Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 54

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : C.O. Owen
Number of Pages: 934

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The parents of our subject had nine children. George, a retired carpenter and lumber dealer, lives in Ft. Wayne, Ind .; Mathias died March 14, 1894; Hosea, of this sketch, was next in order of birth; Benjamin resides in York Township, Tus- carawas County; Paulina is the wife of Phillip Ebertt, and makes her home in Christian County, Ill .; Richard died in infancy; Caroline, who is also deceased, was the wife of Nathan Bair, of Christian County, Ill .; Rebecca, who married John Koli, and made her home in Indiana, is deceased; and Rachel, who married Joseph Alleshouse, is a resi- dent of Dover Township.

He whose name heads this sketch was educated in the common schools of Pleasant Hill, in Do-

ver Township. Although the rude temple of learning would in no way compare with the ele- gant structures which the youth of to-day attend, nor the advantages offered at that time with those of the present, yet he made the best of his oppor- tunities and is well informed on all subjects of importance and interest.

The parents of our subject came to Tuscarawas County in an early day, first locating in Sandy- ville Township, on a farm belonging to a man by the name of Foarits. This was in 1831, and there the family lived for nine years. when the father came to Dover Township with his children, his wife having died on the above farm. Here he purchased two hundred aeres of fine land, which lie immediately set about improving in a most thorough manner, and of this tract our subject now owns one hundred and sixty-eight and a-half acres.

Hosea Fisher was reared on the home farm and assisted his father in its cultivation until attain- ing his twenty-fourth year, when he purchased property of his own, which he has since managed in a profitable manner. The house, barn and va- rious buildings on his place are of a substantial character, conveniently located and sufficiently adequate for their respective purposes. Mr. Fisher has been very successful in this branch of work, and is now living retired, surrounded by all the comforts of life.

When ready to establish a home of his own, on subject was married, November 10, 1861, to Miss Amanda, daughter of Andrew D. and Leah ( Baker) Swihart, natives of Westmoreland County, Pa. She was born in this county, April 3, 1843. and was given the advantages of obtaining a good ed- ucation. Her parents came to Tuscarawas Con- ty in a very early day and are both now deceased. The father was born October 26, 1808, and died April 7, 1876; while his good wife, whose birth oc- eurred March 20. 1811. departed this life April 21, 1867. Their family comprised seven children. Sarah, born Jannary 6, 1833, died November 8, 1839; Mary C., whose birth occurred November 27, 1835, and who was the wife of John Lewis, died July 15, 1893; Simpson, born March 26, 1837, ched January 27 of the following year; Philip, born

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December 25, 1839, died August 30, 1869; Will- iam, born October 1, 1841, died October 18, 1869; Amanda, Mrs. Fisher, was the next in order of birth; Margaret, born December 9, 1846, married Sanford Arnold, and is living in Larned, Kan.

Our subject and his estimable wife have become the parents of ten children. Edward, born March 26, 1863, married Elizabeth A. Wagner, and they have two children, Wilbert C. and Erma I .; Leah, born December 19, 1864, died August 24, 1865; Maggie, born July 30, 1866, is the wife of J. P. Wagner, and the mother of three daughters, Wilma D., Ruby P. and Susan Irene; Charles, born March 27, 1868, married Maggie Walker, and has two children, Harold and Ralph W .; Mary C., born

July 8, 1869, is at home; Cora M., born June 30, 1871, is the wife of Charles II. Horn, of Canal Dover; Jessie F., born March 7, 1874, died July 22 of that year; Ada L., born January 31, 1876, died six months later; Harvey, born September 12, 1878, and Frederick, born November 3, 1849, are both at home and attending school in Dover.

Our subject and his family are all members in good standing of the Lutheran Church. In poli- tics he is a strong Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. Although never an aspirant for office, he has ever borne his part in public enterprises, and is to-day very much respected throughout the community in which he resides.

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NATHAN H. BARBER.

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HON. NATHAN HAMPSON BARBER.

