USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 89
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Although the business interests of Mr. Short have been extensive and important. demanding careful supervision and much time in their control, he has also found op- portunity to labor for the welfare of the city, and for fifteen years he was the sec- . retary and one of the trustees of the city water works. For two terms he has served as a member of the city council and was township incorporation treasurer. He votes with the Repubilcan party, its principles re- ceiving his earnest endorsement and he does everything in his power to promote the suc- cess of the organization. A member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he is serving
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as one of its trustees and he belongs to the leyan University at Delaware, and had com- Masonic Lodge of Bellefontaine and to Ra- per Commandery of Urbana, Ohio. When we think that as a lad of eleven or twelve years Mr. Short was working as a farmer boy, that he had lost his father and had no home or any one on whom to depend. it seems marvelous that he has accomplished so much and yet there has been nothing un- usual in his business career, save the close application which he has given it, his un- flinching resolution in carrying out his pol- icy and his keen discrimination in business affairs-and these qualities may be culti- vated by any. He is, however. to-day one of the most prosperous and honored citizens of Bellefontaine and all that he has acquired has been through his own endeavors. Moreover, he has manifested marked de- votion to his native city, investing his mon- ey here, and many enterprises of benefit to the city have profited by his co-operation and good will. Mr. Short is a man whom to know is to respect and honor and no his- tory of Bellefontaine would be complete without the record of his life.
GRACE MAGRUDER SHORT.
Grace MI. Short, who was born June 21. : 1881, was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Short and grew to beautiful wo- manhood in Bellefontaine. Early in life she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, became a member of the Epworth League and was conscientious and faithful in all Christian work. Her early education was obtained in the public schools of Belle- fontaine and she was graduated in the high school with the class of 1899 and in the fall of the same year she entered the Ohio Wes-
pleted three years of hier course there, when she became ill. She would have entered for the work of the senior year in the fall of 1902. . At college as in her home city she was prominent and popular and took the lead in various societies with which she was affiliated. She was honored by the presi- dency of the Clioncon Literary Society and the Sorority Society at the University, and was vice president of the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union at Delaware. She possessed more than ordinary physical charm and grace and added to this was a kindly disposition and winning manner so that she became one of the best loved among the younger people of Bellefontaine. She was a general favorite, popular with young and old, rich and poor, and it is doubtful if any young lady in Bellefontaine was ever more highly esteemed or had more true friends than' did Miss Short. The ad- vantages of education and of accomplish- ments and the adoration of family and friends never in the slightest degree tainted her kindly disposition or her vision of the good in others. She was ever loyal in her friendship, dutiful and loving to her par- ents, fond and devoted to her brother and in all positions and relations of life was faithful, helpful and capable. As a student she was conscientious, intelligent and pro- gressive, and as a Christian was true and steadfast in her faith. Perhaps no better estimate of the character of Miss Short can be given than was published in one of the local papers at the time of her demise, and which said :
"Her life in this world promised much. Her mind was both quick and strong. her character was noble, her disposition kindly, her manners winning. her ambitions high and worthy. She was the picture of health,
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bright, handsome and graceful. Her natal day was in June and it does seem that her characteristics were better symbolized by that month than any other. The June morning, all roseate, with its sparkling dew, its wealth of flowers, its perfumed air, its abounding life, its happy songs, was just like Grace Short.
"She was such a happy soul. so kind, so cheery, so genial. so unselfish. so welcome everywhere. Seldom does any mortal in- herit from the good Creator the good gift of such a sweet and generous spirit as she possessed. And best of all her charming ladyship was worn with a naturalness, a simplicity, a frankness that showed its gen- uineness; she was so modest and unassum- ing with it all.
"Naturally these qualities of life and character had a fruition. Her circle of friends was large; in fact, everybody who knew her at all. old or young. rich or poor. claims now an interest in her as a special friend. She had received honors from her college classmates and associates, which ex- press a just esteem for her. Her election as president of her literary society, as pres- ident of her sorority, and as a member of senior lecture committee, shows how her fellow students estimated her worth and recognized her popularity. Life's morning to her was full of promise. It is no wonder that she was loved so much, nor that her departure is so widely and deeply mourned.
