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WILLIAM G. TABER
is successfully engaged in the great basic industry of
agriculture on his fine farm of two hundred acres in Gilead
township, Morrow county, Ohio. On this splendid estate occurred
his birth, the date of the same being May 24, 1874. He is a son
of Garrison and Olive (Silverthorn) Taber, the former of
whom was likewise born and reared on the above farm and the
latter of whom claims Delaware county, Ohio, as the place of her
nativity. The father was born on the 16th day of July, 1849, and
the mother on the 9th of March, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Taber
became the parents of three children, concerning whom the
following brief data are here incorporated: Lillie is the
wife of M. S. Adams, of Marion county, this state;
Fordice was summoned to the life eternal at the age of three
years; and William G. is the immediate subject of this
review. The parents now maintain their home at Edison, where the
father is living virtually retired, in the enjoyment of former
years of earnest toil and endeavor.
Mr. Taber was reared to adult age on the
home farm and he duly availed himself of the advantages afforded
in the district schools supplanting this training by a course in
the high school at Edison, in which he was graduated as a member
of the class of 1895. For two years he was employed as a teacher
in the district schools in Morrow county and in 1898 he engaged
in the hardware business at Edison, in which line he built up a
large and representative patronage and with which he continued
to be identified for a period of two years, at the expiration of
which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, locating
on the old home farmstead on which he was born. This fine estate
consists of two hundred acres of arable land, eligibly located
two miles northwest of Edison, Ohio. The farm is splendidly
improved and all the buildings thereon are of the most modern
type. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the man best suited
for the office of trust, in question.
On the 14th of October, 1897, Mr. Taber
was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Coe, who was born in
Gilead township, this county, and who is a daughter of George
O. Coe, concerning whose history data appear on other pages
of this volume, in the sketch dedicated to his career. Mrs.
Taber was graduated in the Edison high school in 1893 and
thereafter she was engaged in teaching for a period of three
years prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Taber have four
children: Mildred, born December 7, 1898; Lawrence,
born September 24, 1900; Aldeane, born June 11, 1905; and
Horace, born March 15, 1907. In their religious faith
Mr. and Mrs. Taber are Methodist Episcopal, holding
membership in the Boundary church, in which they have been most
zealous factors.
Source: History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol.
II - Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 – pp.
572-573 |
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THE TAYLOR FAMILY
—Among the many worthy families who have taken an active part in
the improvement and upbuilding of Morrow county, Ohio, we are
pleased to record the honored name of Taylor,
representatives of which are descendants of Robert and Rachel
(Scott) Taylor, both of whom were born and reared in the
state of Pennsylvania. From the old Keystone commonwealth Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Taylor moved to West Virginia, whence they
later immigrated to Morrow county, Ohio, bringing with them a
family of twelve children – eight sons and four daughters. The
names of the above mentioned children are here entered in
respective order of birth: William, Susan, Jane, Alexander,
Robert, Joseph, Josiah, Mary, Sammy, Rachel, John and
Scott. Location was made on the fine old homestead farm ever
since occupied by Robert Taylor's descendants.
Mr. Taylor was a miller by occupation and he was
identified with that line of enterprise for a period of
twenty-seven years, in addition to which he was also interested
in farming. Many needed improvements on the new place were
installed by the family and the farm was tilled with vigor by
the numerous sons, the well cultivated fields being the best
proof of their energy and industry. Robert Taylor
was summoned to the life eternal in 1876, and the fond wife and
mother passed into the “Great Beyond” in 1885.
