USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 17
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Politically Mr. Latham is a Republican, and was elected one of the County Commissioners in 1890, serving in that capacity until the expira- tion of his term, January 1, 1895. While he was a member of the board many public improve- ments were made on roads, ditches and bridges, besides a great deal of dredging in the Scioto River. The importance of the latter has been very apparent, for though about $40,000 was ex- pended, the great Scioto Marsh, an alluvial and desirable tract of land for general farming pur- poses, has been reclaimed. The county armory
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was also erected at a cost of $17,000, about $7,000 of which had accumulated in the building fund. A bridge was built at Kenton at a cost of about $6,000, and an infirmary added to the county hospital. Mr. Latham has frequently served as a delegate to county conventions, and has been Justice of the Peace of this township for two terms.
In May, 1860, occurred the marriage of our subject and Hattie Watson, a native of Pennsyl- vania. Their eldest son, Orlando, is engaged in farming in Buck Township, this county. Alice was educated at Northwood, Olio, and is the wife of J. S. Binkley, a farmer of Atchison Coun- ty, Kan. Reed W. lives at home and assists in the management of the farm. Jennie L. is the wife of Rev. Thomas R. McRoberts, a Congrega- tional minister of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. McRoberts were fellow-students and are both graduates of Oberlin College. The former is also a graduate of Oberlin Theological Semi- nary. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Latham have been members of the Patterson Presbyterian Church.
B ENJAMIN W. RUTLEDGE, whose home is on section 20, Roundhead Township, Hardin County, was born in this neighbor- hood, December 25, 1826, and during the years of his residence here has been largely instru- mental in its upbuilding and development. From his boyhood he was brought up to farm work and has always followed agricultural pursuits, mieet- ing with good success in his various undertak- ings. He is to-day one of the leading grain and stock raisers of the county. He formerly owned two hundred and eighty-two acres of land, but has divided one hundred and twenty-two acres among his children, and now retains one hundred and sixty acres of finely cultivated land in his home farm.
Mr. Rutledge is the son of Richard and Mary (Lewis) Rutledge, the former born July 14, 1795,
in Maryland. . The mother's birth occurred in January of the same year, in the state of Ken- tncky. In 1810 Richard Rutledge came to Ohio, locating in I,ogan County, where he worked out to obtain the means to purchase property of his OWI1. He later came to this county, and as the years passed by he became the owner of a large tract of four hundred acres of wild land in Round- head Township. His first work was to clear a space and erect a log cabin, in which his little family were made comfortable, although it con- tained but one room, 18x20 feet in dimensions. He next gave his attention to the cultivation of his land, and on removing from this state, in 1860, it was one of the most productive in the county. That year he located one-half mile northeast of the home place, where his death oc- curred January 12, 1875. His wife preceded him to the land beyond, being called hence in 1845. Of their union were born nineteen children, of whom John Fletcher died at the age of six years and Alvin when four years old; Lewis B., born in 1818, married Jane Todd, and is living in this township; Harriet, born in February, 1821, inar- ried Samuel P. Bowdle, and both are now de- ceased; Thomas Jefferson, who was born in Janu- ary, 1833, married Martha Tressel, and is engaged in the grocery business at Ada.
The father of our subject was engaged in farm- ing throughout his entire life, and besides raising large quantities of grain was an extensive stock- raiser. Being one of the early settlers of this township, he did much pioneer work, aiding in laying out roads, building bridges, etc., and he served as a member of the first Grand Jury which ever convened in Hardin County. He always took an active part in politics and was a stanch Republican. For twenty-one years he served efficiently as Justice of the Peace, and was also Township Assessor, Trustee, Treasurer and School Director. The advantages given to the youth of his day for acquiring an education were limited, and this fact made him all the more ear- nest in his desire to establish free schools. He was regarded as one of the valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which denomin- ation he was Class-Leader and Steward, and con-
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tributed liberally to its various projects of useful- ness. He was regarded as a representative farmer, who by his good management, enterprise and perseverance overcame the obstacles in his path and became well-to-do.
