USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 39
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Mr. McDaniel exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the Democracy, but was never an aspirant for office. Fraternally he was con-
nected with Newark Lodge, I. O. O. F., and held membership in the Lutheran church. He passed away January 15, 1895, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years, and thus the community mourned the loss of one whom it had esteemed and a faithful citi- zen and an upright man. Mrs. McDaniel still survives her husband and occupies a pleasant home on East High street in Mount Vernon, where she is surrounded by many friends.
ROLAND CRITCHFIELD.
Of all the men who have acquired their educational discipline in Knox county and have had their characters molded and de- veloped in its institutions, receiving there the impetus toward progress and advance- ment, certainly none have reflected greater credit upon the county than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this re- view.
Mr. Critchfield was born in Howard township, Knox county, Ohio, March 23, 1839. His father, Benjamin Critchfield, was a native of the state of Maryland, but when only about six years of age, in 1803, he was brought by his parents to Knox coun- ty, Ohio. He was here married to Mary Welker, also a native of Maryland, and they began their domestic life on a farm in How- ard township, here spending the remainder of their days, the father passing away at the age of eighty-six years, and the mother at the age of eighty-seven. They reared a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, our subject being the youngest in order of birth, and only two sons and one daughter are now living.
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Roland Critchfield, whose name intro- duces this review, attended the primitive log school houses of Howard township in his early youth, and afterward became a student in the high school at Spring Moun- tain. In 1861, while preparing himself to enter college, the Civil war was inaugurated, and, putting aside all personal consideration, Mr. Critchfield nobly offered his services to his country, enlisting at the first call for troops, in 1861, in Company B, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He entered the service for three months, and on the ex- piration of that period, in August 1861, he veteranized, becoming a member of Com- pany A, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, in which he served until January, 1864, when he again re-enlisted, in the same com- pany, and thus served until the close of hos- tilities. He received an honorable discharge at Victoria, Texas, November 30, 1865, his military service having covered a period of four years, four months and seven days, during which time he took part in every bat- tle in which the Army of the Cumberland participated, from Shiloh to Nashville. He was never absent from duty until in July, 1865, near Victoria, Texas, when he was af- flicted with breakbone fever, and since that time he has never enjoyed good health. He was twice slightly wounded, first at the bat+ tle of Chickamauga, in which he received a bullet wound in the left fore finger, and at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, he was wounded in the thigh. By reason of his bravery and meritorious service on the field of battle he was promoted from the ranks of a private to that of first sergeant, and as such was mustered out of service when the war had ended.
Returning to his home with an honorable
military record, he remained with his father on the old home farm for about three years, when, in 1868, he purchased the Jelleway mill property in Howard township, which he has ever since conducted. He now has a residence in the course of construction in the village of Howard, and when completed he will there take up his abode. On the 24th of January, 1864, while on a furlough, Mr. Critchfield was united in marriage to Margaret E. McElroy, a daughter of John and Mary (Cassil) McElroy, who were among the early pioneers of Knox county, having located in the neighborhood as early as 1840. Mrs. Critchfield was born in Mon- roe township, but when quite young she re- moved to Howard township. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with two daughters,-Lavilla, at home; and Min- nie O., the wife of A. C. Norrick, of How- ard. Mr. Critchfield is a lifelong Repub- lican, his first presidential vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time he has done all in his power to promote its growth and advancement. He is a mem- ber of LeRoy Baker Post, G. A. R., of Dan- ville, Ohio. Devotion to his family and friends, fidelity to every trust reposed in him and advocacy of all that tends to benefit mankind,-these are the salient character- istics of Roland Critchfield.
LAWRENCE KING.
"We build the ladder by which we rise" is a truth which is certainly applicable to Lawrence King. He is a type of the pro- gressive spirit of the age, a spirit which has given America pre-eminence along its vari-
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ous business lines; and the undaunted en- terprise, indomitable perseverance and reso- lute purpose which have characterized him have been the means of raising him to his present high position.