The Taylor children received their educational
training in the neighboring district schools and when old enough
began to assist their parents in the work and management of the
home farm. The old Taylor residence has been the
scene of numerous gayeties and happy gatherings as one by one
the children married and the weddings were celebrated under the
old roof tree. On these occasions a merry company, often
numbering a hundred guests, were assembled. William, now
deceased, married Miss Martha Holdridge and became a
successful miller at Sparta, where he was a decidedly popular
citizen, enjoying the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances;
Jane, was united in marriage to Fleming Manville;
Alexander wedded Harriet Babcock; Josiah
married Betsy Ann Bradfield; John
wedded Caroline Pealer; and Rachel became
the wife of Jason Sprague. To the last union was
born one little daughter, Sadie, whose birth occurred on
the 9th of July, 1884, and who came to grace the old home with
the sunshine of her presence. Sometimes the death angel visited
the old home and the hearts of the good people bowed under its
gloom. Two loved sisters, Mary and Susan, were
laid away to rest. The four brothers, Robert, Joseph,
Sammy and Scott, remained at home, Rachel
faithfully acting as housekeeper. With the passage of years, the
little Sadie grew to womanhood, one of the fairest girls
in the country round, her presence having been a source of keen
pleasure to her uncles, who could not spoil her by their
indulgence.
Sadie Sprague was united in marriage, on the
12th of April, 1906, to Roy Barr, and they
maintain their home at Bloomfield. They are the fond parents of
one son, Robert Clay Barr, born on the 13th of July,
1907. Mr. Barr is engaged in farming and stock raising and he is
recognized as one of the prominent citizens of Bloomfield, where
he is a co-operant factor in all measures projected for the good
of the general welfare.
The Taylor Brothers, as they are
familiarly called, have at different times served the public in
various official appointments of important trust and
responsibility, including the offices of township trustee,
assessor and treasurer, and they are referred to as members of
one of Morrow county's most honored and esteemed families, being
widely renowned for their hospitality and kindness. Advancing
years having unfitted them for active farm duties, they recently
purchased a fine, comfortable home at Sparta, where they are
passing the evening of their lives in full enjoyment of the
fruits of their former years of earnest toil and endeavor,
leaving the care of the farm to a niece and her husband, Mr.
and Mrs. John Shore. Charity in its widest and best sense
has been practiced by the Taylor Brothers and
their benevolence has made smooth the rough way of many a weary
traveler on life's journey. By reason of their sterling
integrity and moral uprightness, they are eminently well
deserving of representation in this volume devoted to the
history of Morrow county and her representative and public
spirited citizens.
Source: History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol.
II - Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 – pp.
590-591
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist |
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WILLIAM TAYLOR.
-- The substantial and well-to-do citizens of Marengo have no
more worthy representative than William Taylor, who has
accomplished a satisfactory work as an agriculturist and is now
living retired from the active cares of business, having by
industry and thrift accumulated a competency. A native of
Pennsylvania, he was born May 28, 1844, in Washington county, a
son of David C. and Margaret (Phillips) Taylor.
Moving with his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio, David C.
Taylor lived for a short time in Columbiana county, where he
followed his trade of a miller. Subsequently locating in Morrow
county, he purchased land and was afterward for many years
engaged in tilling the soil. He spent the closing days of his
long and useful life in Sparta, Ohio, passing away at the
venerable age of eighty-four years and ten months. His wife
preceded him to the life beyond, passing away December 13, 1866.
They were true Christian people and faithful members of the
Chester Baptist church. Seven children blessed their union, as
follows: Robert, William, David, Benjamin, Albert, Nancy A.,
wife of John A. Showalter, and Mary, who died
unmarried.
The second child in order of birth of the parental household,
William Taylor, obtained a limited education in the district
schools, and on the home farm was well drilled in agricultural
pursuits. In May, 1863, his patriotic ardor being aroused, he
enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned for duty at Fort
Williams. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, Mr.
Taylor veteranized, enlisting, September 14, 1864, in the
One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with
which he was connected until thee close of the war. On December
7, 1864, at the second battle of Stone river, he was severely
wounded, and was granted a furlough of thirty days, after which
he rejoined his regiment. Mr. Taylor is now a member of
Hurd Post, No. 114, G. A. R., of Mount Gilead, and for
three years was a member and the commander of Creighton Orr
Post, No. 501, G. A. R., of Sparta, Ohio.
Receiving his honorable discharge from the army in 1865, Mr.
Taylor returned to the home farm in Chester township, Morrow
county, and continued a tiller of the soil for three years. In
October, 1868, lured westward, he went to De Kalb county,
Missouri, where he resided for upwards of twenty years.
