USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 48
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 48
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To our subject and his wife there were born nine children, of whom we note the following: Nancy was born in 1850 and died in 1860; Smiley S. died in infancy; Squire M. was two weeks old when he passed away; Mary was born in 1855 and died in 1860; Willis M., who was born in 1858, also departed this life in 1860; Martha Alice was born in 1861, and is now the wife of Charles Ver- million; James M. was born in 1863, and makes his home on the old place in Cessna Township; Sylvanus was born in 1868, and married Henry H. Hugett, of this vicinity; Carrie May was born in 1869 and died in 1873.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hively are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Huntersville. The former in politics is a Republican, having had reason to change liis views since the war. He has served as School Director for many years and was at one time a member of the Grange.
L LFRED L. RAYL resides on section 11, Ma- rion Township, Hardin County, where he has dwelt since 1851. At the time he took - possession of the place, which comprises eighty acres, it was all covered with heavy forest, but this he has cleared away in the intervening years. In his early manhood he engaged in clerking and also conducted a business for himself for about three years, but his taste seemed to lie more in the direction of agriculture, and he has been very successful in his undertakings.
Samuel Ray1, the father of our subject, was born about 1783, and was married in Pennsylva- nia, it is supposed in 1805, the lady being a Miss Sophia Lyons. He was drafted for the War of 1812, but on account of sickness was never in action. In 1836 he moved to Waldo Township, Marion County, and from there, in 1838, went to Green Camp Township, where he continued to reside until his death, September 30, 1843. Dur- ing this period he was the owner of three farms, and at the time of his demise, when he lacked but a few days of being sixty years old, he was the owner of three hundred and sixty-six acres. His parents, Noble and Agnes Rayl, were of Scotch origin, and died in Beaver County, Pa., in the early '30s, at a very advanced age. Sophia, the wife of Samuel Rayl, was born in 1787, in Fayette County, Pa., being a daughter of Jacob Lyons, who was of English descent. Mrs. Rayl died in Marion County, March 17, 1842, and of her twelve children, six died in infancy. Nathan passed away March 18, 1855; John died in March, 1889; Saralı, deceased, was the wife of John M. Anderson; Matilda, deceased, was Mrs. Daniel
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WILLIAM H. HINKLIN, M. D.
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Rayl; and the younger ones were Samuel, Jr., and Alfred. Samuel, Jr., was born in 1827, and for about twenty-five years carried on a farm in partnership with his elder brother, John. In 1879 he moved to Marion, and in August, 1886, went to Monticello, Ind. From ISS7 to 1891 he resided in Ada, but is now a resident of Marion Township. November 29, 1860, he wedded Pris- · cilla Uncapher, who was born in Marion County, January 21, 1842, and who is a daughter of Solomon and Hannah (Shoemaker) Uncapher. The marriage of Mr. Rayl and wife has been blessed with five children: John E., who is now in Mt. Victory, Ohio; Catherine J., Margaret M., Luella and Everett P.
The birth of A. L. Rayl occurred in Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pa., June 16, 1830. When he was in his seventh year the family moved to Marion County, Ohio; and there he at- tended the district schools until fifteen years of age. He then went to Lima and clerked for his brother-in-law, John M. Anderson, in a general store. At the end of a year he was laid low with a fever and did nothing for three months, but when strong enoughi entered the employ of his brother Nathan, in Marion County. A year later this brother bought out his partner and moved his store to Huntsville, and there our sub- ject clerked another year, at the end of which time he purchased his brother's interest and con- ducted the business alone.
August 7, 1851, Mr. Rayl and Mary Preston were married in the old log house which her fa- ther had built some years before on section II, and this structure is still standing. Mr. and Mrs. Rayl have liad the following children: Sarah C., deceased, wife of William Geesman, of Ada; Margaret W., who married James Geesman, a farmer of Indiana; Robert D., who lives near his father; John Anderson, who died at the age of two years; Silas W., who married Susie Bugli, and lives in Indiana; Annie S., wife of Winfield Rodebaugh, a carpenter of McGuffey; and Will- iam Walter, who married Maud B. Rodebaugh, and lives with his father.