Mr. King is a native of the far-off coun- try of Germany, his birth having there oc- curred in Baden, on the 15th of August, 1821. He was reared and educated in his native land until his thirteenth year, when he accompanied his sister Tarecia on the long voyage across the Atlantic to the United States, locating in the state of New York, and for a time after his arrival in this country our subject worked at any hon- orable occupation which would yield him a living. After two years' residence in the Empire state he made his way to Ohio, where he found employment on the construc- tion of the road from Rochester to Roscoe, and for a time thereafter he was engaged in agricultural pursuits near the city of Cin- cinnati. His next place of residence was in Holmes county, this state, where he pur- chased and impoved a farm, but eight years later he sold that place and removed to Har- rison township, Knox county, where he was engaged in farming until 1884, the year of his arrival in Howard township. Since his residence in this township he has made his home on one farm, which consists of one hundred and eighteen acres, and in addition he also owns a tract of one hundred acres in Harrison township and one hundred and forty-seven and a half acres in Howard township, the latter being operated by his son. Thus his landed possessions now con- sist of three hundred and sixty-five acres, and he is regarded as one of the leading and representative farmers of Knox county. In addition to the raising of the cereals best
adapted to this soil and climate he has also made a specialty of the breeding of fine horses, in which branch of his business he is meeting with an equally high degree of success. Mr. King has not only worked his own way through life and secured for him- self a desirable competence, but he has also purchased a farm in Holmes county, this state, for his sister.
In Holmes county, in 1848, was cele- brated the marriage of our subject and Miss Hannah Draper, who is a native daughter of Knox county, born on the 26th of March, 1828. Her parents, Jacob and Mary (Der- bin) Draper, natives, respectively, of Penn- sylvania and Maryland, came from the for- mer commonwealth to Ohio in a very early day, locating in Union township, having been among the first families to locate there. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. King was the youngest in or- der of birth. The father had been previous- ly married, and by the first union there were also born eight children. The union of Mr. and Mrs. King has been blessed with seven children, all of whom were born in Knox county, namely : Mary, the wife of Absa- lom Buckingham, of Mount Vernon ; Albert, at home; Lillie F., wife of Clem Sapp, a prominent farmer of Howard township; Julius, who married Ollie Durbin and is engaged in farming in Harrison township; Thomas, who married Agnes Eckenrode and is a stock buyer and shipper in Howard; Alice, who is unmarried and makes her home in Columbus; and Clem, who married Tina Smithhisler and makes his home at Akron, Ohio. Mr. King is a prominent member of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville, and has assisted materially in the erection and maintenance of the church, the
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edifice having been built at a cost of thirty- two thousand dollars. He also donated two altars for that church, each costing three hundred dollars. In political matters the Democracy receives his hearty support and co-operation, and he is always loyal in his support of all measures calculated to benefit the community or the general public.
WILLIAM WILSON WALKEY.
From the days of early development in Knox county, William W. Walkey has re- sided within its borders, his home being on section 23, Pike township, where occurred his birth on the 9th of December, 1837. His great-grandfather was a native of France, and on the maternal side he is of German lineage. His father, John Walkey, was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and in 1836 arrived in Knox county, locat- ing on the farm where our subject is liv- ing. There he devoted his energies to agri- cultural pursuits for many years with good success, and in 1884, when in his eighty- eighth year, his life's labors were ended in death. He voted with the Democratic party and served as trustee of his township. In the war of 1812 he rendered valiant aid to his country as a soldier, and at all times was true to its best interests. His Christian be- lief was indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church and by a life in harmony with his professions. He married Margaret R. Bensinger, a native of Union county. Pennsylvania. She died in 1886 in her eighty-seventh year, leaving to her family the precious memory of a devoted mother. She had three sons and four daughters, of whom five grew to mature years.
