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 95
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 95
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 95
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For twenty years. Dr Wilson was an attendant at the County Infirmary. President Grant ap- pointed him Examining Surgeon of Fayette County, and he served as President of the Board until the election of President Cleveland, when he resigned. He had established a splendid practice. which, to-
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gether with his position at the Infirmary, he re- signed when he accepted the position of Examin- ing Surgeon. Some four years ago, he retired from active labors, and now is passing his declin- ing years in quiet seclusion.
In 1838, Dr. Wilson was united in marriage withi Miss Lucinda Mackerley, whom he had known in childhood, her father's farm adjoining that be- longing to his father. At the time of his marriage, the Doctor rode on horseback two hundred and fifty miles to the bride's home, and, after the cere- mony was performed, drove back to Washington C. H. with his young wife, the journey being made in a buggy which he had purchased. They have had two daughters: Mary L., the. wife of Jared L. Millikan, who now resides with our sub- ject, and Lucinda, who died when about twenty- one years old. Politically, the Doctor has always been an active Republican and is firm in his ad- herence to the principles of the party.
ILLIAM ATKINSON stands among the foremost of the progressive, enlightened and enterprising farmers and business men who have had the making of Madison County, and perhaps no man has done more for the devel- opment of its rich agricultural resources within the last three or four decades than he. His farm, which is four miles south of Plain City, in Canaan Township, is one of the largest and best-managed, and is considered one of the finest-improved, in this part of the State.
Our subject was born in Ross Township, Greene County, February 2, 1832. His father was Cephas Atkinson, who was born in York County, Pa., in 1790. He in turn was a son of Joseph Atkinson, who was of English descent, but is thought to have been a native of Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject, Abigail Oren, was likewise a Penn- sylvanian by birth, and was of English extraction. She was reared partly in Tennessee and partly in Ohio, coming to this State when she had nearly at- tained womanhood. She was married to Cephas
Atkinson in Clinton County, and they moved soon after to Clarke County, whence they returned to Greene County. From there they subsequently went to Champaign County, where the father died in 1860 and the mother in 1875, finding their last resting place in its soil. They were the par- ents of eleven children, eight sons and three daugh- ters, three of whom died in infancy, the others growing to maturity, and these four of them are still living: Jane; William; Margaret C., wife of James Hunt, of South Charleston, Clarke County; and Thomas S., a resident of Indianapolis, Ind. The father was a man of superior business qualifi- cations, who invested his money judiciously, and acquired a goodly amount of property, including fifteen hundred and ten acres of land in Madison County, which he purchased from 1842 to 1852.
The subject of this biographical review is the ninth child and fifth son of his parents. He was eight years old when they removed to Champaign County, where the rest of his boyhood was spent, and he remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. He obtained his educa- tion in the district schools, and on his father's farm was well trained in all that pertains to farm- ing. In the opening years of a vigorous, stalwart manhood, he came to Madison County, in 1854, to enter upon the hard pioncer task that lay before him of literally hewing out a farm from the forests by the strength of his strong right arm, secon ded by the force of a steady brain to plan his work wisely. His father had given him three hundred and seventy-seven acres of timber land and oak openings in Canaan Township, on which no im- provements had been made. He went to work with a will, and in time had the forest cleared away, had dug ditches for drainage, and had placed his land under fine cultivation.
All this Mr. Atkinson accomplished without a cent of capital, but his labors resulted in his becom- ing wealthy, and he was enabled to buy more land, and now has one thousand and thirty-seven acres of the very best farming land, of which between four and five hundred acres are under a complete system of drainage, tiles and ditches running in every direction, making the rich soil more produc- tive, and the farm one of the most perfectly drained
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RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM ATKINSON, CANAAN . TR., MADISON CO.,O
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in the county. He was the first to introduce tiling in this part of the county, having shipped tile on the cars before it had ever been manufactured in this section. He has spared neither money nor pains in making improvements and has a well-ap- pointed set of buildings. Elsewhere in this volume will be noticed a view of his large and elegant two- story brick residence, which is situated a quarter of a mile from the Wilson Pike. It was erected in 1882 at a cost of $6,000, and contains thirteen spacious rooms and halls, finely finished and taste- fully furnished. His barns are commodious and conveniently arranged, and he has other necessary buildings. He pays considerable attention to rais- ing stock of high grades, and has one hundred cat- tle, having disposed of fifty last winter; six hun- dred and fifty sheep, and some hogs, having sold seventy-five of the latter last fall. He has had as many as fifteen hundred and fifty sheep at one time, and raises and keeps as many horses as he needs to work his extensive farm.
