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 87

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 894


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 87
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 87
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 87


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Since coming to Pickaway County, Mr. Crown- over has combined the occupations of miller and farmer. Ilis homestead, being located on Deer Creek, affords admirable facilities for milling, as well as for stock-raising, which he carries on ex- tensively. In politics, he is a Democrat. and has occupied several important positions, to which he has been elected by large majorities, notwithstand- ing the fact that his township has a majority of one hundred and twenty Republicans. In 1868, he was elected Township Trustee; in 1873, was


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chosen for the office of Assessor, and the following year was elected Justice of the Peace, carrying every vote in his township with the exception of fifty-five. In 1880, he was elected Commissioner of Pickaway County by the largest majority ever received by any person, a fact which of itself sufficiently indicates the high place he occupies in the regard of his fellow-citizens.


1 SAAC LUDWIG, who was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, is a native of Pickaway County, and is one of its practical, experienced farmers, who has contributed his quota to its upbuilding. He has a farm on section 4, Pickaway Township, that is complete in all its appointments, and is also the owner of a quarter- section of land in Marion County, Kan.


Mr. Ludwig was born on the old Ludwig home- stead in Circleville Township, September 21, 1834. Ile was brought up under pioneer influences, and obtained his education in a log school-house such as was common in the early days of the settlement of the county. He was inured to the hard work of farming in his youth, and early became a skill- ful farmer. He remained at home, assisting his father in the management of the farm, until the second year of the war, when he threw aside his work to go to the front to help defend the Stars and Stripes. August 6, 1862, was the date of his enlistment in Company F, Ninetieth Ohio Infan- try. He soon displayed excellent soldierly qual- ities, and fought well at the battle of Stone River, and in the other engagements in which he bore an active part. But, unfortunately, his usefulness as a soldier was terminated by his contracting a chronic disease which confined him in various hospitals for six months. Ile was in the general field hospital at Nashville, at Lanesville, Chattanooga and Bridgeport, and in the last-named hospital was dis- charged from the army on account of physical dis- ability, November 23, 1863.


After his return from the South, Mr. Ludwig resumed farming as soon as he had sufficiently recovered to work, and has been much prospered.


His home farm comprises one hundred and thirty- eight acres of rich and well cultivated land, and is well supplied with substantial buildings, modern machinery, and everything to facilitate agricul- tural pursuits, besides being well stocked with graded stock. His residence, a view of which will be noticed in this volume, is a large frame house, and there he and his family have a pleasant home, replete with comfort and coziness. Our subject is a plain-spoken, honest man, who never breaks his word when once given, and his neighbors know that he is one in whom they can trust unreservedly, and who will not fail them if they are in need of help or in trouble, and they have great respect for him. Ilis politics are of the Democratic order, and he is always loyal to his party.


The marriage of Mr. Ludwig to Miss Charity Margaret, of this county, was solemnized February 1, 1882. Two children have been born unto them, whom they have named Cora E. and Mary M., re- spectively.


OHN SALMON. This well-known name is borne by the proprietor of the Oakwood Breeding Farm, a view of which will be noticed on another page. Mr. Salmon has on his place in Madison Mills, Fayette County, full-blooded Shropshire sheep, trotting and draft horses, Poland-China hogs and Jersey cattle, and in addition to these, devotes considerable time and attention to breeding Mammoth Bronze turkeys. White China geese, Light Brahmas, White Single- comb Leghorns, Brown Single-comb Leghorns, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Langshans, and Duck- wing Game Bantams.


The original of this sketch was born in Paint Township, Fayette County, June 13, 1837, to Perry and Elizabeth (Moore) Salmon, the former of whom was also born in that township, April 10, 1810, and the mother in 1805. Perry Salmon was born, reared and died on the farm in Paint Town- ship and did much toward the upbuilding and advancement of the county's interests. On the death of his father, he aided in clearing the estate


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RESIDENCE OF ISAAC LUDWIG, SEC.4 , PICKAWAY TP., PICKAWAY CO., O.


TENANT HOUSE.


RES. & FARM PROPERTY OF JOHN SALMON , MADISON TP., FAYETTE CO., OHIO.


