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 92
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 92
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 92
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The first marriage of our subject occurred in Circleville in 1880 to Miss Emma T. Hartmeyer, a native of this city and the daughter of ex-Sheriff C. F. Hartmeyer, who was also born here and who is now retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Schleyer was born one child, Paul F. Our subject's second mar- riage occurred in 1889 to Miss Nell Hartmeyer, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Schleyer was a mem- ber of the School Board one term, after which he declined re-election. Ile was elected on the Demo- cratic ticket to the City Council, Fourth Ward, and re-elected in 1891. Ile is Vice-president of the Council at the present time and is Chairman of the Police Committee and Committee on Light. This committee fought for two years for are light. Mr. Schleyer is President of the Public Library Board. and was one of the committee to select the site for the Memorial and Public Library Building. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also the Uniform Elks. In polities, he is a
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strong advocate of the principles of the Demo- eratic party, and he has been a delegate to the County Conventions. He is an active member of the Democratic Club.
ANIEL B. FOSTER. Among the well- known and influential citizens of Oak Run Township, Madison County, is the gentle- man whose name introduces this para- graph, and who is a successful farmer, using the best methods of fertilizing the soil and improving his property. He was born in Ross County, this State, March 7, 1828, and was the son of John and Eliza (Bowyer) Foster, natives, respectively, of Ross and Pike Counties, this State.
The father of our subject, who was born March 4, 1802, was a farmer by occupation, and came to Madison County when our subject was a lad of five years. He was a man who had made his own way in the world, and was financially successful, leaving at his death an estate of one thousand acres of land. Our subject was the eldest child of the parental family of ten children, eight of whom are still living, all making their homes in Madi- son County with the exception of Miranda, Mrs. Mooreman, who is residing in Harvey, Ill. The father of our subject was a Whig, in politics, and voted for John Q. Adams in 1824. On the or- ganization of the Republican party, however, he joined its ranks in 1856.
Daniel Foster was reared on the old home farm, and received a common-school education. Ile be- gan to do for himself after reaching his majority. When twenty-four years of age, he was married to Miranda MeClimans, by whom he became the father of three children: Flora, who died at the age of six months; Bernard, who is a carpenter, and makes his home in London, this State; and Jennie, now the wife of John B. Van Wagoner, a grain mer- chant in the above-named place. The wife and mother departed this life in August, 1860, and the lady whom our subject chose as his second wife, January 14, 1863, was Miss Margaret M. Johnston. To them have been born the following-named nine
children: Jesse, Allie, Kemper L., Elmer B., Eva, Washington 1., Frank E., Maud and Chester G.
In politics, our subject was a Whig, casting his first Presidential vote in 1852. He then joined the ranks of the Republican party, with which he voted until 1886, and is now a Prohibitionist. He has served his party as a delegate to county and State conventions, but has in no wise been an office-seeker. Mr. and Mrs. Foster and several of their children are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which denomination our subject has been Class-leader for twenty-two years, and Sunday-school Superintendent for a period of twenty years. On the death of his father, he fell heir to one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, and by his union with his first wife became the pro- prietor of one hundred aeres. His possessions now aggregate five hundred aeres, which are adorned with all the necessary buildings which make of agriculture a pleasurable as well as profitable busi- ness. In 1862, Mr. Foster erected a beautiful iesi- dence on his estate, which is finished and furnished in a manner which indicates its inmates to be peo- ple of means and culture.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the War of 1812. His father was a twin brother of James Foster, the father of Mrs. J. B. Chenowith, Mrs. J. S. Pancake and Mrs. Allison S. Grimm.
W ILLIAM H. JONES. This gentleman is an ex-soldier of the late Civil War, in which he won a military record that reflected credit on the soldiery of this State and of which he may well be proud. Ile is one of the leading farmers of Deer Creek Township, Madison County, where he has a finely located estate, which, in re- gard to improvements, is considered one of the most desirable pieces of property in this county.
John C. Jones, the father of our subjeet, a prom- inent citizen of Paint Township, this county, was born in Tennessee, June 11, 1817. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Ann Hume, was the daughter of Thomas and Isabella Taylor
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and is now deceased. She was married to Mr. Jones October 30, 1839, and reared a family of nine children, of whom our subject is the eldest but one. He was born in Somerford Township, this county, May 23, 1842, and was four years of age when his father removed to Paint Township, where he grew to manhood. Our subject remained under the parental roof, aiding his father in eul- tivating the home farm and attending school. Ihs education was received mostly at London, and later in life he taught school for about twenty years during the winter seasons, following farming in the summers.
