|
BIOGRAPHIES
** Source:
A Twentieth Century History of
Hardin County, Ohio
- Vol. I & II -
Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago
1910
898 pgs.
|
|
H. DALE SHIELDS,
a successful druggist of Forest, is one of the enterprising and
progressive citizens of that town. He is a native of
Forest, born Mar. 22, 1878, and is a son of J. L. and Adeline
(Wilson) Shields. J. L. Shields was born in
1840, in Ross County, Ohio, and came to Hardin county in 1852;
he learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked ten years,
and about 1865 embarked in livery business, which he carried on
ten years. For the last seventeen years he has been
conducting a harness business in Forest. He was married in
1872, and had three children, two of whom survive, namely: H.
F., a druggist, and H. Dale. J. L. Shields
is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its
Encampment. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Clayton)
Shields, who had three children, J. L., Rebecca and
Nancy. Samuel Shields died when J. L. was six
years of age, and his widow married (second) David
Warrener, who was one of the first settlers of Hardin
county. Mr. Warrener took an active part in the
construction of the Big Four Railroad; he had three children by
this marriage, only one of whom survives, Mrs. Wilson,
whose husband is a native of New York.
H. Dale Shields graduated from Forest high
school, and later took a course in pharmacy at the Northwestern
University at Ada, Ohio, graduating in 1901. Upon
returning home he opened a drug store in Forest, where by his
close attention to business and his ability and industry he has
built up a good patronage.
Mr. Shields served in the Spanish-American war,
being enrolled in Company I, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for
one year, and then honorably discharged. He belongs to
Senate Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Forest, also
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of
Pythias, having passed the chairs in the two last named.
He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum, of which he has served
nine years as secretary. He is an earnest and active
member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. During his
business career in Forest, Mr. Shields has acceptably
filled the post of corporation clerk.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio
- Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910.
- Page 693 |
|
|
DR. ALBERT EDWIN
SMITH, D. D., Ph. D. - As president of the
Ohio Northern University at Ada, Dr. Albert Edwin Smith, D.
D., Ph. D., is carrying on an important work, through his
wise administration gradually elevating this institution to a
place of great prominence and influence among the sectarian
schools of the country. A son of the late H. E. Smith,
he was born, Dec. 16, 1860, in Clermont county, Ohio. His
paternal grandfather. Albert Edwin Smith, for whom
he was named, migrated from Germany to this country in 1848,
settling first in New York city, from there coming to Marietta,
Ohio, where he was engaged in business until his death, at the
age of sixty-seven years.
H. E. Smith was born in Berlin, Germany, and
there received his elementary education. At the age of
thirteen years he came across the ocean with his parents, and
here completed his school life. In September, 1861, he
enlisted in the Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and for
more than four years served in the defense of his adopted
country, taking part in many engagements of importance during
the Civil war. He subsequently continued his residence in
Clermont county until his death, when but sixty-four years of
age. He married, in Clermont county, Mary A. Lindsey,
whose parents, Levi and Mary A. Lindsey, were pioneer
settlers of that part of Ohio. His widow is still living.
Ten children blessed their union, nine sons, all of whom are
living, and a daughter that died when but fifteen months old.
The eldest child of the family, Dr. Albert Edwin
Smith, spent his boyhood days at New Richmond, Ohio,
gleaning his first knowledge of books in the common schools.
At the age of fourteen years he became self supporting, working
at anything he could find to do, being employed on a farm, in a
brick yard and in a saw mill. At the age of nineteen years
he entered the New Richmond high school, where he studied for a
year. He subsequently worked his way through the Clermont
Academy, of which J. K. Parker was then the principal,
being graduated with the class of 1883, in June. The
following year the Doctor preached on the Chilo circuit, having
charge of four churches in Clermont county. Going then to
Delaware, Ohio, in the fall of 1884, he entered the classical
department of the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he was
graduated in 1887. Joining then the Central Ohio
Conference, the Doctor had charge of the four churches on the
York circuit for four years. The following three years he
was located in Celina, Mercer county, Ohio,
from there going to Toledo, where he became the first pastor of
the Epworth church, of which he had charge for a year.
