USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 45
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at Jelloway, of which he is a member and in which he has held office for fifteen years, being at the present time a trustee. For eight years he has served as township clerk of Brown township, and is a loyal and pub- lic-spirited citizen,-one whose life has been quietly passed but ever characterized by all that is straightforward and honorable in his relations with his fellow men.
JOHN SNIVELY.
John Snively is a busy man, his career being characterized by unflagging industry and determined principles. He follows farm- ing on section 13, Brown township, where he has a model place of one hundred and five acres, supplied with all modern improve- ments and conveniences. He was born in Washington township, Holmes county, Ohio, November 10, 1851, and in his life manifests many of the salient characteristics of his German ancestry. He is a son of Frederick Snively, who was born in the fa- therland and when a young man came to America, landing in New York, whence he afterward made his way to Holmes county, Ohio. There he was married to Miss Mar- garet Levergood, also a native of Germany, who when a young lady came to the United States with her parents. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Holmes county, where they spent their re- maining days, the father dying when about eighty-five years of age, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of six sons and five daughters, John Snively, of this review, be- ing the seventh in order of birth and the
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
fourth son. His father and mother were both identified with Trinity Evangelical church, and were people of the highest re- spectability. In politics Frederick Snively was a Democrat and during the period of the Civil war he served as township trustee. Widely and favorably known, he was recog- nized as one of the leading citizens of his adopted county and by his genuine worth commanded the esteem of all with whom he was associated.
John Snively was reared in Holmes county and assisted in the work on his fa- ther's farm until he made preparations for establishing a home of his own, by his mar- riage, to Miss Mary A. Richert, which oc- curred in March, 1873. The lady is a native of Brown township, Knox county, and a daughter of Peter and Barbara (Arnold) Richert, who were early settlers of this county. For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Snively remained in Holmes county and then spent two years in Ashland county, on the expiration of which period they came to the farm upon which they now reside, on section 13, Brown township, Knox county. Here he has made excellent improvements, including the erection of a modern two-story frame residence. Good barns and out-buildings also add to the value of the place and well tilled fields indi- cate his careful supervision. In connection with the raising of grain best adapted to this climate, he also handles horses, both buying and selling. His trade in this direction has be- come quite extensive and annually nets him a good income. In addition to the home place he has a tract of land of eighty-nine acres north of his residence and a fine orchard upon the homestead yields its fruits in sea- son, and every modern improvement and ad-
vanced facilities adds to the value and attrac- tive appearance of the place.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snively have been born seven children: Augustus; Amos; Bertha ; Emma ; Cora ; Harry and Mary. The family attend the German Lutheran church, of which Mr. Snively is a member. He has been quite prominent in local political affairs as a supporter of the Democracy and has held a number of township offices, including the office of trustee and appraiser, while for nine years he has been township treasurer. His official incumbency covers in all a period of fifteen years and this fact alone indicates his capability and his fidelity to the trust re- posed in him.
ELI BIXBY.
Eli Bixby, who is identified with agri- cultural interests in Pike township, Knox county, is a native of Niagara county, New York, where his birth occurred on the 23d of January, 1820, his parents being David and Phila (Green) Bixby. When the son was fourteen years of age they came to Knox county, Ohio, settling in Pike town- ship and therefore for almost seventy years our subject has resided in this locality.
On the 3d of May, 1843, Eli Bixby was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Dever, who was born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, on the 24th of November, 1891, a daughter of James and Eliza Dever. She was a maiden of ten summers when she be- came a resident of Knox county, and under the parental roof she remained until her marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bixby have been born two daughters: Harriet E., who
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is now the wife of Aaron Barton, of Morris township; and Jerusha, the wife of J. Byron Ward, of Mount Vernon. They also have two grandchildren : Edward and Joseph H. Brown, who are Mrs. Barton's sons by her first husband. Edward Brown has a son, Gordon Brown, a boy of thirteen years.