November 9, 1865, William HI. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Sallie A. Minter. The lady was born in Deer Creek Township, Madison County, October 11, 1846, and was the daughter of John Minter, also a native of that place. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Jane De Lany, was born in Urbana, this State, in November, 1818, while her father was born in 1806, in Harrison County, Ky. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Minter located in this township, where they have since made their home and reared a family of six children, of whom Mrs. Jones was the fourth in order of birth.
After his marriage, the original of this sketch made his home upon the farm where he is at pres- ent residing, in Deer Creek Township, and which comprises one hundred and seventy acres of ex- cellently improved land. Of his family of four children, one is now deceased. Those living are: Annie L., the wife of D. H. Lattimer; Paul and Vera.
Mr. Jones has always been interested in local affairs and has been Township Trustee and Assessor. Ilis interest in school affairs has led him to be placed upon the School Board, in which position he has rendered efficient service. In politics, he is a Democrat, believing in the principles laid down in the platform of that party. He is liberal in his religious views, while his good wife is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In May, 1864, Mr. Jones became a member of Com- pany I, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio In- fantry, in the one hundred days' service. Wherever known, he is honored for his sturdy integrity of
character and indefatigable perseverance, and, like all good citizens, he is proud of the advancement of the section in which he lives and willing to bear a hand in movements which will further increase it.
ABIAS O. FU'LTS, Editor and proprietor of the Ohio Citizen, of Jeffersonville, Fayette County, was born in Auglaize County, this State, on the 22d of May, 1858. He is a son of John and Anna A. (Bush) Fults, both natives of Fayette County. The parents removed to Au- glaize County, where they remained for about one year, at which time they returned to this county, and located in Jefferson Township, where they still reside on a farm. The father has been a stanch Republican all his life. They have had born to them ten children, as follows: Jacob II., O. E., L. O., J. E., Mary F. ( wife of J. W. Edmondson), Clora A., Ivy (wife of Loran Clevinger), Etta, Rosetta (wife of John Wilson) and Lizzie.
Our subject was reared on the home farm, and educated in the public schools. He spent several years in the West, but in the spring of 1887 re- turned home and purchased the Ohio Citizen of L. A. Elster, M. D., and has since then owned and published this spicy family sheet. It has a circula- tion of between six hundred and eight hundred. The editor makes it a point to gather all the cur- rent news each week, and his paper is considered an interesting one, and one of the best country papers in the county. He has gained a great deal of ground since he has had charge of this paper, and now has almost the entire patronage of his township for the paper and job work. Ile has been very successful in all his business undertak- ings, and pays strict attention to his business, which is ever his motto to success. Socially. he is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias. of Jeffersonville.
The subject of this brief notice was united in marriage with Miss Emma B. Marshall, a daughter of Dr. O. W. Marshall. of Jeffersonville. This cere- mony took place at the home of the bride's par- ents on the 26th of October, 1888. To this couple
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one daughter, Cora L., has come to bless their home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fults are leading mem- bers of the Protestant Methodist Church, and M .. Fults is a member of the Town Council, to which he was elected in 1891.
REDERICK E. MITHOFF. A prominent German-American citizen, and a farmer who keeps abreast with the progress of the times, and one who has advanced the interests of his adopted country in every possible way, is he whose name is at the head of this sketch. He was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 30th of July, 1815, and his parents, Hector A. and Doro- thy E. Mithoff, were natives of England and Ger- many, respectively.
About 1830, the family emigrated to America, taking passage at Bremen, and after an ocean voy- age of sixty-nine days, landed in New York City. Later, they moved to Pennsylvania, and after re- siding in Schuylkill County for about ten years, or until 1839, they emigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio, locating in Violet Township. The father was one of the earliest representatives of the Teu- tonie element in that section, and possessed all the sturdy characteristics of those of that nativity. There the father and mother died in 1854. Only four of the seven children are now living: Fred- erick E., Henry, Edward T. and Theodore.
