USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 60
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Joseph G. Wallace, whose name intro- duces this record. obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools, and afterward attended the college at Northwood for a short period. He then assisted his father upon the home farm until his marriage, which was celebrated December 28. 1864, in Burlington. New York. the lady of his choice being Miss Jeannette Smart, who was born in Scotland and came to the United States with her parents when four- teen years of age. She is a daughter of Thomas and Isabella Smart, who were also natives of the land of the heather. Her father was a farmer by occupation. and fol- lowed that pursuit after locating in Amer- ica. He made his home in Burlington, New York, where his death occurred.
After his marriage Mr. Wallace pur- chased a farm in MeArthur township, and there carried on agricultural pursuits until IS83, owning and operating two hundred and five acres of land. It was a wild tract at the time it came into his possession, but he placed it under the plow, making many excellent improvements thereon and devel- oped a fine farm. He still owns that prop- city, but in 1883 he removed to his present home at the edge of the village of Hunts- ville, purchasing a pleasant residence which he has since occupied. He is now living a retired life. his labors in former years having brought to him capital sufficient for all his needs throughout his remaining days.
In 1884 Mr. Wallace was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 26th of October of that year. She was the mother of five children. of whom three are still living : Isabella E., at home: Wil- liam S., who is pastor of the United Pres- byterian church at Cutler, Illinois : and Anna B., who resides in California. Those who have passed away are David C., who was
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the second in order of birth, and died in an active factor in financial circles, being 1888, at the age of nineteen years : and Jen- the president of the Liberty Bank. nie, who died in 1883, at the age of eleven years. She was the third child of the fam- ily. Robert G. Wallace has one daughter now living. Anna A .. the wife of the Rev. T. F. Cummings. They are missionaries in India, and they have five living children.
In his political views Mr. Wallace of this review is a stalwart Republican, but has never cared for or sought public office. He is, however, an advocate of progress and improvement, and has been a co-operant fac- tor in many movements along these lines. He belongs to the United Presbyterian church. He remembers Logan county when it was almost a wild waste, and he has seen the entire country changed from this state into rich and valuable farms. He has certainly done his share in making the county what it is today, a rich agricultural tract, and he deserves mention in this vol- ume as one of the representatives of this community.
ANDREW J. SURFACE.
The list of the leading citizens of Logan county contains the name of Andrew Jay Surface, one of the representative and hon- ored citizens of West Liberty. His record as an official and a business man has been so honorable that he has gained the confi- dence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and as super- intendent of public instruction he has gained enconiums from his fellow men by reason of the ability with which he has discharged the duties devolving upon him. He is now
Mr. Surface was born in Preble county. Ohio. February 19, 1843, and came of Hu- guenot ancestry, being a descendant of the French colonists who left their native land at the time of the religious disturbances re- sulting in the revocation of the edict of Nantes. They went from France to Ger- many. later to England, and subsequently to America, and as the years passed there came an infusion of German and English blood into the French. The parents of our subject were Adam and Sarah J. ( Trick ) Surface. The father was born in Warren county. Ohio, and the mother's birth oc- curred in Preble county. He was for many years a resident of Ohio, but afterward lived in Indiana for a time, and later in Kansas. His death occurred in the last named state when he was eighty-three years of age, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty- six years. In their family were nine chil- dren, and with one exception all are yet liv- ing. Of this number Noah Surface and our subject were both soldiers of the Civil war.
