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 85
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 85
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 85
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
During his long and useful life, Alexander Mc- Clelland was closely identified with the progress of Hocking County, which he had seen change from an uninhabited tract of country to the abode of thousands of people, the site of thriving cities and fertile farms. For twenty-one years, he served as
702
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Justice of the Peace and occupied the various offices of the township. In his religion, he was a Cum- berland Presbyterian and filled the office of Elder for many years. His farming enterprises were suc- cessful and he became a large land-owner and suc- cessful financier.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Minerva Spangler. Her father, Col. Sam- uel S. Spangler, was a native of Pennsylvania and a veteran of the War of 1812. About 1792, he re- moved to Fairfield (now Hocking) County, Ohio, and was a prominent farmer there until his death, which occurred December 13, 1863, aged eighty- one years and six months. He had three daughters, Barbara, Elizabeth and Minerva, all of whom sur- vive. The last-named was born February 13, 1812, and has for many years been a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She became the mother of eight children: John A., James II., Samuel (deceased), Salem S., Susanna, William Enos, Charles and Clark (deceased).
The fourth in this family, Salem S., was born in Hocking County, Ohio, April 10, 1838. His edu- cation was gained in a log schoolhouse, which still stands on the. old McClelland homestead, a land- mark of the early part of this century. When nineteen years old, he commenced to teach and continued in that way for a number of years, being instrumental in advancing the educational status of the community and creating a more extended interest in the acquirement of knowledge. At the age of twenty-three, he commenced farming oper- ations in Salt Creek Township, one mile north of his present home.
October 21, 1860, occurred the marriage of Mr. McClelland and Miss Margaret E., daughter of Daniel K. and Ann (Armstrong) Defenbaugh. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and died Decem- ber 13, 1889; her mother was a native of Ohio, where she died March 25, 1875. Mrs. McClelland was born May 11, 1842, and was reared to woman- hood within her father's home, which she left to enter that of her husband. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children: Dora L., who was born September 23, 1861, married William H. Newhouse, a farmer of Salt Creek Township, and they have one child, Daniel W .;
Daniel A., the only son, was born September 1, 1863, and is at present taking a commercial course at Parsons' Business College at Columbus, Ohio.
A firm Democrat in his political belief, Mr. Mc- Clelland has served as delegate to county and dis- trict conventions, and since 1881 has been Town- ship Trustee. In educational matters, he has since boyhood maintained a deep and unswerving in- terest and uses every influence to forward the in- terests of the schools. His one hundred and ninety acres of land on section 20 are highly improved and exceedingly fertile, being watered by Mocca- sin Creek. Since 1889, Mr. McClelland has raised Short-horn cattle, and he also deals in sheep ex- tensively, the Merino being his favorite. His abil- ity in the settlement of large estates has been often and thoroughly proved, and he has sometimes given a bond as high as $70,000. He possesses excellent information concerning all public mat- ters, and his wonderful memory for dates has been invaluable to him, while his qualities as a citizen are of a superior order.
ILTON J. TOOTLE. This energetic busi- ness man and progressive agriculturist of Monroe Township, Pickaway County, was born near Clarksburgh, Ross County, Ohio, on the 11th of December, 1840. He is a son of James Tootle, born in the same place as his son, our subject, August 11, 1814, and he, in turn, is a son of Thomas, who was born in Delaware and came to this State with his parents some time in the year 1800, and settled near the mouth of Deer Creek, in Ross County, where he engaged in the dis- tillery business and followed flat-boating down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans. There the grandfather married Mary Ann Davis, and they had born to them five sons: John, James, Thomas, Isaac and Amos. The country was then practically a wilderness, and he here engaged somewhat in farming, owning one thousand acres of land. He was a successful business man and died when about seventy years old.
703
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The father of our subject was reared to farming pursuits and received his education in the pioneer schoolhouse. Ile kept a country store for a num- ber of years and, on selling out, engaged in farm- ing, owning at one time fourteen hundred acres of land, of which he improved a great deal himself. He was a hard-working man and an excellent man- ager, and raised a great number of cattle and swine. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Church, and though not very active, he was very strict in his belief. Politically, he was first a Whig and later a Democrat. He never aspired to office and was of a quiet disposition and attended closely to business.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Clarkson and was a native of Ohio. having been born May 5, 1818. She reared a family of five children, four boys and one girl, as follows: Milton J., Edward T., Eliza E., Mon- roe W. and Douglas E. She was also a member of the Methodist Church and was called from this earth two years after the death of her husband, October 6, 1885, he dying May 12, 1883.
