USA > Ohio > Highland County > The County of Highland : a history of Highland County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapters on the bench and bar, medical profession educational development, industry and agriculture and biographical sketches > Part 35
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zens with the office of justice of the peace, and is highly regarded by all his neighbors.
Ellis Good, one of the representative farmers of Penn township, bears a name long honored in Highland county on account of its being so worthily borne by his late respected father. The family is of Pennsylvania origin, having been conspicuous in that state for generations in connection with the famous religious denomination known as the Society of Friends. The genealogical history is traced through the records of the Friends church, which extend back 'for many generations in the old state of William Penn. From these it appears that in 1730 Thomas Good, Sr., married Mary Jardel, of New Britain, Pa., and their son Thomas, Jr., had a son named Joseph. The latter married Martha Michener and had a large fam- ily, two of whom in after years became residents of Ohio. These were Rebecca, wife of Joseph Conard, who settled in Penn township in 1847, and Charles who came to the same township in 1854. He was born in Chester county, Pa., March 16, 1807, and in 1838 was married to Betsey, daughter of Caleb and Ann (Fell) Moore. For sixteen years after this union they lived in Lancaster county, but then decided to risk their fortunes in the great state which had attracted so many of their co-religionists in the past. Charles Good purchased land in Penn township, Highland county, one and a half miles west of the village of Careytown, where in course of time he became celebrated in all the country around for his progressive meth- ods in farming. His place consisted of 220 acres, which he improved and cultivated with such skill as to become recognized as authority in all matters relating to agriculture. He was not only a model farmer but a model citizen, one of the best types of the many fine men and women furnished Ohio in the period of settlement by the high-minded and liberty-loving Society of Friends. He had no polit- ical aspirations but accepted such offices as those of township trustee, supervisor and school director, which he believed it to be his duty to hold in the interest of the public and in discharge of his duties as a citizen. His scientific methods of farming, united with good judgment and economy, brought to this quiet Quaker the just reward of abundant prosperity, and in 1873, in connection with oth- ers, he purchased the bank at New Vienna. He lived until his- eighty-ninth year and passed away April 30, 1895, his wife surviv- ing until November 5, 1899, and dying when ninety years old. The children of this worthy couple were Mary, wife of Washington Blackburn, who is mentioned in the sketch of his son elsewhere. Elizabeth F., widow of Dr. A. T. Johnson, living in Norwood near Cincinnati ; Martha E., married Dr. G. R. Conard, of New Vienna, and died at about the age of thirty-five years; Ellis, who is fully
H-21
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sketched below; Lydia C., residing with her sister, Mrs. Blackburn; Evan, a farmer in Penn township; and Rachel M., wife of James M. Wright, a farmer of Clinton county. Ellis Good, fourth of the family, was born at the old homestead in Highland county, Ohio, September 25, 1845. He attended the common schools in the usual way and supplemented this training by a short course at the Dunk- ard's Academy in New Vienna. In September, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry with which he served to the close of the civil war, taking part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, besides various lighter engagements in middle Tennessee. After returning from the army he resumed work on the farm where he had the best of training under the care and instruction of his lamented father. At pres ent he resides on a farm of 126 acres adjoining Careytown, upon which he erected a handsome dwelling-house some four years since, and it is only necessary to glance over the surroundings to be assured that the proprietor is carrying out the up-to-date and progressive methods of farming which were taught him in youth. He became connected with the New Vienna bank in the second year of its establishment and for ten years past has been president of that financial institution. He avoids the strifes and intrigues of "practical politics" and only. consents to hold such places as that of school director, which he does for the purpose of assisting the cause of education which he has much at heart. March 3, 1886, Mr. Good was married to Anna Hallowell, a lady of excellent social connections and high standing in the community. Her parents were Elwood and Mary D. (Phil- lips) Hallowell, who came from Chester county, Pa., and secured a home in Fairfield township about 1850. Besides Mrs. Good, their children are Joseph C., who resides in Denver; Edgar, residing at Highland ; and Bertha H., wife of Charles G. Blackburn. Mr. Hal- lowell, the father, died July 9, 1885, aged about sixty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Good are members of the Society of Friends.
