The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 88

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

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ELI W. RAGER, farmer and lumber-dealer, P. O. Grant, was born April 29, 1831, in Madison Township, Franklin Co., Ohio. His father, John Rager, was a Virginian by birth, and his mother was a native of Franklin County, Penn. They were both brought to Ohio while young, and were married in Fairfield County, Ohio, where Mrs. Rager died. Of their family of thirteen children, nine were sons. Our subject spent his boyhood days at home on the farm until he was twenty one years of age. He was married, October 9, 1852, to Miss Lovina Brown, an orphan, and there have been born to them the following children: Elizabeth A., Mary C., William H., John Q. (deceased), George B., Clement L., James E. and Nancy E. Mr. Rager came to Hardin County in 1863, and, in 1868, took up his residence at the little railway station of Grant, where he now lives. He is a pro ninant man of the place, having served his township as Trustee for a number of years, and is the Deputy Postmaster. In politics, he has always supported the Democratic party. His occupation is that of a lum-

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ber-dealer and farmer. His great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and four years, having been able, when one hundred and two years old, to walk four miles to town and back in the same day, making the distance of eight miles with ease.

NICHOLAS RAREY, farmer, P. O. Kenton, is the oldest child of Parker and Mary (Burgett) Rarey, born in (Franklin County, Ohio, March 22, 1824. His father is a native of Virginia, his mother is a Maryland lady. They were married in Franklin County, Ohio, where they spent the remain- ing years of their lives. Eight children were born to them, four sons and four daughters, of whom are surviving Garnalian S., Clarinda E., Martha A. and our subject; all but the latter are residents of Franklin County, Martha living on the old homestead. Nicholas, the subject of this sketch, helped to clear the home farm, and was married there to Sarah Johnson (deceased), by whom he had the following-named children: Arah M., Ann E., Francis M., Jefferson P. and Parker A. He came to Hardin County in 1851 and purchased 161 acres of land in Section 1, Pleasant Township, where he now lives, having for a homestead 400 acres of choice land bor- dering on the Scioto River. For his second wife he married Maria L., daughter of Abel H. and Rebecca (Mackey) Allen. She was born January 4, 1834, on the banks of the Scioto River, where she has always resided, her parents being old pioneers of this county. The five children by this marriage are as follows: Ira R., born October 24, 1855, died October 19, 1860; Clarinda E., born March 18, 1858, died February 8, 1873; Maria L., born March 20, 1860; Judson A., born August 16, 1865, and Edmond M., born May 19, 1871. Mr. Rarey has an old heirloom in the shape of an old English watch, which has been handed down by grandfather to father and now to son, but has not stopped, like the clock in the song, on the contrary, still " tick, ticks," the moments as they pass. Our subject has been School Director ever since coming to this county. He was in the war of the rebellion, enlisting May 2, 1864, in the One Hundred and Thirty- fifth Ohio National Guard, Company A, and discharged in September, 1864.

HENRY H. REESE, hotel proprietor, Kenton, was born near Hesse- Cassel, in Hesse, Prussia, July 22, 1826. He was brought by his parents, George H. and Mena (Kaiser) Reese, to the United States in 1833, the fam- ily locating in Richland County, Ohio, for one year, and, in 1834, removing to Kenton, in Hardin County. George Reese was among the early pio- neers, and died in 1878, aged eighty-five years. He had a family of eight children, seven of whom are living, Henry being the eldest son. Our sub- ject has been mostly engaged working at his trade, that of carpentering. He went to California, prospecting, in 1850, returning the following year, and worked at his trade until 1865, when he purchased the property of the Reese House, and, as a hotel proprietor, achieved a success, becoming widely and favorably known. In 1875, he leased the house for a few years, again occupying it in the spring of 1883. It has been re-modeled and furnished throughout, and under the management of Mr. Reese and his son has be- come a popular and leading hotel of Kenton. Extensive repairs have been made to every portion of the house, and a large dining-room adds to the beauty of the edifice. Mr. Reese was married in Kenton, in 1851, to Miss Christian Ernstine, a native of Germany. To this union have been born seven children, four living, as follows: Nora, Victory, Harvey and Sally.