Our subject was reared on the home farm and had but a common-school education, attending in the winters and assisting on the home farm in the summers. He began for himself in life when about twenty-three years old, when he came to his pres- ent place and began farming. Ile was married November 28, 1867, to Mary II. Abernethy. Mrs. Tootle was born in Ross County, near Bourneville, Ohio, September 13, 1847, and to them have been granted seven children, four boys and three girls: Robert T., Samuel C., Ollie E., Minnie T., Rhoda E., John M. and J. Milton.
Our subject has now about eight hundred acres of land, nearly all of which is finely improved and located in the townships of Muhlenberg, Mon- roe and Darby. He farms about sixty acres him- self and rents out the rest, and on his portion carries on mixed farming, raising large quantities of wheat and corn, and caring for large numbers of hogs and cattle, and now has over one hun- dred head of cattle, to which he feeds all his grain and prepares them for the market.
Mr. Tootle has made most of his property him- self and is a man of remarkable judgment, and
attributes his success to careful attention to busi- ness affairs and good management. In his politi- cal affairs, he esponses the principles of the Demo- cratie party, and has held some of the township offices, among them being the responsible one of Trustee four or five terms. Mrs. Tootle is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Church and an active worker in the same.
OHIN F. JOHNSTON. The village of Lon- don is fortunate in having at the head of its government in the time-honored office of Mayor this gentleman, a member of the hardware firm of Johnston & Farrar, at No. 42 Main Street, who has had wide experience in pub- lic life, is an exceedingly able business man, and is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of progress that encourages publie improvements and tends to foster enterprises for the furtherance of civic interests and the promotion of the growth of the village and county.
Mr. Johnston is a native of Madison County. and was born in Range Township, June 15, 1844. a son of John and Elizabeth (Mathers) Johnston, who came of the early pioneer stock of Ross County, of which they were both natives. John Johnston, Sr., was reared on a farm and became a skillful farmer, which business he carried on through life. In 1813, he came to Madison County and cast in his lot with the pioneers who had pre- ceded him, he being one of the first to settle in Range Township, and while he lived he was one of its most important citizens, acting as Trustee of the township a number of years, and always inter- esting himself in its welfare. Politically, he was a Democrat without gnile. He and his good wife reared a family of ten children, namely: Margaret, Mrs. S. M. Morgan; Sarah. Mrs. S. Armstrong; Ruth, Mrs. R. Fullerton; Mary, Mrs. G. Myers; Martha, Mrs. D. C. Yates; William, John F., James T., George W. and Inther M.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were William and Margaret (MeClimans) Johnston, who were natives of Pennsylvania, where the
704
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
grandfather was brought up as a farmer. In early life, they came to Ohio, and were married in Ross County, of which they were very early settlers. In 1813, they removed to a farm in Range Town- ship. It was a large farm of some six hundred acres, and the grandfather died thereon at a ripe old age. IIe was the father of nine children. IIe was Justice of the Peace for many years in Range Township, and was a sound Democrat in his polit- ical creed. Ile was of German descent, while his wife was of English antecedents. Her father was one of the pioneer Methodist clergymen of Ross County, where he died.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of his native township, and continued to make his home with his parents until he was twenty- seven years old, when he married and established a home of his own, taking as his wife Miss Ellen Rodgers, whose pleasant social traits have un- doubtedly contributed to her husband's success in his public life, and their genial hospitality and kindly consideration for the well-being of others have attached to them many tried and true friends. Mrs. Johnston is a native of Champaign County, Ill., and a daughter of Wilson and Massie ( Warner) Rodgers, who were born in Ross County, this State. The father was a large farmer and one of the well-to-do men of his community. His politics were of the Republican order. Mrs. Johnston is one of twelve children, of whom nine are living beside herself, namely: Mrs. Mary McDorman, Mrs. Lydia Harrison, Mrs. Phehe Heisler, Simeon, Levi, Mrs. Margaret Heisler, Mrs. Belle Griffin, Emma and Allie. Our subject and his wife are blessed with five children, whose names are Myr- tle, Eva, Howard, Florence and Ernest, respec- tively.
