USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 61
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then ten years of age. They have given her good educational advantages, she attending the high school at Washington for one term. She is a very talented young lady, and is now devoting her at- tention to the study of music. She has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church for the past eight years, and is one of the valned workers of that denomination.
In September, 1864, Emmet Bennett answered the cali for more volunteers, enlisting as a mem- ber of Company I, One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Oho Infantry, and was mustered into serv- ice under General Sherman. That winter his regiment was stationed at Nashville, in order to prevent the rebel, General Hood, from passing northward, and later participated in the battle of Franklin. The war being at an end the following year, he was mustered out in June of that year and returned home, again taking up the peaceful pursuits of farm life, which he has sinee followed with great sueeess.
Mrs. Bennett's grandfather. Thomas Warne. and his wife, Nancy (Pursley) Warne, were born and reared to mature years in New Jersey. They be- eame residents of this state in 1803, and were among the leading Friends of this section. On her moth- er's side Mrs. Bennett is descended from a family originating in Pennsylvania, and who were also Quakers in religious belief.
Although our subject had no advantages for procuring an education, yet he is one of the finest readers and elocutionists in the county, and his services are often enlisted in entertainments given in the vicinity of his home. He is very prominent in his township, and has filled many offices of trust and honor, among them being that of Town- ship Clerk. He is a stanch supporter of Republi- can principles, and is an influential worker in its ranks. Ile is very liberal in giving of his means toward supporting all worthy movements and eu- terprises, and aided very materially in the erection of the United Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected by membership for many years, as has also his devoted wife.
Mr. Bennett has in his possession a large num- ber of relies handed down to him by his father. Among them is a tub which the latter made in
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1825, and which is still in a good state of preser- vation. His father was a well educated man, a beautiful penman, and an old copy-book which he used in 1810 is included among the keepsakes.
ROF. WATSON HAMLIN GREGG, the ef- ficient and intelligent Superintendent of the schools of Quaker City. is the gentle- man to whom we call the kind attention of the reader. He is finely educated, and has been inter- ested in educational matters ever since he attained manhood, his efforts in this direction having been of great benefit to the schools of this city. for whose improvement he has used his knowledge and no inconsiderable influence.
Our subject, who was a native of Noble County, this state, and was born June 18, 1865, is of mixed Scotch-Irish and English descent. His parents are Abraham and Elizabeth ( Morris) Gregg, both of whom are natives of what is now Noble, but at the time of their birth was Guernsey, County. The father was born September 2, 1828, and his wife March 6, 1831. They received such educational advantages as the day and community afforded, and were married in the year 1850. Their entire lives have been spent in agrienttural pursuits. in which vocation they were more than ordinarily successful, until an unfortunate land speculation swept away a good property which they owned in this county. They now reside on a small farm of which their son Watson II. is the owner.
Grandfather Jacob II. Gregg, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, was a son of Abraham and Mary Gregg, the former of whom was born in 1745, and died in 1802. The latter was born in 1747. and died in 1825. Their son Jacob II. was one of the early settlers of Guernsey, where he followed agri- enltural pursuits, and at the same time carried on his trade as a millwright. His career throughout life remained untarnished, and he rejoiced in the respect of a large circle of friends. He was born
in 1781, and died in 1853, while his wife, Ann (Ileald) Gregg, born in 1791, survived until 1858. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Henry Morris, a son of Jonathan Morris, was born in 1800, and died in 1875. He was a lineal descend- ant of Robert Morris, the Revolutionary financier. His wife, prior to her marriage Tacy Watson, was born in 1803, and died in 1876.
To Abraham and Elizabeth ( Morris) Gregg there were born six children, of whom Jonathan and James are deceased. The former was born in 1851, and died in 1855; the latter, who was born in 1854. also died in 1855. Nancy Jane, who was born in 1856, is the wife of Herman A. Williams. a well- to-do farmer of Seueea Township, Noble County. this state, who traces his ancestry back to Roger Williams. Henry Morris, the next. who was born in 1861, was married to Clementine Larrick, and was engaged in teaching school. He resides in Buffalo Township, Noble County. Wilson, who was born June 18, 1865, and is a twin of Watson Hamlin, is a farmer of Buffalo Township.
