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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio
by E. M. P. Brister
-
Vol. II -
Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co.
1909
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HARRY D. BAKER,
following his careful preparation for professional labor, is
now successfully engaged in the practice of law in Newark,
his native city. He was born on the 25th of October,
1880, is a son of Levi D. Baker. The father was
born in Hardin county, Virginia, in 1836, and in 1840 came
to Licking county, settling at Claypole Mills, toward the
eastern border of the county. He was the son of
Daniel Baker, a tanner, who served his country as a
soldier of the War of 1812. For a long period Levi
D. Baker was connected with business interests in this
county, but is now living retired in Newark, having passed
the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten.
He was reared here amid the environment of pioneer life and
for more than two-thirds of a century has resided within the
borders of the county, so that he has witnessed all its
development and progress. He married Ella Rodgers,
a representative of one of the old families of this county,
where her birth occurred.
Reared in Newark, at the usual age Harry D. Baker
was sent as a pupil to the public schools and was instructed
in the various branches of learning, which constituted the
public school curriculum. Later he enter Doane Academy
at the Denison University. He studied law in the Ohio
State University, where he completed a course by graduation
with the class of 1904. He then opened an office in
Newark, where he has since remained in the active
prosecution of his profession and is gradually working his
way upward, carefully analyzing cases and presenting his
cause with that clear and cogent reasoning which shows his
thorough mastery of the principles of jurisprudence and his
correct application of those principles to the points in
contention. Socially Mr. Baker is connected
with the Phi Gamma Delta, a college fraternity, and is also
an exemplary member of Acme Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 310 |
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THEODORE G. BAKER.
In a history of Licking county it is imperative that mention
be made of Theodore
G. Baker and the family which he represents.
Although now living retired, he was for many years closely,
actively and successfully associated with agricultural
interests and wool growing, his carefully directed labors
bringing to him the gratifying measure of success which now
enables him to enjoy the comforts and luxuries of life
without recourse to further labor. He was born on a
farm a mile south of Granville, Sept. 10, 1844, a son of
Colonel D. M. and Lydia B. (Gaylord) Baker. The
paternal grandfather, Captain Daniel Baker, was born
in Enfield, Connecticut, Oct. 8, 1763, and won his title by
service as a commander of a military company in his native
state. In early life he learned the trade of a
carpenter and joiner and followed that pursuit for some
time. On the 2d of Apr., 1778, he married Jerusha
Parsons, who was born in Enfield, Apr. 7, 1767, and they
became parents of four children: Jerusha, born
Aug. 6, 1789; Fanny, who was born May 1, 1792;
Sophia, who was born Dec. 13, 1793, and died Dec. 15,
1862; and Daniel M., born Feb. 23, 1805. In the
year 1806 Captain Baker made the trip westward on
horseback, fording the streams, for there were no bridges at
that time. He joined the Massachusetts colony which
had located here the previous year and soon afterward
invested in four hundred acres of land in Granville
township, which he began to cultivate and improve. In
1810 he brought his family and thereafter was closely
associated with the substantial development and improvement
of the county. He was the original owner of the
University Hill, and cleared off the land now occupied by
the Upper Seminary buildings. He was prominent in
community affairs, served as justice of the peace for
several years, and was also township trustee and postmaster.
About 1820 he erected a frame dwelling, a mile and a half
southwest of Granville, afterward the residence of his son
and grandson. Upon that farm he passed away Dec. 19,
1836, while his wife died Oct. 19, 1846. They were
both consistent and faithful members of the Baptist church,
and Captain Baker was regarded as a prominent and
influential citizen of the community, his labors
constituting an important feature in the growth and progress
of this part of the state. His oldest daughter,
Jerusha, taught the first school in St. Albins township
and for many years followed that profession. She died
Mar. 1, 1848.