Squire Walkey, as he is usually known, was the youngest of the family and is the only living son, while his only surviving sister is Mrs. Rebecca Lambert, who resides in Iowa. In the usual manner of farmer lads he was reared, devoting his time to play and work and to the duties of the school- room. In early life he assisted in the opera- tion of flour and sawmills, beginning that work when a small boy, and in the former branch of the business he continued until 1874. The sawmill, which was built in 1849, he has since conducted, it being the only one of the kind in the county. His career has been one of industry, and his property pos- sessions are the merited reward of his earn- est labor. In addition to the mill he owns eighty-five acres of valuable land, constitut- ing a part of the old homestead, which has. always been his place of residence.
On the 23d of October, 1859, Mr. Walkey was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Lewis, a native of Knox county, and a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Glass- cock) Lewis, who were early settlers of Knox county. She died in 1893, leaving a daughter, Eva, who is now the wife of John A. Kost, a resident of Monroe township, Knox county, by whom she had two chil- dren, Clarence and Florence C., but the lat- ter is now deceased. Our subject was elect- ed justice of the peace in the '6os and for six years filled that position in a most credit- able manner. For a number of years he has acted as notary public and for seven years he was township treasurer, while for five years he filled the position of township trus- tee. He lias often been called upon to settle estates, and in all public duties has been found reliable, prompt and honorable. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity,
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belonging to Mount Zion Lodge, No. 9, F. & A. M., of Mount Vernon, since 1869. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward and trustee, and is most earnest and zealous in advancing the cause of the society. That his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his has been an honorable career, that his life has been true to manly principle and that his business dealings have been conducted along the lines of strict commercial ethics.
WILSON S. McGINLEY.
The foundation of success is earnest toil, supplemented by perseverance, and in the life record of W. S. McGinley we see an exemplification of this truth. He is num- bered among the prosperous and enterpris- ing agriculturists of Pike township and is also one of its early settlers. He resides on section 7, and in this township he was born August 24. 1843, a son of Robert McGin- ley, whose birth occurred in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. When a young man the latter came with his mother to Knox county, Ohio, and was here married to Eve Lindsey, a native of Pennsylvania. They became the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the ninth in the order of birth.
Upon the home farm in Pike township WV. S. McGinley was reared, and in a log school house near his home he pursued his primary education, which was supplemented by two years' study in the schools of Amity and one year in the Fredericktown schools.
He assisted in the work of the farm until his enlistment, on the 18th of August, 1862, as a member of Company B, Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years. He was promoted to the position of chief musician and partici- pated in the following important engage- ments : Chickasaw Bayou; Arkansas Post; the siege of Vicksburg; and the battles of Jackson and Grand Coteau, where he was taken prisoner, but on the 9th of May, 1864, he was exchanged. Later he took part in the engagements at Fort Gaines, Fort Mor- gan, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile, and with his regiment he was mustered out July 7, 1865. On one occasion he was taken prisoner and for a time was incarcerated at Alexandria, Louisiana, but was there paroled and sent within the Union lines, where he was exchanged. For three years he was in the army without being off duty, and was a brave and valiant soldier, unflinching in sup- port of the Union cause as he followed the starry banner over the battlefields of the south. He received an honorable discharge at Columbus July 29, 1865, and thence re- turned to his home in Knox county.