Andrew J. Surface was provided with excellent educational prvileges fitting him for life's practical duties. He was grad- nated in the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and afterward entered the Ohio State University, and continued his studies in the Law College of Cleveland, Ohio. When a young man, however, he put aside all per- sonal considerations in order that he might aid in the preservation of the Union, and enlisted in Company B. One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle of Faulks Mills and of the Cumberland. After his admis- sion to the bar he began the practice of law
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in Canton, Ohio, and while there was as- sociated in the trial of a case with the late President Mckinley. However, he turned his attention to the work of the educator. and for twenty years successfully engaged in teaching school, winning distinction as one of the most able educators of the state. During this period he served as superintend- ent of schools in Germantown, Dresden. Ironton, East Liverpool and West Liberty, and for two years he was one of the profes- sors in the University of the Pacific at San Jose, California. In 1891, however, he de- cided to give up teaching, and the following year he organized the Farmers' Banking Company of West Liberty. He became one of the directors and the cashier of the institution, acting in these capacities until 1902. In March of that year he organized the Liberty Bank of West Liberty, of which he is now the president, and although only a year has since elapsed, he has made this a reliable financial institution, inaugurating a business policy which commends the en- terprise to the confidence and support of the public.
Mr. Surface is also a valued factor in the business life of West Liberty, because of his activity along other lines. He is one of the directors of the Improvement Com- pany of this place, and for ten years, end- ing in January, 1903, he was the treasurer of the Building & Loan Company. In ad- dition to his other duties he has also been administrator for several estates, and his trustworthiness as well as his business capa- bility is above question.
In 1876 occurred the marriage of Pro- fessor Surface and Miss Emma Jones, a daughter of Captain J. A. Jones. Unto them have been born the following named : Ethel S., the wife of George D. Gray ; Hen-
ry Earl: Andrew J., who died in California ; and Helen Dorothy. Henry Earl is now pursuing a course in the Ohio State Uni- versity.
During his educational career Professor Surface prepared and published lectures on school government, which were put in book form in 1876. He has now in preparation an article of value on the sovereignty of the nation, according to our constitution. For six years he was a member of the board of education of West Liberty, and was its president at the time of the erection of the new school building. His deep interest in educational work has never abated, but has led to active cooperation in every movement calculated to improve the schools in West Liberty and wherever he has lived. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Phi Delta Theta of Oxford, Ohio. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Surface is a man of strong personality and of sterling rectitude of char- acter, commanding the respect and confi- dence of all who admire honesty of purpose and personal worth.
REV. JABEZ S. BLAIR, M. D.
Throughout the years of his active busi- ness career Jabez S. Blair devoted his time and energies to two of the most important occupations that have ever claimed man's attention. He practiced medicine, thus alle- viating the physical suffering of mankind. and afterward he entered the ministry. Now he is living a retired life in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He was born in Zanes-
J. S. BLAIR.
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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field Logan county. December 28, 1826, and is a representative of an old southern family. His paternal grandfather. William Blair, re- moved from Maryland to Kentucky about 1750. Among his children was Brice Blair. who came from the latter state to Logan county in his early boyhood days, where later he was accounted one of the prominent citizens of Monroe township. He en- gaged in teaching to some extent and he filled various local positions, includ- ing that of township clerk. He was a trustee and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and his in- frience was ever found on the side of right and progress. His birth occurred December 20 1796, and on the 29th of September. 18_5. he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Johnson, who was born in Fleming county, Kentucky. July 14, 1804. Her father. Jacob Johnson, removed in an early day from New Jersey to Kentucky and mar- ried Rachel Green, by whom he had twelve children, Mrs. Blair being the eldest. All have now passed away with the exception of Hosea Johnson. The grandfather of Mrs. Blair was a native of England. and became the founder of this family in Amer- ica. To the marriage of Brice Blair and Mary Johnson, there were born five chil- dren : John Fletcher, William Johnson, Mary Jane, achel Elizabeth and Jabez S .. the last namec being the eldest. The mothi- er passed away January 19, 1869, and the father, survivin her but a few months, died December 11, 1 59. Three of their chil- dren have also pa ed away, Jabez and John Fletcher being ti . surviving members of the family.
Jabez S. Blair p. - sued a common school education and in the winter of 1851-2 he was a student in the medical department of
the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In early manhood he engaged in teaching school and afterward entered upon the practice of medicine in Hardin county, Ohio. He had paid his tuition in the univer. sity with the money he had earned in teach- ing while he was a student there during the third term of the school's existence. Fol- lowing his graduation he engaged in teach- ing for two terms and then entered upon the practice of medicine in Zanesfield, where he remained for a year. He after- ward spent a year at Raymond. Union county, and subsequently located at Mount Victory, Hardin county, Ohio, where he continued in successful practice for fifteen years. a liberal patronage being accorded him.