H ON. NATHAN HAMPSON BARBER is the present representative of Guernsey County in the Legislature, and a leading lawyer of Cambridge, widely and favorably known · throughout this section of the state for ability in his profession, influence in polities, and genial dis- position. The son of Mathew and Tabitha (Shep- herd) Barber, he was born on his father's home- stead, one and one-half miles west of Morristown, Belmont County, Ohio, whereon he passed his boyhood years and began his education in the dis- trict schools of that neighborhood. In course of time he was sent to advance his studies at Musk- ingum College, in Muskingum County, this state, and from there to Washington and .Jefferson ( Pa.) College, but was compelled, on account of serious sickness, to leave the latter institution three months prior to his graduation.

Our subject began to study law with Danford & Kennon, prominent attorneys of St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, attended Ann Arbor Law University for one term, and was admitted to the Bar. Ile began practicing law in Barnesville, Ohio. From there he removed to Fairview, continuing the practice of his profession in Guernsey and Bel- mont Counties, where he built up a good paying practice.

In 1887 Mr. Barber received the nomination for Judge of the Probate Court of Guernsey County, at the hands of the Republican party, and after a spirited contest was elected, defeating Hon. Will- iam Borton, Democrat, and the Prohibition candi-

date. In 1890 he was re-nominated and re-elected, and held the responsible position until the fall of 1893, at which time he resigned, on the day before election, having that year received the nomination for representative of Guernsey County, to which position he was elected the following day.

Mr. Barber is a diligent worker and an impress- ive speaker in the field of politics as well as in his profession, and has proved himself an active and efficient representative at Columbus. He possesses indomitable courage and persistency in what he considers right, which, combined with a bright in- tellect and pleasing manner, have made him many friends and placed him in the foremost ranks of Guernsey County's citizens. Among the active measures brought forward by him before the Leg- islature at Columbus was a bill in the interests of the community making it lawful and compulsory for companies and others to pay for the privilege of constructing street-car lines and railroads within the corporate limits of a city, telegraph, telephone or electric-light companies from creeting poles, etc., or the laying of pipes for water or gas com- panies within the corporate limits of a city or village; and that a franchise for such privileges should not extend beyond a period of twenty-five years. Ile was also one of the chief champions for the right of women to vote at school elections, and hold office as members of the School Board. Believing the people were not as prosperous as in former tunes, he introduced a bill to decrease the salaries of county officials, in which he had the co-

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operation of those holding office in Guernsey County, having ever in view the best interests of the tax-payer and the people at large.

Mr. Barber is of Irish descent. His grandpar- ents were William and Ann (Hammersley) Barber, natives of County Antrim, Ireland, the former born in 1792, and the latter in 1793. They emi- grated to America in 1817. When our subject's father was nearly two years old, they landed in New York, and immediately proceeded westward and settled on the farm near Morristown, Belmont County, before mentioned. The grandfather died in 1827, aged thirty-five years, while his widow survived him many years, dying at Fairview in 1881, aged eighty-nine years. Their family con- sisted of six children: Mathew, William, Isabel, Nancy, another daughter who became the wife of Mr. Todd, and Hugh.

Mathew Barber was born in 1816, and was reared upon the old homestead, receiving his education in the schools available at that period, and making farming his business occupation through life. He married Tabitha Shepherd, the daughter of Nathan and Amelia (Fresh) Shepherd, to which union the following children were born: Margaret, the wife of Jolin W. Prior, a stock dealer, residing in Chi- cago, Ill .; James, who married a Miss Berry, of Morristown, and is now living in Pittsburg, Pa .; Annie, deceased, the wife of Hon. Jolin A. Bu- chanan, a lawyer of New Philadelphia, Ohio, who represented this district in the State Senate; Cath- erine, who died in infancy; William, who died at the age of two years; Nathan II., our subjeet; Nancy J., who became the wife of James R. Rosemond, a farmer and stonemason, and resided in Fairview until her death; Mary Ellen, the wife of David S. McClelland, an extensive fariner near Smyrna, Guernsey County; Leotia Adeline, who lives with her father; and Lucy, the wife of El- wood Murphy, an attorney residing in Columbus, Ohio. The father is still living, a hale and hearty man (although seventy-nine years of age), at Fair- view, to which place he removed in 1869, hav- ing purchased a farm in that vicinity. The moth- er died November 17, 1892.

Nathan II. Barber, the subject of this sketch, married Miss Jennie Clarke, the daughter of Will-

iam and IIenrietta (West) Clarke. William Clarke was killed while gold-mining in California by the caving in of a mine, a few years after the precious metal was first discovered on the Pacific Slope.

