USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 18
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with her parents; Louie F., born April 20, 1873, married Josie Axthelm and his vocation in life is that of a farmer; Carrie L. was born December 28, 1878, and is the youngest of the family. She is a very talented young lady, and, aside from "her .school work, devotes her attention to the study of music.
For several years Mr. Uncapher followed in the footsteps of luis fatlier and was a tanner. This he abandoned, however, on coming to Marion County, and has since been a farmer of much en- terprise and progressive spirit.
EARL WOOD, the prosperous and intelligent farmer whose name opens this sketch, was born February 22, 1860, in Big Island Town- ship. He devotes his time and attention to gen- eral agriculture, and by industry and economy on his part has built up a fine homestead.
Our subject was married, February 16, 1887, to Ada J. Staufer, daughter of Jackson and Matilda (Morrel) Staufer, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. They came to this state in a very early day in its history, and suffered many hard- ships and privations in order that their children might have comfortable homes and a good start in life. Their family numbered six children, of whom Mrs. Wood was born February 11, 1864 ;. Laura A. was born September 11, 1865, and lives at home; Samuel M .. , who was born June 10, 1867, is engaged in farming in this county; and Margaret M., born July 15, 1869, Charles, Feb- ruary 28, 1872, and Elizabeth B., August 28, 1877, are at home with their parents. The older members of the family have been given good edu- cations, and the younger children are still attend- ing school in the neighborhood of their home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Staufer were members of the Free-Will Baptist Church, to which denomina- tion the wife of our subject also belongs.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born three children: Berthia O., October 28, 1887; Edna B.,
December 17, 1889; and Ora A., born February 19, 1892. The latter died in August of that year. The parents of our subject, Hampton and Susannah (Marsh) Wood, were married August 2, 1846. The father was born November 15, 1813, and his good wife's birth occurred April 25, 1823. To them were born twelve children. Nathan M., born October 21, 1847, died March 12, 1855; Mary O., born November 10, 1848, died April 1, 1891; Isaac M., December 28, 1849, is now living in Oregon; Jolin M., born October 28, 1851, is a resident of Kenton, this state; James M. was born November 1, 1853, and is now a practicing physician in Hardin County; George S., born October 7, 1854, also makes his home in Ohio; Scott, born July 18, 1856, is liv- ing in Marion County; Eliza K., born June 21, 1858, is the wife of Absalom P. Rhoads; Pearl was the next-born; Henry E. died March 2, 1865, aged two years; Lawrence, born May 27, 1866, makes his home in this section of Ohio; and Myta was born May 11, 1868.
In his political relations our subject is a stanch Republican. He is making a success of his farm- ing venture, having under good tillage one hun- dred acres, which by a proper rotation of crops yield good returns.
AMUEL HUDSON. One of the most com- fortable homes in Big Island Township, Ma- rion County, is that owned and occupied by our subject. He is now forty-five years of age, and throughout his career has thrown into his daily labors individual honesty and integrity, qualities which ennoble every inan, whether rich or poor. From poverty to prosperity, every step has been won by honest work and brave efforts, and his biography, therefore, is most useful as an incentive to others.
Mr. Hudson was born November 19, 1849, to Jolin and Mary ( Rice) Hudson. His father was a native of England, and came to America in
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1834, making his way soon after landing to Ma- rion County, this state. He was a butcher by trade, and for thirteen years after coming hither followed this business. He later began dealing in live stock, buying animals throughout the county, which he shipped to the city markets and sold at good prices. The money thus earned he invested in land, adding thereto each year until he was the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of some of tlie finest farming region of Ohio.
Mrs. Hudson was the daughter of John Rice, who was born in Pennsylvania, while her mother was a native of Ohio. Her father was a tanner by trade, and after emigrating to Ohio lived here until his decease, which occurred several years ago. The parental family embraced five children. Isabelle, the eldest, is now the wife of Dr. Crow, a resident of Ridgeway, Ohio; Thomas is a farm- er of Big Island Township; John H. died when young; our subject was the next-born; and Jo- sephine is deceased. When John Hudson crossed the Atlantic he was thirteen weeks en route, and after landing on the shores of the New World found himself in the possession of very little money. He went bravely to work, however, and from that time on he seemed to prosper in all his undertakings. He was fairly well educated, was very liberal in his donations to charitable in- stitutions, and was always ready to help those who tried to help themselves. He was promi- nent in the workings of the Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership with the lodge in Marion.
