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 94
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 94
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 94
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Although Mr. Riddle pays considerable attention to wheat, his principal erop is corn, much of which is fed to his stock and the remainder sold. Ile keeps large numbers of hogs. cattle and sheep. and has shipped some stock, but sells most of it in the home market. ITis financial success has been prin- cipally gained in this way, through the medium of corn and hogs. One hundred acres of his land are in timber and four hundred and thirty acres are improved.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Riddle are efficient and ear- nest members of the Christian Church, in which they take an active interest and for which they are ever ready to give of their means and efforts.
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They contributed to build the church and are gen- erous in its support. The doctrines of the Repub- lican party were in accordance with the views of Mr. Riddle, and he voted that ticket until two years ago, sinee which time he has been a Prohibi- tionist. He began in poverty, but has made a great success of his work and business by dint of hard work and good management. He never bor- rowed a cent of money, but now is able to loan large amounts. He was one of the five men who laid out and platted the city of Derby, in the pro- gress of which he has ever been interested.
On another page is shown a portrait of Mr. Riddle.
W ILLIAM E. MORRIS, Clerk of the Courts of Pickaway County, and an enterprising, public-spirited citizen of Circleville, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, September 8, 1861, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Elliott) Mor- ris. The grandfather, Isaac Morris, was born in Pennsylvania, and when a young man emigrated with his family to Highland County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until his death. The Morris family is of English descent.
John Morris was born in Highland County, and his wife in Clinton County. Her father, Benja- min Elliott, was also a native of Clinton County, and is still living, at the age of eighty years. Mr. Morris located in that county, where he engaged in farming until 1861. In that year, he removed to Jay County, Ind., and there enlisted as private in the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. He died in the hospital in Nashville, Tenn., in 1863, and was there buried. After his death, his widow re- turned to Clinton County, Ohio, and now resides in New Holland.
Our subject was their only child. His education was acquired in the common schools, and when sixteen years of age he began clerking in the post- office in Sabina, where he remained two years. Ile then spent eighteen months as a clerk in a drug store, after which he removed to Canon City, Col., and spent one summer in the drug business at that
place. On his return to Sabina, he was employed as a salesman until 1882, when he removed to New Holland and established a drug store. He built up the largest business at that place, and is still owner of the store.
Mr. Morris was married in New Holland, No- vember 22, 1885, to Miss Kate Kennedy, a native of that place, and a daughter of Andrew Kennedy, a native of the Emerald Isle, who became an early settler of New Holland. Hle now resides in Spring- field, Ohio. Two interesting children have been born to our subject and his wife: Mary and Frank.
Mr. Morris held the position of Postmaster in Holland from 1885 until 1889, and was a member of the City Council for several years. In tlie autumn of 1890, he was nominated on the Demo- cratic tieket, and elected to the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court and Court of Common Pleas, and entered upon the duties of the position Feb- ruary 9, 1891. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. He is a charter member of the Sons of Veterans of Bob McCook Camp, the largest camp in the State, and has twice served as its Captain. Mr. Morris is a gentleman of sterling worth and integrity, held in high regard through- out the community for his many excellencies of character.
O RLANDO VAN BUSKIRK. The great- grandfather of our subject, Peter Van Bus- kirk, was one of the first pioneers to brave the dangers and hardships of the wilderness to found a home in Pickaway County, and from that day to this the Van Buskirks, from generation to generation, have been closely identified with its rise and growth, with its material progress, and with its higher interests. Orlando Van Buskirk, of whom we write, is one of the most intelligent and enlightened farmers of Monroe Township. He was born in said township, one mile east of his present home, August 25, 1848. His father, Peter Van Buskirk, was born in Perry Township, May 15, 1826, a son of John Van Buskirk, who was
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born in Allegany County, Md .. November 19. 1795. The American branch of the family that originated in Holland was established by nine brothers, who came here in Colonial times and settled in different parts of the East.