JOHN RIES, foreman in the Champion Iron Fence Company, Kenton, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 22, 1835. He is a son of George

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and Wilhelmina (Kaiser) Ries, who were born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, the former on November 13, 1795, and died in Kenton, Ohio, January 3, 1877, in his eighty-third year; the latter born in the year 1800, died at Kenton November 9, 1854, in her fifty-fifth year. They were married in Germany and came to this country in the summer of 1834, after a perilous voyage of six weeks, landing at Baltimore. From there they proceeded to Mansfield, Ohio, thence to Kenton, Ohio, in the spring of 1835, being among the early pioneers and enduring the toil and hardships incident to the set. tlement of a new country, with admirable courage. George H. Ries, at the . age of sixteen, was a conscript in the army in the old country, and when twenty years old, was in that memorable battle of Waterloo, and of a com- pany of 100 men he and fifteen comrades were the only ones of the com- pany to escape. At an early day, and soon after coming to Kenton, Mr. Ries, finding it difficult to support his family, was obliged to work in Springfield, Ohio, and (there being no railroads at that time), performed the journey each way on foot every Saturday night, a distance of fifty-four miles. Twelve children were born to him, five sons and seven daughters, of whom there are three daughters now living. The subject of this sketch at the age of sixteen, left the parental roof to shift for himself. Going to Cincinnati, he learnt the trade of a carpenter, receiving for the first six months $2.50 per week, out of which he paid $2.25 per week for board. During the hot weather, he economized by doing his own washing, having his wardrobe in readiness for the morning. Mr. Ries was married, Febru- ary 23, 1860, to Miss Catherine, daughter of David and Margaretta Ichler, the former a native of Germany, and the latter born near Fort Wayne, Ind. The names and ages of the six children born are as follows: Milton C., eleven years: John J., sixteen; David J., eighteen; Alice W., nineteen; Florence M., twenty; and George Henry (deceased August, 1871), who would have been now about fifteen years. Mrs. Ries died on June 27, 1875, aged thirty five years six months and thirteen days. Mr. Ries was subse- quently married to Mrs. Christena Bishop (née Lontenslager), who had one little daughter, Lessetta Bishop.

O. E. RHODES, insurance agent, Kenton, was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1838, and is a son of John and Rachel (Shaw) Rhodes, both na- tives of Maryland. His father was among the pioneers of Knox County, Ohio, in 1820, and was a miller by occupation. He was a strong Repub- lican, and the family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred in Mount Gilead, Ohio, in 1874, and his widow is a resident of the same place in the seventieth year of her age. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, three sons and five daughters. The subject of this sketch came to Hardin County in 1863, and established in the grocery business in Kenton. In 1872, he became engaged as Secretary of the Kenton Manufacturing and Machine Company, in which he had an interest, severing his connection with the same in 1876. He then became engaged in the local fire insurance business. Mr. Rhodes has also one half interest in Struble's patent iron roof, which is meeting with general favor. He was married in Mount Gilead, Ohio, in 1862, to Miss Xiria C., daughter of Chauncey D. Ensign, and a native of Morrow County, Ohio. By this union there has been one child, Kate R. Mr. Rhodes served as Secretary of the Agricultural Society in 1882.

