USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 56
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 56
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November 22, 1849, Matthew Mckinstry was united in marriage with Phoebe Garberson. Her parents were William and Eleanora (Slater) Gar- berson, well known early settlers of this county. Eleven children came to bless the union of our subject and wife, and not one of the number has been sunimoned by death. Ezemiah became the wife of Franklin Morrow, now deceased, but formerly a farmer of Claridon Township; by this union three children were born, namely: Jay, who died at the age of eight years; and Myrtle and James S., who, with their mother, live with Mrs. Mckinstry. Rosanna married Wilson Hubbert, a farmer now living in Kansas; they have five living children and two died in infancy. Sarah E. is the wife of Samuel Neff, a merchant of Bucyrus, and they have six children. Emma, who married John Neff, a farmer of Tully Township, has four children living and one deceased. Rebecca mar- ried Richard Douce, who is an agriculturist of Tully Township; they have had eight children, of whom two are deceased. John T. married Nettie Williams, by whom he has a family of four daughters; he resides in Marion. William C., who is extensively engaged in raising sheep, and is also a general farmer of Morrow County, mar- ried Annie Glathart, and they had three children, of whom only one is living. James H., who is. engaged in cultivating the old home place, mar- ried Lizzie Steck. Joseph F., a farmer of Clari- don Township, married Amanda Burkhart, and they have two daughters living. Marshall, who married Bertha Crissinger, is engaged in the saw- mill business at Martel. Charles M., who is un- married, lives on the home farm.
The death of Mr. Mckinstry was mourned as a public loss, and the sympathy of the commnun- ity was with his bereaved family, whose happi- ness he had lived to promote. His body was in- terred in Isbera Cemetery. He had ever been deeply interested in the progress of this commun- ity, and deserves a place among its public-spirited citizens, whose names will be perpetuated in its annals. At the time of his death he owned three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, the larger portion of which he had improved through his own exertions. Politically he was a strong
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Republican, and never missed an election, believ- ing that a good citizen's first duty was to have a voice in the management of public affairs.
ILLIAM CARR, who is well known and highly respected by his neighbors and many friends, is a retired farmer of Taylor Creek Township, Hardin County, where he has . made his home many years. His reputation for honesty and fair dealing with others is one of which he may well be proud, and the good name which he will leave to his children will be their best heritage.
A son of John and Rachel (Reynolds) Carr, dur subject was born November 20, 1820, in Hardy County, Va., his parents also being na- tives of that state. They moved to Ohio in 1830, settling in Franklin County, but nine years later came to this district. Our subject is one of eight children, only three of whom are living, and he continued to help manage the old homestead un- til his parents' death. Besides assisting in clear- ing the farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres he also helped to improve a tract of one hundred and seventy acres, eighty of which he now owns. He cleared the land at the rate of about fifteen acres a year, and since moving liere permanently, has cleared an additional thirty-five acres. It was in 1868 that he came to this farm, only twen- ty acres of the place having as yet been made ready for cultivation. For nearly twenty years he dwelt in a log cabin 16x22 feet in dimensions, but in 1888 he built a new house, more commo- dious and comfortable in every respect. He has been very successful as a general farmer, and has made considerable money from his dealings in live stock.
February 4, 1864, Mr. Carr and Mary Howell were married in Belle Center Township, Logan County, by Rev. J. C. Winters. She is a native of that county, and is the daughter of Henry and
Mary (Tidd) Howell. The father was born in 1802, and died in 1887, having been a life-long farner. His wife, who was born in December, 1807, died January 31, 1861. Of their thirteen children, six are yet living. To our subject and his wife nine children were born, January 8, 1889, when in hier twenty-fifth ycar, Ruah was married to Elmer Herrod, now of Belle Center; Hattie, born April 7, 1866, died December 29, 1887; Henry J., who was born May 29, 1867, married Anna Corwin, and resides in Hale Town- ship; Addie M., born June 2, 1869, married Will- iam Hutchison December 20, 1889, and lives in Taylor Creek Township; Dora R., born January 5, 1871, was married, October 18, 1893, to B. F. Sryock; Clarence was born March 26, 1877; Will- iam was born August 6, 1879; Lola, born August 15, 1882, died February 10, 1883; and Lloyd, born August 10, 1884, died September 25, 1884. Mr. Sryock was born August 10, 1864, in Logan County, and is one of four children whose parents were John and Susan Sryock, early settlers of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Sryock a son was born, February 11, 1894, to whom they gave the name of Oscar.