Mr. Atkinson was married May 29, 1866, to Lu- cinda, daughter of John and Mary (Rhulen) Non- nemaker, and widow of Robert F. Fleming. Mrs. Atkinson is a native of Ohio, born in Fairfield County November 2, 1839, and is of German ex- traction. She is a woman of nobie character, who fills in every way her position as wife, mother and friend. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since the age of seventeen. To her and our subject have been born three chil- dren, to whom is being given the best of educa- tional advantages the State affords. Their son. Charles Francis, born June 24, 1870, attended Wit- tenburg College, at Springfield, four years, and is now pursuing a course of study at the Nelson Business College in the same city. Cephas, who was born December 24, 1875, is preparing for col- lege in a school at Plain City. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson's only daughter, Mary Eva. who was born June 17, 1867, attended Wittenburg College two years, was a student one year at Wooster and one year at Gambier, Ohio. She became an expert stenographer and type-writer, and commanded a salary of $100 a month prior to her marriage with Henry S. Francis, a prominent druggist of Uhrich- ville. Mrs. Francis belongs to the Episcopal
Church, while her husband and brother Cephas are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Atkinson is a man of large. roundabout common sense, positive character. more than aver- age executive ability, and his standing in financial circles is of the highest. He is well known as President of the Farmers' Bank, of Plain City, which, under his administration. is one of the lead - ing monetary institutions of Madison County. In polities, he is first, last and always a Republican. and uses his influence to further the interests of his party. Socially, he is identified with Urama Lodge No. 311. A. F. and A. M. He is public- spirited, and all enterprises looking to the advance- ment of his township or county are sure of his cordial approbation and material assistance.
EREMIAH REA. The gentleman of whom it is our pleasure and privilege to here give a biographical sketch in outline has spent his life in doing good to others and up- holding the rights of all. Few of the agriculturists of Oak Run Township, Madison County, are better known than is he, who is engaged in cultivating the soil and breeding fine stock. His beautiful home is pleasantly located seven miles from Lon- don and is supplied with all the comforts which are to be found upon a first-class estate.
Our subject, who was born in London October 19, 1824, is the son of Mathew and Ann (Amos) Rea. Ilis father was also an agriculturist and stock-breeder and was born near Rockbridge, Va .. in 1793. Ile participated in the War of 1812 un- der Gen. Harrison and did efficient and valiant service during those trying times. In 1818. the elder Mr. Rea located in Union Township. Fayette County, and worked on rented land for a time and later became one of the wealthy and prominent men of this section. The grandparents of our sub- ject also came hither in the above-named date. but being poor people Mathew had to make his own way in the world without any monetary assistance. and at the time of his death, in company with his sons, was the possessor of two thousand acres of
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land. In politics, he was a Whig until the dis- solution of that party, when he became a Democrat. He is what may be termed a self-made man as his advantages for obtaining an education were very limited. Ile was elected County Commissioner of his township and in many ways represented his district in positions of trust.
Our subject was the eldest of the parental fam- ily of four children: Joseph, who was born April 10, 1829, died November 6, 1873; Robert, who was born in 1831, is a prominent stock-dealer in Lon- don, this State; Margaret Elizabeth married F. M. Chenoweth and makes her home in London. Jeremiah of this sketch was reared to farming pur- suits, and after establishing himself in business on his own account, remained in partnership with his father until reaching his thirty-fifth year. He was married, August 22, 1850, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Bostwick) Leach. Mrs. Rea was born in Fayette County, September 19, 1829, and shortly after her marriage removed to what is now the present home of oar subject.
