USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 16
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 16
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ZIAS WASHBURN. A position of influ- ence among the citizens of Marion County is held by the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch, who is numbered among thie substantial residents of Salt Rock Township, where his fine estate is located on section 15. His parents, Elias and Elizabeth (Morral) Wash- burn, reared a family of five children, of whom he . was the first-born. John, the second child, is a farmer and stockman of this township; Sanford died at the age of thirty-one years; Howard E. is spoken of elsewhere in this volume; Rosanna mar- ried Dr. J. M. Cline, a prominent physician of Cleveland, Ohio.
Elias Washburn was a native of this county and spent his entire life within its bounds. He was killed by lightning in 1860, when thirty-five years of age. His parents, Ozias and Lucy Washburn, were natives of New England, whichi section was the home of the family for many geil- erations back. Mrs. Elizabeth Washburn was born in this township, and was the daughter of Samuel and Rosana (Stayley ) Morral, the former
of whom was born in Virginia in 1800. He miade the journey to Pickaway County, this state, witlı his parents when quite young, and worked on the home farm until eighteen years old, when he took up liis abode in Marion County, on a piece of raw land, which at that time was a part of the Wyan- dot Indian Reservation. When this land was placed upon the market he bought a quarter-sec- tion, on which he had "squatted," and after illi- proving it, made it his home until his decease, at the age of eiglity years. He was one of the first settlers in this locality, and besides cultivating the soil was often called upon to' auction land which had been vacated. He was more than or- dinarily successful in his life's vocation, owning at one time five hundred acres. Some time prior to his decease he sold the right of way throughi his place to the Columbus & Toledo Railroad, which then named the present thriving village of Morral in his honor. His father, great-grand- father of Ozias, was a Scotchman, and after his location in the United States served as a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife was of German extraction. Mrs. Washburn's mother was a na- tive of Virginia, and came to this county with her parents when quite small. She died here at tlie age of forty years.
Ozias Washburn was a lad of nine years at the time of the death of his father. He continued to live at home, and as he grew older assisted liis brothers in carrying on the estate, which includ- ed four hundred acres. This he looked after and managed until the decease of his motlier in 1888. In ISSI the farm was divided and our subject still resides on his portion of the old homestead.
November 18, 1891, Mr. Waslibtiri was mar- ried to Miss Kate, daughter of Amos Taylor, whose sketch the reader will find on another page. To them has been born a daugliter, Mil- dred, whose birtli occurred September 19, 1892. Mr. Washburn is a stanch Republican in politics and lias rendered his community valuable service as a member of the School Board, and as Towi1- ship Clerk, Supervisor and Trustee. He has been Appraiser of Land, and at the present time is Treasurer of his township.
Mr. Washburn's possessions aggregate two
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hundred and forty-seven acres, the greater part of which represents his own earnings. Besides being engaged in general agriculture, he makes a specialty of raising sheep. He has been great- ly prospered as a business man and is justly spok- · en of as one of the substantial and representative farmers of Marion County.
AMES M. DAVIDSON. Among the many residents of Marion who deserve notice in this volume, J. M. Davidson is most certain- ly not one of the least. He is at present the efficient and accommodating agent of the Colum- bus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railroad Com- pany, which office he has held since 1891.
Our subject is a native of Indiana, having been born in Hagerstown, May 21, 1846. His father was Dr. E. H. Davidson, a prominent physician of Indiana, whither he removed some time prior . to 1844, from his native state, Kentucky. He was born in Maysville, and departed this life in Celina, Mercer County, this state, in 1872, at the home of our subject.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Daugherty) Davidson, the mother of our subject, was a native of Hagers- town, Ind., and a most estimable lady, well liked by all who knew her. Her death took place sev- eral years prior to the demise of her husband. She reared a family of three children, of whom James M. is the only one now living. He was educated in the common schools of his native place, and when quite young started out to make his own way in the world. His first move was to go to St. Louis, where he took a course in a bus- iness college. Later, coming to Ohio, he en-
gaged in the mercantile business, but this venture he abandoned in 1878, in order to accept a posi- tion with the Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company. Although this kind of work was very agreeable to him and one to which he seemed to be well adapted, he resigned a year later, and
with others formed a company to operate a mine in Silver Cliff, Colo. They met with the same failure which many others did who expected to gain a fortune in the West. Returning to Ohio, he was given his former position with the rail- road, with headquarters at Celina, and has been identified with various railroads in different parts of the country from that time to the present.