Among the relics in our subject's possession are a table and some chairs which his wife's
inother used at the old Indian Mission at Upper Sandusky years ago. During the war, May 2, 1864, Mr. Rayl enlisted at Kenton in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and served over four months, under command of Col- onel Gatz. Fighting was an everyday occurrence, and about half of the regiment were killed. They were stationed near Richmond and were in a dis- astrous battle near Brownstown, on the Potomac River. Fraterually he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He lias served as Constable and Su- pervisor of the township, and is a member of the Grange. For forty-three years Mr. Rayl and wife have been members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. In politics he is a Republican.
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ILLIAM H. HINKLIN, M. D., located for the practice of his profession in Larue,
Marion County, in the fall of 1891, and has been very successful. He numbers among his patients many of the best people of this vicin- ity, and is popular with all classes. Since his graduation he has continued his studies and re- searches in the line of his chosen work, for it is his earnest desire to keep well posted on the dis- coveries which are constantly being made in the medical world.
The Doctor was born February 18, 1858, in Montgomery Township, of this county, he being the fourth in a family of ten children born to Henry and Mary M. (Cutler) Hinklin. Five of the number are deceased. George W. is a resi- dent of Larue; Orren Elihu, who is a machinist by trade, lives in southern Missouri; Ellen is the wife of J. L. McGuire, of this place; and Rebecca is the wife of William Wingerd, of Big Island Township.
Henry Hinklin was born in this county, and has spent his entire life here, with the exception of about nine years when he lived in Indiana, and he has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His parents were Henry and Susan
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
(Gorden) Hinklin, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and mar- ried. He removed to Rocky Forks, near the city of Marion, in 1824, and was among the earliest pioneers of that section. He lived to attain the extreme old age of ninety-eight years. His par- ents were natives of Germany, but came to the New World at an early period. Mrs. Susan Hinklin was a native of this county, and, being left an orphan when quite young, was reared by a family named Bear. She also lived to a good old age, dying in this county. The Doctor's mother was born near Ft. Recovery, Darke County, Ohio, and for many generations her ancestors had lived in America. She is still living in this county, and is now in her sixty-eighth year.
Until he reached his majority, Dr. Hinklin as- sisted his father in farming on the old homestead, and received a district-school education. Novem- ber 4, 1880, his marriage with Lizzie M. Cosner, of Hardin County, Ohio, was celebrated. The young couple began housekeeping on a farm which Mr. Hinklin cultivated for six years, or until the death of his wife, which occurred Janu- ary 27, 1887, aged twenty-six years, eleven months and sixteen days, she having been born February 11, 1860. They became the parents of three children, all of whom are now deceased. Clyde Emmett died June 5, 1884, aged one year and ten days; Clarence Delbert passed away when two months and twelve days old, August 12, 1884; and Iva Blanch died September 10, 1886, when one month and one day old.
Soon after the death of his wife, the Doctor de- termined to enter another field of labor, and to widen his intellectual horizon. With the basis of a good common-school education, he entered the Ada (Ohio) Normal, where he remained for three years. Subsequently he took up medical studies with Drs. Gimmell and Mnudy, of Forest, Ohio. Going next to Cincinnati, he attended lect- ures at the Eclectic Medical College, from which he graduated June 2, 1891. Not long afterward he opened an office in Larue, where he has since been continuously engaged in practice. Politic- ally he is a Democrat, but finds little time to in- dulge his taste in that, direction. He is a mem-
ber of the local Masonic lodge and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Forest, and to the Daughters of Rebekah .. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he is one of the esteemed and enterprising workers.
( ACOB A. SCHAAF, who is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising on section 22, Waldo Township, Marion County, has held a number of important public positions within the gift of his fellow-citizens. In 1872 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to fill the unex- pired term of Robert Hill as County Commis- sioner. At the end of fifteen months, in 1874, he was elected to the office, and three years later was re-elected, thus occupying the place for seven years and three months. During this time the county jail was placed in good running order and many other necessary public improvements in- augurated.
