie and Fannie, arc deceased. Charles A., Katie and Bes- sie, are at home.
RESIDENCE OF S. G. DAVENPORT, SEC. 32. SALT CREEK TP, PICKAWAY CO., O.
RESIDENCE OF L. C. DUNGAN, WAYNE TP., PICKAWAY CO., O.
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In the spring of 1864, Mr. Davenport enlisted in the service of the country as a member of Com- pany A, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio Infan- try, and with his regiment was in Virginia and the Carolinas. He was appointed First Lieutenant and did picket duty at Washington. Petersburg and Norfolk, as well as at other places. He was hon- orably discharged August 27, 1864, at Camp Deni- son, near Milford, Ohio, and after his return home received the commission of Major. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and has served as dele- gate to conventions, but has never aspired to office. Ilis wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The farm which Maj. Davenport owns and operates, and a view of which is elsewhere shown, is one of the best in the township, comprising one hundred and seventy acres, watered by a tribu- tary of Pike Hole Run. Ile also owns forty acres of valuable land in another place, and in connec- tion with his general farming engages in stock- raising. Hle raises draft and road horses, and has several head of very fine sheep, besides a number of Short-horn cattle. Financially, he is one of the solid men of the township, and his excellent business qualifieations and good judgment make his enterprises successful.
L EWIS C. DUNGAN. Along the old Frank- elton Road going south from Circleville, there is no finer farm than the one owned and operated by the subject of this notice. The residence is a commodious abode, and the barns and other buildings are all that could be desired for the storage of grain and farm implements, as well as for the shelter of stock. The estate comprises four hundred aeres in the Seioto Valley. bordering on the river and watered by several springs. Through a perfect system of drainage, a good erop is always secured, even when severe droughts are parching the earth. Stock of good grades is to be found on the place, and the appearance of the land and buildings sufficiently indicates the thrift of the proprietor. A view of the residence
and inviting rural environments of the place is elsewhere shown.
The early ancestors of our subject in the United States resided in Virginia, whence the grandfather, Titus Dungan, removed to Ohio and settled in Wayne Township. Pickaway County. There Will- iam K., father of our subject, was born in 1815, and there he grew to manhood. He was quite well known, serving as Township Clerk and in other positions where fidelity and discretion were appre- ciated and required. Ilis death in 1847 not only removed from the community one who had always been deeply interested in its welfare, but also de- prived his wife and little children of his tender care.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Hurley, was born in Delaware and re- moved thence to Ohio in company with her parents, Edward and Mary Hurley. She lived the life of a faithful Christian and was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, which lost a faithful member when she died in 1887. Only two of her five children are now living: Lewis C., who was born in Wayne Township, December 20, 1843, and Nancy, wife of Samuel B. Even, of Circleville. Our subject received his education in the schools of the district and at Mt. Pleasant AAcademy at Kings- ton, after which he commenced to operate as a farmer and has since followed agricultural pursuits. He has resided on his present estate about seven years, and during that time has introduced many improvements and effected changes of a practical and valuable character.
In 1870, Mr. Dungan was married to Miss Frances Ann, daughter of Joseph Westenhaver, who was engaged as a farmer in Wayne Township from 1847 until his death in 1863. Mrs. Dungan always resided in this county, where she was well known and highly esteemed. She was the mother of six children: Della (deceased), Fred, Bishop. Nannie, Inez (deceased) and Fanme. A great loss and heavy bereavement fell upon this devoted family when the faithful wife and loving mother died, December 6, 1886. She occupied a high place in the community and is remembered as a lady of exalted character and loveliness of disposition.
In educational matters. Mr. Dungan maintains great interest and has served as School Director
30
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
almost continuously since he was twenty-seven years old. He has been a Mason since 1869 and is prominent in the fraternity. His political belief is in sympathy with the principles of the Demo- cratic party, and he has served as Township Trus- tee three years, Township Clerk two years, as dele- gate to county conventions, and in other local po- sitions where ability and good judgment were indispensable.
G EORGE HORNBECK is an enterprising and progressive farmer and stock-raiser, residing one-half mile south of the Oday Pike, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-one acres, under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He was born in Union Township, near London, Madison County, October 1, 1855. His paternal grandfather was born March 6, 1789, and was married in December, 1807. He became a wealthy man and lived to an advanced age, his death occurring in July, 1862. His wife, who was born March 1, 1791, died in 1856.
