USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 40
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William McCluer, whose name intro- duces this review, was the fifth in order of birth in his father's family of seven children. He spent his early boyhood days in Rich- land county, and when about seven years of age accompanied his parents to Perry county, Illinois, the family locating in Jack- son township. Two years later he accom- panied his father on his return to Ohio, and remained in Richland county throughout the remainder of his minority. His preliminary education obtained in the district schools was supplemented by study in a select school taught by Mr. Wilcox at Bellville. He afterward began teaching, and followed that profession through the winter season for five years, but with that exception he has al- ways followed farming as a life work.
In 1857 Mr. McCluer was joined in wedlock to Miss Catherine A. Leedy, a na-
tive of Richland county, born January 17, 1833. She is a representative of two of the honored pioneer families of that locality. Her father, Lewis K. Leedy, was born in Pennsylvania and became one of the early settlers of Richland county, locating there in 1811. The entire region was an almost unbroken forest through which the Indians stalked in motley garb, for they had not then been driven westward before the on- coming tide of civilization. Wild animals also lurked in the forest, and the hand of man had not yet changed the face of nature. There in the midst of the forest Mr. Leedy established a home. He married Hannah Myers, a native of Richland county and a member of an old family that came to Ohio from New Jersey. Mrs. McCluer was their second child and eldest daughter, and was reared and educated in Jefferson township, Richland county, pursuing her studies in a log school house, seated with slab benches and furnished in the primitive manner of the times.
Mr. and Mrs. McCluer began their do- mestic life in Richland county, where they remained until 1865, when they went to Mis- souri, spending a year and a half in that state. On the expiration of that period they returned to Richland county, which con- tinued to be their home until 1871-the year that witnessed their arrival in Knox county. They located on the farm where they now live, a tract of sixty acres, which Mr. Mc- Cluer successfully operated, the arable soil yielding excellent crops. He followed farm- ing for a number of years, but is now living retired and rents his land. He and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the Baptist church in Fredericktown, in which he is serving as deacon, and in its work they
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
take an active part. They are people of the highest respectability, whose lives are con- sistent with upright principles ; and in central Ohio, where they have so long resided, they command the trust and esteem of all with whom they have been associated in business or social relations. They have had no chil- dren of their own, but their hearts and home have been open to the inception and accom- modation of twenty-two children or young people who have found a home with them, two of whom are still members of the fam- ily. They are Charles R. Leedy, a nephew, and Hallie Hardwidge, a niece. This re- markable fact indicates the genuine Chris- tian spirit animating the hearts of this ven- erable couple, whose thoughts and efforts in life here aparently have done more to al- leviate the conditions of those around them than to contribute to their own temporal ad- vancement.
GEORGE SELLERS.
The subject of this sketch was long a popular, enterprising citizen of Morgan township, Knox county, Ohio. He was born in that township May 8, 1825, and died there May 25, 1898. His father, Jacob Sellers, Sr., gave him such education as was obtain- able in subscription schools and in a school taught in an old log church building long known as the Owl Creek Baptist church, of Morgan township, and brought him up to the hard but useful life of a farmer. The elder Sellers had taken up government land and this the young man helped to clear and put under cultivation. He followed farm- ing until the end of his days, with consider- able finacnial success. While still a young
man he united with the Methodist Episco- pal church, but later was identified with the Christian church. In political affiliation he was a strong Republican during most of active life, and he was twice elected trustee of his township.
George Sellers was married March II,. 1847, to Adaline Knight Hughes, a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Lavina (Davis) Hughes, who was born December 7, 1829, at Utica, Licking county, Ohio, where her father, from Shenandoah county, Virginia, was an early settler and carpenter. The lat- ter was born January 14, 1796, in Harrison county, Virginia, one of the sons of Captain Elias Hughes, who is celebrated in history as a scout and Indian hunter. With his father, mother and their family, he came in 1797 from Virginia to Muskingum county, Ohio. Some of the family belongings were brought in a huge canoe ("pirogue") hewn out of a large poplar tree, which was wide enough inside to admit barrels laid crosswise. Some of their goods were packed on horses and the mother rode a horse and carried Jonathan, her eleventhi child, then her baby. Such of the family as were able to walk were obliged to make the journey in that way. Mrs. George Sellers is now living on a part of the land entered by Jacob Sellers, who at the time of his death owned about fifteen hundred acres.