The original of this sketeh, who has made his way since fourteen years old, was reared to man- hood on his father's farm in his native county, and received the rudiments of his education in the district school. Being desirous and ambitious to gain a good edueation, and his father being unable to pay his college expenses. Mr. Gregg taught sehrool in the country districts for a time, thus earn- ing the wherewithal to pay his tuition. He com- pleted the classical course in the Ohio Normal University m 1893. He would teach and go to school alternately, taking German, French. Latin and Greek. In 1888 he began teaching at Cald- well. Ile remained there for three years, and in the fall of 1891 was engaged by the School Board of this city to take charge of the schools, which position he is now filling in a very acceptable and praiseworthy manner. He is the possessor of a life certificate from the State Board of School Ex- aminers.
Professor Gregg was married, September 11.1893. to Miss Hattie, danghter of Thomas M. Johnson. whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this vol- ume. Their union has resulted in the birth of a daughter, Helen, born June 27, 1894. The Pro-
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fessor is a member in good standing of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, while his wife worships with the Disciples. In social affairs he is a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Quaker City Lodge No. 310, of which he is Past Chancellor, and is also connected with Lodge No. 459, F. & A. M., of Cald- well. Although never an aspirant for public of- fice of any kind, he never fails to use his influence for the good of the community, and in national affairs is a Republican. He was School Examiner for Noble County during his residence there for two years, beginning in 1888.
ACOB J. KLEIN, a native of Germany, has been for the past eleven years Superintend- ent of the Ridgway Burton Company, of Mineral Point. He is one of the incorpora- tors and Directors in the bank of this place; helped to organize, and is now Vice-President of, the Min- eral City Supply Company, and has been connect- ed with various other important local concerns. He has served as a member of the School Board, and has been a Councilman for two terms. He is a leader in the ranks of the Republican party, though he has never held office to any extent.
The grandfather of J. J. Klein bore the Chris- tian name of Conrad. He was born in the king- dom of Zarbruch, Germany, and for seven years was a soldier under Napoleon. Ile was a miner by occupation, and died in his native village about 1848, aged seventy-three years. To himself and wife, Louisa, were born eight children: Louis, who died in Illinois; Peter, also deceased; Conrad, whose demise occurred in Germany, as did also that of Nicholas; JJohn, who died in Stark County, this state; Christian; and Jaeob.
Christian Klein, the father of our subject, was born March 8, 1812, in the village of Burchach, Zarbruch, Germany, and served for three years in the army. Ile was a mine engineer and draftsman while in his native land, but determined to come
to America, which he did, the voyage to this conn- try taking thirty-two days. Proceeding westward from New York City, he located at Clinton, Sum- mit County, Ohio, and for eight years engaged in mining, at the end of which time he bought forty- one acres of land three miles north of Massillon, this state. Ile died March 14, 1881, in the faith of the Lutheran Church, to which he had adhered from boyhood. Until 1861 he was a Democrat, but then changed his allegiance to the Republican party. Of his thirteen children. two died in child- hood, and the others are: Lewis J., J. J., George R. (of . Massillon ), Christian C .. Conrad R., Fred- erick C., Henry F., Dorothea Ries, Sophia D .. Cath- erine M. Rohr and Louisa J. Beaty. The mother of these children bore the maiden name of Cather- ine Wagner. She was born in 1818, and died in September, 1875. She was one of the seven chil- dren of Rudolph Wagner. a farmer. The others of the family were: Henry, Nicholas, Lewis, Ru- dolph, Mary. Huber and Dorothea Klein.
The birthplace of Jacob J. Klein was in the same village in Germany as that of his father and grand- father before him. The date of the event was Oc- tober 24, 1842. When old enoughi. he was set to work in the mines, but also attended the German schools for three years. After reaching the United States he pursued his studies in the district school for about forty days, and this is the extent of his educational advantages. When twenty-two years of age he began to "paddle his own canoe." ob- taining work near Massillon, Ohio. In July, 1880. he was made First Assistant Mining Inspector of Ohio, being appointed by Governor Foster, and occupied the position for two years. In Angust. 1883, he was offered his present place. and has con- tinued to give full satisfaction to his superiors.