Returning to Morrow county in 1890, Mr. Taylor located in
Chester township, and was there engaged in general farming and
stock raising for a number of years, having a fine farm of one
hundred and eighty acres, which he still owns. In November,
1902, he removed to his present home in Marengo, and has since
enjoyed a well-earned leisure from business cares.
Mr. Taylor has been twice married. He married first,
October 3, 1871, in Missouri, Martha E. Taylor, a native
of that state. She died on the home farm in De Kalb county„
Missouri, January 13, 1889, leaving three children, namely:
Harry E., born August 1, 1874, married Cora E. Stumph,
of Chester township; Maggie, born November 19, 1875, died
July 22, 1901, and John C., born May 8, 1877, married
Florence Salisbury. Mr. Taylor married for his second
wife, Angeline Bradfield, who was born in South
Bloomfield township, Morrow county, Ohio, May 10, 1845, a
daughter of David and Mary E. (Jemison) Bradfield. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church of Sparta, and are active workers in that
denomination. Politically identified with the Republican party,
Mr. Taylor has taken an active part in local affairs, and
has served as trustee of the townships in which he has resided.
Source: History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol.
II - Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 – pp.
829-830
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist |
| |
CHARLES
W. THROCKMORTON - Among the people whose names bear the
stamp of industry and thrift, the bearers of which have won for
the residents of Morrow county the enviable reputation of
"Promoters and character builders" and who have contributed
largely to the educational, social and religious progress of the
community, we find recorded the family of Throckmorton.
He whose name initiates this review was long engaged in farming
and stockraising on his fine estate of two hundred and
sixty-five acres, eligibly located some one and one-half miles
distant from Sparta, Ohio. He was unusually loyal and
public-spirited in his civic attitude and at the time of his
death, which occurred on the twentieth of September, 1896, his
loss was uniformly mourned throughout the county in which so
much of his life had been passed.
Charles Wesley Throckmorton was born in South
Bloomfield township, Morrow county, Ohio, on the 3d of November,
1838, and he was a son of Archibald and Ruth (Simpson)
Throckmorton the former of whom was a native of New Jersey
and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Archibald
Throckmorton were the parents of seven children, whose names
are here entered in respective order of birth; Rebecca,
Sarah, Mary Jane, Elizabeth, John, Charles W., and
Ruth. The Throckmortons were descended from
good old Methodist Episcopal ancestry, the grandfather of the
subject of this sketch having been taken into the Methodist
Episcopal society by John Wesley in Ireland.
Charles Wesley Throckmorton was converted to the faith in
childhood and he and his sister were the first children to unite
with the Methodist Episcopal church of Sparta. He received
his elementary educational training in the public schools of his
native place and as a young man followed in the footsteps of his
father and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.
After his marriage in 1870 he and his wife settled upon a farm
in South Bloomfield Township, one and one-half miles distant
from Sparta, Ohio, and there he continued to live and toil until
death called him to his final rest and reward. He was
interested in diversified agriculture and the raising of
high-grade stock and, his fine estate of two hundred and
sixty-five acres was recognized as one of the finest in Morrow
county. It is now in the possession of his widow and her
children.
On the 12th of November 1870, was solemnized the
marriage of Mr. Throckmorton to Miss Mary J. Hicks,
who was born Nov. 2, 1846, and reared in Morrow county and who
is a daughter of John and Letitia (Banbury) Hicks, the
former of whom was born in Cornwall, England, on the 14th of
March, 1813, and the latter of whom was also a native of
England. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were united in marriage
on the 7th of October, 1841, and they were the parents of four
children - three sons and one daughter, namely: Mardenbro,
Thomas, Henry and Mary J. Letitia (Banbury) Hicks
was born at Lancell parish, county of Cornwall, England, whence
she immigrated with her parents to America at an early day.
The trip across the Atlantic was made in an old sailing vessel
which consumed six weeks in making the voyage. After
landing in this country the family proceeded to Ohio, locating
at Gambier, where for a number of years they had charge of the
boarding hall of Kenyon College. After Letitia's
marriage to John Hicks, in 1845, they removed to the
vicinity of Centerburg, which section was then practically an
unbroken wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were very
devout Christians and were members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. The following clipping taken from an old copy of
the Christian Advocate and pasted in the family Bible by
Mother Hicks was greatly cherished by Mr. Hicks, its
sentiments having been incorporated into his daily life.