George and Adaline Knight (Hughes) Sellers had eight children, five of whom are living: Orcelia L., who married John B. Oldacre, of Milton township; Zelpha Clarin- da, who married Aaron Channell and lives in Burlington township, Licking county, Ohio; George H., who lives in Morgan township, Knox county, Ohio; Jacob D., who died in 1881, aged twenty-nine years;
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Rosa D. is the wife of John Hulshizer, a miller of Granville, Ohio; Mary Victoria, who married Louis Hall and is a member of her mother's household; Cora Etta, who married Clement Couffman and died in 1888, aged twenty-three years; and John Douglass, born in 1858, who died in infancy.
WILLIAM I. DEBOLT.
The old and respected citizen of Mor- gan township, Knox county, Ohio, whose busy and useful career it is the province of the writer now to consider, is entitled to honor not only as an upright and success- ful citizen but as a soldier who risked his life in defense of his country, and the fol- lowing brief biographical sketch will be doubtless read with much interest by men who have met him going and coming on the roadway of life.
William Debolt, son of Reuben and Sa- rah (French) Debolt, was born in Licking county, Ohio, September 15, 1841. His grandfather, Jacob French, from Greene county, Pennsylvania, saw service as a sol- dier during the entire period of the war of 1812. As a youth Mr. Debolt was educated in the old free and subscription schools and learned to clear land and to put it under cul- tivation, and during all his active life he has been a farmer, enterprising and progressive, and satisfactorily successful. In religion he is a Baptist and politically he is a Republi- can, and he has always wielded a recognized influence in the affairs of his township and county.
May 20, 1861, Mr. Debolt enlisted at Utica, Ohio, in Company E, Twentieth Regi-
ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the service at Camp Dennison and participated in the fights at Skerry Creek, Kanawha river and minor engage- ments, in the battles fought in West Virginia, in the second Bull Run fight, in the battle of Antietam, in the fighting at South Mountain and in the engagement at Berryville, where, July 24, 1864, a ball passed entirely through his face from cheek to cheek, tearing away the roof of his mouth, causing his disfig- urement and terrible suffering and shatter- ing his health. He was in the hospital until the November following, when he was sent to Washington, D. C., where he was honor- ably discharged August, 1865, and mustered out of the service. After the first three years' service he served in Company H, Twenty-third Ohio ( McKinley's) Regiment, and was transferred at Washington to the Twelfth Veteran Reserve Corps, from which he was finally discharged.
Mr. Debolt returned to his old home af- ter the war and has lived in Knox county, Ohio, continuously since that time, except during three years, when he was a resident of White county, Indiana. He was mar- ried September 12, 1867, to Matilda Black- burn, daughter of Anthony and Hannah (Crawford) Blackburn, who was born near Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, Sep- tember 21, 1835, and who has borne him children as follows: Angie, who married William Arrington, and lives in Morris township near Mount Vernon; Rosa, who is a member of her father's household ; Chaun- cey, who married Zonie Mossholder; Min- nie, who married Elmer Mossholder and lives in Miller township. Chauncey lives with his father and assists him in the man- agement of his farm.
3II
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
J. K. HAYDEN.
Hon. J. K. Hayden is one of the most prominent and influential residents of Knox county. He has been actively identified with its agricultural, mercantile and financial in- terests for many years and has represented his county in the state legislature. Thus, in many fields of activity his labors have been a potent factor and Centerburg numbers him among its most distinguished citizens.