When a young man, our subject learned the coach and wagon-making trade, and followed this for about four years, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He received a fair education in German, and has since acquired a good knowl- edge of the English language. He was first mar- ried to Miss Wilhelmina Hose, who bore him four children: Dorothy M., wife of Prof. George Eversole; Lillie A., the widow of J. A. Koffman; William H., and Ella R., wife of Harry Beaver. Mr. Mithoff selected his second wife in the person of Amelia Becker, a native of the same place as her husband, born September 11, 1830, and their nuptials were celebrated on the 18th of Septem- ber, 1862. Her parents. Ernst and Dorothy (Lam-
merhirt) Becker, were also natives of the Old Coun- try. In 1847, Mrs. Mithoff crossed the ocean to America, and located first in Fairfield County, Ohio, but later came to Pickaway County. Four children were the fruits of this union: Anna, wife of Truman Vairan; Frank W., Edward E. and Fredrick G.
In the year 1875, Mr. Mithoff, accompanied by his family, moved to Harrison Township, Pick- away County, and purchased a farm of two hun- dred acres. On this he has since erected many good, substantial buildings, and the place is now known as one of the best in the locality. Mr. Mithoff is a self-made man, and what he has ac- cumulated in the way of this world's goods is the result of industry and strictest economy. An intelligent gentleman, of superior mental attain- ments, he seeks to develop himself as well as his agricultural interests in the best and broadest directions. In church preference, he and his esti- mable wife are Lutherans, and are liberal contrib- utors to the church, as to all other enterprises worthy of mention. In politics, he advocates the principles of the Democratic party, and is a wide- awake and thorough-going citizen.
Elsewhere in this volume is shown a view of Mr. Mithoff's rural abode.
AMES H. ALLEN. In the proprietor of the Springdale Stock Farm, of Darby Township, we present a man of national reputation as a breeder of fast horses and one who is well and favorably known for his honesty, morality and thorough business principles. Born in Darby- ville, April 8, 1838, he has always made his home in Pickaway County and is closely identified with its progress.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Ananias Allen, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and early settled in New Jersey, later removing thence to Pennsylvania. John Allen, grandfather of our subject, was a native of New England but removed to Pennsylvania at an early day and in
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RESIDENCE OF FRED MITHOFF, SEC. 10 , HARRISON TP., PICKAWAY CO., 0.
" SPRING DALE STOCK FARM. RES. OF JAMES H. ALLEN, DARBY TP., PICKAWAY CO., OHIO.
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that State carried on his trade of a cooper and turner, being a very skillful workman. About the year 1811, accompanied by his family, he came to Ohio and stopped for a short time at Cincinnati. For an old grey horse, which was blind in one eye. he was offered one hundred acres of land on the site of Cincinnati, but refused to trade.
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Leaving his family temporarily in Cincinnati, Grandfather Allen proceeded to Bloomingsburgh, which he selected for his home on account of it be- ing a strong Presbyterian settlement, and he was a devoted adherent of that faith. He bought a farm near the village, removed Ins family thither, and from the wilderness developed a finely im- proved farm, which was his home until his death at the age of seventy. During his first sea- son there, he cleared a piece of ground by burning a brush heap, and then, building a rail fence around it, planted apple seeds. Afterward he set out the shoots in an orchard, in which some of the original trees are still standing. During the War of 1812, he went to the Lakes to fight, but was not called into active service. In politics, he was a Whig.
James Allen, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1804 and was one of four chil- dren, the others being Henry, Polly, and a daugh- ter that died. When nine years old, James accompanied his parents to Ohio. Naturally stud- ious, he availed himself of the best advantages he could obtain in the district schools, and thus gained a good foundation for future life. At the age of fifteen, he went to Ross County and lived with a relative, working for his board and attending a subscription school which was held by a Mr. MeNaily, who had been educated as a Cath- olie priest and was a fine scholar and teacher.
While attending school here, young Allen was at the head of his classes and was also a leader in games and sports. After three years thus occupied, he spent some time in a school at Chillicothe and began the study of medicine under Dr. Tolan, of London, Ohio. He also studied under Dr. Johnson, of Frankfort, and after examination by the Eighth Medical District of Ohio, was admitted to practice. February 6, 1827.
The professional career of Dr. Allen began at Frankfort, this State, and he afterward engaged in
practice at London. Madison County, but finally settled at Darbyville, where he practiced the re- mainder of his active life, building up a very large practice, which extended for many miles. In those early times, he traveled on horseback, following Indian trails and fording streams, and doing much unremunerative work for the poor. A graduate of the Ohio Medical College, he was a man of wide information, very attentive to business, regular in his habits and very exemplary in all respects. Among men of his profession, he was held to possess more than ordinary ability in the diagno- sis of difficult cases. He retired from active life and spent his last days in London, Ohio, dying there July 8, 1867. He was a Whig in his early days and a Republican after the organization of that party.