In his early manhood Eli Bixby rented land for five years and then, with the capi- tal he had acquired, he made a payment upon his present farm, comprising fifty-six acres, and in the purchase contracted an indebted- ness of one thousand dollars. The land was partially improved, and with characteristic energy he began its further development, transforming it into a rich and arable tract of land which annually returns to him a good income. He has added to the place until within its borders are now comprised eighty acres of land. In his political views Mr. Bixby has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party and is unswerving in his advocacy of its principles. He also belongs to the Protestant Methodist church at Ebenezer, and his has been an upright, honorable life, characterized by marked fidelity to duty.
WILLIAM McCAMMENT.
Among the honored pioneers of Knox county none is held in warmer remembrance by the older citizens of the county than An- drew McCamment, who was born in Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania, and who settled on Jug Run, in Jackson township, in 1819. An- drew McCamment married Rebecca Stone, of West Virginia, and served his country in the war of 1812, as a soldier under the com- mand of General Harrison. He and his brother Lemuel entered a quarter-section of
government land on Jug Run and made some improvements there, and it was during his parents' residence there that William McCamment, son of Andrew and Rebecca (Stone) McCamment, was born, February II, 1825. In 1828 Mr. McCamment moved to the farm now owned by his son, which he developed and improved in many ways. At the time of his death, in 1856, he owned this and another farm in Jackson township. In politics he adhered to the old Democratic faith, and he was a man of good local influ- ence in his day and generation.
William McCamment remained with his father assisting him in all ways possible until he was twenty-one years old, and then went to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where for one year he was a student in a school which afforded him better opportunities for education than were available to him at home. In 1852 he married Hannah Broder- ick, a native of Jackson township, Knox county, Ohio, and the youngest of the ten children of William and Nancy (Ather) Broderick, natives of Pennsylvania and pio- neers in Knox county.
William and Hannah (Broderick) Mc- Camment have had born to them eight chil- dren in the order here mentioned : Bellsony, Deborah, Rebecca, Roxannah, Martin, Lind- say, Oserdell and Broderick. Mr. McCam- ment is an influential and public-spirited cit- izen, who during all the years of his man- hood has most generously and effectively done everything in his power to advance the best interests of his township and county. While not a hide-bound politician or seeker of official preferment, he has always taken intelligent interest in local politics and at one time filled the office of assessor of Jack- son township, with much ability and fidelity.
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ISAAC BELL.
When a man passes away we look back over the life ended and note its usefulness- its points worthy of emulation and per- petuation. What Isaac Bell did for his fel- low men might in a manner be told in words, but in its far-reaching influence cannot be measured. He assisted in laying broad and deep the foundation on which to rear the su- perstructure of Knox county's present pros- perity and progress. Through a very early period in its improvement and advancement he was an important factor, and was also connected with the broader interests which had to do with the welfare of the common- wealth.
Isaac Bell was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1829, and was brought to Knox county when he was about one year old. His first home in the county was in Morgan township and he was educat- ed in such old subscription schools as were taught in log houses in the day of primitive things, and almost from childhood had daily experience of the practical work of farming. Meeker Bell, his father, was also born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and when a boy of eight years was brought to Ohio by his parents. Later he returned to Pennsyl- vania, where he married Rachel Crane. In 1830 he came again to Ohio and settled in Morgan township, whence he removed later to Clay township, where he died in his eight- ieth year. He was a Democrat in his politi- cal views, was a member of the Christian church and in every sense was a citizen of influence and importance. Rachel Crane, who became his wife, was born and reared in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and died at the family home in Morgan township, Knox
county, Ohio, at the age of eighty-eight years. She was one of those noble, self- sacrificing women whose name to the present generation is an incentive of well doing. Meeker and Rachel (Crane) Bell had three sons and three daughters.