Samuel Hudson was married, May 20, 1875, to Isabel D. Stone, a native of Virginia, and the daughter of Clayborn V. and Mary (Smithi) Stone. They had born to them fourteen chil- dren, all of whom grew to mature years with one exception. Mrs. Hudson was born March 3, 1850. She is well educated, and has been of great assistance to her husband in accumulating his valuable property and in training her five sons and daughters to occupy useful positions in life. Their eldest daughter bears the name of Carrie. Then come Alice, John J., Birdie J. and Clayborn, all of whom are attending school.
U'pon starting out for himself, Mr. Hudson had no one to aid him, but on the death of his parents
he received a share in the estate, which gave him a good start. He now has a farm of two hundred and twenty-seven acres, which is a model of order and neatness, and shows the time and care be- stowed upon it by the owner. He deals extent- sively in stock-raising, and ships many carloads each year to the large markets. Like his father · before liim, he belongs to the Free-Will Baptist Church. He is public-spirited, and takes an act- · ive part in all measures, political, educational and moral, which tend toward the welfare of tlie community.
ENRY C. KOHLER. Hardin County is the home of many gentlemen of fine natural abilities, thorough education and business energy, who in various fields of industry are ac- quiring an enviable reputation and gaining well deserved success. Among this number we pre- sent the name and life sketch of Henry C. Kohler. one of the most influential business nien of Ken- ton. Of tlie success he has achieved he has no reason to complain, and he merits especial regard, inasmuch as his present standing is due to his unaided exertions, and represents the results of his own unremitting efforts.
Mr. Kohler is the descendant in the third gen- eration of a German emigrant who settled in this country in the early part of the eigliteentli cen- tury, and was prominently identified with the early history of Pennsylvania, being especially influential in the Lutheran Church. The father of our subject was Henry, a son of Jacob Koliler, a prominent farmer of Pennsylvania. The former was born in York County, that state, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his deatlı, in 1854. His wife was Mary, daughter of Henry Cramer, a Revolutionary soldier and a member of the Lutheran Church, also one of the original members of the Bible Society in America. Mrs. Mary Kohler died in Pennsylvania in 1878.
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The parental family consisted of four sons and three daughters. Rev. Jesse Koliler, D. D .; who resides.in Hanover, Pa., is a member of the Board of Missions of the Lutheran Church; William was a theological student and a young man of great promise, but was accidentally drowned during his college course; Eli is a farmer in York County, Pa .; Rebecca, Kate and Ellen married farmers of the Keystone State. Henry C. was born in York County, Pa., October 26, 1841, and spent his boy- hood days on the home farm, receiving an ordi- nary common-school education. In 1860 he came to Ohio and made his home with an uncle on a farm in Seneca County.
Early in 1862 Mr. Koller enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Among the engagements in which he participated were those of Perryville, Knob Gap and Stone River. In the last-named battle he received a wound in the right hip that took him out of active service for four or five months. After rejoining his regiment, he took part in the battle of Chickamauga, and the following winter was with his regiment at Bridgeport and Chattanooga, guarding the rear of the army. Later he participated in the Atlan- ta campaign.
Returning to Ohio at the close of the Rebellion, Mr. Kohler worked on a farm for a short time, after which he took a course in a business college at Baltimore. In . the spring of 1866 he became clerk in a store at Tiffin, in the fall secured a po- sition in a wholesale dry-goods store in Cleveland, and from 1867 to 1872 was employed by a Cleve- land and Philadelphia house. He then came to Kenton and bought the store of Letson & Runkle, a small establishment, from which he has built up his present large concern. His first year's sales amounted to $14,000, but they have in- creased until they now reach more than $75,000. Recently he moved into his present elegant and spacious quarters, where he employs a full corps of accommodating clerks and transacts a large business. His success is due largely to liis genial manner and strict attention to the details of the business, to the management of which he gives the closest scrutiny.