GEN. JAMES S. ROBINSON, Member of Congress, Konton, Ohio, whose portrait appears in this work, was born near Mansfield, Franklin Township, Ohio, October 14, 1827. He is the youngest of four sons born

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to Francis and Jane (Dickins) Robinson, both natives of England. His parents emigrated to this country about 1817 and settled in Franklin Township, Richland County. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead, where he acquired such an education as was afforded by the country schools. At the age of sixteen, he went to Mansfield, Ohio, and served an apprenticeship at type-setting in the office of the Richland Bugle, published by Watson & Johnson. In December of 1844, he was taken into the office of the Mansfield Jeffersonian, now the Mansfield Herald; re- mained there till June, 1847, and then went to Tiffin, Ohio. He was there employed in the Seneca Whig office until December of the same year, when he came to Kenton and assumed the charge of the Kenton Republican, of which the first number under his direction appeared on the 19th day of January, 1847. He was at this time but nineteen years of age. He con- tinued as manager and editor until the beginning of the war in 1861, when he laid aside the pen to take up the sword in defense of the Union. He disposed of his interest in the Republican office to Hunt & Myers in 1864. In April, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company G, Fourth Ohio Volun teer Infantry. He was chosen First Lieutenant, subsequently Captain, and accompanied his regiment to West Virginia in June, 1861, and partici- pated in the Rich Mountain campaign. In October, he was appointed Major of the Eighty-second Regiment, and, returning home, assisted in re- cruiting the regiment at Camp Simon Kenton, at Kenton, Ohio, and en- tered the field in West Virginia with the rank of Major. In April, 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, by reason of the resignation of Lieut. Col. B. R. Durfee, and Colonel of the regiment August 28, 1862, by reason of the death of Col. Cantrell. The latter was killed in the second battle of Bull Run. Our subject was then brevetted Brigadier General December 12, 1864, a full Brigadier January 12, 1865, and a Brevet Major General March 13, 1865. These promotions were given by seniority of rank and meritorious conduct on the field. He served in the Shenandoah Valley under Fremont; in General Pope's campaign, including the second battle of Bull Run; the campaigns of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Geor- gia and of the Carolinas. He participated in the battles of Rich Mount- ain, Cross Keys, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Culp's farm, Peach Tree Creek, Averysboro and Bentonville; was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and concluded in the march to Washington and the grand review. While Colonel, he received a severe wound in the left shoulder in the battle of Gettysburg; he was confined to the hospital thirty days and then brought home, where he lay in a critical condition for some months. Gen. Robinson was Clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives during the ses- sions of 1855 and 1856. After the close of the war, he was elected Chair- man of the State Central Committee and filled the place in an efficient manner for some years. He was Chairman of the Republican State Execu- tive Committee during the campaign of 1877 to 1879, and during the latter year conducted one of the most brilliant and agressive State campaigns of the country. From January 23, 1880, to February of 1881, he filled the position of Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs. In October of 1880, he was elected by the people of the Ninth District to the Forty-seventh Congress, where he made a brilliant record and won a reputation through- out the county and State. In 1882, he was again elected to the Forty- eighth Congress by a hard-won majority in his district, having always been regarded as an active member, and never before since its organization has this district re-elected a Representative to the halls of Congress. During

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his eventful career, the General has devoted his whole time to the interests of his district, his Congressional experience having led him to understand its wants. One of his first official acts was to introduce a bill relative to the Virginia military lands of Ohio, embracing the valuable body of land lying between the Miami and Scioto Rivers, and he had the satisfaction of seeing this measure adopted. Gen. Robinson was married at Marion, Ohio, June 28, 1848, to Miss Ellen M., daughter of Dr. Spaulding. She died, leaving one son, William S. The General's second marriage, to Miss Hester A., daughter of the Hon. Parlee Carlin, of Findlay, took place November 8, 1858. Two children, Parlee C. and Jennie S., have been born to this union. Our subject was connected with the construction of the Chicago & Atlantic and the New York, Pittsburgh & Chicago Railways. He was always a steadfast supporter of the Republican party, and was Sec- retary of the first Republican State Convention ever held in Ohio, of which Salmon P. Chase was the President. The General is a true man of the people. His career has been a splendid one, and with his robust health, iron constitution, excellent habits and mental and physical vigor, he is doubtless destined to occupy more places in the service of his admiring constituency. He is a noble friend to the soldiers, many of whom will re- member his earnest efforts in their behalf. He is a man of strong home and local attachments, and loyal to his friends, whose fullest confidence he enjoys.

