USA > Ohio > Noble County > The county of Noble; a history of Noble County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapter on military affairs, and special attention given to resources. > Part 25
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wife of Frederick Garrel; Maggie Jane, unmarried and at home; James G. Blaine; Francis Earle, Eva Iona, Raymond, and Don Carlos, all still under the parental roof and attending school. Mr. Foster has been a life-long Republican and an ardent supporter of party principles. He has never sought official position other than the minor offices. Mrs. Foster is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Foster is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding his mem- bership in the Reinersville lodge.
LORENZO Dow MILNER, a farmer of Sharon township, was born in Windsor township, Morgan county, on March 15, 1857, and is a son of Stephen and Esther (Brown) Milner. The father was born in Belmont county, June 25, 1827, has spent his active years in farm- ing but is now retired and living at Chester Hill. The mother was born in Northumberland county, England, February 14, 1829, and is the mother of four children, one of whom died in infancy ; the liv- ing are: John Taylor, a hardware man of Stockport; Lorenzo D .; Mary Alice, wife of Dana Scott, a transportation man. The Milner family was among the early settlers of Virginia, from whence they emigrated at an early day. Mr. Milner, the subject of this review, was educated in the public schools of his native county. He was reared to farm life and followed that vocation except for two years which he spent in the hardware business in Stockport. He was married May 20, 1891, to Emma Patterson, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Lee (Davis) Patterson. Her father was born near Philadelphia in 1811, and came to Noble county in 1835. He was one of the carly settlers of Sharon township, where he is still living at the age of 93 years, cared for by his youngest child, Mrs. Milner. No man in Noble county is better or more widely known than Joseph Patterson. He has been a life-long Democrat, active in his early years in all phases of political life. He is a Presbyterian. Mrs. Milner's mother, Hannah L. Davis, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1822, and died in 1888. Ten children were born to them, of whom Emma, James L., Alice J., Samuel and Joseph F., are living; William V. died at the age of twenty-two, the others in childhood. Mrs. Milner was an active self-reliant girl before her marriage, being a dress maker in Caldwell for some years, and con- ducting quite an extensive business there. Mr. and Mrs. Milner have had two children born to them, the eldest, Harold Albertus, born April 24, 1892, a bright and promising child who died August 13, 1896, and M. Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Milner are members of the Disciple church at Reinersville. Mr. Milner is a staunch Republi- can in his political views, though he has never sought preferment in any way.
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FRANCIS ADUDDELL, a practical farmer and stock grower of Sharon township, was born near Fairview, Guernsey county, January 1, 1829. He is a son of Cornelius and Phoebe (Gardner) Aduddell, the father born in Loudoun county, Va., and the mother a native of Ireland, who came to this country at the age of seventeen years. They were married in Guernsey county, and located on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this review in 1832. There was a family of eight children, Robert, Thursa, George, Francis, William, Thomas, John Milton, and Lizzie, and of these Francis and William are the only survivors; two died in childhood, Thomas, in California ; Robert at Central City, Colo., a soldier in the Crimean war; Clarisa, wife of William Archibald, died in Sharon township; and George, who died in Wisconsin. Mr. Francis Aduddell was edu- cated in the public schools of his native township, and has always been a farmer, living upon the same farm seventy-one years. He inherited a one-half interest in one hundred twenty acres, to which he has added by purchase until he now has two hundred fifty-six acres. Upon this farm are commodious barns, a splendid brick residence, convenient out-houses, and every thing conducive to a well ordered farm. The residence was built in 1877, and is the best country resi- dence in Sharon township. It is large and commodious, built for comfort rather than adornment, though it occupies a commanding site overlooking a beautiful valley to the westward. Mr. Aduddell was married in 1863 to Mary Ellen Lyons, a native of Sharon township, and of a large family born to this union, but three are now living : Anna Frances Gorrell, Milton A., and Harley. Mrs. Aduddell died, and twenty years later he married Alice Jane Patterson, daughter of Joseph Patterson, Sr., the oldest living native of Noble county. Mr. Aduddell has been unfortunate in a financial way, having paid about $8,000, of security debts. Notwithstanding this, he has gradually accumulated property, paid up his debts honorably, and is now more than square with the world. Mr. Aduddell has been a life-long Republican and has always taken an active interest in public affairs, serving his township as trustee at one time. He was a member of Sharon Masonic Lodge for forty-seven years and is now dimitted.