Isaac Bell, their eldest child, when twenty-one years old, removed to Illinois, where for about a year he herded cattle on the plains of Iroquois county. Later, until 1850, he drove cattle from Illinois to Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where they were marketed at that time, which was long before the establishment of the great packing inter- ests at Chicago. In 1850 he returned to Knox county and resumed farming. After his marriage he located on a farm three- quarters of a mile south of the present home- stead, removing to this place in 1867. The home farm consists of one hundred and eighteen acres and he also owned another farm, of forty-seven acres, in the southern part of the same township. For seventy-two years he made his home in Knox county, much of the time in Clay township, and he witnessed the development of that part of the country from a state of nature to a fertile farming district. He also became prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party.
In March, 1853, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Mary A. Elliott, a native of Knox county and a daughter of Charles and Phoebe (McWilliams) Elliott, formerly of Pennsylvania, but early settlers of this coun- ty. This union was blessed with two daugh- ters : Jennie, who married Allen McLain and resides in Morgan township; and Emma, who became the wife of Terry Ewart and is now deceased. At her death she left a son and daughter, Guy and Edith. For many years the former has been a member of the
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Bell household, where he is treated with all the respect due a son. Mr. Bell finally closed his eyes in death, and the entire community mourned the loss of one of its truest and best loved pioneers. He was popular in the social life of his neighborhood, a faithful friend, a kind husband and father and a con- sistent Christian, and he left behind him an untarnished record.
WV. H. FRY.
In all parts of the United States the Ger- man character has come to stand for hon- esty, frugality, progressiveness and patriot- isnı. Ohio is fortunate in having numbered among its pioneers many representative Germans, and one of the best known of these in Butler township is W. H. Fry, a prom- inent farmer, whose father, John P. Fry, a native of Germany, was brought by his mother when he was four years old to Co- shocton county, Ohio. There the family es- tablished a farm home, and when he was seventeen years old John P. Fry began farm- ing on his own account. He married Mag- dalena Braunstool, a native of Holmes coun- ty, but of German parentage, who bore him seven children : W. H., who was born July 29, 1850; and John G., Jacob S., Levi D., Lewis, Elizabeth and Leonia. Mrs. Fry died in 1858, and not long afterward Mr. Fry married Barbara Bradbrooks, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, and who bore him eight children.
W. H. Fry farmed in Coshocton county until 1882, when he removed to Knox coun- ty, where he prospered so well that at one time he was the owner of one hundred and
forty acres of fertile land, and from time to time he has bought two hundred and ninety- ve acres, some of which he has sold. He gives his attention principally to stock farm- ing. He votes the Democratic ticket, works for the success of the Democratic principles and is one of the active and influential citi- zens of his township, which he served three years in the responsible office of trustee.
Mr. Fry was married, in 1871, to Mary E. Rees, who was born in Coshocton coun- ty, Ohio, in 1846, and who has borne him eight children named as follows, in the or- der of their nativity: Ada, Maggie M., Perry, William O., Mary, Nona, Mina and John. The family are communicants of the Christian church.
JOHN FOWLER. L
The late John Fowler, who was formerly a prominent citizen of Knox county and who held many public positions of honor and trust, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, September 17, 1842, a son of James and Mary (Gifford) Fowler. His paternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Wise) Fowler, the former of Irish extrac- tion and the latter of Scotch descent and a cousin of General Wise, of Revolutionary fame. James Fowler, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, in 1804. In 1827 he took up his abode in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and a number of years later, in 1853, removed to Knox county, settling in Jefferson township, where he remained for ten years, removing thence to Pike township. As a companion for the journey of life he chose Mary Gif-
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ford, the only child of William and Barbara (Smith) Gifford. The father was an Eng- lish sailor and the mother was of Scotch de- scent. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fow- ler was blessed with twelve children, nine of whom are now living: Andrew, William, Hannah, Elizabeth, Margaret, Charles Reed, Winfield Scott, Florence and Laura.
John Fowler, the subject of this review, received his primary education in the public schools of his native county and completed his studies in the public schools of Knox county, within whose limits his parents set- tled when he was yet comparatively young. He was reared to farm work, and in 1861, while yet in his 'teens, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company E, Twentieth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, at Mount Vernon. During his career as a soldier he was ever found faithful to the duties imposed upon him, and his military record was one of which he had every reason to be proud. He received his discharge in April, 1865.