W. S. ROBINSON, hardware merchant, Kenton, was born in this city, in January of 1851. He is a son of Gen. J. S. Robinson, whose sketch is also given in this work. He was employed as Teller in the Bank of Ex. change and Deposit in Kenton from 1869 to 1874, and subsequently was Assistant Cashier of the Kenton Savings Bank from 1876 to 1878, when he resigned his position, and for the year following was engaged by Warder, Mitchell & Co., of Springfield, Ohio. In February, 1881, he established himself in his present business in hardware, under the firm name of Robin- son & Spelman, succeeding W. M. Moore & Co. This establishment oc- cupies nearly the whole of three floors and carries a stock of from $12,000 to $15,000. The business of the first year was $28,000, that of the last $40,000. Mr. Robinson was United States Gauger from 1871 to 1877, and for three years was Secretary of the Agricultural Society. In October of 1881, he was married to Miss Alice B., daughter of James Powell, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio. Mr. Robinson is not connected with any church, but is a prominent business man of Kenton.

J. A. ROGERS, druggist, Kenton, was born in Greene County, Ohio, in the year 1820, and is a son of John and Margaret (Herbert) Rogers. His father is a native of the Shenandoah Valley. Frederick County, Va., and his mother originated from the Old Virginia stock of Loudoun County. The former, a farmer by occupation, came to Greene County, Ohio, thence moved to Champaign County, locating lands near Mechanicsburg, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1848. He was a Methodist di- vine, and maintained a good standing as a local preacher. The subject of this sketch obtained a primary education from the schools of Champaign County, and, in 1842, entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, taking one course of lectures. In May of 1843, he came to Kenton, where he began the practice of his profession. The Doctor arrived in the town on horse- back, with saddlebags, etc., and for seven miles south of the Scioto River there was not a single dwelling to be seen. In the spring of 1845, having entered into partnership with Dr. J. F. Amkeny in the practice of medicine,

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they purchased a stock of drugs, the first that was ever introduced in the village of Kenton, and opened a store in a small frame building erected for the purpose on the east side of the public square, on the site now occupied by Biddle's stove and tin store. The drugs, having been bought in New York, were shipped by river. canal and lake to Sandusky, thence by rail to Republic, Seneca County, where they were loaded into wagons and hauled to Kenton. This was the ordinary route for merchandise from New York at that time. The practice of medicine and drug trade was continued by this firm for nearly four years, when the partnership was closed, the drug stock being sold to George Sweney and by him to Edwin and Charles Ash- ton. In 1856, Edwin Ashton having retired, Dr. Rogers bought a part interest in the business, and in a short time thereafter became sole proprie- tor of the establishment, gradually relinquishing his practice. He has since devoted his time to his business, and is among the stanch and relia- ble business men of Kenton In the fall of 1843, he was united in mar riage to Miss Clarissa Knight, a native of Miami County, Ohio. Three children have resulted from this union, two now living, viz., Eugene and Kate, the latter wife of Thomas Cantwell, of Kenton. Mrs. Rogers died in February, 1857, and the Doctor subsequently married Ann Elizabeth, a daughter of Walter King, and a native of Greene County, Ohio. From this union there have been three daughters-Marv, Margaret and Clara Dr. Rogers has been a Mason for many years, and has occupied the chairs of all the offices connected with that order. He is also a member of the Board of Education and ranks among Kenton's prominent business men.