EASTON W. FOSTER, a farmer and stock raiser of Sharon township, was born in Brookfield, September 23, 1849. He is a son of John and Mary (Boney) Foster, who are mentioned elsewhere in this book. Mr. Foster was educated in the common schools of his native town- ship. He invested his dower in land in Sharon and Brookfield town- ships, and began farming on a large scale. He was married to Mary Ellen Engle in 1868, and four children have been born to this union, the eldest of whom died in early infancy, and the others are Alice
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Quintilla, wife of Mr. Ralph; Enola, wife of Stanley Hamilton ; and Roselda, who lives at home. Mrs. Foster died July 29, 1889, and Mr. Foster married his present companion, Thiphena Harmon, a daughter of Isaac Harmon, late of Sharon. Two sons have been born to this union, Glenn Edgar, born September 24, 1899, and Lynn Hay, born January 14, 1902. Two brothers of Mr. Foster, James K. and George W., were soldiers in the Civil war, both serving in the Western Army under General Sherman. Mr. Foster owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, and engages in gen- eral farming and stock raising, in which he has been very success- ful. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, but is not affiliated with any religious organization, though he is a liberal sup- porter of the gospel. He assisted in building the Methodist church at Olive Green and is a regular attendant at its services and con- tributor to its support. In politics Mr. Foster is a Republican, but has never sought official positions. He is a public spirited and enter- prising citizen, interested in everything calculated for the interests of his township and county, and is a useful citizen in the community. His name and influence are to be found at the head of every public enterprise, and he has given largely of his means and time to this end. Mr. Foster is somewhat of a genius in the matter of artistic work. Soon after the death of President McKinley, while passing along the road in his buggy thinking of the National disasters which had befallen us, he noticed a sassafras tree of peculiar formation. A vine in the form of a serpent, had grown about the young tree, form- ing itself into so perfect an image of a serpent as to appear like a photograph from life. He out the piece out and took it home with him intending to make a cane in commemoration of the martyred President. The result is a creation which at once evinces the handi- work of a genins. The cane represents many historical and emblem- atic features, having carved upon the wood, the time and place of William McKinley's birth, of his assassination and death, the name of the assassin, the funeral hymn, a Bible quotation, and Mckinley's last words. The serpent is made to represent Anarchy, the cause of the deed. Inlaid in pure gold is a representation of a glorious sun- set, emblematic of the end of a well spent life. Several other pieces in silver are inlaid, rpresenting the sad event in various phases. A detailed description is not possible in this connection, but suffice it to say that this product of Mr. Foster's skill has been admired by all who have ever seen it. It was on exhibition at the State Capitol. in both houses of the legislature, where it was admired by President Roose- velt. This unstinted approval has induced Mr. Foster to apply for a copyright to secure the manufacture of other walking sticks after this model. He has been offered $100, for the original, but no money would induce him to part with it. This cane will be taken to
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St. Louis by Mr. David Friedman and put on exhibition in the Ohio building.
REV. JOSEPH POLLMAN, pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception, Fulda, was born in the province of Westphalia, Ger- many, on October 12, 1850. He was aducated in his native country, graduating in 1870. In the autumn of that year, he came to Amer- ica, locating at Pittsburg. After some months of rest, he gave him- self to teaching in parochial schools in which occupation he remained fifteen years. Then he entered upon a course in philosophy at Notre Dame University, lasting two years ; was three years at St. John's University in Minnesota, studing theology, and later finished at St. Mary's Seminary at Cincinnati, from which institution he was ordained to the ministry of the Holy Catholic church. Father Poll- man began his ministerial career as professor in Columbus ; afterward he took charge of three churches, English, French, and German, resid- ing in Glenmont. There he remained seven and one half years, com- ing to his present work in December, 1900. In this charge he attends to the spiritual wants of about two hundred families, all German. There is, in the village, and well known locally, a Catholic District School, where most of the children of the district attend and receive instruction in all the common school branches, besides very capable instruction in music, drawing, the languages, etc., if desired. The school is taught by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, there being four of them employed in the different lines of work. The enroll- ment for the last school year was one hundred thirty-two. Father Pollman is a companionable and genial gentleman, whose acquaint- ance it is a pleasure to make. He holds a most responsible position, and is entirely consecrated to his work, the church being one of the finest country churches in the state. He has been in active work, ever since his arrival on American soil, making thirty years before he took his first vacation. The church over which Father Pollman presides, a history of which appears in the chapter on Religion, is well organized, well officered, and in a most prosperous condition. There are societies of various kinds for the instruction and entertain- ment of old and young. The interior finishing and furnishings of the church are superb in every way, and many thousands of dollars have been expended in beautifying and adorning this religious home of over two hundred thrifty farmers' families. The pastoral home, though not a modern building architecturally, is well furnished and comfortable, while the grounds, are well kept and pleasing to the eye. The Sisters' Home recently erected upon the church grounds, is a neat frame cottage, two stories in height, and of sufficient capacity to accommodate comfortably those for whom it was designed.