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of four hundred and forty acres from indebtedness. and passed to the land beyond, October 26, 1890, after a long and useful life. Our subjeet was one in a family of four children: his eldest sister, Lucretia, who was born August 21, 1842, married R. D. Lane and makes her home on the old place; Solomon, who was born November 17. 1833; our subject was third in order of birth; and Mary Ann Cleaber, who was born August 1, 1845, married John W. Tway and also resides on the old home- stead.


The boyhood days of our subject were passed on his father's estate, and as the father was in poor health, the management of the place fell upon himself and brother. Ile received a common- school education and has been more than ordinar- ily successful in all his undertakings. His mother lived to be sixty-six years of age and departed this life in 1871. On both sides of the house his ancestors were German. his maternal ancestors locating at first in Virginia, whence they removed to Bourbon County, Ky., where the mother was born. She was about fifteen years of age when her parents came to Ohio, during which trip they lost many of their possessions in crossing the Ohio River, among which was the family record, so that the exact date of her birth is not known.


The paternal grandfather of our subject ran away from his father's home in Maryland when a boy, and made his way to Ohio, where he resided unknown to his people. In 1887, when some of his relatives were visiting in this State, they made the acquaintance of his descendants. Mr. Salmon of this sketch was married October 26, 1866, to Miss Mary Margaret, daughter of Lewis and Eliz- abeth (Alkire) Green. Mrs. Salmon was reared to womanhood in Mt. Sterling, in the home of an uncle, William II. Alkire, and after her marriage located with our subject on the old homestead.


In 1875, our subject lost his comfortable for- tune by going security for others. but, nothing daunted, commenced life again, this time locating in Paint Township, Madison County, where he rented land for three years. At the end of that time, he returned to the old farm and resided there until February, 1890, when he took up his abode in Madison Township. In 1861, Mr. Salmon


began handling Poland-China hogs and from that developed his present enterprise.


Mr. and Mrs. Salmon became the parents of two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Salmon is a member of the Christian Church, in which body her father was a minister, while onr subject is connected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. In political matters, he is inde- pendent. Ile has been called upon to represent his district at various times on the School Board and has served as a Trustee of Paint Township. Socially. he is a member of the Grange and was President of the Alliance.


SAAC ALLFREE, of Wayne Township, has lived on the fine farm that is still his home for more than half a century, and though not among the earliest settlers of Fayette County, is worthy to be classed among its pioneers as one who has reclaimed a goodly portion of soil from the forest wilds. He was born in Hardy County, Va., in 1808. His parents were Joseph and Polly (Keller) Allfree, the father of English descent, and they were life-long residents of old Virginia. The father's educational advantages were very limited. and when young in life he married a daughter of George Keller and set about building up a home. They reared a family of seven children, whom they named Anna. Betsy, Rebecca, Kate, Abraham, Isaac and David, respectively.


Our subject is the sole survivor of the family. llis father died when he was thirteen years old. while his mother lived several years longer. When his father died, our subject began life on his own responsibility. His education was such as could be obtained in the district school of his native place, which was held in an old log schoolhouse. Ile worked out by the month during the early part of his career, and at the age of twenty-four had laid by enough to enable him to marry, and he was wedded to his cousin. Katherine Keller, daughter of George and Mary Keller. In the busy years that followed, she was a true helpmate. faithfully


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performing her duties, and she was a good mother to the children born to them, eight in number, of whom these five are living: Mary C., Rebecca, David, Eliza J. and Eunice L. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Allfree married again, taking as his wife a most estimable young lady by the name of Maggie .Jones, a daughter of Wells Jones, and she is a great comfort to him in his dechning years.


In 1835 Mr. Allfree left his old home in Vir- ginia with his family to seek another in the wilds of Fayette County. He located in the woods in Wayne Township, purchasing two hundred and fifty-five acres of wild land, which are comprised in his present farm. As a shelter for his family, he constructed a cabin of oak poles, hewn on the in- side after it was completed, and he built a chimney of mud and sticks on the outside of the house. He worked industriously to clear his land and put it under cultivation, sometimes varying his labors by hunting deer, turkeys and such other wild game as abounded, that he might add to their limited bill of fare. He has improved the most of his farm himself, placing it under good tillage, and he has added to his original purchase sixteen acres more land. On this last tract stood a brick residence into which he moved, and is now passing the sun- set of life in comfort, the result of his patient and unremitting toil earlier in life. He has always stood by the Democratic party in politics, and is a good citizen, who is mneh- respected by his neigh- bors.