The father of our subject, Henry Schaaf, was a . native of Germany, his birth having occurred May 22, 1802, in the province of Bavaria. His wife, Anna M., was likewise born in the Father- land, in 1803, and ten years after their mar- riage they emigrated to the United States in a sailing-vessel. The voyage consumed seventy- two days, but at length they landed safely at Bal- timore and proceeded westward by stage to Ohio. Locating in Waldo Township, Marion County, the father bought eighty acres of second-hand land on section 23. A cabin 12x14 feet and three acres of cleared land constituted their possessions. Mr. Schaaf engaged in cultivating and developing the farm from this time until his death, which occurred in 1866. His wife died in 1882, and both were buried in the Union Klinker Cemetery. For many years they were faithful and zealous members of the Reformed Church.
Our subject is one of nine children, the others being Elizabeth, who died in 1839; Peter J., who died December 18, 1882; Catherine, who died
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in 1854; Eva, wife, of Peter Houk; of Delaware County; Henry, who was a farmer, and who died October 22, 1891; Annie M., wife of Jacob Stitz, of Hamilton County ;. Elizabeth, Mrs. John Mc- Clann; and one who died in infancy.
The birth of Jacob A. Schaaf occurred on sec- tion 22, Waldo Township, August 3, 1834, and during his youth he attended the district schools, which were conducted on the subscription plan, and the nearest of which was a mile and a-half from home. When he was twenty-one years of age he rented land, and continued to do this for the next eight years. During this time he man- aged by strict economy to realize a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase one hundred acres. This farm, however, was never his place of resi- dence, but in 1872 he came to his present home, which he purchased from his father-in-law, and which comprises two hundred and fifty-five acres of valuable and finely improved land.
January 17, 1856, our subject married Susan A., daughter of John and Barbara Coleman. To Mr. and Mrs. Schaaf were born nine children, as follows: Emma E., November 10, 1856; Frank E., October 4, 1858; John H., December 20, 1860; Charles W., July 22, 1862; Dora M., July 22, 1864; Laura L., March 29, 1866; Carrie M., April 22, 1868; Walter M., January 7, 1870; and Wesley, April 14, 1873. The eldest daughter is the wife of Anson Weintermute, a merchant of Norton. Dora died July 20, 1866; and Wesley, the youngest of the family, died in infancy.
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ASPER N. RICHARDSON. A position of influence among the citizens of Hardin Coun- ty is held by the gentleman whose name in- troduces this sketch, who is engaged in the lum- ber business at Mt. Victory. He was born Sep- tember 6, 1846, in Kenton, this state, and was the only child of Aaron and Maria (Topliff) Richardson.
The father of our subject was born and reared
in Champaign County, this state, remaining there until about 1836, when he came with his father to Hardin County, and settled on land in Hale Township. Several years thereafter he left home, and, going to Kenton, learned the carpenter's trade, working at this business until the death of his wife. Hc then returned home and lived withi his parents until his second marriage.
Mrs. Maria Richardson was born January 21, 1825, in .Connecticut, and when a young lady she came to Ohio, making her home in this state for some years. While on a visit to relatives and friends at her old home in Connecticut, she died, May 23, 1849, when in the twenty-fifth year of her age.
The lady whom Aaron Richardson chose for his second companion was Miss Clarinda Young, a native of this county. To them was born a family of seven children, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living. Soon after his marriage with Miss Young, our subject's father purchased a farm in Union County, located about three miles south of Mt. Victory, and there he makes his home at the present time. He is a stanchi supporter of Republican doctrines, and in religious affairs is a member of the Baptist Church. His parents, who were born in Virginia, were of Scotch parentage. Mr. Richardson is now in his seventy-fifth year, and although in delicate health is still able to superintend the operations of his farnı.
Our subject was only three years of age when deprived of the care of his mother. He was taken by his father to his grandparents, and there he remained attending school and working on the farm until reaching his majority. He was mar- ried, November 24, 1885, to Miss Christina An Reams, a native of Logan County, and began in life by establishing himself in the lumber busi- ness, buying and selling timber and piling of all kinds. He has ever since carried on a good trade in this line, and enjoys the confidence of his fel- low-citizens.