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GUSTAVUS C. EHLERMAN, merchant and general business man of the village of Fulda, was born in Rotenburg, Germany, on Decem- ber 23, 1847, and is a son of Frederick and Sophia (Duvell) Ehler- man, also natives of Germany where their lives were spent. The father was a farmer, having a life lease on the Domain of Luhne, an inheritance transmitted to the oldest son in the family for many gen- erations. It embraces three thousand acres belonging to the kingdom of Hanover, now owned by Prussia. The eldest brother, Frederick, is now in possession of this inheritance, and is designated as Land Rath or Lord of the Domain, that being a prominent offical title, one of the Council of the Empire. Three sisters are living in their native land, Julia, Cecelia, and Maria. Mr. Ehlerman was educated in his native country and attended the Commercial College in Hanover. He served an apprenticeship as salesman in the white goods and silk business, and came to America at the age of eighteen, and securing employment as a general salesman at Miltonsburg, Monroe county. He moved to Noble county in 1869, and entered the employ of John S. Hohman, in the general merchandising business. Mr. Ehlerman pur- chased his stock and began business on his own account in 1876, in which he has been exceptionally successful. He has dealt in tobacco since 1866, being a buyer for others until 1876, since which time he has carried on a very extensive business. He handles annually from two hundred thousand pounds up to half a million and gives employ- ment in the productive seasons, to as many as sixty hands. He owns one of the largest packing houses in southern Ohio. In connection with these varied interests, he and his sons run a farm mostly devoted to cattle raising. Mr. Ehlerman was married on April 11, 1873, to Mary E. Hohman, a native of Noble county, and a daughter of John S. and Otilda (Archer) Hohman, both deceased. They are the parents of ten children : Frederick M., a traveling salesman of Sionx City, Iowa; Christian G., a salesman in the same house ; Ernest, at home, engaged in business with his father; William, assistant in the store ; Adolph and Julius C., in school ; Terrance, at home; Mary. wife of William Arnold of Caldwell; Julia, in her father's store : and Cecelia, at home. Mr. Ehlerman and family are members of the church of the Immaculate Conception. They have a beautiful home in the village of Fulda, where the traveler is welcomed with generous hospitality. In politics Mr. Ehlerman is a Democrat, but has never sought public office. He is one of the staunch and successful business men of Noble county.
GEORGE P. SHIRLEY, of Dexter City, a manufacturer of cigars and dealer in smokers' supplies, was born in Washington county. on June 12, 1857, and is a son of Joseph and Lurana (Totman) Shir- ley, both natives of the same county. The father was a blacksmith,
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who removed to Athens county many years ago, where both parents died. There was a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, and they are : Irvin, Celista, John, George, Luverna, Joseph, Emma, and Viola. Mr. Shirley was educated in Washing- ton county, and spent his early years in farming. About 1887, he began an apprenticeship in the cigar maker's trade in Athens, and remained there about four years. He worked in various places in West Virginia and Ohio, and in 1901 started in business in Dexter City, being the only manufacturer in the town. He has been emi- nently successful in this line of work, making a specialty of the Dexter Stogie. Mr. Shirley was married on December 23, 1880, to Edna Sedwick, a native of Athens county, ånd a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Sedwick, old residents of Athens. To them have been born a family of eight children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Maude, Mabel, Heber, Minnie, Sylvia, Herman and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Shirley are members of the Methodist church. In politics Mr. Shirley is a Republican, though he has never sought office. He is a member of Jewel Lodge No. 726 Knights of Pythias, and an officer of that lodge. Mr. Shirley is a man of sterling integrity and upright- ness of character. He is industrious and enterprising, and his care- ful, frugal habits, combined with hard work, and careful manage- ment, bid fair to place him in affluent circumstances.