"The rieliness and Christ-like beauty of this character, shone more and more clearly as the end drew near. She was brave and tincomplaining, submissive and unselfish. Her thought was for others. She certainly knew her own critical condition and as the end came near she certainly was aware of its coming. But her knowledge of herself
she almost concealed and never intentionally betrayed, lest she might cause others dis. tress and sorrow. Only requesting most delicately and lovingly that her father might stay down stairs near her during her last night on earth, or by placing her ring's in his care with the charge that they were his. Gid she reveal that she knew all that was to come and was fully prepared for it. Her manner of departure was just as charming all beautiful as was her life.
"At last earthly things began to lose their accustomed use and hue. It mystified her, but delighted her. Was it merely a token of physical weakness, or a token of spiritual triumph? Was it the fading of the earthly or rather the dawning of the heavenly? It was a yellow light she saw. and it seems to me it was not so much the cloud-touched light of her earthly evening, howsoever mild and benignant the radiance. as the yellow tinged light dawning to her over the gates and the walls of Jerusalem the Golden.
"Then came the few short moans, a long-looking of the eyes upward, a final breath and heart-beat, and her fair spirit was released from sickness and pain with eternal health, life, joy and peace.
"Her precious, chaste and chastened spirit is at Home. Though so loving and loved she could not stay. She was and is one of God's jewels."
JOHN NEWELL.
John Newell, who was a representative of an old, numerous and prominent family of Logan county, and who successfully
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followed farming for many years in Union township, was born in this township. July 15. 1826, on the farm where his family now lives. His parents were Hugh and Eliza- beth (MeNay) Newell, and the family his- tory is given elsewhere in this work. John Newell was reared upon the home farm which had been entered from the govern- ment by his father, and has never been out of possession of the family. Ile had a fair common school education and began to pro- vide for his own support when quite young. from which time forward he owed his suc- cess entirely to his own well directed labors.
Mr. Newell was married in Liberty township. Logan county, January 1. 1856, to Miss Maria E. Harner, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1831, a daughter of John A. and Eliza- beth C. (Emery) Harner. She was four- teen years of age when her parents came to Ohio, making the journey by teams and reaching their destination after three weeks of travel. They stopped at Pittsburg for a few days, visiting the mother's sister. On reaching Logan county the father purchased land in Liberty township and there Mrs. Newell was reared and acquired a fair com- mon school education. Mr. Newell's father had died the September before their mar- riage, and they began their domestic life on the home farm, which he and his brother Hugh, owned together for a number of years, after which John Newell purchased his brother's interest. He then continued to reside upon the old place until his death.
Mr. and Mrs. Newell's children were : John IL., born January 7, 1858, is a farmer of this county. He married Cora Lankin and has one living child. Margaret. William C., who lives on the home farm, married Myrtle Lakin, a sister
of his brother's wife, and they have a daughter, Mary. Harry, who married Al- ma Lakin, another sister, by whom he has three children, is engaged in the sale of windmills. Mary is the wife of L. C. Freer and has two children. Hugh H., of Bellefontaine, married Sarah Haupt, of Pennsylvania, and has one child. Anna B. is the wife of E. P. Chamberlin. of Belle- fontaine, and has two children.
Mr. Newell gave his political support to the Republican party and believed firmly in its principles but was never an aspirant for office. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and was a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, as has his son, William, while the other sons are also rep- resentatives of the fraternity. Mr. Newell lived an industrious and upright life and commanded the confidence and good will of all. When he passed away he was laid to rest with Masonic honors, having been an exemplary representative of the craft, which is based upon brotherly kindness and mutual helpfulness.
JOHN CONRAD WILLIAMS.
This well known citizen and successful farmer of Jefferson township, Logan county, Ohio, was born on the 14th of October, 1851, his parents being Richard and Jane ( Green) Williams, natives of Champaign county. this state, where their marriage was celebrated. Their other children were Han- nah, William Henry, Mary H., deceased, and Lucinda, deceased.