Mr. Klein has been twiee married, his first union being with Mary J. Maloney, October 31. 1861. Mrs. Klein was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Parker) Maloney, natives of Northumberland County, England. In 1837 they came to the United States and settled on a farm in Stark Con- ty, where they passed their remaining years. In early life they were members of the Church of England, but later became identified with the Christian Church. Of the six children whom they
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reared, two were sons and four daughters. Seven children came to grace the union of Jacob and Mary Klein, and all but one of the number are still living, namely: Ilenry R., Lewis J., James W .. Ilomer L., Clara B. and Alice F. The faithful wife and devoted mother was called to her final rest December 24, 1887, when within three days of her thirty-eighth birthday. The present wife of our subject is Mary, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Wilson) Walter.
Religiously Mr. Klein is a member of the Re- formed Church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic society. He is a self-made man. as when he commenced his business career he was entirely without capital, and after his first mar- riage he had only $1 with which to set up house- keeping.
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J OHN A. THOMPSON is a noteworthy farmer and citizen of Guernsey County, who by in- defatigable industry. perseverance and good common-sense raised himself from poverty to affluence, and to-day is one of the substantial residents of this community. His splendid estate is located in Monroe Township, and is one of the best improved for many miles around.
Mr. Thompson was the sixth in order of birth of the parental family, and was born on the old home- stead, April 26, 1838. Hle was reared on this place and has continued to make it his home ever since. William Thompson, our subject's father, was a na- tive of Ireland, having been born in County Ty- rone, February 5, 1791. Ilis parents emigrated to the United States when he was a child of two years, and at once settled in Fayette County. Pa., where Wilham was reared ou their farm. On the outbreak of the War of 1812, he served in its ranks as a brave soldier, and throughout his entire life was interested and took an active part in the welfare of his country.
In the year 1825 William Thompson made the journey to Ohio, and purchasing land in Monroe Township, made improvements on the same, and
lived thereon in a single state for some time, when he returned to Pennsylvania and was united in marriage with Sarah Ansley. In 1826 he came with his bride to their new home, and there lived in a quiet way until his decease, when advanced m years.
The mother of our subject was born in Beaver County, Pa., April 25, 1799, and was the daughter of Scotch parents. Her death occurred July 14, 1878, while her husband survived her two years, dying March 9, 1880. Their family included seven children. Of these, James, born January 5, 1828, died December 27, 1862; Mary J., born Oc- tober 29, 1829, married John Cherry, and departed
this life June 12, 1891; Nancy was born December 13, 1831, and became the wife of Hamilton Pol- lock, dying in February, 1858; Margaret, born January 9, 1834, died November 5, 1855; Eliza- beth, born February 26, 1836. died October 16, 1857; Jolin A. is our subject; and William HI., born June 24, 1841, is now living on a farm in Muskingum County. The latter enlisted as a mem- ber of Company II, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry. dur- ing the late war, and participated in many of the hard-fought engagements of that period. He mar- ried Mary J. Lee on his return from the army. She died July 7, 1878, and he was afterward united in marriage with Margaret Moore.
The original of this sketch obtained a good edu- cation in the schools taught in the district. and re- mained with his parents for two years after reach- ing his majority. He was married, September 19. 1861, to Miss Mary A. Neel, their union resulting in the birth of the following-named children: Leona, who died aged twenty-six years; Ansley N .. who married Ida M. George; U. D., married to Col- oma Campbell; Sallie K., who died when three years old; John M., living with his father; and Mattie M., deceased. The mother of these children de- parted this life March 6. 1886. and the lady to whom Mr. Thompson was married June 12, 1890, was Martha A. Boyd.
Our subjeet is one of the wide-awake. progressive agrienturists of Monroe Township and uses the latest improvements in the way of machinery in .
the cultivation of his land. He has been very successful in his chosen occupation, and derives a
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handsome income from the raising of grain and stock. Ile has at all times taken a very active part in politics, on numerous occasions represent- ing the Republican party at county conventions. In 1888 he was elected County Commissioner and on the expiration of his term, so well did he discharge the duties of the office, he was re- elected by a large majority. He is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian Church, hav- ing been connected with this denomination for many years. By his honorable and upright career Mr. Thompson has won many friends and has the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
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S OLOMON II. SHROYER, a well known ag- riculturist and successful business man of Guernsey County, became the owner of the farm where heis now living in 1894. It is located one and a-half miles southwest of Cambridge. in Cambridge Township. For many years Mr. Shroy- er's time has been divided mainly between farm- ing and milling. During the war he was in the service for a short time, as First Lieutenant of Company E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio In- fantry, and was mustered out with the same rank. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Muskingum County, June 22, 1835.