M ELANCTION WORTHINGTON is a wealthy and prominent citizen of Canaan Township, and is noted throughout Madi- son and adjoining counties as one of the most successful stockmen of this place, who makes a specialty of breeding Shetland ponies and trotting horses of the best strains. Ile has a home, beauti- ful and attractive, pleasantly situated five miles from Plain City, on the East Pike, which connects it with West Jefferson.


Our subjeet was born in the township in which he resides, in the village of Amity, December 9, 1841, being the date of his birth. Ile is a son of a


late veteran of the Civil War, and is himself hon- ored as a representative of that noble band of the sons of Ohio who went to the front to help pre- serve the Union, when the very life of this great Republic was threatened by foes from within. The father of our subject, Joel H. Worthington, was born in New London, Conn., in 1814, and was reared in his native town, learning the trade of a cabinet-maker in his youth. In 1836, he came, on his way home from the Florida War, to Cincinnati, and thence to Madison County, where he was a pioneer in his calling, opening a cabinet-shop in the little hamlet of Amity. He was engaged in man- ufacturing all kinds of furniture and coffins there until 1847, when he removed to Appanoose County, Iowa, and for a year resided in the vil- lage of Centreville. From there he went to Har- rison County, Mo., and located in Bethany, where he carried on the cabinet business until 1856. In that year, he returned to this county, and again es- tablished himself in the village of Amity. He turned his attention to carpentering and pamting, and was engaged at those callings when the war broke out. He had had some experience as a soldier in the Florida War many years before, and he was not long in deciding to again place his services at his country's disposal, he being among the first to enter the army, enlisting April 16, 1861. Dis- charged at the end of his three months' term of enlistment, August 16, he again enlisted on the 30th of the same month, and served until the fol- lowing year. His third enlistment followed soon after, for he was nothing dannted by the hardships and miseries that he had previously undergone, but kept the light of patriotism burning brightly in his breast. In 1865, he received his final dis- charge, and returned to his home with the rank of Corporal, honorably earned by his bravery and fidelity. Ohio is where he died in 1878. The mother of our subjeet bore the maiden name of Polly Kinney, and she was born and reared in New York. She was still in early womanhood when she died in Iowa in her thirty-first year.


Our subject is the only child of his parents. He was but six years old when they took him to Iowa, but he had previously attended school in his native village. Ile was but eight years old when he was


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deprived of a mother's tender care by her untimely death. When he was thirteen years of age, he left his father in Iowa and returned to Amity to live with his uncle, I. N. Worthington, with whom he remained until the breaking out of the Rebellion. Like his father, he too sprang to the defense of the Stars and Stripes, and in the hard and trying years that followed, well did he show his loyalty to his country on many a hotly-contested battle- field. Ile devoted the opening years of his man- hood to the great cause for which the Union army fought, enlisting at first for three months in Company C, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry. He was honorably discharged the 16th of the fol- lowing August, but soon re-enlisted for a longer term of service as a member of Company D, For- tieth Ohio Infantry, and was honorably discharged October 7, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga., receiving his pay at Louisville, Ky. He was with Gen. Garfield in the engagement at Middle Creek, and took part in many of the principal battles of the war. He had many a narrow escape from death, but fortu- nately escaped unscathed by bullet or bayonet thrust of the enemy. At one time, a ball passed very closely by his ear, and lodged in his blanket, which was strapped on his back.


When his soldier life was over, Mr. Worthington returned to the village of his nativity, and was soon engaged as a clerk in the store of Miss Delilalı Lane, an ambitious, energetic and business-like young lady, who has since become his wife, and has contributed much, not only to his success in life, but to his well-being in other directions. Her store, which was for the sale of general merchan- dise, was two miles south of Amity on the place where she and our subject now reside. She was born in Amity, May 7, 1837, and is a daughter of Luther and Elizabeth (Morrison) Lane. She was reared in her native village, was given a good ed- ucation, and at the youthful age of fourteen. the self-reliant, self-contained young miss taught school, getting a salary of $1.50 a week. But she was of a business turn of mind, and when fif- teen years old, abandoned that profession to enter upon a mercantile career as clerk in her father's store. She learned perfectly every detail of the business. and at the end of eleven years bought


out the concern of her father. She was remarkably successful in her venture, and during three years of the war cleared $1.200 annually. She added to her funds by judicious investments and by loaning her money at a good rate of interest. She was married to our subject, October 21. 1866, and then turned over the management of the store to him.