Dr. Smith was afterwards pastor of St. Paul's Methodist
Episcopal church in Defiance for four years, and was engaged in
his ministerial labors at Marion, Ohio, for six years, having
charge of Epworth Methodist Episcopal church, the largest church
in the conference. On June 27, 1905, he was elected
president of the Ohio Northern University, and on July 20 of
that year assumed the duties of the position, which he has since
held. The Doctor is a man of strong personality, and those
who have the pleasure of his acquaintance find him a polished
gentleman, broadened by extensive travel, not only in our own
country but throughout Europe and the Holy Land, and by contact
with public men and public affairs.
Dr. Smith married, Oct. 26, 1887, Harriet
Vergon, who was born in Delaware, Ohio, and was there
educated, being graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University on
the very same day that her husband received his diploma. Her
parents, F. P. and Catherine Vergon, were pioneer
settlers of Delaware county, where her father has been for many
years a prominent apple grower. Seven children have been
born to Dr. and Mrs. Smith, namely: Rachel. Edwin,
Paul, Seth, deceased, Harriet, Easter, deceased, and
Benjamin. The Doctor has taken the degrees of B.
A., M. A. and of Ph. D., and has twice had the degree of D. D.
conferred upon him.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of
Hardin County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing
Company - Chicago - 1910. - Page |
|
|
CHARLES WILLIAM SMITH
has served Hardin county in many public positions, and he is now
a member of its board of commissioners. He served Mt.
Victory as a member of its city council, and was during one term
its mayor, resigning that office in 1899 to assume his duties as
one of the commissioners of Hardin county. He has also
been prominent in the business life of his city and county,
owning a valuable farm which he sublets in order to give his
entire attention to his official position, and he is also quite
extensively engaged in the buying and shipping of timber.
Mr. Smith was born in Dudley township of Hardin
county on the 6th of March, 1862. His father, Charles
Lorenzo Smith, was born in Baden, Germany, on the 20th of
May, 1834, and he died on the 29th of January, 1896, at Mt.
Victory. Coming from the Fatherland to the United States
at the age of seventeen, he settled on a farm near Columbus,
Ohio, and later coming from there to Mt. Victory was employed in
a saw mill here for twelve years. He then bought a farm in
Dudley township, which remained his home until within a short
time of his death, afterward living with his son, Charles W.
Smith. In 1859, in Hardin county, he was married to
Sarah Ann Manley, and she died on the 21st of September,
1888, at the age of forty-six years. The children of
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, including Charles, are:
Thomas L., a farmer in Indiana; Joseph, a Hardin
county farmer; George, employed in the steel works at
Marion; Pearl, also at the Marion steel works; Rosetta,
the wife of C. Woods, a retired farmer of Dunkirk; and
Margaret, who is living at Dunkirk.
Charles William Smith continued his studies in
the public schools until he had reached his seventeenth year,
and from that on until he was twenty he farmed. Taking up
the carpenter's trade he continued that vocation for four years,
and from that on for twenty years he was in the business for
himself. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias
fraternity at Mt. Victory, is a member of the Odd Fellows and
also of the Elks lodge at Kenton. He votes with the
Democratic party.
Mr. Smith married on the 26th of November, 1881,
Flora M. Harvey, who was born in Mt. Victory Aug. 23,
1865, a daughter of Newton and Elizabeth (Smith) Harvey.