There is scarcely an important interest or ell- terprise in the city with which Mr. Kohler is not identified. He is a member of the Board of Di- rectors of the Electric Light and Gas Company, and is connected with otlier local concerns. In 1871 he married Miss Mary, daughter of H. G. Harris, and sister of George Harris, of Kenton. In religious belief our subject is actively identi- fied with the Presbyterian Church; socially he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics is a stanch Republican.
EMMA HIPSHER owns one hundred and thirty-nine and one-half acres of his father's old homestead, which lies on sections 26, 35 and 36 Scott Township, Marion County. He has passed nearly his entire life in this vicinity, and has always taken the greatest interest in whatever has tended toward its advancement. Like his father before him, he is a zealous mem- ber of the Disciples Church.
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Adam Hipsher, our subject's father, was born in Pennsylvania, and was of German extraction. He married Rhoda Derrick, who bore him seven children: Henry, Adam, James, Uriah, Matilda, Ammon and our subject. With the exception of the two last mentioned and Henry, the eldest, they are all deceased. Ammon is a farmer of Story County, Iowa. In 1820 Adam Hipsher, Sr., started on foot from Fairfield County for this county. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Scott Township, paying therefor $1.25 per acre. In 1822 he returned with a team and erected a log house of one roon1, and subsequently removed his family to its shelter. He died in 1861, loved and esteemed by friends and neighbors.
The birth of our subject occurred in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 30, 1822, and he was nearly two years of age when he was brought to this township. He grew to manhood on the farm which he now owns, and when twenty-three
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years of age took charge of the place. March 13, 1845, he married Eliza Ann Garberson, who bore him three children, all of whom survive. Rhoda married Alva Osborn, of this township, and has three children: James T., Delila and Arthur. Lucretia married Silas Lee, a farmer of this town- ship, and they have had six children: John C., George W., Frank, Ira, Hazel, and one who died unnamed. Andrew lives near Findlay, Ohio. His wife was formerly Elizabeth Dilts, and their two children are Gertie and Annie. Mrs. Eliza Ann Hipsher departed this life September 9, 1886, and was interred in the family cemetery. She was a lovely Christian woman and a faithful member of the Disciples Church.
Politically Mr. Hipsher is a Democrat, and has · held the office of Township Supervisor, though he has never been desirous of serving in a pub- lic capacity. He had all the experiences which fall to the lot of the pioneer, and received his early education in an old log schoolhouse. The Indians, who were peaceable, were frequently seen in this locality when he was a boy, and one of their trails passed within a few yards of his father's door.
ILLIAM ALVIN BELT, M. D., though one of the youngest physicians and sur- geons of Hardin County, already. com- mands a large and increasing field of practice, and skillfully handles the cases entrusted to his care. In the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1886, he gained a thorough theoretical knowledge of his profession, which has since been supplemented by actual ex- perience. He came to Kenton soon after gradu- ating, and has since made his home in this city, where he has attained a reputation for skill that many older practitioners might justly envy.
Born in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, April 23, 1863, the Doctor is the eldest son of Rev. Leroy A. Belt, D.D., a prominent Method-
ist minister, a sketch of whose life and work will be found in this volume. Being the son of a Methodist minister, he had no permanent home, but the principal part of his early literary educa- tion was received in Toledo, where his father was at one time Presiding Elder and pastor of the First Church. When seventeen years of age, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, and was graduated from that institution in 1884, with the degree of B. S., and has since re- ceived the honorary degree of A. M.
During his collegiate course, our subject stud- ied medicine with Dr. S. W. Fowler, and after finishing the work at the university, he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, froni which, as above stated, he was graduated in 1886. Soon afterward he located at Kenton and conl- menced the practice of his chosen profession. Here he was soon recognized as one of the young phy- sicians destined to make his mark in the profes- sion. Having gained the confidence of the peo- ple, he has built up a remunerative general prac- tice, and has had marked success in his specialty, the diseases of women.
Socially, Dr. Belt is a member of the North- western Ohio Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical Society. During his college life he was promi- nently connected with the Phi Gamma Delta, the college journal, of which he was manager for two years, and editor for one year, acquitting himself with credit in both positions. He is one of the leading Masons in the state and is considered one of the best posted members of the fraternity. At one time he held the office of Master of the blue lodge at Kenton, and is now the Grand Lecturer of the Tenth District of Ohio, and High Priest of Kenton Chapter No. 119. In the Order of Elks he is serving as Secretary. Interested in religi- ous work, he is the present Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a Secretary of the building committee for the new church at Kenton, which is one of the finest edifices in central Ohio.
