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 81
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 81
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 81
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ON. JOHN GROCE is one of the most hon- ored and highly-respected citizens of Circle- ville. He is now President of the Third National Bank and senior member of the firm of John Groce & Son, pork packers of this city. He was born in this city when it was a mere hamlet, January 29, 1818. His grandfather, Charles
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Groce, was a native of Maryland, of German de- scent and followed farming in Frederick County, that State. The father, John Groce, was born in Frederick County, and learned the carpenter's trade. About 1805, he emigrated Westward and located in Pickaway County. He there worked until 1810, when the city of Circleville was platted. Mr. Groce then returned to his native State and mar- ried Elizabeth Jacobs, a native of Loudoun County, Va., after which he returned to Ohio and located in the new city. He built many of the first build- ings of the city and was engaged as a contractor until his death, which occurred in 1834, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and was a prominent pioneer of this locality. The death of his wife occurred in 1824.
John was the fourth in the parental family of six children. He has only one sister now living, Mrs. Lydia Atwater, of Circleville. Mr. Groce attended the subscription schools until the academy was built in Circleville, of which his father was one of the principal owners. He was left an orphan at the age of sixteen years, and thus thrown upon his own resources, he sought the counsel of his fa- ther's intimate friend, Matthew McCrea, who ad- vised him to learn a trade, so he served a four- years' apprenticeship to John A. Wolfley, a saddler. He afterward worked as a journeyman, and on the 13th of June, 1839, commenced business for him- self at Kingston, Ohio, with a capital of $85. For nine years, he engaged in trade in that line, when he determined to give his attention to other busi- ness.
In August, 1848, our subject came to Circleville. lle at once began dealing in grain and pork with R. D. Atwater, and in the summer of 1852, went into partnership with Mr. Atwater in the dry-goods business. In the fall of 1852, Mr. Groce went to Milton, Ind., to pack pork, while Mr. Atwater at- tended to the business in Circleville. In the winter of 1852-53, Mr. Atwater died and Mr. Groce pur- chased the Atwater interest and took Jacob Helman in as partner, without capital. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Groce again took up the pork trade and this time his venture proved profitable. In 1860, he exchanged his interest in the dry-goods store for
the Olds block of buildings and has since carried on the pork trade with good success.
On the 12th of November, 1872, Mr. Groce ad- mitted to partnership his only son, Charles E., and the firm name of Groce & Son was assumed. In 1870, he built the present brick block at the foot of High Street. There is a main building, 40x130 feet, and wing 40x90 feet, with engine and boiler room, killing room, packing room, curing and smoking rooms and all the modern improvements for carry- ing on a successful business in that line. This has become one of the leading industries of the city and has made Mr. Groce a wealthy man.
On the 19th of December, 1839, in Kingston, Ohio, Mr. Groce wedded Elizabeth E. Graham, who was born two miles west of Kingston, September 25. 1820, and is a daughter of Robert J. Graham, a native of Virginia, who followed farming in Ross County. Five children were born unto them, four of whom grew to mature years: Mary E., wife of B. Foresman, of La Fayette, Ind .; Ellen G., wife of F. M. Schuze, a wholesale grocer of Circleville; Jennie, wife of L. Boggs, of Pickaway Township, Pickaway County, and Charles E., an enterprising business man, associated with his father.
Mr. Groce has been prominently identified with the city interests for many years. He was one of the organizers of the city and served several times as Alderman. He was instrumental in securing the Scioto Valley Railroad through this place and was a stockholder and Director. He took an active part in securing subscriptions for the purchasing of the beautiful grounds for Forest Cemetery and has been one of its Directors since its organi- zation in 1858, and is now President of the associa- tion. Ile owned an interest with his brothers and sisters in the Franklin and Groce Addition to Circle- ville, and has other real estate in the city, includ- ing his magnificent home.
Mr. Groce cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison. He joined the Repub- lican party on its organization and was Chairman of the County Central Committee for many years. He served as a delegate to the National Conven- tion in 1876, when R. B. Hayes was nominated, and again in 1880, when Gen. Garfield became the Presidential candidate. During the war, he was
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Chairman of the Relief Committee. Mr. Groce is truly a self-made man. Ile started out in life empty-handed, but has made the most of his oppor- tunities and has worked his way upward to success. He is now known throughout the country. ITis honesty is proverbial and he is highly respected by all with whom he has come in contact. In 1889, himself and wife celebrated their golden wedding. Not one who witnessed their nuptials fifty years before was then living. Their lives have been happy and prosperous and none are more worthy of representation in this volume than this worthy couple.