The youngest of the family, Colonel Daniel M. Baker,
was born in Massachusetts, Feb. 23, 1805, and he was
therefore five years of age when, in 1810, he accompanied
his parents to Licking county, where his remaining years
were passed, his death occurring Sept. 24, 1883. When
the family reached their destination they unloaded their
household goods on the present site of the
Congregational church. At that time there were only
two frame buildings in the village of Granville. Here,
amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life, in a
district where there were few advantages but much hard
labor, Colonel Baker was reared. When
fourteenth years of age he became a drummer in a military
company and at sixteen joined the company as a private,
being promoted through various ranks until he became
captain, and at the age of eighteen was placed upon the
staff of General Jonathan Taylor, where he remained
for three years. At the time of the Wolverine
difficulty Mr. Baker was made colonel of the Second
Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Ohio Volunteer Militia.
Throughout his business career he was occupied with farming
and sheep raising and became a prominent representative of
these lines. On the 29th of November, 1829, he married
Lydia Gaylord, a daughter of Theodore and Dorothy
(Benham) Gaylord, by whom he had three sons and seven
daughters. The mother of our subject was born in
Vermont, Dec. 26, 1806, and died in this county Dec. 23,
1853, at the age of forty-seven years. By her marriage
she had the following children: Dorothy, who
was born Sept. 21, 1827, died May 2, 1832; Almena,
born Sept. 22, 1828, died in May, 1881; Lorenzo, who
was born Nov. 4, 1830, died Aug. 24, 1851; Dorothy,
born Sept. 15, 1832, died in 1903; Anna, born Mar.
14, 1835; Parsons W., born Nov. 23, 1836, died in
1864; Lydia, born Mar. 19, 1839; Martha, born
May 29, 1841, died in 1905; Ellen A., who was born
Dec. 3, 1842, died Nov. 19, 1848; and Theodore, born
Sept. 10, 1844. After the death of his first wife
Colonel Baker married Mrs. Charlotte R.
Morrison on Nov. 24, 1855. She was a daughter of
Colonel Prescott and Lydia Varnum, of Dracut,
Massachusetts, and was one of a family of nineteen children.
Unto this marriage was born a daughter, Mary J., on
the 3d of May, 1857. Colonel Baker was a member
of the Granville Presbyterian church and was president of
the Granville Farmers Club. Deeply interested in
everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, he
gave hearty cooperation to many movements for the public
good, and his death was regarded as a personal bereavement
by all who knew him when, in 1883, he was called to his
final rest.
Theodore G. Baker, whose name introduces this
review, spent his youthful days on the old home farm a mile
south of Granville, and as the years passed by he aided more
and more largely in developing the fields. His farm
comprises three hundred acres of rich and productive land
and he was associated with his father in its development and
management until the latter's death in1883. Much of
the farm was then sold, but Mr. Baker, of this
review, still retains fifty acres. He and his father
dealt extensively in sheep and handled large quantities of
wool. Their business interests were carefully
conducted and their unfaltering energy constituted a source
of gratifying success. Mr. Baker, of this
review, continued to reside upon the farm until 1901, when
he established his home in Granville, where he now resides,
and from this point gives his supervision to his
agricultural interests.
On the 1st of January, 1872, was celebrated the
marriage of Mr. Baker and Miss Lucy S. Page,
who was born in Granville township, Sept. 12, 1848, a
daughter of Lucius D. and Mary (McDonald) Page, the former a
native of Granville and the latter of Vermont. Mr.
Page spent most of his life on a farm in this county,
but in 1891 went to California, where he died in 1903.
Mrs. Page who had come to Licking county from Canada
with her parents during her early girlhood, died in this
county in 1882. The Page family was founded in
New England at an early day and Nathaniel Page, the
grandfather of Mrs. Baker, came from Massachusetts
and cast his lot among the early settlers of this part of
the state.
In local political ranks Mr. Baker has been
quite prominent. Throughout his entire life he has
given his support to the republican party and its principles
and for seven years has served as township trustee.
Since coming to Granville Mr. Baker has been elected
to and served one term in the village council, and in
January, 1909, was appointed justice of the peace by
Governor Harris, to fill out an unexpired term. A
helpful and active member of the Presbyterian church, he has
served as one of its trustees for the past nine eyars and as
secretary of the board. When twenty-one years of age
he was made a Mason, becoming a member of Center Star Lodge,
No. 11, F. & A. M., of Granville. He is also a charter
member of Altamaha Lodge, No. 246, K. P. of Granville.