The marriage of Dr. Belt, September 22, 1887, united him with Miss Alba F. Webster, daugliter of Rev. L. C. Webster, a Methodist minister,
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who at the time was stationed in Kenton as Pre- siding Elder of the Findlay District, but is now a resident of Marysville, Ohio. They have two children, Lorin Leroy and Rachel Angelina. The Doctor and his wife are popular in social circles, and number as their friends the best people of the .county.
OHN J. DAVIS, who is a self-made man, was formerly one of the well-to-do merchants of Green Camp. He has made a great success of life and is now living retired in a pleasant home in that village. A native of this state, he was born April 28, 1821, in Fairfield County, and is the son of John B. and Elsie Davis, natives of Virginia.
The parents of our subject made the journey to Ohio about 1812, and from that time until I832 were residents of Fairfield County. That year we find them living in Marion County, where they owned land and mnade their home until their decease, the father dying in 1848, and his good wife several years prior to that time. After lier death John B. Davis was married to Miss Sarah Williams, by whom he became the father of seven children, all of whom are deceased but two daughters: Catherine, now Mrs. Dean, of Mary- land; and Margaret, who makes her home in Michigan.
Our subject was one in a family of ten sons, of whom Joshua, Samuel, Caleb, Robert and Rich- ard are now deceased. Friend is a retired farmer living in Wayne County, Iowa; William makes his home in Columbus, this state; Isaac is a resi- dent of Green Camp; and Anthony F. is an exten- sive fariner and land-owner of Allen County, Ohio.
As might be expected, the education of our sub- ject was very meager, as in the early days Ohio had but few schools, and most of them were con- ducted on the subscription plan, so that unless
people possessed means they were unable to send their children any length of time. When attain- ing mature years he started out for himself, and being a hard worker and economical in all his habits acquired a good property.
Jolin J. Davis was married, December 9, 1844, to Saralı J. Twinum, an orphan, who knew but little of lier parents, as they died when she was very young. Their union resulted in the birth of three children. Samuel, born October 14, 1845, is now living in Green Camp; Isaac N., born August 24, 1847, lives on the old home place; and Elizabeth1, born December 3, 1849, is the wife of E. D. Leacli, a resident of Green Camp. The mother of this family departed this life November 9, 1892, aged sixty-five years. She was a de- voted wife and mother and had many friends in this community who mourned her loss. She was a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
During the late war our subject fought as a Union soldier. He enlisted in 1862 in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, and saw much active service until the close of hostilities. Among the many engagements in which he participated were those of Perryville and Chickamauga, and although he was nearly all of the tinie in the front, he was never wounded or taken prisoner.
On his return home from the war Mr. Davis engaged in the mercantile business at Green Camp, carrying on a splendid trade for eiglit years. In 1873, however, lie sold his stock of goods and retired, and is now enjoying that ease and comfort which his early years of toil liave made possible. He has been Justice of the Peace for nine years, which fact speaks well for his popularity as an official. He is a stanch Repub- lican in politics and is prominent in Grand Army circles. One of tlie old residents of the county, lie is regarded by every one who knows him as a valued citizen and honorable and upright gentle- man. Having lived so many years in this coun- ty, he remembers well when a great portion of it was uninhabited save by wild animals and In- dians. He has done his part. however, in de- veloping it, and deserves great credit for the suc.
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WILLIAM A. NORTON.
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cess which has been his to enjoy. For three terins he served his fellow-townsmen as Assessor, was Trustee for two terms, and has discharged the duties of Constable iti a very satisfactory manner. He is an intelligent inan and well deserves repre- sentation in this.volume.
ILLIAM A. NORTON, Cashier of the Kenton Savings Bank, was born at Mar- seilles, Wyandot County, this state, Decem- ber 17, 1852. He is the only son of Anson Nor- ton, whose birth occurred in Litchfield County, Conn., in 1828. His father, who also bore the given name of Anson, was born in the same county and was descended from a New England family of prominence and influence.
