USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 61
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 61
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ENRY CHARLTON. For many years this gentleman was intimately associated with the development and history of Hardin County, where he owned one of the most valu- able farms of Pleasant Township. His death, June 23, 1885, was a great loss, not only to his family, but to the people of his community, all of whom had found in him a stanch and true friend. Of one so long and closely connected with the
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growth and progress of the township, consider- able mention may appropriately be made in this volume, and it is therefore with pleasure that we invite the attention of the reader to the following account of his lineage and life.
Near Hagerstown, Md., the birth of our sub- ject occurred February 28, 1810. His father, Thomas Charlton, was an Englishman by birth, and was one of two brothers, who about 1795 emigrated to America together, but separated after reaching New York City, and never miet again. In England he had followed the occupa- tion of a farmer, and upon settling in Maryland he was similarly engaged. There he married Miss Elizabeth Mentzer, a native of Maryland and a descendant of German ancestry. Both at- tained an advanced age, dying when over ninety years old. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom Elizabeth, David and Michael are the only survivors.
The fifth member of the family circle was the subject of this notice. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents from Maryland to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he carried on his studies in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse of the neighborhood until seventeen years old. In 1831 he married Miss Catherine Zimmerman, who was born in Columbiana County, and died in Crawford County in 1834. Two children were born of this union, the only survivor being Thomas, a resident of Clinton, Il1.
December 27, 1837, in Kenton, Ohio, Mr. Charlton was united in marriage with Miss Janett Thompson, who was born near Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, October 11, 1818. Her father, Alexander Thompson, was born in Scotland in 1792, and when sixteen years old came to Amer- ica, settling in Greene County, Ohio. At the opening of the War of 1812 he enlisted in the de- fense of his adopted country, becoming a member of the company that wintered at Ft. McArthur during 1812-13, and served in the commissary department. After the close of the war he went to Scotland for his parents, whom he brought back with him. About 1815 he settled in Guern- sey County, thence moved to Greene County, and there made liis home until 1830. During
that year lie moved to Logan County and settled six miles east of Bellefontaine. While there lie was bereaved by the death of his wife, Mary Gaddis, whom he bad married in Guernsey Coun- ty in the spring of 1816, and who passed away in September, 1833, leaving six children, of whom Mrs. Charlton is the eldest.
From Logan County, in the fall of 1833, Mr. Thompson came to Hardin County and set- tled near Ft. McArthur, which at that time was not entirely destroyed. Mrs. Charlton remem- . bers having passed the old burying-ground, where had been laid to rest many members of the regu- lar army; upon the trees that marked their graves were carved the names of the soldiers and the dates of their deaths. In 1834 the family moved to Kenton, where Mrs. Charlton attended the first wedding and the first funeral ever held in the village. At that time this now flourishing city was a mere hamlet, consisting of three or four houses in the midst of the woods.
Shortly after coming to Kenton, Mr. Thompson was appointed Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, and while acting in that capacity issued the first marriage license in the county. In May, 1835, he married Miss Katherine Kennedy. . On coming to Hardin County he entered a quarter- section of land adjoining the village of Kenton, and upon that place he made his home until the spring of 1839, when he removed to Wyandot. He became the proprietor of a tavern, and re- sided in that place until the spring of 1842, when he returned to his farm near Kenton. Five years later he moved into the village, and here he re- mained until his death, August 6, 1849. Among the pioneers of this section he was influential, and, being a man of superior education, was called upon to fill the most important local offices. For a time he was Associate Judge, and was the first to officiate as Postmaster at Kenton. At one time he filled nearly all the offices in the county.