Newton Harvey was born in Union county, Ohio, in
1842, was both a shoemaker and farmer, and he died on the 7th of
September, 1900. Mrs. Harvey was a daughter of
Hiram and Jane (Wilkes) Smith. Ten children of Mr.
and Mrs. Harvey, including Mrs. Smith, are:
Loal and Otie, the former a farmer in Hardin county,
and the latter the wife of M. Mador, also of this county.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith;
Claude who died in infancy, Everett, born June 14,
1885, and Clarence, born Oct. 4, 1890. Everett
Smith married Goldie Dawson, and their two
children were Waldo and Dawson. Mrs. Charles W. Smith
is a member of the Rebekah lodge at Mt. Victory, and of the
Pythian Sisters at the same place.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio
- Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910.
- Page 704 |
|
|
EPHRAIM
E. SMITH, a retired farmer living at Hepburn, Ohio, was
born in Dudley township, Hardin county, Ohio, Jan. 19, 1846.
He is a son of Nathan and Mary Kiser (McLane) Smith, and
grandson of Edward and Jennie (Shaefer) Smith.
Edward Smith was a native of Virginia, a son of Thomas
and Jennie (Remey) Smith. The father of Thomas
Smith married Jennie, daughter of the well known
Lord Fairfax, of Fairfax Court House, Virginia, descendant
of the English family. Some of the Smiths took part
in the Revolution.
Nathan Smith was born at Zanesville, Ohio, Apr.
20, 1818, and was reared on a farm, receiving his education in
the public schools. He followed farming and stock raising
all his active life, and is now living retired at the age of
ninety-two years. He bought a tract of land and cleared
it, and has now one of the largest farms in Dudley township; he
also operated a sawmill, one of the first in the township.
He belongs to the Methodist church, and is now a Republican,
having once been a member of the "Know nothing" party. He
has voted for every president since casting his vote in 1840 for
Harrison, and is the oldest voter in the township. His
wife, who was born in 1826, is still living, and they are well
known throughout the community, it being a rare thing to find a
couple who have lived together so many years and have both
attained a venerable old age. She is a daughter of
Ephraim C. McLane, a native of Pennsylvania who removed to
Ohio when a young man, and became a colonel of militia from
Muskingum county. He died July 21, 1861, at the age of
sixty-two years, a devout Christian and ready for death.
He married Nancy Craig, who died at the age of
ninety-four years, and they made their home in Dudley township,
Hardin county. Nathan's father, Edward Smith,
built the second log house in what is now Zanesville, Ohio.
The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are: Nancy J.,
widow of George Bannig; Ephraim E.; Elizabeth
A. Hastings, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; J. S. Smith,
Jewell, Iowa, vice president of bank there; Catherine S.
the wife of Theo. McHenny, of Larne, Ohio; H. C. Smith,
of Jewell, Iowa, president of First National Bank there.
Ephraim E. Smith remained at home and attended
school and when eighteen years of age enlisted in company I, One
Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, and served three
years, being mustered out in 1865. He took part in the
Virginia campaign and participated in the battles at Antietam,
Harpers Ferry, Halltown and many others. He had a narrow
escape at one time from a bullet which passed through his
clothes. Returning home Mr. Smith spent a year on
the home farm and then moved to Iowa, where he began working on
the railroad between Boone and Omaha, and remained in this work
two years; later he worked a year for the union Pacific Railway
Company and became sick so he returned home. He followed
farming for two years and then removed to Larne, where he was
engaged in mercantile business four years. He sold his
interest in this business and carried on farming until 1892,
when he came to Hepburn and erected the elevator now owned by
F. Laubis, and engaged in the flour business. He
helped organize the Flour Mill Exchange of Mount Victory, and in
1895, through the speculation of his partner lost his total
investment of nine thousand dollars. He then traded stock
for a general merchandise store, which he carried on a year, and
engaged in farming. He was a successful and industrious
business man, and has now retired from active life. He
owns two large farms in Dudley township. Mr. Smith
is a prominent and influential citizen, actively interested in
public affairs, and is a stanch Republican, although he has
never carried for public office, being too much occupied with
his business affairs.