The great-grandfather of our subject, who was a Maryland farmer in the early days, came over the mountains to Ohio in 1799, with pack-horses. He spent a year in Chillicothe, and then penetra- ted into the wilderness to a point on Deer Creek, near Williamsport, in this county, where he located on a tract of nine hundred acres of land that he bought of the Government. He there erected a log cabin, and with his family began the primitive life necessitated by their wild surroundings. Hle partly developed a farm, and on Deer Creek built the first grist-mill in that vicinity, building it of logs and fastening the shingles with wooden pins, there being no nails then. He operated the mill for some years, and also a distillery in connection with it. He and his wife both lived to a good old age, and reared a large family of boys and girls. When she came to this State, she brought some apple seeds in her pocket from Maryland, and planted them on the farm on Deer Creek now owned by Mr. Dunlap, and some of the trees that sprang therefrom are still standing and are very large.
The grandfather of our subject was a boy when he came here. He had no school advantages, with the exception of one term's schooling, but learned to read at home. Ile was married February 8. 1821, to Sophia Seward, who was born in Virginia July 8, 1799. In early life he was an infidel, but soon after his marriage he was converted, and be- gan to preach the Gospel in houses, barns and schoolhouses, as there were no churches at that time. August 8, 1823, he united with the Chris- tian Church at Williamsport, and was a noble worker in its upbuilding. He was a self-educated man, of strong common sense and of no mean ability, and his earnestness and desire to do good carried conviction to the hearts of those with whom he labored. He was prospered in his call- ing as a farmer, and became the owner of six hundred acres of land in this township, beside seven hundred acres near Muncie, Ind. His wife
was a woman of strong convictions, though lack- ing in education, and she filled a useful sphere in life. being well beloved by all who knew her for her fine qualities of mind and heart. She was a Christian in every sense of the word, always cher- ishing the welfare of the church, and she was noted for her benevolence in giving to the needy, and in helping to build different churches. She passed away January 10, 1868. and Grandfather Van Buskirk. September 15, 1871. the latter aged nearly seventy-nine years.
This is the record of their children: Caroline. born June 18, 1822, married John Wood July 5. 1840, and is now dead; Diantha, born October 12. 1824, married Lieut. Samuel Roland, August 23. 1816, and died January 20. 1849; Peter, the father of our subject, was the next in order of birth; then came Rhoda, who was born June 2. 1831. married William Bennett in August, 1845. and died March 22, 1871; Sarah. born August 28, 1833, married Hiram Russell February 3, 1857. and lives in Delaware County, Ind .; Orlando, born June 6, 1829, was married in August. 1856, to Elizabeth Betts, and died in Clarksburgh, Janu- ary 11. 1858; Francis M., born September 5, 1838. married Diana T. Hays, and died September 27. 1865: Mary, born March 26. 1836. married Adam Bailey, and lives at Mt. Sterhng; William II., born May 3, 1842, died November 2, 1865.
The father of our subject was reared to the life of a farmer. and when he began his independent career in that line, he settled on the farm now occupied by his son Orlando. and in due time had the woods cleared away. and the land under good cultivation. He owned four hundred acres of land, and did an extensive business as a general farmer. He made a specialty of raising hogs, and also had other stock, and was one of the substan- tial men of his township. He was an exemplary citizen and a sound Republican, but never aspired to oflice. He was of a sincerely religions nature, and nearly all his life was a consistent member of the Christian Church. The mother of our subject was Rebecca Wood in her maiden days, a daugh - ter of Col. William D. and Elizabeth Wood, and was born in Madison County. December 5, 1825. She took an active interest in the Christian Church.
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of which she was a life-long member, and in her death, at the age of forty-nine years, it lost one of its most devoted followers. She was the mother of three children: Orlando V .; Elizabeth, who was born July 17, 1850, and is now the wife of W. F. Mercer, of Columbus; and Isabelle, who was born August 20. 1852, married S. Timmons, and is now dead.
The boyhood of our subject was passed much as that of other farmer's boys in like circum- stances. The first school that he attended was held in a typical pioneer log house, with a large open fire-place for heating purposes, and slab benches for seats. The school was conducted on the subscription plan. He later attended the Nor- mal at Lebanon for about four months. He lived at home with his parents until their death, his father buying a farm and giving him a half-inter- est in it if he would remain with them. After marriage, he settled on the farm that he now occu- pies, and his mother came to live with him and died a year later. At the time of the death of his father, our subject and his mother and two sisters were ill with typhoid fever, and unable to be pres- ent at the last sad rites when the beloved one was laid to rest.