John H. Gossett, trustee of Salem township, is a grandson of one of the most distinguished and enterprising of the Highland county pioneers. John Gossett emigrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky and from there, in 1797, to Chillicothe, where he remained two years. He then came to Highland county and settled in New Market town- ship, where in 1801 he established two miles below New Market the first successful grist mill in the county. It was a good-sized, hewed- log structure, with a clapboard roof-quite an imposing affair for those days. The millwright who did this architectural job was an old Scotchman, who received as his pay one hundred acres of land which made him independent for life. The iron used in this pio- neer mill had to be brought all the way from Kentucky, while John Gossett himself manufactured the stones from two large boulders.
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He disposed of the mill after running it several years, but it was long continued by his successors. He was a very kind-hearted man, and if persons applying for flour or meal were unable to pay for it, he would cheerfully give to them. Eventually, he sold his place on White Oak and removed to a farm two miles east of New Market and later to Salem township, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was the first representative of Highland county in the state legislature, serving during the year 1808. Among the chil- dren of this worthy pioneer was a son named Joseph Gossett, who was born in New Market township in February, 1821, and proved during a comparatively short life to be the worthy offspring of a worthy sire. He married Louisa, daughter of George Rader, and first located on what is now known as the M. Barr farm, but in a few. years traded for a farm in Brush Creek, and later bought 203. acres in Salem township, mostly unimproved land. This he greatly improved and much of it was brought into cultivation, the area at the same time being increased until his holdings amounted to 377 acres. For a while he conducted a brickyard at Lynchburg and sub- sequently had a tannery at Pricetown, being in fact one of the busi- est and most enterprising men in the county. He was a great friend of education and one of the first promoters of the free school system in Salem township, his sympathies being due largely to the fact that he was himself a man of reading and fully appreciated the advan- tages of learning. His life, so bright and promising of future use- fulness, was cut off in the very flower of his manhood, at the age of thirty-four years. His widow continued to live on the home place for nine years, when she married Daniel Workman and shortly afterward removed to Iowa, where she died at the age of eighty. Joseph and Louisa (Rader) Gossett had nine children, of whom Riley, the first born, is the only one that has died. Those living are Mary M., wife of M. Young of Iowa; the subject of this sketch ; James W., at the old home place; Martha J., widowed wife of B. Steers, of Iowa; Anna E., wife of A. Cochran, of Salem township ; Nancy E., wife of J. Lewis, of Oklohoma; Louisa, wife of William Phifer, of Iowa; and Joseph, a resident of California. John H. Gossett, third in age of the family, was born in Salem township, Highland county, Ohio, September 4, 1845, and remained at home until maturity. He married Luvina, daughter of Abraham and Mary Roberts, of Clay township, and located there on a farm of 54 acres which he had previously purchased. This place he sold and in conjunction with his brother bought the old home farm which they conducted in partnership five years, after which time John H. Gossett became owner of the estate where he now resides. This consists at present of 70 acres but he owns interests in other landed property and altogether is one of the substantial farmers of the township. His home place is well improved with modern dwelling house and
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convenient farm buildings, and everything indicates good manage- ment and painstaking care. He is a member of the Christian church and is serving his second term as trustee of Salem township. By his first marriage he has seven children: Wyatt H., of Clay town- ship; Alva C., of Salem township; Mary E., wife of Alva Robin- son, of Hamer township; Elmer L., of Clay township; Myrta L., wife of William Roberts, of Hamer township; Verdie M., wife of Dr. Pratt, of Pricetown ; and John A., at home. Their mother died in 1884, and a year later he married Caroline, daughter of James M. and Millie Faris, of Salem township, and they have had three children : Joseph C. and Halder H., at home, and Bessie, deceased.