RUTLEDGE FAMILY. The history of Hardin County would be incomplete without it contained allusions to the family of Rutledges, who were among the earlier settlers of the county, and who have figured more or less conspicuously in its history from the time before the county was organ- ized until the present writing. Richard Rutledge was born near Hagers- town, Md., in 1796, and when but seven years of age removed with his father, William Rutledge, to Fleming County, Ky., where the family re- sided till 1812, when they removed to Champaign County, Ohio. Here Richard Rutledge married Miss Mary Lewis, also a native of Maryland. A few years later, they removed to Logan County, near the present village of Richland. Here they built a mill on Cherokee Creek, and, in 1832, they met with the misfortune of having it burned, which meant the loss of all their earthly possessions. They then decided to push out into the wilder- ness, and did so in the autumn of 1832, and entered land three miles north- west of Round Head, in Hardin County. Richard Rutledge served many years as Justice of the Peace, and rode through the wilderness for fifty miles in almost every direction to solemnize the marriage of many a pioneer couple, and was regarded and esteemed highly as an honorable Christian gentleman. He was industrious and persevering, and ended a successful life after having lost two companions, the last of whom was a widow lady -- Mrs. Sarah Lay, née Hill. He died in the spring of 1875. By his first

wife he had born to him a large family of children, most of whom died in childhood. Those who lived to maturer years were Lewis, Benjamin, Har- riet, Richard, Jr., and Jefferson. Richard Jr., died in 1859 or 1860. By his last wife, he had one child, a son, Sampson, who now resides on the farm near Round Head. Lewis Rutledge, his eldest son, was. born in Champaign County, Ohio, September 2, 1818. He married Jane Tidd, who was born November 15, 1823, in Round Head Township, this county,

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and who was the first white female child born in what is now Hardin Coun- ty. Lewis and Jane Rutledge were married in 1845, and commenced life in the woods, going in debt for their scanty house furniture and $8 for their first cow. They had born to them six children, four of them dying in infancy; two still live, George W. and Charles H. Jane Rutledge died March 17, 1873, and was followed by Lewis, her husband, in June, 1875. George W. Rutledge was born August 16, 1851, three miles north of Round Head. He was a lover of books and took early to a fair common school education. He taught his first country school in Taylor Creek Town- ship, when but sixteen years of age, and entered the North western Ohio Normal School in 1870, and graduated from there in 1875, embarking in the meantime in the mercantile business, which he followed until Decem- ber, 1876. Losing his father at a time when he most needed his counsels, the financial depression of those years and a generous and speculating dis- position brought upon him financial misfortunes. But through the advice and assistance of friends he purchased and took charge of the Kenton Re- publican, in April, 1880, and is still connected with that journal. He was married in September, 1873, to Miss Sudie Shuler, of Allen County, Ohio. She was born June 30, 1856, near Lima, Ohio. To them have been born four children, three sons and one daughter, Earl Ernest, born August 13, 1874; Carl Clyde, born October 14, 1876; Donna Dean, born November 26,1879; and Warren Wilson, born August 24, 1881. Charles H. Rutledge, was born near Round Head July 25, 1861, and was married to Miss Laura Hubble, of Ada, on June 9, 1881. To them was born a daughter, Jessie, on July 15, 1882. Charles H. Rutledge now owns the old home- stead of his parents and an interest in the Kenton Republican, and resides in the city of Kenton. in this his native county.

HERMAN SAGEBIEL, Postmaster, Kenton, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, June 22, 1842. He is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth Sagebiel, both na- tives of Germany, whence the former emigrated in the year 1820, the latter in 1803. His mother's family settled in Lancaster County, Penn. After their marriage, our subject's parents settled in Basil, Ohio, where Mr. Sag. ebiel engaged in the practice of medicine, he having been a practicing phy- sician. In 1856, he came to Hardin County, locating in Kenton where he pursued his practice until his decease in October, 1859. He reared a fam- ily of six children, three now living. Our subject is the youngest living child. In 1859, he went to Shelbyville, Ill., where he learned the tinner's trade and then entered the army during the rebellion. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company B, and fought in the following battles: Perryville, Ky., October 6, 7 and 8, 1862; Stone River, December 31,1862, to January 3, 1863; Chickamauga, Sep- tember 23, 1863; and Franklin, Tenn., February 1, March 9, April 10 and 27, and June 4, 1863. He received several wounds from spent balls, but, with the exception of a six weeks' sickness in 1862, near Covington, Ky., was always on duty. He received his discharge on March of 1864. On his return home, he worked at his trade until May, 1873, when he was appointed Postmaster of Kenton, re-appointed in 1877, and is still discharging the duties of that office. He was married in 1865, in Hardin County, to Miss Ruth, daughter of Joseph Lambert. She is a native of Belmont County, Ohio, and has reared a family of three children-Perry W., Olive R. and Perly L. Mr. Sagebiel is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of the Knights of Honor and of the Grand Army of the Republic. The father of Mr. Sagebiel was the only representative bearing that name