Mr. Van Buskirk has a fine farm of three hun- dred acres of land, all improved and well drained. He was formerly engaged in the manufacture of tile, the second man to establish that line of busi- ness in this county. lle began it in 1874, and was extensively employed in making it until 1887. He made from two-inch to ten-inch tiles, burning as many as twelve kilns a season, and he had the reputation of manufacturing the best tile in the county. There was a large demand for it, and during the fourteen years that he dealt in it he always gave perfect satisfaction. Ile now gives his attention to mixed farming, raising grain and stock. He formerly engaged quite extensively in dealing in cattle and hogs, buying many cattle in. the northern part of the State, and he has win- tered as many as one hundred and fifty.
Our subject is a great reader, and has a well-se- lected library as one of the attractions of his pleasant home. He is possessed of a large fund of information. is an interesting conversationalist,
and always seems to know when to say the right word in the right place. He is a man of generous breadth, unselfish in thought and action, and it is said of him that "he is one of the few who live not alone for self, but to do good to others." He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, both taking an earnest interest in religious mat- ters, and he was once Trustee of the church, and served three years as Superintendent of the Sun- day-school. Politically, he is a Republican, and he held the office of Land Appraiser in 1890. He is a member of the Masonic order at Mt. Sterling; Fayette Chapter No. 103, and Garfield Command- ery No. 28, at Washington C. H. Mr. Van Bus- kirk was married January 11, 1872, to Miss Emma Rowlen, by whom he has five children: William G., Pearl, May and Minnie (twins) and Verna.
C HARLES W. HORN, the Editor of the Plain City Dealer, was born at Martin's Ferry, Belmont County, Ohio, August 19, 1857 His father, Gary Horn, a native of Ohio, born near Cadiz, Harrison County, was a farmer and tile- maker. He was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah Spring, a native of this State, and they located at Martin's Ferry. They became the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. The eldest, Adolph, is the Postmaster in Plain City; Armeda is the wife of D. La Mar Lombard; and M. W., who is the twin brother of our subject, is a painter. All of the family, both parents and children, make their home in Plain City. Our subject, in his earlier years, lived with his parents at Somerville and Woodstock, then in Marion, Ohio, before coming to Plain City. He remained with his fa- ther until his marriage, and began learning the printer's trade after coming to Plain City, working for several firms before starting a paper for him- self.
Mr. Horn established the Plain City Dealer, which has now about seven hundred circulation and has been very successful as a business enter- prise. A fine grade of job printing and a great variety of work is done in his office. The mar-
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riage of our subject, which took place in the year 1885, united him with Miss JJessie Haynes, of Plain City. She was born in New California, Ohio, but as she came to Plain City with her par- ents when an infant, has found her home here through life. One daughter has blessed this home, to whom has been given the name of Louise. Al- though Mr. Horn is, in his personal preferences, a Republican in politics, his paper is neutral in polit- ical affairs and devotes itself mainly to the promo- tion of the prosperity and business interests of Plain City.
OHN W. ALLEN is numbered among the enterprising and successful farmers of Range Township, Madison County. He was born in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, December 13, 1835, and is a son of Adam and Ros- anna (Hidy) Allen. His father, who was born in March, 1811, is still living in Jefferson Township, Fayette County.
Our subject had limited educational advantages, but his training in hard labor was not at all mea- gre. After attaining to man's estate, he led to the marriage altar, on the 5th of October, 1857, Miss Harriet A. Fent, of Jefferson Township, and unto them have been born twelve children, nine of whom are still living. Vena Olive was married, and at her death left two children; Addie May died at the age of seven years; Delia is the wife of Will- iam Badger, of Fayette County, and has one child; Hulda and Eugene Sheridan are at home; Rosanna Catherine is the wife of Charles Banglm; Cora F., Icy, Urban, Osa and Emily are under the parental roof; and one child died in infancy.
