USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 58
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CERMAN TOWNSHIP.
ADAM BAKER, farmer; P. O. Eagle City ; born on his present farm April 26. 1841 ; is a son of Adam and Susannah (Klinefelter) Baker, natives of York Co., Penu .; Adam and family became residents of Clark Co., Ohio, in 1836, remaining in Springfield about one year; then bought and located on the farm where our subject now lives ; here he resided until his death. He died in April, 1863, aged 67 years. In 1869, his wife moved to Springfield, where she resided until her death; she died Aug. 7, 1870, aged 77 years. They were parents of twelve children, seven now sur- vive .- Elizabeth, Cornelius, William B., Elnora, Joanna, John W. and Adam. Mr. Baker was an active, prominent man in this community ; in connection with farming, he was quite an extensive dealer in stock, and became owner of about S00 acres of land along the Mad River bottoms ; also bought the flouring-mills and distillery then located here, which he ran very successfully for about twenty years. He also held various offices of the township and county ; was County Commissioner several years. Our sub- jeet remained with his father until his death. Was married, Oct. 10, 1809, to Aman- da, daughter of John and Sarah Ann Wilson, he a native of Champaign Co., Ohio, aud she of Virginia, Amanda being the third of nine children ; five now survive-Malissa E., William M., Amanda E., Mary Susanna and Sarah Caroline. Mr. Baker has al- ways resided upon the old home place, with the exception of fifteen months' residence with his father on the Hetzler property, below Springfield, when they returned to the old home farm. Mr. Baker now owns 325 acres of fine land, constituting three farms. The home place has now been in possession of the Baker family forty-four years. He has never sought or held office; he.is, like his father was before him, a stauch Repub- lican. Mr. Baker has been an active business man ; a good financier ; has a pleasant home, and is well situated to enjoy the comforts of life.
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EMANUEL BAKER, farmer ; P. O. Tremont City ; born in Clark Co. Feb. 7, 1821 ; is a son of Martin and Eve (Friermood) Baker, natives of Virginia ; thu. grandparents were also natives of Virginia, but became among the early settlers of Clark Co .; in fact, were among the real pioneers, locating here before the county was organized. Martin and Eve were in their childhood when their parents located in this county, consequently were mostly raised here; were here married, and lived and died in this county. He died July 1, 1831. They were parents of six children, five now surviving-Emanuel, Amos, Absalom, Louisa and Martin ; deceased, Samuel. Our subject, the oldest child, was but 11 years of age when his father died; this left the mother with the care and responsibility of raising these young children, and that in a. new country, where she had to labor under many disadvantages and deprivations ; but, with a courage and fortitude which only a mother seems to possess, she, with the as- sistance of kind neighbors, succeeded in keeping her family together until they arrived at maturity. She died Feb. 9, 1860. Mr. Baker was married Nov. 14, 1844, to Dru- silla, daughter of Solomon and Leah Foltz, natives of Virginia. By this union they have had two children, one only now surviving-Lydia; deceased, Andrew J. Mr. Baker has spent his entire life in Clark Co., and followed farming as an occupation ; Has been located upon the farm where he now resides since the spring of 1845, a period of thirty-five years. He has a farm of 50 acres, all in cultivation, with good in- provements, constituting a pleasant home and residence. Mr. Baker has held the office of Township Trustee for two years.
THOMAS BAKER, farmer; P. O. Eagle City ; born in this county and town- ship Aug. 4, 1820; is a son of John and Susannah (Nawman) Baker, natives of Virginia (for the Nawman family, see sketch of Samuel Nawman in this work). The grandfather, Henry Baker, was a native of Virginia, but became one of the early pio- neers of Clark Co., and died here. John and Susannah were parents of eight chil- dren ; five now survive-Thomas, Elizabeth, John, Cyrus and Susanna. They located about one mile north of Lawrenceville, where they lived until their death ; she died some fifty years ago. He was again married, to Christiana Miller, by whom he had ten children ; seven now living-Henry, Aaron, William H., George W., Catharine,
Levi and Simon. He died over twenty years ago. Our subject made his home with his father until 28 years of age. Was married, in 1849, to Lydia, daughter of John and Margaret Hause, natives of Pennsylvania. Issue, six children ; three now survive -Harmon H., Emanuel A. and Cyrus W. Mr. Baker, after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now resides, and has made a continue residence of thirty-one years. His farm consists of 36 acres of fine bottom land in the Mad River Valley, most of which is in good cultivation, and constitutes him a very pleasant home and res- idence.