Mr. Smith has been a member of the Masonic Order
since 1868, and is affiliated with Kenton Blue Lodge and Royal
Arch Chapter. He is one of the charter members of Hepburn
Lodge of Knights of Pythias and belongs to Kenton Post, Grand
Army of the Republic. Mr. Smith married Mary
Outland, born Oct. 26, 1848, daughter of Thomas and Eliza
(Freer) Outland, who settled in Dudley township in 1864.
Thomas Outland's father, Josiah Outland, was a
native of North Carolina, and married Miss Kiseoh Gatar.
Thomas Outland was a farmer in Logan county, Ohio, but
moved to Hardin county, in 1864, where he died in 1875 at the
age of sixty-two years; his widow died in 1877, at the age of
sixty-five years. Mrs. Smith is a member of the
Methodist church and the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. and
Mrs. Smith have two children, Warren H., born in
1873, and Jennie C., born in 1876. Warren is
a farmer, married Blanch Morrison, and they have two
children, Berkley M. and Mary Bernardine. Jennie
married John H. Clark, an attorney of Marion, Ohio, and
they have one child, Gladys Irene.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of
Hardin County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing
Company - Chicago - 1910. - Page 645 |
William D. Smith |
WILLIAM D. SMITH.
- The city of Kenton, Ohio, is the scene of operatino of many
thriving manufacturing enterprises, whose success has
contributed not a little to the welfare and growth of the city.
Among the efficient and enterprising men at the head of these
institutions is William D. Smith, who is president and
superintendent of the Ohio Machine Tool Company, who is
president and superintendent of the Ohio Machine Tool Company.
Mr. Smith is a native of Kentucky, born at Newport, Apr.
17, 1859, a son of Daniel and Caroline Wagner Smith.
His father was born near Frankfort and his mother in Berlin,
Germany, and they had six children, three sons and three
daughters.
William D. Smith received his education in the
public schools of Kentucky, but only got as far as the fourth
reader. At the age of fourteen years he became an
apprentice to the trade of machinist in Cincinnati, where he
served four years, a year and a half under special instruction.
He then took charge of a department for the MeFarland &
Navgintonham Company, Cincinnati, manufacturers of
machinery. Mr. Smith remained in their
employ ten years, and then took charge of the Lodge Davis
Machine Tool Company, also of Cincinnati, with whom he remained
eight years.
In 1867 Mr. Smith started in the
machinist tool business on his own account in Cincinnati, and in
1891 moved this enterprise to Kenton, Ohio, where the business
has since been carried on under the name of the Ohio Machine
Tool Company. The concern has a capital stock of fifty
thousand dollars, with a paid up capital of thirty-five thousand
dollars. Mr. Smith is president and
superintendent, H. A. Wise, secretary and treasurer, and
Henry Gramlich, vice president. In times of
great business activity the firm employs about seventy-five men,
and they do a general line of machine tool manufacturing.
In 1881, Mr. Smith married Bessie
Williamson, daughter of Robert Williamson, and to
this union two children have been born, Harry and
Flora. Mr. Smith is a member of the
Royal Arcanum. Politically he is a Republican and takes a
commendable interest in public affairs. He is a self made
man, and has reached his present position through his own energy
and ambition. He has been engaged in his present
occupation since boyhood, and thoroughly understands every
detail of the business under his charge. He is a man of
high character and business probity, and is popular in business
and social circles.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of
Hardin County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing
Company - Chicago - 1910. - Page 581 |
Jesse Snodgrass, M.D. |
JESSE SNODGRASS, M. D.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of
Hardin County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing
Company - Chicago - 1910. - Page 558 |
|
|
CHARLES A.