The usual mode of travel in pioneer days was on horseback, and the mail was conveyed from one village to another in that way. Mrs. Charl- ton remembers riding many miles on horseback over corduroy roads on thie Hull Trail, much of the time traveling through swamps. The Hull
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Trail and the Government road from Bellefontaine to Findlay and Perrysburg were almost the only roads through the trackless forests of central Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Charlton, Mary Gad- dis, was born on the Monongahela River, near Pittsburg, Pa., and her parents were life-long residents of the Keystone State. She came to Ohio in order to settle an estate left by a relative at Urbana. While on this trip she met Mr. Thompson, whom she married, never returning to Pennsylvania.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson consist- ed of seven children, namely: Janett; Alexander, who died at the age of seven years; Eveline, Mrs. Gilmore, of Kenton; Willian, a resident of Plano, Cal .; Mrs. Maria Stough, of Crawford County, Ohio; Alexander Allen, whose home is in Men- docino County, Cal .; and Walter, who died in in- fancy. After his marriage Mr. Charlton settled in Kenton, where he remained for a number of years. In connection with farming he ran a threshing-machine, owning the first implement of the kind in Hardin County. In the summer of 1843 he purchased eighty acres where the family residence now stands; lie also bought a twenty- acre tract adjoining, on which stood a log cabin, and in that primitive structure he made his home from September, 1843, until January, 1844. The family then moved into a larger cabin, situated on the site of the present residence.
At once after settling here Mr. Charlton began the task of clearing the land, and eventually re- moved the timber from the entire farm. After- wards he purchased twenty acres, making one hundred and twenty acres in his homestead. This place continued to be his home until his death. A Republican in politics, he served as Road Supervisor and School Director, and in these, as in all offices to which he was called, he rendered thoughtful, painstaking service in be- half of the people. In religious belief he was a Methodist, having been identified with that church from 1842 until his death. His wife and her daughter, Miss Elizabeth, are members of the Liberty Methodist Church of Pleasant Township, in the work of which they take an active part.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Charlton consisted
of ten children. Mary, the eldest, died in infancy; Alexander resides on section 18, Pleasant Town- ship; Elizabeth, who is with her mother, has the responsibility of the management of the home, and affectionately cares for her mother in her de- clining years; Evaline died February 24, 1861, aged seven years; George resides on a portion of the homestead; Maria is the wife of Isaac Slagle, of whom mention is elsewhere made; Caroline and Catherine (twins) died of consumption, the former July 21, 1883, and the latter June 2, 1884; Annie is the wife of James Hamilton, a farmer on section1 19, Pleasant Township; and Nathan is a commercial traveler in the employ of the Buckeye Machine Company of Akron, Ohio.
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OHN W. MORROW, the genial and popular Postmaster of Ada, Hardin County, is one of lier native sons. He received the appoint- ment to this position of trust and honor, after a hard-fought battle for the preference, in April, 1894. He is discharging his manifold duties in such a quiet and faithful manner that even his political opponents have only words of praise for him. It seems almost needless to say that he is an uncompromising and ardent Democrat, be- cause he was raised to his present post by the standard-bearer of the party, Grover Cleveland. In 1886 young Morrow was elected Justice of the Peace, and served very acceptably in that capacity during eight years,
The father of the above-named gentleman, James Morrow, was a native of Ireland, and emi- grated to the United States in his early manliood, about 1834. He settled in Tiffin, Ohio, where he dwelt some ten years. In 1844 he moved to Ada, and from that time until liis death, which event occurred in 1887, made his home there, His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Sullivan, is also of Irish birth, and is now a resi- dent of this village. She has had three children, of whom our subject is the youngest. Michael
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is in the insurance business at Tiffin, Ohio; and Anna is unmarried and living with her mother.
J. W. Morrow was born November 24, 1862, and passed this boyhood on his father's farm, in the usual work and play common to that period of life. In an educational way he fared much better than do many farmer lads, for after master- ing the rudimentary branches of learning, he at- tended the Ohio Normal University of Ada, and there obtained practical instruction on all lines of general knowledge. Upon completing his studies . he taught school successfully for five years. Sub- sequently he was in the insurance business sev- eral years, and in that venture was also pros- pered. In 1889 he helped to organize the Ada Building and Loan Association, a most worthy enterprise, of which he was Secretary for four years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
November 16, 1886, Mr. Morrow married Miss Ella Wright, a farmer's daugliter, formerly cf Marseilles, Wyandot County, Ohio. The union of this worthy couple has been blessed with four children, as follows: Ethel L. (who died in in- fancy), Gertrude, Mamnie and Maude. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow are great favorites in social circles, and enjoy the friendship of a large number of ac- quaintances.