The grandfather of Solomon II., Abraham Shroyer, a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the sturdy pioneers of Muskingum County, where he entered land about 1805, when not a stick of tim- ber had yet been cut in the township. The farm which he cleared and cultivated has never passed ont of the family. and is now owned by a grand- son. The parents of our subject were Jolm and Elizabeth ( Werts) Shroyer. the former born in Pennsylvania about 1794, while the mother was a native of Loudoun County, Va. They came with their families to Ohio when ten years of age. The marriage of Abraham Shroyer and wife was blessed with eleven children, namely: Adam, Jacob. Abra- ham, Elizabeth ( Mrs. Adam Baker), Catherine
(wife of Caleb Baker). Christian, Mrs. Mary Bain- ter, another sister who also married a Mr. Bainter, John, William and Andrew. Adam died in Cos- hocton County, where he had lived for a number of years, and Jacob, Abraham, Elizabeth, Christian and Andrew all departed this life in Muskingum County. William died in his eighty-eighth year in Kankakee County, IN. The sons were all farm- ers by occupation.
Solomon HI. Shrover left home when only eight years old, and lived with one of his elder brothers and a brother-in-law for the next six years. At the end of that time he was hired out by his guard- ian, working for Christian Shroyer for a year. next for G. W. Shirer for a year, and a similar time for Samuel Shrigley. For some time he then worked at whatever he could find to do, and dur- ing one winter split rails and cut cordwood at an almost nominal price. When nineteen years of age lie had enough money laid aside to buy a threshing-machine, which he operated one season and then sold. The amount realized therefrom he invested in a portable sawmill, which he ran for six months and also sold. For the next five years he engaged in buying and shipping stoek, and made a good living in this way.
On New Year's Day, 1863, Mr. Shroyer married Eliza J. Brannon. At that time he was engaged in merchandising at Adamsville, and ran the store until the following year, when he sold his interest and bought a farm, though he was employed as a clerk for abont two months. In May, 1864, he en- listed as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, and went to Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg. He marched with Gen- erals Hunter and Sigel and participated in an en- gagement near Newtown, though he never was in a regular battle. On being mustered out in 1864. at Zanesville, Muskingum County, he at once re- turned to his young wife and infant child, and un- til 1868 was engaged in farming. In the latter year he removed to Zanesville and opened a gro- cery. Later he operated a feed and grain business for abont two years.
In 1872 Mr. Shrover bought a farm about nine miles below Zanesville. For the homestead, which comprised four hundred and fifty-live acres, he paid
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835,000, and at the end of three and a-half years sold the place at a profit of $6,000. Returning to Zanesville to reside, he obtained a position in a wholesale grocery, in which he afterward bought an interest. A year and a-half later he sold his share in the store and moved to Noble County. where he farmed for about three years. Coming to Cambridge, his next venture was to buy a half- interest in a gristmill, but in this move he met with misfortune, as about six months afterward the plant burned and only half its value in insur- ance was recovered. In the spring of 1883 he in- vested in other gristmills of the place, which he operated for eleven months. For a time he was then engaged in running his farm, after which he returned to this place, buying a half-interest in a mill, which he conducted until three years ago, when he rented it to other parties. Recently he has been engaged in operating the farm on which his home is now located.
Politically Mr. Shrover is an ally of the Demo- cratic party. The success which he has achieved is dne entirely to his own unassisted efforts, for he commenced the battle of life empty-handed and without influential friends to render him aid.
EOPOLD FOX. Among the substantial farmers of Tuscarawas County this gentle- man is numbered. He began life empty- handed, but by unremitting industry, seconded by sound judgment and shrewd business faculties, he has acquired a good competence, and is the pro- prietor of a valuable farm. This tract of land is located in York Township, and is well cultivated in every particular.