During his boyhood and youth John C. Williams attended the district schools near
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his home and assisted his father in the op- eration of the farm, devoting his entire at- tention to that work after leaving school at the age of twelve years. He remained un- der the parental roof until twenty-three years of age, and then started out in life for himself as a farmer, making that his life occupation.
On the 14th of September, 1884. Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Prudence Elizabeth Holtsapple, a daughter of James and Millie ( Jones ) Holtsapple, of Logan county, who are now deceased. Six of their children have also passed away, those being Henry, Harrison, Thompson J., John. George and Vesta. Those still living are James, Mary, Prudence Eliza- beth and Emma. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liams have been born the following children : Millie J. : Jessie M. : Lena G. : Leslie A. and Carroll C. both deceased : Cleo E. : and Clar- ence Il. Of those living all are single and yet at home with exception of Millie, who is now the wife of Sherman L. Jacobs, and has one child, Christine. In his religious views Mr. Williams is a Presbyterian, and in politics is a stalwart Democrat, never swerving in his allegiance to that party. He is a man of upright character, who com- mands the respect and confidence of all who know him and he has a host of warm friends in the community where he resides
EDGAR T. LOWE.
Farming, stock raising and dairying oc- cupy the time and energies of Mr. Lowe, whose home in Miami township is situated on the Miami valley pike, on the north shore of the Miami river, about a mile and
a half from Quincy. For more than a half century he has been a resident of this county, yet he has not always lived within its bor- ders, his birth having occurred in Loudoun county, Virginia, December 14. 1848. His parents were Moses and Margaret ( Bales ) Lowe, who were also natives of Loudoun county, and when their son Edgar was three years old they came with their family to Ohio, settling on a farm in Union township, Logan county, near Silver Lake. There the father rented land for four years, when he drove across the country to Wisconsin, set- tling in Richland county, but he was not pleased with that section of the country and after a short time returned with his fam- ily to Logan county. The mother's health became impaired and she died soon after their return leaving our subject, an only child. when he was but thirteen years of age. The father joined the army in response to the country's call for three months' troops, and later he joined the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth regiment, serving from 1863 until the war closed.
While his father was at the front Ed- gar T. Lowe lived on a farm south of De Graff. where he worked for his board and clothing, having but little opportunity to at- tend school. After the war the father mar- ried Miss Sarah Hazel, and unto them were born two children : William and Idla. Aft- er his second marriage Moses Lowe made his home in Pleasant township, where he be- came the owner of seventy-five acres of land, which he afterward sold. removing to Stokes township, where he purchased one hundred and nine acres. He died there August 3. 1896. at the age of seventy-two, and his widow is now living in Lima.
Mr. Lowe of this review remained at home and gave his father the benefit of his
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services until he was twenty-five years of age. He was largely engaged in farm work until eighteen years of age when he began to realize the value of an education and com- menced to study. When twenty-two years of age he began teaching, and for sixteen years he successfully followed that profession in Logan and Shelby counties, leaving the impress of his individuality upon the intel- lectual development of various communities that profited by his labors and skill an an instructor.
In Miami township. Logan county, Mr. Lowe was married. June 4. 1874, to Miss Jennie Pool, who lived upon the farm in the township where she was born. Her parents, Samuel and Clarissa ( Richardson) Pool, were natives of Shelby county. Sam- uel Pool always lived on the home farm which his father entered and which has re- mained in the Pool family ever since. He died on that farm in Shelby county in 1872. at the age of fifty years, and his widow aft- erward married R. N. Smith and now lives in Quincy.