He is well known as a gentleman of genial manner and cordial
address, of good business ability and progressive spirit,
and the salient qualities of this manhood have ever been
such as to win for him the high regard of those with whom he
has been associated.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 206 |
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ANDREW BEARD |
ANDREW BEARD
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 40 |
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N. M. BROWN,
proprietor of a large livery and sales stable at Pataskala,
is a native of Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, born May 7,
1853, a son of William and Jane (McNaughton) Brown,
natives of Perry and Fairfield counties, respectively, the
mother's death occurring when her son N. M. Brown,
was an infant, while the father lived to the age of
fifty-four years. He spent his entire life in
agricultural pursuits and was prominent in local affairs,
having officiated as probate judge of Perry county for a few
terms, conducting the duties of that responsible post in a
manner forcefully evidencing his executive ability. He
was prominent in Masonic circles and an ardent adherent of
the Presbyterian faith, being a zealous Christian whose
daily life reflected the qualities of that character to whom
he anchored his hope. His family numbered six
children: Owen W., captain of Company B,
Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who answered the first
call to arms at the outbreak of the Civil war and now
resides in Perry county; Thomas, decreased, a veteran
of the Civil war, who served four years in the regular army;
N. M.; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of
Samuel Ream; Rebecca Jane, deceased, who was the
wife of Samuel Barr; and Mary who died in
childhood.
Being left an orphan when he was still a lad, which
compelled him to make his home with his sister and other
relatives, and while engaged in agricultural work, he
availed himself of the educational opportunities of the
district schools, remaining in the neighborhood of his
birthplace until he was twenty-one years of age, at which
period of his life he removed to a farm of his own near
Thornville, Perry county. This he cultivated for one
year and then sold. Upon coming to this county, he
purchased a farm containing two hundred acres, located
north of Newark in Newark township, and there he tilled the
soil until he was married when he sold his property and
located in the town of Newark, where he established himself
in the livery business, and also dealt in horses. He
continued a this business for three years, at the
termination of which time he removed in Alexandria, St.
Albans township, living with his wife's people and managing
their farm about two years. He next removed to
Pataskala in 1882, and founded the business in which he is
now engaged. He has a large sales stable, in which he
feeds and boards horses, his barn being located on Jefferson
street and measuring fifty by two hundred feet, being the
largest used for the purpose in the city and here, in
addition to taking care of animals for others, he keeps some
of the very finest horses for hire and sale. He owns
an excellent dwelling house on Main street, of modern style
of architecture and supplied with every convenience, and
also two residences which he rents, also still retaining
possession of his farm of two hundred acres in St. Albans
township. He is an enterprising business man, whose
careful management has enabled him to surround himself with
the prosperity he now enjoys, all of which is the result of
his own economy and exertions.
In 1879 Mr. Brown wedded Miss Sarah Palmer,
a native of this county and a daughter of Samuel and
Harriet (Haston) Palmer, also natives of Licking county,
his wife having passed away in July, 1903. Mr.
Brown is a republican in politics and while he does not
desire public office he takes an interest in his successes
of his party and is on hand during campaigns with his vote
and influence to secure the election of its candidates.
He belongs to Lodge No. 404, A. F. & A. M., of Pataskala and
to the commandery, chapter and council at Newark, being also
affiliated with the Scottish Rite Masons at Columbus, Ohio,
and with the Shriners of the same city. Mr. Brown's
financial relations have always been transacted on the basis
of justice and honesty and both as a citizen and business
man he has always been accorded the respect and confidence
of the community.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 702 |
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COLONEL HAMLIN
D. BURCH is numbered among those who have made the
history and molded the destiny of Licking county.
Concentrating his energies largely upon business interests
in Hebron, he has figured as a general merchant here since
1869 and has served almost continuously as postmaster since
1870. Moreover he is entitled to distinctive mention
in his volume from the fact that he is an honored veteran of
two wars, having responded to the country's call for troops
at the time of the Civil war and again in the recent
conflict with Spain.