The father of our subjeet came to this county in the vigor of early manhood, well fitted for the pioneer life before him both by constitution and temperament, and by reason of a natural capacity for laboring wisely and well. He took unto him- self a wife the year after the family came here, and with her ready assistance acquired a goodly amount of property, being worth 820,000 at the time of his demise. He erected one of the first saw and grist mills on Darby Creek, and did a great deal of custom work in early days, besides en- gaging extensively in farming. The year before he died. he ereeted a four-story custom mill for the manufacture of flour. Ile attended closely to his business, and was growing richer every day, when death closed his career in 1837, while he was vet in the prime of life, and his community lost one of its most useful and highly respected citi- zens. He was of a quiet, peace-loving disposition, always glad to oblige anyone in every way possi- ble, and he was a right royal neighbor and a friend as true as steel. His political views found expres- sion in the platform of the Whig party.
RS. ANN (HILL) MONTGOMERY, a resident of Jackson Township, where she has a well-conducted and a well-appointed farm, is of the old pioneer stock of the county of Pickaway, and is a worthy representa- tive of the daughters of its early settlers. She was born in Muhlenberg Township, one mile east The mother of our subject was Nancy, daughter of William Florence. who is distinguished in the history of the early settlement of this county as one of the first to locate within its borders. Ile came here in 1806, and took up his abode on the banks of Darby Creek, in Muhlenberg Township, and at one time he owned fifteen hundred aeres of land. Ile bore an active part in the develop- ment of the agricultural interests of the county as a farmer and stock-raiser. At his death. in March, 1870, at the venerable age of ninety-seven years, one of our earliest pioneers passed to his long rest. The mother of our subject was born in 1799, and was a child of seven years when the family removed to this county. Her education was conducted in the typical pioneer log school- house of the early years of the settlement of the State. that was heated by means of a large open fireplace and furnished with slab benches. that were supported by wooden pins. The rate-bill system of schooling was then in vogue. as there were no free schools. She was carefully trained to of Darbyville, October 12, 1826. Her father, Francis E. Hill, was a native of Virginia, born in Hampshire County in 1797, and he was a son of Leroy Hill, who is supposed to have been of Scot- tish birth. The latter owned land in Virginia, which he sold in 1815, in order to begin life anew in the primeval wilderness of Ohio. He journeyed thither with wagons, accompanied by his family, making but slow progress over the mountains and through interminable forests until he at last ar- rived at his destination, and made a purchase of about a thousand acres of land in this and Clark County. He made his home across Darby Creek from this township, and at once entered upon the pioneer task of developing a farm. the one now owned by J. B. Wright and others. He was one of the first to settle in this region, and he built a double log cabin at the foot of the hill, which was the first erected in this vicinity. In 1824, he erected a house on the top of the hill, and here he dwelt until his death, October 1, 1837. He was a stanch member of the Baptist Church, and in his | be a good housekeeper, and was well fitted to pre- political relations, was a true Whig. side over a home of her own when she was married
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in 1816. She became the mother of ten children, of whom seven grew to maturity, namely: Robi- son, Sarah, William, Matilda, Ann, Catherine and Mary. The good mother died at the age of seventy-two years. She had led a true Christian life, and for forty years was an active member of the Baptist Church.
Mrs. Montgomery was given excellent educa- tional advantages in the district school and in a school at Darbyville, and her home life was well calculated to make her a good wife when she left the home of her girlhood to preside over one of her own, her marriage to Joseph Wardell taking place August 16, 1866. Mr. Wardell died September 6, 1869, and she was married January 15, 1873, to David Montgomery, who was a native of New York, born in that State in the year 1818. After coming to this State, he settled in Chillicothe. following the dry-goods business a few years, when he removed to Circleville, and later to the farm where Mrs. Montgomery now lives.