JAMES V. BALLENTINE, Justice of the Peace, Lawrenceville ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Oct. 14, 1823 ; is a son of William and Nancy A. (Nail) Bal- lentine, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1798 and located in Pennsyl- vania, where he raised a family of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters still survive-Robert, Mathew, David, James V., Margaret and Elizabeth. In 1831, Mr. Ballentine came to Ohio with his family, and, after a short stay in Montgomery Co., removed, in 1832, to German Township, Clark Co., where he spent the remainder of his life ; he died Nov. 15, 1851; his wife died June 11, 1843. He was an industrious, hard-working man; left his native land to escape the oppression of the English Government; he sought and obtained an asylum in this " land of the free," landing here when the hand of civilization and enterprise had done comparatively little toward building cities and developing the wonderful resources of this now great and growing country. Our subject was brought up to farm labor, receiving a common-school education, with two terms of six months each attend- ance at a high school in Springfield. Was married, Aug. 20, 1853, to Rosanna, daugh- ter of John and Sarah Domer, natives of Maryland; issue, five children ; four now survive-Charles F., Sarah Jane, Anna and Marion S. Mr. Ballentine followed deal- ing in stock till 1855; thence gave his attention to farming, following agricultural pur-
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suits till the spring of 1877, when he sold his farm and bought property in Springfield, and some in Lawrenceville, locating upon the latter, where he has since resided. , This course he took that he might have better privileges to educate his children, being, one of those believing in education and progress. llis eldest son is now in Springfield studying for the profession of a lawyer. The youngest son is prosecuting his studies, in preparation for some profession. Mr. Ballentine has been a prominent man of his township, having held office a great portion of his life. Was Assessor seven years, and Assistant Assessor five years ; Revenue Assessor two years; Real Estate Assessor one year, and Justice of the Peace nine years.
HENRY BOOSINGER, apiarist and sorghum manufacturer, Bowlusville; born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Oct. 9, 1831. Is a son of Henry and Catharine Boosinger, whose history appears in full in sketch of Martin L. Boosinger, in this work. Our subject was raised to farm labor, and always followed that occupation till about seven years ago, when he entered extensively into bee culture, and also into the gardening business ; these he has followed with good success. In the fall of 1879, he bought a cane mill and built a fur- nace, and arranged full machinery for the manufacture of sorghum molasses, which business he is now carrying on extensively ; and in this business, as well as an apiarist, he seems to be successful, evidently understanding the principles of the business which is always so necessary to the sure road to success. . He was married, Oct. 16, 1854, to Mi's Luny Ann. denchter of John and Rebecca (Heury) Dear, he a native of Virginia, and she of Ohio. They were parents of nine children ; four now survive-Eliza Jane, Lucy Ann, Mary Harriet and John Simeon. Mr. Boosinger and wife have had an issue of thirteen children ; ten now survive-John Henry, Samuel Augustus, Charles Marion, William Ellsworth, Addie Louisa, Joseph Ezra, Thomas Lee, Mary Elizabeth, Emma Dora and Walter Forest. Mr. Boosinger has never held office except that of School Director, which office he now holds. His business demands all his attention, and he is one of those energetic men who attends strictly to his business, and as such is prosperous, and has the confidence of his community.
MARTIN L. BOOSINGER, farmer ; P. O. Bowlusville; was born in Lancas- ter Co., J'enn., Aug. 8, 1829 ; is a son of Henry and Catharine (Spickler) Boosinger, he a native of the Canton of Basil, Switzerland, and emigrating to America in 1817. She was a native of Pennsylvania. They were married in Pennsylvania, and lived there until 1837, when they removed to Ohio, locating in Clark Co., where he resided until 1872 ; thence removed to Logan Co., Ill., where he still resides, now about 78 years of age. Of an issue of five children four now survive-Martin L., Henry, John S. and Augustus. Mr. Boosinger has always been an athletic, hard-working man, and now, at his advanced age, is quite robust and healthy. Is naturally quite gifted as an artist, as a portrait- painter and a sculptor ; although never having served any apprenticeship, or taken any lessons in the art, yet he would, doubtless, have excelled in fine arts had his financial circumstances permitted him to have made it a study. He has always been a man of great integrity of character, whose word could always be relied upon, and an active Christian worker, a member of the M. E. Church, and one who is respected and stands in high esteem by all who know him best. His wife died in 1849. He mar- ried for his second wife Nancy Downing, with whom he is now living in Illinois. Our subject lived with his father until about 20 years of age, or till the death of his mother. Was married in October, 185-4, to Miss Eliza Jane, daughter of John and Rebecca (Henry) Dear, he a native of Virginia and she of Ohio ; issue nine children, six now living-Mary C., John Franklin, Ella R .. Annie E., Arthur H. and Laura May. Mr. Boosinger has always lived in this county, with the exception of three years spent in Illinois. Has been located upon his present farm about fifteen years. Always made farming his business. Has never held or sought office, but is a stanch Democrat in principle, but believes in the best men being elected to office, and that we should always adhere to the wishes of the people as expressed by their popular vote.