Colonel Burch was born in Muskingum county near
Dresden, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1846, a son of Jonathan and
Eliza (Doughty) Burch, both of whom were native of
Muskingum county and spent their last days in Hebron.
The father followed farming throughout his entire life and
was a quiet, industrious man, whose rules of life commended
him to the good will and trust of all with whom he was
brought in contact. Both he and his wife held
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Their
family numbered seven children. Leonidas F.,
who enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of
Company H, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was
captured at the battle of Chickamauga and died in
Andersonville prison. Homer C., who enlisted in
the same company and regiment, was wounded in the battle of
Resaca and died in Hebron, in 1882, from the effects of the
injuries which he had sustained in war. Hamlin D.
is the next of the family. Richard Watson, the
fourth in order of birth, is deceased. David P.,
a retired merchant, lives in Hebron. Joseph is
a resident of Newark; and Mrs. Mary E. Chinn
has passed away.
Colonel Burch was thirteen years of age when he
accompanied his parents on their removal from the old home
farm in Muskingum county to Hebron, where he has since
lived. He was but fifteen years of age when in
October, 1862, he offered his services to the government and
became a member of Company A, Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
He served as a private under Captain William Thayer,
took part in all of the engagements of his command, was in
Sherman's march to the sea and was honorably
discharged in August, 1865. When the country no longer
needed his aid he returned home and worked on the farm with
his father until 1868 but, thinking to find commercial
pursuits more congenial, he accepted a clerkship in the
store of I. E. Kelsey, of Hebron. In 1869 he
established his present general mercantile business and has
conducted it continuously since or for a period of forty
years, during which time his labors have been a feature in
the growth and progress of the town. In 1870 he was
commissioned postmaster of Hebron and has continuously
served this capacity save for the period of President
Cleveland's administrations.
It was in April, 1869, that Colonel Burch was
united in marriages to Miss Candace Ruick, a native
of Licking county and a daughter of Thomas Ruick.
She died in 1893, leaving five children: Otto E., who
is now a merchant of Lodi, Ohio; Frank C., who
follows merchandising in Coshocton; Rose Lee, who is
with her brother in Coshocton; Bertie T., railroad
agent, postmaster and mayor of Bittercreek, Wyoming; and
Charles H., who is clerking for his brother in
Coshocton. Having lost his first wife, Colonel
Burch wedded Alice S. Seymour, a native of this
county and a daughter of Bruce and Elizabeth Seymour,
Feb. 13, 1895.
In politics Colonel Burch has been a life-long
republican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party.
For about twenty years he served as a member of the board of
education and the public schools found in him a faithful and
efficient friend. For two terms he has been a member
of the town council and in all offices he has discharged his
duties with promptness and fidelity. Always interested in
military affairs, in 1888 he joined the Ohio National Guard
as first lieutenant and served until the guard was called
out at the time of the Spanish-American war. He had
been previously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel
and in April 1898, with that rank, he enlisted as a member
of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The command
was sent to Virginia and to Pennsylvania but was not called
to the seat of action. Colonel Burch is a
member of Williams Lodge No. 363, I. O. O. F., of Hebron,
also of Hebron Lodge, No. 116, A. F. & A. M., Eugene
Chapter, No. 123, O. E. S., and Lemert Post, G. A. R., of
Newark. Since 1866 he has been a devoted member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, has always been interested in
the church work, has acted as trustee and steward and for
twenty-two years has been superintendent of the Sunday
school. His influence therefore is always given on the
side of right and justice and though his business and
military duties have made extensive demands upon his time,
he has always found opportunity to cooperate in those
movements which tend to uplift humanity and promote the
moral development of the race. He is honored and
respected wherever known and most of all where he is best
known.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 743 |
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J. H. BURNER.
Among the citizens of Burlington township whose careers of
activity and usefulness have left a lasting impression, not
only upon the minds of the members of their families but
also on the minds of the residents of the entire community,
was J. H. Burner, who departed this life in the year
1902, leaving behind a host of relatives and warm friends to
mourn his loss. In Greenbrier county, old Virginia,
his birth occurred Apr. 10, 1818, and when a babe of but
eighteen months he was brought by his parents to this
county, where he continued to live. While he derived
personal benefit from the work of his hands, by his
excellent traits of character he also contributed largely to
the moral uplift of the community in which he lived.
