USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 85
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has that contentment that comes from a con- seiousness of having lived to a good pur- pose.
ORLANDO C. WILSON. M. D.
Many centuries ago the old Grecian sage, Epicharmus, gave expression to the adage. "Earn thy reward, the gods give naught to sloth." The truth of this admo- nition has been verified throughout the ages, and it is particularly manifest in the med- ical profession where influence and wealth availeth little or naught, but where success is gained by perseverance, close application and earnest study. Dr. Wilson has in this way won for himself a creditable position as a medical practitioner of Logan county. He was born on a farm in Richland county, Ohio, in 1850, and is a son of J. H. and Elizabeth ( Cleland) Wilson. The records show that the father was born at five o'clock in the afternoon on the 2d of September, ISIO, and his death occurred at the same hour on the 2d of September. 1898. at Iberia. Morrow county, Ohio. His wife had passed away some years previous in Bloom Center, where they lived for a short time and both were buried in the Iberia cem- etery. They had six children, of whom four reached mature years: Margaret Ann. who became the wife of D. N. Auld and died in Iberia, leaving six children : Harriet, the present wife of D. N. Auld, of Iberia, by whom she has one child: Orlando C .; and William H., a ranchman of Oregon. At one time tlie father engaged in merchan- dising, but afterward became a farmer and upon the old homestead the Doctor was reared, enjoying the outdoor life with its privileges and pleasures. He received a
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good common school education and also as- the DeGraff high school and is now a tel- sisted in the work of the fields. When about eighteen years of age he went to Sa- vannah, Ohio, where he attended college for In his political views the Doctor is a Democrat and both he and his wife belong to the Reformed church. He also became a member of Jackson Center Lodge, F. & A. M., and holds membership relations with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, in which lodge he has filled all the chairs. His at- tention is given to his professional duties with unremitting zeal and his skill and med- ical learning are widely acknowledged by the public. two years and then at the age of twenty began teaching in Richland county, where he followed his profession for eight years. becoming one of the capable educators of that locality. He regarded this, however, merely as a step to other professional labor. for with the desire to become a member of the medical fraternity he took up the study of medicine under the direction of I. N. My- ers, of Shelby, Ohio. He had his own way to make in the world and teaching school in the day time, he devoted his hours outside of the school room to the mastery of the principles of the medical science. He would FREDERICK BRINSER. attend college for a time and then put aside his text books in order to resume teaching, thereby replenishing his exhausted exche- quer. In 1873 he entered the Western Re- serve College. of Cleveland, and in 1877. he was graduated. He then began the practice in a country village in Huron county, re- moving thence to Bloom Center.
On the 13th of May, 1880, in Bloom- field township. Logan county, Dr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Amy M. Smith, a daughter of John M. and Eliza- beth M. ( Smith) Smith. They began their domestic life in Bloom Center and later the Doctor purchased sixteen acres of land and erected thereon a fine residence, in which he has since lived. At a former date he had purchased thirty-two acres of land on which he resided for a few years and in addition to his home property he has a valuable farm of one hundred and seven acres in Wash- ington township and other real estate in Bloom Center. Two children have graced the marriage: Lloyd, who is a graduate of
egraph operator at Goodenow. Illinois; and Evelyn, at home.
Frederick Brinser makes his home in Jefferson township where he owns and op- erates one hundred and forty-four acres of land. He was born May 30, 1827. in Dau- phin county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Christian and Mary ( Wagoner ) Brinser. The father was also a native of Dauphin county, and in the year 1840 he came to Ohio, settling in Logan county. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children : Jacob, who has now passed away: Nancy; John, also deceased; Bessie; Joseph, who has departed this life: Mary ; Laura: Fred- erick : Samuel; Henry, who is deceased ; and Sarah.
Reared in his native county, Frederick Brinser there obtained his education in the common schools which he attended until fifteen years of age. when he became an active assistant in the work of the home farm. remaining in Pennsylvania until 1840, when with his parents he came to Ohio. Here he was also connected with
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agricultural pursuits and throughout his en- tire life he has carried on business along this line. He now resides in Jefferson township where he has one hundred and forty-four acres of land. and his fields are under a high state of cultivation annually yielding golden harvests to the owner.