Mr. Hayden was born in Hilliar town- ship, Knox county, upon the farm which he yet owns, his natal day being March 21, 1838. His father, David Hayden, of Scotch- Irish descent, was a native of western Penn- sylvania and there resided until after his marriage, when, in 1833, he came to Knox county, locating upon rented· land in Mor- gan township. In 1837 he purchased the farm which is now the property of our sub- ject. It was then a tract of wild timberland and in the midst of the dense forest he built a little log cabin, after which he began to clear away the trees and cultivate the fields. In course of time the farm became valuable and thereon he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1859, when he was fifty-five years of age. In his political views he was a Democrat and he held a number of township offices, being land appraiser at the time of his demise. Long a leading member in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, he was one of its elders and took a very active part in its work. He married Sarah Botten- field, also a native of the Keystone state, and surviving her husband for many years she passed away at the ripe old age of seventy- four.
Their only child is J. K. Hayden of this review, who was reared upon the home farm
and attended the public schools of the dis- trict and a select school in Centerburg. Af- ter his father's death he took charge of the farm, which he managed for his mother throughout her remaining days. He carried on general farming and stock raising and in his early experience in this line of work made his labors at this time profitable. He was married on the 26th of October, 1876, to Miss Eliza E. Halsey, a daughter of David and Lucinda (Wolf) Halsey. Her father was quite prominent in political circles and for two terms served as county commis- sioner. He came from New Jersey to Knox county and took an active interest in its de- velopment and progress. He held member- ship in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mrs. Hayden, the youngest of his children, was educated in the common and select schools and by her marriage she has become the mother of one son, Charles D., who is at- tending college in Granville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hayden also lost one son, John H., who died at the age of fourteen years.
Mr. Hayden continued his farming op- erations until 1882, and still owns the old homestead of two hundred acres, but in that year he removed to Centerburg and was in- terested in organizing the first bank in this place. He also engaged in merchandising. He did quite an extensive probate court bus- iness from 1870 until 1890, settling many es- tates and acting as guardian. He is a man of determined purpose, of excellent business ability and capable management and he car- ries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes.
Mr. Hayden exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and is a leader in local Dem- ocratic circles. In 1897 he was elected to
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represent his district in the state legislature, and on the close of the term declined a sec- ond nomination. He has filled many of the offices of his township and for twelve years has been a member of the board of educa- tion of Centerburg, of which he is now pres- ident. He is regarded as one of the most reliable and trustworthy men of the com- munity. Long a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, he has served as one of its elders for thirty years.
LEWIS B. HOUCK.
Almost ten years' connection with the bar of Knox county has indicated that Mr. Houck possesses those qualifications which lead to success in the legal profession, and since opening an office here in 1892 he has gradually advanced to a creditable place among the foremost representatives of his chosen calling. He was born in the village of Bladensburg, Knox county, April 19, 1867, and belongs to one of the pioneer fam- ilies. His grandfather, William Houck, who resided in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, served his country as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His son, Wash- ington Houck, the father of our subject, was a native of the Keystone state and in 1822 started from Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, making the entire journey to Knox county on foot. He established his home in Jackson township, laid out the vil- lage of Bladensburg on his farm and built the first house there. In connection with general farming he also conducted a general mercantile store for a number of years and was an enterprising resident of that com-
munity. In early days he filled various lo- cal positions of trust in his township and he was also an active factor in the moral de- velopment of the community. In 1822 he organized a Disciple church in his own home in Bladensburg, which was the first Disciple congregation in Ohio. He was made an elder in the church and ever la- bored earnestly to advance its cause through example as well as precept. His uncle, Jacob Houck, laid out the town of Center- burg, Knox county, in 1817, and thus the family contributed in a large measure to the work of advancement and progress in the early days of Ohio's history. Washington Houck was united in marriage to Avaline Bebout, who was born in Clay township, this county, and is still living at the age of seventy-six years. Her parents were Lewis and Elizabeth Bebout, who removed from Green county, Pennsylvania, to Clay town- ship, Knox county, about 1826.
In the public schools Lewis B. Houck began his education, attending the high school in his native village, also the Normal School in Martinsburg and Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio. With broad general learning on which to rest his professional knowledge, he took up the study of law un- der the direction of H. D. C . " field, who is now general counsel foi "United States Telephone Company at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1892 he was admitted to the bar and has since built up an excellent practice in the various departments of law. With a clientele of important character, whereby he is connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of the district, he is continually displaying his ability to master the intricate problems of jurispru- dence and has won many notable successes.