"My lot in life, I find myself where I am and what I
am. My duty is submission. My privilege is
enjoyment. Because I am sick or disabled I need not be
useless or unhappy. I accept my situation as of divine
appointment and will try to be contented with it.
Lamenting over the past will do no good; I cannot recall
or change it. My Heavenly Father has permitted matters to
be with me just as they are and he knows best; I know he loves
me. No rebellion will be in my heart nor murmur escape my
lips. My Saviour has promised his grace sufficient.
Trusting all to my Father's loving care, I will do what I can,
making the place where my lot is cast as bright and cheerful as
possible, and will work and wait with patience till I am
permitted to go to my heavenly home."
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wesley Throckmorton became
the parents of four children: Mabel L., Maud R., Verner
C. and Edna M. The children all grew up in a
fine moral atmosphere, proved to be studious and early adapted
themselves to their work and studies in a most commendable
manner. The three daughters were all graduated in the
Sparta high school with high honors and the son attended high
school until one month prior to his graduation, at which time he
was forced to leave school on account of his mother's illness.
Mabel L., was married, in 1898, to B. F. Powell,
and they maintain their home at Mount Gilead, Ohio. They
have one son, Leland T., whose birth occurred in 1904,
and who is now attending school. Maude R. fitted
herself for teaching and by her adaptability and kindness
succeeded in winning for herself the good will of her pupils and
their respective parents. After completing high school she
taught first in Morrow county and later at Centerburg. She
then went to Monroe, Iowa, whence she went to Newcomerstown,
Ohio, and finally she engaged in teaching in Minnesota.
Returning home in March, 1904, however, with a lingering
illness, she was laid to rest on the 7th of Sept., 1904, at an
early age of twenty-eight years. Edna M., the
youngest daughter, was also engaged in teaching for a time prior
to her marriage to Mr. Carl Patrick, on the 30th of
September, 1908. Mr. Patrick is a son of Edward
and Ella (Arkins) Patrick, who reside near Vails Corners,
and he grew to maturity on the old Patrick farm and after
completing the curriculum of the district schools was graduated
in the Sparta High school. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Patrick
have one daughter Maude Ellen. Verner C.,
was united in marriage, on the 8th of September, 1909, to
Miss Hallie o. Van Sickle, a native of East Liberty, Ohio,
and a daughter of John C. and D. Estella Van Sickle.
Mrs. Charles Throckmorton's health began to fail and
after a few months of illness he was summoned to the life
eternal. His parting words to his family were: "Make sure
of Heaven as it is all there is worth living for." In his
fraternal associations he was a valued and appreciative member
of the time-honored Masonic Order and while he never manifested
aught of ambition for the honors or emoluments of public office
of any description he was a stanch advocate of the principles
and politics promulgated by the Republican party in his
political convictions. He was a man of fine moral fiber
and he was numbered among the best known and most highly honored
citizens of Morrow county at the time of his demise, on
the 20th of September, 1896. His life course was marked by
valuable and generous accomplishments along normal lines of
endeavor and his measure of success was large, but greater than
this was the intrinsic loyalty to principle, the deep human
sympathy and the broad intellectuality that designated the man
as he was. He was in the most significant sense the
architect of his own fortunes, having built the ladder by which
he rose to high esteem, and he took high ground on the subject
of temperance. His heart was attuned to generous impulses
and his innate kindliness and generosity made him a power for
good in all the relations of life. After the death of her
husband Mrs. Throckmorton with the aid of her young son
continued to run the old home farm, where she still resides.
She is a woman of charm and graciousness, one who is deeply
beloved and admired by all who have come within the radius of
her gentle influence.
Source:
History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol. II -
Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 - Page 700 |
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BENJAMIN F. THUMA
has long been numbered among the able exponents of the great
basic industry of agriculture in Morrow county and he is the
owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres in Perry township.
