USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 15
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 15
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January 23, 1862, Mr. Kennedy and Miss Mary Lance were united in marriage. The lady was
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HON. EVERETT MESSENGER.
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born January 25, 1827, in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of George and Susan (Mears) Lance, of German and English extraction, respectively. Mrs. Kennedy came to this county with her par- ents when she was only about four weeks old, the journey hither being made by team. Mr. Lance settled in what is now Crawford County, paying $1.25 per acre for eighty acres of Government land. There he continued to make his honie un- til he was summoned to his final rest. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have only one child, Mira, who is the . wife of Ellsworth Jones, a farnier of Craw- ford County.
Both our subject and his estimable wife received their educations in the old-fashioned log school- houses of their youth. Mrs. Kennedy is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, and, like her hus- band, lends a helping hand to worthy benevolent and religious objects. Our subject has been quite extensively engaged in stock-raising, and in this, as in nearly everything which he under- takes, lie has iliet with success.
ON. EVERETT MESSENGER, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Marion County, having come here as early as 1825, and from that time until his death was intimately associat- ed with the upbuilding and progress of this sec- tion. He represented this Congressional District in the State Legislature to the entire satisfaction of his friends and constituents for two terms, and his personal popularity was manifested by the fact of liis election on the Republican ticket in a strongly Democratic region. From his boyhood he was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and was a thoroughly practical, industrious and energetic man.
Reuben Messenger, father of our subject, was a native of Connecticut, and died in Washington County, Ohio, in 1843, aged sixty-eight years. His wife; the mother of Everett Messenger, was also a native of that state, and before her marri-
age was a Miss Hannah Pain. Their union was blessed with ten children, only four of whom are now living. The family emigrated to Marion County in 1825, and settled on a farm in Big Isl- and Township, where they have since been well known and respected by all.
Like his parents before himn, Everett Messen- ger was born in the Nutmeg State, the date of the event being August 1, 1811. He continued to live under the parental roof until reaching his majority, and was well instructed in the duties pertaining to the management of a farmi. When he set up in business for himself lie invested what money he had managed to save from time to time in stock, buying and selling the same. At lengtli he was enabled to purchase a tract of land, some eighty acres, and to this he added others until he was known as one of the most extensive property-owners in the county. His estate and that of four hundred acres belonging to his wife numbered eighteen hundred acres at the time of his demise.
August 7, 1834, Mr. Messenger married Eliza- beth M. Johnson, only child of Caleb and Jane (Mattson) Johnson, who were natives of Rhode Island and Verinont, respectively. The former was born in 1784, and the latter in 1789, and their marriage took place January 31, 1819. Mrs. Messenger was born July 20, 1820, and by lier marriage to our subject became the inother of ten children, viz .: Jane, Lucy, Hannah, Caleb, Reu- ben, Newton, Mary E., Everett, Jr., Johnson C. and Joseph I. The last-named is now in Oregon with his sister Mary, Mrs. Van Houten; Newton is a resident of Omaha, Neb .; Reuben lives in Brown County, Kan .; Everett and Johnson are managing the old homestead; and the others are deceased.
For many years Mr. Messenger was interested financially in the Chicago Stock Yards, but his last days were devoted solely to liis farmi and home. He was ever ready to lend a helping hand to those who were worthy and in need of a little time- ly assistance, and many such a one remembers him with truest gratitude and tenderness. The founders of new enterprises and industries were always anxious to obtain the influence of his sanc-
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tion and recommendation, for his word carried weight with all those who knew him. When deatlı claimed him at the close of a good and use- ful life he was universally mourned, and, though fifteen years have passed since then, his memory . is yet held dear by hosts of his old friends. He entered into rest January 20, 1880, and was bur- ied in Pleasant ITill Cemetery. In the Church of God, with which he was identified, and to which his wife still belongs, he was a valued and zealous worker.
OHN SMITH was one of the early settlers of Hardin County, and for over two decades was one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Pleasant Township. In the year 1865 he brought his bride to the home where she has since resided, and here he was called to his final rest on the 5th of April, 1887, leaving a host of sincere friends, who hold his memory dear. He was a man of high moral character, and though not a ehureh member was a practical Christian. In all his transactions with his fellow-mien he was just and faithful to his word in every instance.