RNEST F. SMITH. Numbered among the enterprising citizens and popular officials of Kenton stands Mr. Smith, who fills the re- sponsible position of City Clerk. In addition to his duties in that capacity, he is also serving as Township Clerk. Active and energetic in public affairs, he has always supported the principles of the Democratic party, and upon that ticket was elected to liis present offices. His course in life has been such as to commend him to the con- fidence of his associates, and he is now numbered as one of the representative citizens of Kenton.
In Washington Township, Hardin County, Ohio, the subject of this biographical notice was born August 15, 1860. His father, Charles F., a native of Germany, emigrated from that coun- try to America, and first settled in Sandusky, Ohio, removing thence to Hardin County. By trade he is a cabinet-maker and carpenter, but for some years his health has been so poor as to preclude active work in any occupation, and he is living quietly and in retirement from business in the city of Kenton. During the Civil War he enlisted in the defense of the Union, becoming a member of Company I, One Hundred and Seven- ty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and serving in the ranks until the expiration of his terin of enlistment. While in active service he lost his hearing, which he has never recovered.
The family of Charles F. and Catherine (Ebert) Smith consisted of four sons and two daughters, concerning whom we note the following: John C. is foreman in the manufacturing shops of John Callam in Kenton; George W., a mechanic, re- sides in Mobile, Ala .; Charles H., also a mechanic, is in the employ of John Callam; Caroline is the wife of W. H. Ecles, who is Deputy County Sur- veyor of Hardin County; and Ella D. is with her parents. When the family came to Kenton, Arnest F. was a child of six years, and the rudi- ments of his education were gained in the coni- mon schools of this place. The information there gained was supplemented by a course of study in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and as he has since continued his reading he is a well informed man.
Upon leaving school Mr. Smith learned teleg- raphy, which, however, he followed bnt a short time. Later he was engaged in operating a cigar factory in Kenton. His official career began in 1887, when he was elected City Clerk, and he has held that position ever since. In 1889 he was chosen Township Clerk upon the Democratic ticket. He is recognized as one of the leaders of his party in this locality, and has done much to secure the election of its candidates and the triumpli of its principles.
The marriage of Mr. Smith, which took place in 1887, united him with Miss Laura Kanel, of
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Kenton, daughter of John Kanel. Her mother's maiden name was Dritzler. Mrs. Smitht has spent her entire life in this city, where she is popular in social circles and a welcomed guest in the best homes of the place. In religious belief she is identified with the German Reformed Church, and Mr. Smith is a contributor to the same, though not a member of any denomination. Their family consists of three sons and two daugh- ters, named as follows: Carl W., Viola Winfred, Wanda A., Ivan V. and an infant son unnamed.
LEXANDER B. McMURRAY, M. D., a successful physician of Marion, was born in Steubenville, this state, February 25, 1838. His literary education was commenced in tlie public schools of that place, and was completed in Fredericksburg Academy. Very soon there- after he began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. J. W. Smally and Dr. Jantes Martin, both prominent pliysicians of Fredericks- burg, Ohio. When ready to attend lectures, he entered Cleveland Medical College, from which he was graduated with honors with the Class of '71.
On receiving his degree as Doctor of Medicine, our subject at once located for practice in Marion, which has been the scene of his operations ever since. He at once established a large practice in the city and surrounding country, and his ability as a physician, and his skill in the diagnosis of dif- cult cases, have won for him the confidence of all with whom he comes in professional contact. He is therefore justly regarded as one of the leading practitioners of the county, and as such it gives us pleasure to present liis biography to our read- ers. Dr. McMurray served for one term as a member of the Board of Education and for four terms was a member of the City Council. At this writing he meets with the Pension Examining Board, of which lie is Treasurer. He also belongs to the Ohio Medical Society, which body he joined
in 1879, and also helped to organize tlie Marion County Medical Society, besides being Medical Examiner for the Knights of Honor of the city. He has also been physician for the County In- firmary for the past nineteen years. His brother John W. is also a leading practitioner in this county, and another brother, Thomas J., is the senior member of the McMurray & Fisher Sulky Company, and of whom the reader will find a full sketch elsewhere in this book.