After his marriage, Mr. Johnston continued farming pursuits in this county until 1881, when he was elected to the responsible office of Sheriff, and for four years, of two terms each, he acted in that capacity, discharging his duties in the interests of law and order with uncompromising fidelity and without fear or favor. When his last term ex- pired, he entered the hardware business, in which he is still engaged in partnership with Mr. Farrar. They have a commodions store, well fitted up,
carry a large stock of everything in their line, and command a good trade both in the village and in the surrounding country.
Our subject has been the recipient of many pub- lie honors, being often called to positions of trust, for which he is eminently fitted by reason of those fine traits of character that mark him as a man of well-poised intellect and of great stability of character, whose words carry weight, and who exerts a beneficial influence on the affairs of the community. He was Trustee of Range Township a number of years, and held the same position in Union Township after he left the office of Sheriff. Ile is President of the Board of Supervisors of Elections, having been appointed a member of the Board in 1891 by the County .Judge. In 1891, he was elected Mayor of the village of London, which position he still retains, and in his admin- istration he has pursued a wise and liberal policy that has materially enhanced the prosperity of the village. He is a member of the Board of Trade, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to push forward any scheme devised for the public good. In politics, he is a Democrat of the true stamp, and, socially, is allied with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias.
OHN L. KENT. The citizens of Circleville claim to have the best-equipped second-class postoffice in Ohio, and attribute the perfect system of business to the management of the genial and popular Postmaster, the subject of this sketch. As a veteran of the late war, who proved his loyalty to the Union on many a hard- fought battlefield, and as a public-spirited citizen, it gives the biographical writer pleasure to record for the present and future generations a brief ac- count of the life of Mr. Kent.
In noting the ancestral history of our subject, we find that his father, John B., was a painter and followed his trade in Richmond, Va., his birthplace. In 1836, he came to Circleville, where he worked at his trade until his death, twelve years later. The mother of our subject was Isabella, daugh-
705
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ter of Thomas Hare, a native of the Shenan- doah Valley, Va., and by trade a hatter in early life, and afterward a carpenter. Ile came to Pick- away County in 1808, and two years afterward assisted in platting the city in circles, from which it derived its name. In the War of 1812, he was so conspicuous for valor as to merit promotion to the position of Quartermaster of the regiment. Ilis death occurred when he was eighty-five years old. His wife, who was the daughter of a Methodist minister, lived to be eighty-eight years of age.
In the family of which our subject is a member. there were four children. only two of whom grew to mature years. James served during the Civil War as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Ohio Regiment, and was afterward drowned in the Scioto River, in which his father had also lost his life by drowning in 1848. The only surviving member of the family is the subject of this notice, who was born in Circleville, October 13, 1839. He was educated in select schools and was one of the first pupils in the High School of the place. About 1852, he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a wagon and carriage maker with Allen Dean, of Fairfield County, and after serving an apprentice- ship of three years, he worked as a journeyman for two years in Ohio. Later, he took a trip through the Western States, and worked at his trade in Ind- iana, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. Returning thenee, he opened a shop in East Ringgold, Pick- away County, and after conducting it for a time. removed to Lockbourne, Ohio, where he was em- ployed in a similar manner for one year.
When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Kent was one of the first to enlist, and also assisted in or- ganizing a company at Lockbourne. In July, 1861, he became a member of Company II. Thirti- eth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered into service at Camp Chase, August 28 following. Ten days later, he proceeded to Clarksburg, W. Va., and par- ticipated in the battle of Colfax Ferry, also in sev- eral skirmishes, after which the regiment went into winter quarters at Fayetteville. In the spring of 1862, he was ordered to join Cox's Division, West Virginia Troops, in the rear of Gen. McClel- land's army, and was actively engaged in the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, Antietam, South Moun-
tain, and in other places where danger to life was greatest, and on every side officers and private soldiers were falling. At South Mountain, he was made Sergeant, and after some skirmishes with Gen. Lee's troops, was ordered to Logan County, W. Va., to destroy some mills of Gen. Floyd's, and meanwhile endured great suffering, walking for six days with nothing but rags to protect his feet from the sharp rocks, and at night sleeping in the snow. During the following year. he took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and marched overland from Memphis to Knoxville, Tenn., fighting all the way. At Missionary Ridge, the regiment lost sixty-five out of one hundred and fifty men and suffered great hardships.