STEVENSON - Worthy of note in this volume, not only as a
native born citizen of Hardin county, but as a veteran of the
Civil war, Charles A. Stevenson was for many years an
important factor in promoting the agricultural interests of this
section of the state, having been prosperously engaged in
agricultural pursuits until 1909, when he moved to his present
home, lying one and one-half miles south of the Kenton
courthouse. He was born Nov. 17, 1843, in Taylor Creek
township, Hardin County, where his father, James Stevenson
was living in Champaign county, Ohio, from there moving in 1827,
to Logan county. Settling then near Hardin county line, he
remained there until 1834, when he bought land in Taylor Creek
township, which was then a comparative wilderness.
Redeeming a farm from the forest he was there a resident until
his death, June 6, 1865. He married Unity New,
whose death occurred on the home farm Mar. 10, 1864. Eight
sons and four daughters were born of their union, as follows:
Silas, Robert, Lace, Jane, William, John, Ephraim, Harriet,
Margaret, Charles A., David and Louisa. Six of
the sons, Robert, Lace, John, Ephraim, Charles and
David served in the Civil war, Ephraim dying while in
service.
Attending the district schools and assisting his father
on the farm, Charles A. Stevenson remained beneath the
parental roof-tree until September, 1864, when he enlisted in
Company H, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. Going south, he joined with his regiment the
Army of the Cumberland at Nashville, Tennessee, and served until
the close of the war, taking an active part in all of the
marches, campaigns and battles in which his regiment
participated. Returning home after receiving his honorable
discharge, Mr. Stevenson rented the home farm for a year,
and then, in 1865, bought sixty-five acres of land in Taylor
Creek township, a part of which had been cleared and on it a log
house and barn had been built. A year later he sold out at
an advance, and subsequently rented land for a few years.
In 1875 Mr. Stevenson purchased a farm of one hundred and
five acres in the southern part of Buck Township, and carried on
general farming there for twenty-six years. He then sold
and bought land on Mt. Victory pike, and was there engaged in
his profitable occupation until 1909, when he sold and bought
his present attractive home estate near Kenton.
Mr. Stevenson married first, in 1869, Mary S.
Richards, who was born in Buck township, a daughter of
Leonard Richards, She passed to the higher life in
1895. Mr. Stevenson married for his second wife, in
1897 Lyda Rice, a daughter of Thomas Rice, of
Taylor Creek township. By his first marriage, Mr.
Stevenson had four children, namely: Stilla, Ida, Louis
E. and Arthur J. Stilla, a farmer, married
Mary Lyle. Ida, wife of Charles Royer, has
three children. Louis E., also engaged in farming,
married Gertie Cahill. Arthur, an electrical
engineer, residing in Washington, D. C., married Roda
Bartlett. In his political affiliations Mr.
Stevenson is a decided Republican. He belongs to
Cantwell Post No. 97, Grand Army of the Republic, and is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, both of his wives
belonging also to the same church.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County,
Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago -
1910. - Page 761 |
|
|
CHARLES
AUGUSTUS STEVENSON. - A skillful and progressive farmer,
thoroughly conversant with the occupation in which he is
engaged, Charles Augustus Stevenson materially assists in
maintaining the reputation of Hardin county as a superior
agricultural region, his well managed and fertile farm being
located in Buck township. He was born Jan. 5, 1853, in
Orleans county, New York, a son of Silas Stevenson and
grandson of James Stevenson. A native of Virginia,
James Stevenson emigrated to Ohio about 1820, becoming a
pioneer settler of Champaign county, where he resided seven
years. In 1827 he traveled northward, locating on the line
of Logan and Hardin counties, where he carried on farming until
1834. Removing then to Taylor Creek township, Hardin
county, he bought wild land, and from the wilderness hewed a
homestead, on which he resided until his death, June 6, 1865.
He married Unity New, who was born in Virginia, and died in
Taylor Creek township Mar. 10, 1864. They were the parents
of twelve children, as follows: Silas, father of
Charles Augustus; Robert; Lace; Jane; Harriet; William;
John; Ephraim; Margaret; Charles A.,
of whom this sketch may be found on another page of
this volume; David H.; and Louisa.