In the early days our subject used to have to go on horseback twelve miles to mill. His edu- cation was gained in the old subscription schools of his boyhood, which he did not attend more than three months in the year. In politics he is a Republican, and has given satisfaction to all concerned while acting in the capacity of School Director. For many years his wife has been a valued member of the Disciples Church, and a liberal upholder of its work in all branches.
LI BEAGLE has been a resident of Liberty Township, Hardin County, since 1874. He is now the owner of a fine estate located on section 4, and during the many years in which his lot has been cast in this county he has taken an active interest in its development and prog- ress.
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Our subject was born in Muskingum County, this state, December 10, 1827, to John and Ma- tilda (Selsam) Beagle, who were married near Hagerstown, Md., about 1824. The father was born near that place in 1798, and there worked at his trade, that of a shoemaker, until his mar- riage. Soon after that event he moved with his bride to Muskingum County, and there made his home until 1853. That year he sold out and moved to Hancock County, two miles west of Houcktown, and seven miles south of Findlay. There he was residing at the time of his decease, in 1874, when seventy-six years of age. He was , the only child born to his parents, but he had a half-sister named Elizabeth Williams. His fa- ther died when he was an infant of twelve months, so all knowledge of him is lost.
Matilda Selsam, who was born near Hagers- town, Md., about the year 1811, was the daugh- ter of John Selsanı, who, it is believed, was also a native of Maryland. Mrs. Beagle had three brothers, John, George and Daniel.
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To John and Matilda Beagle there were born eleven children. Martin is living in Williams- town, this state; Eli, of this sketch, was the next-born; Alva occupies a good farm northeast of Arlington, Ohio; Eliza is now Mrs. Joseph Tracy, and also lives in the same direction from Arlington; John makes his home two miles from Houcktown: Elizabeth, Mrs. Reuben French, is a resident of Fostoria; Sarah, Mrs. Washington Waltermeyer, lives one mile west of Houcktown; Hester, whose home is three miles northeast of Williamstown, is the wife of Timothy Sherer; Matilda died in infancy; David is a merchant of Houcktown; and Thomas is station agent at Eagle Creek.
Our subject was reared to mature years in Muskingum County, attending the subscription schools near his home in the summer season, and in the winter months was a student in the public schools. This continued until he was about twenty years of age, and the following year he began the battle of life for himself. He first operated a rented farm for one season, and the next summer worked out by the month for a Mr. Granger, who lived on Jonathan's Creek.
Then, with the assistance given him by a cousin in Hagerstown, he erected a shop, and began working at the shoemaker's trade, which he had partially learned from his father. After remov- ing to Hancock County, he carried on his trade for five years, and on taking up his abode at Dunkirk still continued to be a shoemaker until IS71, when he injured his thumb and was obliged to abandon the business. March 17, 1874, he located upon his present farm, which he had pur- chased the previous fall. It is a nicely improved tract, and yields him a good income.
Mr. Beagle was married, January. 17, 1850, to Miss Jane Elizabeth Sears, whose birth occurred in Fairfax County, Va., in 1829. She was the daughter of Presley W. and Harriet (Caton) Sears, who were married near Centerville, that county, about 1828. Her father was the son of Presley, Sr., a native of England, who married a Miss Wooster, and for many years kept the toll- gate in Washington, D. C. He died in Virginia. His son, the father of Mrs. Sears, came to Ohio about 1835, and hauled the first load of stone through Muskingum County, which was used on the canal. In 1858 he moved to Appanoose County, Iowa, settling near Moravia, where he made his home until his death, in 1891, when in his seventy-second year. His wife died in 1878. To them were born ten children, namely: Jane Elizabeth, Mrs. Beagle; William, engaged as a civil engineer in East Saginaw, Mich .; Charles L., who when last heard from was in Nashville, Tenu., employed as an architect; Virginia Eleanor, who died when five years of age; Ann, Mrs. Mc- Cloud, a resident of Nebraska; John, who has not been heard from since leaving home for Cali- fornia; Cornelius, Albert and Amanda, deceased; and Susan Cordelia, Mrs. Horner, who makes her home in Appanoose County, Iowa, on the old home place.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beagle there were born ten children, of whom we make the following men- tion: Mary Ellen is deceased; Eliza Ann married Daniel Shaw, and is living on a farm near Bluff- ton; Jennis is deccased; Jolin is living near his father's place: Howard is farming in Wells Coun- ty, Ind .; Charles and Willie Elsworth died when
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young; Hattie M. is the wife of Charles Ham- mer, a farmer in this section; Lydia Margaret is now Mrs. George Rayl, and, with her husband, occupies a farm one mile west of her father's place; and Bessie R. and her husband, George Klinger, live west of Ada.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Beagle are members of the German Baptist Church. In politics the former is a Republican, and lias voted for the candidates of that party since its organization. He has never had any desire to hold office, but has been pre- vailed upon to serve on the School Board for a number of years. The church to which he be- , longed was similar to the Society of Friends, in that its members were allowed to pay a bounty and escape draft. The money was not used in securing a substitute, however, but in paying the nurses on the field of battle. For some time our subject was a local preacher in that denomina- tion, but of late years has retired on account of failing health. His sons, John and Howard, are preachers in this faith.