Mrs. Lowe obtained a good education and taught school for one term. After his marriage Mr. Lowe made his home upon his father-in-law's farm in Shelby county until a few years had passed, when he pur- chased thirty-five acres of land in Miami township. Logan county. He lived there for six years, farming through the summer months and teaching in the winter seasons. Later he sold that property and bought a part of the old homestead of one hundred and sixty-five acres, living there for seven- teen years. In 1900 he purchased his present home, where he has one hundred and ten acres and also owns the old homestead. His farming projects have been attended with success. His investments have been wisely
made and his efforts have resulted in secur- ing good crops and also in realizing a de- sirable financial return from the sale of his stock and his dairy products. His dairy is an important part of his farm, he keeping about sixteen cows, the milk being sold in DeGraff.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have five children : Homer Pool, born March 27. 1875. attended school in Quincy and Lebanon, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-one began teaching. Wilbur, born May 27. 1877, is at home. Gertrude, born January 2, 1884, is now pur- suing a teacher's course in DeGraff. Bon- nie Marie, born October 25, 1888. and Flor- ence M., born January 20. 1891. are with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as class-leader. He is a charter member of Quincy Lodge. No. 664 K. P .. and since casting his first vote for Grant in 1872, he has been a Republican. He has served on the board of education, and is now township trustee, and in office he is found as trustworthy as in the rela- tions of private life.
WILLIAM M. GATCH.
William M. Gatch, a distinguished pho- tographer, is known as the representative of his art throughout the country, his name and work being especially familiar to all con- noiseurs of photographic work, for what he has accomplished in this direction has made his pictures famous and many there are which have come from his studios and are now widely circulated throughout the coun- try.
Now a resident of Bellefontaine, Mr.
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Gatch is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, Ulrey, who was born September 12, 1798. born April 6, 1837, and his ancestral his- the first white child born in Clermont coun- ty. Ohio. Her father, Jacob Ulrey, was the first settler upon the west side of Ulrey's Run, in that county, and the stream was named in his honor. He settled there in 1798, after having been reared amid the forests of Pennsylvania, and his old home- stead in Ohio is still called the Ulrey farm. He was a genuine backwoodsman, coura- geous, strong and fearless, and was a terror to the horse thieves who infested the coun- try at an early day. Deer and bear were plentiful and Mr. Ulrey spent a large part of his time in hunting those animals for their skins, and the early settlers around him received substantial tokens of his generosity by his supplying them with meat. The par- ents of our subject were married in Cler- mont county and there lived for many years. The father passed away January 19, 1857, and the mother April 13. 1881. tory is one of close connection with the pioncer development of the state. His pa- ternal grandfather, the eminent Rev. Philip Gatch, was born near Baltimore, Maryland, March 2, 1751, and was of Prussian extrac- tion, his father having been brought from Prussia to America when quite small. In January, 1772, Nathan Perrigo preached the first Metho dist sermon in the neighborhood in which Philip Gatch lived, and the latter was converted under his ministry and de- cided to devote his life to gospel work. Accordingly he entered upon his holy call- ing in 1773 as the first itinerate minister of New Jersey. He commenced his itinerate labors under the direction of Thomas Rank- in, who then had the superintendence of the work in America. In 1776 he was appointed to the Hanover circuit of Virginia and the following year to Sussex, Virginia. On the 14th of January, 1778, he married Eliza- beth Smith, a daughter of Thomas Smith. He came to Ohio in 1798, when Cincinnati was but a small village. In 1802 he was chosen from Clermont county to assist in the formation of a constitution for a state government and was chairman of the com- mittee to whom was referred the prop- ositions of congress for becoming a state. He freed his slaves before emigrating from Virginia, which circumstance led to his being selected as a member of the conven- tion to form the state constitution. For twenty-two years he was associate judge of Clermont county and wielded a wide in- fluence in public affairs.