When Mr. Allen started out in life for himself, he had to go in debt for his team and farming implements, and for two years he resided upon rented land. He entered the army August 13, 1862, joining the boys in blue of Company K, Forty- fourth Ohio Infantry. He participated in the bat- tles of Dutton Hill, Louisville, and the siege of Knoxville. In 1864, he was transferred to the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, and saw service in the Shenandoah
Valley, under Sheridan. He participated in the battle of Winchester, and also in the engagement when Gen. Sheridan made his famous ride. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, and was honor- ably discharged in May, 1865.
When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Allen returned home and again rented land for a time. His first purchase consisted of fifty- eight acres in Jefferson Township. Fayette County. After two years, he sold this, and bought one hun- dred acres in Stokes Township, Madison County. In 1884, he purchased his present farm. becoming owner of one hundred and fifty-four acres. Ilis fields are well tilled, his improvements many. and a glance at the place indicates the supervision of a careful manager.
Mr. Allen has been a stanch Republican since he cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln in 1860. He has frequently served as a dele- gate to the county conventions, but has never sought or desired public office. He holds member- ship with Vincent Allen Post No. 678, G. A. R., of Sedalia, and attended the National Reunion in Columbus and in Detroit. He was a valiant soldier during the late war, is a leading agriculturist of the community, and a prominent citizen, highly esteemed by all who know him.
M RS. DR. E. A. VAN RIPER is a lady whom nature seems to have especially fitted for the profession she is now following, and she has met with unusual success in this calling. She has all those attributes. physical, men- tal and moral, and the host of minor graces of manner and person, essential to the making of a truly great physician. The Doctor was born in Lodi. Washtenaw County, Mich .. and is a daughter of Edmon G. and Lucinda (Isbell) Rogers, both natives of New York State. the father born in Or- ange and the mother in Madison County.
Grandfather Edmon G. Rogers was a native of Sheffield, England. but came to America at an early date and located in Orange County. N. Y .. where
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he became a very wealthy man and a man of leisure. His wife had been formerly Miss Martha E. Galley, a lady of Irish descent and a descendant of one of the best Irish families. The Rogers are also descendants of a very prominent family, and trace their ancestry back to Lord Rogers, of England.
The father of our subject was a well-educated man and a graduate of West Point. After finish- ing his education, he came to Michigan and pur- chased a farm in Lodi Township, Washtenaw County, which he operated until his death, early in 1861. He was an excellent citizen and a man universally respected. In politics, he was a strong adherent of the principles of the Republican party. His wife was the daughter of Leonard Isbell, who was a native of one of the Eastern States, of Scotch descent and an carly settler of Washtenaw County, Mich. He served in the War of 1812, and later located at Stockbridge, Mich., where he received his final summons. The mother of our subject re- sides in Jackson, Mich., at the present time. Five daughters and one son were born to her marriage.
At the early age of three years, our subject was sent to school, where she displayed so much ability and advanced so rapidly in her studies that when fourteen years of age she went to Ann Arbor, Mich., and attended the High School for about five years. On the 4th of Augest, 1864, she married Dr. M. H. Van Riper, a native of New York State, and of Dutch and Welsh extraction. His father, John Van Riper, was a prominent attorney of Al- bany, N. Y. Mr. Van Riper was educated in New York, studied medicine for two years at Bellevue College and then went to Michigan, where he intended entering the medical department of Ann Arbor University, but instead enlisted in a Mich- igan regiment as Surgeon. He was wounded at Malvern Hill and, after being in several Sonthern hospitals, was taken to Detroit more dead than alive. He finally recovered, was honorably dis- charged and, when able, continued his medical stud- ies, graduating from the University of Michigan in 1865, with the degree of M. D.
After marriage, our subject and her husband re- moved to Momence, Ill., practiced there for three years and then located at Kankakee. She began the study of medicine under her husband and took
lectures from him every evening for eight years. She became very proficient in this profession and was examined and registered by William Kanagie as a practicing physician in Illinois. She then practiced in Kankakee until April 16, 1881, when she located in Circleville and has been a successful practitioner here since.
Three children were born to this union and were in the order of their births as follows: Myron E., a practical printer, of Chicago; Garrett A. is a pressman in New York City, and Marquis De La- Fayette is at home. Dr. Van Riper has given her children good educational advantages and they are all bright young men. In politics, the Doctor is a stanch Republican.