Mr. Bruner was of sturdy and thrifty German
descent. Having served his apprenticeship at
cabinet-making during his early days, he followed that
occupation throughout his entire life and for skill in
workmanship he won an enviable reputation. Later in
life and for skill in workmanship he won an enviable
reputation. Later in life he added to his business of
cabinet-making that of undertaking and followed these two
occupations until the time of his death. He likewise
conducted a grocery store and was postmaster of the town.
In the year 1845 Mr. Burner was united in
marriage with Miss Elizabeth Condon, a native of
Baltimore county, Maryland, where she was born in the year
1823. With her parents, both of whom have departed
this life, she removed to this county when she was thirteen
years of age. She had three sisters and six brothers,
of whom the following survive: William, of
Indiana; Cordelia, wife of David L. Palmer,
who resides in Delaware; J. W., who lives in Indiana;
Mary, wife of Dwight Smythe, of Burlington
township; Jennie; Edward, of Indiana; and M. G.,
who is now in the state of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs.
Burner reared a family of seven children, the following
of whom survive, namely: D. E., who resides in
the state of Pennsylvania; Hattie S., who taught
school for several years; W. L., of Columbus, Ohio;
and George W., who is a physician in Bairdstown,
Ohio.
After his marriage Mr. Burner removed to Homer,
where he spent his remaining days. He was very
successful in his business career and acquired considerable
means and property which are now the possessions of his
widow and daughter. In the village of Homer Mrs.
Burner possesses three pieces of property, including her
residence. In her early days she was a school teacher,
having taken up that vocation when sixteen years of age.
During his lifetime Mr. Burner took an active
interest in politics and for several years served as
postmaster and at various times officiated in a number of
township offices. His political convictions were in
harmony with republican principles of which he had made a
study and, believing them to be in every sense adequate for
the welfare of the nation, he was enthusiastic during
campaigns in striving to secure the election of republican
candidates. He always fully met his religious
obligations, which he considered the foremost interest in
life, and was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 620 |
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SYLVESTER L. BUSH.
A well improved farm in Monroe township is the property of
Sylvester L. Bush, who is diligent and industrious in
his management and control of the place. He was born
Sept. 20, 1859, in the county which is still his home, his
parents being Noah and Eliza (Longwell) Bush, who are
mentioned on another page of this work in connection with
the sketch of their son, Wesley Bush. From
pioneer times the Bush family has been identified
with the agricultural development of the county and
Sylvester L. Bush was reared on his father's farm,
assisting in its work from early boyhood until twenty-six
years of age. During that period he gained intimate
knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and
marketing his crops. He was educated in the country
schools of the township and while o events of exciting
interest occurred in his youth, he laid the foundation for
an honorable and upright manhood and for business activity
and enterprise.
After starting out on life's journey Mr. Bush
chose a companion and helpmate, being married on the 15th of
October, 1885, to Miss Florence Dague, a daughter of
George and Harriet (Beecher) Dague. The father
was a prominent and well-known farmer of Franklin county,
Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bush have been born
three children: Leota, who is the wife of Rolland
Ravinna, of Johnstown; Russell; and Clinton.
Subsequent to his marriage Sylvester L. Bush
began farming on his own account, taking up his abode on a
part of the old homestead and within a short distance of the
dwelling in which he had been born and reared. He
still resides on this place and now has an excellent farm,
well-improved with a comfortable, modern dwelling, large
barn and ample outbuildings for the shelter of grain and
stock. He raises good grades of cattle, horses and
hogs and his place is well cultivated, the fields annually
returning to him golden harvests for the care and labor
which he bestows upon them. He is continually studying
to improve his farm methods and keeps in touch with the
general trend of progress which has characterized
agricultural life in the last half century. Aside from
business interests Mr. Bush deserves to be classed
with the representative citizens of the community, for he is
a public-spirited man, interested in all that pertains to
the general progress. He is an advocate of good roads
and lf all public improvements, is a stalwart champion of
the cause of education and is equally loyal in his support
of measures pertaining to the moral development of the
community. He gives his political allegiance to the
republican party and is a member of the Freewill Baptist
church.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 805 |
 |
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, 1815, 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
pioneer 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 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 in Newark, a distance of about twenty miles,
every Monday morning in teem 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 timer 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.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 664 |
|
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ELIAS BUTLER.