Isaac Hornbeck, the father of our subject, was born October 18, 1813, in this county, where his parents, Samuel and Mary (Hutson) Hornbeck, had settled in an early day. After he had attained to mature years, he married Anna Peck, who was born May 15, 1818, in Pickaway County. Mr. Ilornbeck was truly a self-made man, for though he received some property from his father, it came only three years before his death, when he had already become wealthy. He died .January 27, 1865. leaving a wife and live children, all of whom are still living. Two children had previously passed away. Miles, who was born in 1837, died December 15, 1864; Samuel, who was born January 28, 1839, is mar- ried and with his wife and three children re- sides in Madison County; Emily and Mary are at home; Henry died at the age of six years; John is married and with his family, numbering four children, resides in Fayette County; and George of this sketch is the youngest of the family.
Mr. Hornbeck, whose name heads this record,
was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads and acquired his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. He resides on the old home farm with his sisters and devotes his time and at- tention to its cultivation. The entire amount is well improved, and a glance at the place indicates the supervision of a careful manager, such as our subject is known to be.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Hornbeck is a Democrat, having supported that party since he cast his first Presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876. He served as Land Appraiser of Pleasant Township in 1890. Socially, he belongs to Garfield Commandery No. 28. K. T., of Washington C. H. He has served as Junior Deacon and Junior War- den, and at this writing holds the office of Senior Warden. Ile is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hornbeck has spent his entire life in this community and is esteemed as a man of ster- ling worth.
HOMAS H. JONES, who is the proprietor of Deer Creek Valley Stoek Farm, located two and one-half miles south of Mt. Sterling on the Chillicothe Pike, is also a farmer of consider- able note in this section. IIe is a native of this county, having been born in Madison Township, August 6, 1845, to James and Sarah ( White) .Jones. His father, who was a well-to-do farmer, had just laid by a comfortable competence when he was confronted with security debts to the amount of $96,000, $56,000 of which he never received any- thing for. As this was a time when our subject should have been attending school, he was obliged to aid his father in paying off the debts and thus had poor advantages for obtaining an education. When reaching his nineteenth year, he went to Delaware, where it had been his intention to thoroughly fit himself for a business life, but his health failing after an attendance of three terms, he was advised by his physicians to abandon his studies, and thenceforth devoted his time and at- tention to farming.
On reaching his majority, Mr. Jones was married,
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September 3, 1867, to Miss Jennie Pancoast of this county, where she was born October 4, 1845. She is the daughter of Sammuel and Lovina (Leach) Pancoast, and, after her marriage, located with her husband on his father's farm in Pickaway County, where they resided for one year and then moved to the farm which they now own and occupy. On the death of his father, October 20, 1871, our sub- ject found that there were still some of the old se- curity debts unpaid, which he, as one of the heirs, had to aid in wiping out.
There were three children in the parental family, of whom Mary E. died June 29, 1849. William M., who was born December 5, 1850, fell heir with our subject to the old homestead, six hundred and ninety-one and a half acres of which were the share of our subject, and upon these he located soon after his mother's death, which occurred November 28, 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born seven children. Their eldest son, James R., who was born January 4, 1869, received his carly train- ing in the common schools of his distriet and took a three-years course in the Mt. Sterling schools, and later attended for two years at London, where he took a special course of book-keeping. Ile was married December 16, 1891, to Miss Alta M. Ray, who was born in Columbus, September 8, 1869. The second child of our subject, Lorena May, was born October 11, 1870, and in addition to receiv- ing a good education, has received a thorough musical training; William, who was born March 18, 1872, died in August of that year; Nellie Jane, who was born February 7, 1878, is also quite a musician; Ray Samuel, who was born November 7, 1879, Charles Howard, December 27, 1881, and Harry Thomas, April 3, 1886, are at home.
In 1868, Mr. Jones began handling blooded stock, and at the present time has a number of IIambletonian and English Shire horses. He raised "Sailor Boy," which took the first money in the fall of 1881, making a record of 2:174, and which he afterward sold for $5,000. He also bred "Aimee," whose record is 2:30. In addition to horses, Mr. Jones breeds full-blooded registered Poland-China hogs, and devotes considerable time to raising full-blooded chickens, having an incu- bator and yards for each breed.