After his marriage Mr. Fowler removed to Iowa, where for two years he was success- fully engaged in dealing in stock. Return- ing to Knox county, he continued in the same line of business here, and afterward for many years was a leading merchant at Amity. In the fall of 1885 he was appoint- ed deputy sheriff, under Sheriff J. G. Steven- son, and so ably did he fill the duties of that position that at the end of his two years' term he was elected to the office of sheriff. He filled the office with rare ability and in- tegrity, but on the expiration of his term he was obliged, on account of failing health, to retire from the active duties of life.
On the 3d of January, 1868, Mr. Fow- ler was united in marriage to Lauretta
Wright, who was born in 1849, a daughter of Daniel P. and Ann (Harding) Wright. Her paternal great-grandparents were John and Ann (Amons) Wright, the former of English and the latter of German descent. Her grandfather, William Wright, was a native of Pennsylvania, but in 1815 came to Mount Vernon, which at that time contained but three log cabins. He married Mary Daniels, a daughter of John and Meriam Daniels. The former was a Baptist minis- ter and came to this country from Scotland at the time of the Revolutionary war, the orthography of the name at that time having been changed from MacDaniels to Daniels. His wife bore the maiden name of Meriam Jones, and was a daughter of Griffith and Meriam Jones, of Welsh descent. Unto William and Mary (Daniels) Wright were born the following children: Benjamin, Daniel P., Rigdon, Joseph, William, Cor- delia, James, Uriah I., Meriam, Mary and Emeline. Daniel P. Wright, the father of Mrs. Fowler, was born in Clinton township, Knox county, Ohio, in 1818, and early in life learned the trade of a stone and brick mason. Later, however, he was for a num- ber of years engaged in merchandising, and for a time before his death, which occurred in 1885, was identified with the undertaking business. For a companion on the journey of life he chose Ann Harding, who was born in 1822, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wilson) Harding. This union was blessed with seven children: William A., Lewis Allen, Mary E., John A., Lauretta, Saman- tha and Sarah Emma, of whom only Sarah Ernma and Lauretta survive. The mother of these children passed away in death in 1892. Unto the union of John and Lauretta (Wright) Fowler were born two daughters,
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Cora Ethlyn and Myrtle Delle. The last named is a prominent and successful kinder- gartner at Mount Vernon. Mr. Fowler passed away in death on the 24th of Septem- ber, 1894, and thus passed from earth a man of incalculable worth. He was widely known as a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Knight of Honor and as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which or- ders he held various official positions. In political matters he was an influential Re- publican.
COLONEL JOSEPH W. VANCE.
Few men in Knox county, Ohio, left a more lasting impress upon their day and gen- eration than did the late Colonel Joseph W. Vance, who passed out of life in the full flush of usefulness, in the noble discharge of his duty, at the comparatively early age of fifty-five years. Such men as Colonel Vance this country laments to lose, and when a sad fate overtakes such, while acting in her defense, no words seem adequate to express her regret ..
The birth of Joseph W. Vance was in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1809, and he was a son of John and Ann Vance, estimable residents of that locality. He en- joyed only such advantages as were offered by the common schools of his district, but was an apt and ambitious student, and early displayed a leaning toward the law. His advent into Knox county, Ohio, was in 1840, when he began the study of law and juris- prudence under the late and distinguished statesman, Hon. Columbus Delano, result- ing in his admission to the bar of Ohio in 1845. So brilliant were his faculties, so wise
beyond his years were his methods of han- dling legal difficulties, that it is not surpris- ing that such well known jurists as the Hon. James Smith, now a prominent lawyer of St. Paul, Minnesota, and later, the equally noted Colonel W. C. Cooper, should have ad- mitted the rising young man to partnership. In a remarkably short time Colonel Vance had won his place at the front, business over- whelmed him almost from the beginning of his career, and ere long he was recognized as a leader of the bar in Knox county.