LEVI DICK HEADLEY, undertaker and dealer in furniture in Dex- ter City, was born near Caldwell, on February 18, 1873; being the only son of Rev. J. W. Headley, a minister of the Free Methodist church in Zanesville, and Abbie (Merry) Headley, a daughter of Cot- ton Merry, an old and honored family in Noble county ; the family consisted of three children, who were: Mrs. Annie Hunter, and Mrs. Martha Sherburn, whose husbands are both Methodist ministers ; and Levi Dick. The paternal great grandfather, Benjamin Head- lev, emigrated from Scotland to Pennsylvania. The grandfather Weedon Headley was born in the Keystone State and emigrated to Ohio in early manhood. The father, J. W. Headley, was born at Olive, in 1846, and removed to Cleveland in 1881, where he remained twenty years. Mr. Levi Headley was educated at Spring Arbor Seminary, Michigan, where he completed the literary course. He learned the undertaking business in Jackson, Mich., being a graduate of Barnes' School of Embalming. He worked at the business some time in Michigan, and in January, 1895, purchased his present busi- ness in Dexter City. Mr. Headley was married June 29, 1897, to Estella Shriver, a daughter of Adam and Mary Shriver, the father a well-to-do and honored citizen of the county, and the agent of the Pa. R. R. at Dexter City. Mrs. Shriver died in 1895. Mrs. Head- ley is the eldest of three children, the others being, Nella Lawrence,
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of Orland, Ind., and Lawrence G. of Dalhart, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Headley have three children, James Adam, Paul Wilson, and Mary Lois. Mr. Headley is prominently connected with the social orders, being a member of Dexter City Lodge No. 496, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is Past Grand; of Jewel Lodge No. 726 Knights of Pythias, being Past Chancellor Commander; and Past Grand Representative ; and of Macksburg Lodge Free and Accepted Masons. In political views, a Republican, he has been a member of the Dexter City Council, and was census enumerator of Jefferson township in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Headley are members of the Metho- dist church.
BENJAMIN O. CHESSHIR, an oil inspector of Dexter City, was born in Olive township on February 2, 1860, and is a son of Lemuel B. and Zipporah (Webber) Chesshir, both natives of Olive township. The father was a soldier in Company K, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle at Ezra Church near Atlanta in 1864, being buried on the battle field on which he fell. The mother now lives at South Olive; there were three children in the family, all of whom are living; Ellsworth C., the eldest, is a hotel proprietor at Honor, Michigan ; he married Cora Tracey. The other one, Anna V., wife of Aranda Davis, an oil man of South Olive; and the subject of this sketch. Mr. Chesshir was educated in the public schools, in Muskingum College, and at Lebanon University. He fitted himself for teaching, following that profession for ten years in Noble county, Ohio, and in Stafford county, Kansas. He was school examiner of that county for two years and one half, and served four years as clerk of the district court of Stafford county, a position to which he was elected in 1888, and again in 1890. On leaving the office he entered the flour, feed and coal business at St. Johns, Kansas, subsequently taking in a partner and adding the lumber business. The firm dealt extensively in broom corn, buying and shipping to eastern markets. On account of failing health, he sold out in 1900, and went to the Sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan, and in October of that year he came to Dexter City where he has since been engaged in various phases of the oil trade, being a producer as well as superintendent of leases for the York Ridge Oil Company. Mr. Chesshir has valuable land in Kansas, to the amount of one hundred and sixty acres, city property in St. Johns, and in Noble county he holds an eighth interest in a lease held by the Noble and Homestead Oil Company, producers of oil, gas, et cetera, a profitable holding at present. He also has one of the finest homes in Dexter City. Mr. Chesshir was married in St. Johns, Kansas, in 1889, to Thenettie Carlisle, a native of Pennsyl- vania, then a resident of Kansas. She is a danghter of David B. and Mary R. Carlisle, now of Stafford, Kansas, the father a well-to-do
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THE COUNTY OF NOBLE.
farmer, owning a large farm, and being very extensively engaged in stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Chesshir have an interesting family of three children, Ethel, Earle and Mary, the two former being born in Kansas and the latter in Dexter City. In politics Mr. Chesshir is a Republican, by which party he was honored in his Kansas home. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Stafford, Kansas, and of the Knights of Pythias at St. Johns.