Hle of whom we write cast his first Presidential vote for Grant in 1868. In 1887, he joined the ranks of the Masons, is now a Sir Knight and holds membership in the Blue Lodge at Mt. Ster- ling, and has taken higher degrees at Washington C. HI. Ilis eldest son also joined that fraternity in 1890 and has taken the Third Degree. In 1866, our subject, his brother and father, fed for the market over eleven hundred head of hogs, which brought them when sold $52,611.
The father of our subject was born in Perry Township, Pickaway County, this State, May 3, 1813. Ile was the third in order of birth in the family of Isaac and Dorothy (Baily) Jones, the former of whom was born in Delaware, April 14, 1783. The grandfather came to Ross County, this State, and after a residence there of one year went to Pickaway County, where he purchased and cleared one hundred and eighty acres of land. There he was married and became the father of eight children, only one of whom is living. They bore the respective names of Annie B., Thomas F., James, William, Isaac, Purnell, Mary D., Sarah B.
The father of Mrs. JJones was born in the little vil- lage of Waterloo, Fayette County, in 1815, while her mother was born in 1826, in Virginia, and accom- panied her parents to this State when two years of age. She was one in a family of ten children, her brothers and sisters being named respectively: Timothy, Warren, Charity, Menerva, Alonzo, Mir- anda, Lucy, Elmer and Ella, the two latter twins.
RS. CATHERINE A. MOORE, a highly esteemed resident of Madison Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and one of the pioneers of the same, is now residing on section 22, where she has a well-improved farm. She was born in Hardy County, Va., on the 26th of February, 1812, and is the daughter of Nathan and Christina (Stump) Perrill, both natives of the Old Dominion and of Irish and German origin re- spectively. The father was an officer in the War of 1812. In 1816, he and his family emigrated to
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Pickaway County, Ohio, and made the journey with a four-horse team and a saddle horse. They made a settlement in Madison Township, and began pioneer life in a log cabin in the woods. Of the five children born to this worthy couple only two now survive, Mrs. Moore, and Mary, wife of J. D. Vause, of Harrison Township. The father died in Madison Township, Pickaway County, this State, in April, 1843, and in his death the town- ship lost one of its best citizens.
Mrs. Moore, the subject of this sketch, grew to mature years in Madison Township, Pickaway County, amid scenes of pioneer life, and has been an eye-witness to the wonderful improvements made in the country in the last seventy years. She received her education in the district schools of Madison Township, and supplemented this by a short course in the schools of Columbus, this State. She was married on the 7th of June, 1832, to Mr. John B. Moore, a native of Pennsylvania, born on the 4th of July, 1805, and the son of William and Elizabeth (Benford) Moore, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania, respectively. Atan early date, or in 1813, William Moore and family emigrated to Pickaway County, Ohio, and settled in Pickaway Plains, south of the present site of Circleville, later going to Circleville, where the father passed the remainder of his days. Here young Moore was reared, and his early life was spent in the mercantile business. Later, he ran a carding mill for several years, and the latter part of his life was spent in farm work. Ile was a man possessed of a good, practical education, and was thoroughly posted on all the leading topies of the day. In politics, he was a Democrat.
To Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born nine children, seven of whom are now living: Missouri E., wife of Thomas B. Vause, of Columbus, Ohio; Crissie P .; Augustus; Nathan, at Columbus, Ohio; William S .; Ellen R., wife of George Miller; and Josie C., wife of Rev. J. Kemper, of the Methodist Church of Tecumseh, Neb. The two deceased were Mary F. and Samuel P. Mr. Moore had served as Clerk and Trustee of Madison Township, Pick- away County, and was serving his second term as Treasurer of Pickaway County, Ohio, at the time of his death, which occurred on the 8th of Jan-
uary, 1857. He was a man of strong and vigorous intellect, and one of the representative citizens of the county. He was a kind and indulgent hus- band and father, and a pillar in the Methodist Church, in which he served in different official capacities. He was one of the founders of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church and was well known as an active worker in religious matters, as well as in all other enterprises of a laudable nature. He was deeply interested in political matters, and was a charter member of the Masonic fraternity. He was a man of excellent business acumen, and at his death left a large amount of real estate, besides other valuable property. His widow survives him and is prominently identified with the Methodist Church. She owns a large, well-improved farm, and is among the oldest living pioneers of Madi- son Township, Pickaway County. Her husband was strictly a self-made man, and was universally liked throughout Pickaway County.
