(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 651 Samuel E. Hagy had few educational advantages and remained with his parents on the home farm, laboring arduously, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Illinois, and secured employment at the monthly wage of twenty-five dollars. Remaining there for four years he went to Ottawa, that state, in the year 1859, and after working on a farm for a while he engaged in cultivating land on shares, which course he pursued for three years. He then returned to Etna, where he purchased a number of horses which he took to Kentucky to sell. The venture proved unprofitable as the rebels, questioning his politics and sentiments, confiscated his property and left him penniless. He then returned to Etna, and in January, 1864, enlisted in company D, Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Parker, doing service in Ohio. After a military career of six months he received an honorable discharge, returned to this place and in. the year 1866 began the manufacture of bricks, continuing the enterprise for a period of thirty-five years. In connection with this business he manufactured a high grade of tile—an industry in which he became noted throughout the state. He also paid considerable attention to agriculture and farmed a tract of land consisting of two hundred and three acres, on which he raised various kinds of grain and also made a specialty of producing fruits. He is one of the most highly respected men of the township, and through hard work and patient effort has accumulated considerable wealth. Besides the farm he owns three elegant dwellings and also considerable town property. The story of his energetic and useful career is faithfully told in his autobiography as follows : "My parents were poor and I remained with them and worked for them until. I was twenty-one years of age. In the spring of 1855 my entire wealth was eleven dollars. With this I went to Illinois, where I engaged to work for a Mr. Dunavan for eight months for twenty-five dollars per month, saving my wages, with which I purchased a span of horses. With my team I engaged in farming on the shares, on the farm of Samuel Millikin, four miles east of Ottawa, Illinois. At the end of three years I converted all that I had in property into money fourteen hundred and eighty dollars in gold—and returned to Etna, Ohio, where I purchased sixteen horses, which was at the beginning of the late Civil war. I took the horses to, Kentucky—then and there I lost all I had. They said that they believed I was a democrat, but belonged to the tail of the abolition kite. But by setting up the applejack and cigars twice they let me skip out with my head on, which they threatened to take. Soon after I was married to Miss Amanda M. Leonard. We were poor but we went to work in earnest. My coat was off summer and winter and my hands held a plow, shovel, hoe, ax or some kind of a tool, most of the time. I did no loafing. * * * I have been a manufacturer of hand-made brick for twenty-five years. When I began making drain tile, fourteen years ago, my neighbors thought I was making a mistake, that it would bankrupt me, that two kilns of tile would supply the demand in this part of the country for the next twenty-five years. Ha! Ha! The first, second and third years I put in six thousand rods of tile on my own farm. Then I had a yield of forty bushels of wheat, seventy-five and eighty bushels of corn, and two and two and a half tons of hay per acre, on land where nothing had grown before. It changed the opinions of many as to the benefits of tile drainage. In my case the benefits of drainage are 652 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. too numerous to mention. It put me out of debt; it added more land to my homestead, and other good property. My cattle are not the long-legged, razor-backed, slab-sided, long-horned kind. They are uniform in color, hornless, polled Aberdeen Angus, having black, glossy skins, grand shoulders, deep loins and massive quarters. The other stock can run with them. The school children like and handle the "doddies" without fear. "In the winter, for the past thirty-five years, I have repaired watches, clocks and jewelry and bought and sold land. 1 have served as justice of the peace for twenty-four years, and township treasurer about thirty years. There has not been a criminal suit in Etna township for ten years and no civil suit for three years, and no suit pending in the court of common pleas from this township, which speaks well for the good citizens of this portion of Ohio. And there is no whisky sold in this township. In the history of the township only two persons have been sent to the state prison: one was sent up for counterfeiting and one for robbery. "We are members of the Reformed church. I have been an Odd Fellow for twenty-seven years, and four of my sons are also Odd Fellows; I am a member of Baird's Post, No. 653, G. A. R. And last, though not least, I am a member in good and regular standing of the Ohio Tile Manufacturers' Association. Printers' ink has helped me up the hill. For several years I took from fifty to one hundred copies of the Drainage Journal, and handed them out to men of good judgment. I have distributed thousands of copies of "Joe Byers' Story About Dreanen Land and Other Things." They not only help to sell drain tile but, in addition, they have had an uplifting influence they make me and other people better. It is not only the selling of tile that I prize this story for, but it is the 'other things' that please me. I cultivated a friendly feeling for the poor, because I once begged bread to appease hunger. If Moses could afford to leave a royal court and cast his lot with a multitude of uncultured slaves forty years in the wilderness, I could afford to give a poor tramp something to eat." On December 5, 1861, Mr. Hagy was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Leonard, a native of Etna, born July 12, 1842, and a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Faber) Leonard, who in the '30s came from Virginia to this locality, where they spent their lives and reared their family of twelve children, of whom Mrs. Hagy is the only survivor. Mr. and Mrs. Hagy have four children, namely: Charles M., a stonemason and bricklayer of Decatur, Illinois, where he and his wife own a large farm; Samuel L., a jeweler of Vernon, Texas; William T., who is an agriculturist and manages the home farm; and Allen M., a musician. In politics Mr. Hagy is a democrat in principle, but does not bind himself exclusively to any particular party, as he reserves the right to use his own personal judgment as to the qualifications of candidates for office, irrespective of party ties. His worth as a man of superior ability and administrative faculties is apparent upon mention of the fact that for twenty-four consecutive years he has served as justice of the peace. Nor has this been the only honor conferred upon him by his fellow citizens, as he has been treasurer of the township since 1882, in which capacity he officiates with great credit. He has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1866, and is also a comrade of Baird Post, G. A. R., of Pataskala. Being a man of high moral and spiritual character he has always put his religious duties foremost and is a member of the English Reformed church. In every sense HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 653 of the term Mr. Hagy is a self-educated and self-made man, and it has been through his natural ability, coupled with the industry and economy common to his kinsmen, that he has been successful in life and attained his present prosperity. BENJAMIN F. NICHOLS. Benjamin F. Nichols, who during his entire life followed agricultural pursuits in Harrison township, was born on the farm situated at the corner of Columbus road and York street, May 25, 1832, and there resided until his death August 11, 1895. Isaiah and Sarah Nichols, his parents, were natives of New Jersey, where they were married. Several children were born to them before they came to Licking county and settled on the tract of land now under cultivation by the widow of Benjamin F. Nichols. When they came to this region it was in a comparatively primitive condition, being overgrown with timber and having but few residences. By hard and persevering labor Mr. Nichols cleared off his land, making it arable, and constructed a comfortable dwelling which is now occupied by his son's widow. The building is an old landmark of the vicinity and for many years was known as the Nichols Tavern, having been used in the early days as an inn, while the road on which it was located was known to travelers as the old mud pike. In those times there was considerable travel along this thoroughfare and the Nichols Tavern was a customary stopping place, where people lodged and changed their teams. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols were the parents of : Obediah, Mary, Cynthia, Ann, Tirzah, George, Isaiah (who died in California) and Benjamin F. Nichols. They also reared a grandson, Zephaniah Alward. During his boyhood days Benjamin F. Nichols worked on his father's farm and in the meantime attended the district schools. After acquiring his education he remained on the old homestead, where he was actively engaged in general farming. He spent his entire life in this township and most of it on the farm until his demise. At his father's death he inherited two hundred acres of excellent land which, from year to year, he planted in general crops and reaped bountiful harvests. The farm was originally purchased from the government by his father who, associated with his son, for many years engaged in general agriculture, making a specialty of stock-raising and particularly of breeding sheep, but after his father departed this life, Mr. Nichols somewhat curtailed his farm interests and while he cultivated the entire acreage he had considerably limited his attention to stock breeding. In 1856 Mr. Nichols wedded Violet McVay, who was born in Alexandria, Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1839, and was brought here by her parents, Nathan and Mary (Stoolfire) McVay, when ten years of age. Her father and mother were also natives of the Keystone state but departed this life in Harrison township. He was a blacksmith and worked at the trade for several years, after which he bought and cultivated a sixty-five acre farm on York street but subsequently returned to his original occupation and conducted a blacksmith shop until his death. Mr. and Mrs. McVay reared the following children: Katharine, a graduate of Pleasant Hill Seminary, West Virginia, who taught in that institution, and wedded John Bigger, a professor of music, the couple removing to Iowa, where 654 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. they taught in the school for the blind and departed this life, leaving two sons; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of George Alward, who lost his life during the Civil war; Joseph B., of Columbus; and Violet. NI r. and Mrs. Nichols are the parents of the following children: Alline, wife of Benjamin M. Jones, of Harrison township,. the couple having eight children; Carl, who owns part of the old home place, where he resides with his wife and three children; Rel H., who has one son and who for four years was superintendent of the Hanover schools, and is now a senior in the Ohio State University; and Clair, who resides at home. Mr. Nichols was a man who made good use of his time and talents during his years of youthful energy and in his declining days could afford to lay by his farming implements and enjoy the fruits of his toil. He also had the respect of the entire community before which he has always walked in honesty and uprightness. HOMER JURY DAVIS, B. S., M. D. Dr. Homer Jury Davis, a practitioner of the regular school with thorough mastery of the science of medicine in its relation to the needs of suffering humanity, is accorded a liberal patronage by those who recognize that his ability enables him to successfully cope with the intricate problems that continually confront the physician. He has a large practice in Newark and the surrounding country. A native of Licking county he was born in Licking township, the family being founded in this locality by the great-grandparents of Dr. Davis, who arrived from Virginia in pioneer times. They were accompanied by their son James Davis, the grandfather, who was then a boy and was reared amid the wild scenes and environments. of the frontier. He eventually became one of the enterprising agriculturists of Licking township and on the old homestead there his son Joseph Davis was born and reared. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with agricultural pursuits and is still farming in Licking township. On the 9th of September, 1858, he married Miss Helen Sutton, a native of this county, and fifty years later they celebrated their golden wedding, having for a half century traveled life's journey together, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years have gone by. Dr. Davis was educated in the district schools and in Doane Academy and Denison University at Granville, Ohio. He is a graduate of the last two, completing his University course in 1897 when the degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred upon him. He had made good use of his opportunities for mental development and through the four years succeeding his graduation he filled the position of professor of chemistry and physics in Williamsburg College of Kentucky. but believing that the practice of medicine would prove more congenial and profitable he prepared for that work as a student in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, the medical department of the University of Chicago, being graduated therefrom in 1904. His high scholarship is indicated by the fact that he secured as a result of a competitive examination the interneship in Cook County Hospital, his service there continuing for eighteen months. In 1907 he came to Newark where he has since engaged in practicing medicine, doing good work in both medical and surgical lines. In addition to his private practice he is now a member of the staff of the City Hospital and is surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad at Newark. HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 655 Dr. Davis is popular in various social and fraternal organizations with which he is connected. He belongs to the Alpha Omega Alpha, and the Phi Rho Sigma, both medical fraternities, and to the Beta Theta Pi, a literary society. He has taken the degrees in Masonry up to and including that of Knight Templar, belongs to Newark Lodge, No. 391, B. P. 0. E., is an honored member of the alumni association of Rush Medical College and has membership relations with the Licking County and Ohio State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. he is actuated by high ideals in his professional service and for this reason is continually studying in order to promote his efficiency and attain still greater capability in his work of checking disease. His substantial qualities of manhood and citizenship combined with his professional skill have rendered him popular and have gained for him a circle of friends that is continually increasing as the circle of his acquaintance broadens. THE PEOPLES BANK COMPANY The Peoples Bank Company of Pataskala was organized under the Ohio state laws and incorporated for twenty-five thousand dollars, opening its doors for business on the 4th of March, 1904. The present officers are Joseph Atkinson, president; James Moore, vice president; H. H. Baird, cashier; and Thomas S. Besse, assistant cashier, while the board of directors in addition to the officers includes Thomas Evans, G. S. Smith, S. B. Elliott, and H. C. Miller. From the beginning the patronage of the bank has been very flattering. indeed it is one of the most prosperous financial institutions of the county, enjoying rapid and substantial growth. At its head are well known, substantial business men. Mr. Atkinson was for fourteen years president of the Pataskala Banking Company and in connection with Mr. Baird organized the present concern. He is one of the oldest residents of the county and most highly respected for his integrity and ability as a business man and private citizen. Under his guidance the bank has made steady progress and has been paying large sums in interest to its patrons since its organization. It draws its patronage from the best business men of Pataskala and the leading land holders of the surrounding country, and a general banking business is carried on, the institution being well equipped to give.every advantage and accommodation that a city bank can give. THOMAS M. JONES. Though a quarter of a century has passed since Thomas M. Jones was called in his final rest, there are many who yet remember him as a valued and representative farmer and citizen of St. Albans township and as he contributed to the development and agricultural progress of this community it is meet that mention be made of him in this volume. He was born in Flintshire in the north of Wales, October 29, 1822, and lost his mother when but seven years of age, while at the age of twelve years he was left an orphan by his father's death. He then made his 656 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. home with the Edwards family of that locality until he came to America in 1842 in the twentieth year of his age. He was attracted by the broader business opportunities of the new world and in company with his uncle, Emanuel Jones, he made the voyage across the broad Atlantic and at once came to Licking county, Ohio, retaining his residence in Granville township until some time after his marriage. He located on a farm in Harrison township in 1849 and continued its cultivation for more than a decade, after which he removed to what is now the old homestead farm, in 1860. It continued to be his place of abode throughout his remaining days and is yet the home of his widow. It was in 1847 in Granville that Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Morgan, who was born in Carmarthernshire, South Wales, August 6, 1821, and in February, 1840, became a resident of Gallia county, Ohio. In the spring of 1842 she arrived in Granville and made her home with the Rev. Jacob Little. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Jones) Morgan, who spent their entire lives in the little rock ribbed country of Wales. One of her sisters, Mrs. Hannah Thomas, came to the United States after the arrival of Mrs. Jones, and died in Granville. Another sister, Susanna, was the wife of the Rev. John Griffis, a Methodist minister, and they resided for some years in Pennsylvania, where her death occurred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born four children. Mary Jane, living with her mother, is the widow of Robert Williams and has two children, Elmer and Sadie, the latter the wife of Ernest Legg, of Granville, Ohio, by whom she had one child, Florence. Benjamin, living in Harrison township, has seven children, Earl, Clarence, Roy, Harold, Hugh, Curtis and Dorothy. David D., of Newark, has two children : Thomas, who is married and has one son, John David; and Paul R. The last child, Susanna, born October 10, 1868, died June 30, 1893. The death of Mr. Jones occurred September 15, 1884, and thus was brought to a close a useful, active and honorable life. He had started out in business empty-handed and in fact had to earn the money with which to pay his passage across the Atlantic. After he arrived on American shores he worked diligently and persistently, however, and as the years passed he won success, so that at his death he left over two hundred acres of rich and valuable land which is still in possession of his family. He was a member of the first Calvinistic Methodist church in this county known as Sharon Valley, and was very active and helpful in church work. In politics he was a stanch republican and held some minor offices. He was ever faithful to the trust reposed in him whether in business or social life and was known as a man of unassailable integrity who in all of his trade relations was straightforward and honorable. JOHN JACOB DEEDS. One of the most successful and experienced sheep and horse breeders of the state of Ohio is John. Jacob Deeds, who operates what is known as the Grasslick Stock farm, in Harrison township, Licking county. He is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred at Buffalo Creek, Washington county, February 14, 1838. He is the third child of the family of four sons and four daughters born to Andrew and Lydia Ann (May) Deeds. His parents removed to Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, locating in Rich Hill township, and there he was reared HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 657 on a farm, remaining in that township until 1851 when, upon the death of his mother, his father and family came to this county, settling in Union township. The journey to this place was made in wagons and on foot, John Jacob Deeds being among those who walked, driving a flock of four hundred sheep, the trip requiring ten days. Since that time he has made a specialty of sheep breeding and wool growing. Mr. Deeds had the usual meager educational advantages of the country lad, acquiring his knowledge of the "three R's'' in the district schools during the short winter terms, the remainder of the year working on his father's farm. His father raised cattle, also engaged to some extent in butchering and had the hides tanned for leather. Out of the leather of his own curing all the shoes for the family were made, the work being done by a neighboring shoemaker, David Anthony. John J. Deeds still recalls with pleasure the incident that he was the first lad who wore a pair of cowhide boots to the district school he attended, which circumstance, needless to remark, greatly excited the envy of the other boys, all of whom doubtless wished for a pair just like them. It was while a mere lad that Mr. Deeds became interested in breeding sheep. Indeed he seemed to have a natural predilection for stock dealing and particularly the wool producing animal. In fact he was born to the business and relates many entertaining experiences which fell to him as a boy while on long jaunts behind a drove of his favorite animal. Herding and shearing were his first introduction to the business, and it was at the latter, for which he received three and one-half cents a head, that he earned his first money the sum of seventeen dollars the capital which gave him his start in life. This he invested in high priced sheep when he was but fourteen years of age, paying six dollars a head. It was his initial step in the sheep-raising and wool growing-enterprise and thereafter he was so successful and fortunate in his undertakings that in the year 1855 he drove nine hundred head of his own and his father's sheep to Illinois, where he disposed of the flock at top prices. At once investing the proceeds of the sale in other sheep, eight years after his first transaction he had cleared fourteen hundred dollars. During his career he has made four trips on foot to Illinois with sheep and on one occasion drove back one hundred and seventy-five head of cattle. Mr. Deeds remained in Union township until he was united in marriage, at which period of his life he rented a farm in Jersey township, from which he removed after a two years' residence, owing to the death of his wife. In 1867 he purchased his present farm, known as Grasslick Stock farm, and it is equipped with excellent buildings. It is located three miles northeast of Pataskala, on the York street road a half mile north of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, which affords him ready shipping facilities. He originally purchased one hundred and thirty-one acres, later adding fifty-six acres, so that his farm now contains one hundred and eighty-seven acres of highly improved land. It is thoroughly equipped with a tile drainage system and, there being many springs on the property, in eight different places he can water fifty head of cattle. His specialty, as above mentioned, is sheep-raising and wool-growing and he breeds principally the Merino sheep, of which he owns about two hundred head, all of which are registered. Among his breeding stock are the following : King of Yorkstreet, No. 102, sired by No. 55, bred by James McKibben; g. sire Kirkpatrick's Major ; dam No. 6; bred and owned by Mr. Deeds; and Deception, No. 29, sired by Wooly Head, he by Green Mountain, by 658 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. Silverhorn, dam No. 28. He also breeds sheep of the finest type and all his sheep are noted for their good quality of thick and long fleeces and at the state fair in 1908 he carried off the first prize in the two-year-old class of rams and second prize for the ewe class. Mr. Deeds has also quite a reputation for raising pacing road horses, which he breeds from the finest registered stock, and moreover has engaged in the breeding of shorthorns and Gallaway cattle. In addition to the home farm Mr. Deeds owns five other valuable farms, one containing one hundred and nine acres and another eighty-two acres, both of which are located in this township, two farms of one hundred and thirty-eight and one hundred and four acres, respectively, located in Union township, the former being part of his father's original estate and the latter lying west of Hebron, one hundred and eighty-four acres located near Hanover, Perry township, and a twenty acre plot in this township on which there are no buildings, Mr. Deeds owning a total of eight hundred and twenty-three acres. All these farms, with the exception of the eighty-two acre one, are operated by his children, Mr. Deeds himself having retired from active life as far as outside work is concerned, devoting his time to the general management of his affairs. He looks after all of the farms, seeing that his children keep them in good condition, but leaving the work to them while he looks after the financial side of the enterprise. Mr. Deeds was united in marriage to Mary Keeran, who departed this life in 1866, after they had been married but two years. She had one daughter, Isabel, who died in infancy. On November 4, 1868, Mr. Deeds wedded Mrs. Ellen Belt "Lane, a native of Union township, this county, where she was born November 7, 1839. She first wedded George Lane, by whom she had one child, Clara Edith, who is now the wife of Thomas Williams, of Union township, and has one (laughter, Louise. Mrs. Lane was a daughter of William and Jane (Park) Belt, natives of this county, who spent their lives in Union township on a farm, where he died in September, 1881. His wife was born December 21, 1819, and now resides in Granville with a daughter. She was one of a family of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Deeds were reared together, their fathers' farms adjoining. To them have been horn eight children, namely: Nora Belle is the wife of Albert Shank, has one child and resides in this township; Florence became the wife of 0. L. Skinner, of Columbus, Ohio, and has one child, Thora B.; Jennie wedded Arthur Smoke, by whom she has one son, Neil, and they reside on one of her father's farms, near Hebron, Union township ; Homer B., living on his father's farm north of Hanover, married Ella Richie; Daisy Pearl wedded Frederick Welch, an agriculturist of Granville, and they have three children, Bernice, John H. and Frances Ellen ; Stanley D. wedded Daisy Brown, by whom he has one child, Harry Dale, and they reside on a farm in Union township; Traverse married Lee Palmer, lives in Etna township and has one daughter, May; and George W., who wedded Lettie Cunningham, and resides on his father's farm in this township. The platforms of the several political parties do not appeal to Mr. Deeds to such a degree as to induce him to give his undivided support to any one of them and consequently be has always preferred to be independent in politics and during campaigns it is his habit to select candidates whom in his judgment are qualified for public office and to vote for them irrespective of the parties to which they belong. While he is interested in public affairs he has never desired to become an office holder although he has served as land appraiser and also as member of the school HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 659 board. He belongs to the Ohio Merino Sheep Breeders Association and at one time was a member of the National Association. Mr. Deeds' industry and aggressiveness have been such as to largely contribute to the financial worth of the community and he is widely known throughout the state and in fact throughout the entire country as an expert sheep breeder and being a man not only blessed with a high degree of business ability but also a man of high moral character who has always endeavored to live in such a way as to better the conditions of the community in which he lived. He is favorably known as a good man and is numbered among the county's representative citizens and substantial financial factors. FREDERICK KOCHENDORFER. In a history of journalism in central Ohio it is imperative that mention be made of Frederick Kochendorfer, the founder, editor and owner of the Newark Express. He was born in Bonfeld in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, December 24, 1831, and is a son of Michael and Eva Dorothea (Deck) Kochendorfer, who were also natives of Bonfeld. When a child of but four years Frederick Kochendorfer was left an orphan. His father left him a comfortable estate, so that in his youthful days he was enabled to enjoy good educational privileges. In the public schools he mastered the elementary branches of learning and afterward continued his studies in college, taking a course in preparation for educational work. At the age of seventeen years he became a teacher in the public schools and soon after received an appointment for a school at Stuttgart, the capital of his native state, this being considered an honor for a young man at that time. The opportunities of the new world attracted him, however, and in 1852 he bade adieu to his native country and sailed for the United States, taking up his abode in Newark, where for a time he engaged in teaching instrumental music and afterward for twenty years taught both German and music in the Newark high school. For two decades he was also the organist in the Second Presbyterian church and in all that time never but one Sunday was his place at the organ filled by any one else. In 1880 he founded the Newark Express and with the exception of one year he has since been its editor. He has been a very active man and even at his advanced age is still a factor in the world's work, although he is now in his seventy-eighth year. In 1855 Mr. Kochendorfer was married to Miss Marguerite Madoery, who was born in Switzerland in 1831 and died in 1900. She came to the United States in 1850 with her parents, who located in Fairfield county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kochendorfer became the parents of four children: Charles, who is a fruit grower near Glendora, California; Emma, the wife of Roe Emmerson, a clothing merchant of Newark; Mary, the widow of J. M. Baggs; and Fannie, at home. There are also two grandchildren : Fred Kochendorfer, who is with the Western Electric works in Chicago ; and Sherman Baggs, a student in Denison University. There is also a great-grandson, Charles W. Kochendorfer. In his political views Mr. Kochendorfer has long been a stalwart advocate of democratic principles but the honors and emoluments of office have had no atraction for him. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is an exemplary representa- 660 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. tive of the craft. For fifty-seven years a resident of America, he has the strongest attachment for the land of his adoption and its free institutions and through the years of his residence in Newark has ever been the champion of those movements and measures which have tended to promote public progress. MRS. CATHARINE, S. WILLIAMS. Mrs. Catharine S. Williams is the widow of Edwin Williams, who was a pioneer of this part of Ohio and served creditably in a number of government and county offices. He also enjoyed the reputation of being a substantial and prosperous merchant, farmer and stock-raiser. He was a son of George W. Williams, and a native of the state of Pennsylvania, whence he came to this county prior to the Mexican war through which he served as a commissioned officer. At the close of the war he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until the year 1850, when he was united in marriage with Miss Catharine S. Searle, and then located in Homer, where he engaged in a general merchandise business. While conducting this enterprise he became widely known throughout the county and his popularity enabled him to secure the office of postmaster, the duties of which he performed for several years. At the expiration of his term of office, in the meantime having given up his general merchandise business, he purchased the farm then owned and operated by his grandfather, Crandel Wilcox. On that place he remained until the year 1871, when he was elected sheriff of the county and removed to Newark. When his term of office expired, after a period of four years, he came to Burlington township, where he resided until the date of his death in October, 1890. His political preferments he secured because of his allegiance to the democratic party, to which he has always tenaciously adhered and for the election of whose candidates he was enthusiastic during campaigns. He was a man whose leaning toward the democratic party was not the result of credulity but rather of profound study, leading him to the conclusion that its tenets are fundamental from an economic standpoint and in every respect adequate to assure the permanent prosperity of the commonwealth. Ever faithful to his religious obligations, deeming it a man's first duty to seek his moral and spiritual welfare and that of the community in which he lives, ha was a regular and faithful attendant of the services of the Methodist Episcopal church. Beside his widow Mr. Williams left the following children : James S., who now operates the home farm; George W., a lawyer of Columbus, Ohio; Mary S., wife of Dr. Rouse, of St. Louisville, Ohio; Martha C., who wedded William Burner, of Columbus, this state; Ruth C., wife of Lewis Youst, of Homer, Ohio; Helen P., who, having completed her education, remains at home; and Elizabeth, wife of Frank Yoakum, of Burlington township. The other children, John and Benjamin, are deceased. Mrs. Catharine Williams was a daughter of John and Mary (Stark) Searle and her parents, both of whom have departed this life, were natives of the state of Pennsylvania. She was one of a family of eight children, four of whom still survive, namely : Elizabeth, who resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Ruth Searle Courtwright, of Kingston, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Mary Peck, who resides in Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Searle, who has attained the advanced age of eighty-one years. The last HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 661 named is well-to-do and, among other interests, possesses one hundred and ten acres of highly improved farming land adjoining the village of Homer. She is widely known throughout the county and is held in high esteem for her womanly qualities and for her many years of usefulness. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Episcopalian church, with which she has been affiliated throughout her entire life. HUGH A. FLEMING. Hugh A. Fleming is one of the respected and worthy residents of Newark. In former years he was connected with several lines of business and is now serving as notary public, which position he has filled almost continuously for twenty-seven years. He is one of the county's native sons, his birth having occurred September 16, 1837, in one of the pioneer hewed log houses of Perry township His parents were Thomas D. and Rebecca (Hall) Fleming, who became residents of this county at a very early period in its development. The father was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and in his childhood days was brought to Ohio by his parents, John and Mary (Caldwell) Fleming, who settled in Madison township, where the death of John Fleming soon afterward occurred. The children were thus left to the care of the widow. On attaining his majority Thomas D. Fleming settled on a farm in Perry township, where he spent his entire life and became recognized as one of the most prominent and influential agriculturists of the community. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and, making judicious investments in property, became the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of some of the best land in Perry township. He died in August, 1880, in his seventy-fourth year and thus closed a life of activity and usefulness. He was a consistent Christian man, holding membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His political views accorded with the principles of the republican party and for twelve years he served as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. For several years he was also one of the township trustees and ever discharged his official duties with promptness and fidelity, so that his course won for him the unqualified confidence of his fellowmen. His wife, who was born in Perry township, Licking county, in 1814, was a daughter of Allen and Nancy (Thropp) Hall, who were among the pioneer settlers of Perry township, coming here from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Fleming died in her eightieth year. Their family numbered four children, three of whom are yet living: Nathan Quinn, a prominent and prosperous farmer and stock breeder of Hanover township ; Matilda J., now the wife of M. L. Montgomery, of Perry township ; and Hugh A., of this review. On the old home farm Hugh A. Fleming was reared and was a pupil in the district schools through the period of his boyhood and youth. He was nineteen years of age when his father sold the farm and went to Perryton. The son also took up his abode in the city but made daily trips to and from his farm in Perry township, which had been given him by his father. He did not like this way of living, however, and told his father that he was going to get married and live upon his place on attaining his majority. He would not reach the age of twenty-one, however, until the following fall but his father said that spring was the better time 662 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. marry if he wished to locate on the farm, that he might raise crops through the summer months and have something to keep him through the winter. Accordingly the marriage was hastened and in the spring his nuptials were celebrated, after which he took up his abode upon his land. It was in February, 1858, that he wedded Miss Catherine A. Wintermute, of Perry township, a daughter of Aaron Wintermute, one of the early settlers of that township. The farm was a tract of one hundred acres, on which the young couple took up their abode and with characteristic energy Mr. Fleming turned his attention to the development of his place, which he carefully cultivated until the spring of 1867 save for the period of his service in the Civil war. In 1864 Mr. Fleming had enlisted in defense of the Union in response to the call for one hundred day men. He joined Company F of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected for two years. He had previously had some military training, having formerly served as a member of the Ohio National Guard. His command was sent to North Mountain, Virginia, where the company to which Mr. Fleming belonged and one other were assigned to guard duty, while the remainder of the regiment was stationed at other points. This was in the month of May. On the 3d of July following four thousand rebels closed in on the little band of Union men, numbering only two hundred and after a desperate resistance of three hours fighting against such great odds they were obliged to surrender and were taken south to Andersonville prison, where they were incarcerated for five months. Mr. Fleming weighed two hundred pounds on entering that prison and on his release scarcely weighed one hundred pounds. He was possibly the only man who was ever able to secrete a watch and yet spend five months in Andersonville and bring the watch out with him When captured he secreted the timepiece in his boot and when searched in prison he had it concealed in his armpit, having been able to elude the man who had been assigned to watch over him long enough to sew the timepiece into the sleeve of his shirt, where it fell naturally into his armpit. In December he was exchanged on sick list and returned home broken in health. He tried to resume farming but after two years sold his farm and removed into the town of Perryton, where he engaged in merchandising, being connected with that business until 1877. He then sold out and turned his attention to the undertaking business, which he conducted for ten years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Pataskala, where he also conducted an undertaking establishment for five years and following his removal to Newark in 1893 he continued in the same line of business until 1904. His impaired health, however, forced him to retire. He has never been a robust man since his military experience, much of his ill health being the result of his life in a southern prison. He is now practically living retired, although he is serving as notary public and has filled the posi Lion for twenty-seven consecutive years with the exception of the brief period passed in Pataskala. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fleming has been born but one child, Cora May, now the wife of Dr. D. H. Miller, Sr. Mr. Fleming belongs to Perryton Lodge, NO. 733, 1. 0. 0. F., of which he was a charter member. He also belongs to Lemmert Post, No. 71, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His political allegiance is given to the republican party where national issues are involved and for sixty years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, his life being actuated by its teachings, while at all times he has been HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 663 loyal to the principles which it inculcates. Straightforward and reliable under all circumstances and in every condition, those who know him entertain for him the warmest regard and he is especially deserving of mention from the fact that he is one of the pioneer residents and native sons of the county. ANDERSON T. SPEER, M. D. Anderson T. Speer, M. D., is a much respected citizen because of his advocacy of those things which tend to municipal progress and honor, because of his allegiance to high principles in private life, and because of his well known skill and ability in his profession. Licking county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Jersey township April 4, 1842. He is a son of Timothy Gould Speer, who was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was connected with the well known Gould family. About 1836 he removed westward to Ohio, proceeding to Cleveland and thence to Licking county by canal. He was a shoemaker by trade but after arriving in central Ohio he turned his attention to farming in Jersey township, following that pursuit for several years. At length tiring of his work in agricultural lines he resumed his original vocation and followed it throughout the remainder of his active connection with business interests. He was born in the year 1800, and passed away in 1889. His wife, who was of Scotch descent, bore the maiden name of Mary Anderson, and was a daughter of Captain Anderson. Her father was at one time a wealthy man but lost much money by running the blockade during the war between France and England. While still residing in the east the marriage of Timothy Gould Speer and Mary Anderson was celebrated, but soon afterward they sought a home in the west. The mother passed away in Licking county at the age of eighty-six years. Two brothers and two sisters of Dr. Speer are still living in this county, namely : George, Dennis, Mrs. Julia Hedrick and Mrs. Mary Nichols. In early boyhood a pupil in the county schools, Dr. Speer afterward enjoyed the advantage of instruction in the Newark high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1860. He then entered the drug store of Dr. J. N. Wilson, of Newark, commencing the study of medicine there, after which he attended the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, while later he was graduated from the Ohio Medical. College at Cincinnati in the class of 1866. He located for practice at Newark, where he has remained continuously since, covering a period of forty-three years. He has seen the growth of the town from a place of five thousand inhabitants. Today it has increased six fold and Dr. Speer's practice has grown proportionately. He has never ceased to remain a close and discriminating student of medical literature and has thus kept abreast with the advancement that is being continuously made by the profession. His knowledge of medicine and drugs is comprehensive and exact and he is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases, so that his efforts have been attended with excellent success. He belongs to the county, state, and national medical associations, and in 1881 was a delegate from the Ohio State Medical Society to the International Medical Congress in London. He had the honor of being chosen the first president of the Licking County Medical Society, 664 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. and is now a member of the United States pension examining board, having served also during the administration of president Harrison. He has been health officer of the city and throughout his entire life has been imbued with a helpful spirit that has prompted his best professional efforts, even when he knew no remuneration might be expected for his services. In 1873 Dr. Speer was married to Miss Frances Impey. Her father was of English descent, born in Ireland, and was an officer in the British army ; his wife, a Miss Stevenson, was an Irish lady of distinction and great beauty. Her mother was Frances Stanbery, daughter of the Hon. William Stanbery, one of the most brilliant lawyers of the state. Mrs. Speer's brother, Captain Robert E. Impey, is a retired officer of the United States navy. Her sister Mrs. Cecelia Woods, is the widow of Major General Charles R. Woods, of the United States army. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Speer were born three sons and two daughters : Roderick Impey, who is auditor for the Western Gas Construction Company, at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Anna Louise, the wife of George E. Graeser, of Newark; Ruth Arlington, the wife of Dr. Corkwell, of Newark; Julian Stanbery, who is a student in the Carnegie Technical School at Pittsburg, studying to become an electrical engineer; and Douglas, who died at the age of two years. Dr. Speer gives his political allegiance to the republican party, never swerving in support of its principles. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1862, when he joined Newark Lodge No. 97, A. F. & A. M. He has taken all of the degrees up to the thirty-third, has been master of the local lodge for three years and high priest of the chapter. He belongs also to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a member of the Episcopal church. His life has been so honorable in its purposes, so varied and helpful in its activities, as to gain for him classification with the most honored and prominent residents of this part of the state. WESLEY BUSH. Wesley Bush, who carries on general farming in Monroe township, is a representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of the county. He was born in this county June 7, 1845, his parents being Noah and Eliza (Longwell) Bush. His paternal grandfather came to Licking county from Virginia in the early days, when all this section was a vast wilderness, and cast in his lot with the pioneers who were establishing their homes amid the forests and were soon to make a vast transformation in the appearance of the community. The Longwells were of Irish descent. When Noah Bush and Eliza Longwell were married they established their home on land adjoining the farm where the son now resides. Their household furniture was all made by Mr. Bush, who cut the timber from the surrounding forests. Logs were split, holes bored and pegs inserted and thus tables and stools were made, while beds were constructed in the same rude manner. The cooking was done in the open fire-place and the furnishings of the little home were very meager and primitive in character, yet happy hours were passed in the little cabin, notwithstanding the fact that they HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 667 were widely separated from neighbors and wolves were often heard howling around the house at night. Money was very scarce and in order to secure a little needed cash Noah Bush sought and obtained employment at Newark, which was then a little town. He was employed on some excavation work, wheeling dirt for twenty-five cents per day, which was of twelve hours' duration. He walked from his home to Newark, a distance of about twenty miles, every Monday morning in time to go to work and back home again Saturday evening after the week's work was done, carrying with him a salary of a dollar and a half in compensation for his earnest and arduous toil. He carried on the task of clearing his own farm and it was gradually freed from the timber and converted into productive and arable fields. As the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings, Noah Bush made further investment in property and became an extensive landowner and prosperous farmer. Wesley Bush was thus reared in an atmosphere of toil and enterprise and lessons of industry and economy were early impressed upon his mind. He assisted in the general work of the farm and procured such education as was obtainable in the district schools of the township. On the 4th of July, 1868, he married Miss Amanda Heckathorn, a daughter of Henry and Lydia (Fowler) Heckathorn. Unto this marriage have been born eleven children : Harvey ; Ottis, who is deceased; Dessie, now the wife of Ora Cramer; Sylvia, the wife of Wesley Barrack; Lee; Ida ; Roe; Perry; Pearl ; and Sadie. One died in infancy. Since his marriage Mr. Bush has lived in the same locality of his present farm home. He has always been engaged in farming and stock-raising and has ever maintained a high standard of citizenship, enjoying the confidence and uniform respect of his neighbors. His farm presents an attractive appearance, for he is diligent and energetic and desires to keep in touch with the spirit of progress and improvement. In politics he is a republican and is always interested in community affairs, giving stalwart support to many measures for the general good. His entire life has been passed in this county, so that for sixty-four years he has witnessed its progress and improvement and at all times rejoices in what has been accomplished along lines of substantial development. J. D. ROUSE, M. D. Dr. J. D. Rouse, who for more than thirty years has been numbered among the able and successful representatives of the medical fraternity of St. Louisville, was born in Knox county, Ohio, April 18, 1852. His parents, Sylvester G. and Isabelle (Lyon) Rouse, natives of Guernsey county and Belmont county, Ohio, respectively, are both deceased. They had two sons, namely : William L., a graduate of the medical college of Ohio at Cincinnati, now a practicing physician of Greene county, and J. D., of this review. When sixteen years of age Dr. Rouse began teaching school and was thus successfully engaged in educational labors for two years. Determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he began reading to that end in Martinsburg, Ohio, and in 1875 was graduated from the medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio. He at 668 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. once located for practice at Homer, where he remained a year and, subsequently, followed his profession at Paintersville, Greene county, for a similar period. His next removal was to St. Louisville, where he has since remained and as the years have passed has enjoyed a profitable and steadily increasing patronage, which has come to him in recognition of his skill and ability as a medical practitioner. In 1878 Dr. Rouse was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Searle Williams, a native of Licking county and a daughter of Edwin and Catherine Williams, whose family numbered eight children. The father has passed away but the mother still resides at Homer, and has attained the age of eighty years. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children : Rose C., a graduate of the high school at St. Louisville, who has been engaged in teaching for nine years; and Edwin S., a druggist of Cincinnati and a graduate of St. Louisville high school and Ohio Northern university. In addition to his office and residence Dr. Rouse likewise owns two lots in St. Louisville, and a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in Knox county. He is widely recognized as a most substantial and progressive citizen and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community where he has labored in his professional capacity for more than three decades. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Newark, and the craft finds in him a most worthy exemplar. Dr. Rouse is a member of the American Medical Association and the Ohio State and Licking County Medical societies. CHARLES SNARE. For a number of years Charles Snare has been engaged in the grocery and butchering business in Homer, and his industry has enabled him to meet with splendid success. He now possesses considerable means, all of which he has accumulated by his own energy and incessant application to business. In every respect he is a man who has made his own way in the world, having initiated himself into commercial life at the age of eighteen years, at which time he was without either influence or money and has since succeeded in amassing a comfortable fortune. He was born in Burlington township, Licking county, August 31, 1862, son of John and Margaret (Plummer) Snare, his parents being natives of McKean township. He is one of a family of four children, the others being : Frank, deceased; Clara, wife of George Frease, who resides in McKean township ; and Nannie, deceased. His parents are still living and although both have attained to a ripe old age they still retain a remarkable degree of health and vigor and, being among the early pioneers of this part of the state, they are conversant with many interesting incidents and important events of its early history. Charles Snare, after having acquired his education at the district schools, in the meantime engaging with his father in the labors of the farm, left his parental home when eighteen years of age and started out in the world to work for himself. For a period of two years he engaged as a farm hand and then rented a farm which he cultivated successfully for a period of six years. During this time by close attention to work he succeeded in gaining considerable means. Finally he gave up agricultural pursuits and for a period of one year worked by the day and then invested his money in the butcher business at Homer. He made quite a success of HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 669 this enterprise and conducted it for six years when he disposed of the business and spent one year in Utica, after which, upon again returning to Homer, he established himself in the butcher business in connection with which he introduced grocery lines in the year 1901. He is still carrying on both lines of trade and his earnest labor and constant effort to please his customers have enabled him to acquire an extensive patronage. Mr. Snare is a man of excellent business qualifications and, being patient and persevering, he is conducting his business to good advantage. In addition to other real-estate interests he is the owner of two residences. When he started out in life he had little education and, being without money or influence, he was compelled to fall back entirely upon his own resources, which indeed was all the better for him as it developed those latent possibilities for pursuing a successful business .career which otherwise may never have been brought to the surface. He is a man of good judgment and excellent executive abilities, by which he has been able to gain the reputation of being one of the most substantial and prosperous citizens of the community. In the year 1887 Mr. Snare was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wagner, a native of Burlington township and a daughter of Martin and Cynthia (Kettle) Wagner, her father having departed this life, while her mother still survives and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Snare. The latter is one of a family of six children. Mr. and Mrs. Snare are the parents of one son, Ira E., who is a student at high school, and one daughter, Verne E., who is at home. One child passed away in infancy. In politics Mr. Snare is a democrat and has always pinned his faith in the principles of the party. For two terms he filled the office of township assessor and is now performing the duties of treasurer. Among the fraternal organizations with which he is affiliated is Lodge No. 555, Knights of Pythias, at Homer. Mr. and Mrs. Snare hold uppermost their religious obligations and are consistent members of the Presbyterian church. I. N. PALMER, M. D. The friends of Dr. I. N. Palmer and they are many would regard this history as incomplete were there failure to make reference to Dr. Palmer as one of the able members of the medical fraternity in Newark where he has engaged in practice continuously since 1894, enjoying during this time a constantly growing patronage as he has given proof of his ability to cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health. He was born in Fallsbury township, Licking county, July 18, 1859. His father, Samuel Palmer, was a native of the same locality while his grandfather, John Palmer, came to Ohio from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and settled near Brownsville. There he engaged in farming in pioneer times and amid the wild scenes and environment of frontier life Samuel Palmer was reared. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and throughout his entire life carried on the work of tilling the soil. At the time of the Civil war, however, he joined the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Regiment of Volunteer Infantry and went to the front but was captured at 670 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. South Mountain and sent to Andersonville where he died in prison in 1864 when thirty-three years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Porter, was born in Fallsbury township and was a daughter of John Porter, one of the earliest settlers of that locality. He devoted his life to farming and lived to be eighty-five years of age, spending his last days on the old homestead farm which he had entered from the government on his arrival in Ohio. His daughter Mrs. Palmer, reached the age of forty-seven years, passing away in 1880. Dr. Palmer was educated in the district schools and in early manhood engaged in teaching, following the profession in Licking county until 1882 while later he devoted eight years to the same profession in Butler and Warren counties. By this time, however, he cherished the idea of some day becoming a member of the medical fraternity and at length saw the fulfillment of his hope when he gave up teaching in Trenton, Ohio, and entered upon the study of medicine in the Pulte Medical College at Cincinnati. There he was graduated in 1892 after which he opened an office in Wyoming, Ohio, but in 1894 removed to Newark where he has since remained. He has been engaged in general practice and is well versed in all of the departments of medical science. His ability is being constantly augmented by his continued reading, experience and investigation and he now has an extensive patronage while for four years he has also been physician to the Children's Home. He is a member and vice president of the Licking County Medical Society, and is also a member of the Ohio State Medical Society and the National Medical Association. In 1882 Dr. Palmer was united in marriage to Miss Ola B. Legge, a daughter of Louis Legge, of Newark and one of the pioneer residents of the county. They now have one son, Dorwin L. The parents are members of the Second Presbyterian church and their lives are in harmony with their profession. Dr. Palmer has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1882 when he joined the order at Bladonsburg. He is now a member of the lodge at Newark, also of the chapter and the commandery, while in the Scottish Rite he has taken the degrees of the consistory. Since 1894 he has been a member of Rowland Lodge, No. 305, K. P. and he likewise belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and to other fraternal societies. He possesses a genial manner and kindly spirit that have gained him many friends and everywhere he is known he is held in warm regard. W. F. VANATTA. W. F. Vanatta, who is now successfully engaged in merchandising in the village of Vanatta, in partnership with his son Thomas A., was born in Newton township, October 26, 1843, his parents being Jerry S. and Eleanor (McDaniel) Vanatta, natives of New Jersey. In the year 1833 they made their way to this county, the father purchasing the farm which is now the property of our subject. He was a stalwart democrat in his political views and took an active and helpful interest in public affairs but did not desire office as a reward for party fealty. When he passed away in June, 1852, the county mourned the loss of one of the most respected and honored early settlers as well as public-spirited citizens. His wife, surviving him for a long period, was called to her final rest in 1895. Their family HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 671 numbered seven children, namely : Amanda, the wife of A. M. Stewart, of Newark; Anna, the deceased wife of James Almond; A. J. and A. R., who have also passed away; Abigail, the wife of L. Huffman, of Newark; W. F., of this review ; and D. M., who is likewise deceased. In his early youth W. F. Vanatta attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and when but twelve years of age began learning the blacksmith's trade, in which line of activity he was successfully engaged until 1903. He then turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and established a store in Vanatta, which he has since conducted, his well-selected line of goods, reasonable prices and earnest desire to please his customers bringing to him a liberal and profitable patronage. He likewise owns a well-improved farm of one hundred and nine and a half acres, in Newton township, as well as an attractive and commodious residence in Vanatta, and is widely recognized as a representative merchant and substantial citizen of his native county. There is likewise a creditable military chapter in the life record of Mr. Vanatta, for in 1864 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Johnson, for one hundred days' service. He participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and proved a brave and loyal soldier, stanchly defending the -Union in the darkest hour of our country's history. In 1865 Mr. Vanatta was united in marriage to Miss Virginia F. Duer, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Jane (Folton) Dewar. Three children were born unto her parents and both the father and mother are now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vanatta have been born eight children, as follows : Leona M., the wife of David Jones, of Newark; Burr N., who has passed away ; James D., a resident of Pennsylvania ; Thomas, at home; Lula, the wife of Otis Stone, of Newark; Aaron, who makes his home in Newark ; Clara, the wife of Fred Scarborough, of Newark, and Guy, who is deceased. Mr. Vanatta gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy but has no desire for the honors nor emoluments of office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. His wife is a devoted and faithful member of the Lutheran church. Movements and measures for the general good receive his endorsement and support and in the community where he has spent his entire life he has a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances. P. H. COSNER, M. D. Dr. P. H. Cosner, devoting his time and energy to the practice of medicine and surgery, his extensive patronage being the best evidence of his capability in .these lines, was born in Fredericktown, Ohio, March 7, 1870. His father, David Cosner, was a native of Maryland and went to Fredericktown with his father, David Cosner, Sr. For many years the doctor's father was identified with mercantile interests in Fredericktown and was a leading and influential resident of the locality. He died in 1888 at the age of forty-nine years and is still survived by his wife, Mrs. Henrietta (Kirby) Cosner, who is a native of Ohio. 672 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. Dr. Cosner was a pupil in the public schools of Knox county, Ohio, and attained his literary education in Oberlin College, after which he entered the Baltimore Medical College at Baltimore, Maryland. Completing the full course in that institution he was graduated with the class of 1896, and for a short time remained in practice in that city. He afterward came to Ohio and for eight years followed his chosen profession in Bladensburg, Knox county. In 1904 he removed to Newark where he has since remained. He has taken two post-graduate courses in the Baltimore Medical College, and is continually striving toward a higher standard in his professional work for he realizes fully the responsibilities that devolve upon him as a physician and is giving to his patients the benefit of broad knowledge. The analytical trend of his mind, too, is an element in his success, enabling him to understand the case, its causes and the possibilities for relief. In 1891 Dr. Cosner was married to Miss Olive Young, a native of Gambier, Ohio, and a daughter of James Young. They have one son, William L., born May 19, 1895, who is the life and light of the household. Dr. Cosner is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen Camp. In those organizations he has gained many friends and won the warm personal regard of those with whom business and social relations have brought him in contact during his residence in Newark. LEE S. LAKE. Lee S. Lake, who for many years has been prominent in republican circles and at the same time has been identified with agricultural and stock-raising interests of this county, was born in Franklin township, June 3, 1846, a son of Willis Lake, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and a descendant of Sir William Lake, field marshal under Oliver Cromwell. Willis Lake came to Ohio during boyhood and lived the remainder of his days actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. His wife, Nancy (Shipps) Lake, was a native of the Keystone state and of that sturdy class of Americans known as Pennsylvania Germans. Lee S. Lake acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and at the age of fifteen years he was matriculated as a student in Denison University, where he pursued a course of study covering two years but, owing to the limited financial circumstances of his parents, he was compelled to leave the college and secure employment. Upon completing his sophomore year in Denison University he was called to Cromwell, Indiana, to take charge of the schools there but remained only one year when he returned to Ohio where he taught in the district and village schools of this county for eight years, at the expiration of which period he removed to Tazewell county, Illinois, becoming superintendent of the schools in Tremont. After holding that position for three years he again returned to this county and upon purchasing a farm he decided to relinquish the profession of school teaching and follow agriculture for a living. Until the year 1892 he engaged in general farming and stock-raising and during that year the late Hon. William McKinley, who was then governor of the state, appointed him one of the board of managers of the Ohio State Reformatory, at Mansfield, and when his term of office had ex- HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 673 pired Governor Asa Bushnell assigned him to the position of superintendent of the farm connected with the same institution. He performed the duties of that position for the succeeding eight years, at the termination of which he returned to this county in 1903, making his residence in Newark, and during the following summer was nominated by the republican party as candidate for justice of the peace, and secured his election by a large majority. For three years he capably served in this office and distinguished himself by doing twice as much business as had been recorded to any of his predecessors. In 1908 he received the republican nomination for probate judge but the entire democratic ticket was elected in this county. On May 13, 1872, Mr. Lake was united in marriage to Miss C. Josephine Miller, daughter of Major James H. and Nancy (Irwin) Miller. They have two sons : Theodore Franklin, who married Julia Garby; and Stewart Edmunds, who wedded Proxetta Hanks. Mr. Lake is a stanch adherent of the republican party, of the principles of which he has always been a conscientious advocate and his loyalty to the party has merited him the honor of representing those interests on many occasions at state conventions, both from Licking and Richland counties. He has always been an active worker and during campaigns has always figured as a leading factor in presenting the principles of the party and in endeavoring to secure the election of its candidates. He has been as faithful to his religious duties as to those devolving upon him in other connections and from boyhood has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a liberal supporter. Mr. Lake's life has always been modest and honorable and he attributes much of his physical health and vigor to the fact that he has never used stimulants or narcotics. Being a man of noble purpose as well as of great industry and energy, his life has been such not only to merit him political preferments but also the confidence and cordial respect of his fellow citizens. CHRISTOPHER C. WINTER. Christopher C. Winter, who for many years was associated with the agricultural interests of Harrison township, this county, and who is a retired station agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1838, a son of Christopher and Katherine (Simmons) Winter, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. His father was one of six children born to Christopher Winter, Sr., who came to the new world from Germany when a lad, settling in the state of Pennsylvania, where he followed farming until the time of his death. Christopher Winter, Sr., came to this county when his son Christopher C. was three months old and settled in Union township on a farm consisting of two hundred acres, where he and his wife spent their remaining days and reared a family of twelve children. In the district schools Christopher C. Winter acquired his education and remained on the farm with his father until 1864, during which year he went to Delaware county, where he engaged in agriculture and stock-raising for seven years. At the expiration of that period he removed to Outville, where he was made assistant station agent on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which position he held until 674 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. 1898, when he was promoted. to station agent and performed the duties of that office until June, 1908, when, on account of his advanced years, he retired on a pension and the position was given to his daughter. During the Civil war his business affairs were such that he could not leave them in order to take an active part in defense of the Union. but he hired a substitute who took his place in the one hundred days' service. On April 5, 1864, Mr. Winter wedded Jane Glick, daughter of George Washington and Rosa (Coffman) Glick, natives of this state, who had a family of twelve children. To Mr. and Mrs. Winter have been born: Maude is the widow of Henry Clarke and resides with her son Winter in Columbus, Ohio; Clyde married Charles H. Moore, and they have two children, Charles and Maude, and reside in Columbus, Ohio; Georgia is at home with her parents; Jessie succeeded her father as station agent here; and Chester Caldwell, a recent graduate of Denison University. He expects to enter the theological seminary at Rochester, New York, where he will study for the Christian ministry. Mr. Winter has always believed that the principles of the democratic party embody those policies best adapted to maintain the original character of the country's institutions and consequently all his life has been loyal to its candidates. With his wife he attends divine services at the Baptist church in Kirkersville, in which both are faithful workers. Mr. Winter was very active during his younger days and has succeeded in laying by much of this world's goods and possesses an elegant nine-room residence. His life has been modest and, having observed a high standard of morals, he is now, although seventy years of age, in possession of a measure of energy which is seldom enjoyed by those who are many years younger. His business relations have been such as to enable him to gain the confidence of the people and his well spent life merits the respect of all with whom he is acquainted. GEORGE E. WELLS.  