Lewis B . Houck
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Before his admission to the bar he had en- gaged in teaching in the county for eight years, and for nine years, from 1888 to 1897, he was school examiner in Knox coun- ty, his incumbency covering a longer period than that of any other official in the same office. In 1898 he was elected to the city council of Mount Vernon and in 1900 was re-elected, so that he is now serving in that position. In politics he is an ardent Demo- crat, has served on the county committee and as chairman of the central committee of the county, rendering effective service to the Democratic cause.
Mr. Houck is very prominent in frater- nal circles, belongs to the various Masonic bodies ; is past chancellor of Timon Lodge, No. 45, K. P .; past grand of Quindaro Lodge, No. 316, I. O. O. F .; and is regent of Mount Vernon Council, No. II, R. A. He has served as representative to the grand lodges of both the I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum. He is also a member of the Im- proved Order of Red Men, and his religious views are in harmony with the doctrines of the Disciple church, in which he was reared, although he is not a member of the congre- gation.
On the 12th of December, 1894, in this county, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Houck and Miss Arla B. Nicholls, of Bladensburg, a daughter of Daniel and Caroline (McCammet) Nicholls. Her grandfather, Thomas Nicholls, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, located in this county about 1810, coming from Brook county, Virginia, and her maternal grand- father, John S. McCammet, was also a pio- neer settler, coming to Ohio from his old home in Green county, in the Keystone state. He was active and influential in pub-
lic affairs and served as one of the early county commissioners, while for three terms he was an infirmary director and for thirty years was justice of the peace in Jackson township, his equity and fidelity winning him "golden opinions from all sorts of peo- ple." The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Houck has been blessed with one son, Lewis Dan- iel, who is now three years of age.
Such, in brief, is the history of Lewis B. Houck, a leader in his profession and in. his political party and a favorite in social circles. His professional duties leave him little leisure time, for his clientage has steadily increased. Absolute fidelity to the interests of his clients, a wonderful capacity for hard work and systematic preparation of all cases entrusted to his care have been some of the noteworthy factors in the achievement of Mr. Houck's success.
DANIEL NIXON.
The life of Daniel Nixon, of Morris township, Knox county, Ohio, was one of earnest endeavor, high integrity and well earned success and one which in many ways demonstrated the value of sturdy Irish char- acter as a factor in our American civilization.
Daniel Nixon was a son of John Nixon and was born in Ireland August 10, 1805. When quite a young man he came to Amer- ica and at a somewhat later date located in Knox county, Ohio, where he became a farmer of progressive ideas and an up- right, influential and highly respected citizen. Beginning active life a poor boy, by indefat- igable industry he rose step by step to an honored position in the community and num-
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bered among his friends persons in all walks of life. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he was actively identified for many years. Charitable in all things and to an uncom- mon degree public spirited, he took a deep and abiding interest in everything tending to the benefit of his community and the ad- vancement of mankind. In all business mat- ters he was strictly just and when occasion required he was always generous rather than exacting. His neighbors respected his judg- ment and sought his counsel in affairs of moment. He thought out every position which he took and his opinion was always based on sound reasoning and so convincing- ly and so pleasingly was it advanced that he seldom had difficulty in bringing the most stubborn opponent to his way of thinking. October 4, 1829, he was married by the Rev. James Hair to Nancy Rush, a daughter of Peter and Clarissa Rush, who bore him chil- dren as follows: Jesse P., born March 2, 1832; Oliver E., born March 5, 1835; Lo- vina J., born October 31, 1837 ; John B., who was born October 23, 1840, and died in in- fancy; Clarissa A., born January 28, 1843; Mary E., born May 19, 1847; and Sarah E., who was born December 3, 1850, and also died in infancy. Jesse, the eldest, went over- land to California in 1851, encountering many hardships and adventures by the way and remained there seventeen years as a superintendent in gold mines. He returned to his old home in 1868 and took up farming, in which he continued until his death, which occurred May 28, 1899. Clara and Mary never married and live on the old family homestead in Morris township, the work of which is carried on successfully under their personal supervision. Peter and Clarissa
Rush, the parents of Mrs. Nixon, were na- tives of New Jersey, but settled early in Knox county, where they lived out their days. They were the parents of four chil- dren, named in the order of their nativity: Sarah Loree, Emily, Nancy and John. Nan- cy, who became Mrs. Nixon, was born March 10, 1812. Mr. Nixon died January 14, 1877, on the farm which had been his home and that of his family for many years, and in his death Harris township suffered an irreparable loss.
