USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 22
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
fornia; and John D., who was a member of the One Hundred and Forty second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and is living in Petos- key, Michigan. One son, Ezra Hunt, died in 1893.
It is a well-known fact that the majority of men who become prominent in the various important walks of life come from the farm. Our subject was thus reared amid the beauties of nature, growing vigorous and strong in mind and body, nourished by healthful coun- try food, breathing pure air and from his infancy feeling that freedom and independ- ence which comes to the farmer above all others. He pursued his education in the common schools, and in 1861 he offered his services to the government, becoming one of the boys in blue of Company G, Twenti- eth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until 1865, when, the war having ended, he received an honorable discharge. He was under Grant in the seige of Vicks- burg, was with Sherman's army in the At- lanta campaign and went with him on the celebrated march to the sea, being a member of the Seventeenth Army Corps under Gen- eral McPherson. He was never known to falter before duty and with loyal courag- eous spirit defended the Union cause until the supremacy of the national government at Washington was established.
After his return to Knox county Mr. Hunt was connected with the building trade for a time and afterward conducted an om- nibus line for sixteen years. For thirty years he has been engaged in the livery bus- iness in Mount Vernon and has a good es- tablishment, well-equipped with a large line of fine vehicles and many excellent horses. His earnest desire to please his customers
and his reasonable prices have secured for him a liberal patronage.
Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Martha F. Sapp, a daughter of Levi Sapp, deceased, formerly of Mount Vernon. Socially he is connected with the Royal Arcanum, the National Union, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being the first exalted ruler of the lodge in this place. He likewise belongs to the Grand Army Post, of Mount Vernon, has served as its com- mander, and was on the staff of the state department commander and for one term on the staff of the national commander. He belongs to the Loyal Legion and is quarter- master general on the staff of General T. W. Minshell, of the Ohio Brigade of the Uniformed Rank of Knights of Pythias, and he commanded the Fifth Regiment of Knights of Pythias in Ohio for over six years. He also served as signal officer on the staff of General Howe of the Ohio Bri- gade of Knights of Pythias. In his polit- ical views he is a stanch Republican, unwav- ering in his allegiance to the principles of the party. He served as deputy sheriff for one year under Sheriff Steele and in 1891 was elected a member of the city council, serving in that office for four successive years. In 1896 he was elected mayor and continued in that posi- tion for four years, during which time he demonstrated that his loyalty to the best interests of his city was as great as that which he displayed toward the Union cause during the Civil war. He studied closely public needs and demands and endorsed every measure which he believed would prove of public good. His course was such as to continue him in the warm regard of his
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fellow men which he had long enjoyed, and as a representative citizen of Knox county he well deserves mention in this volume.
HENRY B. BANNING.
Knox county has produced many men who in various important walks of life have honored their native county and prominent among these was General Henry B. Ban- ning. An enumeration of the men of the present generation who have attained to em- inent positions and at the same time have reflected credit upon the state to which they belong would be incomplete were there fail- ure to make reference of him whose name initiates this paragraph. He held distinc- tive precedence as a member of the bar and also in Democratic circles in the state. He won distinction and glory upon the field of battle and throughout his useful public ca- reer he so conducted himself as to win the encomiums of even those who were opposed to him politically.