George E. Wells, who occupies a prominent place in the commercial circles of Pataskala, where he is engaged in the hay, grain and feed business, was born in Union township, November 4, 1859, a son of Reason and Adeline (Cain) Wells, both of whom were natives of this county, the birth of his father having occurred September 20, 1818, and that of his mother on March 11, 1834, his parents having entered into rest on July 4, 1891 and March 31, 1888 respectively.. Farming and stock breeding commanded the attention of Reason Wells, who owned about eight hundred acres of valuable land located in this county, and at the time of his death he possessed a handsome competence, most of which he earned in raising sheep and handling wool. He was considered an authority on sheep-raising throughout the larly employing his vote and influence towards securing the election of its canditate county. He manifested deep interest in public affairs and always gave his support to the republican party, whose principles he ably advocated, during campaigns regunell, of Harrison township George Elmer, who is interested in the milling business dates. He reared a family of nine. children: Mary Ellen, the Wife of J. R. Chan-in Pataskala; Minnie J., the wife of James Jacobs, a resident of Kirkersville;  HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 675 Carry May, the wife of James S. White, living on a farm in Etna township; Mattie E., who resides on a farm in Union township with her husband, George Harris; Addle, who was born in 1869, her death occurring in 1893; Laura J., the widow of Joseph Welch, who resides in New Mexico; Reason L., a resident of Columbus, Ohio; and Charles N. Shortly after his birth George Elmer Wells was brought to Harrison township by his parents, who located on a farm a half mile north of Kirkersville, and there he spent his boyhood days, engaging in the duties of agricultural life and acquiring a knowledge of the art of husbandry under the supervision of his father, while in the winter season he availed himself of the educational opportunities of the district school. Remaining on the home farm until the year 1883, he was then married and began farming independently, continuing the pursuit for three years, at the termination of which period, in 1886, he removed to Outville where he engaged in general merchandizing until the fall of 1891, during which year he returned home, the move being occasioned by the death of his father. He remained in that neighborhood, where he purchased a farm, until February, 1902, when he located in Pataskala, where he has since been engaged in the hay, grain and feed business. He has been quite successful in this venture, having a wide knowledge of the enterprise, and his experience, together with his solicitation to accommodate his patrons, has enabled him to greatly increase his volume of trade until his business at present is one of the most considerable in this part of the township. In 1883 Mr. Wells wedded Leila R. Hancock, a native of Union township, born April 18, 1867, and a daughter of Captain James and Annie (Outgelt) Hancock, who spent their entire lives there. Mr. 'Wells is a republican in politics, firmly believing in the principles of his party and consequently is a live factor during campaigns in advocating the party policy and endeavoring to secure the election of its candidates. Local affairs have always commanded his attention and while a resident of Harrison township he served efficiently as justice of the peace and also as a trustee, and, being a public spirited man, he is always ready to further measures designed for the general improvement of the community. Mr. Wells is a faithful adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church and is also actively affiliated with the religious organization known as the Methodist Brotherhood. Being a man whose daily life is as far as possible in harmony with the teachings of his faith, he is in every sense a desirable citizen whose industry and enterprise have justly entitled him to the place he holds as one of the township's representative business men. MARTIN SLOUGH. Martin Slough, who was a highly respected citizen, veteran of the Civil war, and a prosperous farmer, was born in Harrison township, September 24, 1838, on the farm on which he was reared, and on which he passed away June 23, 1905. His parents were John and Mary (Lepart) Slough, natives of Fairfield county, where his birth occurred October 1, 1800, and that of his wife on January 28, 1807, their marriage having taken place there on March 28, 1.826. His ancestors, having come from Germany to the new world at an early date, later settled in Fairfield county, 676 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. Ohio, while his wife's ancestors were originally from the Keystone state. In 1831 her parents located on the Harrison township farm, where they remained carrying on a general farming business until they departed this life, on June 1, 1871, and September 28, 1898, respectively. They were among the first settlers of this region, the entire country having been practically covered with forest upon their arrival. Mrs. Slough's first husband had been William Ewing, who passed away, leaving one child, David Ewing, who was a prisoner of war and died in Andersonville prison. By her second husband she had twelve children, namely: Elizabeth, who died in her nineteenth year; Irwin, who was a soldier in the one-hundred-day service during the Civil war; Maria, deceased; Henry, a veteran of the Civil war; John, Jr., who enlisted in a Kansas Company during the Civil war and lost his life while on duty; Simon, of Granville; Martin; Sophia, deceased; William, a veteran of the Civil war, who enlisted. in Ohio and was in the one hundred day's service; Samuel, a veteran of the Civil war, who served in the same regiment with his brothers, Irwin, William and Samuel; George, of Kansas; and Thomas, deceased. The family has an. excellent war record, six brothers and one half-brother having been in the military ranks on the Union side. Their mother's life was one of.great activity and industry, and few women have ever manifested greater endurance, she having made all the clothing with which to supply the members of her family from wool raised on the home farm, which she would spin at night; and so great was her energy that she would go for long periods without having more than four hours sleep a day. She was a hard worker and active until the last year of her life, her death having occurred when she was past her ninety-first year. Martin Slough was reared upon the home farm, where he worked in the fields, and during the winter acquired his education in the district schools. He remained at home until the outbreak of the Civil war and then, on April 19, 1861, enlisted at the first call for troops, the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged from the three months' service at Zanesville, Ohio, in August, 1861. He reenlisted at Alexandria, September 3, 1861, in Company D. Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with his regiment participated in much hard fighting. Two guns were shot out of his grasp in the battle of Shiloh and he had several other thrilling experiences. During the service he was overtaken with illness and confined in a hospital in Cincinnati from May 10 to May 25, 1862, and after his release was furloughed until July 10, at which time he was detached for six months with the mounted infantry at Trenton; Tennessee, and was discharged at Camp Denison, November 18, 1864, after having served with the three and eight months troops and three-years men. Returning home, in 1865 Mr. Slough went to Granville,. where he engaged in operating a sawmill with his brother, Simon Slough, for seven years, the firm being known as Slough Brothers. While in this business he lost an eye while working at an emery wheel, upon which he gave up the enterprise and returned to his farm in 1877, there spending his remaining days in the pursuit of agriculture. At the time of Martin Slough's boyhood this farm was the scene of great activity. It was provided with a sawmill; cider mill, horning mill, a threshing machine, a cooper shop and cheese factory, and in addition to these enterprises an extensive dairy business was conducted. With the numerous buildings required by the various enterprises the farm wore the appearance of a small village, until all the buildings, with the exception of the dwelling house, were destroyed by fire in 1903. With so many in- HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 677 terests there was ample work for all the members of the family and all the sons were employed on the home farm. During his latter years, however, Mr. Slough did not engage in so many enterprises and devoted his time principally to raising general crops and stock. On August 14, 1867, Mr. Slough wedded. Melissa Bancroft, whose birth occurred in Jersey township, this county, on May 17, 1841, and who with her parents removed to Granville while she was in her infancy and -resided there until she came to Harrison township in 1877. She was the daughter of Lyman and Emeline (Hobart) Bancroft, her father having been a native of Granville township, where his birth occurred January 4, 1809, and her mother of Vermont, where she was born January 21, 1811. Mrs. Bancroft. was taken by her parents, Noah and Abigail (Hazelton) Hobart, to Granville in the summer of -1816, and departed this life in Gambier, Ohio, August 28, 1894. Her husband left Granville for California. in 1849 in search for gold, and passed away during the following year. In the family were five children, namely : Lucy, widow of Daniel Hunt, of Gambier, this state; Alvah, who departed this life in Columbus, Ohio, in 1906; Ethan, who passed away in that city in 1891; Leroy, whose death occurred here in 1898; and Melissa. To Mr. and Mrs. Slough were born: Marv, who passed away in 1894; Fannie and Ida, at home; Charles, who was born in 1875 and died in 1900; Clara, who is the wife of Arlington Nessley of Kirkersville, Ohio, and has three children, Mary Leone, Georgie Pauline, and Stephen Slough; and Abigail, widow" of Harvey Wells. Since her husband's death Mrs. Slough has remained on the old homestead which originally contained two hundred and ten acres and now comprises one hundred and seventy-six acres. Mr. Slough was a member of Myrtle Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Granville, and also a member of Baird Post, G. A. R., of Pataskala. He was well known throughout the county, not only for his enterprising spirit, but also for his upright and useful life, and in his death the county lost one of its most highly respected citizens and a man whose energy and example has contributed much toward the welfare of the community. JAMES McKINNEY. James McKinney, who for many years was actively and successfully connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of Licking county, is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in a log house in Newton township, this county, April 14, 1831, his parents being Joseph and Elizabeth (Hopper) McKinney, who are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Josiah McKinney, a brother of our subject. James McKinney obtained his education in the common schools and remained at home until the time of his marriage, October 6, 1868, subsequent to which important event in his life he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating a portion of the old homestead. Afterward he and his brother John purchased a tract of two hundred acres of land in this county and later divided it. He also has a fine residence in St. Louisville and now owns two hundred acres in his home farm. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he 678 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and his business interests were so carefully managed that annually his sales of grain and stock brought to him a good financial return. When his carefully-directed and untiring labor had netted him a comfortable competence he put aside the active work of the fields and is now spending his remaining days in richly merited ease, being well known and highly esteemed throughout the community as a prosperous, progressive and representative citizen. October 6, 1868, Mr. McKinney was joined in wedlock to Miss Nancy E. McMullen, who was born in Illinois in 1848 and in early life accompanied her parents on their removal to Licking county. She was one of a family of five children, namely : Malissa, who is deceased ; Andrew, a resident of this county; Mrs. McKinney; and Zula A. and Alcinda, both of whom have also passed away. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen have likewise been called to their final rest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKinney have been born five children, as follows : Clara B., at home; George J., deceased; Sarah E., the wife of Joseph Hall, who resides on his father-in-law's farm; Gertrude, at home ; and William, who has passed away. There are likewise two grandchildren, Evart M. and Joseph L. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. McKinney has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy and has served his fellow townsmen in the position of supervisor. His wife and daughters are devoted members of the Lutheran church at Vanatta, in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested. He has made his home in Licking county throughout his entire life, or for more than three-quarters of a century, and therefore enjoys a large acquaintance, and during that period has witnessed the many changes that have been wrought, as wild and unimproved land has been cultivated and developed, fine homes have been erected and thriving towns and villages have sprung into existence, until this is now one of the most prosperous sections in the great state of Ohio. HARRY C. GIBSON. Harry C. Gibson, who is successfully engaged in the cultivation and improvement of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Newton township, was born in Hancock, Houghton county, Michigan, on the 14th of August, 1878, his parents being John and Jerusha (Vanguyshing) Gibson. The father, whose birth occurred in Darlington, Durham county, England, March 5, 1831, learned the tailor's trade in early manhood and in 1856 crossed the Atlantic to the new world. After landing on American shores he followed his trade in many of the principal cities of the United States and Canada for several years and in 1861 took up his abode in. Hancock, Michigan, where he was engaged in tailoring until the time of his demise. On the 25th of September, 1865, in Newton township, he wedded Miss Jerusha Vanguyshing, whose acquaintance he had formed while she was visiting friends in Hancock. She was a daughter of Jacob Vanguyshing, of Newton township, and a member of a prominent Dutch family widely and favorably known throughout the community in which- they resided. Her birth occurred at Clifton Park, New York, June 10, 1841, and in 1850 she accompanied her parents on their HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 679 removal to Licking county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gibson established their home in Hancock, Michigan, where, as before stated, the father continued to reside until called to his final rest on the 20th of January, 1879. His death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret throughout the community, for he was not only a man of splendid business qualifications, excellent executive ability and public-spirited citizenship but also a loving husband, father and friend. He took a lively interest in the questions and issues of the day and was ever a stalwart advocate of the republican party, believing its principles most conducive to good government. Unto him and his wife were born three children, two of whom still survive, namely : Frank B.; and Harry C., of this review. Subsequent to the death of the father Mrs. Gibson and her children continued to reside in Hancock until 1886, which year witnessed their arrival in Newton township, the family home being established on the farm which is now owned and occupied by our subject. Since attaining his majority Harry C. Gibson has operated the home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he now owns and in the cultivation of which he has met with a gratifying and well-merited measure of prosperity. The fields indicate his careful supervision and practical methods, bringing forth rich crops as a reward for his labor. In November, 1903, Mr. Gibson was united in marriage to Miss Elsie M. McKee, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1881, her parents being Hendricks and Lydia (Carpenter) McKee, natives of Coshocton county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. McKee, whose family numbers five children, still survive and are residents of Knox county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gibson has been born one son, John McKee. Mr. Gibson gives stanch allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his private interests. Both he and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the English Lutheran church and he contributes liberally to various benevolent and religious enterprises, while all his deeds are actuated by the sentiment so beautifully expressed in the Golden Rule. He has won the favorable regard and friendship of all with whom he has come in contact throughout the long period of his residence here and, though still a young man, has already attained a degree of success that augurs well for a bright future. EDWIN M. LARASON. On the roster of county officials appears the name of Edwin M. Larason, who is now serving as deputy clerk of the courts at Newark. He was born in Bladensburg, Knox county, Ohio, July 24, 1873, his parents being Oliver C. and Willametta (Mercer) Larason, who were likewise natives of Ohio. The father has made an excellent record as public official, serving as clerk of the court of Licking county for two terms of three years each, from 1898 until 1904, after which he retired from office as he had entered it—with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He is now a candidate for clerk of the supreme court of Ohio. Edwin M. Larason prepared for life's practical duties as a pupil in the graded and high school of Kirkersville, this county, where he graduated, and in the summer months he remained upon the home farm, assisting in the labors of field and 680 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. meadow. In early manhood he engaged in teaching school for eight years, and displayed good ability in impressing upon his pupils the knowledge that he had acquired. In 1900 he came to Newark and has since been deputy clerk of the court, now filling the position for eight years. In the summer of 1908 he was nominated as the candidate of the democratic party for the office of clerk of the court, without opposition, for which position his previous experience and excellent work in the office of deputy well qualified him, and he was elected by an unusually large majority. Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Larason was married December 23, 1896, to Miss Bertha Harter, of Jacksontown, Ohio. They have one son living, Merrill, and a daughter deceased. Mr. Larason is a member of Hebron lodge No. 363 I. 0. 0. F., lodge No. 97 A. F.. & A. M. and the Woodmen's Camp. He stands as an excellent type of the young man who realizes that there is no royal road to wealth or success; but appreciates fully that close application and unfaltering energy will win advancement. Through the exercise of these qualities he has worked his way upward and the record which he has made in office is a most commendable one. His good qualities are pronounced, and his friends are many, his social nature and genial spirit making him popular with those with whom he comes in contact. JOHN B. HODGES. John B. Hodges is today the oldest business man in Johnstown in years of continuous connection with its commercial and industrial interests. For thirty-two years he has put forth his efforts here for the attainment of a comfortable competence and has thus figured prominently in the business development of the city. He is today the owner of a well equipped planing mill and lumberyard, dealing extensively in building materials of all kinds. His life record is another proof of the fact of the fact that extensively of purpose and the wise use of every opportunity that comes are the chief features in honorable business advancement. He was born September 30, 1850, in Miller township, Knox county, Ohio, his parents being George H. and Catharine (Phinney) Hodges. The parents were both of New England origin, the father being a native of Massachusetts, while the mother's birth occurred in Vermont. They both came to Ohio with their respective parents when quite young and George H. Hodges in his youthful days learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for some time in connection with such other work as a new country afforded. Later, however, he entered land in Knox county and began farming, turning the first furrows upon his place and carrying on the work of general improvement for some years. In 1858 the family removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where they remained for nearly two years, Mr. Hodges giving his energies to general agricultural pursuits there. They then returned to Ohio and the mother died the same year. John B. Hodges was the eldest of four children, three sons and a daughter. These children remained in Ohio with families by whom they were employed, while the father returned to Illinois, where he engaged in dealing in horses and other live stock for several years. In 1869, however, he returned to Homer, Lick- HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 683 ing county, Ohio, where he established a sawmill. He was married again, his second union being with Julia A. Jones, a daughter of Nelson and Mary Jones of Licking county. For many years he was well known as an industrious and reliable citizen here, enjoying the good will of many friends. Owing to his mother's death John B. Hodges was early thrown upon his own resources and in his youth experienced hardships and difficulties which do not usually fall to the lot of young boys. For two years he engaged in the sawmill business with his father and after the latter's return to Ohio, and then gave his attention to teaching school, which profession he followed for six years, being employed for two years of that time in Homer. His course has been marked by continuous progress, the result of constantly expanding business powers and broadening experience. He was married on the 25th of December, 1876, to Miss Mary Ellen Keckley, a daughter of Harvey and Harriet (Jones) Keckley, and also a teacher in the Homer schools. She died May 30, 1885. Because of failing health Mr. Hodges gave up school teaching and again turned his attention to the manufacture of lumber, establishing a sawmill in 1877. Mr. Hodges was associated with W. H. Hardy when he came to Johnstown, under the firm name of Hardy & Hodges, buying a sawmill. The partnership continued until 1890, when he bought out his partner's interests. The following year expectation ran high here in regard to railroad building and the sawmill was removed to Johnstown, but. the railroad did not materialize at that time and for two years the mill, which was a portable one, was moved from place to place. When the railroad finally came in 1881, the sawmill was again located in Johnstown and contracts entered into with the railroad construction contractors . for large quantities of timber for bridges and other purposes. Mr. Hodges is a man of enterprise, push and determination, and the business grew. As he prospered in the operation of his sawmill he also extended the scope of his activities by becoming owner of a lumberyard and also a coal yard. About this time he likewise conducted a grist mill for two years in connection with his other interests which they had leased. Johnstown was proving a good business town and he decided to locate permanently. He therefore bought land and erected a stationary sawmill, put in railway switches to give him good shipping facilities and prepared to still further enlarge his business. The grist mill was disposed of and his entire energies were concentrated upon the operation of the sawmill and the handling of its products. A stock of lumber of all kinds was added, together with building materials and soon a planing mill was built and the business was increased to include dressed lumber, sash, doors, blinds and all materials necessary for the construction of a building Mr. Hodges was the first man to engage in this line of business in Johnstown and is the only man in business here today that has remained in active connection with industrial and commercial circles for thirty-two years. He is the pioneer in his line and not one of his contemporaries of three decades ago now remain in active business. There is not a house in Johnstown for which Mr. Hodges has not furnished the material to build or to remodel and many of them he has contracted to build and finish. As the years have passed he has met with gratifying prosperity, owing to his straightforward business methods, his close application and his unfaltering spirit of enterprise. From the beginning he has continued in the same line, only increasing 684 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. his business in its scope and capacity. He furnishes everything that enters into the construction of a building, even to the glass, hardware and paints and he is thoroughly conversant with the trade in every department. He is justly accounted one of Licking county's most energetic and progressive business men, who carefully formulates his plans, and is determined in their execution and overcomes obstacles and difficulties by energetic, persistent and honorable effort. Mr. Hodges was married the second time, September 22, 1886, to Miss Mary H. Trowbridge of Chesterville, Morrow county, Ohio, a daughter of Eliphalet A. and Angaline Trowbridge, the oldest of a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, all of whom are living except one boy who died in infancy. She was born near Appleton, Ohio, January 25, 1859, and went with her parents in early childhood to Utica where they resided until her fourteenth year when the family moved to a farm near Chesterville, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage. Mr. Trowbridge was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1862 in Company A, First. Ohio Cavalry, in which company he served faithfully until the close of the war. He died January 31, 1899, in Chesterville, Ohio, while his widow still survives, living with her children in Fredericktown, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hodges have two children, a son and a daughter. The son, Holland C., was for several years a prominent educator, and at the age of twenty-three years held a life certificate. He has now given up teaching, however, and is editor of the Observer, at Prairie Depot, Ohio. He married Miss Augusta Phillips of Sycamore, Wood county, Ohio. The daughter, Harriet Beatrice, is bookkeeper in her father's office and is a capable business woman. Mr. Hodges is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, at Johnstown, and is foremost in many good works. He is particularly active in support of the temperance movement and is the recognized local leader in temperance organizations and campaigns. His political allegiance is unfalteringly given to the republican party and he is active in every thing that has for its object the public good. Every movement relating to the welfare of his city awakens his interest and in many cases receives his earnest endorsement. His judgment in public matters is held in high esteem and he has served as a member of the village council. At the present time he is a member of the board of public service. He has also acted for several terms as a member of the board of education. Progress and patriotism might well be termed the keynote of his character and have been manifest in his social and public relations as well as in his business affairs. HECTOR DEAN ASHBROOK Hector Dean Ashbrook is numbered among the prosperous business men of Pataskala, where he engages in the hay and grain trade and at the same time in buying and shipping live stock, his enterprise being of such proportions as to make him a leading factor in the commercial life of the community. Johnstown, Ohio, is his birthplace and there he entered this life November 27, 1876. In 1810 his great-grandfather, Eli Ashbrook, settled in this part of the county, where ha pursued general agriculture, at the same time ministering as a clergyman of the old  HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 685 school Baptist church to nearby congregations. On the farm upon which he located he spent his remaining days. In his family were fourteen children, including Hiram Ashbrook, who was born near Johnstown and wedded Sarah Ann Jewett, a native of that place. In 1876 they removed to Pataskala, where, through his industry and enterprise he became the owner of a valuable tract of land of three hundred acres on which he spent his remaining days, dying in. September, 1879, in his fifty-ninth year, while his widow survived him by thirteen years, passing away January 20, 1893, in her seventy-second year. In their family were seven children, namely: Albert, who died when seven years of age; Hiram Munson; Mrs. Helen Clark, who lives in Marshalltown, Iowa; Omer D., who also resides there; Alice, deceased; Minnie D., a resident of Marshalltown; and David Guy, deceased. Hiram Munson Ashbrook, father of the subject of this review, was reared near Johnstown, where his birth occurred May 18, 1850. There during his boyhood days. he engaged in the duties .of the farm, during the winter season availing himself of the educational advantages of the neighboring schools. After completing his studies he still continued farming pursuits and became a well known stock-dealer of this part of the county, his business having reached such proportions that in 1890 he had one thousand dollars worth of stock, at the same time carrying on an extensive wool-buying business and dealing largely in grain. He also became owner of the old original claim of his father. He passed away in December, 1891, and is Survived by his widow, born September 20, 1849, who still resides in the old homestead. She is a daughter of William Bishop, who came from New Jersey to this county in 1826, when eight years of age in company with his parents, his father having departed this life shortly after his arrival. He now lives near Johnstown, where he still retains a measure of health and vigor in his ninetieth year. To his daughter, Anna M., who wedded Hiram Ashbrook, were born seven children: Perry M.; Charles Albert, an agriculturist near Johnstown, who died in March, 1908, leaving a widow and five children; Hector Dean; Mary Alice, who became the wife of J. Clyde Montgomery and passed away February 2, 1896, leaving one child; Abbie Estelle, who died December 28, 1905; Byron W., who lives on a farm near Johnstown; and Alva H., a railroad brakeman residing in Columbus, Ohio. Hector Dean Ashbrook resided on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, during his boyhood days attending the village schools of Johnstown, where he acquired his preliminary education and` subsequently completed a three years' course of study in Doane Academy at Granville. He next engaged in the hay and grain business at Alexandria, with his brother Perry Munson Ashbrook, with whom he remained for two years, the firm being known as Ashbrook Brothers, and in 1901 the partnership was dissolved and he established himself in the same business in Pataskala and since inaugurating the venture his volume of trade has so increased that in 1908 his receipts amounted to something over fifty thousand dollars. He does an extensive shipping business in hay, grain, seeds and farm products, doing a large business here and in Johnstown, at both places having large warehouses, which he always keeps well stocked, in readiness to supply the demands of his constantly increasing trade. On November 22, 1904, Mr. Ashbrook wedded Georgiana Spelman; a native of St. Albans township and the daughter of Henry and Emma (Van Ness) Spelman, her father being deceased while her mother. resides in Alexandria. This union has been blessed with three children: Ross, whose birth occurred September 4, 1905; and 686 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. twins, Louis Munson and Laura Belle, born. March 14, 1909. Mr. Ashbrook is a strong supporter of the republican party, the principles of which his experience has taught him are in the highest measure adequate and serviceable to place the finances of the country upon a solid basis and to maintain the nation's permanent peace and, while he is not an active politician and does not aspire to public preferment, he is sufficiently interested in the affairs of his party to use not only his vote but also his influence during campaigns to secure the election of its candidates. He belongs to the Presbyterian church, in which he is an active worker. In all matters of citizenship he is public-spirited, giving loyal support to measures vital to the general welfare, while his business activity has placed him among the leading and representative men of the community. WILLIAM W. SPELLMAN. William W. Spellman is now living retired in Granville but for a considerable period was closely identified with agricultural interests and through his unfaltering labor and well directed energy won the prosperity that now enables him to put aside the more active and ardent cares of business life. He was born August 23, 1840, in St. Albans township, his parents being George and Jane (Lansing) Spellman. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Miriam (Clark) Spellman, the former a son of Timothy Spellman, who arrived in Licking county in 1805 with the colony that came from Granville, Massachusetts, and founded the village of Granville, Ohio. Thus for more than a century the family has figured in public life and business interests of this part of the state, and the name has ever been a synonym for progress and improvement as manifest in individual affairs and in public interests. The father of our subject was killed in a sawmill in St. Albans township in 1855. Unto Mr. and Mrs. George Spellman were born six children: William W.; Mary, the wife of Israel Wilson, of Granville; Ellen Jane, who departed this life in 1866; Susan, the wife of }Toward M. Sedgwick; Anna Louisa, the wife of Cyrus Wilson; and Georgiana, the wife of Charles McMillan of Iowa. In the district schools William W. Spellman acquired his early education and later had the opportunity of attending Denison University, where he pursued his studies from 1858 until 1861. He afterward engaged in teaching for a term but the country became involved in the Civil war and the spirit of patriotism constrained him to offer his services to the government and put aside business and personal interests. Therefore on the 3d of September, 1861, he enlisted and was assigned to duty with Company D, Twenty-second Ohio Infantry. He served with that command for eleven months ̊and was then discharged because of disability. Following his return home, Mr. Spellman resumed the profession of teaching, which he followed for two years and then rented a farm, which he cultivated for two years. In the meantime he had. become owner of a little place here and selling it, removed to Illinois in 1865, following both farming and teaching in that state. He continued a resident of Illinois for seven years and in 1872 returned to Licking county, where he resumed agricultural life. He was again engaged in teaching from 1876 until 1882, after which he purchased a truck farm, which he carried on with growing success for twenty-five years, or until 1907. In that year he retired HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 687 from active business life, for his labors in previous years had brought him a substantial competence sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He is now living in Granville, where he has a comfortable home and his rest is well merited. Mr. Spellman has been married twice. In 1862 he wedded Miss Laura Wartenbe, who died ten years later, leaving four children: George, who resides in Cleveland; Lorinda; Alma, the wife of Rev. William Keis; and Clarence, living in New Mexico. In 1883 Mr. Spellman was again married, his second union being with Miss Jane A. Griffith, a daughter of Griffith W. and Anna (Weeks) Griffith, both of whom were natives of the state of New York and came to Ohio in 1814. Their family numbered four children : Ann M., the wife of Charles Barrett, a resident of Licking county; Jane A., now Mrs. Spellman; Mary E., deceased; and William W., of Granville. In his political views Mr. Spellman has always-been a stanch republican, interested in the growth and success of the party, for he believes its platform contains the best elements of good government. He belongs to the Baptist church at Granville and his life is in harmony with his professions. In all of his business dealings he has been straightforward and in every relation of life in which he has been found he has been true to honorable manly principles. THOMAS ALGEO Thomas Algeo, deceased, was for a long period an active and honorable representative of the farming interests of Licking county. He was widely known as an energetic and active representative of agricultural life and in his business dealings was ever found reliable and trustworthy. His birth occurred in Washington county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1.831, his parents being Robert and Sarah (Cockins) Algeo. The father spent his entire life in Pennsylvania but the mother afterward came to Ohio and passed her last days in this state, living among her children. In the family were four sons and three daughters : John, Elizabeth, Vincent, Margaret, Sarah and Robert, twins, and Thomas. The last named spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity and pursued his education in the public schools there. When fourteen years of age he began learning the cabinet maker's trade, which he followed until he took up his abode upon the farm that is now the property of his widow. He was only a year old when his father died and at an early age was thrown upon his own resources and made his way in the world unaided from that time until his death, so that whatever success he achieved or enjoyed was attributable entirely to his energy and perseverance. He made several visits to Ohio in his youthful days to see his relatives in Muskingum and Guernsey counties and when about twenty years of age he joined his brothers, John, Vincent and Robert, in this state, the last named being a physician who for many years practiced medicine in Kirkersville, Ohio. On coming to Ohio Thomas Algeo secured a tract of land and for nearly a half century remained on the farm which he developed and improved. He began with only ninety-one acres of land but prospered in his undertakings and later purchased 688 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. three other farms for his children. He always retained possession of his original ninety-one acres and at his death left this to his widow. His brother John was the first of the family to come to Licking county, at which time he bought two hundred acres of timberland and subsequently he sold one hundred acres of this to Thomas Algeo. John Algeo also established and operated a sawmill and admitted his brother Thomas to a partnership so that for a number of years they operated the sawmill together. In his farm work Mr. Algeo of this review made a specialty of raising sheep and always had good flocks upon his place. He was energetic and persevering and manifested a progressive spirit in all that he undertook to do. On the 28th of February, 1856, Mr. Algeo was married to Miss Margaret Jane Moore, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 9, 1831, and came to Licking county, when about twenty years of age with her parents, Thomas and Mary (Elliott) Moore. The mother was a native of Ireland and was brought to the new world when ten years of age. The father was born in this country of Irish parentage and their last days were spent on their farm on the Columbus road in Harrison township. They had five children : John, now deceased; Mrs. Katharine Patten; Mrs. Algeo; James and Robert, who are both deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Algeo were born three children : Robert, who married Nora Thomas and is now living in Harrison township near his mother's borne; Flora, who died at the age of twenty-five years; and Thomas Elton, who wedded Armina Belle Thomas, and has also a farm near his mother's place. He has one son, Charles. In his political views Thomas Algeo was a stalwart republican but never sought office as a reward for party fealty. During the greater part of his life he held membership in the Christian church, which he joined in early manhood. His religious faith was a guiding principle throughout all his years and as an upright and honorable man, he was known to his fellow townsmen, who appreciated his sterling worth and gave to him high esteem. ROBERT J. THOMAS. Robert J. Thomas, who all his life has been connected with the farming interests of Licking county and now owns a large farm in Lima township, descends from a family whose members were among the early settlers of this region, his paternal grandparents having been David and Mary (Reese) Thomas, natives of Wales, who came to this country at an early date, here spending the remainder of .their lives. Mrs. Thomas was a daughter of Theophilus Reese, who in company with Samuel Phillips purchased two thousand acres of land in the Welsh hills, where they established a Welsh colony and induced emigration to that place from their native country. Among the children of David Thomas was Samuel Thomas, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1800 and who was united in marriage with Katharine Jones, a native of Montgomeryshire, Wales, born in 1799. When a young woman, she came to Licking county and her death occurred on a farm in Harrison township in 1865. In 1802 when he was in his second year Samuel Thomas. was brought to the Welsh hills by his parents and was living with his son-in-law, near Johnstown, this county, when he departed this life, July 18, 1877. He owned about HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 689 two hundred and fifty acres of land in Harrison township, upon which he put all the improvements, and there he spent his life in general farming and stock-raising. In his family were seven children, namely : Jerusha, who wedded George Avery, both now deceased; Maria, deceased, wife of William Jones; Ellis, who resides in Alexandria; Robert J.; Ann, who wedded Andrew Hicks, both of whom are deceased, she having departed this life at the home of her brother, Robert J., in September, 1905; Charles, and Edwin, who have passed away. Robert J. Thomas was born in the Welsh hills, Granville township, this county, May 28, 1830, and five years later removed to Harrison township with his parents and there spent his boyhood days on the farm, in the meantime acquiring his education at the district schools. He remained at home until his marriage, and, on April 1, 1859, he bought the farm he now owns in Lima township, where he has since resided. His farm consists of one hundred and fifty-two acres, situated one mile north of Pataskala on the Harrison township line. It is known as the "Sycamore Grove Farm," and its rich soil makes it one of the most desirable pieces of property in the township for farming purposes. Here he has the latest improved machinery and equipments with which to carry on his work according to modern methods. The first residence in which he lived was one of a gothic type of architecture and upon its destruction by fire he built his present dwelling in 1891, which is considered as fine a residence as there is in the vicinity. In addition to engaging in general farming Mr. Thomas has also paid considerable attention to stock-raising and in his time has raised many head of sheep and cattle which he shipped to various parts of the state. In Harrison township, on February 25, 1858, Mr. Thomas wedded Mary Chadwick, daughter of Cyrus and Ann Eliza (Nichols) Chadwick, he having been born in New Hampshire, October 1, 1800, and his wife in New Jersey, September 27, 1813. They came here in the years 1830 and 1819, respectively, and both departed this life on their farm in Harrison township, Mr. Chadwick's death occurring May 10, 1870, his wife surviving him by twelve years, her demise occurring August 1, 1882. In their family were five children, namely : Mary; Charles, who died in his eleventh year ; Albert, who resides in Washington; Byron, of Pataskala; and Sarah A., who departed this life in 1897. Mrs. Thomas was born in Harrison township, September 3, 1835. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born : Charles, who had been connected with the Central Ohio Paper Company, of Columbus, and passed away in his fortieth year ; Frederick N., who is affiliated with the same company, and resides in Westerville, Ohio; Katharine, wife of David O. Evans ; C. B., of Westerville, Ohio, who is a traveling salesman for the Central Ohio Paper Company; and Ellis, who resides on the old Thomas farm in Harrison township. In politics Mr. Thomas is a republican, having voted for John C. Fremont, the first republican candidate, and has since been loyal to the principles of his party. He has been quite active in the affairs of the township and served a number of terms as trustee, and throughout his career has always been public-spirited and favored the promotion of all measures purposed to advance the general welfare of the community. During his long career he has never permitted the pressure of business affairs to usurp the time required for the performance of his religious obligations and he has always attended divine services at the Wesley Methodist church, of which he is a liberal supporter. Mr. Thomas is a man who has so lived as to preserve his character above reproach, and now in his seventy-ninth year he may 690 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. look back over a well spent life and inasmuch as he has always been a zealous Christian, striving according to his power to disseminate the truth of the gospel to the moral and spiritual betterment of the community, he may look forward in his declining years for the dawning of the morning of joy. CHARLES WELLS Charles Wells, well known as a sheep breeder and real estate dealer in Harrison township, was born on his present farm, which is located on the Johnstown road a quarter of a mile south of Outville, Harrison township, on April 16, 1849. His great-great-grandfather, George Wells, was of Scotch-Irish parentage, the family having emigrated from Scotland and settled in New York at an early date. Part of the family located in Virginia, and one son in Wellsville, Ohio, which city was laid out by him, and another son settled in the northwest. His grandparents, Joseph and Polly Wells, came here before the county was incorporated and located in the woods, at that time the entire region being covered with thick forest. He purchased a large tract of land, some of which he later disposed of, and spent his entire life here, his death having occurred in 1861, when he was in his eighty-eighth year. Although he disposed of the greater portion of his property he retained two hundred acres on which he pursued general farming, and in his day Zanesville, thirty miles distant, was his nearest market. In his family were Peter, Samuel, Joseph, George, William, John (who went to Oregon during the '50s), Katherine and Elizabeth, all the children having remained in Licking and Fairfield counties but one. Charles Wells was a son of William and Mary (Zeller) Wells, his father having been born April 27, 1816, on a farm about three miles east of here in what is now known as Union township, but which at that time was part of Fairfield county. There he spent his entire life, following agriculture and also breeding stock to some extent. He cultivated an excellent tract of land, all of which he cleared and upon which he made all necessary improvements, erecting his dwelling house, barn, outbuildings and fences. He was an active member in the Presbyterian church and was one of the founders of the Kirkersville church of that denomination, the latter organization having later removed to Outville. Widely known for his high moral qualities, he was particularly prominent in church circles inasmuch as he devoted a great deal of his attention to religion and to the promotion of the various interests of the congregation, and also was a leading factor in advancing the moral and spiritual welfare of the community. He died in 1890, in his seventy-fourth year. His wife, Mary Zeller, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Smith) Zeller, natives of Pennsylvania, who departed this life in this county, was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1821 and came to Ohio with her parents about 1836, settling near Columbus and later removing to Etna township, this county, where she resided until her marriage. She passed away February 7, 1909, at the home of her son Charles. The Zellers trace their ancestry back to King William, of Germany, the name originally having been Howenzeller, but when the family came to the new world they changed the spelling. In their family were two sons: Alfred, who departed this life in 1905, leaving six children; and Charles. HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 691 Mr. Wells has been twice united in marriage, first in 1878 to Narcissus A. Brown, a daughter of James and Martha Brown, who died three years after her marriage. In 1906 he wedded Manilla Glinn, a native of Johnstown, this county, and a daughter of Nathaniel and Harriett (Miller) Glinn, both of whom were natives of this county where they departed this life. To the republican party Mr. Wells has always been loyal, inasmuch as a thorough study of its principles have convinced him that they contain those policies best suited to developing the natural resources of the country and give impetus to financial enterprises, and although he is not an active politician he does all he can by his vote and influence at elections to place the candidates of his party in office. He is a man who entertains a high sense of religion and its benefits to mankind and attends divine services at the Presbyterian church, in the affairs of which he is quite active and of which he is a liberal supporter. His noble character has been such as to command the respect and confidence of all his acquaintances, and he is acknowledged as one of the substantial and valued citizens of the township. CHARLES M. STINSON. Charles M. Stinson, a substantial farmer and representative citizen of Burlington township, and a man who has taken considerable interest in politics in the county, was born on the farm where he now resides February 24, 1861, a son of Archibald and Nancy S. (Gillespie) Stinson. His father, who for many years was actively engaged as an agriculturist and who is now enjoying the fruits of his toil in retirement, was born in New Jersey, December 29, 1820, and was the son of Joseph and Mary (Garrison) Stinson, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and came to this county in the year 1832 locating on the farm which he now owns. He is the only surviving member of a family of four children. His father passed away in the year 1843, his wife surviving him seven years. Archibald Stinson during his boyhood passed through the usual experiences common to farmers' sons and his early life was spent in the usual uneventful manner of those reared amid the peaceful surroundings of rural life. During the winter season he attended the district school, in this instance an old log cabin which will long be remembered by those who were enrolled there as pupils, and having acquired his education still continued to perform his labors, in company with his father, on the old home place. Here he remained without intermission and early and late assisted his parents in the various duties incidental to agriculture. Upon the death of his parents he purchased the old homestead and its surrounding acreage and labored incessantly as long as his energy and vitality would permit, and now at the advanced age of eighty-nine years is enjoying as best he can the comforts of his hard earned toil. In the year 1856 he wedded Miss Nancy S. Gillespie, whose birth occurred in Licking county in 1830 and, who after a happy domestic life of forty-five years, passed away, October 10, 1901. She had a family of six children, namely : Archie N., who resides in Crawford county, Ohio; Charles M.; and four deceased. Mr. Stinson is well known throughout the cohnty as a man of sterling qualities, good judgment and high moral character, and during his long years of active life has lived in such a way as to command the respect of all with whom he has come in contact and now 692 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. in his declining years can look backward with gratification upon the life he has lived, and forward into eternity with confidence that his well spent life will not fall short of a joyful immortality. In politics he has always given his allegiance to the democratic party and served the community for two terms as trustee of the township. It has been some time since he has taken active interest in the affairs of his farm owing to his advancing years, but he is still enjoying a great measure of health and vigor. Charles M. Stinson was reared on the farm where his birth occurred and in connection with assisting his father in the general routine work he attended the district school where he received his early education. On completing his studies there he attended the Utica high school, after graduating from which he also spent some time in study at Ada, Ohio. Upon completing his education he returned to the old homestead and assisted in the cultivation of the farm. In the year 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Eva Beaver, daughter of the late William Beaver, of Knox county. After a bridal trip he returned to the old homestead with his wife and continued his agricultural pursuits in company with his father until about the year 1898, when the