Our subject bought her present farm in 1877, and located on it at that time. She has twice since returned to Circleville to live, but finally sold her city property and has settled permanently on her farm, having here a very pleasant home. She owns two hundred and fourteen acres of land, which is nearly all well improved, and a part of it she farms herself, while she rents the remainder. In 1877 she built a commodious frame residence, and has other substantial buildings, and under her thrifty and able management the farm is in a fine condition.
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G EORGE W. BAUDER is one of the most prominent business men of Circleville. He is President of the Board of Trade, a mem- ber and Secretary of the Board of City Control, and one of the most extensive dealers in carriages and buggies and agricultural implements in the county. Ilis energy and enterprise have made his life a success, and the manufacturing interests of Circleville would be much inferior to what they are to-day had it not been for our subject.
Mr. Bauder was born in Circleville, on the 22d of May, 1850, and is a son of William Bauder, one of the honored early settlers of this place, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. When a lad of about thirteen, he raised and drilled a company of some sixty Republican boys, he acting as cap- tain. Young George wrote the Governor that he was ready to go South (for the war was then in progress), and be mustered into service. The Gov- ernor replied, complimenting him for his bravery, but said that he could not accept the company on account of their youth.
Mr. Bauder graduated from the High School at the age of fifteen, and began serving an appren- ticeship in his father's shop, learning the trade of carriage-making. In 1871, he went to Rochester, N. Y., where he finished his trade with the firm of Cunningham & Son. The following year, he re- turned, and in January, 1874, was admitted to partnership with his father, under the firm name of William Bander & Son, and continued in the manufacture of carriages for seven years. In Jan- uary, 1884, our subject bought out his father, and became sole proprietor of the extensive and lucra- tive business. Since that time, he has also become a dealer in agricultural implements, keeping on hand a large stock of everything in that line, from hand-seeders to steam-threshers. He has a large assortment of buggies, and makes a specialty of those manufactured by the Columbia Buggy Com- pany. Ile also engages in the harness business, and, as in the others, has the largest stock in the city. His goods occupy two stories and a base- ment in a large building, 70x150 feet, and his ware- house, on the Seioto Valley Railroad, is 40x72 feet, and two stories in height. He employs two or three men all the time as commercial travelers.
Not these enterprises alone engross the atten- tion of Mr. Bander. He has been instrumental in promoting many of the leading interests of the city. He was one of the prime movers in building the Opera House, and was President and Superin- tendent of the company who had the enterprise in charge. The work was completed in 1888, at a cost of $18,000. He is a member and Secretary of the Board of Control, was one of the organi- zers and is President of the Board of Trade of
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Circleville, is Director and Vice-president of the Circleville Building and Loan Association, and is a Director of the Building and House Association. He also owns considerable real estate, having in- vested quite extensively in Western lands. He owns a number of residences in Circleville, and in 1882 he erected his fine residence, at a cost of $7,000.
In Monroe, Butler County, Mr. Bauder was united in marriage, October 22, 1873, to Miss Adelia Clark, daughter of James Clark, a farmer of that county, who came to Circleville in 1882, and is now living a retired life. Two children have been born of their union, Cora and Georgia. The home of the family is one of the finest in Cir- eleville, and is the abode of hospitality.
Mr. Bauder joined the Odd Fellows' society at the age of twenty-one, and has since been con- nected with it. He was a charter member of the Royal Arcanum, also belonged to the Knights of Honor and to the Red Men, but at present holds membership only with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks. In politics, he is a Re- publican. He belongs to the Methodist Church, in which he has served as Steward. He contributes liberally to the advancement of any enterprise cal- eulated for the public good, and has the best inter- ests of the community at heart. Pickaway County finds in him a valued citizen, and one it could ill afford to lose. His straightforwardness and up- right life have won him the high regard of all, and his industry and enterprise have gained him a well-deserved prosperity.
E DWARD MASKELL MORGAN, the Vice- president of the Farmers' Bank, of Plain City, was born in Salem Township, Cham- paign County, Ohio, June 19, 1839, and until JJan- uary, 1890, he remained a resident of that county, passing his life up to that date upon the farm where he was born. The death of his son, Charles F. Morgan, called him from this life of compara- tive retirement to a more active business career, and in 1890 he removed to Plain City to assume
the management of the bank of which his son had been the Cashier since its organization in 1885.