The birth of John Smith occurred in Kenton, April 2, 1835, his parents being Robert and Catherine (Houser) Smith, who were married in Kenton, May 27, 1834. The father was born in Richland County, Ohio, about 1808, and removed to Kenton in 1833. He learned the carpenter's trade and followed the business all his life in con- nection with farming, and entered the land which was afterwards owned by his son. His death occurred January 16, 1862. His father, Thomas Smith, the grandfather of our subject, was a na- tive of Maine, and emigrated to Richland County very early in this century. He and some of his sons were in the War of 1812 and also in tlie Mexican War. The grandfather also served as
· Justice of the Peace for over twenty-one years. In 1853 he fell from a cherry tree and broke his neck. Catherine Smith was born in Union Coun-
ty, Ohio, December 14, 1816, being a daughter of J'olin and Barbara ( Bibber) Houser, who were married in Union County. They had seven chil- dren, namely: Polly, Catherine, Isaac, Anna, Sarahı, Eliza and Isaiahı. After the death of his first wife John Houser married Mrs. Susan Shaf- fer, by whom he had a son, George.
John Smith was three years of age when his father removed to this township, and here he grew to manhood, attending Greenleaf District School until about twenty years of age. His brother, Thomas, lives near Wolf Lake, Noble County, Ind., and his only sister, Mary Ann, died in 1850, The property on which Thomas lives fell to him by inheritance from his father, and the home farm, with the mother's interest, came to our subject. The latter was married, January 1, 1865, to a neighbor's daughter, Lorain Myers. She was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, No- vember 24, 1843, to Reason W. and Elizabeth (Runyon) Myers, who were married in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 27, 1832. The former, a na- tive of that county, was born October 30, 1812, and moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 1836, and ten years later settled in Tuscarawas County, . Ohio, where he died March 19, 1886. He served many terms as Township Trustee, and was very successful in his business undertakings. At the time of his death he owned nearly eight hundred acres of fine land and fifteen hundred head of sheep. When he was married his wife had about $600, but he was in debt for more than - that amount, and together they accumulated their handsome fortune by economy and hard work. They were members of the Christian Church for years and took an active part in religious and benevolent enterprises. Reason W. was a son of George Myers, who died in 1831, aged about sixty-five years. The latter married Susan Schus- ter, who, like himself, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and at a very early day they settled on Yellow Creek, near Steubenville, Ohio.
Elizabeth Myers, daughter of Lewis and Sarah (Pangborn) Runyon, was born February 26, ISII. Her parents moved to New Jersey, tlience to Knoxville, Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1819. Lewis Runyon was for some time employed in
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the salt works near Knoxville, and died in the spring of 1843. His wife survived him until 1870, dying at an advanced age. Their family. comprised eleven children, namely: Philip, Eliza- betli, Catherine, Sallie, Albert, Caroline, Louisa, Lucy, Nancy J., Mary and Lewis. Mary is the wife of Dr. T. C. Walker and is now living with her daugliter, Mrs. Charles Coons, of Canton, Ohio. Lucy married Elijah Crawford, and is living near Atchison, Kan.
Mrs. Lorain Smith is one of ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Her eldest sister, Sa- rah, and her sister Minerva, Mrs. Mitchell Smith, of Canton, Ohio, are also deceased. Lucinda is the wife of Israel Painter, of Coldwater, Mich .; Caroline, now living in Oregon, is the widow of William McBride; and Jennie is Mrs. Alfred Bailey, of Canton. Three children have blessed the union of John Smith and wife. William, born March 23, 1866, died November 10, 1875; Earl was born December 26, 1874; and Flora, July 7, 1877. Mrs. Smith is now conducting the home farm with the assistance of her son. She is a niember of the Christian Church at Kenton and is a most estimable lady, having many warm friends among her acquaintances. Mr. Smithi was a Democrat and for a number of years was a niember of the Grange.
ILLIAM C. RAPP, a prominent and suc- cessful business man of Marion, is the pro- prietor of a large harness and saddlery es- tablisliment, which he has conducted for several years. He is a man of great ability, and for two years was Fire Marshal, and for four years was City Marshal, of Marion.