On the 23d of July. 1853. Mr. Brinser was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Easton and they began their domestic life upon the farm where they still reside. The lady is a daughter of John Easton, who was born September 24. 1799, and after ar- riving at years of maturity was married. December 6. 1827. to Charlotte Plummer. whose birth occurred October 28. 1805. They were residents of Zanesfield and unto them were born six children : William, Mrs. Nancy Wilson, John. James, Benjamin and Joel. In his political views Mr. Easton was a stalwart Republican and in his re- ligious faith was a Lutheran, long holding membership with churches of that denom- ination. The home of our subject and his wife has been blessed with three children : Charlotte, who was born September 4, 1854. is the wife of Elmer Elliott and re- sides in Greenfield. Ohio. William F., born April 19. 1857. is still upon the home farm which he is operating. Elveretta, who has born May 10, 1862, is the wife of D. D. Bates, who is superintendent of the schools of Ansonia. Darke county, Ohio.
In his political views Mr. Brinser is a Republican, who has firm faith in the prin- ciples of the party and thus gives to it his earnest support. In his religious belief he is a Lutheran and has long held member- ship with the church. For sixty-three years he has been a resident of Logan county, and is therefore well known to a large majority of its citizens, and his life
has been quietly and uneventfully passed. yet he has ever been found loyal to his Christian faith, to the duties of citizenship and to the ties of home life, and as a lead- ing representative of the agricultural in- terests of this locality he certainly deserves mention.
WILLIAM F. BRINSER.
William F. Brinser, who has always fol- lowed farming in Logan county, was born April 17. 1857. in the county which is still his home, and is a son of Frederick Brinser. his education in the schools of Antrim, and whose history is given above. He pursued at the age of eighteen put aside his text books, at which time he began working for his father on the farm, where he lias re- mained since. He thoroughly understands farming and plans his work so that it is performed systematically. promptly and with good results.
On the 26th of June. 1884. Mr. Brinser was married near West Mansfield, Ohio, to Miss Flora Elliott, who was born May 24, 1860. in Logan county, a daughter of John Elliott. a native of Columbiana county. Ohio. He was married in this county to Almira Hathaway, a native of Massachu- setts, who was brought to Logan county when only three years old. Mr. Elliott fol- lowed farming in Perry township. near North Greenfield. In politics he was a Re- publican, and was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He died about 1876 and his wife passed away about 1883. They were the parents of three children : Elmer, who resides near Greenfield. Ohio; Vinton, who is living in Bellefontaine: and Mrs. Brinser. Unto our subject and his
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wife have been born five children : Almira A., born May 24. 1886: Louise H .. October 18, 1888; Mary E., May 17, 1890: Grace V .. September 17. 1893: and Charles W., October 21. 1896.
In his political views Mr. Brinser is an earnest Republican, and he has membership relations with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Lutheran church. He is esteemed for his many good qualities, and respected for his reliability in business.
JAMES TEETS.
James Tects, who carries on general farming in Zane township, was born in Har- rison county, Ohio, December 8. 1844. and is a son of Jacob and Margaret ( McMillen) Teets. The parents had a large family of children. of whom David. the eldest, and John, the sixth in order of birth. are now deceased. The others are Eliza. William, James. Isabel. George, Josephine. Ange- line. Elwood. Mary and Oscar.
James Teets spent his early boyhood days under the parental roof and during that time pursued his education in the pub- lic schools near his home, but at the age of thirteen he put aside his school books and began working for his uncle. David Teets, with whom he remained until after the be- ginning of the Civil war, when at the age of nineteen years, his patriotic spirit having been aroused. he responded to the govern- ment's call for aid. enlisting on the 23d of December. 1863, being mustered in about the 15th of January. 1864. while on the 25th of July. 1865. he received an honor- able discharge. He participated in several important engagements, including the bat-
tles of Buzzard's Roost. Kenesaw Mountain, Savannah and Bentonville. He went to the front under command of Captain Inskeep, of Company C. Seventeenth Ohio Infantry. but was afterward transferred to Company E. of the same regiment, under Captain John Ealy.