In 1870 Dr. Blair removed to Bellefon- taine and entered the Central Ohio annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was appointed to the Hardin circuit, where he served for two years and then spent a similar period at Forest. On the expiration of that time, having passed the four years of conference reading, he was ordained as an elder at the annual confer- ence, held in Van Wert Ohio, in 1874. Through the following year he was pastor of the church at Bluffton and was next ap- pointed to Spring Hills, where he remained for three years, during which time he re- ceived into the church over one hundred and the full membership was increased fully ser- enty-five. He next served at Bellecenter, Lo- gan county for three years, which was then the limit of service for Methodist ministers. At this place there was marked growth and interest in the church and the membership was increased one hundred and fifty, one hundred and fourteen being taken in in a single year. Rev. Blair's next pastorate cov-
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ered three years at North Fostoria where he Johnson, the widow of Dr. J. W. Johnson was also most successful in his work, re- ceiving a large number into the church. On leaving North Fostoria he was appointed to fill the pulpit at Ansonia. This church had . an out-appointment seven miles away, and at his request Rev. Blair was transferred to Quincy at the end of a year and remained in charge of that church for three years, dur- ing which time seventy or eighty members were added. He then requested and was granted a year's rest, which he spent at his home in Bellefontaine, although frequently during that period he was called upon to fill pulpits during the absence of regular pas- tors.
On resuming his active labors Rev. Blair was assigned to the church at Rushyl- vania where he remained for a year. follow- ed by a year's service at Harpster and two years at Larue. In all of these places he did successful work and at Larue there was a strong desire for him to remain, but he was removed by the conference to Mar- seilles, where he remained for a year. when he was transferred from the Delaware to the Findlay district and served for one year at Wharton. Later he spent a year at West Liberty, and then, because of his wife's health, which rendered her unable to remove from place to place. Rev. Blair retired from active pastoral work in 1896, and returned permanently to his home in Bellefontaine. He, however, is frequently called upon to fill various pulpits. His ministerial labor was far-reaching and beneficial. and the church profited by his labors and many have reason to feel grateful to him for his guid- ance of their steps into the paths which make for peace.
and a daughter of John and Deborah ( Ma- thias ) Ewing, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively. When a young man, her father came to Logan county, Ohio, and resided in East Liberty until his death which occurred in 1840, when he was forty-four years of age. His wife survived him until 1865, and died at the age of sev- enty-six years. In their family were nine children, of whom three are living: Mrs. Blair. John R. and Oliver Ewing. The mar- riage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with the following named: Solon Kenton. who is the superintendent of the Nickel Plate Railroad Company: William F., who is engaged in the painting business in Evansville, Indiana; Frank M., who died at Mount Victory, Ohio, when eight years of age: Horace S., a member of the Belle- fontaine fire department ; and Ulla A., of Bellefontaine.
In 1899 Rev. Blair was elected a mnem- ber of the city council from the second ward, was re-elected in 1901. and at the organiza- tion of the body in 1902, was elected pres- ident and is now acting in that capacity. He is ranked among the progressive and valued residents of this place and in office has labored earnestly for the improvement of the city. Rev. Blair was made a Mason in Raymonds Lodge. F. & A. M., but demit- ted to Bellefontaine Lodge, No. 209. in 1870. He belongs to Lafayette Chapter. No. 60, R. A. M., of Bellefontaine : also Logan coun- eil of this city ; and he took the Knight Tem- plar degree in Raper Commandery. No. 19, of Urbana, but demitted to Sidney Comman- dery, No. 46. of Sidney, Ohio, where he still has his membership. He took the Rose Croix and Princes of Jerusalem degrees at
On the 3rd of June, 1852. Mr. Blair was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Dayton, and attained the thirty-second de-
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gree of the Scottish rite in the Ohio Con- and for seven years was a representative of sistory of Cincinnati. His identification with Masonry dates from 1854. His career has indeed been a useful, upright and hon- orable one, his work ever being of a nature that has benefited mankind, and through- out the years of his active manhood he has won many friends, who acknowledge his genuine worth and entertain for him the highest regard.