Silas Stevenson was born in October, 1822, in
Champaign county, Ohio, and was reared among pioneer scenes.
In his boyhood days deer, wolves, bears and other beasts of the
forest were plentiful, often terrorizing the scattering
settlers. The nearest mill was many miles distant, and
there were no convenient markets, the people subsisting largely
on the productions of the soil. When a young man he went
to New York state, married, and lived there about four years.
Returning to Hardin county, he purchased a tract of wild land in
1853, in Buck township, built a log house, and immediately began
the hereulean task of redeeming a farm from the wilderness.
Huge trees were felled, the logs were rolled into piles and
burned, thousands of dollars worth of what would now be good
lumber being thus ruthlessly destroyed. Little did the
good people of those times dream that in less than a century the
conservation of forests would become a question of national
importance. Silas Stevenson soon had a part
of his land in a yielding condition, and had added to his
homestead excellent improvements, having erected a brick house,
a frame barn, and other necessary buildings. On this
valuable estate he spent the remainder of his life, enjoying all
the comforts of a modern home, his death occurring on his home
farm in July, 1900. He married Ruby Tyler, who was
born in Orleans county, New York, Oct. 27, 1827, and died on the
home farm in March, 198. She was a daughter of John H.
and Salina Tyler, esteemed residents of Orleans county.
Of the union of Silas and Ruby Stevenson nine children
were born, namely: Hazen J., Charles A., Salina, Horace,
William, Laura, John, Margaret and Frank.
Early becoming acquainted with the
various branches of agriculture Charles A. Stevenson has
followed farming throughout his entire life, with the exception
of a few months spent in Lynn township, having resided in Buck
township since coming here, an infant, in his mother's arms.
In 1902 he settled on the Pike, taking possession of the farm he
now owns and occupies. It contains one hundred and thirty
acres of rich and fertile land, well adapted to the raising of
all the cereals common to this region, and is well improved in
regard to both buildings and cultivation.
In 1875 Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage
with Arrie Newcomb, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, in
1852, a daughter of Clark Lewis Newcomb, and
granddaughter of Cromwell and Esther (Lewis) Newcomb.
From a history published by John Bearse Newcomb,
of Elgin, Illinois, a handsome volume of six hundred pages, the
history of the Newcomb family of America is given
from 1635 to 1874. It shows that Clark Lewis Newcomb
was a descendant in the eighth generation from the emigrant
ancestor, Captain Andrew Newcomb, a native of England,
the line of descent being as follows: Captain Andrew,
Andrew, Simon, Hezekiah, James, James, Cromwell and Clark
Lewis. Cromwell Newcomb was born at Stephentown,
Rensselaer county, New York, May 6, 1790. Coming as a
pioneer to Ohio in 1833, he settled first in Knox county.
From there he came in 1852 to Hardin county, and on the farm
that he bought in Pleasant township lived his remaining days,
passing away Sept. 10, 1871. His wife died Aug. 8, 1824,
was young when he came with his parents to Ohio. Reared to
agricultural pursuits, he spent his comparatively brief life as
a farmer, dying in Pleasant township in 1858. His
wife whose maiden name was Sarah Finerty, was born in
Knox county, Ohio, where her father, Samuel Finerty, was
a pioneer settler. She died in 1890, leaving two children
by her first marriage, Arrie, now Mrs. Stevenson;
and Rosa. Sarah Finerty's second marriage was to
Mr. T. J. Smith and to this union there were three
daughters: May, the wife of Jacob Stair; Jessie,
who makes her home now with Mrs. Stevenson; and
Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Kumly. Mr. Stevenson
is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County,
Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago -
1910. - Page 738 |
|
|
MRS.
MARY ANN STEVENSON, who owns extensive interests in
Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, Ohio, was born near
Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, May 25, 1822, daughter of Dan
and Nancy (Hill) Hullinger. Dan Hullinger was born in
Virginia, and his father's name was also Dan. The
elder man was also a native of Virginia and served in the
Revolution. Mrs. Stevenson's father served in the
war of 1812 and came with his father to Champaign county; the
latter died in 1844. The son died in 1858, at the age of
sixty-two years. His wife died in 1825.