Dr. A. B. McMurray was married, in 1860, to Miss Charlotte A. Cramer, of Fredericksburg. The lady was the daughter of Henry Cramer, a prominent fariner in Lancaster County, Pa. To tlie Doctor and his wife there were born twelve children, two of whom are deceased. His eldest son, James A., is a graduate of the Western Re- serve University of Cleveland, and is now practic- ing medicine in partnership with his father; Alex- ander P., tlie second son, is a law student in the office of one of the leading attorneys of Marion; Herbert was the next-born; and the others living are Harriet S., Mary M., Ann E., Bessie G., Henrietta, Ethiel M. and Mildred. The Doctor and the family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a prominent Knight Templar, and has passed through all the chairs of the Odd Fellows.
AMES HARRAMAN is one of the old and respected settlers of Big Island Township, Marion County, having been born on the farm now owned by him, and on which he re- sides. This place, one of the best that can be found in the county, is situated on section 15, and in former years was owned by the present proprietor's father.
The gentleman last mentioned, David Harca- utan, Sr., was one of the first to locate in this section of the county. He was of New England birtli, while his first wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Burnett, was a native of the Key- stone State. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Mrs. Susan Hopkins, of Union
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County, Ohio; Charles, David and Saralı, de- ceased; James, of this sketch; John and Phoebe, deceased; Lydia and Lafayette, who are yet liv- ing; and Leonard and Ellen, who have passed away. The mother died in 1840, and some two years later the father married Nancy Reed, by whom he had two sons: Wingate, now a farmer of Union County, Ohio; and Jesse, who died from the effects of a wound received in the late war. David Harraman, Sr., served in the War of 1812, and was always noted for his patriotism. By trade he was a shoemaker, but farming was his main occupation in life.
James Harraman was born November 21, 1825, and was given a good general education and train- ing in industrious and thrifty ways. When he started out to make his own way in the world, he commenced in a humble manner, gradually work- ing upward to a position of lionor, influence and affluence. The homestead which he is now en- gaged in operating comprises two hundred and eighty-two acres, finely improved with substan- tial buildings, etc.
December 27, 1845, Mr. Harraman married Abigail Van Fleet, daughter of John and Nancy (Brady) Van Fleet, who were natives of New York, but of foreign descent. The father was a shoemaker by occupation, and was actively en- gaged in business nearly all of his life. His only son, Christopher, is deceased. Mrs. Harraman was born March 26, 1827, and is therefore in her sixty-ninth year. To herself and husband were born the following children: Charles, December 23, 1846; John, April 10, 1850; Morton, Feb- ruary 9, 1852; Colida, March 1, 1854; Curtis, April 7, 1856; Doris, October 2, 1858; Louisa E., December 8, 1861; James B., January 2, 1865; Edward, November 15, 1866; and Freddie, Feb- ruary 18, 1869. Charles, the eldest son, and Morton live in this county; Curtis is a resident of New York City, as is also Edward; James is in Terre Haute, Ind .; and Louisa, who lives at home, is the mainstay of her parents. Doris died September 30, 1864; John, September 12, 1860; Colida, April 18, 1860; and Freddie, January 16, 1871.
On political questions Mr. Harraman has al-
ways been a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, but he does not wholly approve of the policy adopted by the present administration. . He is a inan of liberal ideas, and is not bound by narrow opinions, thus being always open to conviction. Personally he is very higlily esteemed by all witli whom he comes in contact.
HE KENTON DEMOCRAT; which is owned and conducted by Daniel Flanagan & Co., has been brought to a very prosper- ous condition by good management in its business relations and the exercise of intellectual force and tact in its columns. . Its pages are well supplied with such news of the day as is of general inter- est, its local items are carefully selected, and its utterances on the issues that are before the people are calin, impartial and logical.
The history of the Kenton Democrat began in the year 1844, when it was established by M. H. Nichols. In 1866 Daniel Flanagan became the proprietor, and under his able supervision the paper enjoyed a steady increase in circulation, not only in the city of Kenton, but throughout the county as well. David S. Fisher published the paper during the ten years from Janu- ary 1, 1875, to January 1, 1885. Meantime the former editor and proprietor, Daniel Flanagan, published the Union Democrat of Urbana, Ohio, and the Delaware (Ohio) Herald, the former over three years, and the latter more than five years .. He did not, however, remove his residence from Kenton, his family still remaining here.