In his political relations, he of whom we write cast his first Presidential vote in 1848 for Zach- ary Taylor. In 1856, he joined the ranks of the Democrats and voted for James Buchanan. He has been Clerk and Treasurer of the township and has also served as School Director for over twenty years. He was at one time a candidate on the In- dependent ticket for County Commissioners, but as he refused to electioneer, was defeated. He at one time was the nominee for County Treasurer, his opponent being elected by a very small ma- jority.
Mr. Rea received about six hundred acres of land on the division of his father's estate and has added to it from time to time until now he has a handsome property of fourteen hundred acres. By industry and energy, he has placed his farm under thorough tillage and put in many feet of tiling. The buildings are of the best description, and stamp their owner as a man of enterprise and progress.
The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rea are Mathew, who lives on the old homestead and was born July 19, 1858, and Sarah Louisa, who was born August 1, 1863. The son, in addition to re- ceiving a common-school education, attended the
High School at London and is now one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of this sec- tion. He was married, December 13, 1882, to Miss Grace Dodds, of Mason, Warren County, this State, where she was born January 9, 1862. She is a most intelligent and cultured lady and is the daughter of E. C. and Lavina F. (Keever) Dodds. She has become the mother of two children: Earl D., who was born January 15, 1886, and Robert C., who was born July 24, 1889, and resides with her husband on a portion of the old home farm. Ma- thew L. is also a Democrat in politics, and in 1880 voted for Hancock. He has been very prominent in local affairs and when only twenty-two years of age was elected to the responsible position of Trustee, which office he held two terms, and was made Treasurer of his township in 1891. His inter- est in school affairs led him to be placed on the School Board as Director in 1890 and in the fall of the following year he was elected County Com- missioner. His popularity is shown in the fact that his opponent was one of the representative men of the county and the opposing party had a majority of three hundred and fifty. He received every vote in his township with the exception of nineteen and carried the Fourth Ward in London, which had always been given to the opposing party. The daughter of our subject married Isaac F. Beery, a banker of Upper Sandusky, this State, and is the mother of three children, viz: Isaac R., Mathew L. and Brooks F.
OHN PERRILL. The finely-improved farm belonging to Mr. Perrill is conveniently and pleasantly located in Jasper Township, Fayette County, and consists of five bun- dred and thirty-seven acres, upon which first-class improvements have been placed. While he de- votes considerable attention to general farming, he makes a specialty of raising cattle and hogs, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. His residence is one of the most attractive in the township, while the other buildings are substantial and well adapted to their various uses.
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During the early years of the settlement of Ohio, Hugh Perrill, father of our subject, came hither with his parents and located eight miles east of Lancaster. His birthplace was in Virginia, although the most of his active life was passed in the Buckeye State. Ile was married to Miss Mar- garet Caldwell, of Ohio, and shortly afterward removed to Highland County, which remained his home until the death of his wife. He then re- moved to Kentucky and resided near Greensburgh until his death, which occurred several years since. It is thought that he met with foul play, as he had started on a visit to his children in Ohio with con- siderable money in his possession, and when his body was found in Tiger Creek, there was no money whatever upon it.
John Perrill was born in Highland County, Ohio, June 17, 1823, and until he was twenty-two, resided in the place of his birth. During the fol- lowing eight years, he was a resident of Pike County, where he was employed in farming pur- suits and also drove cattle across the mountains. He was thirty years old when he came to Fayette County and settled upon the farm where he still resides. Shortly after coming to this county, he was married to Miss Margaret J., daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Hall) Sparks, natives of Bourbon County, Ky. Mrs. Perrill was born in the Blue Grass State November 9, 1837, and died October 7, 1890, mourned not only by her immediate fam- ily, but by all who knew her and who esteemed her for the noble traits of character and sincere Christian earnestness which characterized her life.