In 1835, when thirteen years of age, Mrs. Stevenson
came to Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, with a sister, and
worked in various faimlies until her marriage. For some
time she earned her living by spinning wool. Nov. 26, 1840
Mary Ann Hullinger married
Homer Stevenson, who was born in Green county, Ohio, May
31, 1816, and died in September, 1904. He was a son of
William and Mary Ann (Hillis) Stevenson and came to Taylor
Creek township in 1830. Mrs. Stevenson is one of
the oldest living pioneers of Hardin county and the last of the
older generation of the Stevenson family to survive.
She has witnessed many changes in the community and the manner
in which the people of the county live. When she came to
the county many fine farms of the present day were mostly
covered with a heavy growth of timber, and neighbors were far
apart. She is known and loved by a large circle of friends
and is known to old and young alike as "Aunt Mary Ann."
William Stevenson located in Xenia, Ohio, in
1800, being one of the earliest inhabitants of the region, and
he later settled on the Little Miami, being one of the early
pioneers of that region. He served as county assessor and
also as justice of the peace. He served in the war of 1812
and died in 1826. His widow died in 1841. Homer
Stevenson helped build the first schoolhouse in his
district, now known as the Stevenson schoolhouse.
In 1844 he and his wife built the first cabin in the
neighborhood where she now lives, and in 1862 they erected the
house which is still the family home. They first owned
eighty acres but soon added another sixty acres. They made
their own furniture for keeping house and endured all the
privation incident to pioneer life. In early days they
took eggs to Kenton on horseback and received three cents per
dozen for them. Mr. Stevenson was an industrious,
enterprising farmer and met with gratifying success. He
was a public-spirited, useful citizen and actively
interested in public affairs. He was a strong Republican
and voted for Harrison for president in 1840. He
was highly esteemed and served thirty years as township
assessor, also served as justice of the peace. The first
school in the neighborhood was built near what is now the Moy
farm and was taught by a brother of Mr. Stevenson.
Another brother, Charles, was the first auditor of Hardin
county. Mr. Stevenson won success entirely through
his own efforts, as he started with almost nothing and at his
death was possessed of a large property. When a young man
and calling on his sweetheart, he came by horseback, and
together he and she would travel on the same horse many miles to
attend a party or dance.
Mr. Stevenson and his wife had
children as follows: Rachel, wife of Leander
King, has four children; Bartley E., who was killed
in the battle of Winchester; Miller, who lives near
Bellefontaine, a veteran of Civil war, married Lizzie Raney
and they have three children and one grandchild; Elizabeth,
wife of Albert Ranney, a farmer living near
Kenton, has one child, Mary Ethel; Perry,
living near the old homestead, married Amy Burbey
and they have one child, Scott; David, of
Rushsylvania, Ohio, married Sarah Bailey and they have
five children; and Margaret, married Otis Hopkins,
of Taylor Creek township. Mr. Stevenson was a
member of the United Presbyterian church of Silver Creek, Ohio.
Mr. Stevenson still resides on the old homestead, and is
remarkable for her perfect health and activity. She does a
large amount of work for one of her age, caring for her personal
needs and doing small chores around the farm, such as helping
with the milking, etc. She is a woman of high intelligence
and remarkable for her good memory and ability to recount
notable events in the history of hte county were so large a part
of her life has been spent.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio
- Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910.
- Page 805 |
|
|
MARSHALL STEWART,
a successful farmer of Taylor Creek township, Hardin county,
Ohio, pays special attention to stock raising and owns a large
amount of land. Mr. Stewart was born near Spring
Hill, Logan county, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1850, a son of Samuel and
Mary Ann (Marshall) Stewart. Samuel Stewart was
a son of John T. and Ann (Elder) Stewart, and was born in
Clark county, Ohio, Mar. 26, 1823. When about twenty-six
years of age he moved to Green county and engaged in mercantile
business, and in 1860 he located in Hardin county, where he
purchased five hundred acres of land that was partially cleared.