Francis M. Granger, M. D., of Russell, is one of the best known physicians of Highland county, where he has been practicing medi- cine nearly thirty years. He comes, too, of a highly honorable line- age, both of his grandfathers being soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and his ancestors all down the line noted as industrious and patri- otic citizens. His grandfather, Ephriam Granger, was a native of New York, where his forefathers had been settled several genera- tions, his birth occurring far back in the eighteenth century. He served in the Revolutionary war and in the second decade of the last century joined the tide of emigration that was setting in strongly towards the northwest. In 1814 he located in what was then Columbia but now a part of Cincinnati, and soon afterward erected in the present county of Brown the first horse mill seen in that part of Ohio. Thurstin Granger, one of his sons, was born near Seneca Lake, Cayuga county, N. Y., October 1, 1803, and was consequently about eleven years old when brought by his parents to the west- ern wilderness. February 15, 1827, he was married to Hannah Doughty, who was born at Spotswood, N. J., April 1; 1812 and still resides with her son at Russell, Ohio. Her parents were Benjamin and Euphama Doughty, the former born November 25, 1767, died April 29, 1853 ; the latter born in 1773, died October 20, 1846. The children of Thurstin and Hannah (Doughty) Granger were nine in number and all the dates of their births, and deaths when such have occurred, are recorded in the old family Bible printed in 1819, still preserved and much valued by the descendants. From these records a transcription shows as follows; Euphama, eldest child, born in January, 1830; Benjamin D., born January 6, 1834, now a prac- ticing physician at Hillsboro; Ephriam, born January 9, 1837; Margaret S., born June 3, 1839, wife of John B. Gustin of Indian- apolis ; Frances A., born in1841, and died at four years of age ; Mary A., born in 1843, now residing as the widow of Eli Smith in Spring- field, Ohio; Mathilda, born in 1846, died at the age of seven years ; Sarah A., born July 15, 1851, now a milliner at Cincinnati. Fran- cis M. Granger, who completes the list, was the youngest but one
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of the children, his birth occurring October 14, 1847. His educa- tion was acquired in the schools at Lebanon and Warren, Ohio, and in 1869, after finishing his academical course, he entered the Ohio Medical college. After putting in several years of hard study at that institution he was graduated with the class of March, 1873. Without loss of time he located at Russell and entered actively upon the practice of his profession, which he has kept up continuously for nearly thirty years. During this long period of ministering to the sick and healing the wounded, Dr. Granger has acquired a wide acquaintance and his friendships are numerous all over the county. He is a member of the state and county medical societies, and keeps posted on all the new discoveries and appliances affecting his pro- fession. October 10, 1895, he was married to Emma, daughter of John Moody and Rachel (Smith) Whitacre of Lynchburg. Mrs. Granger's father was born August 23, 1817, near Rochester, Ohio, and died March 24, 1896, at the residence of his son, Perry Whit- acre, of Lynchburg. Her mother, Rachel (Smith) Whitacre, was a native of Edwardsville, Ohio, and died February 19, 1876. Dr. Granger's religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member for some years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Hayes I. Gray, one of the leading grocers of Greenfield, though a native of Ross, has spent all of his adult life in Highland county. His father, David Gray, was born and reared in Highland, but after- wards settled at Chillicothe, where the followed the business of build- ing and contracting until his death, which occurred in 1890. He married Mary C. Robbins, of Grenfield, by whom he had two sons, the eldest of whom, Charles F. Gray, is in the jewelry business at Dayton, Ohio. Hayes I. Gray, the other son, was born in 1876 while his parents were living at Chillicothe, Ohio. When fourteen years of age he secured a position in the general merchandise store of Boden Bros., at Greenfield, and worked for that firm eight years. In 1899 he decided to go into business on his own account and selected groceries as the line in which he would embark. Accord- ingly he opened a stock in Greenfield and started in a modest way at first, but has met with success, his trade growing steadily until his establishment has become one of the leading grocery concerns of the city. For awhile he conducted a branch grocery in the Oklahoma district but later disposed of that by sale. Aside from his regular business he holds stock in the Home Phone company of Greenfield and takes an interest in every enterprise which promises to aid in the city's development. He is fond of the fraternal fellowship afforded by the various fraternities and holds membership in several of them. In Masonry he has reached the Royal Arch degree and he is connected with the Woodmen of America and Improved Order
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of Red Men. In January, 1902, he was married to Mary L., daugh- ter of Rev. Howard Phillips and niece of George W. Rucker. His religious affiliations are with the Methodists, and he holds member- ship in the church of that denomination at Greenfield.