R. MARSHALL, the popular Editor and Manager of the Ohio State Register at Wash- ington C. II., has occupied that position on the paper for the past two and one-half years. A native of New York, he was born in Newark, Wayne County, October 22, 1843, and is the son of Francis H. Marshall, who is engaged in the manufacture of wagons, buggies, etc. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Sarah J. Miller; she was the daughter of Jasper Miller, who is now deceased, having lived for nearly a century.
He of whom we write was given a good educa- tion in the schools of Lockport, N. Y., whither his parents removed when he was quite young. When old enough to start out in life on his own respon- sibility, he began work in the office of the Daily Union, at Lockport, where he learned the "art pre . servative," and remained for six years. At the expiration of that time, Mr. Marshall went to Al- bany, in the same State, and later to New York City, where he was employed on job work, and there made his home until 1867, which was the date of his coming to Highland County, this State. At Hillsboro, he was engaged in publishing the Gazette for seventeen years, at the end of which time he went to Springfield and purchased an interest in the Sunday News, where he remained for the five suc- ceeding years. In September, 1888, he came to
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Washington C. HI. and assumed the business man- agement of the Register Democrat. A year later, however, in company with Wolf and Jones, our subject established the Ohio State Register, with which paper he is still connected, although the paper is owned by R. B. Palmer.
The lady to whom our subject was married July 14, 1862, was Miss Sarah L. Barnes, and to them have been born three children, viz .: Nellie M., Maude and Maurice. Mrs. Marshall was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1845, and was the daugh- ter of Joel P. and Sarah A. Barnes, her father being a prominent bridge contractor and builder. The father of our subject is still living and makes his home in Lockport, N. Y. In social matters, he of whom we write has been for many years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Re- ligiously, Mrs. Marshall is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
OHN G. WILSON, M. D. The witness of the transformations wrought by fifty years in the improvement and development of Fayette County, Dr. Wilson not only en- dured the hardships of pioneer life, but it has also been his privilege to enjoy the fruits of his early toil. He is the sole survivor of the little band of physi- cians who were engaged in practice at Washington C. II., in June, 1841, when he cast in his lot with the pioneers of the place.
The childhood years of our subject were passed amid the scenes of Ross County, Ohio, where he was born March 19, 1811. His father. John Wil- son, was a soldier in the War of 1812. and came to Ross County from his native State, Pennsylvania, at a very early day, taking up a tract of unim- proved land. He married Miss Lucy Taylor, and unto them were born eleven children, our subject being the fifth in order of birth. Few events of importance occurred to break the monotony of our subject's youth, his time being diligently devoted to tilling the soil in the summer and attending school during the winter seasons. The "temples of learning " in those early days were primitive in
construction, made of logs, with split rails for seats, and with greased paper instead of window lights. At a somewhat later date, a better house was erected. and gradually the opportunities afforded the children for acquiring an education were improved, both in regard to the furnishings of the building and the method of instruction.
Upon attaining to his majority, our subject commenced to read medicine with Dr. James Robbins, of Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, who was a member of the board of examiners appointed by the State to examine for litness to practice. After gaining a thorough practical knowledge of therapeutics, the young Doctor removed West as far as Dayton, then a town of four thousand inhabitants. Ile practiced his pro- fession there in 1835 and 1836, in partnership with Henry Van Tuyl. a prominent physician. Hle next proceeded to Indiana. locating nineteen miles up the river from the old Tippecanoe battleground. where at the time there were plenty of Indians and wild animals. At that time. the Wabash Canal was being built, along which he had a large practice. He voted for William Henry Harrison for Presi- dent in 1836, and again four years later, when he was the successful candidate.
Coming to Washington C. II. in the spring of 1841, Dr. Wilson purchased the property on the corner of Court and North Streets. which was then in the suburbs of the village, but is now in the center of the city. Here he has resided for fifty years and more, while those who were children when first he settled on the old homestead have grown to maturity, entered the world of active business, and some. grown old and weary with the cares of life, have sunk into the slumber of death. But all of them-youth. and middle-aged and old-have known Dr. Wilson and have been proud to regard him as their friend. To his patients, he was more than the kind, considerate, skillful physi- cian-he was the unchanging friend.
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