USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 90
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West Liberty where he spent about a year. He retired from business there and later went to Horicon, Wisconsin, where he died February 26. 1872. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Suzanne Glazier, was also born in England, whence she came to America with her husband. Her death oc- curred at Chatfield, Minnesota, in 1886. In their family were eleven children, of whom seven are now living. namely : Charles, Ann, Elizabeth, John W .. Hannah, Mary and Jemima R.
John Winn Colton came of a family of millers. It was the pursuit followed by many representatives of the name for a long period and naturally he became interested in the same business. He accompanied his parents on their various removals and after the father's death came to Bellefontaine, ar- riving here in 1872. He has since occupied the position of head miller with the firm of Colton Brothers, who are own cousins of our subject. Mr. Colton thoroughly un- derstands the milling business in every de- partment. His success is probably largely due to the fact that he has always followed the line in which as a young tradesman he embarked. He made it his business to un- derstand every part of the work intrusted to him and he gradually worked his way upward until he has long occupied the re-
sponsible position which he is now filling. He is one of the stockholders in the Com- mercial & Savings Bank. He was also own- er at one time of a farm in Union township, comprising eighty-six acres, but this he has sold. His present home he built in 1893.
On New Year's Eve of 1862, in Moga- dore, Summit county, Ohio, Mr. Colton was united in marriage to Miss Alice Greene, who was born in that county, November 1, 1844. Her father, B. B. Greene, was a well
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known business man of that locality. His birth occurred in Portage county, Ohio, and his parents were from Providence, Rhode Island, and were of old Puritan stock. Her father is a direct descendant of Roger Wil- liams through the latter's daughter, Mary Williams, who married John Sayles. Mrs. Colton has a family chart in her possession giving the ancestry back to the eighth cen- tury. Her mother bore the maiden name of Nancy Vallandingham and was born in Summit county, Ohio. It is on the maternal side that Mrs. Colton is descended from Revolutionary ancestry. Her great-grand- father was Michael Vallandingham. who commanded a regiment during the war for independence and his son, the grandfather of Mrs. Coltou, fought as a field officer dur- ing the war of 1812. He went to the front as adjutant and took part in the battles of the Thames and Gaines Mills in Canada. and was present when the great Indian chief, Tecumseh, was killed. After the war he engaged in drilling the militia for many years and was always known by the title of colonel. The parents of Mrs. Col- ton were married in Portage county, and afterward removed to Stark county, where Mr. Greene established the first steam pot- tery of that locality. During the gold fever in California he went to the Pacific coast in 1850, spending about three years in that portion of the country. He made the over- land trip going with a party from Akron. Ohio, and he returned by way of the isth- mus route. It was then that he located in Stark county, just across the line from Por- tage county. He was not only very active and prominent in business circles, but was influential in public office and served as jus- tice of the peace and also as post-master. He likewise conducted a country store.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Greene were born three children, but only two are now living. The mother passed away and the father aft- erward married Emma Morse, a niece of New Hampshire's war governor. Mr. Greene spent his last days in Decorah, Iowa, and was engaged in the grocery busi- ness at the time of his death which occurred in May. 1897. Mrs. Colton has one brother. O. C. Greene, of St. Paul, Minnesota, who is a telegraph superintendent for the Nor- thern Pacific Railroad Company. He mar- ried a daughter of Earl Goodrich. the found- er of the St. Paul Press, afterward known as the Pioneer Press. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Colton has been born but one son, Oscar Clement, whose birth occurred December 14, 1863. in Limaville, Ohio. He wedded Lena Belle Brand, a daughter of J. C. Brand, cashier of the First National Bank, and they have one son Cyril, who was born May 23. 1896, in Quincy, Massachusetts, in which place Oscar Colton made his home for five years. He is now living in Lorain. Ohio, and is general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, having been identified with that work since 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Colton hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a stal- wart Republican, having been unswerving in his support of the party since casting his first presidentil vote for Lincoln. His po- sition on any question is never an equivocal one, for he is fearless in defense of his hon- est convictions and does not hesitate to an- nounce his belief and his policy. All who know him entertain for him high regard be- cause of his allegiance to his honest views and because of his upright character, and in Bellefontaine both he and his wife are widely known and have a very large circle of friends.
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J. N. BUSH.