In the winter of 1863-64, Mr. Kent veteranized at home on a furlongh. and, rejoining his regiment, marched to Dallas, Tex., where he was injured by jumping from a fence on retreat. He managed however, to remain with his company and refused to go to the hospital. He was detailed as Ordin- ance Sergeant of the Second Division, and at the battle of Jonesboro had charge of the distribution of ammunition, in which capacity his risks were great. He was with his regiment at Ft. McAllister and Bentonville, and at the close of the war took part in the Grand Review. IIe was afterward ordered South to Arkansas, but while en route there, was detained at Logan's Camp. Louisville, Ky., where he had charge of fifty-five men. After the regiment was disbanded, he proceeded to Little Rock, where the troops were mustered out, August 13, 1865.
At the close of an honorable service, during which he was ofttimes in imminent danger and had many narrow escapes, Mr. Kent returned to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade. IIe was married at Circleville, in 1866, to Miss Fannie Sweyer, who was born in Pickaway County, where her father, John Sweyer, was the proprietor of the old National Ilotel. In September. 1873, Mr. Kent became clerk in the Circleville postoffice, and remained there eight years uninterruptedly, being retained by the various postmasters. When President Cleveland was elected, he was for three months engaged in other work. but returned to the postoffice and has since been in charge of its
706
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
work, although he was not appointed Postmaster until September 3, 1890.
Mr. Kent is a member of the Board of Trade of Circleville, and served in the City Council for one term. Ile is a stanch Republican and stands high in party ranks. Socially, he is a Knight of Honor and a charter member of Groce Post No. 156, G. A. R., in which he has served as Past Com- mander. He is a devoted member of the English Lutheran Church, in which he is Trustee and Sec- retary of the Council. For eight years he has been the efficient Superintendent of the Sunday- school, a work in which he is deeply interested and where his methods of work and efficiency are meeting with marked success.
$ AMUEL MORRIS, the efficient and courtly Cashier of the Third National Bank of Cir- eleville, is he whose name appears above. It is fitting that, closely connected as he is with the commercial interests of this city, he should be a native of this county. He was born five miles from Circleville, in Walnut Township, August 2, 1832, and his father, John Morris, was also a native of that township, born in 1806. Grandfather John Morris was a native of Virginia, and of Scotch descent. In the fall of 1801, the latter left his native State for Ohio and took up Government land in Walnut Township. There he received his final summons.
John Morris, father of the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native township and was married there to Miss Delilah Bowman, also a native of Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, born in 1814. After marriage, he and his wife began house- keeping in a rude log cabin, but they subsequently erected a good brick building, and became the owners of two hundred and seventy acres of land in Walnut Township, Pickaway County. There the father died in 1874, when seventy-two years of age. He held a number of local offices in his town- ship and discharged the duties of the same in a manner highly satisfactory to all. lle was Justice
of the Peace for two years, also County Commis- sioner two terms and was School Director for sev- eral years. He was a member of the United Breth- ren Church, was Steward for years, and was promi- nent in all religious matters. His house was al- ways open for religious worship and the preachers generally made their headquarters at his hospitable home. In politics, he affiliated with the Democratic party. His aged wife is still living and resides on the old place with a son and two daughters.
The followin children were born to the par- ents of our subject: Samuel, our subject. Eliz- abeth, now Mrs. Robert Fleming, died in Wayne Township, this county. Lydia, Mrs. Wells, re- sides in Jay County, Ind. Malinda, Mrs. Lin- coln, resides in Mt. Pulaski, Logan County, Ill. Mary, Mrs. Hall, resides in Circleville. Jane, Mrs. Wholaver, of Circleville. Catherine is at home. Sophia, at home. John died when six- teen years of age. Milton has been Deputy Sher-
iff, Clerk and Deputy Auditor of Pickaway Coun- ty. He is one of the county's most brilliant lawyers, having been admitted to the Bar in 1875, and is now practicing in Circleville. Lewis is on the old farm. Charles E. is an attorney at Springfield, Ohio, and is Police Judge, and Flora, Mrs. Warner, resides in Circleville. The maternal grandfather of these children, William Bowen, was a native of the Keystone State and one of the early pioneers of Washington Township, Pickaway, County, Ohio,
Like so many men who have risen to positions of confidence and trust, the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received his primary education in the home schools, attending during the winter months. When eighteen years of age, he entered school at Westerville, Ohio, but one year later was called home to take a school in the home district. He first tanght five months and then nine months, and in 1854 came to Circleville, where he was book-keeper for Wolfley, Gregg & Shulze, one of the largest dry-goods firms, for eight years. From there he went to Ashiville, started a store there, conducted it for two years and then returned to the old firm, with which he continued until 1867. After this, he was book- keeper and teller in the Second National Bank and
1
ADAM MILLAR.