Mrs. Barber is a native of this state, and by her marriage has become the mother of three chil- dren: Dolly, the wife of P. C. Patterson, the man- ager of the Cambridge Corrugating Company; Her- bert, a student of the Military College at Peeks- kill, N. Y .; and Ellen, the youngest, residing at home with her parents.

Mr. Barber and his family live in an elegant residence of his own, fitted throughout with all the modern requirements, situated on Eleventh Street, Cambridge. He is also the owner of good business property in town, is a stockholder and Di- rector in the Cambridge Corrugating Company. and also a stockholder in the Republican Press Company, a leading newspaper of Guernsey Coun- ty. Fraternally lie is a member of Cambridge Lodge No. 53, K. of P. Both Mr. Barber and his wife are members of the Methodist Church of this city.

ILLIAM B. CROXTON, a prominent and wealthy farmer of York Township, is now living retired from business eares, simply overseeing the coal mines and other property belonging to himself and wife. Since 1873 he has dwelt on the farm known as the HIen- ry Anderman Homestead, it being situated on section 14.

The birth of Mr. Croxton occurred January 12, 1832, in Carroll County, Ohio. His father, the Ilon. John G. Croxton, came from a good old Vir- ginian family, and his birth occurred in Brooke County, October 19, 1803. Ilis father, William, was a native of Chester County, Pa., and his father, a native of Croxton's Park, England, emigrated to the United States in company with William Penn. The mother of our subject was in her girl-

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hood Susan B. Smith. She was born at St. Johns- bury Plains, Vt., and is a daughter of Ben- jamin and Lidey B. (Emory) Smith, natives of Maine and Vermont, respectively. They were descendants of early Puritan families, who were among the first settlers in the Plymouth Rock Colony. To Hon. John Croxton and his wife were born four sons and three daughters, as fol- lows: William B., our subject; Henrietta, wife of J. H. Barnhill, of New Philadelphia; Josephine, de- ceased; John G., Jr., whose home is in Philadelphia, Pa .; Benjamin F., deceased; Samuel W., of Cleve- land, Ohio; and Alice, wife of George Hopkins, now located in Canal Dover. The father of this family died in February, 1894, at the good old age of ninety years. During the last twenty years of his life he lived at Canal Dover. He was very 'popular in that community and was Mayor of the place for four years. He served as Justice of the Peace for a period of six years, and in 1845 took the census of Carroll County.

The boyhood and youth of William B. Croxton were passed at the home of his parents. When he had reached the age of twenty years he went out to seek his fortune, though he had previously taught school for three years. Subsequently he found work as a clerk in a dry-goods store at Uhrichsville, where he was employed for three years. Then, going to New Philadelphia, he stud- ied law with the Hon. George W. Mellvaine and David W. Stanbaugh, who were legal practitioners at that point. After three years of study Mr. Croxton was duly admitted to the Bar at Zanes- ville, Ohio. Soon afterwards he commenced prac- tice at New Philadelphia with the Hon. Judge J. II. Barnhill, with whom he remained for two years. The War of the Rebellion coming on about then, Mr. Croxton went to Washington, D. C., where he was offered a clerkship in the Pension Office. This position he accepted, and there remained for two years and a-laif. Returning to Ohio, he was offered the position of bookkeeper in a blast for- nace and pig-iron manufactory near Canal Dover. At the end of three years he went into partnership with his two brothers, William and Benjamin, in a general merchandise undertaking at Canal Dover. He followed this successfully for eight years, after

which he disposed of his interest and came to his present home.

October 17, 1859, occurred the marriage of Will- iam Croxton and Caroline Anderman, who was born August 23, 1834. Her father, Henry Ander- man, was a native of Prussia, while her mother, whose maiden name was Anna B. Scott, was born in Scotland. In 1835 Mr. and Mrs. Anderman set sail for America, and for four years lived on the homestead now cccupied by our subject. After- wards they were for thirty-three years inhabitants of New Philadelphia, but finally returned to the old homestead, where they passed the remainder of their lives.

Two sons and a daughter have been born to William and Caroline Croxton. Annie B. is un- married; Lewis A. is a resident of Philadelphia, Pa .; and Henry Butler is engaged in the lumber business at Odbert, this county.