Our subject is the third in a family of four children. The father of this household died when Edward was but ten years old, and as both the elder brothers were delicate in health from early childhood, the hardships and responsibilities of the farm devolved upon this more rugged son, while still very young. Before he arrived at the age of fifteen, both brothers and the sister died, leaving to him the care of his mother and the entire man- agement of the farm. Ilis education consisted of what he was able to obtain at the district school, which he attended for a few months in the winter of each year.
At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth B. Wal- ters, a native of Virginia, and to them were born two sons, Charles Forrest and Albert Hugh. The youngest son died in infancy, but Charles lived to manhood and became not only the pride and com- fort of his parents, but a young man of great pop- ularity, and most highly esteemed by all who knew him. This son was born January 6, 1864, and after studying in the district school, attended the High School at Urbana, and in 1879 entered the University at Urbana, remaining there until January, 1880, receiving during his attendance there a gold medal as a reward for proficiency in his studies. He then entered the Ohio State Uni- versity at Columbus, and undertook a course in civil engineering, but a severe attack of lung fever during the ensuing winter resulted in a change of his life plan.
In April, 1881, Charles Morgan took a tem- porary position in the Farmers' Bank, of Fonta- nelle, Iowa, and after a nine-months' experience in that line of work, he returned to Ohio and took a commercial course in Nelson's Business College at Cincinnati. His subsequent business career was characterized by marked ability and integrity. He served the Ohio Mutual Relief Association at Urbana and the American Sewing Machine Com- pany at Cincinnati, and when the Home Savings Bank began business in Urbana he entered its of- fice, and before he was twenty years old, was pro- moted to the responsible position of Cashier, hold-
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ing that position until October, 1885, when he resigned to accept a similar office in the Farmers' Bank, of Plain City. This young man was very prominent in Masonic circles, and also in the or- der of the Knights of Pythias, and in both social and business circles won the respect and friendship of hosts of the best citizens of the community. It was in the summer of 1884 that an attack of hem- orrhage of the lungs presaged his death, which took place January 3, 1890. The winter of 1888- 89 he spent in California, hoping for benefit from the climate there, but returned in the spring with slight gain in strength. His death left his parents childless, but their grief is assanged by the memory of what his life has been, and by the universal af- fection and esteem with which he was regarded by his fellow-citizens.
The political alliliations of Mr. Edward M. Mor- gan are with the Democratic party, and the confi- dence with which he has ever been regarded by the people of his neighborhood made him, in 1880, the nominee for County Commissioner in Cham- paign County. He is universally conceded to be a man of good judgment and strict integrity, ca- pable of filling well any position where decision of character is required. In the hands of no man could the affairs of the county be more judiciously placed than in his, but his desire has ever been for a more quiet life, and although he has been re- peatedly urged to accept the nomination for mem- ber of the State Legislature, he has invariably declined. The farm upon which Mr. Morgan has spent his life was obtained from the Government by his grandfather in 1824, the patent to it being signed by James Monroe, and it is still in the pos- session of the Morgan family. This property has never been in the hands of any but the Morgan family. George V. Morgan, the father of our sub- ject, migrated with his father's family to this State in 1813 or 1814, settling at that time upon this tract of land. He was a cousin of the late Sena- tor Thomas Ewing, who spent a portion of his boyhood days in the family of the Morgans.
Socially, Mr. Morgan is held in the highest es- teem, and in the Masonic lodge to which he belongs he has served several terms as Worthy Master. He is also a member of the Urbana Chap-
ter of the Royal Arch Masons, and of the Roper Commandery of the Knights Templar. He is largely interested, financially, in the Farmers' Bank, and by his straightforward business deal- ings and unassuming manners, has made many friends in his new home in Plain City, where he and his estimable wife will, in all probability, spend the remainder of their lives.
E LI MOCK is a farmer residing in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, where he has a beautiful place that is under an excellent state of cultivation. He is a son of Daniel HI. and Elizabeth (Robinson) Mock, both of whom are na- tives of Ohio. Our subject was born in this county, on the 30th of April, 1838. The paternal grand- father, John Mock, came from North Carolina and settled in Fayette County, where he was among the pioneers. The maternal grandfather, William Robinson, was also an early settler of this county, and both these grandparents died in this county, were heroes in the War of 1812, and were farmers by occupation.