Elizabeth Russell. who became the wife of Dr. Allen, was born in Pennsylvania in 1803 and died June 29, 1855. Iler two daughters, Martha J. and Matilda, are deceased. and her son Homer. who served in the late war, died while at home upon a furlough. Mrs. Elizabeth Allen was an earnest and active member of the Methodist Church. Her fa- ther, Joseph Russell, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Madison County, Ohio, about 1810, and after a short residence there settled in London, this State, and built a hewed-log hotel. While officiating as landlord of his hotel during the War of 1812, many a soldier, going to and from the Lakes. would beg to sleep upon the floor. Later, Mr. Russell removed to Indiana and afterward to Minnesota, where he died after completing four- score years.
The subject of this sketch was reared at Darby- ville and educated in the village school. At the age of fifteen, his father set him to buying stock, and thus directed his interest in that direction. so that the youth soon began farming independently. At the age of twenty-two, he settled in Darby Township, as his father had given him an interest in the farm, which originally comprised seven hun- dred acres, increased by our subject to nine hun- dred, and which was eventually divided between our subject and his sister. Of this land, Mr. Allen has cleared and developed several hundred acres. He now has four hundred and twenty acres here
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and four hundred and twenty-five near Washing- ton C. Il., all of which is in an improved condi- tion.
The wife of our subject, Mary C., is the daughter of Joseph Bybee, and was born in Fayette County, Ohio, becoming the wife of Mr. Allen September 15, 1859. Her father was born near Charlottesville, Va., and came with his father to Fayette County at a very early day. He was at one time the largest tax- payer in the county, owning two thousand acres of land and grazing as many as five hundred cattle at a time. Ile was a man of wonderful natural abil- ity, liberal and kind-hearted, and was accustomed to keep all his accounts and financial matters men- tally and without the aid of books. His death occurred at the age of fifty-five years. His wife, Alice Day, was a native of Fayette County, and her mother, Elizabeth (Compton) Day, planted the first corn ever put in the ground by a white woman in Fayette County. Compton Creek was named for her father, who settled on its banks among the Indians in very early days. He was a man of high education, and endeavored to educate and civilize the savages.
Our subject and his worthy wife have two chil- dren, Frank M. and Charles. Both are fine young business men, the former being Manager of the Perry Manufacturing Company of Indianapolis, Ind., while the latter is Superintendent of the wheel department of the Columbus Cart Company at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Allen at first farmed ex- tensively and dealt largely in stock, buying and selling until 1880, when he began devoting him- self to breeding the American road and trotting horses.
Our subject became a member of the National Breeders' Association and has trotted his horses at their meetings with a success that has given him distinction as a breeder. Horses that have been bred by Mr. Allen and trotted to records are "Buck Morgan," 2:20}; "Bliss," 2:213; "Speedaway," 2:24}; "Trifle," 2:264, and "M'liss," 2:274.
At each of his six sales he has disposed of about thirty horses and has buyers throughout the entire country. In all his dealings, he is known to be exceptionally honest, and will never dispose of a horse at private sale after it has been adver-
tised for public sale, although by so doing he has often lost considerable money. He ships brood mares to Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kentucky and other points and breeds to the best horses in the United States. In his stalls are some fine young stallions of the "Electioneer" and "George Wilkes" fam- ilies.
His business interests engage the entire attention of Mr. Allen, and he has therefore never aspired to office. In his political inclinations, he is a Re- publican but is independent in regard to his ballot, which he considers best qualified to serve the peo- ple acceptably.
Elsewhere in this volume will be noticed a view of the Springdale Stock Farm.
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OHIN R. ENTREKIN, residing on section 27, Pickaway Township, on the old Entre- kin homestead, known as Bellevue, is a rep- resentative in the third generation of a family that has long been illustrious in the annals of Pickaway County as potent in its upbuilding and in its public life, and the name will ever be associated with its rise and progress.