The early education of our subject was obtained in the old-fashioned log-cabin school, which he at- tended until he was about ten years of age. When fourteen years old, he entered the Madison Center Academy, of Lake County, Ohio. Later he became a student in the academy at Hagerstown, Md. By a well selected course of reading and private study, he has become thoroughly abreast with the times, and is a gentleman of such intelligence and good conversational powers that it is a pleasure to pass time in his company. In politics he is affil- iated with the Republican party, but has never been prevailed upon to hold office. To the high- est degree both himself and amiable wife possess the confidence and good-will of the entire com- munity in which they are so well and favorably known.

It is fitting that special mention be made of the youngest son of our subject, namely, Henry But- ler Croxton, who is a young man of exceptional attainments and business ability. Ile was born in New Philadelphia, October 21, 1872, and was edu- cated at the Union School of that place. Always very industrious and energetic. he has worked his way upward with remarkable celerity, and manages his varied interests as few persons of his years could do. In addition to the lumber business which he carries on at Odbert, he is manager of

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the liomestead where he resides and which belongs to his mother. Ile is also serving as receiver for the Odbert Coal Mine Company, and is especially in- terested in several other coal mines. He has in- vested money from time to time in lands and owns a fine two-hundred acre farm in Oxford Township, and another comprising one hundred aeres in York Township.

J OHIN S. KOLLAR. Among those cultivating a portion of the soil of Fairfield Township to good advantage may be mentioned our subject, who is living on and managing the old homestead. IIe is elassed among the young and progressive agriculturists of this seetion, aim- ing in every detail of his work to keep abreast of the times in all that pertains to his occupation. He is a prominent and well respected member of the community.

Mr. Kollar was born on seetion 9, of the above township, September 12, 1850. His parents are Joseph and Phoebe (Slutts) Kollar. His paternal great-grandfather came to this country from Ger- many, and located in York County, Pa., where he engaged in farm pursuits. There he reared a family of four sons, three of whom married and became heads of families. George, the grand- father, was the eldest; John and Jacob went South, one locating in North, and the other in South, Carolina. They were Lutherans in religion.

Grandfather George Kollar was a native of York County, Pa., and was a lad of ten years when the war for independence broke out. Ilis father dying when he was quite young, he was bound out to attend an officer in the Revolutionary War. After the cessation of hostilities, and when per- mitted to look out for himself, he learned the trade of shoemaking, which he followed until 1802, the year he came to Jefferson County, Ohio, and settled on Dawsey's Flats, Here he engaged in

farm pursuits, and met with such good results that five years later he entered the three hundred and twenty aeres comprised in the old homestead on seetion 9. The trip to this state was made with a one-horse wagon, and the family was obliged to stop at night by the wayside, and make themselves as comfortable as it was possible to be in a wild region, infested with animals and Indians.

Three years after entering his land from the Government, Grandfather Kollar moved on the same, and began the arduous work of its improve- ment. He made this place his home until his de- cease, in August, 1849, at the age of eighty-four years. He was an influential man in his neighbor- hood, and among the Indians he was greatly hon- ored. He was active in church work, and one of the founders of the Lutheran society in his com- munity. In political affairs he voted with the Whig party. Ilis wife, who was in maidenhood Susanna Koontz, was also a native of the Keystone State, and of German deseent. Her father after coming to America served as a soldier in the War of 1812, on the side of the Colonists. She became the mother of ten children, nine of whom grew to mature years. Jacob served as a substitute in the War of 1812; Adam was drafted into the service, and was mustered out at the elose of the conflict with the title of Captain; Margaret married Tobias Haverstock, and made her home in Wayne Coun- ty, this state; George died in Williams County, Ohio; Catherine married John Slutts, who is now deceased; Andrew died in Wayne County, where le owned a large farm; Michael is also deceased; Joseph, the father of our subject, was the next- born; David is a resident of Williams County, this state; and Susan is the widow of Lewis Hixon, and lives near Odessa, Mo. The grandmother died January 22, 1858, at the age of eighty-six years. She was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, and active in all good works in her neighborhood.