February 22, 1864, our subject enlisted in Com- pany A, Eighty-second Ohio Infantry, and, being mustered into service, fouglit as a private until the close of the war. He remained with liis regi-
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ment during the Atlanta campaign, and although in many hard-fought engagements, was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. He is a stanch Re- publican in politics, and never loses an oppor- tunity to advance the cause of his party by either · voice or vote. He has been a member of the City Council for two terms. Socially he is a Mason of high standing, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter, and is also a Knight Templar, holding membership with the lodge at Kenton. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and as a Grand Army man belongs to Coleman Asbury Post No. 257, at Mt. Victory. He is not a member of any church organization, but tries to carry out the teachings of the Divine Master in his daily life, making all who know him respect him for his upright manner of living.
OBERT W. SOUTHARD is the senior member of the firm of Southard & Son, the leading liverymen of Kenton. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, October 13, 1838, and was the second in the family of nine children born unto Increase and Leanna (Willgus) Southard. The former, a native of Champaign County, this state, was there reared to manhood and thence re- moved to Logan County with his parents. After his marriage he followed agricultural pursuits for a time in Logan County, but from there went to Union County, this state, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He con- tinued to reside there until his death, at seventy- nine years of age.
Being a man of great industry and energy, In- crease Southard was prospered as an agricultur- ist and highly respected as a citizen. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and an active worker in the congregation with which he was identified. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and removed to Ohio in an early
day, spending their remaining years in this state. His father was a descendant of English ancestors, and was a soldier in the War of 1812.
The mother of our subject, who was born in Philadelphia, died in Union County, Ohio, at the age of seventy-three years. Her religious belief was similar to that of her husband, and she was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her ancestors were of English extrac- tion, and her grandmother married General Wayne for her second husband. The subject of this no- tice was reared upon the home farmn, and in boy- hood was a pupil in the old log schoolhouse near by. At the opening of the Civil War, in April, 1861, he walked thirteen miles to Bellefontaine, where he enlisted as a private in Company A, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, the term of service be- ing ninety days.
Soon after the expiration of his period of serv- ice, Mr. Southard again enlisted, in October, 1861, becoming a member of Company K, Forty-second Ohio Infantry, under Colonel Garfield. Three years and two months were spent in that regi- ment, when he was honorably discharged. Dur- ing the last charge in the battle of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, he received a gunshot wound in the left thigh, which was so serious as to oblige him to remain in the hospital at Memphis for five months. Upon recovering sufficiently, he re- turned home on a furlough, and during his visit in the North was married. During the last three years of his service he held the rank of Sergeant. Among the important engagements in which he participated were those of Middle Creek, Champion Hills, Black River and the siege of Vicksburg.
Upon being discharged from the army, Mr. Southard returned to Ohio and settled upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Union County. The place was heavily timbered, and he succeeded in clearing the land only after the miost arduous exertion. Six years were spent there, after which he sold out and bought a gristmill in West Mansfield, operating the same for a year or more. His next business venture was as propri- etor of a hotel and livery in West Mansfield, but after five years he traded the business for a
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farm and resumed agricultural labors. For two years he was engaged in tilling the soil, after which he purchased an hotel in Mt. Victory, Hardin County, and this he conducted for three and one-half years.
Coming from Mt. Victory to Kenton, Mr. Southard built the St. Nicholas Hotel, which he conducted for three years, He then sold out and engaged in the livery business here for three years alone, after which he took his son Chester F. into partnership, and they have since conduct- ed a large and flourishing business. The success of this enterprise is largely due to the energetic efforts of Mr. Southard, who has left no stone un- turned in his endeavors to place the business on a solid financial footing.
October 17, 1863, occurred the marriage of Mr. Southard and Miss Malinda Davis, who was born in York Center, Union County, Ohio, January 5, 1845. Their only child is Chester F., who was bor11 September 22, 1865, and is a popular and successful young business man of Kenton. In political views Mr. Southard is a Republican and is interested in all the great movements of the age. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, Cantwell Post No. 97, G. A. R., and Lodge No. 14, U. V. U., being Major of the lat- ter organization. He is a Methodist in religious belief and belongs to that denomination in Ken- ton.