In January, 1891, Mr. Davidson came to Mar- ion and was given charge of the business of the railroad with which he is still connected. He possesses thorough knowledge of this particular branch of business, and is popular with all the residents of the city, commanding at once their respect and esteem. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Amelia, daughter of Oliver and Elnora El- lis. Mrs. Davidson was born in Celina, where her father was the proprietor of one of the best hotels. To them has been born a daughter, Carra, now the wife of A. A. Mudge. Our sub- ject is a Chapter Mason, and in politics never fails to cast a vote in favor of Republican candidates.
ICHARD H. HORN is a briglit and talented young writer, who is making of the Marion Deutsche Presse a wide-awake and well man- aged newspaper. He was born in Leipsic, Sax- ony, August 21, 1858, to Gustavus Horn. who was also born in Germany, and there resided un- til 1881, when he came to this country and set- tled in Dolgeville, N. Y., where his death oc- curred ni 1894.
Our subject received a splendid education in the model schools of Germany, and after graduating, at the age of sixteen years, commenced to learn the printer's trade. After mastering this art lie came to America and engaged to work in an office in Utica, and later in Syracuse, N. Y. Upon leaving the Empire State he came to Ohio and worked for a time on the leading German papers in Cleveland. In 1890 he came to Marion, and
HENRY M. BARNHART.
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August 21 of that year published the first copy of the Deutsche Presse. He has displayed marked ability in the management of this sheet and is conducting a very successful business. Being a young man of energy and tenacity of purpose, he has each year increased his list of subscribers, and at the present time his paper has the largest circulation of any German publication outside of the large cities in Ohio.
Richard H. Horn was married, August 21, 1886, to Miss Louise, daughter of John Herig, of Cleveland, who has the honor of being the oldest furniture dealer in Cleveland. To our subject and his wife there was born one child, who died in infancy. The mother of Mr. Horn, Mrs. Theresa (Lehman) Horn, was born in Germany, but now makes her home in Dolgeville, N. Y.
As an editor of a good newpaper our subject wields a marked influence in the public and polit- ical life of the community. He is a stanch Dem- ocrat in politics, aud the tenor of the Presse is also Democratic.
ENRY M. BARNHART. The present cen- tury has been especially characterized by inventive genius displayed in every line of labor. Many of the greatest men our country has known, turning their attention to this work, have invented machinery or wrought improve- ments in that previously designed, and in this way have aided in developing the material re- sources of the land. To such men the United States, and indeed the entire world, owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. It may be said of them, literally, that "though they die, yet their works do live after them."
The crowning success of the life of Henry M. Barnhart, and that by which his name will be per- petuated through the years to come, was the in- vention of the Barnhart Steam Shovel, the manu- facture of which is being conducted upon a con-
stantly increasing scale in Marion. That he achieved such remarkable success, notwithstand- ing poverty in youth, proves that he was a mall of far more than ordinary ability. Possessing a keen insight into meu and things, and combining rare intuitive qualities with high intellectual gifts, he was recognized as one of the shrewdest busi- ness men of central Ohio. From an humble po- sition in boyhood lie worked his way steadily on- ward to prosperity and prominence, and his forty- four years on earth were years of usefulness and activity.
The life record of one so talented as Mr. Barn- hart will possess more than ordinary interest to the readers of this volume, and we therefore pre- sent it in full. The family of which he was a member was of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch ori- gin, possessing the thrifty and industrious quali- ties of that nationality. His birthplace was a farm near Kings Mills, Warren County, Ohio, and there he was born August 28, 1846. Being the son of poor parents, he had no opportunities for gaining an education, but through observa- tion and self-culture gained a broad fund of in- formation, whichi made him a well read man.
From boyhood Mr. Barnhart was distinguished among his associates for his untiring perseverance and superior ability. Yet his start in life was far from encouraging, and many a man with less en- ergy would have given up in despair. He pur- chased a small tract of land lying on the Scioto River, and containing a sawmill. Here he em- barked in the milling business, and later was for a time similarly engaged in Marion, but met, however, with only indifferent success, and finally was burned out, losing all he had in the world.