Such was the character and prospects of Colonel Vance, when he enlisted, in 1862, in the service of his country, with a loyalty that never failed, and by his personal efforts was able to raise the well-known and gallant Ninety-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, in Knox and surrounding counties. He was commissioned colonel of this regiment and for two years his services in the West- ern army, through Kentucky and on to Vicksburg, and at the siege of Vicksburg, re- flected honor upon himself and upon his reg- iment. His gallantry was recognized by his superior officers and his duties became those of brigadier-general, an honor which would have been officially conferred upon him at no late period had not the fortunes of war oth- erwise ordained.
It was while Colonel Vance was at his post of duty, with General Banks, in Texas, and while acting as brigadier-general, at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, in 1864, that he met a soldier's death. Doubtless such was the end this distinguished officer would have chosen, but none could accept it in any other light than that of a great ca- lamity.
Colonel Vance was married in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Sarah
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Ann White, who was a daughter of Dr. John and Agnes (Park) White, the former of whom was born in Hickory, Washington county. The death of Mrs. Vance occurred in 1876, at Mount Vernon, Ohio. The chil- dren left by Colonel Vance were as follows : Alfred H., who is a prominent citizen of Topeka, Kansas, and who began the study. of law in this county, but completed his course in Washington, D. C., became county attorney, and later a member of the Kansas legislature. Walter L. is a machinist of skill, who formerly lived in Topeka, Kansas, but who now is a resident of Denver. Mrs. H. C. Whitcher lives in Detroit. Sarah A. and Ella A., the younger daughters, reside in Mount Vernon.
Colonel Vance was long an active mem- ber of the Presbyterian church of Mount Vernon, serving for many years as one of its elders. Long will he be remembered in Ohio, not only as one of the ornaments to her bar, on account of his wide practice be- fore so many courts where he won deserved success, but as one of her noble martyrs whose life of successful achievement was crowned with a valorous death.
JOHN HAMILTON SMITH.
More than a century has passed since the Smith family to which our subject be- longs was established in Knox county, and since that time its representatives have taken an active part in the business activity which leads to the improvement and prosperity of a community. Benjamin Smith, the father of our subject, was a resident of Pennsyl- vania, and leaving that state he took up
his abode in Miller township, Knox county, about 1800. There he followed farming until his death, which occurred when he was in his prime. He married a Miss Barley, who was also a resident of Pennsylvania in her early life, and among their children was John Hamilton Smith, whose birth occurred on the homestead farm, in Miller township, near Hunt's Station, August 18, 1830. The labor of field and meadow largely claimed his attention until he was in his nineteenth year, when he became connected with the shoe trade and for thirty-five years was in that line of business in this county, his ef- forts being attended with gratifying and creditable success. His energy and determ- ination were among his strong characteris- tics and enabled him to overcome many ob- stacles and to work his way steadily upward.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage in 1855 to Miss Mary M. Burris, who resided near Utica, New York, and they became the parents of four children, Frank D., Charles W., Clarence A. and Walter, but the only one now living is Charles, who is engaged in the shoe trade in Newark, Ohio. The mother died in Homer, Ohio, in 1862, and Mr. Smith was again married, his second union being with Mary L. Simmons, of Homer, who became his wife on the 27th of May, 1870. She was born near that city May 20, 1834, a daughter of Van Simmons, a pioneer settler of Licking county, Ohio, whither he removed from Virginia, now West Virginia, in the early part of 1800. He was a very prominent and influential pioneer settler and took an active part in the early development of his portion of the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born three children, Leroy H., Berton J. and Clinton P. The first named completed his education in Granville Acad-
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emy and for the past ten years has success- fully engaged in teaching in the public schools, being now superintendent of the school in Homer. Berton J. Smith resides upon a farm in Miller township and is a prosperous agriculturist. Clinton P. Smith, the youngest, was graduated in the Mount Vernon public schools with the class of 1898 and has since followed the teacher's profes- sion in this county. The family has ever represented that class of citizens who are devoted to the public good and who put forth every effort for the advancement of the general welfare.
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