General Banning was the sixth child of James S. and Eliza (Blackstone) Banning, and was born in Mount Vernon November 10, 1836. He pursued his education in the Clinton school, in Hull Rigsby's private school and in Sloan's Academy, in Mount Vernon. At the age of seventeen he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Hosmer Curtis and Joseph De- vin and after his admission to the bar became a partner of William Dunbar, but his con- nection with the legal fraternity had contin- ued only a few years when the Civil war was inaugurated. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south and had determined that if an attempt was made to
overthrow the Union he would aid in its preservation. Accordingly he enlisted in 1861 as a member of the Fourth Ohio In- fantry, which was one of the most gallant regiments upon the field of action through- out the war. He was elected captain of Company B and later he was recommended by General Shields for the position of major of the Fifty-second Ohio, but he never joined that regiment, being placed in com- mand of the Eighty-seventh, a regiment en- listed for three months' service. On the expiration of that period he became lieuten- ant-colonel of the One Hundred and Twen- ty-fifth Ohio and served as such until the spring of 1863, when he became colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteers. This regiment was at Chicka- mauga and was led by Colonel Banning in a charge which resulted in the capture of the colors of the Twenty-second Alabama-the only. Rebel colors captured in that sanguin- ary engagement. At Kenesaw Mountain Colonel Banning and his brave men also won other laurels, but the victory cost them dear, over thirty-three per cent. being killed or wounded. The Colonel gave the order for his men to lie down and not retire a single inch until he commanded them to do so. They obeyed and for four hours they lay there, unsupported and exposed to a galling fire of artillery and small arms, upon both flanks and in front. In 1865 Colonel Banning was promoted brevet brig- adier general for gallant and meritorious conduct during the Atlanta campaign. His regiment was with Thomas at Nashville and participated in many of the important en- gagements of the great war which at length brought salvation to the imperilled Union. He was ever brave and loyal in the discharge
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of his duty and his own courage inspired his men to deeds of valor. In the spring of 1865 he was given command of the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Regiment and served in the valley of Virginia. He was commander of the post at Alexandria and in December, 1865, he was mustered out as brevet major general.
General Banning put aside military hon- or merely to receive those of civil life, for in 1865 he was elected by Knox county to the state legislature. In 1868 he removed to Cincinnati, where he opened an office and engaged in the practice of law, his compre- hensive knowledge of jurisprudence, his ability in the court room and his careful preparation of cases gaining for him a large and important clientage. In 1872 he was again called to public life being elected to congress on the Democratic ticket over Rutherford B. Hayes, and later for the same office he defeated Job Stevenson and Stan- ley Mathews. He was twice re-elected and his work in the council chambers of his na- tion was of an important character. His loyalty was above question and with unfal- tering purpose he supported the measures which he believed would advance the coun- try's welfare. His death occurred Decem- ber 10, 1881, and Ohio lost a citizen whose career reflected credit upon her military, legal and political history. On the politi- cal stage such was his personal popularity and such his personal magnetism that his appearance to address the people was the signal for tumultuos enthusiasm. His was a sturdy American character and a stalwart patriotism, and he had the strongest attach- ment for our free institutions and was ever willing to make any personal sacrifice for their preservation.
In 1868 Mr. Banning married Julia Kirby, a daughter of Timothy Kirby, of Cin- cinnati. They had four children: Kirby, deceased; Harry B .; Ella K .; and Clin- ton K.
MRS. BELLE C. JOHNSON.
Mrs. Belle C. Jolinson was born on the farm adjoining the one on which she now re- sides, and is a daughter of George W. and Margaret (Morton) Davis. She was one of four children, three of whom still sur- vive. Her sister Emma became the wife of Earl Squires, of Granville, Knox county, and her brother, John, is a resident of Mount Vernon, Illinois. The father, George W. Davis, who was born on the farm in Clin- ton township on which Mr. John S. Abbott now resides, January 9, 1821, was a son of Alexander and Isabelle (Beam) Davis. The Davis family is of German descent, and George Davis, the father of Alexander, came to this state from Culpepper Court House, Virginia, about the year 1800 and settled on the land now owned by M. M. Kelly, which place at the time of the form- er's death descended to his son Alexander. Alexander Davis was a soldier in the war of 1812, receiving for services rendered land warrants, which he afterward located in Iowa, taking up military lands in that state.