AVID F. FRYER, Mayor of Dunkirk, Ohio, is an honored veteran of the War of the Re- bellion, is prominent in Grand Army circles, in politics, and, in short, in every walk in life. It was in 1888 that he was raised to the trust and responsibility of his office as Mayor, and for the same length of time he has also served accepta- bly as a Justice of the Peace. A true and tried Republican, he always stands by the party, as it expresses his views on questions of political measures.
Robert Fryer, father of David F., was born in Westchester County, Pa., in 1795, coming from a prominent family of the Keystone State. In 1833 he emigrated to Carroll County, Ohio, where he made his home the rest of his life, his death taking place in 1864. His father, David, was a hero of Bunker Hill and Brandywine, and two
of his brothers, John and Lewis, were soldiers in the War of 1812. The family is of Scotcli de- scent, but aside from that little is known of them prior to the Revolution. . The mother of our sub- ject was Estlier, daugliter of Abel Green, who was likewise a participant in the battles of Bunk- er Hill and Brandywine. Mrs. Esther Fryer was born in Rising Sun, Md., and was the youngest child in her parents' family. Robert Fryer was also the youngest child, and both were the only representatives of their families to come to Ohio.
Nine sons and daughters blessed the union of Robert and Esther Fryer, and all of them grew to mature years. George, who was a cooper by trade, died in Carroll County; Jane died in young womanhood; Pennock E., a Methodist minister, died at Anamosa, Iowa; Esther, who departed this life in Carroll County, married David Trusel, an extensive coal operator; Rachel is also de- ceased; Abel is a farmer in Indiana; David E. is the seventh in order of birth; John, who is now a resident of Carroll County, during the war was a member of Company D, Eightieth Ohio Infan- try, which he joined in 1862, serving till the close of hostilities; and Lizzie is the wife of William Campbell, a shoe dealer in Harlem, Ohio.
The gentleman whose name heads this article was born in Harlem Springs, Carroll County, April 14, 1844, and spent his early days on his father's farm, securing the advantages of a good education. On leaving the common schools he at- tended what was known as the Rural Seminary, and on the outbreak of the late war was a student at Mt. Union College, but before this time, how- ever, had taught one term of school. Promptly at the first call for troops he offered his services in defense of the Flag, but, with thousands of others, he could not find a place in the ranks, as the quota was filled. When the call for three hundred thousand men came lie was again one of the first to respond, although he was afraid that his fatlier would be bitterly opposed to his doing so on account of his youth. However, in place of tlie reproaches which he expected, on inforin- ing his parents of the step he had taken, his fa- thier said, "My son, your country is in danger; you have promptly responded to the call for help,
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and you have my consent to go, and my blessings go with you." This was a solemn and yet very happy moment for both; one proud that his son -a youth of seventeen-was ready to fight and die, if need be, in behalf of his native land, and the other glad that he carried with him his fa- ther's blessing and prayers. Young . Fryer be- canie a member of Company D, Eightieth Ohio, under Col. E. R. Eckley. With his regiment lie went South in December of 1861, and his first bat- tle was the fiercely waged Shiloh. Later he was in the advance on Corinth and the subsequent siege, after which he took part in the battle of Iuka and the second engagement at Corinth. Fol- lowing this came Jackson, Champion Hills and the siege of Vicksburg. He was sent next to Memphis, then to Corinth, and marched across the country to Lookout Mountain, two hundred and fifty miles distant. After the battle of Mis- sion Ridge, and other hard service, he went into winter quarters at Huntsville, Ala. He had en- listed in the Veteran Corps and was granted a furlough. During his stay at home his father died, and in June, 1864, he rejoined his regiment near Resaca. After fighting in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta, he went with Sherman on the march to the sea and through the Carolinas. He was in the battle of Bentonville, the last one of the war, and then, go- ing to Washington, had the honor of taking part in the Grand Review. With his regiment he was sent to Little Rock, Ark., where, August 23, 1865, he was discharged with the rank of Ser- geant. In his long and arduous service, extend- ing from the beginning to the close of the war, which included many of the most notable en- gagements and campaigns, he was wounded only once, and that but slightly. not causing him to leave liis post of duty. However, when his serv- ice was nearing an end he was laid low by sun- stroke, from the effects of which he has never re- covered, and therefore is now allowed a pension.