There he continued to maintain his home until April, 1910, when
he was appointed superintendent of the Morrow County Infirmary
in Gilead township, an office of which he remained incumbent
until the newly elected Democratic Board of the Morrow County
Infirmary appointed his successor to fill the position. In this
office he gave a most effective administration, the while he had
due appreciation of the necessities and misfortunes of the
county wards entrusted to his care. He showed an abiding and
helpful sympathy for the inmates of the infirmary, but never
allowed this to interfere with proper discipline and his
executive policy and discriminating service well justified the
official preferment conferred upon him. He is one of the well
known and highly esteemed citizens of the county and is well
entitled to recognition in this publication.
Mr. Thuma views with due satisfaction and pride the
fact that he can claim the fine old Buckeye commonwealth as the
place of his nativity and that he is a scion of one of the old
and honored families of Morrow county. He was born on the
homestead farm of his father in Perry township, Morrow county,
Ohio, on the 25th of January, 1854, and is a son of Simon and
Eliza (Shuler) Thuma, natives of Pennsylvania. Simon
Thuma, whose ancestors came from Switzerland, was one of a
family of fourteen children, ten boys and four girls, two of
whom died in infancy. He was born in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, in 1817 and in 1835 he came on foot to Perry
township, Richland county, Ohio, and worked at the blacksmith
trade. He was married to Eliza Shuler in the year,
1842. She also was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in
1824, and was one of a family of six children. She came with
the family to Perry township, Richland county, Ohio, in the year
1832. Mr. and Mrs. Thuma lived in a log but three miles
northeast of Johnsville, where two children were born;
Estervilla, June 18, 1844 and John Wesley, March 17,
1846. In the spring of 1846 they moved to Johnsville where they
lived for one month only, until a log house could be built on
the farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the woods one mile
southwest of the village. Here were born William Otterbein,
May 18, 1848; David Edward, March 8, 1851; and
Benjamin Franklin, the subject of our sketch, January 25,
1854. The father died October 18, 1855, of pneumonia. He was
an earnest Christian, a member of the United Brethren church and
a strong anti-slavery advocate. He was numbered among the
industrious agriculturists of Morrow county, where he reclaimed
and developed a productive farm and where he continued to reside
until his death, secure in the high regard of all who knew him.
The mother remained on the farm and raised the family until they
were able to take care of themselves, being left a widow at the
age of thirty-one years. With the determination of a loving
mother, the children were brought up with strict discipline
which was highly appreciated and commended in after years.
Living a christian [sic] life from childhood, she
resigned this life at the age of eighty-four years and was
buried beside her husband in Shauck cemetery.
B. F., as he was usually known, left his parental
roof when sixteen years of age, to accept a position in a
general store of S. W. Wagner & Brother, later clerking
for his brother, John Wesley, in the drug store. He
became a practical pharmacist and for several years conducted a
drug store of his own at Butler, Ohio. In 1876 he disposed of
the drug business and went back to his native town. In 1877 he
entered the employ of Talmage Brothers, of Mt. Gilead,
Ohio, for the sale of the Champion mowers, reapers and binders
in the northern part of Morrow county and in Richland county,
with whom he remained until the year 1883, when he purchased the
stove and tin store of Johnsville and conducted the business
successfully. A few years later he took in plumbing, pump and
general machine work, and is generally known as an all round
mechanic. After the election of President McKinley, his
name was mentioned in connection with others for postmaster at
Shauck, and he received the appointment. As soon as his
daughter, Marie Avalie, became eighteen years old, she
was sworn in as his assistant and conducted the office nearly
eight years and was praised by all for her accuracy and ability.
In 1896, after the death of his father-in-law, Abraham
Miller, Mr. Thuma purchased part of the farm and now
has one hundred acres of as good fertile land as the county
has. The improvements are all new and on his own plans, he
built one of the first silos in the county. He made dairying a
specialty and owns one of the finest Jersey herds in the country
and prides himself in trying to do things well and advocates
alfalfa hay and ensilage with confidence of its economical
essentials in the economic production of milk and believes the
salvation of our country depends on intensive agriculture.
