USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
Mr. and Mrs. McKinney still reside upon the old Mckinney homestead, which com- prises one hundred and nine acres of excel- lent land. The productive qualities of the soil are indicated by the good harvests that are annually garnered, and the green fields and verdant meadows attest the careful su- pervision of the owner, who is widely known as a practical and progressive farmer. He has lived upon this place for fifty-seven
285
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
years, and annually the circle of his ac- quaintances is extended and the number of his friends increased. He votes with the Republican party, gives an earnest support to its principles and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. He has held local of- fices in his township and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Fredericktown. In an analyzation of his character we will find those qualities which insure success in business and which win regard in public and private life.
JOHN GILMORE.
When a life record is ended we are apt to review the history just closed, noting its salient points and commending or criticising as the life has been fraught with good or evil. In the career of John Gilmore many characteristics worthy of emulation are found. Although he lived the quiet life of the farmer he was energetic, resolute and above all honorable in his dealings to his fellow men; considerate of others; kind and friendly. Therefore as a representative citi- zen of Knox county he well deserves men- tion in this volume for though he has passed away his influence, ever for good, is still felt by his family and those who knew him.
Mr. Gilmore was born in Pike township, November 14, 1845. His father, William Gilmore, was a native of Maryland and be- came one of the pioneers of Knox county, taking an active part in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization. He wedded Mary Simpson, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, and among their ten children John Gilmore was the sixth in order of birth. He
was reared in Pike township and the district schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges, while on the home farm he was trained to the work of field and meadow. He remained at home until his parents died, their deaths occurring but four weeks apart.
November 24, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Clawson, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Davy) Clawson. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and when sixteen years of age accompanied his widowed mother to Delaware county, where he engaged in farming. There he mar- ried the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Leatherman) Davy, and they became the parents of nine children, four of whom died in childhood, Mrs. Gilmore being the second member of the family. She was reared in her native county and acquired a common school education. By her marriage she be- came the mother of five children who are yet living, while one has passed away. Those who still survive are Lovena, the wife of Solomon Rice, of Danville, by whom she has two sons and two daughters, John, Elizabeth, Vesta and Arthur C .; Edward, who married Lovila Brown, of Shelby, and has three daughters, Clara, Nellie and Liz- zie; Walter, who married Cora Cutnaw, of Pike township, and has two children, Dwight and Ruth; Bernice and Royal, who are at home. William died at the age of five years.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore located on the farm which is yet her home. He was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and in stockraising. He owned eight hundred acres of land in Pike township, much of which he had under cultivation, and from the richly tilled fields
286
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
he gathered abundant harvests. He was also extensively engaged in raising stock, making a specialty of sheep, and this also added materially to his income. He was widely known throughout this part of the state by reason of his large business inter- ests, and in industrial circles he sustained an unassailable reputation by reason of his hon- esty and fairness. His political support was given Democracy. He died November 17, 1898, and his remains were laid to rest in North Liberty cemetery.
Mrs. Gilmore, who still survives her hus- band, resides on the old homestead in Pike township, where she has one hundred and fifty acres of rich land, and in addition to this she has a farm in Delaware county. Her true womanly qualities, her social nature and her true hospitality have gained her many friends, and her acquaintance in the county is very extensive.
JAMES P. WILSON.
So long has Mr. Wilson resided in Knox county that he is numbered among its early settlers and from the age of twenty years he has made his own way in the world, so that whatever success he has achieved is the just reward of his labors. He now lives on section 24, Pike township, where he owns and operates a good tract of land.
representative of one of its early families. When she was a maiden of ten summers she attended a school taught by the gentleman whom she was afterward to marry. James P. is their second living child and was reared in Pike township, where he also acquired his education, pursuing his studies in a log school house with a clapboard roof. He re- mained at home until twenty years of age and then started out upon an independent business career. At the time of his marriage he located upon a rented farm and later pur- chased fifty acres of land, upon which he lived for a year, removing thence to his pres- ent home on section 24. He has carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life and thereby acquired a comfortable com- petence.
January 20, 1861, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Reed, also a na- tive of Pike township, born September 24, 1836, on the farm which is now her home. She is a daughter of John and Nancy ( Phil- lips ) Reed, pioneer settlers of Knox county. They were natives of Maryland but were married in Knox county, to which place the mother had also come from Maryland when a widow with four sons and three daughters, all now deceased. When John Reed settled on this farm, it was then a wilderness, but he succeeded in placing about one hundred acres under cultivation. Here this worthy couple spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying March 18, 1873, aged seventy years, and the mother on March 26, 1885, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Wilson is the fourth of their five children, all of whom were reared on this farm, and all are still living.