Mr. and Mrs. Perrill became the parents of nine children, as follows: George N., who married Elizabeth Vaneman; Iva, who married John Acton ; Louis, who married Mamie Gray; Edward, who married Sally Jarrill; Rebecca, who married James Curtis; Charles, Laura, Maggie and Frank. All of the children are living. Mr. Perrill has been a kind and generous father, and has provided well for his children, having presented them with land and given them a good start in the world. He has secured his large property by diligence and econ- omy, seconded by wise judgment and excellent investments. In the political issues of the day, he maintains a deep interest, and is an ardent adher-
ent of Republican principles. In his religious sympathies, he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and a liberal supporter of Christian enterprises.
ILLIAM D. WOOD, a retired farmer of Mt. Sterling, and an honored veteran of the late war. was born in Union Township. Fayette County, Ohio, on the 27th of February, 1841. His parents were Daniel and Tabitha ( Leach ) Wood. He was reared to manhood upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the common schools. which he attended during the winter season, while in the summer months he worked in the fields. He remained under the pa- rental roof until twenty years of age, when he re- sponded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Company A, Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Tennes. see, and he participated in the battles of Shiloh. Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign. Previous to this, he had re-enlisted as a veteran. his three-years term of service having expired. While his regi- ment was engaged in the Atlanta campaign, Mr. Wood served on detached duty, guarding railroad bridges. He rejoined his regiment in Goldsboro, N. C., and participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D. (., the most brilliant military pageant ever seen in this country. He then went to Louisville, Ky .. and on to Little Rock. Ark., where he was mustered out in August, 1865.
When the war was over, Mr. Wood returned to his home, and on the 27th of February. 1866, was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Parker. He began farming on a part of his father's farm. and afterward his father gave him seventy acres or more of land. In 1871. he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. who died on the 12th of July. He was again married, May 2, 1872, his second union being with Miss Rebecca Swope, of Fairfield County. Two children grace their union : Albert Thomas, who was born in Madison Town-
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ship, Fayette County, Ohio, March 23, 1874, is now attending the High School of Mt. Sterling; and Arley Ray was born in Madison Township on the 13th of November, 1878.
Upon the death of his father, Mr. Wood inher- ited more land, and now has four hundred and forty-eight acres in Madison Township, beside twelve acres which he purchased in Mt. Sterling. He is industrious and enterprising and made of his business life a success, so that he is now enabled to lay aside business cares, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. Mr. Wood is a man highly respected throughout the community, and is recognized as a valued citizen of Mt. Ster- ling, where he has made his home since 1884. He is a member of the Old-school Baptist Church, and in politics is a Republican, having been a stanch advocate of that party and its principles since he cast his first Presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. Ile was a faithful soldier during the late war, and may well be proud of the part which he bore in preserving the Union.
S OLOMON D. RIEGEL is one of the exten- sive land-owners and prominent agricul- turists and stock-raisers of Pickaway County. He now makes his home in Cir- cleville, and devotes his attention to the care of his property. The Riegel family has long been identified with the public interests of the commu- nity, its upbuilding and progress. The father of our subject, Solomon Riegel, Sr., was born in Berks County, Pa., April 10, 1811, and is a son of George and Eliza Riegel. He came to Salt Creek, Ohio, in 1832, having heard favorable reports of the coun- try from his brother Jesse, and others. He was married October 31, 1834, to Mary Dunkle, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 31, 1803. Soon afterward, they removed to Fairfield County. where they spent two and a half years, and then went to Hocking County, where Mr. Riegel worked for his brother-in-law, George Dunkle. Soon after- ward, his father gave him a farm of one hundred acres in Fairfield County. and. locating thereon, he
laid the foundation for his splendid success. Prosperity attended his efforts, and ten years later he bought a sawmill, a woolen factory, and about two hundred and fifty acres of land, and engaged in business on an extensive scale. At Laurelville, he erected a hotel and other buildings, and con- tributed largely to the improvement of that place. He has done much in the line of building, and by a member of the family it was estimated that he has erected within a few miles of the boundary lines of Pickaway, Hocking and Ross Counties, nineteen dwellings and barns, mills and other buildings, making a total of over one hundred. In this work, he has usually been his own con- tractor, designer and superintendent, getting the timber from the woods, the stone from the quarry, and manufacturing his own lumber. Throughout his life he has followed farming and stock-raising extensively. It has been through his efforts that some of the best turnpikes of Pickaway County have been built. IIe has ever been a public-spir- ited and progressive citizen, and what he has done for the county cannot be estimated in words. Mr. Riegel is now in his eighty-second year, but still operates a mill in Salt Creek Township, and is en- joying excellent health for one of his age. By appointment, he served as a Director of the In- firmary. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Reformed Church.