Bringing to bear marked energy and mature judgment, he has
achieved special success in all departments of his farming
enterprise. His farm is located in section 4, Perry township
and is one of the valuable farm properties of the county and
shows forth thrift and prosperity as the direct result of the
efforts of its owner. Mr. Thuma has ever been unflagging
in his allegiance to the Republican party and has been an active
worker in its local ranks. Since retiring from the position of
superintendent of the infirmary he has devoted his time with his
son, Mark, to his farm and the stock industry.
On the 5th of September, 1875, Mr. Thuma was united
in marriage to Miss Nevada L. Miller, a daughter of
Abraham and Jane Miller. She was born and reared in Morrow
county, Ohio, and they have five children, two sons and three
daughters, each of whom has been afforded the advantages of the
high school of Johnsville.
Marie Avalie, born December 18, 1879, was united in
marriage to Dr. Clarence W. Bixler, August 31, 1905, and
is now living in Erie, Colorado. Mark Abraham, born
March 13, 1882, chose school teaching as his profession, but is
now living on the home farm adopting agriculture and being
interested in dairying. On August 26, 1909, he married the only
daughter of S. A. Durbin. Ada Celestia, born
April 8, 1886, was united in marriage to Jacob. R. Dawson,
February 10, 1910, and is now living near Fredericktown, Ohio,
on a farm. Loy Edward, born May 27, 1888, was united in
marriage to the daughter of J. L. Sowers, June 9, 1910,
and is living in Johnsvile [sic], Ohio, following plumbing and
the sale of gasoline engines. Ruth Elizabeth, born May
28, 1895, now attending high school in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, will
soon graduate. All the children, excepting Ruth, have
graduated from high school.
Source: History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol.
II - Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 – pp.
928-930
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
|
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J. H. TIMS, M. D.
––In the death of Dr. J. H. Tims, which occurred on the
23rd of May, 1905, at his home in Sparta, Morrow county, this
locality not only lost a good citizen but one of its most
estimable and worthy residents. Dr. Tims was a physician
and surgeon of excellent equipment and his citizenship was ever
characterized by loyalty and public spirit of the most insistent
order. His sphere of work and influence was broad and he had
correspondingly large attributes of mind and character, so that
he was capable of gaining success in whatever department of work
he engaged. Throughout his career he was a scholar and student
of more than ordinary ability and he constantly kept abreast of
the times in all advancements made in his particular field of
usefulness.
Dr. Tims was born on a farm one mile from Sparta, in
Morrow county, Ohio, the date of his nativity being August 23,
1833, and he was a son of James and Sarah (Cook) Tims,
both of whom were born and reared in the state of New Jersey,
whence they immigrated to Ohio in an early day. Mr. and Mrs.
Tims were numbered among the industrious and honored
citizens of Morrow county, where they passed the residue of
their lives on a farm. They became the parents of a large
family, only three of whom are now living however, the Doctor
being one. He was reared to adult age on the old homestead farm
but being of a frail and rather delicate constitution he was
unable to lend his aid in the work and management of the home
farm. Being of a very studious nature it became the intent of
the family to fit him for teaching. Accordingly he was afforded
the best of educational advantages and his progress in his
school work was of most rapid order. He received his first
certificate of teaching when he was but eighteen years of age
and for a number of terms he was a popular and successful
teacher in the schools of Morrow county. He gained a widespread
reputation as a particularly efficient pegagogue [sic]
and a
splendid disciplinarian.
Early in his career Dr. Tims decided upon the
medical profession as his life work and with that object in view
entered the Homeopathic Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio, in
which excellent institution he was graduated, duly receiving his
degree of Doctor of Medicine. He initiated the active practice
of his profession at Sparta, where he soon gained recognition as
one of the most skilled physicians and surgeons in the entire
county and where he rapidly built up a large and lucrative
patronage. He was engaged in active practice for a period of
forty-two years, during which time he affected some marvelous
cures as the result of his innate talent and acquired ability
along the lines of one of the most helpful professions to which
man may devote his energies, namely, the alleviation of human
pain and suffering. In connection with his life work he was
affiliated with a number of representative professional
organizations and in politics he was a stalwart supporter of the
principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands
sponsor. In his religious faith he was a devout member of the
Advent Christian church, to whose good works he gave a most
liberal support, several churches of that. denomination in the
Ohio Conference having been materially assisted as a result of
his generosity. He was looked upon as one of the best informed
Bible students in Morrow county and no one could enjoy his
companionship and conversation for any length of time without
being very materially benefited thereby.