Mr. Wilson was born in this township May 30, 1839. His grandfather, Aaron Wilson, became one of the pioneer settlers of this county, as did Lewis Wilson, the father of our subject, who took up his abode here when a young man. He married Han- Unto our subject and his wife was born nah Cochran, a native of the county and a ' one daughter, Elda Ann, who became the
287
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
wife of Dr. Edward Leonard and died leav- ing an infant son, Eldon, who was born April 8, 1885, and who has always made his home with his grandparents. They have a very pleasant home in the midst of one hundred and twenty-one acres of land, which was formerly the Reed homestead, and there Mr. Wilson's time is passed in general farming. He gives the political support to the Democ- racy, though prohibitionist in principle, for he is a man of strong temperance principles and sometimes votes with the party which advocates the abolition of the liquor traffic. He is a consistent and active member of the Methodist church, in which he has served as steward and has taken a very active part in church work. Socially he is an Odd Fel- low, belonging to Barthalon Lodge, No. 692, at Amity, in which he has passed the clairs and is a past noble grand.
DANIEL W. STAHL.
Daniel W. Stahl has for many years been connected with educational interests, either directly or indirectly. For a long period he was a successful teacher and on putting aside the more active duties of the schoolroom he began selling school supplies and is now en- gaged in the sale of blackboards, his patron- age extending over a very wide territory. He is an enterprising and energetic business man and is widely known in Knox and surround- ing counties.
Mr. Stahl was born in Wayne county, · Ohio, near Wooster, on the farm where the county infirmary is now located, January 31, 1845. His grandfather, Frederick Stahl, was a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1817
came to Ohio, locating near Canton. In the year 1849 he came to Knox county, and his- death occurred in Pike township the follow- ing year. His son, Anthony Stahl, the father of our subject, was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1816, and the fol- lowing year was taken by his parents to the district bordering Canton. Later he went with them to Wooster, Wayne county, and there he met and married Miss Sarah Sny- der, who was also a native of the Keystone state, and was reared there until eighteen years of age, when she accompanied her fam- ily to Wayne county, Ohio. For two years after his marriage Anthony Stahl lived upon his father's farm and then removed to a farm in Wayne county, near Fredericksburg, in 1853 going from there to the farm upon which our subject now resides. In 1877 he took up his abode in the village of North Liberty, where he died March 23, 1885. In politics he was a life-long Democrat and in religious faith was a Lutheran. His wife passed away in 1888, at the age of seventy years. They were parents of three sons and three daughters, and with one exception all have married. Maria, the eldest daughter,. died October II, 1876.
Daniel W. Stalıl, the eldest, was a youth of eight summers when brought by his par- ents to Pike township, Knox county. He had begun his education in Wayne county, continued it in this county and when about twenty years of age he began teaching. For two years he was a student at Lexington Seminary and thus became well prepared for his chosen calling. He also studied in Ken- yon College, at Gambier, and taught in the Milner Hall Military Academy for about a year. His work as a teacher covered alto- gether about twenty-three years, during
288
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
which time he was connected with the educa- tional interests of Knox, Wayne, Licking and Morrow counties. He was superintend- ent of the Hanover Union schools, principal of the schools of Apple Creek, Wayne coun- ty, and for several years taught at Freder- icktown, while for two years he was prin- cipal of the schools of Sparta. He was a very successful and competent educator and in his work he exemplified the thought of Sydney Smith, who said : "The real object of education is to give children resources that will endure as long as life endures ; habits that time will ameliorate, not destroy ; occu- pation that will render sickness tolerable, life more dignified and useful and death less ter- rible."
In the spring of 1889 Mr. Stahl aban- doned the active work of the schoolroom. He was married on the 13th of June of that year to Miss Lillie May Rice, a daughter of Rosella Rice and granddaughter of Alex- ander Rice, of Perrysville, Ohio. She was there born and was a student in the Green- town Academy and in the Granville Semin- ary. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl now have three sons, Francis Clark, Russell Eugene and Wilber Carol.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Stahl established his home in Mount Vernon and engaged in traveling in order to introduce slate blackboards for school purposes. He remained in Mount Vernon for seven years and then located on the farm where he now resides in Pike township. He is still engaged in the blackboard business and his trade now largely extends over the state. In his politi- cal views Mr. Stahl usually endorses the Democratic principles, yet he votes for the man whom he thinks best qualified for office rather than for party. Socially he is con-
nected with the Royal Arcanum. He be- longs to the Lutheran church, but is a Pres- byterian in religious faith. He has one hun- dred and twenty acres of land in the old homestead and there he and his family have a pleasant home. Mr. Stahl is an enterpris- ing business man, a progressive citizen and a gentleman of sterling worth and well does he deserve mention in this volume.
HENRY HIBBETS.