John N. Bush is cultivating and improv- ing a well developed farm in Rush Creek township, and the neat and thrifty appear- ance of his place indicates to the passerby his careful supervision and progressive methods. Mr. Bush has spent his entire life in Logan county, and is one of her native sons. His birth occurred in Big Springs. Rush Creek township. September 6, 1863. his parents being John T. and Matilda (Curl) Bush. The father is a native of Kentucky, born in the year 1825, but when ten years of age was brought to Ohio where he still resides. In the common schools of this state he continued his education until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he began teaming. He followed that pur- snit for a number of years, hauling all kinds of goods, and for three years he drove a hack from East Liberty to Bellefontaine. He afterward turned his attention to farming. His political support is given to the Repub- lican party. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Matilda Curl and unto them were born the following children : Martha, Mary L. and Jane Ann, who are now deceased: Joseph. Elias Minton: Iris: William, who is also deceased : John N. and Amy.
In taking up the personal history of John N. Bush we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely known in Logan county, and who has found favor and friendship with a large circle of ac- quaintances. He was educated in the com- mon schools which he attended until eighteen years of age and then he chose as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Lettie O.
Yeagley, their marriage being celebrated on the 15th of June. 1884. She was born in Bokes Creek township. September 23. 1865, a daughter of Lumm Yeagley, whose birth occurred in Williams county, Ohio, in 1826. Her mother bore the maiden name of Lettie Hockett, and by her marriage to Mr. Yeagley, she became the mother of four chil- dren : Melissa ; Sadie, who has passed away ; Elizabethi and Lettie. Mrs. Bush also has a half sister, Addie. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, and Grace, who was born March 11, 1885, is now the wife of John W. Harkless, of Big Springs. The other children are Elmer, born March 19, 1886: John, born Novem- ber 9, 1889; and Clara, born December 10, 1901.
Mr. and Mrs. Bush are well known in Logan county and the hospitality of many of the best homes of their portion of the county is extended to them. Throughout his entire life Mr. Bush has carried on ag- ricultural pursuits and the success he has achieved is the dircet result of his industry and perseverance. In matters of citizenship he is progressive and public-spirited, and he keeps well informed on the political is- sues of the day and gives his support to the Republican party. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he takes an active and helpful interest in the work of that denomination.
WILLIAM M. HAMMOND.
Among the men of Logan county whose lives have been mainly devoted to agricul- tural pursuits is William M. Hammond,
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who at the present day is successfully en- gaged in general farming and the raising and feeding of stock, his home being in Bloomfield township, six miles northwest of DeGraff. He is a native of Champaign county, this state, born near Olive Chapel or Lee's creek. August 9. 1853, and is a son of Lonson Perry and Elizabeth (Johnson) Hammond, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume.
When our subject was about ten years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Bloomfield township, Logan county, where he grew to manhood' his ed- ucation being obtained in the local schools. When not in school he assisted in the la- bors of the home farm, and contimfed to work with his father and brother for some years after attaining manhood. In partner- ship they purchased fifty acres of land in 1878, it being the tract on which our sub- jeet now resides, but when it came into their possession it was covered with timber and it required much hard labor to convert it into the well cultivated farm which we to- day see. They also bought another farm of ninety-five acres of Solomon E. Loffer and were in business together until 1888.
In the meantime William M. Hammond was married August 16. 1874. to Miss Sa- mantha Ruddle, of Bloomfield township, the marriage being celebrated in Quincy. She was born in that township. September 5, 1851, a daughter of William and Lydia E. ( Melvin) Ruddle, and died February 17. 1897, being laid to rest in the Quincy cem- etery. She left three children, namely : Sylvia M., born May 25. 1877, received a good education; in 1894 she took the Box- well examination and then attended DeGraff high school one year; Loviei Lieurettie, born October 5. 1881. was educated in the
common schools: Ivorene Ruddle, born Oc- tober 1, 1894. completes the family.