Mr. Fryer had just commenced a term of school teaching when he enlisted, and the committee then toid him that if he ever came back he should finish the term. True to their promises, both parties to the contract carried out their word, and
Mr. . Fryer was given $6 per month more than the usual amount. For seven years he was Superin- tendent of the Carlton schools, then for a like period served in a similar capacity in those of Malvern and Magnolia. In 1879 he came to Dunkirk as Superintendent of schools, but retired from the profession in 1881. Until 1888 he was employed in 'a store, and afterwards engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, in which he has done well financially.
Fraternally Mr. Fryer is Past Commander of Edgar Post of this place, is a charter member of the Masonic lodge here, belongs to Kenton Chap- ter, and is also a leading Odd Fellow, having passed all the chairs. He is a charter member of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias and is con- nected with the Knights of Honor.
On Christmas Day of 1866 Mr. Fryer married Maggie J. Dunlap, of Carroll County. Her father, Samuel Dunlap, was a well-to-do farmer, and her brother John served all through the war in the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Fryer have a pleasant home on one of the principal streets of the village. They are members of the Methodist Church, Mr. Fryer being a Trustee in the same.
AMES S. HEDRICK, M. D., an enterpris- ing young physician of Dunkirk, Hardin County, enjoys a lucrative practice and ranks high among the members of his chosen profession. He is pre-eminently a self-made man, having ris- en through native qualities of determination and will-power from what he was at one time, a poor, unfriended boy, who had been left an orphan at the tender age of thirteen years, to what lie is to- day, a man of superior education and prominence.
The paternal great-grandfather of the Doctor was a native of Germany, but his son John, the next in the line of descent, was born in Pennsyl- vania. His son Isaac, our subject's father, was born in 1818, in York County. Pa., on a farm. and by occupation was a farmer. He married
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Sarah Mundis, a native of Pennsylvania, whose father was a Frenchman by birth and came to America on the same ship as did LaFayette, dur- ing the Revolution. He also served in that war and faithfully fought for the rights of his adopted country. Of his large family, all save his daugh- ter Sarah died in childhood.
Dr. Hedrick was born in York County, Pa., October 13, 1858, being the third in a family of four children. John W. is a farmer of Morrow County, Ohio; William Henry is a member of the firm of John B. Netcher & Co., of Mansfield, pro- prietors of an extensive bottling works; and Mary is the wife of Albert Straby, also a member of the firm just mentioned. The parents of these chil- dren died in 1871, leaving their family no means, and thus each was thrown upon his own respon- sibility. Young Hedrick began working on a farm at $8 a month, going to school in the win- ters.
By the spring of 1874 the industrious youth had saved enough money to pay for one termin's schooling in an academy, and when the following fall came round he obtained a certificate to teach a country school. At this time he was less than sixteen years old, but he succeeded beyond his own expectations and won praises from all con- cerned. Thus for several years his time was spent, and in the intervals of his work he studied at Millersville (Pa.) Normal. In the spring of 1880 he was made Superintendent of the public schools of East Prospect, Pa.