JOHN C. BYERS, farmer; P. O. Northampton ; was born in Pennsylvania April 16, 1815 ; is a son of John and Nancy (Branaman) Byers, natives of Pennsyl- vania. Benjamin Byers, the grandfather, also a native of Pennsylvania. Christian
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Branaman, the maternal grandfather, was of English birth, and came to America a poor boy, and was sold to pay for his passage across the waters. John and family became residents of Ohio in 1847, and, in one month after locating here his wife died. After her death, he and his son-in-law bought and located upon a farm in Fairfield Co., resid- ing there three years ; thence to Putnam Co., where the father died March 16, 1873 or 1874. Our subject was raised to farm labor, living with his father until 23 years of age. Was married Aug. 11, 1836, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and. Peggy Wan- gart, natives of Pennsylvania ; issue eleven children ; ten grew to maternity ; nine now survive-Leah, Catharine, Lydia, Fannie, Andrew, Mary, Melissa and Sarah ; deceased, Nancy and Elizabeth. Mr. Byers, after his marriage, lived in Pennsylvania seven years ; thence to Franklin Co., Ohio, and resided nine years ; he then took an extended tour through the States of Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, pros- pecting for a home and a location, and finally settled upon the farm where he now re- sides, having come to the conclusion that he saw no State or county possessed of all the advantages better than this. Here he has resided twenty-seven years; has greatly improved his farm, erected all new and commodious buildings, and has everything fitted up, constituting a pleasant farmer's residence. Mr. Byers started a poor man, and, by his own industry, economy and good management, has accumulated a good competency. He has never sought or held office, preferring to attend quietly to his own business
affas; religiously, he is a Methodist. Mr. Byers has always been a strictly temperate man, and a great friend to the temperance cause ; has never used intoxicating liquors or tobacco in any form, and never swore an oath in his life. Such an example is worthy of record and of imitation by all future generations
JOHN S. DEAR, farmer ; P. O. Bowlusville. Born on the farm where he now resides Aug. 4, 1844; is a son of John and Rebecca Dear, whose history appears in full in the sketch of Henry Boosinger, in this work. Mr. Dear remained with his father till 18 years of age, when, on Aug. 13, 1862. he answered to the call of his country during the war of the rebellion, and enlisted in Co. I, 44th O. V. I., and served through the war in this regiment and in the Sth O. V. C .; was in many hard- fought battles, but escaped without a wound, and returned safely home. Was married Sept. 16, 1867, to Elizabeth. daughter of John and Eva (Maggart) Sides; he a native of Pennsylvania, and she a native of Ohio. Issue, four children-Warder, Ottwa, and Grace and Mabel (twins). Mr. Dear, after his marriage, still remained upon the home farm, till the fall of 1868; thence to Wabash Co., Ind., where he resided till the spring of 1872; thence returned to the old home farin, where he has since resided. This farm consists of 16 acres of good land, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements. John and Eva Sides were parents of nine children, four now survive-Mary Ann, Elizabeth, John Henry and Ellen.