Soon after purchasing the fifty acre tract above referred to, Mr. Hammond took up his residence thereon, a hewed log house having previously been built. He at once weatherboarded and plastered this and to- clay it gives no evidence of ever having orig- inally been a log structure. In 1878 he be- came a partner in a steam threshing out- fit-the first that was ever brought to Bloomfield township-and two years later he became sole proprietor. at the same time admitting his brother, C. N. Hammond, to a partnership in the business, which they still carry on with good success. In busi- ness affairs he is prompt, energetic and thoroughly reliable.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. Mr. Hammond has affiliated with the Republican party and has been a candidate for different township offices, but as the township is strongly Democratic he never expected to be elected. He is an active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. to which his wife also belonged. and with which his daughters are now connected. He has served as class-leader. trustee, steward and church treasurer. as well as Sunday- school superintendent. and does all in his power to advance the moral, material and social welfare of the locality in which he lives.
GEORGE W. SMITH.
George W. Smith, who is engaged in the livery business in Bellefontaine. was born in Bloomfield township. Logan county.
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September 7. 1862. His father, John A. Smith, was also a native of this county, and a son of William Smith, one of the early settlers here. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hill, and her parents were among the early set- tlers of Pleasant township. Logan county. John A. Smith and Elizabeth Hill were mar- ried in this county and the father became a prominent and influential man. He took an active part in public affairs and at one time was treasurer of the county. He was also connected with the intellectual development of this part of the state as a teacher, and he served as captain in the war of the re- bellion. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born three sons and a daughter : John Wil- liam; Sarah Jane, who is now the wife of Henry C. Fleming, of Bellefontaine; George W., of this review; and Franklin, who is now deceased.
George W. Smith is the third child and second son. When a small boy he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Belle- fontaine, where he attended the schools un- til about ten years of age and then returned to the farm where he continued to reside until 1898. In the meantime he had be- come actively connected with general farm- ing which claimed his attention until the year mentioned, when he purchased the liv- ery business which he now owns and is suc- cessfully conducting. As a farmer he kept in touch with the progressive methods of the times and his enterprise and industry were the means that brought to him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase his barn.
In 1882 Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie Hopkins, and unto then were born two sons, Clyde and Willie, but the latter died at the age of two years. The former is now studying law in Belle-
fontaine. About six years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Cox, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia Cox, of Jackson Cen- ter, Shelby county, Ohio. Mr. Smith has spent his entire life in this county, and is widely and favorably known. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but is not an as- pirant for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, which are bringing to him success.
LEE J. ROEBUCK.
Lee J. Roebuck, who is now secretary and manager of the Index Printing & Pub- lishing Company, of Bellefontaine, was born in Springfield. Ohio, March 18. 1874. and is a son of Walter and Mattie Roebuck, of this city, to which place they came during the early boyhood of our subject. He ob- tained a public-school education in Belleion- taine, and then entered the printing office of the firm of Roebuck & Brand. He worked in the establishment in the hours preceeding and following the day school ses- sions and also during holiday periods and gradually mastered the business and was advanced to positions of greater respon- sibility until he was made foreman of the office, acting in that capacity until the busi- ness was incorporated. Subsequently he was made secretary of the company, and later purchased a portion of the stock held by General Kennedy. He is now secretary and manager of the company, and not a lit- tle of the success of the enterprise is due to his efforts. The business is carried on along sound financial lines, the circulation has been materially increased. the advertising
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department had become a profitable one and the latter was born June 4, 1789. and died the daily and weekly Index are now the leading papers of Logan county.
Mr. Roebuck is well known in Masonic circles, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge, the chapter and commandery, so that he is now a Knight Templar Mason. Ile is also connected with the Sons of Veterans and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. On the Ist of November, 1899, he was united in marriage to Miss Olive Wiss- ler, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Wiss- ler. The young couple has a very comfort- able home in Bellefontaine and many frilends, with some of whom they have been associated from childhood days.
FREMONT C. HAMILTON.
Fremont C. Hamilton, proprietor the the Hamilton Bank of East Liberty, is regarded as one of the leading business men of his section of Logan county, and is one of the honored native sons of this portion of the state. He was born here on the 27th of October, 1856 -- the year in which John C. Fremont made the race for the presidency as the first candidate of the Republican party. The Hamilton family is of Scotch- Irish extraction and the ancestry can be traced back to William of Douglas, who lived in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1090.