Jacob M. Grim, a civil war veteran with the rank of first lieuten- ant, and a substantial farmer, belongs to a family which has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Highland county since 1820. In that year his father, Peter Grim, came from Rockbridge county, Virginia, and settled in Highland county, where he became a popular and influential citizen. He married Mary, daughter of John Walker, an Irishman by birth who also came to Ohio from Virginia and was one of the first settlers of Highland county. Peter and Mary (Walker) Grim reared a family of five children, of whom John W. and William C. reside in Paint town- ship; Sarah Ann married William P. Hughey, but is now dead, and Henry Turner has also passed away. Jacob M. Grim, the young- est of the family, was born in Paint township, Highland county, Ohio, in 1833, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. The log cabin schoolhouse was still in vogue in his boyhood days and he got the full benefit of the same, after which his life passed uneventfully on the farm until the outbreak of the civil war. During the sum- mer of 1863, it became necessary to garrison numerous forts and other strongholds captured from the enemy and to meet this demand two regiments of heavy artillery were recruited in the Sixth Ohio congressional district. June 7th, 1863, Jacob M. Grim was appointed second lieutenant of Company A, Second regiment Ohio heavy artillery, which was mustered into the service at Camp Den- nison and on August 19 ordered to the barracks at Covington, Ky. In the spring of 1864 it was sent to Tennessee and participated in the campaigns of that and other states during the remainder of the war under the command of Col. H. G. Gibson. January 1, 1864, Mr. Grim received promotion to the first lieutenancy of his com- pany and he held a commission as such when mustered out August 23, 1865. After the cessation of hostilities, he resumed farming, which has been his lifelong occupation in the county of Highland, with the exception of one year spent in Iowa during his early man- hood. He owns a fine dairy farm in Paint township and it would be proper to describe him as one of the successful and representa- tive agriculturists of Highland county. Aside from his farming interests, he has found time to take a lively part in all the local political battles and has been quite prominent in the ranks of his party. He came within one vote of obtaining the nomination for sheriff some years ago and has held several of the more important township offices, being trustee for six years and justice of the peace for a long period. He helped to organize Trimble post, No. 442,
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Grand Army of the Republic, at Rainsboro, and was commander of the same several years. He has been connected with the Masonic order for half a lifetime, being a member of the blue lodge for thirty- five years and of the chapter for twenty years. He has also held membership in the order of Odd Fellows for forty-nine years. In 1853 he married Nancy Malvina Maddox, member of a family that was old and highly respectable on the side of both parents. Her father, Samuel Maddox, who came from Virginia, was a prominent and prosperous citizen of Paint township and noted for his enthusi- astic patriotism before and during the civil war. Though above the military age, he insisted in volunteering and became a member of the Eleventh regiment Ohio cavalry, with which he was serving in the Rocky Mountain regions at the time of his death near Cripple Creek, Col., March 31, 1863. His wife was Malinda E. Huitt, a near relative of the distinguished New York family of this name. Her father, Dorthica Huitt, was the builder of the old mill on Paint creek, known by his name for many years, and one of the first estab- lishments of the kind in Highland county. He was a notable char- acter in many ways, being a Methodist preacher of considerable reputation, and known far and wide for his skill with the fife, hav- ing played that instrument of martial music during the stirring days of the war of 1812. Samuel and Malinda (Huitt) Maddox reared a family of nine children: Nancy Malvina, as previously stated, became the wife of Jacob M. Grim; Mary, who married Milton Newby is dead; Amanda, widow of William Edmondson, is living at Indianapolis; Leonidas served four years in the civil war, first in the Sixtieth Ohio regiment with which he was captured at Harp- er's Ferry and paroled, subsequently joining the Twenty-fourth Ohio independent battery of light artillery and being; shortly after- ward killed ; Samuel is an attorney at Louisville, Ky. ; Emily, widow. of Sanford W. Washburn, resides at Springfield; Allen D. is a Methodist minister of Westville; Eva, is wife of William Holrin, shipbuilder at Newport News; John is in the lumber business at Clarksburg, W. Va. Mr. and Mrs. Grim have had four children, only two of whom are living. Frank, the eldest son, who had been in the railroad business for twenty years, was struck October 25, 1899, by a train in the yards at Chattanooga, Tenn., and died in a few hours. Mary Ida died in 1860 at the age of four years ; Will- iam P. lives in Ross county and George resides on the old home place near New Petersburg, Highland county. Mr. and Mrs. Grim are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
George G. Grim is one of the popular and substantial men of Paint township, as is proved by his repeated elections to the position of trustee, the most important of the township offices. He is a native of Paint township and has spent all his life there, doing his share
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towards the growth and development of that portion of Highland county. He is a son of Jacob Grim and his birth occurred at New Petersburg, Highland county, October 23, 1857. He grew up on a farm, learned all the details connected with that kind of work and in the meantime secured a fair education by attendance at the com- mon schools of the village. In 1882 he was married to Miss Minnie Martin and soon after, in conjunction with his brother Frank, bopght the farm where Thomas Cope now lives. In 1890 he removed to his present place of residence where he has since carried on general farming and stock-raising. When the removal of Thomas Davis caused a vacancy in the office of township trustee, Mr. Grim was appointed to fill the same and at the expiration of his term was elected to serve one year. In the spring of 1902 he was again elected trustee of Paint township for a term of three years, which he is now serving. Mr. Grim has a fondness for fraternal life and has been quite active in Oddfellowship. For fifteen years he has been a member of Emerald lodge, No. 211, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at New Petersburg, and has filled all the chairs con- . nected therewith. At present he holds the position of financial sec- retary and is regarded by his associates as one of the moving spirits in keeping up interest in the order. He is also a member of the popular fraternity known as the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Grim have three children, Grace, Frank L. and Ralph W. and the family is highly esteemed in the community.