S EYMOUR R. VAN METER, a farmer of Pickaway County, won a good record as a soldier during those times that tried the souls of the bravest and most patriotic, when rebellion threatened our country with dis- union and dishonor, and he has since made his citizenship valuable to his native township, Jack- son. He was born here JJanuary 1, 1844, and comes of the old pioneer stock of the State. Ile is a son of Jacob S. Van Meter, who was born November 1, 1808, in Champaign County, of which his father, Henry Van Meter, was an early settler.
The grandfather of our subject was born in Hardy County, W. Va., May 12, 1780. He was descended from an old German family that had emigrated to this country in Colonial times, and had first settled in New York State, but subse- quently traded with the Indians for land in Vir- ginia, and was represented there several genera- tions. Henry Van Meter came to Ohio in 1800, and, joining forces with the pioneers that had pre-
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ceded him, he did noble work in redeeming the land from its original wildness, developing one of the finest farms in the county. Ile unfortu- nately lost his property during the War of 1812 by contracting and speculating, and never fully recovered it. He was a prominent man in the county, which he served two terms as Sheriff. He was a Methodist in religion and a Whig in poli- tics. His death occurred at the age of seventy years, as did also that of his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Renick.
The father of our subject was one of nine chil- dren. He attended the pioneer schools of Cham- paign County, and on his father's farm acquired a thorough knowledge of farming. While his father was Sheriff of the county, he did the most of the business in the office. In 1841, he was married to Sarah C. Jennings, a native of Clarke County, born October 7, 1817, who survives him at a venerable age, and still makes her home at Urbana. She is of the Baptist faith in belief. Mr. Van Meter began life with no capital, but in time he accumulated a handsome competency. In 1841. he came to Pickaway County, and settled on two hundred and fifty acres of land in Jackson Town- ship, to which his mother had fallen heir. He finally bought the claims of the other heirs, and he eventually became the possessor of seven hun- dred acres of land in this township, and of two Inindred and forty acres in Scioto Township. IIe made the most of his money by feeding cattle, a business that he pursued quite extensively. Ilis death, December 15, 1863, was a serious blow to the interests of his community. In early life, he was a Whig, but he joined the Republicans after the formation of that party. He held the office of Township Trustee, and was prominently men- tioned for County Commissioner. Ile led a con- scientious, upright life, but was not a member of any church.
Seven of the eleven children born to the par- ents grew to maturity, namely: Edward J., Sey- mour R., Frank B. (deceased), Julia J., John R .. Absalom J., and Charles L. Ile of whom we write passed his childhood on the farm, and in attendance at the district school, his education being supplemented by a course of some five
months at the High School at Urbana. IJe was but a boy when the war broke out, but the fol- lowing year found the patriotie youth in the ranks of those who were fighting for the old flag. lle enlisted June 6, 1862, in Company A, Forty- fifth Ohio Infantry, was mustered in at Camp Chase, and in August, sent with his comrades to Covington, Ky. That year was spent in that State, and the following fall the Forty-fifth was sent to Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville, Tenn. Our subject's company was mounted, and did im- portant scouting work in Tennessee, having sev- eral skirmishes with the enemy.
November 14, 1863, Mr. Van Meter was cap- tured by the Texas Rangers, who were in advance of Gen. Longstreet, and he was taken to Rich- mond, where he was placed in Pemberton Prison, across the street from Libby. He was kept in that prison, and in Belle Isle Prison, from December 1, 1863, until March 4, 1864, and was then sent to Andersonville, arriving there March 10, and he was detained there until September 7, 1864, when he was taken to Savannah, Ga. October 10, he was again removed, this time to Millen, Ga., and was paroled there November 20, 1864, after an ex- perience of one year and six days in various Southern prisons. He rejoined his regiment at Huntsville, Ala., and remained there until his life as a soldier was brought to a close after the war had ended, receiving his final discharge June 12, 1865, at Camp Harker. Tenn., he having seen much hard service throughout Alabama and East- ern Tennessee.
After his return from the South, Mr. Van Meter turned his attention to farming, and has done well in the prosecution of his calling, carrying on a mixed husbandry with good success. Ile lived on the old homestead until a year ago, and then took up his residence at Fox Postoffice as Assist- ant Postmaster. He has one hundred and forty acres of land, which is under good cultivation, and is provided with substantial improvements.
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