Through almost the Psalmist span of three score years and ten Henry Hibbets has been a resident of Union township, Knox county, his birth having occurred upon the farm where he now lives, his natal day be- ing August 14, 1832. His father, John Hib- bets, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America with his mother when a small boy, his father, James Hibbets, having died on the ocean voyage and was buried at sea. The mother and son located in Charles- ton, West Virginia, and there grew to man- hood. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Susan Hoagland, a native of the Key- stone state, and with his wife removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, where they re- mained for a year, coming thence to Knox county. He was the first white man to set- tle on the Mohegan river in Knox county, taking up his abode on a tract of land which was developed into the farm upon which our subject now resides. When it came into possession of John Hibbets, it was a wild forest tract and soon the woodman's ax was heard while the monarchs of the forest fell before his sturdy strokes. Mr. Hibbets built a small log house and with characteristic en-
289
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ergy began the development of his place, making his home there until his death, which occurred in February, 1844, when he was seventy-three years of age. His political support was given the Whig party. His wife passed away twelve years later, at the age of sixty-nine. They were the parents of four- teen children, all of whom were born on the family homestead in Knox county, while twelve of the number reached years of ma- turity, although only two are now living, Henry and Susan, the latter the wife of Will- iam Snow, a resident of Sullivan county, Missouri.
Henry Hibbets is, therefore, the only representative of the family still living in Knox county. He can relate many interest- ing incidents of pioneer life here, for with the family he experienced the hardships and trials incident to the frontier, as well as its pleasures and happiness. He was educated in the common schools and early became fa- miliar with the work of the farm in all its departments. May 18, 1857, was celebrated his marriage to Miss Martha Gann, who was born two miles distant in Union town- ship, September 6, 1838, a daughter of George and Sarah (Bridgett) Gann. They have three children: Osbin, who married Margaret Huffman, of Union township; Zachariah Lincoln, who wedded Clara Lilly, of Union township; and Charlie, who mar- ried Junietta House, of Brinkhaven, where he is now serving as postmaster. Osbin has five children, Pearl, Helen, Henry, Mildred and Jennie.
Mr. Hibbets, of this review, has spent his entire life upon the family homestead. He has one hundred and forty-four acres of ex- cellent land lying along the Mohegan river, which is now farmed by his son, Lincoln,
and is now living practically retired from ac- tive business. In early life he was a Whig and from the organization of the Republican party has been one of its stanchest suppor- ters, casting his vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. His last ballot supported the late lamented William McKinley. He has been trustee of his township and was justice of the peace for about one year. In the section of the county where he makes his home he is the oldest resident. His farm is endeared to him through the associations of boyhood as well of those of later life. From this point he has witnessed the progress and de- velopments made in the county, taking an active and prominent part in the work in- cident thereto. He has seen land all around reclaimed for purposes of civilization, wild tracts transformed into rich farms, while all modern improvements have been added. His has been a career well worthy of emulation in many respects and with pleasure we pre- sent his life record to our readers.
WILLIAM B. ADAMS.
One of the able and representative agri- culutrists and stock-raisers of Knox county is the gentleman whose name introduces this review. He is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Monroe township, on the 8th of August, 1857, a son of Allison and Elizabeth E. (Dowds) Adams. His paternal grandfather, James Adams, came from Pennsylvania, his native state, to Knox county, Ohio, on foot at a very early day, and soon after his arrival here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred and eighteen acres of which is
290
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
still in the possession of the family, while the remaining is known as the Hunt farm. In 1836 he purchased the farm where our subject now resides, and there he spent his remaining days. He became an extensive property owner in this county, and was a leading and highly esteemed citizen. His wife was a native of the Old Dominion, and she, too, made the journey to this state on foot, coming here when a girl with her pa- rents. She bore the maiden name of Newell, and was one of seven children, all of whom lived to be over eighty years of age.
Allison Adams, the father of him whose names forms the caption of this article, was born in Monroe township, Knox county, in 1818. He was bereft of his father's care and advice at the age of nineteen years, and he then purchased the interest of the remain- ing heirs in the old homestead, also acquiring ninety acres in Putnam county which his father had owned. Mr. Adams continued to make Monroe township his home until his death, which occurred on the 21st of Decem- ber, 1892. He was a practical and progres- sive agriculturist, and at the time of his deathı his landed possessions consisted of four hundred and thirty-seven acres. The Democracy received his political support, and for many years he was a leader in the public affairs of his locality, having served his township as its clerk for a period of twenty-one years, while for thirty years he held the office of justice of the peace, and he was repeatedly solicited to allow his name to be used as a candidate for a county office, but he steadfastly refused. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served his country as a member of Company H, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
William B. Adams, of this review, began
the active battle of life for himself at the early age of sixteen years, at which time he began buying and raising calves, but this occupation not proving as remunerative as he desired, he began purchasing steers when two or three years old and feeding them for the market. At the age of twenty-one years he took charge of the homestead farm, at the same time continuing his stock business, and this he has gradually extended until he is now recognized as one of the leading buyers and shippers of Knox county. He has also added to his realty possessions until he is now the owner of two hundred and eighteen acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and is supplied with all the improvements and accessories known to the model farm of this period. He enjoys an enviable reputation for business sagacity and uprightness in all his dealings, and all honor and esteem him for his manly and straight- forward course in life.