Dr. James W. Hamilton. the father of our subject, was one of the old-time physi- cians of Logan county, and a native of Ve- mango county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred October 22. 1811. His parents were Richard and Ann ( Reynolds) Hamil- ton, the former of whom was born March 10, 1784, and died December 18, 1844. while
September 17, 1830. Richard Hamilton was a son of James Hamilton, who was born May 24, 1754, and died February 15, 1837. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Craine, was born July 15. 1752, and died January 8. 1824. Ann Reynolds was a daughter of William and Lydia (Thomas) Reynolds. Her father was born in in 1752 and died January 30, 1820, and her mother was born in 1758, and died May 11, 1826.
Dr. Hamilton had a hard struggle in early life but he made the most of his op- portunities and rose to an eminent position in professional circles in this part of Ohio. Hle prepared for the practice of medicine un- der the direction of Dr. Gillett, a physician of Franklin, Pennsylvania, and when he started out for himself his assets were a pair of old saddlebags and fifty cents in money. With this he began life in East Liberty, and while attempting to gain a start in his profession he also engaged in teaching school in order to eke out his scanty income. His ability and skill in the line of his chosen calling, however, won rec- ognition and in course of time his practice grew to very extensive proportions. He was known to make as high as from one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty professional visits in a single day. His prac- tice thus made heavy demands upon his time and energies, and he prospered in his work. which at the same time proved of great ben- efit to his fellow men. He continued to practice untif 1852. when he retired from active life.
The Doctor was married in 1839 to Miss Climena E. Allen, who was born in Vermont, February 9. 1814. and died in Logan county, Ohio, July 20, 1893. Her
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father, Aseph Allen was born March 13, born September 6, 1827, and died June 10, 1789, and died in July, 1874. He married Sarah McCloud, who was born May 20. 1791, and died February 21, 1824. when Mrs. Hamilton was only ten years old. Aseph Allen was a near relative of Ethan Allen, the Revolutionary patriot. and Ira Allen, one of the founders of Vermont. Unto Dr. Hamilton and his wife were born ten children, namely : Victoria, James, Ce- ha .1., now the wife of Captain J. D. Inskeep: William, James. Francis, Florence, Filmore and Fremont, twins, and Victor. The Doctor passed away in East Liberty. August 1. 1879. He was never a pol- itician in the sense of office-seeking. yet he served one term in the Ohio legislature, hav- ing been elected to the office on the Repub- lican ticket in 1859. He was a very prom- inent and influential man in his community and his professional skill and labor made him a public benefactor.
Fremont C. Hamilton was reared and educated in East Liberty and his life work has been creditable alike to the town, county and state of his nativity. In 1899 he or- ganized the Hamilton Bank, a private bank- ing institution, which he has since success- fully conducted. and his well known reliabil- ity and business integrity have made this one of the sound financial institutions of this part of the county. He is far-sighted and enterprising in his business methods and his energy and capability are manifest in the prosperity which is attending his work.
On the 28th of June, 1883. Mr. Hamil- ton was united in marriage to Miss Cora D. James, and they have four children, Vic- tor H .. Lucy Climena and Donna. Mrs. Hamilton was born February 15. 1859. and is a daughter of Spain N. James, who was
1891. He was married September 6. 1855, to Nancy Howe, who was born April 1, 1836. a daughter of Hiram and Lydia ( Baily ) Howe. Her paternal grandfather was Samuel Howe, who was born in Marl- boro, Massachusetts. October 2. 1756. and was married at Guildhall, Vermont, May 26, 1790, to Mercy Rosebrook, whose birth occurred in Union county, Massachu- setts, September 7, 1771. To Spain N. and Nancy ( Howe) James were born seven chil- dren, as follows : Burt C .. Cora D., Dorr H., Okie E., Edwin, Mary L. and Fred. The father of this family was a son of Thomas James, who was born in Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 13, 1800, and died October 20, 1865. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Smith, was born January 25. 1807. and died August 26, 1876. The father of Thomas James was Thomas James, Sr., who was married October 16, 1794. to Han- nah C. ok, whose birth occurred October 3. 1767. Her father. Samuel Cook, was born October 15. 1738. and died August 10, ISco, while her mother, who in her maiden- hood was Hannah Fisher, died May 9, 1768. Samuel Cock was a son of Peter Cook, Jr., who was born October 4. 1700. in Norwich, Chestershire, England, and came to Amer- ica in 1713. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Hannah ( Glover) Gilpin, of Birmingham. The parents of Peter Cook, Jr., were Peter and Elinor ( Norman ) Cook, who were married October 7. 1695.