It had always been a cherished plan of the Doctor to study medicine, and he spent many an hour perusing works bearing on the subject. After taking a course of lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Md., he went to Van Wert, Ohio, where he had as preceptor a relative, Dr. A. N. Krout. In 1881 he entered Starling Medical College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1882. At once he located at Venedocia, Van Wert County, a Welsh settlement. Two years later he moved to North Washington, Hardin County, where he remained until 1888, when he came to Dunkirk.
Dr. Hedrick has been very active in the councils of the Republican party. He was for four years
a member of the County Executive Committee, and has been President of the City Club since its organization. While living at North Washington he was a member of the Board of Education, and is now acting in a similar capacity, with the ad- ditional honor of holding the secretaryship. In 1890 he was a candidate for County Auditor, but was defeated by a small majority. In his frater- nal relations he is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. In the former organization he is Past Grand, and in the latter was the first Chan- cellor of Venedocia Lodge, and is a member of the Grand Lodge.
On Christmas Day, 1883, Dr. Hedrick married Catherine Edwards, of Pomeroy, Ohio. They had three children, one of whom died at the age of ten months. Mrs. Hedrick, a noble and de- voted wife and mother, was summoned by the Angel of Death January 31, 1894, leaving her husband with two small children: David I., now eight years old, and Lura May, who is in her sixtlı year.
EV. WELLING E. THOMAS, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Marion, is a man of brilliant attainments, whose - splendid education has been of great value to him. He possesses conversational abilities of a high or- der, and with his genial manners and gentleman- ly bearing it is not strange that he occupies so prominent a place in the esteem of his fellow- men.
Our subject was born in Orwell, Bradford Coun- ty, Pa., January 25, 1852, and is the son of Rev. Thomas Thomas, a Welshiman by birth. The latter came to America with his parents when twelve years of age, and later studied for the ministry of the Presbyterian faith. He is now located at Wyalusing, Pa., having just retired from the ministry at eighty-two years of age. His wife, prior to lier marriage, was Mary Evans, like- wise born in Wales. Slie, too, came to this coull-
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try with her parents when young, settling in Bradford County, Pa. . Her brother, Evan W. Evans, was the first Dean of Mathematics in Cor- nell University, and the author of several text- books whiel came into general use. Prior to ac- cepting the position of Dean in the above college he was Professor of Mathematics in Marietta Col- lege for a number of years. He died while fill- ing the Chair of Mathematies in Cornell.
Welling E., of this sketeh, was the only son born to liis parents, but he had four sisters. Hat- tie still resides with her parents in Pennsylvania. Sarah C. married Dr. A. H. Adams, a missionary to Japan, in which country he died in 1879. His widow is now in Paris, France, where her son is being edueated. Mary became the wife of Rev. M. L. Cook, a Presbyterian preachier, holding a charge in the Keystone State. Anna is the wife of F. R. Wells, who is Superintendent of the en- tire business of the Bell Telephone Company, with offices in Paris, France.
Our subject passed liis early life in liis native state. He later took a preparatory course in the Delaware Literary Institute of Franklin, N. Y., and in 1871 entered Lafayette College of Easton, Pa., from which lie was graduated with honors four years later. He then taught for a short time in New Windsor (Md.) College, and in the fall of 1876, desirous of taking up his theologieal studies, entered the Union Theological Seminary of New York City.
The elimate of the city not agreeing with him, he left sehool at the end of the term, and the next year beeame a student in Princeton Theologieal Seminary, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1879. In October of that year he was ordained and given charge of the Presbyterian Churches at Asliley and Edon, Ohio. He re- mained in that field for five years, and in the fall of 1884 was called to Marion. He was instru- mental from the first in advaneing the welfare of this church, and also in increasing its numerieal strength. Since entering upon . his work here he has built one of the finest church edifiees in this part of the state, the building eosting $50,000. He takes an active part in educational matters, and for four years was a member of the Board of
School Examiners. The summer of 1891 lie spent traveling in Europe.
Rev. Welling E. Thomas was married, in 1881, to Miss Emma Mattoon, daughter of the Rev. Stephen Mattoon, D. D., who was for twenty years missionary to Siam, and for nearly the same length of time was President of Biddle Univer- sity of Charlotte, N. C. Mrs. Thomas is a finely educated lady, being a graduate of Elmira Female College of New York. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children, of whom the eldest daughter, Mary, died when two years old. The otliers are named, respectively, Nor- man Mattoon, Ralph L., Evan W. and Arthur R.
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