The original of this sketch was married, June 17, 1847, in Roundhead Township, this county, to Caroline McGivenis. She was the daughter of Janies and Mary McGivens, natives of Ross County, Olio, where the foriner was engaged in following his trade of a carpenter. Mrs. Rut- ledge was born September 22, 1831, and by her union with our subject became the mother of six children. Mary E. died in 1853; Cecil married William Spain; Laura is the wife of W. T. Bow- dle, of this township; William Henry Harrison married Bell Hoblinwell and lives in Lima, Ohio; Richard A. married Martha J. Plumber and is also living in Roundhead Township; and the youngest of the family died in infancy.
Mrs. Caroline Rutledge departed this life June 24, 1864, and January 26 of the following year our subject married Catherine Patterson, who was born in February, 1833. The only child born of this union, Caroline died at the age of four years. After the death of his second companion Mr. Rut- ledge chose for his third wife Lucy Billingsly. who was born July 28, 1854, and is the daughter of William and Mary (Anderson) Billingsly. Their union was solemnized February 15, 1890. The lady was one of a family of six children, of whom three are now living. Her parents were natives of England, in which country they lived and died.
Our subject remained at home until nineteen years of age, when he began life for himself, clearing and improving the splendid estate on which he now resides. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres, and by a proper rotation of crops is made to yield a good income.
During the early years of his life Mr. Rutledge was a Whig in politics, but after the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks. He has held inany of the township offices, serving acceptably as Clerk for twelve years, and for many terms was Trustee. He has likewise rent- dered efficient service as a member of the School
.Board. The Methodist Episcopal Church finds in him one of its most valued and influential members, as he is ever ready to contribute of his means toward its support and aid in all the good work in which it is engaged. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, being connected with the lodge at Ada.
OSEPH COWAN, who is now living at the home of his son-in-law, C. B. Drumn, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, is one of the worthy old settlers of Hardin County. He was born in that part of Champaign County, Ohio, which was afterward known as Clarke County, March 11, 1813, and continued to dwell there until 1848. That year witnessed his arrival in this community. He purchased eighty acres of land on the pike one mile northeast of Kenton, and just north of Grove Cemetery, and here de- veloped a good homestead and made many im- provements upon the place. At the age of twen- ty-four years his marriage with Isabel Knox, a native of Greene County, Ohio, was celebrated. After a happy married life of fifty-six years Mrs. Cowan was called to the silent land, February 3, . 1894, after she had passed her seventy-seventh birthday.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cowan the following children were born: Mary, wife of D. R. Boyd, a farmer of Pleasant Township; Rebecca Jane, wife of C. B. Drum; John, who died at the age of twenty-two years; and David, a resident of Maple City, Kan. Mr. Cowan gave his children good educations, and practical assistance on starting out on an independent life.
Religiously Mr. Cowan and his devoted wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church, which was organized about the time of their ar- rival here. An old-line Whig, Mr. Cowan cast his first vote in 1836 for William Henry Harrison,
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and since 1856 has been a Republican. With the exception of a slight defect in hearing, he is extremely well preserved and active for a man of his age, he being now in his eighty-third year.
ILLIAM H. DAVIS, one of the old pio- neers of Hardin County, is one of the best known citizens of Dudley Township, where he has resided for over a quarter of a century. He owns an improved farm about two miles south of Hepburn, and has devoted his mature years to its cultivation. He was born in Logan County, this state, October 16, 1830, and is a son of Will- iam H. and Mary (Johnson) Davis, the parents of eleven children.
William H. Davis, Sr., was born in Maryland, where he was reared to man's estate and obtained a fair education. On starting out in life for him- self, he came to Ohio and settled at Chillicothe, where he worked at the cabinet-maker's trade for a time. Later abandoning this occupation, he moved to Logan County and entered land, becom- ing one of the first settlers. He made his home in that locality until 1832, when he moved to Marion County, entering from the Government a large tract of land in Montgomery Township. This he improved and lived upon until his death, which occurred soon after his sixty-seventh year. He was very successful in his farming ventures, and was popular among the old pioneers, who elected him for three successive terms to the office of Justice of the Peace. During the War of 1812 he served as a private in its ranks. His father fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was killed in that conflict. William H., Sr., was the only child of his parents, and, being deprived of his father's care when young, was reared by his widowed mother, who gave him the best edu- cation possible.