John J. Grove, a lately deceased citizen of Paint township, was an extensive land-owner and well known for many years as a minis- ter of the Christian church. He was a son of George L. Grove and born in Paint township, Highland county, Ohio, on the farm now occupied by James Parshell, May 20, 1829. His early education and training for future duties were received in his native township where he managed the farm for his mother several years before reaching legal age. February 7, 1849, he was married to Sarah A. Snider, by whom he had five children: George L., Thomas and William live in Clinton county ; Lucinda married Daniel West and resides in Kansas; Samuel, the youngest, has passed away. After his marriage, Mr. Grove lived some time on the farm now occupied by Mr. Finegan, later went to Liberty township where he spent eleven years and then returned to the farm in Paint township where he spent the remainder of his days. His first wife died July 5, 1869, and March 31, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary A. McFad- den, a native of Clinton county. The children by this union were five in number and named as follows: Hannah, wife of Frank Bay- ham ; Walter, a resident of Paint township; Mary S., deceased ; Har- rison, at home with his mother; and Rebecca, deceased. Mr. Grove's death occurred August 12, 1897, and his remains were
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interred at the cemetery near Centerville in presence of many who had known him long and esteemed him as a good man. He was a devoted member of the Christian church and for many years a min- ister of that denomination. He owned a considerable amount of land on which he had placed many improvements.
Thomas J. Gustin, of Belfast, a veteran business man and influ- ential citizen, is of a family long known in this part of Ohio, being a grandson of Dr. John Gustin, of Adams county, famous among the early settlers for his success in treating disease with those nat- ural remedies known to the Indians and other students of nature. On account of the nature of his practice he was widely known as the "Root doctor." Dr. Gustin was a native of Kentucky and son of a soldier of the Revolution who served under General Morgan and carried to his grave a British bullet received at the battle of Cowpens. When a young man Dr. Gustin married Susanna Scott, daughter of a Revolutionary soldier, and with his wife removed to Adams county with the early settlers. Their children were Edward S., deceased; William, of North Liberty; Bratton, living at the old home in Adams county ; Cornelius, Melinda, Susanna, Rebecca and Rhoda, deceased ; and Delilah J., of Adams county. Edward S. Gustin, father of Thomas J., was born on the home farm near May- hill, Adams county, where Dr. Gustin at one time owned a large area of land, and he resided there after his marriage to Louisa Kerr, a native of Virginia, until his untimely and lamented death at the age of thirty-six vears. His widow, who survived him for many years, reared at the old homestead their family of five boys, Thomas J., Charles W., John M., and Nicholas O. The two latter are now upon the home place, and C. W. resides also in Adams county. Thomas J. Gustin was born at the Adams county home of his family, Decem- ber 20, 1845, and was reared there until in his youth he went to the battlefield with the gallant boys of Ohio in defense of the Union. His first enlistment was a private in Company G of the Hundred and Seventy-second regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he was mustered in at Charleston, Va., and served in the mountain campaigns in the Virginias. He was often under fire, took part in numerous skirmishes and was a participant in the battles of Cloyd Mountain, Loop Creek and the Salt Works, while with this regi- ment, and six months later re-enlisted in Company A of the Eighty- fourth regiment Ohio infantry, with which he was in various minor engagements, and while at Charleston received injuries that crip- pled him for life. After this devoted service for his country Mr. Gustin returned home, and for ten years was employed with his uncle William at North Liberty, as a carriage maker. Subsequently, after residing at various places, he made his home at Belfast, where he carried on the work of carriage manufacturing until 1897. Since
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