Our subject was born on the farm that he still lives on, October 1, 1844, and is descended from an ancient Highland Scotch family. The first of the Entrekins to come to America was James Entrekin, whose early home was in a mountain pass of Scotland known as Entrekin Pass. He married a lady of Scotch-Irish extraction, who was born in the North of Ireland, and lived to be one hundred and three years old. They came to America in Colonial times and settled in the east- ern part of Adams County, Pa. One of their sons, William by name, and his entire family were killed by the Indians on a small stream called Bloody Run. James, another son, married Elizabeth Hall, who was of Scoteli-Irish lineage, and they made their home on the battleground near Gettysburg. They reared the following children: James, John, William, Elizabeth, Jane, Esther and Martha.
Their son John, from whom our subject is lin- eally descended, was born April 22, 1778, and in
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1792 went with his father's family to Huntingdon County, Pa., whence he, with others, came to the Northwestern Territory and settled in Ross County, Ohio, in April, 1798, traveling from Wheeling to Chillicothe by a bridle-path known as Zane's Trace, and seeing only four houses on the way, so wild and unsettled was the country through which they passed. John and his friends cleared that season ninety-nine acres of land, afterward entered by Cryder and now known as the Dun Farm. After raising a crop, they returned to their homes in Pennsylvania and prepared to remove their fam- ilies to the new dwelling-place in the wilderness. They came back to Ohio in October, 1798, with the following members of the Entrekin family: father, mother, John, William and Martha. The mother died in Ross County September 5, 1800. at the age of sixty-seven years, and the family then breaking up, the father returned to Penn- sylvania and spent his remaining years with his son James. Martha went to Kentucky to live with her sister, Mrs. James Parkes, and subsequently mar- ried Thomas Mccutchen. William returned to his native State, and died there in JJuly, 1854.
December 25, 1801, John Entrekin married Nancy Crouse, daughter of John and Catherine Crouse, who had emigrated with their family to Ross County in April, 1798. Her parents were both born near Baltimore, her father January 13, 1759, and her mother May 1, 1764, he being of German extraction and she of Welsh. After set- tling in Ross County, the father purchased a mill on Kinnickinnick Creek, which was the first mill built in the Scioto Valley. Ile died September 5, 1845, aged eighty-eight years, and she died on the 12th of the same month at the age of eighty-one years. He had served in the Revolution with great credit when a young man.
John Entrekin was prominent in Ross and Pick- away Counties for a good many years. His life up to 1828 was identified with Ross County, but in March of that year he removed to Pickaway County and thereafter made his home in Pickaway Township. From papers yellow with age, now in the possession of his son, William W. Entrekin, we cull a few facts concerning his official career. The oldest, dated January 14, 1802, Territory of the
United States northwest of the Ohio, is his com- mission as Captain of a company of the first reg- iment of militia of the county of Ros -. A little later he received the following letter:
CHILLICOTHE, May 20, 1803.
Sm :- You will please immediately inform your neighborhood that the Indians are in force on our frontier, and that they ought immediately to arm and equip themselves for the defense of the neighborhood, and be ready to obey such other orders as they may receive.
G. LANGHAM.
Another, who signs his name Jesse Prentiss, wrote: "It is certain they have killed Capt. Herod." Fortunately for all, the attack did not take place.
John Entrekin received his commission as Cap- tain of the Second Company, First Battalion, First Regiment, Second Brigade of Ohio Militia, dated March 24, 1809. and signed by Samuel Huntington, then Governor of the State. He performed ardu- ous service during the War of 1812, first having charge of a company of horsemen in the Auglaize country, where he was sent to aid in the relief of Ft. Defiance. Returning to Chillicothe from that expedition, the following fall and winter he was at the head of a force which guarded the wagon trains that conveyed supplies from the then capital to Upper Sandusky, and he also had the management of the business in a commercial way. Near the close of the war, he was appointed Cap- tain of a company of infantry, and in June, 1817, Gov. Thomas Worthington notified him of his appointment as Major of the Second Regiment. of which only a few days later he was made Lieu- tenant-Colonel. November 13, 1818. he was com- missioned Colonel of the Third Regiment. Third Brigade, Second Division of the Ohio troops. He was three times appointed Justice of the Peace- in 1815, by Gov. Worthington; in 1819, by Gov. Ethan A. Brown; and in 1822. by Gov. Allen Trimble. In 1821, he represented Ross County m the Legislature, and in 1838 the Legislature elected him Common Pleas JJudge of Pickaway County, which position he held until his death, May 10, 1842, at the age of sixty-four years. The county then lost one of its most distinguished and valuable citizens. a man of remarkable activity
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