The mother of our subject was born in Dela- ware, and at the time of her decease was in her sixty-seventh year. She was a devoted member of the Christian Church, and reared her children to lives of honor and usefulness. Her son, Will-
iam H., of this notice, remained at home until he became of age, in the mean time procuring a good fund of information by attendance at the district school. For a time after reaching his majority, he rented and worked a part of the old home- stead, but in 1853 he married and went to Ap- panoose County, Iowa, where he entered land. His stay there, however, was of short duration. After selling this claim he returned to Montgom- ery Township, Marion County, and purchased land, on which he lived for three years. He then crossed the line into Hardin County, becoming the owner of a farm in the eastern part of Dudley Township. He sold the tract in 1864, and for the following year rented land, but in the spring of 1867, however, he bought the farm on which he is now residing. It is three hundred acres in extent, and represents his own earnings, with the exception of the forty acres which were given him by his father.
February 17, 1853, our subject and Miss Isa- belle Kelley were united in marriage. The lady was born February 26, 1834, to Benjamin and Martha (Snoddy) Kelley, the foriner of whom was born in Pennsylvania. He was there reared and married to Miss Snoddy, and in 1830, the young couple came to Ohio and settled in Marion County, where the father worked at the cooper's trade. He afterward removed to Delaware, and in 1842 became a resident of Hardin County, dy- ing within her borders when sixty-six years of age. Mrs. Kelley was also born in the Keystone State and was past seventy-one years at the time of her demise. They were both members of the United Brethren Church, and were people greatly respected in their community.
There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, four of whom died in infancy. Joshua Miller was born October 31, 1854, and is now a prosperous farmer of this township; Charles C. is also an agriculturist of Dudley Township; Sarah was born April 21, 1878, and is still on the home farm.
In politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and on this ticket was elected to the office of Township Trustee and Treasurer. Himself and family be- long to the Methodist Church.
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GEORGE W. KING.
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FORGE W. KING, who holds the position of Secretary and general manager of the Ma- rion Steam Shovel Works, one of the best known firms in Ohio, and which has proved of great benefit to the town in which it is located, was born on a farin in Richland Township, Ma- rion County, February 19, 1854. Mr. King may be said to have come by his business instincts by inheritance, as his father and grandfather were. both engaged in manufacturing. The latter, Ti- tus King, was a native of Rutland, Vt., and in early manhood learned the business of manufac- turing woolen cloth. On moving to Ohio, he es- tablished a woolen-mill at Lancaster, and later at Delaware, in this state, became the proprietor of grist, saw and woolen mills. After leaving Dela- ware, he caine to thiis part of the county, still car- rying on business as a manufacturer, and on his death his son, George T., our subject's father, succeeded him in the mill.
George W. King grew up on a farm in Rich- land Township, and attended the district school, but his success in life can hardly be ascribed to the education there obtained, as it simply con- sisted of a smattering of the English branches. He was very fond of mathematics, however, as people of an inventive turn of mind very fre- quently are, and the solution of knotty arith- metical questions was his chief delight in school. From his earliest boyhood his peculiar bent of mind manifested itself, and he took great interest in the operation of his father's mill, especially in the mechanical part of the work. Soon he be- gan designing, and after a time had the great sat- isfaction of inventing a hay-lifter for the use of farmers in unloading hay. This implement, which proved a truly useful article, became of general use among the farmers of the neighbor- hood, and from its sale he realized considerable returns.
To the ability of Mr. King may be really as- cribed the origin of the great imanufacturing con- cern of which he is the head, as well as its suc- cessful operation. When H. M. Barnhart, the inventor of the steam shovel, was looking for some one to assist him in carrying out his de- sigus, he thought of his cousin, our subject. Mr.
King took hold of the work with all his heart, and the result proved his ability. In 1884 a company was formed to manufacture the article, and our subject was made general superintend- ent of the mechanical department and one of the Directors. A few years after tlie concern was started, Mr. Barnhart died, and upon Mr. King devolved the responsibility of carrying on the business and the execution of the various it- provements projected by Mr. Barnhart. How well he has fulfilled the requirements of the po- sition may be judged, when it is considered that the business has made a fortune for each of its stockholders, and that Mr. King has invented and patented no less than thirty important im- provements in the machinery. After Mr. Barn- hart's death he became general manager, and later was made Vice-President and general mana- ger. He is ably assisted by a corps of compe- tent men, one of whom is his brother, F. H. King ..