ALBERT I. WOLFE.
Albert I. Wolfe, proprietor of the Dan- ville Bank, of Danville, Knox county, Ohio, is a native of this county and a worthy rep- resentative of one of its sterling pioneer fam- ilies, having been born on the old homestead farm, in Butler township, on the IIth of June, 1858. His paternal grandfather, Pe- ter Wolfe, was a native of the Keystone state, was of German descent and became one of the early settlers of Butler township, Knox county, Ohio, the land on which he originally located, in the early pioneer epoch, being still in possession of the family. His first residence was a primitive log cabin, in which he and his family made their home for a number of years. He married Nancy Richmond and they made their home in that section of Virginia which is now West Vir- ginia until the year 1814, when Mr. Wolfe came to Knox county, taking up a tract of government land, clearing a field and putting in corn, while he also erected his little cabin which was to serve as the family home. He returned to West Virginia at the expiration
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
of six months and on his return to the fron- tier home in Ohio was accompanied by his wife and seven children. At this period there were neither churches nor school houses in this locality, and the settlers were few and far between. Four children were born to this honored pioneer couple after their removal to Ohio, and of the eleven children all but one were reared to years of maturity, all being familiar with the inci- dents, privations and hardships which at- tended life on the frontier and each contrib- uting a due quota to the work of develop- ment and progress. The sons assisted in the construction of roads through the forest wilds and in the reclamation of the home- stead farm, while in the early days the corn raised was utilized for food by being pounded into hominy, there having been no mills ac- cessible ; and in securing the necessary supply of salt and other provisions it was necessary to go to Zanesville, a distance of thirty-six miles, a road being blazed through the dense forest, requiring no little engineering skill and implying herculean labor. In the present day, with the wonderful facilities available, it is hard to realize the conditions which existed in the pioneer days and to have a full comprehension of the arduous labors, courage and self-denial of those noble men and women who laid the foundations of our great and prosperous commonwealth.
Isaac Wolfe, the father of our subject, was the eighth child in the family and was born in Butler township, this county, on the 18th of July, 1816, being reared to the stur- · dy discipline of the pioneer farm and re- ceiving such educational advantages as were afforded in the district schools of the place and period. The other children established
homes of their own, all, save one of the sons, devoting their attention to agricultural pur- suits and all being worthy of the highest con- fidence and esteem. Isaac Wolfe devoted his early years to farming, but the greater portion of his business career was in connec- tion with the banking business, in which he was associated with two of his sons, Albert I., and Willis M. He was for more than a half a century a devoted member of the Christian or Disciples' church, being an ac- tive worker in the cause of the divine Mas- ter and doing all in his power to promote the same among his fellow men. On the 20th of May, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet McVey, who was born in Co- shocton county, Ohio, on the 28th of Janu- ary, 1828, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Jones) McVey, both of whom were born in the state of Pennsylvania, where their mar- riage was solemnized, and whence they re- moved to Coshocton county, Ohio, in the year 1813, locating in the immediate vicinity of the present town of Carlisle, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Henry McVey was of Irish lineage, his father hav- ing emigrated, in company with his brother, from the Emerald Isle to America, both tak- ing up their abode in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Upon his removal to Coshoc- ton county he began the work of clearing and improving his farm, the original home having been the little log cabin in common to the locality and period. He became the father of thirteen children, of whom only four survive at the present time. Henry McVey died in 1850, his widow surviving him about twenty years. They were types of the sterling men and women whose lives counted for good and whose names deserve
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