Elias Butler, a substantial farmer of St. Albans
township, whose family for over a century has engaged in
agricultural pursuits in this county, was born in Granville
township, May 22, 1834, and when a boy removed with his
parents to the farm on which he is now located and where he
has since resided. His grandparents, David and Anna
Butler, natives of Massachusetts, came to Granville,
Ohio, in 1805 with the Granville colony and in that place
remained until they departed this life. They had three
sons, Eleverett, Henry and Charles, and one
daughter, Anna Woodruff, who departed this life in
Kansas.
Charles Butler was born near Granville,
Massachusetts, July 16, 1804, and when but one year of age
was brought to Licking county by his parents, who were with
Granville colony. He resided there until he bought the
farm in St. Albans township, where he spent the remainder of
this life., passing away August 9, 1886. He wedded
Philota D. Pratt, who was born in Massachusetts, Jan.
26, 1808, and came to Licking county with her parents when
about five years of age. She departed this life on the
old home farm, Apr. 4, 1891. They reared the following
children: Martha M., wife of Barzilla Price,
of Colorado; Caroline, who was united in marriage
with William Smith, the couple being mutes and
residing near Youngstown, Ohio; Jane, wife of
Joshua U. Headley, of Pataskala; William H., of
Harrison county, Iowa; Corwin, deceased; and
Elias.
In the district schools
Elias Butler acquired his education and engaged in the
duties of the home farm until the year 1862, when he
enlisted in Company B, Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and served nine months, during which time he
participated in the siege of Vicksburg. Upon receiving
his discharge at Black River Bridge, Mississippi, in August,
1863, he returned home and at once turned his attention to
farming, which occupation he has since pursued. He
owns two hundred and three acres of land, his farm being on
the line between Harrison and St. Albans townships, one
hundred acres in the latter and the remainder of the farm in
the former, while the dwelling house is located immediately
on the township line. This farm was settled many years
ago by his father who, upon his arrival erected a log cabin
on the Harrison township side of the road and the land was
cleared and put into condition for cultivation by him and
his son Elias, the latter having subsequently vacated
the log cabin and erected a comfortable modern home in St.
Albans township. When they commenced work on this
tract of land there were no fences to be seen anywhere but
they later built fences, barns and outbuildings and bought
modern farm machinery and today the farm is in excellent
condition and is one of the finest in the township. In
addition to raising stock and keeps excellent specimens of
sheep and cattle.
In 1869 Mr. Butler wedded Pauline Slough,
a native of Canal Winchester, Fairfield county, Ohio, born
July 6, 1839. She was a daughter of Frederick and
Mary (Tollman) Slough, natives of Fairfield county.
The Tollmans originally came from Virginia, while the
grandfather, John Slough, emigrated to this state
from Germany. The parents passed away when their
daughter was a mere girl and she resided with relatives
until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have
the following children: Edith May, wife of Ellis
Thomas, of Harrison township, their family consisting of
Robert, Pauline, Owen and an infant; Ella, who
wedded Raymond Taylor, of St. Albans township; and
Charles. Mr. Butler has given his support to the
republican party all his life and cast his first vote for
Fremont. He is a profound believer in the principles
of his party and has always been thoroughly convinced that
they are necessary to assure the permanent prosperity of the
country. He is well known and highly respected
throughout the county and belongs to Baird Post, G. A. R.,
of Pataskala.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 831 |
|
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HORTON J. BUXTON
needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he
is one of the best known citizens of Johnstown and Licking
county. For almost thirty years he figured as a
successful and energetic merchant and is now the president
of the Johnstown Bank. His name has long been an
honored one on commercial paper, for his fellow citizens
have come to know him as a most reliable man whose word is
as good as any bound ever solemnized by signature or seal,
while his devotion to the general welfare marks him as a
public-spirited and loyal citizen. He has now passed
the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten,
and to some extent is living retired from the more arduous
cares of business life. He was born Sept. 29, 1838,
and is a son of Norman and Lovine (Jones) Buxton.