WILLIAM W. HAMER, M. D.
By many the medical profession is re- garded as the most useful to which man can devote liis energies. It is certain that it affords ample scope for the labors of the man of talent and ability in his chosen field. and Dr. Hamer is one whose efforts in be- half of his fellow men through the avenues of medical and surgical practice has been of the greatest benefit. Bellefontaine has reason to be grateful to him for his labors in this direction, and for the establishment of the Hamer Hospital, an institution whose worth to the city is widely acknowledged.
Born near Springhill. in Champaign county, Ohio, March 9, 1851, the Doctor is a son of John and Charlotte ( Spellman ) Hamer, of Logan county. The father, who was of German descent. came with his par- ents from Pennsylvania to this county in his childhood days, and here remained until called to luis final rest in 1885. at the age of sixty-one years. His widow is still living. Their son, the Doctor, pursued his common school education in De Graff, and afterward attended the Wesleyan University, of Dela- ware, Ohio. When his text books had been put aside he entered upon his business career
the drug trade in Fowler, Indiana, during which period he took up the study of medi- cine. He was graduated in the medical de- partment of Butler University, of Indianap- olis, with the class of 1881. and entered up- on the practice of his profession in Quincy, Ohio, but soon after established an office in DeGraff. Ohio, where he practiced for eight years with growing success. Then seeking a wider field of labor, he came to Bellefontaine, where as a practitioner of medicine and surgery of decided skill and ability, he has gained wide recognition, fol- lowed by an extensive business. In April, 1899. he established and opened the Hamer Hospital, purchasing for this purpose the large brick mansion of the late Judge Law- rence, thus founding the first hospital of the city, It is open to all reputable physicians of this city and elsewhere, and has become an institution of value. It was opened be- cause of a demand for a better place to care for the sick and perform surgical operations and Dr. Hamer took upon himself the re- sponsibility of founding a hospital which met the public need. It has thus far been maintained by private capital, but is des- tined to become permanent and public in character. In its equipments it is equal to any hospital in the state, and many patients are brought to it from a distance.
In 1875 the Doctor was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna E. Henderson, a daugh- ter of Addison Henderson, of Logan coun- ty. They have an adopted daughter. Lulu May, who is how the wife of Dr. E. R. Henning, of West Liberty, and has one child. Anna Belle. In social circles of Bellefontaine Dr. Hamer and wife occupy an enviable position, and they are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which
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he is one of the trustees. He is also a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias fraternity; Bellefontaine Lodge, F. & A. M .; Belleton- taine Chapter. R. A. M .; and Raper Com- mandery, K. T., of Urbana, and is an en- terprising man, deeply interested in the ad- vancement and substantial growth of Belle- fontaine. In the line of his profession his advancement has been rapid and sure, for it has been based on accurate and broad knowledge of the science of medicine, of devotion to his work, and sincere interest in his fellow men. He belongs to the Lo- gan County Medical Society, and also to the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
JOSEPH E. ELLIOTT.