Not long after his return from the army Mr. Teets was married. on the 13th of Oc- tober. 1865. to Miss Martha Norvil. a daughter of Rufus and Eleanor Norvil. in whose family were the following named children : Hiram. Laura. John. Robert. Na- thaniel. Caroline. Martha and Philander. Of these Robert and Caroline are now de- ceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Teets have been born eight children. These are Jessie. Ella, Fannie. John. Chester. Hazel and Emil, all living. and W. Oscar. de- ceased. The family is well known in the community where they reside and Mr. Teets is numbered among the faithful mem- bers of the Disciple church, while in his po- litical views he is a Democrat. He made for himself a creditable military record dur- ing the Civil war and has ever been loyal to his duties of citizenship and to his prin- ciples in other relations of life.
W. E. SMITH.
W. E. Smith, who was formerly en- gaged in the jewelry business in Bellefon- taine, but now follows farming in Lib- erty township, was born in Greene coun- ty. Indiana. in 1858. a son of the Rev. Elias Beal and Margaret ( Bonham) Smith. The father was a native of Guernsey county. Ohio, and became a minister of the Baptist church, devoting much of his life to the
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work of the church and the extension of its influence. In consequence of this he lived in many places, but was a resident of Belle- fontaine at the time of his death. His de- mise, however, occurred in a Chicago hos- pital in 1891. whither he had gone for treat- ment. Previous to this he had retired from the ministry but the influence of his life and teachings will long be felt. His widow still survives him and is now living in Champaign county, Ohio. In their family were three children : Mary Ella, the wife of Emmet V. Rhoads, of Champaign county ; W. E., of this review; and Eminett Lin- coln, who is a physician and surgeon of Chicago, Illinois.
In consequence of his father's ministe- rial work, W. E. Smith spent his boyhood days in various places. In early childhood he went to Coshocton county, Ohio, and there acquired much of his early education. spending seven or eight years there. He afterward removed to Delaware county. where he resided for ten years and on the expiration of that period he became a res- ident of Champaign county, where he spent five or six years. In 1881 he arrived in Lo- gan county, but previous to this time he pur- sued a course in bookkeeping in Delaware. In St. Paris,, Champaign county, he had spent two years with a jeweler. After his removal to Bellefontaine he secured employ- ment in the store of Miller & Gregg, and with them finished his apprenticeship. He worked for them for five years and when his employers dissolved partnership Mr. Smith bought out the interest of Edward C. Miller and himself engaged in the jewelry business, conducting a good store, in which he met with creditable success until 1893, when he sold out to Davis Brothers, and has since followed farming and stock-raising.
He owns two hundred acres, known as the Round prairie farm, in Liberty township, which has been in his possession since 1896. In the midst of this is a tract of about forty or fifty acres, which has always been known as Round Prairie and which was originally Very swampy. In 1849 the Sandusky divis- ion of the Big Four Railroad built their track around it, but later decided to build across it. In order to do this they filled in with clay and gravel and then laid their track. Leaving their work one night, the next morning they found that it had sunk from sight below the surface of the swamp. They then cut trees and laid them crosswise and again filled in with gravel and laid the track which proved a success. Since the property came into possession of Mr. Smith he has under drained the swamp and it now forms the best part of his farm, suitable for. celery, potato or onion raising. In 1901 he erected a large barn and has made many other improvements upon the place. It is well stocked and he now makes a specialty of feeding stock for the market. Besides this property he owns city reality, including his nice home at No. 507 East Sandusky street, Bellefontaine.
In October, 1885. Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Helen May. who was born in Logan county, a daughter of John and Minerva May, who are farming people of Jefferson township. Her father is prom- inent and influential and owns over two hundred acres of valuable land. He has held a number of local offices, and is active and helpful in matters of citizenship. Mrs. Smith is an only child and by her marriage she has become the mother of two living children : Emmet Guy and Margaret May. They also lost one son, William Eugene. who died at the age of five years.