The career of Mr. King offers a striking ex- ample of what a man who has ability and perse- verance may accomplish in America. In this country, as perhaps in 110 other, does fortune ex- tend a helping hand to those who are worthy of her aid. Mr. King was blessed with neither fort- une nor education, but the opportunity to become rich and successful and of use to his fellow-men presented itself, and he had the ability to grasp it and become the power for good he is to-day. The foundation of his success was laid in his boy- hood, by reserving a portion of his earnings, no matter how small they were, and when an oppor- tunity presented itself he was prepared to seize it. The concern gives employment to a large number of workinen, and has been one of the chief factors in making Marion the progressive little town that it is. Besides his large interests in this plant, Mr. King is a stockholder in various other in- stitutions of the place, among thiese being the Huber Manufacturing Company, the Automatic Boiler Feed Company, the Street Railway Com- pany, the Electric Lightt Company, the Marion Tool Company and the Pendergast Lumber and Coal Company. He also liolds stock in the Me- chanics' and Farmers' Bank,
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October 27, 1888, Mr. King married Miss Sa- ralı Reber, the daughter of a prominent stock- dealer of Marion County. Mrs. King is a lady of many pleasing qualities, womanly, intelligent, and. devoted to the interests of lier husband and son, Ray Reber, a lad of five years. In his po- litical leanings Mr. King is a follower of the Re- publican party, though, as his business interests take up so large a portion of his time, he takes 110 active part in politics.
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ILLIAM W. STEVENSON, a successful and efficient agriculturist, residing on sec- tion 2, Pleasant Township, Hardin County, on the banks of the Scioto River, was born in Buck Township, three miles south of Kenton, May I, 1863. His father, Silas, was born in Cham- paign County, Ohio, October 23, 1823, being the . eldest of twelve children born to the union of James B. and Unity (New) Stevenson, natives of Virginia, the former born November 14, 1799, and the latter November 1, 1807. The other children of the family were Robert, James L., William, John W., Ephraim, Charles Anthony, David H., Sarah J., Harriet, Louisa and Maggie.
When a mere lad James B. Stevenson accom- panied his parents to what is now Logan County. Three weeks after settling there his father died, and the widowed mother was left with eight chil- dren dependent upon hier for support. James be- gan to work for an uncle in Clark County, re- maining with him until twenty years of age, when he settled in the northern part of Logan County and endured all the hardships incident to settlement in a frontier district. In 1834 he came to Hardin County and bought one hundred and twenty-five acres of timbered land, which he cleared and improved, and upon which he re- mained until his deatlı, January 6, 1865, aged sixty-six. His wife passed away March 10, 1864.
May 24, 1849, Silas Stevenson was married, in Orleans County, N. Y., to Ruby Tyler, who was
born October 27, 1827, being a daughter of John H. and Selina (Gilbert) Tyler. They became the parents of nine children, concerning whom we note the following: H. J. B., who was born No- vember 15, 1850, is a farmer of Buck Township; he is married and has four children. Charles A., whose birtli occurred in 1853, married Arrie Newcomb, and lives upon a farm in Buck Town- ship. Salina, born June 21, 1857, is the wife of W. D. Woodard, of Ada Township. Horace A. was born July 12, 1860, and is engaged in farm pursuits in Liberty Township. William W., the subject of this sketch, is the fifth member of the family circle. Laura E. was born June 5, 1865. John R., who was born August 14, 1867, lives in Buck Township; by his marriage with Rue Eisch- ler he has two children. Margaret B., born August 19, 1869, is the wife of A. M. Sponsler, a farmer of Paulding County, Ohio. Frank B., the youngest, was born December 21, 1872.