Mr. Worthington replaced the original store by a large brick building, erected at a cost of $3,000, and he also built a fine residence that cost the same amount, which stands on his present farm, and the buildings together are now worth $8,000. They have in Pike and Canaan Townships two hundred and twenty-nine acres of land. one hundred and eighty-eight in Brown Township. Franklin County, and also fine property in Colum- bus, which he exchanged for his stock of goods when he closed out his business as general mer- chant. said property including a substantial two- story dwelling. fitted up with all the modern con- veniences. Mr. Worthington now devotes himself to raising blooded stock, and has one of the pret- tiest and best herds of Shetland ponies in the country, including a valuable stallion of that breed. Ile also has some very fine brood mares in trotting stock, and has some beautiful and swift- stepping horses, which have been bred on his place and have notable blood in their veins. He like- wise has well-graded cattle, sheep and hogs.


Our subject has strong Republican proclivities, early manifesting his sympathies with the prin- ciples of the party, and fighting for them on Southern battlefields. When a boy. he taught a runaway negro to read, and from hearing his stories of slavery became an earnest Abolitionist. Our subject is a man of civic and social importance in his community. He has been Township Clerk, and is now Treasurer of the Township. He is prominently connected with the following organi- zations: Urania Lodge No. 311. F. & A. M., at Plain City; Lodge No. 412. I. O. O. F .. at West Jefferson; Ardent Encampment No. 244. at the same place; for two years he has been Commander of Canton Lodge No. 72, at West Jefferson; both he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah; he is charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, at West Jefferson: he belongs to


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the Chapter of Columbus, F. & A. M .; and is Commander of the Harry Scribner Post No. 222, G. A. R. Religiously, he is a member of the Darby Baptist Church.


Mr. and Mrs. Worthington have had two chil- dren, a son, who died in infancy, and a daughter, Lillie Mand. She is the wife of William C. Beach, of Jefferson Township, and the mother of two sons, Thomas Melancthon, who was named for his grandfather, and Welling. These children are the pride and delight of our subject's heart, and he takes great pleasure in them.


G EORGE W. BOTKIN, a leading and rep- resentative citizen of Paint Township, Madison County, was born October 10, 1822, about three miles from his present home, in Madison Township, Clarke County. His parents, Jeremiah and Anna (Ellsworth) Botkin, were both natives of Harrison County, Va., the former born October 31, 1784, and the latter Jannary 1, 1790. The mother was a distant relative of Col. Ells- worth, who led the Zouaves, and was shot in the early part of the War of the Rebellion, at Alexan- dria, Va. The Botkin family was descended from two brothers of English birth, who in 1650 crossed the Atlantic and settled in Virginia. The parents of our subject came to Ohio in 1802, with their respective families, and were married Decem- ber 9, 1806. For a few years they resided m Clinton County, where the eldest child, Jesse, was born November 5, 1807. About 1808, they re- moved to Clarke County, where Mr. Botkin bought land and carried on farming and wagon- making. The second child, Sanford, was born on Birch Creek, November 7, 1809. The other chil- dren were all born on the farm, which was the birthplace of our subject, and were: Ruhamah, born January 21, 1813; Margaret, March 13, 1815; Amos, May 15, 1817; Moses E., May 6, 1819; George, of this sketch; Anna, born May 10, 1827; and William 1., April 8, 1832. The father of this family made his own way in the world, and was very successful, owning two


hundred and fifteen aeres of land at the time of his death. In early life he was a Whig, and joined the Republican party on its organization. Ile became a member of the Methodist Church when a young man, and was licensed to exhort. By all who knew him he was held in the highest regard. His death occurred September 7, 1861, and his wife passed away August 24, 1864. Two of his sons were in the army. William I., who was married and had two children, enlisted in 1861, in Company F. Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry, for three years' service, was taken prisoner at Phila- delphia, Tenn., and incarcerated in Libby Prison, Belle Isle and Andersonville, where he died June 15, 1864. Our subject was a member of the one- hundred-day service. IIe enlisted May 2, 1864, and returned home on the 26th of August, the day after his mother's burial.