The paternal grandmother of our subject was Lucretia Woodruff, the daughter of Lieut. David and Esther (Clark) Woodruff, of Derby, New Haven County, Conn. She was the youngest daughter in the family, and was well educated for the day in which she lived. Her father obtained his title for gallant service rendered during the Revolutionary War. Grandfather Anson Norton departed this life at Mt. Morris, Livingston County, N. Y., in 1844, and had been a resident of that section seven years at the time of his de- cease. Afterward, the father of our subject, to- gether with his mother, camne West, locating in Wyandot County, Mrs. Norton passing away at Marseilles in 1855.
In the above city Anson Norton, Jr., obtained a situation as clerk in a store, and from that time was connected with the mercantile business until 1876, the year of his branching out into the in- surance business. He made his advent into Ken- ton in 1864, and was for many years associated with his brother-in-law, Lewis Merriman, in con- ducting an extensive mercantile trade, under the firmi name of Merriman & Norton. He now gives the greater part of liis time to looking after
his insurance business, and is also one of the Di- rectors of the Kenton Savings Bank.
The mother of our subject was prior to her marriage Miss Rachel Hooker, a native of Knox County, this state, and the daughter of Henson and Susannah (Young) Hooker, botlt of whose families lived near Baltimore, Md. The Youngs were of Irish ancestry. George Young, who was the grandfather of our subject's mother, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, in which conflict he lost a leg. He later became one ofthe pioneers of Wyandot County, this state, coming here in company with Cornelius Young. He de- parted this life in 1844, at the remarkable age of one hundred and five years. The Hookers were prominent in the political life of Maryland, and were extensive slave-owners. Rachel was the youngest in the parental family of ten children, comprising five sons and five daughters. Her brothers are now living in five different states in various parts of the country, and are principally engaged in farming.
Our subject, as stated above, was the only son of his parents. There were four daughters, low- ever, two of whom are now living: Emma C., the wife of Henry J. Miller, a shoe merchant of Ken- ton; and Alta M., who married B. F. Schultz, a commercial traveler.
Mr. Norton, of this sketch, was a lad of twelve years when his parents came to Kenton. His education was therefore obtained in the schools of this city, and in 1871 he was graduated from the high school, being at that time the first boy to complete his education in that school. A notable fact in this connection is that in the class with himself were four girls, only one of whom ever married, and she died a few months after- ward.
Upon beginning life for himself, young Norton clerked in his father's store, and in July, 1878, after the business was disposed of, was made As- sistant Cashier in the Kenton Savings Bank. In 1888, however, he assumed the responsibilities of Cashier of the same institution, a position he has since filled with marked ability. He is also one of its Directors and largest stockholders, and is interested in various other enterprises in the city,
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being a Director of the Kentou Free Library and. one of the Trustees of the Kenton City Water Works. At all times he can be relied upon to support measures which are calculated to up- build the city. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason and a member of the Shrine. He makes his home with his parents, who occupy one of the pleasantest residences in the city. As a citizen he is progressive, able and honorable, and his record is blameless, botlı in private life and as a bank official. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican.
OSEPH MORRIS was formerly a prominent and influential farmer of Montgomery Town- ship, Marion County, where he operated an excellent estate of eighty acres, all well improved. His death was very sudden, and came as a great shock to his family and many friends. This was on the 12th of December, 1894.
Mr. Morris, who was a native of this county, was born on the 9th of August, 1835, and was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Riley) Morris. Although his parents were people of moderate means, they managed to give him a fair educa- tion, and at their death left him in possession of the home place. He was married, September 25, 1856, to Caroline McNeal, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth McNeal, both natives of Ireland. After landing on the American shore, they con- tinued their westward way, and finally located in Wyandot County, Ohio. They were farmers in the Emerald Isle, and continued to make this their life work in their new home. After a short time they located in Marion County, where their seven children were reared, and both Mr. and Mrs. McNeal died. Mrs. Morris was born March 5, 1837, and by her union with our subject has be- come the mother of five children. The eldest, Ellen, was born June 12, 1857, and is now the wife of Jolin Gillespie; Albert was born July 2, 1860, and is farming in this county; Isaac was
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