In the Riegel family were eight children : George D., who was a merchant in Laurelville, Ohio, and afterward in Brooklyn, N. Y., is now deceased; Harvey D. resides in Montana; Jane is the wife of A. Defenbongh, of Salt Creek Township, Ohio; Samuel D .; Sarah Ann D. is the wife of W. C. Markle, of Salt Creek Township; Mary Elizabeth D. is the wife of George HI. Lutz, of Circleville; the subject of this sketch is the next younger; and Emma C. D. is now Mrs. Rush. of Salt Creek Township.
Sol D. Riegel, as he is familiarly known, was born near Ringgold, Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1848. When about eighteen months old, he went with his parents to Hocking County, and remained in Laurelville until thirteen years of age, when he became a resident of Salt Creek Township. His education was acquired in the common schools.
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At an early age he was inured to hard labor, and on attaining his majority he started out in life for himself. He engaged in farming and stock- raising, purchasing one hundred acres of land in Salt Creek Township. Hle afterward bought a partially improved farm of one hundred and sev- enty-five acres in Pickaway Township, this county, operating both by tenants. In purchasing these, he contracted an indebtedness of $13,000, but he never missed making a payment upon them, and in course of time had them free from all encum- brance. Mr. Riegel has dealt extensively in live stock. He has fed from seven to eight hundred hogs each year, and in this way paid off his debt. He subsequently bought eighty-eight acres of land adjoining his home farm. This made it a one hundred and eighty-eight acre tract, upon which he resided, giving his personal supervision to its improvements. He afterwards bought ninety- seven aeres in Ross County, which he has rented. He has sold his original one hundred acres of land, but still has eighty-eight acres in Salt Creek Town- ship, a fine stock farm, and another farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres. Ile still feeds stock, grazing over one hundred cattle, beside feeding a large number of hogs. Ile was the first in this section of the county to purchase full- blooded Jerseys, which he still raises. He has also raised some fine horses and sheep. and has taken many premiums at different fairs. Ilis home farm is considered the finest in the town- ship.
In Ross County, Ohio, in October, 1873, Mr. Riegel led to the marriage altar Miss Mary A. Rush, a native of that county, and a daughter of John and Melinda Rush, of Ross County, promi- nent farming people. Four children have been born of their union: Bertha May, Grace Rush, Harry Rush, and Bessie Rush. They have a pieas- ant and commodious residence on East Main Street, and the members of the family rank high in social circles.
Mr. Riegel has been prominently identified with the leading interests of the county. He was one of the organizers of the Southeastern Ohio Fair Association, of which he was Treasurer until it was discontinued. He is Treasurer of the Circle-
ville Land Improvement Company, is one of the Directors of the Board of Trade, of Circleville. and is the owner of considerable real estate in Wichita. Kan. Like his honored father, he has done much for the turnpike roads of the county. Ile was President of the Circleville and Adelphi Turnpike, when it was bought by the county. is still Secretary of the Salt Creek Valley Turnpike, and owns an interest in, and is Director of, the turnpike in Hocking County, Ohio.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Riegel is a Dem- ocrat, and has served as a delegate to both the county and State conventions. Ile belongs to the Reformed Church in Salt Creek Township, in which he was Trustee for many years, and has also served as both Deacon and Elder. He has been active in both church and Sunday-school work, and has contributed liberally to the cause. Mr. Riegel is a man of most excellent business ability. and well deserves the success that has crowned his efforts. He is a progressive citizen, and ever has the interests of the community at heart.
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