At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Botkin, began teaching at $12 per month. After being employed for three months, he was solicited to retain the school for another month, and was given an in- crease of salary of $1. For ten years, he followed teaching at intervals. He was married April 5, 1849, at the age of twenty-seven, to Miss Eliza S. Maxey, of Paint Township, who was born on the farm which is now her home, January 10, 1823. Her parents were Stephen and Fannie (Troxel) Maxey. Unto them have been born six children: Frances E., born April 13, 1850; Albert C., who was born November 13, 1851, and wedded Mary Tumbleson; Mary E., born January 4, 1853, is the wife of HI. H. Snyder, a druggist of London, Ohio, and has five children; Florence I., born December 10, 1854, became the wife of Frank W. Pierce, and died, leaving two children; Stephen H., born Sep- tember 23, 1856, resides in Madison County; and Anna J., born October 8, 1860, completes the family.


Mr. Botkin was in Fulton County, III., from September, 1847, until June, 1848, engaged in teaching school. After his marriage, he resided upon his father's farm for three years, when he removed to South Charleston, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for five years. In the mean- time, he took a Western trip through Missouri and Iowa in 1857, in order to locate some land, but


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did not do so. He removed to his present home April 17, 1860, and has resided there continuously since. He owns one hundred and seventy-eight acres of valuable land, under a high state of culti- vation and well-improved, and his residence was erected by himself and sons. He is an enterpris- ing and progressive citizen, and may truly be called a self-made man.


Mr. Botkin cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844, supported Jolm C. Fremont in 1856, and has since been a stanch Republican. LIe has served as Township Trustee, and for the long period of eight- een years has been Justice of the Peace, which fact indicates his faithfulness to duty. Ilimself and wife are consistent and active members of the Methodist Church, in which he has served as Stew- ard and Trustee. He has also been a prominent Sunday-school worker, and was Recording Steward for the circuit for six years. Socially, he is a member of McMillan Post No. 122, G. A. R., of South Charleston.


OHN C. JONES, an enterprising and pro- gressive farmer of Paint Township, Madison County, owns more than four hundred and fifteen acres of land, which he has under a high state of cultivation and well improved. The good buildings, the well-tilled fields and the neat appearance of the place, indicate the industry which has been one of the prominent characteris- tics of Mr. Jones through life.


He was born in Cumberland County, Tenn., June 11, 1817. His parents, Zacheus and Eliza- beth (Key) Jones, were natives of Tennessee, and after their marriage emigrated to London, Ohio. The family is originally of English descent. The father of our subject died soon after coming to this State. He had secured some wild land but left his family in limited circumstances. The mother taught our subject to plow and he became her main support until she married Charles Atkinson, who lived but a few years.


Mr. Jones of this sketch remained with his step-


father, and at his death had charge of the Atkin- son farm. At the age of twenty-one. he was married October 31, 1839, to Sarah A. Taylor, who was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, September 5, 1820. Her parents, Thomas and Isabel (Hume) Taylor, were early settlers and prominent citizens of Madison County. Mr. JJones continued to reside on the old farm in Deer Creek Township with his mother for a few years. In the meantime, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land and began the development of the farm on which he now resides. It is now one of the most desirable places in the community, and its boundaries have since been greatly extended.


U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born eleven children: Mary Elizabeth, born September 11, 1840, is the widow of Capt. Watson. She had three children and resides in London, Ohio. William HI., born May 23, 1842, is a farmer of Deer Creek Township, Madison County, and by his marriage has three children. Isabel was born June 1, 1844. John C., born August 29, 1846, died July 27, 1867. DeWitt Clinton, born September 5, 1848, married Miss Laura Hoeriger, of Columbus, and is a practicing attorney of that city. He served as Postmaster of Columbus under President Cleve- land, and is a prominent Democrat. By his marriage he has two children. Eldon and Norma. Francis M., born June 3. 1852, is married and resides in Paint Township. George D., born May 25, 1854. is a well-known lawyer of Columbus. Ile married Eva Lattimer, of that city, and they have two children: Grace, born April 3, 1879. and Margaret Fuller, June 24, 1886. Thomas T. died at the age of three months. Flora born April, 21, 1861, is the wife of Freeman Murray, by whom she has one child. Ada, born October 7, 1863. Fannie, born October 20, 1865. is the wife of C. W. Adams, a lumber dealer of Cincinnati, and they have a little daughter. Ilazel. Mrs. Jones, the mother of the family, was called to her final rest. November 18, 1886.




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