His wife came with her parents from New Jersey to the Buckeye state, and their marriage was celebrated in Knox county. Their original homestead now constitutes the farms owned by John S. Abbott, M. M. Kelly, Ransom Shinabury and C. C. Abbott, but later they sold their holdings here and
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went to Warren county, Ohio, where Mr. Davis purchased large tracts of land in the Little Miami bottoms, near Morrow and there his death occurred. George W. Davis, the father of our subject, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Knox county, and after reaching mature years he was given the old home farm, where he spent his entire life with the exception of three years when he made his home near the town in order that his children might enjoy the advantages of the city schools. At his death he owned one hundred and eight acres of land at Hunt's Station, which was afterward sold to E. Hamilton. Eighty acres south of Mount Vernon was sold to Dr. Pumphrey, while his home farm of ninety-two acres is still in possession of his wife, Margaret Davis.
His life's labors were ended in death in 1865, when he had reached the age of forty- four years. He was a Republican in his political views, and, although never an as- pirant for political honors, he took an active interest in the issues and questions of the day, and was at all times a public-spirited and wide-awake citizen. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he attended the services of the Presbyterian church, and did whatever he could to spread the cause of Christianity among his fellow men. His wife, who was born in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Welsh) Morton, who came to the Buckeye state in 1835, locating in Clinton township, Knox county. The Morton family is of Irish extraction.
Mrs. Belle C. Johnson, whose name in- troduces this review, was reared to mature years in the county of her nativity, and was educated in the Mount Vernon High School. In 1879 she was united in marriage to Isaac
Johnson, and he, too, was a native of Clin- ton township, born on the 20th of Decem- ber, 1818, a son of Nathaniel and Isabelle (Adams) Johnson. He received his ele- mentary education in the public schools of Knox county and Mount Vernon, after which he became a student in the Dennison University. After his marriage, which oc- curred in his sixtieth year, he located on the farm on which his widow now resides. He was very successful in his farming and stock raising interests, and at the time of his death his landed property in this county and western states comprised thirteen hun- dred acres. He gave his political support to the Democracy, but was never a politi- cian in any sense of the word, preferring to give his time to his business affairs. So- cially he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He closed his eyes in death at his old home in Clinton township on the 21st of October, 1893. The entire community mourned his loss, for he was a man of incalculable worth to his locality. His career was that of an honorable, en- terprising and progressive business man,. whose well-rounded character also enabled him to take an active interest in educational, social and moral affairs. In all life's rela- tions he commanded the respect and confi- dence of those with whom he came in con- tact, and the memory of his upright life is an inspiration to the many friends who knew him well and were familiar with his. virtues.
Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely: Alice, who is a graduate of Harcourt Place Seminary, and attended school at the Granville Female College, is at home; Isaac Sterling is at- tending school at the Pennsylvania Military
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
College, of Chester, Pennsylvania ; and Har- old C. is attending the Doane Academy, of Granville. Mrs. Johnson and her daughter are members of the Presbyterian church.
L. L. WILLIAMS, M. D.
For ten years Dr. L. L. Williams has been numbered among the medical practi- tioners of Mount Vernon. He is a native of Licking county, Ohio, his birth having there occurred in 1858. His father, John W. Williams, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and at an early day removed to Lick- ing county, where he died many years ago. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah J. Scott, and was a daughter of James Scott, who removed from Pennsylvania, where his daughter was born, to Milton township, Knox county, Ohio.
Under the parental roof the Doctor spent the days of his childhood and youth and in the public schools acquired his education. When the time came for him to make choice of a vocation which he wished to follow as a life work he determined to give his time and energies to the practice of the healing art and to the alleviation of human suffer- ing. As a preparation for the profession he entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia and on the completion of his course was graduated with the class of 1882. He then established an office and practiced in Reedtown, Seneca county, until 1891, when he removed to Mount Vernon to suc- ceed Dr. Robinson, deceased. Here he has since been an active practitioner. He was not long in demonstrating his ability and a liberal patronage was therefore accorded him.
The Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Emma Crumley, of Mount Vernon, a daughter of Samuel Crumley, of Coshocton county. The hospitality of the best homes of this city is extended to them and the cir- cle of their friends is constantly widening as their acquaintances increased. Dr. Will- iams is a member of the board of education of Mount Vernon, to which position he was appointed in 1899 for a three years' term. The schools find in him a warm friend and he also co-operates heartily in any movement which he believes will be for the general good along any line of progress. He is well known in Masonic circles, is connected with the commandery of Mount Vernon and belongs to the mystic shrine in Columbus. He is justly regarded as one of the skillful physicians of his locality. His knowledge and ability in medical and surgical science and all matters pertaining to the health of the body, his intelligence in other lines of study and his manly character alike entitle him to esteem, and he is regarded with the highest respect in this and other communi- ties.
ROBERT C. ANDERSON.
Robert C. Anderson, a prominent con- tractor and builder of Mount Vernon, was born in Clinton township, Knox county, Ohio, in 1850, a son of David McCord and Hannah (Hamill) Anderson. Robert An- derson, the grandfather, became a very early settler of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and there spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1823. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Hay. Our subject's paternal great-grandfather married a Miss
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McCord, in whose honor McCord's Fort, in Pennsylvania was named. Her family was killed by Indians but she was saved by being placed between two ticks. David Mc- Cord Anderson, the father of him whose name forms the caption of this article, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, and when twenty-eight years of age he left the place of his nativity and came to Knox county, Ohio, locating on a farm in Clinton township. There he made his home until he was called to his final rest, dying in 1897, when nearly eighty-four years of age. He held many positions of honor and trust in his township, and was one of the leading and influential residents of his locality. As a companion on the journey of life he chose Hannah J. Hamill, who was also born in 1814, a daughter of John C. and Nancy (Stewart) Hamill, who removed from near Parkesburg, Chester county, Pennsylvania, to Clinton township, Knox county, about 1820. The maternal grandfather of our subject participated in the war of 1812, and his older brothers took part in the struggle which brought independ- ence to the American colonies. The Ham- ills were among the first and leading mem- bers of the Upper Octorara Presbyterian church in Chester county, Pennsylvania, which was established in 1720 by Scotch- Irish settlers. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son were born five children, namely: Anna Adeline, of Mount Vernon; John H., who, with his wife, has had charge of the chil- dren's home in this city since its inception ; Thomas M., of Clinton township, Knox county ; Robert C., the subject of this re- view; and Elizabeth, the wife of G. W. Bell, of Bangs, Ohio.
Robert C. Anderson was reared to man-
hood on his father's farm in Clinton town- ship, and after taking up the battle of life on his own account he engaged in contract- ing and building in Mount Vernon, which occupation has claimed his time and atten- tion for thirty-one years. In his chosen line of endeavor he has indeed met with flatter- ing success, and many of the finest buildings of the city and surrounding country stand as monuments to his thrift and ability. For his wife he chose Miss Alice E. Wilkins, of Clinton township, a daughter of Francis and Emeline (Williams) Wilkins, also of this township. Both the Williams and Wil- kins families were among the early pioneer settlers of Knox county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson has been blessed with three children, Walter Stewart, Clarence Hamill and Stella May. Mr. Anderson is recognized as one of the leading contractors and one of the reliable business men of his locality and enjoys the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
JOHN RICHERT.
John Richert is a prominent farmer of Brown township and the property which he owns stands in visible evidence of his life industry and enterprise. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, August 23, 1839. His father, George Richert, was a native of Al- sace, France, now a province of Germany, and when eighteen years of age he came to America, settling in Stark county, Ohio, whence he removed to Brown township, Knox county, where he is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. He mar- ried Barbara Limmans, a native of Ger-
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many, and who crossed the Atlantic to the new world when about twelve years of age. She has now passed the eighty-second mile- stone on life's journey and this venerable couple enjoy in a high degree the warm re- gard of friends and neighbors. They be- came the parents of eleven children, all of whom reached mature years and were mar- ried, while ten of them are yet living.