It was on the 20th of December, 1866, that Mr. McGinley was married to Honor Phillips, a daughter of Brice and Honor (Durbin) Phillips. She was born on the farm where she now lives, March 19, 1845, and is the ninth in a family of seven sons and three daughters, eight of whom reached mature years. By her marriage she has be- come the mother of five children: Charles F., who married Bertie Spayde, of Richland county ; Frank D., who wedded Julia Clen- denning and is a bookkeeper for the Illinois Leather Company of Chicago, Illinois ; Llewlyn D., who is a graduate of the Uni-
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versity of Athens, Ohio, and married Anetta Wier, their home being in Hamilton, Ohio, where he is engaged in the insurance busi- ness ; Bertha, who is a graduate of the But- ler, Ohio, school and is with her parents; and Ethel, the wife of William Murrey, of Mount Vernon.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Mc- Ginley located on a farm south of Mount Vernon, where he remained for one year, after which he spent two years on the farm near Fredericktown. On the expiration of that period he located at his present place of residence, on section 7, Pike township,. having here since made his home with the exception of four years spent in Butler, where he was engaged in the agricultural implement business. He is now devoting his energies exclusively to farming and stock-raising, and is the owner of one hun- dred and twenty-five acres of good land. His labors have resulted in making this a very valuable property, and, while the fields are well tilled, in the pastures and barns are also found high grades of stock. His labors are conducted in harmony with the most progressive methods of farming. His land was entered from the government by his father-in-law, who lived upon the place for sixty years, taking possession thereof in 1826. Mr. McGinley is a member of Sam- uel Bell Post, G. A. R., of Butler, and is likewise connected with the Knights of the Golden Eagle at Amity. In his political views he is a Democrat, and has been hon- ored with a number of local offices. He has been justice of the peace, road supervisor, land appraiser and trustee, and in all of these he has discharged his duties in a most prompt and capable manner, winning high encomiums from all concerned. He holds
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Butler, and his life is in harmony with his professions. He is to-day as true to his duties of citizenship as when he fol- lowed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields, and the fact that his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his career has ever been worthy of the confidence and regard of his fellow men.
WILLIAM HAWN.
In all American communities there may be found quiet retiring men, who never ask public office or appear prominent in public affairs, yet who, nevertheless, exert a widely felt influence in the community in which they live and help to construct the proper foundation upon which the social and polit- ical world is built. Such a man is William Hawn, who for sixty-nine years has been a most honored and respected citizen of Knox county. He has been long and prominently identified with agricultural interests, and be- longs to that class of representative Amer- icans who advance the general prosperity while promoting individual success. He commands the respect and esteem of his fellow men by his upright life, and has ever borne a reputation unassailable, his word being as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature or seal.
Mr. Hawn was born in Union town- ship, Knox county, Ohio, November 14, 1832, and is of German descent. His grand- father, John Hawn, was a native of the fa- therland, and after coming to this country he served for eight years in the Revolution-
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ary war as a private under General Wash- ington. After the close of the struggle he took up his abode in Maryland. John Hawn, his son and the father of our subject, was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1776, and was there reared to years of maturity. Subsequently he removed to Pennsylvania, where he was married to Sarah Hickman, a native of Greene county, that state, and in that locality they began their domestic life. In 1802, however, they left the Keystone state and came o Knox couny, Ohio, lo- cating in Mount Vernon, where Mr. Hawn followed his trade of a hatter for many years. During the war of 1812 he was made quartermaster of a regiment, serving in Ohio. After the close of hostilities he en- gaged in the stock business, purchasing his stock in this county and driving them to Baltimore, and on his return he would bring sheep. He was also the first to introduce oysters into Knox county. He also bought fur on the islands in Lake Erie, which was used in his hat factory. He was among the very early pioneers of Knox county, and became a prominent man in his locality. About 1814 he removed to Union township, and erected the Millwood Mill, which he conducted for many years, and was also ex- tensively engaged in mercantile interests, owning a store at Millwood and one in Marion county. He also dealt largely in lands, and at one time, in company with John Worden, owned two thousand, four hundred acres in Howard township, which he afterward sold. Mr. Hawn gave his po- litical support to the Whig party, and for a time he served as sheriff of Knox county. His social relations connected him with the Masonic order, of which he was a stanch adherent, and his lamb-skin apron is still
owned by his son. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hawn was blessed with ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom were born in Knox county and all grew to years of maturity, but William, the young- est in order of birth, is now the only sur- vivor of this once large family. The parents both passed away on the present homestead of our . subject at the age of seventy-five years.