Philip Gatch, Jr., the father of our sub- ject, was born in Virginia, August 25. 1793, and was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life in Ohio. He married Susan
Throughout his entire business carcer William M. Gatch has devoted his time and energies to photographic work. As early as 1863 he owned a gallery at No. 14 West Fifth street, in Cincinnati, the site of the present post-office. ' Later he disposed of his business there and went to Knoxville, Ten- nessee, where he was largely engaged in photographic work among the soldiers. After the close of the war he conducted stu- dios at different places and was very for- tunate in securing many valuable specimens pertaining to science and history. In March, 1900, he came to Bellefontaine and opened his studio, which he is now conducting and in his work he is ably assisted and seconded by his wife. They were married September 26, 1878, the lady being Miss Jennie B. Cretors, of Xenia, Ohio. Mrs. Gateli being a lover of art, took up the study of
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photography and to-day stands at the head in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, his par- of her chosen profession, in which she has ents being Milton and Maria ( Swonshen ) Scott. When he had largely mastered the branches of English learning taught in the common schools, he put aside his text books at the age of seventeen years and began learning the milling business, being con- nected with the operation of a flouring mill for ten years. On the expiration of that decade he directed his energies into other fields of labor-carpentering and the con- duct of a sawmill. He was married in 1875 and at that time removed to his present home, purchasing the property which in- cluded not only a residence and the land, but also a gristmill and sawmill, which he has since operated. He thoroughly under- stands the business and annually gains a good financial return from his labor. He has led an industrious and active life, his labors directed by sound judgment - and these qualities never fail to bring success. had twenty years experience. She has re- ceived many complimentary letters from leading art critics of the country, including Fred Emerson Brooks and Frank Beard, the noted cartoonist. The Gatch Art Studio has become famous and Mr. and Mrs. Gatch now have a reputation which is national. Their productions are published all over the United States as representative of the best work in photography. Charles Taber, of New York, who stands at the head as a pub- lisher and reproducer of photographs in high art, and a host of others, have pur- chased their negatives from time to time and had them copyrighted in their own name and published them far and wide. Some of the well known subjects are as follows : Lit- tle Mischief, The Anxious Mother, Cherries are Ripe, Shut Your Eyes and Open Your Mouth, and numerous others, of which they have the originals in their studio. Mr. Gatch is a pioneer in photography and has not only kept abreast with advancement in the art, but has been a leader in improve- ment. He has always been a reader of the leading photographic journals of the coun- try and is also a frequent contributor to them. He has attended the state and na- tional conventions of photographers, where he has won numerous prizes and medals. which are in evidence of the professional recognition of his ability, while in publie re- gard he stands equally high.
HARRY W. SCOTT.
Harry W. Scott, who is operating a sawmill and gristmill at Pickrelltown, in Monroe township, was born June 24, 1849,
Mr. Scott was united in marriage, in 1875, to Miss Eliza Williams, who was born in this county, February 29, 1856, a daugh- ter of Henry Williams, whose birth oe- curred in Logan county, March 28, 1828. He, therefore, became one of the early set- tlers of this part of the state and a repre- sentative of one of the honored pioneer fam- ilies. He was provided with superior edu- cational facilities for those days and be- came a well informed man. He left school at the age of twenty-one years and after- ward married Margaret Pakreil, who was born in this county, January 1, 1831. They became the parents of the following named : John P .: Alanson, deceased; Naney: Eliza M .; Clara Bell; A. H .: William Ed. and Bennah, both deceased: and Charles. Mr. Williams was a member of the Society of Friends and gave his political support to the Republican party.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scott were born nine children: Louis H., born April 25. 1876; Harlan P., December 4, 1877 : Oliver P., July 28. 1883: Preston R., July 3. 1885: Clara G., December 19, 1887: Ralph B., April 13, 1888: Lalla F .. May 21, 1891; Henry H., August 18. 1894, and Leroy W., August 31, 1896. The family attend the services of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Scott is a member. He endorses Republican measures by his ballot and is a public-spirited citizen.
JOHN WINN COLTON.
John Winn Colton was born October 2, 1839. in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. England. His father also bore the name of John Col- ton. and in September. 1843 accompanied - by his wife and children and his brother Samuel Colton and family sailed for Amer- ica, arriving in this country in October. He first located in Green Bush, New York. where he operated a mill for others, spend- ing two years at that place. He then went to Buffalo and thence crossed the lake to Cleveland, Ohio, and continued on his way into the state by canal to Akron. He was there employed in the old Cascade mill, re- ceiving a salary of two dollars per day. He occupied that position for about a year and then took charge of a mill at Canal Dover, Ohio, where he spent six years. He next removed to Shanesville, where he entered into partnership with Albert Bates now a wealthy banker and landowner of New Phil- adelphia, Ohio. Mr. Colton remained at Shanesville for two years and then pur- chased a mill at Limaville, Ohio, which he operated for fifteen years. On the expira- tion of that period he took up his abode at
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