elder Mr. Stinson, having attained an advanced age, felt disposed to spend the remainder of his life in retirement, and consequently placed the farm under the management of his son. Since then Mr. Stinson has devoted his time and attention to general farming, in which he has met with a full measure of success and amassed means with which to purchase several other valuable tracts of land, which he keeps under cultivation in connection with the old home place. About 1896 he purchased a farm containing sixty acres in McKean township which he has extensively improved and kept under cultivation. Mr. Stinson takes great pride in his farm, employs modern methods in working his lands and has equipped his place with all modern machinery necessary to make agriculture in the highest degree remunerative. Mr. Stinson is liberal in his political views and while he is a democrat and leans more toward the principles of that party than of those of other political cults, he does not consider himself bound by party ties as he is of the opinion that in politics a man should be free from coercion and, thinking more of the character of the candidate than of the party to which he belongs, he should judge candidly the qualifications possessed by office seekers and cast his vote for the man whom in his judgment will to the best advantage serve the interests of the commonwealth. In 1907 he was elected as a member of the board of trustees of the township, and in this capacity renders excellent service. He belongs to Centennial Grange, No. 1682, Patrons of Husbandry, in which organization he takes deep interest. R. C. BIGBEE. R. C. Bigbee, a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 4, 1849. He was therefore but a boy when he entered the service and yet his loyalty and valor were equal to that of many a veteran of twice his years. His father, George Bigbee, was a native of Virginia and he was brought to Ohio in 1810 by his father, John Bigbee, who settled in Knox county. There his son HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 693 was reared who, after his marriage, removed to Richland county where he took up the occupation of farming, being for many years closely identified with the work of tilling the soil there. He continued to live on the old home place until his death which occurred in 1881 when he was seventy-seven years of age. He had married Susan Shaffer, a native of Pennsylvania, who had gone to Mansfield, Ohio, with her parents in pioneer times. Her natal year was 1811 and in 1885 she was called to her final rest. R. C. Bigbee was educated in the country schools of Richland county, and with patriotic ardor he responded to his country's call for troops when only fifteen years of age, joining the Union army as a member of the One Hundred and Forty Seventh Ohio Infantry. He did service in the vicinity of Richmond and Petersburg and was mustered out in 1864. He then resumed his interrupted studies but in the spring of 1865 he once more enlisted, serving in the army of the Cumberland until after the close of hostilities. When the country no longer needed his military aid, Mr. Bigbee returned to Richland county and learned the carpenter's trade which he followed for several years. He worked hard and gained a start in life. I 1881 he turned his attention .to the distillery business in Richland county where he remained until 1895 when he came to Newark. In 1905 he was elected city treasurer and held that office for two years. In 1876 Mr. Bigbee was married to Miss Alice Hildebrand and following her death Mr. Bigbee was again married in 1887, his second wife being Susie Acton. Be has one son by his first marriage, Alzura, and one by the second marriage, Cecil. Mr. Bigbee gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to Lemmert Post G. A. R., and has the distinction of being the only man ever reelected commander of Lemert Post. DAVID V. BLINE A well improved farm comprising one hundred and five acres, situated in Newton township, is the home of David V. Bline, who is today numbered among the substantial agriculturists of this section of Licking county. He was born in this county July 29, 1839, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Bline, mention of whom is made on another page of this volume. The son remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two years, during which time he was reared to farm labor and acquired his education in the common schools. It was about that time in his life that he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. McCoy, who was born in Licking county, November 10, 1842, a daughter of Mathew and Margaret (Gates) McCoy, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Licking county in the '40s. The family of Mr. and Mrs. McCoy numbered eight children and both the parents are now deceased. Following his marriage Mr. Bline rented the old Keller farm, which he operated for eighteen years. During this time he carefully saved his earnings and at 694 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. length felt justified in making a purchase of land, thus becoming owner of fifty-three acres in Newton township. As he prospered in his undertakings he added to his landed possessions until his property now embraces one hundred and five, acres. He has made many improvements on the place, in the way of substantial buildings, while his fields have been placed under a high state of cultivation and annually yield abundant harvests.  The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bline has been blessed with eight children : Willis J., who is an engineer in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, with headquarters at Newark; Hezekiah, who resides at Chatham, this county; Frank D., at home; Della C., the wife of C. A. Holler, a resident of Newark; Rovena, the wife of Clinton McKinney, of Newton township; John, of Vanatta, who wedded Miss Louise Kirkpatrick, who was born in Knox county, their family numbering seven children; Bessie M., the wife of Henry Wilkin. of Licking county; and Fred C., of Chatham. The wife and mother departed this life March 23, 1901, her remains being interred in Wilson cemetery.  Mr. Bline supports the men and measures of democracy and has served as township treasurer. He has met obstacles and difficulties in his path but these have been overcome through honest, earnest effort and he is now one of the substantial' citizens of Newton township.  M. W. YOAKAM. M. W. Yoakam, who is now living retired after many years of hard and honest toil as an agriculturist in Burlington township, is a native of West Virginia, where he was born August 25, 1825. Some time ago he relinquished the plow and left the active duties of husbandry to those who are yet blessed with youth and vigor, and at the ripe age of eighty-four years is now enjoying the fruits of his earnest labor. He was a son of Jacob and Jane (Womsley) Yoakam both of whom were natives of West Virginia, in which state they he buried. Of a family of twelve children but four survive, namely: Jane, who resides in West Virginia; William, of Allen county, Ohio; Jacob, who lives in West Virginia; and M. W. When a boy in his native state Mr. Yoakam attended the district school, where he obtained his education, and then engaged in the active duties of farm life on the old home place. There he remained until 1847 when he came to this county and for a period of two years hired out as a farm hand. The opportunities for farming being extensivCompanyain and live stock being in pressing demand he felt confident that he could engage in agriculture for himself and out of it derive satisfactory recompense. Ceasing to work as a wage earner he rented a farm, which he immediately began to cultivate and met with such success as to enable him to lay by sufficient money with which to purchase seventy-five acres of excWilkinland in Knox county, upon which he lived for a period of three years and then disposed of his property to great advantage. After making the sale he did not invest in property for some time, but rented a farm which he cultivated for a period of four years. He then purchased the farm on which he is now located. The tract of land Mr. Yoakam now has under cultivation contains two hundred and fifty-one acres, which HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 695 he has improved to such an extent as to make his farm among the very best in the county for the cultivation of all kinds of grain. In addition to a comfortable residence his place is supplied with excellent barns and sheds, with machinery and all conveniences requisite to carry on agriculture according to the most modern methods. During his active career as an agriculturist he engaged more or less in everything pertaining to farming, with a special attention to raising and feeding stock. In the year 1858 Mr. Yoakam was united in marriage with Miss Esther Weaver, who was born on their present farm and was one of a family of seven children, of whom she is the only one surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Yoakam have been blessed with four children, namely: Mary E., wife of William Moore; George W.; Charles N., deceased; and John F. Mr. and Mrs. Yoakam have long since given up active life and are now living in pleasant retirement on the farm where they settled many years ago and which bears evidence of their unwearied toil, patience and energy. While the vigor and ambition of youth was theirs they worked with unabating zeal, providently bearing in mind the days when they should reach the evening of life, and day by day setting aside something of their earnings, thus gradually increasing their savings until now they are able to spend their declining years amid the gratifying comforts which are the outcome of their former toil. They are both adherents of the Christian church, of which they have for many years been members so living in the observance of their religious duties as not to fear when the summons comes to call them to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns. JUDGE E. M. P. BRISTER. Judge E. M. P. Brister is a great-grandson of General Rufus Putnam, of the Revolutionary war, who settled the State of Ohio, at Marietta, April 7, 1788, his mother being a granddaughter of Gen. Putnam. Judge Blister was born in Cadiz, Harrison, county, Ohio, June 26, 1850. His father, M. P. Blister, who was a well-known and talented journalist, came with his family to Newark in 1852, and died in 1856, leaving the subject of this sketch fatherless at the age of six years. By the death of his father, young Brister was compelled, when a boy, to supplement his mother's heroic exertions to maintain herself and child, Mrs. C. P. Brister conducting her husband's newspaper with great ability for three years. "Put" Brister, as he was generally called, began his life's labor when only eight years old, as a newsboy. When fourteen years old, he entered the office of the "Licking Record" to learn the printing trade. When seventeen years old, he, with L. F. Tenney, started a job printing office which the two carried on for three years. But Mr. Blister had long cherished the resolution of obtaining a classical education and in 1870 he bought Mr. Tenney's interest in the little printing office and removed it to Granville, the seat of Denison University. There he entered upon the arduous -undertaking of working his way through a six years' college course, at the same time supporting himself and his invalid mother. He did his studying at night and morning, studying until eleven o'clock at night and getting up to study at four o'clock in the morning. In this way he completed the six years' classical course, graduating from Denison University with 696 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. high honors in 1877. Part of his course he took in Wooster University, Wayne county, Ohio, where he also moved his printing office. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Brister began to read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1880. Judge Brister is a life-long democrat, and has been a hard and faithful party worker all his life. Some twenty-five years ago he began making campaign speeches for the democratic party, since which time his services, both as a campaign and public speaker, have been in constant demand, both in his county and throughout the state. He has also done good service on campaign clubs and committees and has always been liberal with his time and such means as he had, whenever the party needed them. E. M. P. Brister was elected probate judge of Licking county in 1890 and served one term of three years with entire satisfaction, but was defeated for his second term in the landslide of 1893. He was again elected to the office of probate judge in 1905 and reelected to a second term of four years in 1908, which he is now serving, receiving a majority of 1,879, the largest majority ever received by a county officer in this county. Judge Brister has made quite a reputation for himself in the juvenile court work, to which he is devoted and in which he has accomplished much good for the children and the community. He began public speaking when a mere boy only sixteen years old, which he has continued ever since, making addresses upon all topics in different parts of the country. He has also acquired considerable reputation as a song writer and writer of poems. Judge Brister became a member of the First Presbyterian church of this city when he was only sixteen years old, in which membership he has continued ever since. He has been a member of the city board of education, the county board of examiners, is past president of the Ohio Society, S. A. R. He is also a Mason, an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman, and a Knight of the Ancient Essenic Order, besides belonging to the ladies auxiliaries of the above orders. MORGAN FAUSETT. A well improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred acres, situated in Madison township, Licking county, has been the home of Morgan Fausett since 1906. He is a native son of the Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Knox county, July 13, 1845, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Hayes) Fausett, both of whom were natives of Knox county, where they spent their entire lives. Morgan Fausett was reared to the pursuits of agricultural life, his boyhood and youth being spent on the home farm in Knox county, while in the common schools of that section he acquired his education. When he reached maturity the home farm, comprising three hundred and seventy acres of land, came into his possession and he retained the ownership until 1885, when he disposed of the property and removed to Kansas, where he invested his money in six hundred acres of farm land in Ness county. After eighteen months spent thereon, however, he traded the land for three hundred acres in Wayne county, Illinois, on which he took up his abode and made his home for four years. During this time he also engaged in the real-estate business. In this undertaking he met with excellent HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 699 success, his sales far exceeding those of any of his competitors. In six months' time he disposed of over two hundred thousand dollars worth of property. In 1896 he-suffered a twenty-two thousand dollar loss by fire and then returned to Knox county, Ohio, and for two years engaged in the grocery business at Mount Zion. On the expiration of that period, in 1898, he removed to Newark, where for eight years he conducted a boarding house. During the years that have come and gone he has carefully managed his business affairs and to some extent retrieved his losses, so that in 1906 he found himself in possession of a capital sufficient to invest in one hundred acres of land in Madison township, whereon he has since made his home. He carries on general farming and in his undertakings is meeting with a full measure of success, for his fields annually yield good crops of grain, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. In 1864 Mr. Fausett was united in marriage to Miss Lydia C. Wolf, a resident, of Knox county, and their marriage has been blessed with nine children, of whom two are deceased, the surviving members being: Linza L., of Knox county; Lilly,. the wife of White Elliott, also of Knox county; Frank M., who makes his home in Newark; Cleveland, at hoine;. Lola, the wife of Charles Dover, a resident. of Coshocton, this state; Anna, the wife of Ed Harris, a resident of Newark ; and Cora, the wife of Atwood Hilliard, also of this city. A democrat in principle and practice, Mr. Fausett is a public-spirited citizen,. ever ready to assist in any worthy movement calculated to benefit the community. Having spent the greater part of his life in Knox and Licking counties, he is well known in both sections and commands the esteem of all with whom he is brought into contact. GEORGE U. WELLS George U. Wells, who is meeting with Splendid success in general farming and stock-raising in Harrison township, was born March 17, 1868, on the old homestead,. which he now occupies and which is located on the line between this and Etna township, one mile west of Kirkersville. His paternal grandparents were George and Mary (Essex) Wells. The grandfather applied himself to agricultural pursuits. on this farm, at the same time cultivating a tract of land of thirty acres located. near the Disciple church on York street, making his residence on the latter. He was a man highly revered for his excellent Christian character, was a deep Bible student and affiliated himself with that denomination of Christians known as Disciples of Christ, because he deemed the interpretation of the scriptures by that organization the best expression of Christian truth and also by reason of the fact that in his opinion the Disciples church was truly apostolic, its requirements for church membership being identical with those prescribed by the great Teacher. Henry Wells, father of George U. Wells, was born in Harrison township, spent his entire life on a farm and died May 2, 1907, in his sixty-first year. In politics he was a republican,. thoroughly conversant with the political issues of the day, but while he interested himself in the successes of his party he was never an aspirant for public office, contenting himself with using his vote and influence during campaigns in order to secure the election of its candidates. His wife, who bore the