MRS. NANCY I. MILLAR
711
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a few years later was elected Assistant Cashier. When the Third National Bank was organized, on the 1st of January, 1883, he was made Cashier. The first President of this bank was (. Benford, and his successor W. J. Weaver, and in 1885 Mr. Groce was elected to that position. The Vice president is W. J. Weaver. The capital stock is $100,000 and the surplus $11,000.
Mr. Morris was married, in 1855, to Miss Rose Lincoln, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daugh- ter of Thomas Lincoln, who came to this county from the Keystone State. Mr. Morris is a member of the Methodist Church and has been Recording Steward for the past twenty-six years. He has also been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for the past thirteen years and Secretary of the County Bible Society for some time. He has been a Repub- lican since Lincoln's time, 1861.
DAM MILLAR. Few families of Picka- way County have a higher reputation in all matters of character, intelligence and liberality, than the one represented by the name we have just given. This gentleman was a native of this county, born in Harrison Town- ship, on the 15th of March. 1815, and came of a prominent Virginia family.
The father of our subject, William Millar, emi- grated from the Old Dominion, his native State, to Ohio, in the year 1799, and settled near the junetion of the Scioto River and Walnut Creek. There he entered seven hundred and one aeres of excellent land, upon which he made a number of improvements, and which has remained in the Mil- lar family for ninety-three years. At the time Government lands were sold in Chillicothe, Ohio, the elder Mr. Millar purchased section 23, partly in Walnut and partly in Harrison Township, and section 22, lying entirely in Harrison Township.
Mr. Millar spent the best years of his life in im- proving this land, upon which he built the first brick house erected in Harrison Township. In this house his grandson, the late Z. T. Millar, resided for many years. William Millar and his excellent
wife, Mary, were the second settlers of Harrison Township, and it is with pleasure that we place their names at the head of the list of pioneers who underwent privations and hardships that they might develop the rich resources of this region, and bring about the condition which we sce to- day. A fine residence was erected upon a beauti- ful building spot, on the west side of the Column- bus and Chillicothe Pike, about one mile south of South Bloomfield, and other substantial buildings were subsequently erected. Here the mother died in 1860, and the father three years later, aged eighty-six.
On this delightful location, and amid scenes of grandeur and beauty. the subject of this sketch passed almost his entire life. He was educated in the pioneer schools, and assisted his father in mak- mg possible the pleasant homes of to-day. Hese- lected as his wife Miss Naney R. Howell, and their nuptials were celebrated in 1841. Their union gave them ten children, seven sons and three daughters: William, Mary and George (twins). Michael. Taylor, Tecumseh, Fillmore, Adam, Lu- einda. and Hattie. The last-named is now Mrs. Dr. Ilumiston, of Cleveland, Ohio. Michael re- sides about one mile north of the homestead, and Tecumseh about one mile southwest. Mr. Millar became one of the most successful agriculturists in this region, and had a wide reputation as a breeder of line running horses, and other stock. He was extensively known, and his uniform geniality and affability gave him a host of friends, while his en- emies were few, if any. In all the relations of life, as husband. father, and citizen, he was kind. considerate, and indulgent, and his pleasant, cor- dial greeting has been sadly missed by his family and friends. This honored and much esteemed citizen passed to that realm from which no traveler returns on the 1st of November, 1891, aged sev- enty-six years, leaving an aged wife, who had shared his joys and sorrows for fifty years, three children. Michael. Tecumseh and Hattie, and eight grandchildren to mourn his death.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.