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BIOGRAPHIES
The following biographies are extracted from:
Source:
A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio
Vol. II.
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York
1917
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LUTHER B. YAPLE.
Worthy of special mention in this volume is Luther B. Yaple,
of Chillicothe, who has gained distinction not only as a
successful lawyer, but as a practical and progressive
horticulturist, owning one of the largest orchards in Ross
County. He was born Sept. 12, 1865, in Colerain Township,
Ross County, Ohio, on the same farm on which the birth of his
father, Aaron D. Yaple, occurred, Apr. 19, 1837. He
is a descendant in the fifth generation of the immigrant
ancestor, Philip Yaple, a native of Germany, where the
surname was spelled "Jebel," the line of descent being
through John, Sr., John, Jr., Aaron D., and
Luther B.
Emigrating to America in
colonial days, Philip Yaple located in Pennsylvania,
becoming an early settler of the Wyoming Valley. Enlisting
in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, he was
absent from his home at the time of the Wyoming massacre, in
July, 1778. Subsequently removing to New York State, he
settled on Lake Ithaca in pioneer days, and having purchased
land was there a resident until his death.
John Yaple, Sr., was born in the Wyoming Valley,
Pennsylvania, in that part of Berks County that is now included
in Lebanon County, in 1765. Accompanying the family to New
York, he subsequently settled in Danby, not far from Ithaca,
taking up land, and engaging in farming. About 1812,
accompanied by his family, he came to Ohio, crossing the
intervening country with teams, and bringing all of his worldly
possessions with him. He first located in the Scioto
Valley, near Circleville, where but little of the land had then
been improved, and owing to the bad drainage malaria was very
prevalent. Leaving the fertile lands of the valley on that
account, he came to Ross County, and having purchased a tract of
heavily timbered land in what is now Colerain Township built a
log cabin in the wilderness, being particular to locate near a
spring. There having been neither railroads, canals or
convenient markets at that early day, he in common with his
neighbors, which were few and far between, lived on the products
of the kind or the wild game found in the vicinity, all of the
sugar used being made from the sap of the maple trees. The
farmers raised sheep and flax, and the energetic women of the
household were accustomed to card, spin and weave, and make all
of the clothing worn by the family. Clearing quite a tract
of his land, he lived there until his death, in November, 1846.
He married Rachel Dupay, who was born in Wyoming,
Pennsylvania, July 30, 1770, and died Mar. 18, 1842, on the home
farm.
John Yaple, Jr., grandfather of Luther B.,
was born in Danby, Tompkins County, New York, near Ithaca, May
24, 1801, and after coming with his parents to Ross County
attended the district schools, and as soon as able to be of use
assisted in clearing the land. He became an expert in the
art of making shingles, all of which were rived by hand, and
also shaped in the same manner. Succeeding to the
ownership of the parental homestead, he added to the
improvements already made by erecting substantial frame
buildings, and there continued as a farmer until his death, in
October, 1876. His wife, whose maiden name was Laura
Morse, was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, Jan. 14,
1804, and died on the home farm, in Colerain Township, in April,
1890.
Aaron D. Yaple spent his entire life on the farm
where his birth occurred, he having inherited the land from his
father. Industrious and enterprising, he carried on
general farming successfully, and in addition was engaged to a
considerable extent in the growing of fruit. He lived to a
good old age, passing away Sept. 15, 1914. The maiden name
of his wife was Henrietta Black, who still occupies the
Yaple homestead. She was born, in October, 1843, in
Colerain Township, being one of the seven children of the late
Caleb Black, who married Sarah Parks. Mr. Black
was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish
ancestors, and as a young man migrated to Colerain Township,
where he bought land, and was thenceforward engaged in tilling
the soil. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and
Mrs. Aaron D. Yaple, namely: Luther B., the subject
of this brief sketch; Alice, wife of Allen Cupp;
and Pearl, living with her widowed mother.