In his political views Mr. Hamilton is independent when no issue is involved and votes at local elections for men rather than for party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, exemplifies the beneficient spirit of the order in his life, and his wife is also active in good works. Both are held in
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warm regard and occupy a prominent po- ition in social circles, while Mr. Hamilton's standing in business circles is high.
J. B. ADAMS.
J. B. Adams is one of the prosperous farmers of Jefferson township. Logan county. More than a century ago George Washington said: "Agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable pur- suit of man." and this truth stands to-day as it did then, for farming is the basis of all prosperity in other lines of life. Mr. Adams in his farm work keeps abreast with the times in the progress that is being made in the methods of caring for land and de- veloping crops. He is one of the native sons of this county, his birth having here occur- red March 26, 1857. His father. George Adams, was a son of Darwin and Catherine H. (Smith) Adams, and was born April 18. 1830 in Camden, Maine. He attended an academy there, ranking highest in his class. At the age of nineteen years he be- gan working in a factory, being thus em- ployed for three years. On the expiration" of that period he came to Ohio, and in 1853 settled in Logan county, where he con- ducted a sawmill. That business claimed his attention for three years, after which he removed to Zanesfield. and purchasing a farm, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1859 he wedded Anna Eliza Brown, who was born near Zanesfield. July 26, 1834. and they became the parents of two children. John and Mary Effie. The daughter was born October 25. 1861. and is now living in Bonner Springs, Kansas. She is the wife of Morris A. Curl, and they have seven children.
Mr. Adams, whose name introduces this record. was provided with excellent ed- tcational privileges and was thus well fitted for life's practical and responsible duties. He attended the Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, and afterward went to Manchester. New Hampshire, where he completed a course in a business college and was graduated in 1880. In his youth hie became familiar with practical methods of farming upon the old home place and he is to-day a leading representative of farming interests in Logan county. On April 7. 1884. he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elliott, who was born February 26. 1859. and they became the parents of three children: Lola, born August 25. 1885, and died May 31. 1887 : Darwin, born February 8. 1888: and Quincy, born May 25. 1890. The mother of these children passed away June 14. 1891, and Mr. Adams was again married in 1893. his second union being with Mrs. Jennie ( Van Hyning ) Bussing. She was a daughter of John Abram Van Hyning, who was born March 21, 1828. in Akron. Ohio. He wedded Mrs. Mary ( Hills) Crew, who at that time was a wid- ow. Their marriage occurred in Chillicothe. Missouri, June 16, 1852, and they had but one child. Jennie Irene, now Mrs. Adams, who was born March 6, 1859. in Centralia. Illinois. By their second marriage Mr. and Mrs. Adams have two children : Nina Faith, born September 14. 1894: and Leah Jean. born March 29, 1896.
The home of the Adams family is a very fine property in Jefferson township, where our subject owns one hundred and twenty acres of the rich land of Ohio. His farm is well improved with modern equipments. excellent machinery and substantial and commodious buildings for the care of both
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grain and stock. He has a good residence. mainder of his days and was widely tastefully furnished and surrounded by a known as an honored citizen and successful business man. He wedded Miss Matilda J. Westlake, who was born in Belmont county. Ohio, and still resides upon the old home- stead. She is a most estimable lady and in her family was a very devoted and loving wife and mother. Mr. Bell passed away up- on the home farm January 8. 1894. He was very active in local political affairs and was often called upon to fill positions of pub- lic trust and responsibility. He made friends wherever he went and he had no en- emies. His life was upright, his intentions honorable, his actions moral and sincere and these sterling traits of his character won for him the unqualified confidence and regard of those with whom he was associated. well kept lawn, and his farming in every department indicates his progressive spirit and his thorough and practical understand- ing of the work to which he devotes his en- ergies. He is also prominent in political af- fairs and takes an active interest in upbuild . ing the political and moral status of the community. In politics he is a Republican. taking a deep interest in the success of his party and is now central committeeman of his township. He does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party, and for five years served as township trustee discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and in his social relations is an Odd Fellow. Mr. Adams is a well known inan, having a wide acquaint- ance in the county of his nativity, and is held in high esteem by reason of his success in business and the honorable straightfor- ward business policy he has ever followed.
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