The parents came from Vermont in 1826, settling in Mount
Vernon, Ohio, where they remained for more than a year and
then moved to Brandon. A year later they established
their residence in Homer and in 1830 came to Johnstown,
since which time the family has figured in the public life
of this community. The parents were young married
people when they left their Vermont home on a journey to
Ohio in a one-horse sleigh, and after many adventures which
involved a number of difficulties and obstacles, they
arrived safely in Mount Vernon, Ohio, after six weeks'
travel. They had at the time but eighteen cents but
they possessed courageous hearts and willing hands and thus
made their start in the west. When they removed to
Johnstown their household possessions were hauled in a wagon
by the father of General Rosecrans who later
figured so prominently in the Civil war. For fifteen
years Norman Buxton engaged in the hotel
business in Johnstown, continuing at the head of a hostelry
until 1846, when he was injured by a fall and rendered
helpless. However he became a large landowner and
influential citizen, his sound judgment enabling him to make
judicious investments in property and to gain gratifying
profits from his sales. The community valued him as a
friend, a citizen and as a business man, and his death,
which occurred on the 16th of September, 1872, was therefore
the occasion of deep and widespread regret. His wife,
a most estimable lady, survived him until the 3d of
November, 1883.
Horton T. Buxton was one of a family of two sons
and a daughter who reached adult age. His brother is
Harry S. Buxton. His sister, Sophronia,
became the wife of Dr. W. F. Paige and is now
deceased. Mr. Buxton was educated in the
Johnstown schools and as a young man was employed on his
father's farms until 1868, when, thinking to find commercial
pursuits more congenial and profitable, he established a
drug and grocery business in Johnstown, and for twenty-five
years conducted commercial interests along those lines.
During that period he enjoyed a large and growing patronage,
for his business principles and methods commended him to the
confidence and support of the general public. In 892
he formed a partnership with John Stevens and they
conducted the business together until 1897, when Mr.
Buxton retired after almost thirty years' connection
with mercantile interests in this city. Since that
time he has devoted his attention to looking after his fine
farming property near Johnstown, for he owns more than seven
hundred acres of rich and productive land in this locality,
all splendidly improved and well stocked. In November,
1883, he assisted in organizing the Johnstown Bank, the
first banking institution of the town. It was
conducted as a private bank under the partnership name of
Derthick, Buxton & Kasson. In the following
year Mr. Kasson retired from the firm and Charles
V. Armstrong became a partner under the firm style of
Derthick, Buxton & Armstrong. In
1897, following the death of Mr. Derthick. Mr.
Buxton was elected president of the bank and the firm
name was changed to Buxton & Armstrong.
This has remained from the beginning a strong financial
concern in which a general banking business is conducted,
the institution well meriting the liberal patronage which is
accorded it by reason of the well known reliability of the
owners.
On the 13th of October, 1864, Mr. Buxton was
united in marriage to Miss Armenia Geer, a daughter
of Albert and Sarah (Schenck) Geer. They have
two children, a son and daughter, Norman G. and Maude S.,
both at home. The family residence is one of the most
attractive homes in Johnstown, not only by reason of its
pleasing, artistic and tasteful furnishing but also owning
to its warm-hearted affairs and in office has proved his
loyalty to the general good by his faithful and efficient
service. For thirty years he acted as treasurer of
Monroe township, was justice of the peace for six years, and
as mayor of Johnstown for four years gave to the city a
public spirited administration that greatly furthered its
interest along lines of needed reform and progress. He
has also been a member of the board of education and the
public-school system finds in him a stalwart champion.
In politics he is a democrat and has the distinction of
having never been defeated in any office for which he was a
candidate. This fact indicates in unmistakable manner
his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him -
a confidence that he has well merited.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County,
Ohio by E. M. P. Brister -
Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1909
– Page 855 |
NOTES: |