Entering the employ of the Chicago & Atlan- tic Railroad, Mr. Barnhart operated a steam shovel for a time, and it was while thus employed that he conceived the idea of an improvement. Unfortunately, lie had no means with which to carry out his projeet. Wishing to interest some man of means in the matter, he consulted Edward Huber, who himself had been a poor man, and was known far and wide as the poor man's friend. To hint he turned for assistance, presenting the plan to him in full. Mr. Huber suggested that
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he build a steam shovel, but Mr. Barnhart. re- plied that he lacked the necessary means. The former gentleman at once exclaimed, "Oli, then, all you want is the opportunity to build one of the machines. If that is all, go into my shops , and build one, and I will furnish everything and see you through." This alone would cost $5,000, but Mr. Huber never had any reason to regret his generosity; on the contrary, it proved the means of bringing him a large fortune.
The shovel was constructed and worked per- fectly. After that all was plain sailing for the inventor. In August, 1884, the Marion Steani Shovel Company was incorporated, with Mr. Hu- ber as President; H. M. Barnhart, Secretary and Manager; and J. Keiler, Treasurer and Superin- tendent. In January, 1889, Mr. Barnhart was made Vice-President and General Manager. The first year's business after incorporation amounted to $19,000, but it has increased so rapidly that it now reaches $325,000. At the time of the death of Mr. Barnhart, September 25, 1890, it had made a fortune for himself and all connected with it.
Shortly before his death, Mr. Barnhart pur- chased one of the most elegant residences in Ma- rion, and there, just when he was beginning to enjoy the fruits of his arduous labors, hie was stricken down by death. Since that time Mrs. Barnhart has retained the large interest in the works, and the business has been constantly in- creasing, and many new buildings have been erected.
January 14, 1869, Mr. Barnhart married Miss Mattie Mouser, and four daughters and a son were born of their union. The eldest, Mary Elizabeth, is the wife of F. J. Smith, of Muncie, Ind .; Daisy Dell, Hattie May and Grace Fay, who reside with their mother, are accomplished young ladies, and are receiving the best educa- tional advantages; and Harry C., the only son, is a promising young man of nineteen and is now in college. Mrs. Barnhart had a brother, Irvin L., who lost his life in the Civil War. Her fa- ther, Ambrose Mouser, for many years a school teacher, now resides with her.
The death of Mr. Barnhart was mourned as a
public loss. His funcral services werc attended by an immense concourse of people, all desirous of paying the last tribute to his memory. From his employes and associates in business came many claborate and beautiful floral offerings, in- dicating the regard in which he was held. He was buried with Masonic honors by the Knights Templar, who borc his body to the cemetery at Marion and consigned it to its last resting-place. Not far distant from the spot where he reposes may be seen the factory whichi owes its inception to his labors, and with the growth of which his life was so closely connected. Could he behold it now, realizing its magnitude and importance among the industries of Ohio, he might justly be proud of its prosperity and of his own labors in securing its success.
ENRY STRELITZ is one of the leading and most popular business men of Marion, where he is engaged in the clothing busi- ness, carrying a full line of the latest styles in ready-made clothes, and also a variety of furnish- ing goods. He has donc much toward advancing the prosperity of the city by embarking in this enterprise; by his untiring application to business has secured a competency, and by his unwaver- ing honesty has won the high regard of his fel- low-men.
Mr. Strelitz was born in this city, November 7, 1855. His father, Julius Strelitz, was a native of Germany, and was born February 24, 1830. Grandfather Herman Strelitz was assassinated April 10, 1848, during the revolution in Prussia. Julius Strelitz began to learn the tailor's trade when a lad of fourteen years, but all desires in that direction were cut short in 1849, as he was obliged to serve in the regular army of Prussia. In 1852, however, we find him en route for Amer- ica. After spending one year in Columbus, this state, he came to Marion, and in a small way en- gaged in the clothing business. He soon came
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into prominence both in a business and political way, and was often called upon to fill positions of trust and honor. For a number of years he was a member of the City Council, was for ten years on the Board of Education, and also ren- dered efficient service as one of the Board of Health. In 1879 he was elected County Treas- urer, and on the expiration of his term of office was re-elected, so great was his popularity with the people. He was a member in excellent stand- ing of the Hebrew Church, in the faith of which he died, February 3, 1892. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and in politics was a strong Democrat. He left at his decease a large fortune made by his own exertions and the hon- 'orable and upright manner in which he did bus- iness.