Dr. Tims was twice married. His first wife was
Miss Maria Cook, leaving at her death one daughter, Maria,
who is now Mrs. Ely, of Fredericktown. The Doctor was
united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Whitney. Mrs. Tims
preceded her honored husband to the life eternal by a few
months. There were no children born to the latter union.
Dr. Tims was a strong temperance man and on a number
of occasions, when parties tried to establish a liquor trade in
Sparta, he would energetically marshal the temperance forces
together and insist on keeping it out. The village of Sparta
owed much to Doctor Tims for its high standard of morals
and purity of Christian principles. No man in the entire county
possessed a wider circle of acquaintances nor a greater number
of devoted and loyal friends than he. For a number of years lie
had suffered from heart trouble and finally, on the 23rd of May,
1905, after eating dinner, he walked into his office, where he
was later found seated in his rocker, with hands peacefully
folded, “Asleep in Jesus.” His death was uniformly mourned by a
wide circle of friends throughout Sparta and Morrow county, many
of whom attended his funeral, bringing with affectionate hands
the beautiful flowers he loved so well. His funeral discourse
was delivered by his pastor, Mrs. M. Grove, whose
beautiful sermon was an enlargement of the text: “Mark the
perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is
peace.” A choir of his Sunday school scholars contributed music
in the way of songs and the Doctor’s favorite selection
“Consolation” was sung by Mrs. Linn Austin and Mrs.
Grove. His death was the passing of a great and good man.
Source: History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol.
II - Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 – pp.
912-914
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
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LAFAYETTE T. TURNEY.
––One of the oldest native-born citizens of Bennington township,
Morrow county, Lafayette T. Turney was born on the farm
which he now owns and occupies, November 19, 1838, a son of
John Turney. During his many years of residence in this
community he has witnessed wonderful changes in the face of the
country, and likewise in the methods of farming and carrying on
business of all kinds. In his boyhood days substantial school
buildings, churches, and costly residences were unknown in the
county, while railways, telegraph and telephone lines were
conspicuous by their absence, few, if any, evidences of the
present civilization existing. In the grand transformation that
has taken place he has been actively interested, many of his
best years having been spent in helping to redeem a portion of
this beautiful country from its original wildness.
John Turney, a native of Pennsylvania, was born May
19, 1802, in Westmoreland county, and died, about 1900, in
Morrow county, Ohio. In Franklin county, Ohio, April 27, 1838,
he married Rebecca Ayers, who was born, December 13,
1808, in Sussex county, New Jersey. Of their three children,
one, Thomas L., died in infancy, and two are living, as
follows: Lafayette T., the special subject of this brief
review, and George A., born September 27, 1842, in
Delaware county, Ohio.
Beginning when young to perform his share incidental to
life on a farm, Lafayette T. Turney became familiar with
the theory and practice of agriculture, and continued to follow
this branch of industry throughout his active career. Meeting
with good success in his undertakings, he is now living on his
farm retired, however, from active pursuits. His farm contains
sixty-seven and one-half acres of land, and is under a good
state of cultivation, yielding profitable harvests each season.
Mr. Turney married, January 4, 1866, Lavina Cox,
a native of Fredericktown, Knox county, Ohio, born December 6,
1845, and into their household three children have been born,
namely: Viola, wife of Lyman Ashley, of Mount
Gilead, Ohio; Debbie, wife of John Pinder, of
South Bloomfield township, Morrow county; and May, wife
of Arthur Sipes, of Bennington township, Morrow county.
Politically Mr. Turney is a sound Republican, loyal to
the interests of his party, and religiously both Mr. and Mrs.
Turney are members of the Advent church.
Source: History of Morrow County, Ohio by A. J. Baughman - Vol.
II - Chicago-New York: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1911 – pp.
845-846
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