William Hawn, whose name introduces this review, was thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal .to the present home, and the first school which he attended was a log structure in this locality. After his father's death, when he was nineteen years old, he took charge of his farming interests, and during his en- tire business career he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, both branches of his business having proved very remunerative. Until within the last few years he was extensively engaged in buying and handling stock, having followed that vocation for thirty years. He has been an invalid for more than thirty years, and for six years he was confined to the house. His farm consists of two hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land, and his farming operations are carried on by the assistance of hired help, though all under his immediate direction. Since its organiza- tion Mr. Hawn has given an unwavering support to the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for Fremont, in 1856, and in 1860 voted for Lincoln, and since that time has cast his ballot in support of every Republican presidential candidate. He is at all times a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen, is honest, conscientious and reliable in business, and by reason of his well
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spent life enjoys the high regard of his fel- low men. For many years his widowed sis- ter, Catherine Hawn Rogers, was his house- keeper, her supervision of the domestic af- fairs being broken only by her death some six years since, and she was succeeded by her granddaughter, Miss Nannie Isreal.
GEORGE SWANK.
George Swank is a retired farmer living on section 5, Pike township, and his rest is well merited, for through many years he was an active factor in agricultural circles, his life being one of honest industry. He was born in this township April 13, 1825, and is the eldest son and second child of Christian and Susan (Downing) Swank. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and in early manhood came to Knox county, casting in his lot among its pioneer settlers. He was a blacksmith by trade and in connection with that pursuit he followed farming. His po- litical support was given the Democracy, and he lived to a good old age, respected by all who knew him. He was married in Pike township to Miss Downing, who died when about fifty years of age. They were the par- ents of five children, of whom three are living.
Mr. Swank, of this review, was reared in his native township and pursued his ed- ucation in a log school house supplied with slab seats and other primitive furnishings. His training at farm work, however, was not meager, and he assisted in the cultivation of the fields on the old homestead until his marriage to Miss Anna Gilmore. After the death of his first wife he married Sarah
Yarger, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hageman) Yarger, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They became early settlers of Wayne and Ashland counties, Ohio, and in this state reared their family of four sons and four daughters, seven of whom are yet living. Mrs. Swank lived at various times in Wayne, Ashland, Richland and Knox counties, and in the district schools pursued her education. By his first marriage Mr. Swank had five children,-Christ; Ellen; Eliza, deceased; John; and Amanda. All were born in Pike township and with the exception of John all are married.
Throughout his business career Mr. Swank followed farming and was very suc- cessful in his chosen work. He was at one time owner of three hundred acres of valu- able land, but has given to each of his chil- dren a good start in life and his donations of land have reduced his farm to one hun- dred and sixty acres. As the result of the care and cultivation bestowed upon this he has annually a good income which he richly merits. His life has been one of untiring in- dustry and his perseverance and capable management have enabled him to acquire a handsome competence, so that it is now pos- sible for him to live in retirement from busi- ness cares. In politics he has been a life- long Democrat.
WILLIAM McCLUER.
William McCluer, a retired farmer re- siding on section 21, Middlebury township, Knox county, was born near Bellville, Rich- land county, Ohio, March 23, 1832. His,
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father, Thomas McCluer, was a native of Virginia, and in his boyhood came with his uncle to this state, settling in Bellville in 1808. There he was married to Susanna Trux, a native of that county, and they took up their abode two miles east of Belle- ville on what is known as the Garble farm. Subsequently that place was sold and they removed to Illinois, where the mother of our subject died. The father then returned to Richland county, where he spent his declin- ing years, passing away in 1864, when about seventy-four years of age. He was a zeal- ous and consistent member of the Disciple church, and in his political affiliations in early life he was a Whig. Being an op- ponent of the slavery system of the south, when the Republican party was formed to prevent its further extension he joined its ranks and remained one of its advocates tin- til his death.
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