Joseph E. Elliott, a well known busi- ness man of Zanesfield. was born in Lima- ville, Stark county, on the IIth of August. 1838, his parents being. John and Mary (Stanley) Elliott. The Elliott family came originally from England, and was founded in America by three brothers, one of whom settled in Pennsylvania, another in North Carolina, and the third in Virginia. Our subject belongs to the Pennsylvania branch of the family, but for a century his ancestors have made their home in Ohio. His father was born in New Lisbon, this state, on the 20th of June, 1808, and in his youth attended the common schools. At the age of seventeen, however, he put aside his text books, and afterward followed farming and carpentering, the dual occupa- tion enabling him to provide a comfortable living for his family. From the organiza- tion of the Republican party he gave his
support to its men and measures. He was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends. and his religious connection was ever with that denomination. He wedded Mary S. Stanley, who was born July 11, 1812, and they became the parents of three sons, Gar- land, James M. and Joseph E. The mother was a preacher in the Friends' church, and traveled one hundred and seventy-five thou - sand miles in behalf of the cause of Chris- tianity, preaching in the Friends' meeting- houses of Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York. New Jersey and Maryland. She also visited General Grant when he was the pres- ident of the United States. Her death occur- red July 25, 1892, and Mr. Elliott, the father of our subject, departed this life April 27, 1896.
To the public school system of his na- tive state Joseph F. Elliott is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed up to the time he was eighteen years of age. In the meantime he had worked on his father's farm through the summer months, and when he put aside his text books permanently he took up farming, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until May 2, 1864. when he joined the Union army under the command of Captain Porter, of Company I. One Hundred and Thirty-second Regi- ment, which went to the front for a hun- dred days, and was then discharged on the 16th of September, 1864, after which he returned home and resumed the work of the farm. Mr. Elliott followed farming until 1892, but as before stated, is now a representative *of mercantile interests in Zanesfield. being engaged in the buying and selling of furs. He is also acting as deputy game warden for this state.
On the 3d of October, 1860, Mr. Elliott was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lem-
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on, a daughter of James H. Lemon, who was ness success is the direct result of his ear- born in Harford county, Maryland, in 1812. nest labors and perseverance, and his life At the age of sixteen his school life was history proves what may be accomplished through these methods. ended, and he entered upon his business ca- reer. He wedded Mary Forsythe, who was born in Maryland about 1815, and from that state they came to Logan county, Ohio. Their children are: John F., who married GERMAIN B. HALE, M. D. Jane Dunlap and lives in Vandalia, Cass county, Michigan; William and James H., deceased; Anna, who is still living: Mar- gery, Sarah and Mary, who have also passed away; and Julia E., the wife of Henry Bu- shon, of West Mansfield, Ohio, by whom she has two children, Benjamin H. and Henry.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have four children : James was born January 5, 1862: Richard J., who was born January 7, 1864, and lives in Wapakoneta, Ohio, married Ella Atkinson, and they have three children- Edith, Mary and Millard. Justin M., who was born February 16, 1869, and resides in Colton, California, married Ella Parker. and they had two children, Maude and Floyd. The mother, however, died Janu- ary 6, 1898, in Logan county, Ohio. Gar- land S., the next member of the family, was born January 21, IS74, and is living in Uniopolis, Ohio. He married Hattie Hul- sizer, and they have three children, Harold, Flossie and Dorothea Zelma.
Mr. Elliott and the family attend the services of the Society of Friends, with which he has long held membership. In politics he is a Republican, and is interested in all matters pertaining to general progress and improvement. He does progressive work in behalf of his city, and in private life and social relations lie has commanded the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated. His busi-
Dr. Germain B. Hale, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Bellefontaine, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1873. a son of David B. and Marietta ( Bonesteel) Hale, who are now residents of West Lib- erty, Logan county, Ohio. When he had mastered the branches of learning taught in the common schools he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and with a good literary education to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the st- perstructure of professional knowledge, he entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, in which he was graduated in March, 1894, with the degree of M. D.
The same spring the Doctor entered up- on the practice of medicine in West Liberty, where he remained for five years, his pat- ronage increasing as he demonstrated his abilty to successfully cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician as he labors to restore health and prolong life. In 1899 he came to Belle- fontaine, where he has since remained, and in his chosen field of labor he is meeting with a creditable degree of success, for although yet a young man, his patronage is such that it might well be envied by many an older member of the profession. He is a mem- ber of the Miami Medical Society, and thus he keeps in touch with the advanced ideas of the profession concerning the best methods of treating disease and surgical cases.
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