JAMES GORDON, a prominent farmer of Jefferson township, was born on the 23d of August, 1825, on territory now embraced within Noble county, where he has always resided. His parents were Will- iam and Elizabeth (Steward) Gordon, the father a native of Balti- more and the mother, of Pennsylvania. They were married in Pennsylvania, and moved to Noble county in the fall of 1824, where the father took up government land and established a home in the wilderness. Neither of his parents lived to be as old as the subject, though both nearly reached the allotted years of man; their family consisted of six children who lived to years of maturity, and three of whom are still living; Joseph, the eldest, was a well-to-do farmer in Noble county, but it is now deceased ; Steward, a farmer in Washing- ton county, is also deceased; George W., also died in that county ; James, Levi and Jane are still living. Mr. James Gordon grew up amid the environments of pioneer life, and received the limited edu- cation of the subscription schools of his boyhood days. He and his brothers assisted in clearing up the parental farm and as they attained their majority, each started in life without parental aid. In the autumn of 1852, he purchased a portion of the farm upon which he has lived since, adding to it as he could until he now owns three hun- dred and sixty-four acres in one body, near Macksburg. Upon this land he has erected large and commodious barns and a fine country residence, occupying an elevated and sightly position overlooking a wide range of country. For more than fifty years Mr. Gordon has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, at one time giving some prominence to tobacco culture. Mr. Gordon was married December 15, 1861, to Melvina Clinedinst, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Adam Clinedinst, also a native of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. Her people came to Ohio in 1842 and located in Guernsey county, afterward in Noble county, where her father died, and where her mother is still living at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon reared a family of eleven children, named as follows: Henry, born April 28, 1864; Adam C., born August 23, 1865 ; Clara, born October 30, 1866 ; James D., December 26, 1867 ; Julia M., February 26, 1869; Charles, June 26, 1870; Mary, died in childhood ; Perry born August 21, 1873, and died January 10, 1896; Emily, August 1, 1875 ; John, May 28, 1877 ; Eliza, Novem-
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ber 29, 1881; and William, February 22, 1883. The two last named are still at home, William taking charge of the farm. Six of the chil- dren are married, four live in Colorado, one in New Mexico, and the others in Noble county. Mr. Gordon has been a Republican in poli- tics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years.
EDWARD C. BROWN, ex-county commissioner of Noble county, and a prominent farmer of Jefferson township, was born near Hoskins- ville on September 5, 1851, and is a son of James and Hannah (Mar- quis) Brown both natives of Noble county. The family is a very old one in the county, being established at an early date by the paternal grandfather, Dexter Brown, who secured government land in Noble township and there reared his family, and there died. The father, James Brown, was born on this farm in 1823, and is now liv- ing near Sarahsville. The family of James and Hannah Brown com- prised four boys and four girls, five of whom are now living. The family was as follows: Caroline, now Mrs. Sampson Harris of Enoch township; Sarah Jane, now Mrs. Frank Margrave, of Okla- homa ; Edward C .; John D., now deceased ; James Webster, killed in Colorado ; Lizzie, now Mrs. Kay, of Cameron, Mo .; George McClel- land, of Caldwell; Mahala, wife of William Lanam, the latter having a sad fatality following them ; Mr. Lanam was elected Auditor of Noble county, from Center township, and moved to Caldwell to enter upon his official duties. There he took typhoid fever, and both he and his wife died, before he took possession of his office. Mr. Brown, subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, and engaged in farming from childhood. He purchased his present farm in Jef- ferson township in 1878, soon after his marriage, and has lived there since. His marriage occurred on January 3, 1878, to Ada Merry, a
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