John Richert, the eldest of the family, was but a year old when he came to Knox county. He was reared in Brown town- ship, amid the wild scenes of frontier life and pursued his education in the log school house, furnished after the primitive man- ner of the times. In 1859 he went to Cali- fornia, making the journey by way of New York, the Isthmus of Panama and Mexico. At length he arrived at San Francisco, whence he went to the mountains, where he was engaged in mining for four years. He was at Virginia City at the time of the first great mining excitement in that town and for a year was engaged in the butchering business there. In 1864 he returned to Knox county, but the following year again went to the "Golden State," making the journey by way of Graytown. After reach- ing the Golden Gate he once more proceeded into the mountainous districts and was em- ployed as a salesman in a dry goods store at Holland Fleet for about one year.
On the expiration of that period Mr. Richert returned to this county and pur- chased one hundred acres of land, upon which he now resides, paying four thousand dollars for the place. There were no build- ings upon the tract, but with characteristic energy he began to improve his farm and cultivate the fields. He has erected a modern residence, substantial barns and
out-buildings and added all the acces- sories which are found upon a model farm, which indicate the progressive spirit of the owner. As his financial resources have increased he has added to the property until he now has one hundred and eighty- four acres, constituting one of the best farms in the township. His life has been one of continuous industry. He has placed his dependence in the substantial qualities of earnest labor and perseverance and thus he has continually advanced until he now occupies a position among the best agricul- turists of his community.
February 8, 1866, Mr. Richert was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Oswalt, a native of Jefferson township, Knox county, and their home has been blessed with five living children, namely : Sarah L., the wife of W. A. Lifert; George, of Akron, Ohio, who has been connected with the Goodrich Rubber Works for over seven years; Ed- ward, who for five years has been in the em- ploy of the same company in Akron; Wal- ter, a resident farmer of Brown township; and Arthur, at home. They also lost one child, Curtis S. All were born in Brown township, and the family is a creditable one to the parents. Mr. Richert has served as treasurer of his township for seven years and was trustee for nine years, his long con- tinuance in these offices indicating unmistak- ably his faithfulness to duty and his capa- bility. He votes with the Democracy and does all in his power for its advancement. His religious belief is indicated by his mem- bership in the Lutheran church. Almost his entire life has been spent in Knox county and therefore he has witnessed much of its development as it has been transformed from a wild region into one of the populous
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counties of the state. He has ever borne his part in the work of progress and improve- ment and is a loyal citizen, enterprising farmer and an upright man he is widely and favorably known.
FRED W. JONES.
Fred W. Jones, a prominent railroad contractor and builder of Mount Vernon, is a native son of this city. After attend- ing the public schools here he matriculated in the academy at Denmark, Iowa, where he received excellent educational advantages. In 1867 he became identified with railroad work, first as a brakeman, and later served as a baggage master, conductor and express agent. In 1869 he came to Mount Vernon, entering the office of the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad with his father, Gos- horn A. Jones, who was manager of the road, and our subject was thus engaged un- til 1871, when he took his first contract in railroad building. He was employed to build an extension of the road from near Millersburg to Black Creek, a distance of ten miles, and in the following year he was put in charge of the main survey department of the road, having charge of the road bed, bridges and construction on the northern division of the Cleveland, Akron & Colum- bus Railroad. After remaining with that company for a time he became identified with the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Co- lumbus road, now a part of the former sys- tem.
In 1875 the headquarters of that road was removed to Mount Vernon from Ak- ron, where it had been located since 1869, and Mr. Jones was put in charge of the en-
tire road, which position he continued to fill until 1882, and in that year his father was made receiver of the road. Since retiring from that position our subject has been en- gaged in railroad contracting and in this undertaking he has indeed met with a very high degree of success. He is a wide-awake, progressive, active and energetic business man, and his name is closely associated with advancement along the line of his chosen occupation.
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