Mr. Rapp was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 21, 1844, and is the son of Jacob Rapp, a well to-do farmer of the Fatherland. He set sail for America with his family in 1852, and after landing on American shores continued his west- ward journey until Marion County, this state, was
reached. Here he located on a farm not far from this city, but before they could become fully acquainted with their new surroundings they were both seized with the cholera and died. This was in 1854, just two years after leaving their native land. They left at their decease nine children, all of whom attained mature years, but at the present writing only three are living. George D. served as a soldier in the Civil War, in the Fourth Ohio Regiment, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg; Frederick, who was also a soldier at that time, fought in the Eighty- second Ohio Infantry, and on his return from the battlefield located in Indiana, where he died in 1874.
After the death of his parents our subject was cared for by Samuel Snyder, a farmer in the lo- cality of their home, who was very kind to him and gave him every advantage for securing a common-school education. He was a member of his household on the outbreak of the late war, and, being fired with the spirit of patriotisni, enlisted, in August, 1862, joining Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Infantry. His regiment was ordered to the front and young Rapp did valiant service in the battles of Perry- ville, Franklin, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and also in those of the Atlanta campaign. When on the charge at Kenesaw Mountain he was wounded in the left arm, thus rendering him unfit for further active service. He was sent to the hospital at Nashville, from there to Columbus, and later to Cleveland, where he was honorably discharged, May 25, 1865.
After his experience in. the ariny our subject went on a farm near Marion, where he remained until the spring of 1869. Being at that time fully recovered from the effects of life on the bat- tlefield, he returned to the city, anxious once more to engage in business for himself. That year he opened up a grocery, which he operated success- fully for eight years, at the expiration of which time he disposed of his business, being appointed driver of the fire engine. He was the incumbent of this position for two years, and the following four years was City Marshal. Refusing at the end of that time to be an office-holder any longer,
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he established himself in the business in which he is now engaged, dealing in saddlery, harness, trunks, etc.
Mr. Rapp was married, in 1871, to Miss Clara Idleman. She died three years later, leaving a son,. Orlando, who is now a student in the Hills- dale ( Mich. ) College. In May, 1883; our sub- ject chose for his second companion Mrs. Ida M. Walters, of Marion. By her first marriage she had two children, Claud C. and Bertha B. Mr. Rapp is very prominent in the various social or- ders of the city, being Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and Past Commander of the Grand Army Post, and as an Odd Fellow is in- fluential in his lodge. He is a strong Republican in politics and upholds the principles of his party on every occasion. His family occupy a beauti- ful home in the best portion of the city, by whose residents they are held in high esteem.
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AVID BAUGHMAN. Few citizens of Har- din County are more deserving of special no- tice, or a prominent place in the history of the honored representative settlers within her boundaries, than the gentleman whose name we place at the opening of this sketch, and who has been a resident liere since 1855.
Our subject was born July 3, 1819, in Allen County, this state, to Henry and Mary (Aigler) Baughman, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. The paternal grandfa- ther . on coming to America located in Bucks County, Pa., where he lived for a time, and then thought to better his condition by cultivating the fertile soil of the Buckeye State. He came hither when a young man, locating in Franklin County, ·where he first worked out at fifty cents per day. He was very industrious and economical, and when twenty-five years of age was married. With his wife he settled on a tract of one hundred acres of wild land which he had purchased in an uninhabited part of the county, his only neigh-
bors, being Indians, who were not at all times as friendly as could be desired. He was determined, however, to obtain a goodly amount of land and "grow up with the country." Henry Baughman erected a little cabin built of logs, 18x26 feet in dimensions, and in this rude structure made his home until the year 1829. That year he dis- posed of this property, and, moving to Sandusky County, this state, purchased two hundred and forty acres, on which he made his home for a period of eight years. At the end of that time, his experience as a pioneer in a new country hav- ing proved a very hard one, he located in Column- bus. . His stay there was of short duration, however, for we soon find him living in Allen County, on two hundred and sixty acres of land. This he also took up in its wild state, and after erecting a dwelling for his family, and making them as comfortable as possible, began again the task of subduing the primeval soil. He made many improvements in the seven years in which he was in possession of this farm, and after sell- ing it moved upon another place in the same county. Four years afterward he traded this last estate for a farm of one hundred acres near St. Jolin's, where he was residing at the time of his decease. He was a Democrat in politics and a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
David Baughman was united in marriage to Rebecca Beaver, and the four children who were born to them were Barbara Ann, Mary Elizabeth, Margaret and Rachel, all of whom are deceased. The wife and mother died in February, 1854, and May 9 of the following. year Mr. Baughman married Catherine Gilman, of Hardin County. Their eight children are named, respectively, George W., Charles, Melissa, Lewis, Silas, Pres- ton, Amos and Sherman.