Having gleaned his first knowledge of books in the
rural schools, Luther B. Yaple afterwards attended the
Circleville High School and the Otterbein University, in
Westerville, Ohio. He was subsequently employed as a
teacher in Colerain Township for three years, during which time
he turned his attention to the study of law, reading at home
under the instruction of Judge Alfred Yaple, of
Cincinnati. On Oct. 6, 1887, Mr. Yaple was admitted
to the bar by the Supreme Court, and in July, 1888, began the
practice of his profession in Chillicothe, where he has built up
a large and lucrative clientage. In 1898 Mr. Yaple
purchased a farm lying two miles west of the Chillicothe
courthouse, and has since taken active interest in its
improvements. When it came into his possession it had an
orchard containing 7,000 fruit trees, including apple, pear,
peach and cherry trees. The farm had been previously
rented, and the fruit trees had been sadly neglected. He
immediately turned his attention to the care of the orchard, and
has since replaced all of the peach and pear trees with apple
trees, and now has a fine orchard of 7,500 apple trees, all in a
bearing condition. He raises a variety of apples,
including the Rome Beauty, Jonathan, Mann, Grimes Golden, and
Ben Davis, all of which find a ready sale in both the southern
and western markets.
On Jan. 27, 1897, Mr. Yaple was united in
marriage with Etta F. Roach, who was born in Madison
County, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1871. Her father, Reuben W. Roach,
was born on a farm in Gallia County, Ohio, where his parents,
Simeon and Phebe (Koontz) Roach, natives of Virginia, were
pioneer settlers. In early manhood he embarked in farming
in Madison County, from there removing to Scioto Township, Ross
County, and later taking up his residence in Chillicothe, where
his widow, whose maiden name was Mary Workman, still
resides. Her parents, Lewis and Narcissus (Worley)
Workman, natives of Belmont County. Ohio, spent their last
years in Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Yaple have three
children, John, Virginia, and Philip.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Yaple are members of the
Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as vestryman.
Socially Mr. Yaple was one of the founders of the Sunset
Club, of which he is a charter member.
Source: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York 1917 - Page 589 |
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ROBERT ZURHMELY,
who at one time lived in Union Township of Ross County, and was
one of the well-known citizens of this section, represent a
family that came to Ohio in the very early pioneer days of the
last century.
He was born in Philadelphia in 1818. His father,
Samuel Zurhmely, was born in Switzerland, where he
grew up and married, and in 1818 brought his family to America.
Soon after their arrival his son Robert was born in
Philadelphia. From Philadelphia the family came on to
Ohio, locating in Pickaway County, and Samuel Zurhmely
spent his last years in Stringtown, both he and his wife being
buried in the Stump churchyard. They reared four
sons and one daughter, the sons being Robert, Samuel,
John and Peter. The son John was a
soldier in the Mexican war and lost his life while with the army
south of the Rio Grande.
But an infant when his parents came to Ohio, Robert
Zurhmely grew up on a farm in Pickaway County. He
learned the trade of carpenter, and followed that actively until
his marriage, after which he settled on a farm in Union Township
of Ross County. This farm had been given Mrs.
Zurhmely by her father. In that locality for many years
Mr. Zurhmely carried on his activities as a general
farmer and stock raiser, and was one of the most successful men
in the business among all his contemporaries. He bought
other land until he owned 700 acres. On that farm he
passed away in November, 1893.
The maiden name of his wife was Harriet Lutz.
She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, a daughter of Hon.
Samuel and Elizabeth (Seatherolf) Lutz. Mrs. Zurhmely
died in December, 1893. She reared six children, named
Mary Elizabeth, John, Jennie, Ella, Clarabelle and
Samuel L.
Samuel L. Zurhmely is now in active practice as
a physician in Kingston. He graduated from the literary
department of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and then
pursued his studies at the Ohio Medical University at
Cincinnati. After a few years of practice in the South, he
returned to Ross County and has built up a good business at
Kingston.
Source: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York 1917 - Page 574 |
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