Joseph Kollar was born near Steubenville, this state, November 5, 1809. The following year he was brought by his parents to this county, which has been his home ever since. Ile received his education in the primitive log schoolhouse, con- dueted on the subscription plan. The building was built of logs and furnished in the rudest man-

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ner, and young Joseph had to make his own seat and desk. On attaining his majority, he began life for himself, his first work being in making rails, for which he received twenty-five cents per hundred, and he was often enabled to earn twice that amount of money in one day, which was eon- sidered good wages for those times. After being thus employed for a time his father gave him a horse, which our subjeet fitted out with bridle and saddle. In 1831 he sold his possessions for $75, and with the money made a payment on one hun- dred and sixty-one acres of land in Dover Town- ship. He located on this in 1833, ereeting a shanty of round logs. This served the purpose for which it was intended until the fall of that year, when it was replaced with a more comfortable structure, with puncheon floor and door made of elapboards.

In 1837 Joseph Kollar sold out this purchase on account of having disagreeable and dishon- est neighbors, and, going to Williams County, entered three hundred and twenty aeres from the Government. A short time thereafter he sold his land, and took charge of a farm for Peter Will- iams in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The following year he purchased one hundred and four aeres of improved property on Stony Creek, for which he paid 82,000. He made this place his home for nine years, when he returned to the old homestead, and cared for his parents during the remainder of their lives. After their decease he purchased thie home place from the other heirs. It consisted of three hundred and sixteen acres, forty of which he has since sold to a coal company. For several years Mr. Kollar was occupied in buying cattle and driving them to York County, Pa., where he disposed of them. He has been very successful in life, and is now living retired, leaving the super- vision of his fine and valuable farm to his son, our subject.

Always active in all measures calculated to be of benefit to his community, Joseph Kollar was elected Justiee of the Peace, holding that responsi- ble office for six years. He was also County Com- inissioner for the same length of time, and in every position discharged the duties thereof in a most satisfactory and eredible manner. He was first a Whig and later a Republican in politics, and when

before the publie as a candidate always ran ahead of his tieket.

The parents of our subjeet were married Septem- ber 25, 1831. Mrs. Kollar was born in Fairfield Township, this county, December 12, 1813, and was the danghter of William and Deborah (Gor- (lan) Slutts, natives of Reading, Pa. IIer father came to Fairfield Township in 1812. He reared three sons, John, Samuel and Theopolis, and five daughters, Phobe, Jane, Deborah, Mary and La- vina.

To Joseph Kollar and his estimable wife there were born eight children, of whom four lived to mature years. Deborah became the wife of Will- iam Baker, of Allen County, this state. George married and moved to Paulding County, where he enlisted in the Union army, and was com- missioned a Captain in the one hundred days' service. He died in Hospital No. 8 at Bermuda Hundred, near Richmond, Va. Susan, the second daughter, became the wife of Josiah Davy, of Indi- anapolis, Ind. John S., of this sketch, was the youngest of those who lived. The deceased mein- bers of the family were Jacob, William, Theopolis and Margaret. The mother of these eliildren de- parted this life February 14, 1851. She was an active member of the Protestant Methodist Church, while her husband had been for many years con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The latter married, November 17, 1856, Pleaza Shiddler, born in Washington County, Pa. She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth ( Battey) Shiddler. Her father was a farmer, who went to Stark County, Ohio, in 1833, and lived there during the rest of his life. He reared a family of four sons and four danghters, all of whom married and had sons and daughters of their own. Heury Shiddler was the son of John, a native of Mary- land, who later removed to Pennsylvania, and there died. He was a member of the German Bap- tist Church. Ilis wife, prior to her marriage, was Catherine Yeeter, also a native of Maryland, who departed this life in Stark County, Ohio.

The original of this sketeh was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education first in the common and later in the high schools. Here- mained under the parental roof until his marriage,

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when he moved to Ashland County. This was in 1883. There he purchased a tract of one hundred acres, which he cultivated for six years with good results. His parents being quite aged, he thought it his duty to remain with them during the rest of their lives, and, returning to the home place, as- sumed its management. He is a Republican in politics, and on that ticket was elected Justice of the Peace. He is a charter member of the Grange, in the workings of which he is prominent and greatly interested.

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Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 54

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : C.O. Owen Number of Pages: 934

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : C.O. Owen
Number of Pages: 934