JACOB DINGLEDINE, farmer ; P. O. Tremont City ; born in Virginia July 13, 1810; is a son of Philip and Mary (Barrington) Dingledine, natives of Virginia. They became residents of Ohio, locating in Champaign Co., in 1844, where they resided till their death. His wife died in October, 1860; his death occurred Aug. 9, 1872. They were parents of twelve children, five now survive-Margaret, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary and Sallie. Our subject remained with his father till 22 years of age ; in the fall of 1832, he came to Ohio, and located in Clark .Co .; thence in Champaign Co., where he resided about twenty-seven years; thence back to Clark Co., where he has since resided, and upon his present farm, where he now lives, he has resided about three years. He was married Sept. 29, 1836, to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Mary Baker, natives of Virginia, but who came among the early settlers of Clark Co. By this union they had seven children, three now survive-Samuel, John Emery and Rachel Ann. His wife died Jan. 18. 1858: His second wife. Sallie, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Baker, natives of Virginia, he married April 12, 1859. Mr. Dingledine has heldt most of the important offices of his township, Having been Asses- sor one term, Township Trustee eight or ten years, and Township Treasurer for three years. Has been a prominent member of the Reformed Church for twenty-five or thirty years. He has a fine farm of 103 acres, mostly in cultivation, with good improve- ments, constituting a very pleasant home and farmer's residence.
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GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
JOHN S. GARD, M. D., physician; P. O. Tremont City ; bora in this town- ship and county Oct. 12, 1829; is a son of Gershom and Mary (Peacock) Gard. he a uative of Kentucky and she of Virginia. The grandfather, Job Gard, was a native of New Jersey, and became one of the early settlers of Kentucky, and thence of Ohio, first at Cincinnati, thence at Dayton, thence Miami Co., and finally of Clark Co., settling in German Township, about 1805, where he spent the most of his life. Gershom, when his father settled here, was about 13 years of age; was brought up to farm labor till he reached his majority, after which he followed farming and the milling business ; building during his life several mills along Mad River. His life was one of great activity ; was a soldier in the war of 1812, being then a young man just blooming into manhood. He died Nov. 1, 1866 ; his wife died several years previous, about 1849. They were parents of thirteen children, six now survive-Benjamin M., Silas H., John S., Emery R., Eli J. and Margaret. Mr. Gard was twice married ; his second wife was Maria Smith, of Springfield, whom he married in the latter part of 1849, and by whom he had two children-Charles G. and Edwin V. Our subject was brought up to manual labor on the farm till 18 years of age, receiving the advantages merely of a common school education. At this period he attended the Ohio Conference High School, at Springfield, two years; thence the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, two years ; thenco R. S. Bacon's Commercial Col- lege, at Cincinnati, where he graduated; thence the Starling Medical College, at Odlande, Olio, where he graduated in 1864. He now entered the army as Assistant Surgeon, under Maj. Grant, of New Jersey, being assigned to that position and located at Madison, Ind., by Charles Tripler, who had command of the Northern Med- ical Department, where he remained till his appointment as Demonstrator of Anatomy in the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, which position he held three years. After his father's death, or in 1867, he bought the old homestead farm of the heirs, paying $106 per acre. He was now owner of three good farms ; these he rented and entered upon the practice of his profession, at Tremont City, where he continued till April, 1879, when he bought and located upon the farm where he now resides, retired from active practice. He married. Nov. 11, 1851, Miss Emma E., daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Hurd, natives of New York State ; issue, five children, four now survive -- Horace A., Warren E., Mary B. and Laura A .; deceased, Edward DeForest. Dr. Gard now owns 300 acres of excellent land, constituting three farms, all in good culti- vation, with good improvements, and is pleasantly situated to enjoy the comforts of life. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, being the only Republican ever elected to that office in German Township. The Doctor and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, he having been such twenty-five years, is Trustee of the Church, and superintended the building of their new edifice, which does honor to the members and the town of Tremont City.
GIDEON HARTMAN, farmer : P. O. Lawrenceville. Born in Pennsylvania March 6, 1832. Is a son of Peter and Hannah (Myers) Hartman, natives of Penn- sylvania. They emigrated to Ohio, locating in Clark Co., in 1837, upon the tract of land upon which his son Lewis now resides. Here he lived till his death, May 31, 1872. Ilis wife is still living at the home place with Lewis, and is now 77 years of age. They have four children-Maria, Amos N., Gideon and Lewis M. Our subject was married, Dec. 24, 1857, to Barbara, daughter of Daniel and Susanna Suell, natives of Virginia : issue, seven children ; five now survive-Oscar W., Ella F., Alice Ida, Effie May and Charles Elmer. They at once located upon the farm where they now live and have since resided. His farm consists of 1S1 acres of land, 125 of which are in cultivation. with good buildings and improvements, constituting a nice farmer's home and residence. Mr. Hartman and wife are members of the German Baptist Church, to which they attached themselves five years ago.