For four years Silas Stevenson made his home upon a farm in Orleans County, N. Y., after which, in 1854, he came to Ohio and bought eighty-three acres of heavily timbered land. He is now the owner of two hundred and sixty-three acres, of which one hundred and ninety-three acres have been cleared. Politically he is a Re- publican. He aided in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Kenton in 1844, and has since been a member of that congregation.
The subject of this sketch was born in a cabin in the same yard where his father's commodious brick residence now stands. After attending the common schools of this locality for some years, he entered the State Normal University at Ada, where he spent the winter of 1882-83. After his marriage, June 18, 1885, he cultivated a rented farm for one year, and then purchased property in Goshen Township, where he remained for two years. Later he bought eighty-one and one-half acres, constituting liis present homestead, and here he has since resided. For five years he con- ducted a large dairy business, and now devotes considerable attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of Poland-China hogs and Jersey cattle.
The wife of our subject bore the maiden name
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of Princess Lee, and was born in Marion County, Ohio, August 1, 1864. Her paternal grandfather, Parker Lee, was a native of Pennsylvania. Her parents, Lewis and Susan (Morrison) Lee, were born in Marion and Muskingum Counties, respec- tively, the birth of the latter occurring May 4, 1846. After the death of Mr. Lee his widow was married to E. H. Allen, of Buck Township. The two.children of our subject and his wife are Earl, born August 16, 1886; and Emery, August 20, 1889. In politics Mr. Stevenson is a stanch Re- publican, true at all times to the principles of liis chosen party. Socially he is connected with Amacitia Lodge No. 79, I. O. O. F., and Scioto Encampment No. 179. With his wife he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Kenton.
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OHN G. UNCAPHER. Probably no man in Big Island Township is better known or more public spirited than the gentleman whose name opens this sketch. He is one of tlie wealthy agriculturists of this section, owning at one tinie three hundred and sixty-three acres. As soon as his children started out in life, he gave each a farm, only retaining for himself a tract of one hundred and seventy-four acres. This is located on section 34 and is acknowledged by all to be some of the most productive land in Ma- rion County.
Mr. Uncapher was born November 23, 1831, in Unity Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Uncapher. The former was born in Virginia, May 14, 1796, but was reared to man's estate in Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of a tanner, and by following this industry became well-to-do. Thinking it a good plan to invest some of his surplus capital in farming land in
Ohio, lie came hither, and among the tracts whichi he purchased was the farm belonging to our sub- ject, which was left him by his father. His bus- iness was established in Columbiana, and there he passed the remainder of his life.
Of the ten children born to John Uncapher and his wife, Thomas was the eldest; Eliza married George Wisman and is living in Portage County, this state; Mary M. is living in New. Waterford, Ohio; Caroline married A. P. Wisman, and died January 27, 1874; Margaret married Moses Hive- ly, who is now deceased; John G. was the next born; Andrew died when young; Urbane is a re- tired farmer, living in Van Wert, this state; and Sarah is deceased, as is also Joseph. The father of this family started out in life with a capital of $200, and at the time of his decease was worth $120,000. He was a member of the German Re- formed Church, to which he was liberal in his contributions. He was always interested in the cause of education, and for some time was one of the Directors on the board of his district. He was very fond of reading and was a subscriber to many magazines and periodicals of note. In politics lie was a Democrat.
Our subject was married, March 22, 1860, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Peter and Salome (Shaf- fer) DeWolf, natives of Germany. They were farmers all their lives, and became the parents of six children, of whom Maria, the eldest, is now the wife of John Cope, of eastern Ohio; Rebec- ca married Thomas Radcliffe, and makes her home in New Lisbon, this state; Caroline is now Mrs. Clarkson Harris, and resides in Salem; Sarah, Mrs. Uncapher, was born January 19, IS40; and Lewis and Sophia are deceased. The father of this family served in the War of 1812, under the leadership of General Harrison. On the death of his wife he was married to Cath- arine Wollar, who reared and cared for the sons and daughters mentioned above.
The houseliold of Mr. and Mrs. Uncapher in- cludes six children. Charles E., born May 21, 1861, married Alice Smithi; Bryan D., born No- vember 16, 1863, married Allie Porter, and fol- lows farming; Mary L., born April 24, 1867, is at home; Emma M., born November 20, 1870, is also
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