The mother of our subject, Dorothea Strelitz, was the daughter of Michael Aronson, a native of Posen, Prussia. Our subject was educated in the schools of Marion and in the business college of Columbus, this state. He took naturally to the clothing business, and from the time he was ten years old, when not in school, was to be found in his father's store. In 1880 he was taken in as partner, the firm conducting business under the name of J. Strelitz & Son. He has one brother, Mitchell, younger than himself, who is also in- terested in the business, and although their father is deceased, all their transactions are carried on under the name of J. Strelitz' Sons. They are the largest clothing merchants in Marion, and in addition to this our subject has other extensive business interests, being a Director of the Farm- ers' and Mechanics' Bank, the gas. company, and. the' street railway, and a stockholder in the Huber Manufacturing Company. He is also a Director in the Malleable Iron Works, a stock- holder in the electric light company, and the Marion Milling Company, and in numerous other ways is interested in the leading enterprises of the city. He is a prominent Mason, an Elk and Knight of Pythias, and adheres to the faith of his honored father and mother, belonging to the He- brew Church. His father, mother and only sis- ter died within two years, and our subject and his brother inherit the large fortune left by his par-
ents. They are very agreeable in manners, and by their large circle of acquaintances are honored and esteemed.
Mitchell Strelitz, our subject's brother, married Miss Julia Cohn, of Oil City, Pa., and to them have been born three children, as follows: Rosa- lie, Malcolm Julius and Dorathea Margarett.
IRAM M. AULT. The propriety of insur- ance is recognized by all prudent men, and the company which our subject represents has earned the favor of the best residents of Ma- rion by uniform fidelity in the execution of all its contracts, and it is now an active factor in the insurance business in the county. The affairs of the company are in the hands of men of substan- tial business standing, H. M. Ault being a gen- tleman of superior executive ability and a pop- ular and progressive citizen.
Our subject was born in Lebanon County, Pa., October 26, 1831, to David and Elizabeth (Mill- er) Ault. His father was also a Pennsylvanian by birth and of German ancestry. He worked at his trade, that of house joiner, while in the Key- stone State, and there he died in 1847. His wife died in 1887. Hiram M. had three brothers. John was formerly in the dry-goods business in Marion, but died in 1863; Henry, who is now liv- ing in Pennsylvania, served during the Civil War as a soldier in a Pennsylvania regiment; and Adam is carrying on a thriving grocery business in Mar- ion.
In 1846 H. M. Ault came to Marion and en- tered the dry goods store of his brother John, where he was engaged for eleven years. Early in the '5os he was elected City Clerk of Marion, and in 1858 was chosen by his fellow-citizens as County Recorder. He was very admirably qual- ified for discharging the duties of this office, and on the expiration of his teri was re-elected, hold- ing the position for six consecutive years. From 1864 to 1876 he was engaged in the mercantile
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business, during a part of this time serving as City Clerk, and for ten years was Clerk of the Board of Education. He also held a prominent place in the Agricultural Society, from whichi he retired in 1893. In 1886 he engaged in the fire- insurance business, representing a number of the best companies. He has been connected with the insurance business ever since that time and has built up a large business for the companies in this county. He is noted for the promptness and fair- ness with which he adjusts and pays losses, and is an excellent medium for procuring safe and relia- ble insurance.
Mr. Ault married Miss Mary C. Gorton in 1851. She was the daughter of Colonel Gorton, the first Auditor of Marion County, and a veteran of the War of 1812. They have three children. Udora is the wife of Benjamin Beber, Treasurer of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company at Marion; Emma is the wife of C. T. Ogier, a druggist of this city; and Harry, the youngest of the family, who has been in Califor- nia since 1886, is engaged in the stationery busi- ness in San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Ault are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which the former has been Treasurer for many years. They occupy a fine residence on East South Street, and have many friends in this locality. In political matters Mr. Ault is a Republican.
EORGE CRAWFORD is prominent in the social, literary and political life of this coun- ty as the editor of the Marion County Inde- pendent, a paper ably conducted in the interests of the Republican party. He is a native of this state, and was born in Steubenville, November 5, 1827. His father, John Crawford, was born in Virginia, while his paternal grandfather, also John, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland. He came to America during Colonial times, and
fought as a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolution. He was a cousin of the cele- brated Col. William Crawford, who was burned at the stake by the Wyandot Indians near Upper Sandusky, in 1782.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Ford. She was born in the North of Ire- land, whence she came to this country with her parents in the year 1800, being at that time tett years of age. John Crawford, Jr., was one of the early pioneers of Steubenville, where he followed the cooper's trade. He was quite an inventor, and through his genius in this direction greatly added to liis income by the sale of patents which he obtained. During the War of 1812 he was commissioned Captain of a company, but as it was not called out he was never sent to the front. He departed this life in Steubenville in 1852.