On the 25th of September, 1880, oc- curred the marriage of Mr. Adams and Miss Ollie Young. The lady is a daughter of WV. R. Young, one of the prominent farmers of Monroe township. Unto this union have been born two children: Harry C., a teach- er in the district schools, and Hattie M., who is devoting some attention to music. Of the Democratic party our subject is a stanch sup- porter, and for two terms he served as a trustee of his township. His life has been well spent, and his activity in business af- fairs has been rewarded by a well-merited competence. He forms his plans readily, is determined in their execution, is progressive and resolute, and as the result of his capa- ble management he has gained a place among the substantial citizens and most highly es- teemed business men of his county.
291
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
A. G. WATSON.
Among the best citizens of Knox coun- ty, esteemed alike for his sterling worth of character and his activity in the business world, is A. G. Watson, the efficient cashier of the Danville Bank. He was born in Jef- ferson township, Knox county, Ohio, and is a son of Hiram and Margaret (Norris) Watson, both also natives of Knox county and members of prominent pioneer families of this state. Our subject, the youngest of their seven children, received his elementary education in the district schools of Jefferson township, and later attended the public and normal schools of Danville. At the age of twenty years he became a teacher in the schools of this neighborhood, which profes- sion he followed for seven years, on the ex- piration of which period, in 1894, he gradu- ated from Parsons' Commercial College, at Columbus, Ohio. Again taking up the work of an instructor, he spent one year in the public schools of Brinkhaven, was three years at Danville and another year was spent at the district schools. On the 9th of June, 1897, he entered upon the duties of cashier of the Danville Bank, and has ever since continued to discharge the duties of that important position to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Watson is also engaged in farming, owning the old Watson homestead, four miles north of Danville in Jefferson town- ship, which consists of ninety-four acres, and which was improved from its wilder- ness condition by the family.
In his social relations Mr. Watson is a member of the Masonic Order at Danville, and in the Chapter and Council at Mount Vernon, exemplifying in his every-day life
its beneficent and helpful teachings. In po- litical matters he is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and for two terms he has served as treasurer of the township. He is a man of rare intelligence, which, coupled with his amiable disposition and compan- ionable manner, has made him one of the leading men of the community, and the honor and esteem in which he is held by all with whom he comes in contact is but a just tribute to his worth.
R. T. BEUM.
R. T. Beum, a veterinary surgeon and blacksmith of Danville, was born in Howard township, Knox county, Ohio, on the 23d of June, 1848, a son of Isaac T. Reum and a grandson of Thomas Beum. The latter became one of the very early pioneers of Knox county, and his death occurred when his son Isaac was only about one year old. The family is of Scotch origin. Isaac T. Reum was also a native of Howard town- ship, having been born on a farm on the present site of the village of Howard, but the place was then known as Kinderhook. He became a prominent farmer and stock-deal- er of his locality, having been extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock. He was called to his final rest in the year 1898. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Matilda Robinson and was a native of Union township, Knox county, her birth having occurred in 1818. She was called to the home beyond when she had reached the age of seventy-two years. Her father, Will- iam Robinson, was born in England, where his family belonged to the nobility, but when
292
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
a young man he left the land of his birth and came to the United States, first locating in Pennsylvania. He soon made his way to Knox county, Ohio, where he became a prominent and leading farmer. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Isaac T. Beum were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, our subject being the second child in order of birth, and six of the family are now living.
R. T. Beum was reared in the county of his nativity until his ninth year, when he ac- companied his parents on their removal to Coshocton county, this state, where he spent the following ten years. During the Civil war he three times sought to enlist as a defender of the stars and stripes, but on each occasion he was rejected on account of his extreme youth. At the age of nineteen years he came to Danville, where he supple- mented his district school education by a course at the normal school. After com- pleting his education he served an appren- ticeship of two years at the blacksmith's trade, and on its completion he opened a shop for himself in this city. During this period he had also studied veterinary sur- gery, which he now follows in connection with his blacksmithing business, and in both branches he is meeting with a very high de- gree of success.
On the 24th of August, 1868, Mr. Beum was united in marriage to Arabelle Welker, who was born in Union township, Knox county, July 14. 1848, a daughter of Simon and Catherine ( Reeser ) Welker, early pio- neers of this locality. Her grandfather, David Welker, came from Pennsylvania to Knox county, Ohio, in 1809, locating in Union township. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania, but was only twelve years of age when she was brought by her parents
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.