When starting out for himself, our subject learned the blacksmith's trade, following this business for seven years in Shelby County. Abandoning this at the end of that time, he became a carpenter, and for about thirty years was thus employed at various places. In 1855, however, he made permanent location in Roundhead Town- ship, and since that time has given his attention
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to farming. For the first twelve years he farmed on a rented tract of one hundred and eight acres, which he later purchased. This piece of prop- erty is the same on which he now resides, and from the many improvements in the way of dwelling and barns which have been placed there by our subject, the passer-by knows it to be owned by a man of progressive spirit and enterprise.
Mr. Baughman has been School Director and Supervisor of his township, and in politics, dur- ing his younger days, was an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party.
AMUEL STEWART was formerly one of the influential citizens and foremost farmers of Hardin County. He owned at one time about six hundred acres, all of which was sit- uated in Taylor Creek Township, and with the exception of one hundred acres he cleared the whole homestead during the quarter of a century that he lived thereon. He assisted in laying out the roads, building schoolhouses, and in every possible way advancing the welfare of the com- munity in which he was interested.
In the fall of 1735 a little party of Irish emi- grants sailed from Belfast for the New World, and among the number was Samuel Stewart, an ancestor of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. The latter's father, John T., was born in Dauphin County, Pa., March 3, 1781, and in 1806 he and his brother Samuel came to Ohio, and bought five hundred acres of land, which was then within the boundaries of Greene County. This tract they divided some ten years later, John retaining the southern portion. March 2, 1815, he married Ann, daughter of Robert and Ann Elder, who was born in Pennsylvania May 19, 1798. They became the parents of a large family of children. Julia Ann, born in 1816, is the wife of David Anderson; Perry, born in 1818, married Rhoda Wheeler; Elder R., born in 1820, wedded Rachel Jacoby; Samuel is the only one of the
family who has been summoned to lay down life's burdeus; Charles, born in 1825, first married a Miss Nicholson and then married Jessie Mathew- son; James, born in 1827, married Rebecca Ja- coby; Thomas E., born in 1829, married Leila Marshall; Oscar N., born in 1832, married Ra- chel Nicholson; and William C., born in 1835, married Elizabeth Sellars. The father died April 16, 1850, and his wife lived until September 24, 1880.
Samuel Stewart was born in Clarke County, Ohio, March 28, 1823, and there grew to man- hood. December 12, 1848, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Marshall, who was born June 19, 1825, likewise in Clarke County. Their marriage was graced with seven children, viz .: Marshall, born November 12, 1850; Ella, May 3, 1852; Anna, deceased; Chase, born October 26, 1856; Mary, December 3, 1861; Elizabeth, Feb- ruary 24, 1865; and Kate, May 13, 1871. Ella is the wife of I. W. Lewis, a merchant, and has three children. Chase is a lawyer in Spring- field, Ohio. Mary is the wife of Charles B. Corey, an insurance agent of Logan County, Ohio, and they have two living children. Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. J. J. Boon, of Mt. Victory, and they are the parents of three children. Kate is a resi- dent of Bellefontaine.
In January, 1849, Samuel Stewart moved to Logan County, Ohio, where he bought one hun- dred and fifty acres of wild land. At the end of three years he sold out and embarked in a mer- cantile business at Yellow Springs, Greene Coun- ty, remaining there until 1860. In that year he moved to Hardin County, and from that time was engaged in the development of the farm which he had purchased here, and also successfully fol- lowed sheep-raising for several years. In 1870 he was elected County Commissioner, serving as such three years, and was also honored with the position of Township Trustee several years. In his political belief he was a Republican. He died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, March 19, 1888, aged sixty-five years. His faith- ful wife departed this life in July, 1890, when in her sixty-sixth year.