Our subject was a lad of fourteen years at the time of his parents' removal to Coshocton Coun- ty. He obtained his literary education in the schools of his native city and Roscoe, and on at- taining mature years began reading law with Judge Sample. He was admitted to the Bar in 1854, and in July of the same year located at Up- per Sandusky, where for eight years he was act- ively engaged in practicing his profession, and for one term held the responsible position of Pros- ecuting Attorney.
Within three days after the firing on Ft. Sum- ter he enlisted and was mustered in as a private in Company C, Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, under Capt. W. T. Wilson, serving his full term. After being discharged he did not re-enlist, on ac- count of physical disability. In 1863 he returned home. Soon thereafter he came to Marion and purchased the old Unionist, and, changing the name to the Marion County Independent, began the publication of the sheet which he still edits. For thirty-two years he has been chief of one of the largest weekly papers in the state. The name of the paper is somewhat misleading, and might indicate that its head was not of any political faitli in particular, but such is not the case, for Mr. Crawford is a stanchi Republican and sup- ports his party with his influence and vote on every occasion. His paper is well conducted, is
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a bright and original sheet, and lias a large cir- culation, that is by no means confined to party lines.
Mr. Crawford was married, April 16, 1855, to Miss Mary E. Danforth, a native of Guernsey County, this state, who died February 17, 1893, after a happy married life of over thirty-eight years. Their only living child, Harry, was born March 28, 1868, and is now associated with his father in business. Mr. Crawford has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for forty-six years. He belongs to Cooper Post No. 117, G. A. R., and is connected with the Royal Ar- canum. A man of strong convictions, he does not hesitate to express his opinion freely and frankly, and with all the vigor he can command.
OYAL S. LATHAM has been proprietor of his homestead on section 17, Goshen Town- ship, Hardin County, since 1852. He has added to his original eighty acres one hundred and twenty more, and thus owns two hundred acres altogether in the home farm. All but twenty acres of this is under cultivation, and his first eighty acres were entirely cleared by him. The farm is well tiled, and good buildings, fences, etc., make it one of the best in the county. The owner is in touch with advanced ideas in re- gard to farming, and always keeps good stock on hand.
The father of our subject, James Latham, was born in Connecticut, and graduated from Hary- ard College, after which he engaged in teaching. When about twenty-two years of age he emi- grated to Ohio, and was married in Seneca Coun- ty to Philanda Baker, also a school teacher, and a native of Vermont. The father dicd when Royal S. was only three years old, and the lad entered the family of a neighbor. William Wat- son, who did not have a son, and who took the boy as his own.
The birth of our subject occurred in Seneca
County, Ohio, January 13, 1828. He continued to live with his kind foster-father until reaching lis majority. Each winter he attended school until the time of sugar-making, and when he was twenty-one Mr. Watson gave him $too in cash. In 1849 he joined a company of six young men bound for the Pacific Slope. They were under the superintendence of I. N. Reed, who was to bear all expenses of the little party to California, and was to receive one-half of each man's income for nine months after reaching their destination. At St. Louis four of them started overland, pur- chasing two wagons and seven yoke of oxen. About the middle of May they started from In- dependence, Mo., and August 8 they took part in a snow-ball fight on the top of the Rocky Mountains. At the end of one hundred and twenty days they reached Hangtown, Cal., and engaged in placer-mining, but the rainy season soon setting in very little was done the first win- ter. Provisions were extremely expensive, flour and pork being $1.25 per pound. Mr. Reed realized about $1,400 from the young men's labor for the nine months, and the wagons and teams brought about $4,000. For fifteen months after- wards Mr. Latham remained in partnership with Mr. Reed in mining and teaming, as he had bought an interest in the teams. The remainder of the party scattered in various directions, but they continued together and traveled homeward by way of the Panama route. On the whole, our subject has never regretted his experience, for he had nothing to lose when he went West and he returned with a fair sum of money, besides hay- ing seen much of life in the western country.
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