OHN McELVY. The gentleman to whom we call the attention of our readers is one of the old and honored residents of. Marion County, within whose confines he was born De- cember 16, 1827. He resides upon an excellent estate located on section 31, Salt Rock Township, and his career as a farmer is one of which he may well be proud.
There were eight children born to John and Mary (Sweeney) McElvy, of whom John, Jr., was the sixth in order of birth. His father was a native of Virginia and was there reared to man-
hood, learning the carpenter's trade. When a young man he removed to this state and spent the years until 1822 in business in Columbus. He then made his way into this county and en- tered land from the Government, the same which our subject now owns. This he improved with buildings necessary for the successful prosecution of his work, and resided upon it until his decease, which occurred when fifty-eight years of age. As we have already indicated, he was among the first to make his home in this section, and as one of its early residents was instrumental in its upbuilding. He was well informed on the lead- ing questions of the day, and was accounted one of the most public-spirited and representative cit- izens. He was a Whig in politics, and in the position of Township Trustee, which he held for many years, gave great satisfaction. He was a very quiet and unassuming man, and for many years was Elder in the Presbyterian Church. His father, John McElvy, was a native of Ireland, and after taking up his abode in this country fouglit as a private in the War of 1812. His mother was of Scotch extraction and died at the age of, eighty- six years. She and her husband were both miem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.
John remained at home until attaining his ma- jority, in the mean time carrying on his studies in the district school and helping in the work about the farm. On the death of his father he continued to live at home, farming a portion of the home place for his mother. April 10, 1851, he was married to Miss Elsie Hopkins, who was born August 26, 1832, and was the daughter of Robert and Nancy (Vezy ) Hopkins. Her father was a native of Delaware, where he was reared on a farin until a young man, when he came to Marion County. The trip liither was made in the spring of 1822, and Mr. Hopkins at once en- tered land in Big Island Township at a time when the residents were very few, his nearest neighbor being ten miles distant. He held many township offices, and for two terms represented the Denio- cratic party in the Legislature. Later, however, he changed his views to coincide with the princi- ples of the Republican party, and thereafter was influential and prominent in its ranks. For many
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years lie was Deacon in the Baptist Church, and was the founder of that denomination at Big Island, which is now a union church. His death occurred here at the age of threescore years and ten. His wife was also a native of the state of Delaware, and lived to be eighty-five years old. They were both members of the Baptist Church, and were people greatly honored in their com- munity.
There were two children born to onr subject and his wife: Charles Hopkins, now engaged in managing the farm; and Ann Josephine, the wife of H. W. Cookston, a farmer of Big Island Town- ship. Mr. McElvy is a stanch Republican in politics and takes an active part in local affairs. He has been Township Trustee and Treasurer for several years, and is a member in excellent stand- ing of the Baptist Churchi, as is also his wife.
Our subject is now the possessor of the old homestead which his father entered from the Government in 1822. This comprises three huli- dred and twenty-five acres, upon which he has spent his entire life. He lias erected on the estate one of the most beautiful country residences in the township, and in every respect the place ranks among the finest in Marion County. As a farmer he has always been considered a man of enter- prise and ability, and, assisted by his good wife, has acquired a handsome competence through years of hard labor.
ATHAN SMITH, one of the honored resi- dents and prominent agriculturists of Har- din County, was born April 20, 1812, in Muskingum County, this state. His parents, Edward and Jane (Shafer) Smith, had born to theni a family of eleven children, of whom he was ninth in order of birth. His father was born in the eastern portion of Virginia, and after reach- ing mature years left home and came to Ohio, locating on a farm where now stands the city of
Zanesville, and whereon his death occurred when he was eighty-two years of age. He was pros- pered in his undertakings as an agriculturist and at the time of his decease left his family a valu- able property. In religious affairs he was a con- sistent and devoted member of the Baptist Church.
The mother of our subject, also a native of the Old Dominion, lived to be eighty-two years of age. Her parents were born in Germany, and after em- igrating. to this country settled in Virginia, where the remaining years of their lives were spent.
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