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Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights prise and a leading representative of com- of Pythias Lodge and is a Baptist in re- mercial activity here. He was always straightforward in his dealings, studied closely the desires of the public and by car- rying a good line of goods and striving to please his patrons he won a constantly growing patronage, that returned to him a good income. ligious belief, though his wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church. Both are well known in Bellefontaine, where they have resided for a number of years and their circle of friends is extensive. In busi- ness affairs Mr. Smith has ever been found energetic, determined and enterprising, and as the years have passed his labors have brought to him a well merited success. Bellefontaine finds in him an advocate whose interest in her welfare is manifested by active co-operation in all measures con- tributing to the general good.
JOHN R. KENNEDY.
Death often removes from our midst those we can ill afford to spare, whose lives have been all that is exemplary of the true. and thereby really great, citizen. Such a citizen was Mr. Kennedy, whose whole career, both business and social, served as a model to the young and as an inspiration to the aged. Mr. Kennedy was a native of Ireland and when six years of age was brought to America by an uncle. His birth occurred in Escaten. county Limerick, in the year 1840 and in his early boyhood days he became a resident of Urbana, Ohio. where he remained until twenty-one years of age. He came to Bellefontaine and lived here several years and after having lived in Huntsville, Ohio, six years and in Indianap- olis, Indiana, five years, he returned to Belle- fontaine in the year 1878. where he was en- gaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- ness and up to the time of his death he was an active factor in the control of this enter-
In his early manhood Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Jeannette Niven, of Bellefontaine, who survives him. They reared four children: John T .: Harry N. : Frank D., who is decased; and Mary Jeannette, the wife of Will G. Morgan, of Bellefontaine. The surviving sons are now their father's successors in the business.
Mr. Kennedy was a man of strong re- ligious faith, a consistent member of the First Presbyterian church, a progressive re- presentative of business interests, and was prominent in social and fraternal circles. Always enterprising and progressive he looked not only upon the possibilities of the moment but also of the future, and the wel- fare and developement of Bellefontaine were causes dear to his heart. He was a man of noble purpose, of broad humani- tarian spirit, kind in thought and deed and ever loyal to his friends. It was his per- sonal qualities that endeared him so closely to those with whom he was associated and his loss caused the deepest regret and sor- row throughout the community as well as in the immediate household. The death of Mr. Kennedy was undoubtedly directly due to the great sorrow which he felt over the death of his son. Frank D .. who passed away in July, 1894, at the age of twenty- eight years. He tried, however, to throw off the great burden of sorrow but on the 14th of February. 1895. pneumonia at- tacked him, and, being too frail to bat-
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tle against the terrible disease, hie suc- cumbed to its ravages, passing away March 2. 1895, at the age of fifty-four years and seven months. His memory, however, is yet dear to those with whom he was asso- ciated and among the representative citi- zens of Bellefontaine he should be men- tioned.
FRANK FELGER.
Frank Felger, proprietor of the Main street elevator at DeGraff and a dealer in grain, coal, seeds, lime, cement, commer- cial fertilizers, etc .. is one of the leading business men and representative citizens of that place. He was born on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, June 10, 1862, his parents being George and Lydia ( Reinard ) Felger. There his father spent his en- tire life, his occupation being that of farm- ing and died on the 17th of January, 1898. at the age of sixty-six years. He was a prominent and active member of the Evan- gelical church and a Republican in politics. but never cared for the honors or emolui- ments of public office.
On the home farm Frank Felger grew to manhood and is indebted to the public schools of his native county for the educa- tional privileges he enjoyed. During his minority he remained with his father and gave him the benefit of his labors but at the age of twenty-one he began farming for himself on the shares. When twenty-eight he went to South Dakota, where he began work by the month as a common laborer in an elevator but was finally promoted to fore- man, buying most of the grain for the com- pany, in whose employ he remained for eight years.