On the Ist of January, 1885, Mr. Flanagan re- purchased the Democrat plant and office, and as- sociated with himself as partners Alfred Mathews and Thomas J. Flanagan. The proprietors of the Democrat own a conveniently arranged and sub- stantial two-story brick building for their print- ing-office, which is located at the rear of a long corner lot on East Franklin Street, six doors front the public square. In front of the printing-office is an elegant two-story brick building, eighty-five
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feet in length, which is used for a book-store and for the 'business and editorial rooms of the office. This paper is the only one published in Kenton that owns the buildings it occupies.
Hardin County has every reason to be proud of its newspapers, for with very few exceptions they are edited by men of superior ability, keen discernment of men and measures, impartial views on public questions, and broad knowledge concerning national and local affairs. Especially is this the case with reference to the Democrat, which may with truth be said to be one of the best edited, as it is one of the largest, weeklies of Ohio. Being the only Democratic paper pub- lished in the county, it is the recognized organ of that party, ever true to its principles and an ear- nest advocate of tariff reform. For more than fifty years it has represented the Democracy of Kenton, and for over half that time it has been the official organ of the county. The political contests here are usually somewhat exciting, as the political parties are about equally divided in point of numbers, and elections are very close. Under its present management the Democrat is doing a prosperous business and claims a circula- tion for the weekly of over twenty-three hundred copies.
The daily edition of the paper was established in 1893, and has already gained a large circulation for a city of the size of Kenton. It is a seven- column folio, and has the exclusive franchise of the Associated Press and the United Press news service. Not without justice, it is regarded as one of the best country-town dailies in the state, and its increase in popularity and prominence is rapid and constant. Tlie editor of the Democrat is plain in his utterances regarding affairs that have a bearing on the status of the city or the progress of the state and nation, and is quick to discern redeeming features in the lives or words of others, and equally prompt to give credit where credit is due.
Under the title of "Hardin County's Demo- cratic Organ," the following relative to the sub- ject of this sketch appears in the "History of Har- din County:" "The Democracy of Hardin County has had an organ since August 1, 1844. On that
date the paper was started in the interest of James K. Polk, the Democratic nominee for President. It was called the Kenton Democrat. The press and type, bought second hand from Samuel Me- dary, of Columbus, one of Ohio's most distin- guished Democratic publishers, was hauled from that city to Kenton and put in charge of Mathias H. Nichols. The first issue of the paper appeared August 1, 1844, and was called the Kenton Dem- ocrat. Mr. Nichols published the paper for a number of years, when he abandoned it and re- moved to Lima, Ohio, and subsequently repre- sented that district in Congress from 1853 to IS59.
"After the removal of Nichols the publication of the paper ceased, but about 1848-49 the office was again opened up, and the Kenton Herald came forth as the organ of the Democracy of Hardin County. How long it ran, or who its editor was, we are unable to say; but in the Ken- ton Republican of August 28, 1850, appears the following card: 'Kenton Herald revived! The paper that bore this name is about to be re-estab- lished. The former editor is brought to the res- urrection, and with the same old press and types will give life, freshness and improved vigor to the bantling in a short time. Its friends may assur- edly look for its appearance on or about Saturday week. Persons wishing to advertise will please forward their favors at the earliest convenience. Place of publication, probably, in Mr. Copeland's new building.' There are no files of any of these three papers in existence as far as we are aware, and the most thorough investigation has failed to throw any further light upon the subject.
"Democratic Expositor. This was the title of the next Democratic sheet, and first issued Friday, August 25, 1851, as the lineal successor of the Herald. It was published by Charles Warner and J. B. Atkinson, and the day of issue was sub- sequently changed to Tuesday. The Expositor was a twenty-four column sheet and claimed to be a 'family newspaper, devoted to politics, liter- ature, art, science, agriculture, morals, education, amusements, foreign and domestic news, markets, etc.' Its price was $1.50 per year in advance, and it was publislied about a year and a-half.
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