He engaged extensively in stock raising, making a specialty of
sheep. For some twenty years he handled more sheep than
any other man in the county, and wintered from fifteen hundred
to two thousand head of them. He was a man of superior
business judgment and very successful. He was for many
years president of the Farmers Bank of Rushsylvania.
Mr. Stewart was a member of the Presbyterian church and
served many years as its elder. Politically he was a
Republican, and he served in several township offices. In
October, 1870, he was elected county commissioner for one term,
and during his incumbency of this office the gravel pikes of the
county were built. For thirty years Mr. Stewart
kept a careful diary of his work and of events, which recorded
many interesting things. In the fall of 1876 he moved to
Kenton, but two years later returned to his farm, where he spent
the remainder of his life. He died Mar. 19, 1888, and his
widow died in July, 1890. Mrs. Stewart was
also a native of Clark county, Ohio, born June 19, 1825,
daughter of William Marshall. Mr.
Stewart and his wife were married Dec. 12, 1841, and besides
Marshall their children were as follows: Chase, an
attorney at Springfield. Ohio; Ella, wife of I. W.
Lewis, of Rushsylvania, a merchant; Mary A., who
married C. B. Corry, and they live in Cleveland, where he
is general agent for an insurance company; Elizabeth,
wife of Dr. J. J. Boom, of Mt. Victory; and Catherine,
wife of R. W. Warmington, a banker of Montreal, Canada.
John T. Stewart's grandfather came to the United
States from Belfast, Ireland, in 1735, bringing his wife with
him. John T. Stewart was born in Dauphin county,
Pennsylvania, Mar. 3, 1781, and his father died Sept. 19, 1803.
In 1805 John T. Stewart moved with his brother to Ohio,
where he purchased five hundred acres of land, located in Clark
county. On Mar. 2, 1815, he married Ann, daughter
of Robert and Ann Elder; she was born in Pennsylvania May
19, 1798. Mr. Stewart died Apr. 16, 1850, in Clark
county, and his widow died Sept. 24, 1880.
After receiving his education in the public school,
Marshall Stewart began helping his father with the
work of the farm. At Samuel Stewart's death
one thousand acres of land were divided among his children and
Marshall received the homestead as his share. Like
his father, he has devoted much attention to sheep and has often
kept four hundred head through the winter. He also has
some fifty head of cattle, fifteen horses and about one hundred
hogs, which he ships to market. Mr. Stewart
is an enterprising and ambitious man, and in his business
affairs has always shown good judgment and ability, he is a man
of sterling honesty and integrity, and his high character is
recognized and appreciated.
In February, 1886, Mr. Stewart married Olive
Stevenson, who was born in Buck township, Hardin county, May
24. 1861, and is a daughter of Samuel and Eliza Jane
Stevenson. Samuel Stevenson died in the Civil
war; one of his fingers was shot off and blood poisoning
resulted. Mr. Stewart and his wife have
children as follows: Samuel, born Dec. 3, 1886;
Thornton, born in April, 1889; Ella, born May 3,
1892; Harold, Apr. 4, 1894; and Dorothy, born Mar.
31, 1900. Samuel is now attending the Ohio State
University at Columbus. Mr. Stewart is one of the
directors of the Ridgeway (Ohio) Bank. He is a charter
member of the County Agricultural Society and one of its
directors. He is a member of the Elks of Kenton and
politically is a Republican. He is actively interested in
public affairs and has served as township treasurer and trustee.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio
- Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910.
- Page 852 |
John Stillings |
JAMES RAY STILLINGS
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio
- Vol. II - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910.
- Page 574 |
NOTES:
|