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who emigrated to the United States, and our subject and his children are the only survivors left to carry it down to posterity.

JOHN SAYLOR, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Kenton, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, October 21, 1829. His father, Micah Saylor, was a son of Jacob Sayler, who was brought from Germany to this country when a small boy. He learned the trade of gunsmith, and during the Rev- olution was detailed as artificer for the colonial forces, for which services he was paid in continental money; this money becoming worthless, the family were almost reduced to poverty. Removing to Bedford, Penn., he worked at his trade some years, and was elected to the State Legislature, when death came, and the hopes of the family were again frustrated. The widow was left with a young family of nine children, and after battling with the stern realities of life in that hilly region, she determined to emi . grate to the West. Being a woman of strong will and energy, she finally accomplished her purpose, reaching what was then called the Northwest Territory, after many hardships, and settling about midway between Chil- licothe and Circleville in the year 1798. Here Micah Saylor, the father of our subject, grew up to manhood, acquiring the scanty education afforded by the early schools, consisting of about six weeks of schooling. Having a good memory, he thoroughly mastered the principals of arithmetic and grammar, becoming a fair scholar both in English and German. He de- lighted greatly in reading and the solution of intricate problems, in the exercise of which he would sometimes sit up all night. He died in Hardin County, Ohio, April 12, 1856, aged seventy years. He was married in 1819 to Elizabeth (Hillory) Monnett, of French descent, who was born in Virginia, about six miles from Cumberland, in 1791. She was brought in 1800 to that part of the territory afterward included in the State of Ohio, lo- cating about fourteen miles northeast of Chillicothe. They lived in Pickaway County, Ohio, and raised a family of four children, three daughters and one son, viz., Ann, wife of Peter Warren, Kingston, Ohio; Margaret, wife of Jacob Sayler, Hillsboro, Ohio; Esther (deceased), wife of William Kin- near, Kenton, Ohio; and John, our subject. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Hardin County in 1851, settling near Kenton, his father having made a purchase previous to his coming, and afterward buy- ing a homestead near the city. Micah Saylor was a successful farmer and stock-raiser in the country he came from. The education of our sub- ject was derived from the common schools and from Hillsboro Academy, which he attended in the winter of 1849 and 1850. His father deeded him 160 acres of land in 1851, in addition to which he has made subsequent purchases of 440 acres. On this land, he erected a large, commodious brick dwelling, occupying it in December of 1882. He is considerably engaged in raising stock, dealing mostly in cattle. On November 13, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Elias and Elizabeth Ben- ton. His wife is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, where her father had settled in 1817. Mrs. Benton died May 7, 1865, at Kenton, and was the mother of six children, two of whom are living, Daniel W. and Mrs. Say- lor. Mr. Benton again married on February 12, 1867, Mrs. Catherine Cherry, the widow of Nathaniel Cherry, who moved to Hardin County in 1867. The tive children born to Mr. and Mrs. Saylor are all living, viz., Almira B., Oscar M., Oraella E., Elias T. and Myrna L. Mr. Saylor was nominated as a Representative of the Legislature on the Republican ticket, but was defeated by eighty-eight votes for John Haley. His nomination had been entirely unsolicited, the selection being the choice of the people. The family are all connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 88

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076