Mr. Fox, who is the son of Leopold and Eliza- beth (Kuhn) Fox, was born in the above township. April 5. 1832. His parents were natives of Penn- sylvania, and are both now deceased, the father passing a way at the age of sixty years. The mother was the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Kuhn,
who emigrated from their native state, Pennsyl- vania, to this county many years ago, and were among the first settlers of this section.
The parents of our subject were very prominent people during their life spent in this county, and the community was deprived of two good citizens by their demise. The father was a shoemaker in Pennsylvania, but after locating in Ohio gave his time and attention to farm pursuits. He was a law-abiding citizen, one held in high esteem, due to his personal qualities and honorable life. Ile was a devoted member of the German Reformed Church, with which body his good wife was also connected.
Leopold Fox, of this sketch, remained at home until a year after attaining his majority, when he set out to "paddle his own canoe," his first en- ployment being as a farm hand, working by the month. He followed this for a number of years, and in 1864 he rented a tract, which he worked very successfully for five years. At the expira- tion of that time he moved upon a farm, including eighty-three acres, belonging to his wife, and to which he has added as his means would allow, un- til he is the proprietor of one hundred and twenty- two finely cultivated acres. which rank among the best in the township. He is a general farmer, al- ways keeping good stoek on hand. and raising crops equal in quality to any produced in the county.
In the year 1852 Mr. Fox was united in mar- riage with Miss Margaret Aukney, who was born in this county in 1833. She is the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Gimlett) Aukney. natives of Pennsylvania, but among the early settlers of this portion of Ohio. The union of our sub- ject and his wife has resulted in the birth of six children. two sons and four daughters, namely: Elizabeth, now deceased; John W., engaged in farming in York Township. this county; Mary. the wife of David Bealer. a farmer located near Ragesville, this state; Samuel F., deceased; and Caroline and her elder sister at home with then parents. They have all been given good educa- tions, and fitted to occupy nseful positions m life.
Mr. Fox attended school in the primitive log cabin, and conned his lessons seated upon a slab
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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bench, with wooden pins inserted for legs, and did his writing on a slab table extending around the wall. Ile often experienced the sensation of hav- ing one side of his body well heated by the roar- ing fire in the fireplace, while the other side was cooled by the breeze which penetrated the crevices in the wall. He was taught reading, writing and spelling, with the fundamental rules of arithmetie. Those were the days when the teacher boarded around in the homes of the various patrons, and free schools were not yet.
Our subject is a member of the German Reformed Church, and politically cast his vote for Demo- cratic candidates. Although now occupying a comfortable dwelling, the first log cabin which was ever erected on his farm is still standing, and is a reminder to Mr. Fox of those pioneer times when this now rude structure was the best afforded by even the wealthiest residents.
YRUS HUMMELL, whose sketch we here- with submit, is one of the representative farmers of York Township, and a gentle- man highly respected for his good business quali- fications and upright character. He was born on the old homestead, where he is at present residing, March 24, 1849, and is the son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Emerson) Hummell.
The father of our subject was born in Pennsyl- vania, April 5, 1805, and departed this life No- vember 11, 1872. Hle in turn was the son of Fred- erick and Christena IIummell, natives of Pennsyl- vania, whence they came to Ohio in the year 1812 and entered from the Government the tract of land which is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch. They were very prominent people in that day, and contributed largely to the up- building of this section.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hummell was born Deeember 25, 1809, in County Down, Ireland. She was the daughter of John and Jane Emerson, natives of
the Emerald Isle, who made the journey aeross the Atlantic many years ago. They at once located in Tuscarawas County, where they made their home until their death. By her union with Jacob IIummell the mother of our subject had five sons. Frederick Hummell, her eldest son, was born in York Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on the 2d of June, 1838, and died February 21, 1882. He spent the days of his boyhood and early manhood at the old homestead with his parents, where he was trained to habits of industry and sobriety. In his twenty-third year he left the pa- rental roof to work his own way and endeavor to make his mark in the world. He immediately and without hesitation ehose for himself as a life pur- suit that of a merchant. In this he was soon fol- lowed by his younger brother, Emerson. In less than three years from the time the eldest brother left home, the two brothers, Frederick and Emer- son, opened a business of merchandising on their own account in New Philadelphia, and continued together until the death of the younger brother, three years since, which dissolved the firm, after which Frederick continued in business until within a short time of his death.
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