Marshall Stewart grew to manhood in this town-
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ship, gaining a good business education. In 1871 he went to Rushsylvania, where he was engaged in business for six years as a member of the firm of Lewis & Stewart. After selling out his in- terest there, he returned to the farm, and has since managed the old homestead. He, too, has made a success of sheep-growing, and of buying and selling the same, and ships mostly to Buffalo and New York markets.
February 20, 1886, Marshall Stewart married Ollie Stevenson, who was born May 24, 1861, in this county, being a daughter of Samuel and Eliza Stevenson, the former of whom was killed while a member of Company E, Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry. Ida, a sister of Mrs. Stewart, married Frank Barney, a merchant of De Kalb County, Ind. The following children have been born to Marshall Stewart and his wife: Samuel, December 3, 1886; Thornton, April 20, 1889; Ella, May 3, 1892; and Harold, April 4, 1894.
Politically Mr. Stewart is a Republican, and has officiated as Township Trustee and Treas- urer. His estimable wife is a member of the Presbyterian Churchi, and takes a great interest in everything relating to religious work.
EWIS D. HAMILTON, M. D., in addition to being one of the leading physicians of Marion, is one of its most energetic and progressive citizens, and is widely known and higlily esteemed. He was born on a farm in Del- aware County, this state, September 21, 1856. His father, John Hamilton, was a native of Ross County, Ohio, while the grandfather, by name Archibald Hamilton, was a Scotchiman, and born in the Highlands. He emigrated to America about (805, at once settling on a farm in Ross County. His residence there was of short dura- tion, however, and his next move found him in
Delaware County, where his son, father of our subject, was born in 1810, our subject's birth oc- curring on the same farm in 1856. This piece of property is considered to be a very valuable tract, and has been in the family for over ninety years. It is said that the grandfather of our subject was of royal birth, but as we have not the facts be- fore us as to' the authenticity of this statement, we will here leave the reader in doubt. This we do know, that after coming to the United States he became one of the prominent pioneers of Ohio, and was successful in all that he undertook.
The father of our subject was one of the found- ers of the first United Brethren Church organized in the state, and from that time until liis death was one of its leading members and able support- ers. He died in 1875, from the effects of an in- jury. His wife, formerly Miss Jeanette Chan- berlain, is a native of New York State, and is now living on the home place in Delaware County. She reared a family of several sons, of whom Daniel served as a soldier in the Civil War, and was killed in battle. John L. is a prominent physician of Leavenworth, Kan.
Lewis D. Hamilton, after spending his boyhood days on the farm and mastering all the branches taught in the comnon schools, went to Delaware, where he attended the Delaware High School. For several years thereafter he engaged in teach- ing, a part of the time in the district which he first attended. It was his desire, however, to follow a professional life, and in the fall of 1876 he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. E. H. Hyatt, of Delaware, who was then surgeon of the Big Four Railroad Company. Later he read under the instruction of Dr. D. N. Kinsman, who is now one of the noted professors in Starling Medical College. Subsequently he entered the Columbus Medical College, from which he graduated with honors in 1881. After receiving his diploma, he commenced practice at Ostrander, Delaware County, where he remained until 1885. That year he came to Marion, where he has met with the most wonderful success in the treatment of difficult cases, and by whose resi- dents he is held in the highest esteem. During the ten years in which he has been established
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here, lie has not only built up an enviable repti- tation as a skillful physician, but has accumulated a comfortable competence. . He is a self-made. man in the fullest serise of the term, as lie gained his present high standing entirely unaided. He is the President of the Marion County Medical Society and is a prominent Knight of Pythias and Knight Templar. He is connected by mem- bership with the Presbyterian Church, to the support of which he is a cheerful and liberal con- tributor.
Dr. Hamilton was married, June 17, 1880, to Miss Ida David, of Delaware County. . Their five children bear the respective names of Gail, Don T., Margery, Jeanette C. and Lewis D. The fami- ly occupy a fine home on East Center Street, whichi is in the finest portion of the city, and there enter- tain as their friends the best people of the county.
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