In the meantime Mr. Felger returned to his old home in Wayne county, Ohio, and there was married in June. 1888, to Miss Jennie White. With his bride he again went to South Dakota, where he made his home until 1890. Unto them were born two children : Guy, born in Wayne county, Ohio, January 31. 1893: and Ruth Odell, who was born October 19, 1895. in Ashland county, Ohio, where Mr. Felger put up a new elevator and was engaged in business for a short time. For five years he was in the grain business with a brother at Bur- bank. Wayne county, and met with fair suc- cess at that place .. Disposing of his proper- ty elsewhere. Mr. Felger came to DeGraff in: April, 1899, and bought the elevator which he now conduets. He is one of the most enterprising, energetic and reliable business men of the place and is meeting with well deserved success in his new home. Since casting his first presidential ballot for James G. Blaine in 1884 he has always affiliated with the Republican party and has ever taken an active interest in pub- lie affairs, giving his support to all enter- prises which he believes will advance the general welfare.
ANDREW J. HEATH.
Andrew J. Heath, who resides in Mid- dleburg, is one of the veterans of the Civil war. and though but a boy when hostilities between the north and the south began he enlisted for service and through almost the entire struggle was with the Union army. He was born in Franklin county, Ohio. May 22. 1849, a son of Hiram and Lucy (Locke) Heath, in whose family were three
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children. Melissa, Andrew J. and Alwilda began farming and chopping wood and has A.
Our subject spent his early boyhood days in his parents' home and attended the common schools, but when thirteen years of age he put aside his text books and joined the army, on the 13th of February, 1862. as a messenger boy of the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ile entered the army for three months and was discharged about the Ist of July, but on the anniversary of his first enlistment, February 13. 1863. he again offered his services to the govern- ment and became a member of the Twenty- second Ohio Light Artillery. under com- mand of Captain H. M. Neal. He then serv- ed until the close of the war in 1865. He participated in a number of engagements. During his first term he was in the battle of Shiloh and later was in the battles of Cum- berland Gap. Balls Bridge. Jonesville, the siege of Knoxville and then started on the Atlantic campaign under General Sherman and was in all of that movement against the enemy. He sustained three flesh wounds but none were serious.
After his return from the war MIr. Heath followed farming for four years. He was married in 1870 to Miss Irena E. Fish- er, a daughter of Solomon and Polly ( Mc- Intire) Fisher. She was born November 5. 1853. and was the second of three chil- dren, the others being Margaret .A. and Sarah P. In 1888 Mr. Heath was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. He has since married again, his second union be- ing with Martha C. Schmeck, a daughter of William Stithen. The children of Mr. Heath are: Hiram J., now deceased : Laura V .; Anna R. : Eva I .: Andrew F .: Robert W .: Cora E. ; and Charles O., also deceased.
Following his first marriage Mr. Heath
followed various kinds of labor since that time. He has lived in Logan county for five years and he purchased a house and lot in Middleburg, where he now resides. He votes with the Democratic party, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government, and his religious be- lief is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
EPHRAIM HINKLE.
Of the farming and stock-raising inter- ests of Logan county Ephraim Hinkle is a representative. He owns and conducts an excellent farm which is located about a mile southeast of DeGraff. It is improved with modern equipments and everything about the place indicates the neatness and careful supervision of the owner. Mr. Hinkle was born near Little York in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October II. 1844, and is a son of George and Mag- dalena ( Sultzbach ) Hinkle. The paternal grandfather, Henry Hinkle, was probably a native of the Keystone state, but removed to northern Indiana, settling near White Pigeon where he invested and dealt in real estate. There he spent his remaining days, living to the advanced age of ninety-two years. The father of our subject remained in Pennsylvania for several years after the removal of the grandfather to the west and when his son Ephraim was about ten years of age he brought his wife and children to Logan county, Ohio, locating on a farm northeast of Logansville, on what was called the' Moone place. He continued farming for some time, but spent his last days in
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DeGraff, where he died in August, 1898. He was then eighty-one years of age and his widow passed away in the succeeding April, at the age of eighty-one years. Mr. Hinkle was a Republican in his political views and he belonged to the Evangelical church. He served as superintendent of the Sunday school at No. I school house for a number of years.
During the boyhood days of Ephraim Hinkle his father resided upon the William Moone farm and he attended school in dis- triet No. 1, acquiring a fair English edu- cation. He lived economically and saving what he had earned. he at length felt justi- fied in establishing a home of his own. He then rented land in Union township. but for a time he boarded at home and assisted in the care of his parents.
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