The father of our subject carried on farming all his life, and died October 22, 1885, the mother dy- ing some years previous, in 1878. They had five children born to them, onr subject being the eld- est son. He was reared and educated in this county, and learned all the details of farming, which vocation he chose as his life work. He is now the fortunate possessor of four hundred and four acres of fine fertile land, and one of the best farms in the county, and has made nearly all the improvements on the place with his own hands. On his place mixed farming is carried on with more than ordinary success, and some stock is also cared for.
Mr. Mock was united in marriage December 14, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Shockley, a native of Madi- son County, this State, and to this union three children have been born, one deceased. Ginevra, who is married to G. M. Simmerman, and has one child living, Carrie; and Herbert, who resides with his father, and assists him on the farm. The es-
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timable wife of our subject is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Mock is a representative farmer of Fayette County, and his surroundings show him to a man of thrift and en- terprise who keeps everything in first-class shape. In his political views, he is a stanch Democrat, and has never been an office-seeker.
BSALOM J. WELCHI, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Mt. Sterling and a self-made man, was born in Paint Town- ship, Madison County, Ohio, March 24, 1851. He has an older brother still living, James W., a resident of this county.
Our subject was born and reared on a farm, and his early education was supplemented by a course in the High School of London. He began teaching in the district schools at the age of twenty-four years and taught for five years, during which time, in his leisure hours, he began reading medieine un- der Dr. A. D. Morris, then of London, but after- ward in charge of the Insane Asylum at Columbus. He completed his private studies under Dr. Ilig- gins. of California, Madison County, and then at- tended a course of lectures in Starling Medical College of Columbus, from which institution he was graduated in March, 1881. He opened an of- fice and began practice in Palestine on the 20th of April of that year, and there resided until the autumn of 1882.
While in Palestine, Dr. Welch was married, Sep- tember 15, 1881, to Miss Nellie M. Crossley, of Clyde, Ohio. She was born in Seneca County. in 1862, and is a highly educated and refined lady. who previous to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching and since her marriage has taught for one year in Mt. Sterling. Three children, who are yet living, have been born unto them: David Rupert. who was born in Mt. Sterling, October 18. 1882: Nellie May, who was born in Mt. Sterling, June 5. 1886; and Carleton, born in 1891. Charles W., the second child, died at the age of eleven months.
Dr. Weleh came to Mt. Sterling in 1882, and has here met with excellent success in his practice. He
has been enabled to purchase a good office besides his pleasant residence. He is a member of the Madison County Medical Society. the Fayette County Medical Society and the State Medical Society. In politics, he is a stalwart Republican. has served as a member of the City Council and as a member of the School Board for about six years. The Doctor is a self-made man. who by his unaided efforts has made his own way in the world. He he- gan to work by the month at the age of nine years. educated himself, and has made his life a successful one of which he may well be proud.
The attention of the reader is invited to the ac- companying portrait of the Doctor.
G EORGE W. HITLER, one of the prominent and substantial men of the county, was born in Pickaway County, Circleville Township, Ohio, on the 29th of April, 1845. His father, George Hitler, was a native of the Key- stone State, born in Somerset County, on the 27th of September, 1798, and the latter's father, George Hitler, Sr .. was born in Maryland, and moved with his parents to Franklin County, Pa., when quite young. The senior George Hitler set- tled in Somerset County, Pa., in 1793, began farming, and there resided until April. 1799. when he came to Ohio, by flatboat down the Ohio River to Portsmouth and the rest of the way with wagons. Ile settled in Ross County, in a wilderness, at a time when neighbors were few and far between, and became thoroughly familiar with the privations and trials of new settlers. There he resided until coming to Pickaway County, when he purchased section 33, Washington Township. and became one of the substantial farmers of his locahty, owning over two hundred acres of land. He died on the 2d of April, 1818. His wife, whose maiden name was Susanna Gay, was born in Pennsylvania, and died on the 16th of September, 1848. Her father lived to be one hundred and three years of age and is buried in Pickaway County.
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