EMANUEL HAUSE, blacksmith, Lawrenceville; born in York .Co., Pennsyl- vania, Aug. 24, 1832. Is a son of John and Margaret ( Hartman ) Hause, natives of . Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents were natives of Germany, the maternal of Pennsylvania. John and family emigrated to Ohio and located in German Township in the spring of 1848, where, in about six months after, he died. His wife died in
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July, 1877. From an issue of five children, four now survive-Lydia, Aarabel B., Emanuel and Peter J. The mother was married the second time to Emanuel Circle, by whom she had one child-William C. Our subject, at the death of his father, was 6 years of age. The family were left in quite limited circumstances, and the children obtained homes wherever they could be found. Emanuel worked here and there through the summer months, and in the winters remained at home with his mother and attended the district school. In May, 1855, he sought and obtained a position with Joseph Peters, of Springfield, to learn the blacksmith trade; continued with him two and a half years, thence he took a trip West, working at his trade at various points in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana for one year; thence in 1860, he and his brother com- menced business on their own account in Lawrenceville, where they carried on black- smithing fourteen years, when his brother retired from the firm, and Mr. E. continued the business till April, 1880, when he sold out and bought a farm two and a half miles north of Lawrenceville. He was married, Oct. 3, 1861, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Christena Brest, natives of Virginia ; issue, eight children ; six now survive --- Laura A., Clark C., Otilla J., Kit C., Omer P. and Stephen S. Mr. Hause started out a poor boy ; obtained but a limited education ; learned his trade, and, by industry and economy, has, besides raising his family and meeting the expenses of much sickness, and the death of two children, accumulated a good property ; owns 100 acres of good land mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, and all paid for but $1,650. He has been a hard-working, energetic man, and is one of those who knows no such word as " fail."
SAMUEL K. HOCKMAN, miller, Eagle City ; born in Shenandoah Co., Va., Sept. 26, 1821. His father, Peter Hockman, and grandfather, George Hoekman, were born on the Shenandoah River, in Shenandoah Co., Va., and lived and died there. The great-grandfather, Peter Hockman, was born in Pennsylvania, coming to Virginia in his younger days, and lived and died there. Samuel Hockman was raised on the farm and worked for his father till July, 1842; he then engaged with William D. Wright, of the same county and State, to learn the milling business, which he has followed up to the present time. He was married, Jan. 29, 1852, to Ann Eliza, youngest daughter of Christian Gochenour, and granddaughter of John Gochenour, all residents of the Shenandoah Valley, Va .; they had seven children born in Virginia-Milton, Lydia, Mary, John, William, Benjamin and Samuel. In July, 1867, he emigrated to Cham- paign Co., Ohio, where his two youngest daughters were born-Emma and Bettie. Here he worked at his regular trade in several of the mills on Mad River, until in May, 1876, he purchased the old Baker mill property in Clark Co., now known as the " Eagle City Mills," where he has since remained, and is doing a good business under the firm name of S. R. Hockman & Son. This is a very fine property, located on the Mad River in the midst of a fine grain-growing country, and is fitted up with the best of machinery, great improvements having been made in the mill since its present owner- ship, and they contemplate making still further improvements in the way of some new machinery, determined to make it one of the best mills on Mad River. Last year, from July. 1879, to July, 1880, they ground 46,000 bushels of wheat, besides many thousand bushels of other grain. On April 1, 1879, a post office was established at the Mills, called the " Eagle City," and Mr. Hockman was appointed Postmaster, which position he still holds.
JOHN KIBLINGER, farmer ; P. O. Eagle City ; born on the farm where he now resides, Sept. 11, 1816 ; is a son of Jacob and Mary (Pence) Kiblinger, natives of Virginia. Jacob first visited this county in 1801, and between this date and the year. 1805, made four trips from Virginia to this county, assisting in moving several of the Kiblinger and Pence families to this their new home. On the last trip, which was in 1805, he brought his father, Jacob and family, and all now became permanent residents of this county, being truly pioneers of the county. Jacob Kiblinger, Sr., built the first saw mill and hemp-mill in this township, located on Mad River, near the place where the Eagle City Mills now stand. Jacob Kiblinger, Jr., on one of his first trips to this county, between 1801 and 1805, entered 80 acres of land, which is embraced in the
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