Biographies Source:
Memorial Record of the
Counties of
Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio
- Illustrated -
Publ: Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company,
1895. <
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FIELDING A. THOMPSON,
who is deserving of specific mention in connection with a
review of the life histories of the leading professional men
of Marysville, Union county, Ohio, is an attorney of marked
ability and one whose relative precedence among the younger
barristers of the county cannot but be conceded.
Mr. Thompson is a native of Union county, having
been born in Mill Creek township, March 5, 1862, son of
Andrew J. and Lauvina (Farnum) Thompson, who are
respectively of English and Irish lineage. The father is at
the present time a resident of Dover township, this county,
where he conducts a fine farm. Our subject thus springs from
that sturdy, honorable element of our social fabric whose
pursuits have been those incidental to the cultivation of
the soil, whose affection for the productive fields comes as
a direct heritage to those in whom courses the Aryan blood.
He was born on the farm and was reared to agricultural
pursuits, in the meanwhile enforcing his character with
those attributes of character, honesty, probity and
independence, which seem the natural concomitant outgrowth
of such a life.
The early education of our subject was secured in the
district schools, and at the age of twenty-one he put his
acquired knowledge to a practical test by teaching school
for one term. He then entered the Northwestern University,
at Ada, Ohio, where he completed a two years’ course of
study, immediately thereafter taking up the reading of the
law in the office and under the preceptorage of Porter &
Porter, prominent attorneys of Marysville. He remained
with this firm until October, 1892, when he was admitted to
the bar, having devoted himself closely to his professional
studies and having acquired a more intimate knowledge of
legal jurisprudence, rulings and essential principles than
is usually secured by the student in the average law school.
In May, 1892, Mr. Thompson opened an office in
Marysville, and at once entered into the general practice of
his profession. He is progressive and enterprising, is
devoted to his work, and has met with a due quota of success
in the retaining of a representative clientage. His office
is located at the southwest corner of the public square.
In his political proclivities our subject is a
Democrat, and is an active worker in the cause of his party.
In 1893 he was placed in nomination for Prosecuting Attorney
of the county, made an excellent run, but was defeated, it
being impossible to overcome the very large Republican
majority which the county has always rolled up.
Source: Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union &
Morrow, Ohio; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1895, pp.
408-409
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
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LAFAYETTE THOMPSON,
one of the respected farmers of Union county, Ohio, was born
on the farm in Liberty township, where he now lives, March
21, 1854.
His father, Andrew H. Thompson, deceased, was
for many years a prominent citizen of this township. He was
born in Lewis county, Kentucky, October 2, 1810, the son of
a gallant soldier of the war of 1812; was reared on a
Kentucky farm, and was married in his native State to
Harriette R. Thomas, who was born and reared in Lewis
county, daughter of George Thomas. Andrew H.
Thompson and his wife came to Union county, Ohio, in
1838, and settled in Liberty township, and in 1842 they
located on the farm where their son Lafayette now
lives. At the time they took up their abode here a few acres
of the land had been cleared and a log cabin had been built
upon the place. They continued to develop the farm, reared
their large family here, and here spent the rest of their
lives and died, the mother being sixty at the time of death
and the father seventy-eight. They were members of the
Church of Christ, and were people of the highest integrity
of character, honored and esteemed by all who knew them. Of
their twelve children, eight reached maturity, namely:
George T., D. W., Mary L., Rachel A., Napoleon B.,
Lafayette, Alice J., Cynthia E. Two of the sons,
George T. and D. W., served in the Union army
during the late war: both are now residents of Kansas.
Lafayette Thompson was reared on his father’s farm,
and was early taught those lessons of honesty and industry
which have formed the foundation of his character. He now
owns the old home place and is successfully carrying on
agricultural pursuits. This farm comprises 200 acres of rich
land, is watered by Mill Creek, and is well improved with
good buildings, etc. The residence is a two-story one, 24x30
feet, with an L, 16x18 feet, and is located on a beautiful
building site. The barn, 40x50 feet, has a basement for
stock. And the whole premises have an air of thrift and
prosperity.
Mr. Thompson was married at the age of twenty-three
to Miss Sarah C. Smith, daughter of George and
Hannah Smith. She died in April, 1893, leaving a family
of seven children, five sons and two daughters, viz.:
Andrew H., Olen B., Cloey E., Bessie S., Charlie L., Robert
and Lloyd. In December, 1893, Mr. Thompson
married Eva L. Shirk, his present companion, daughter
of Job and Sarah Shirk, of Paulding county, Ohio. Her
mother is now deceased.
Like his honored father, Mr. Thompson is a
Republican in his political views, and his religion is that
of the Church of Christ, to which church his wife also
belongs. Fraternally, he is a member of Raymond’s Lodge No.
657, K. of P.
Source: Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union &
Morrow, Ohio; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1895, pp.
120-121
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
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ZACHARIAH R. THORNTON
is the genial host of the Byhalia Hotel, of Byhalia, a
valued and popular citizen and an honored ex-soldier. The
record of his life is as follows: A native of this city, he
was born on the 18th of May, 1845, and is a son of Boyd
Thornton, who was born in Champaign county, Ohio. His
mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth J. Scott,
and was a native of the same county. The parents lived upon
a farm, and Zachariah early became familiar with all
the duties of farm life, beginning work in the fields at a
tender age. The district schools of the neighborhood
afforded him his educational privileges, which were
therefore somewhat limited.
When in his seventeenth year Mr. Thornton
responded to his country’s call for troops to aid in
crushing out the Rebellion, and in 1861 became a member of
Company C, Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry. He faithfully served
his term and was then honorably discharged, but afterward
re-enlisted, in 1864, in Company D, One Hundred and
Ninety-second Infantry, with which he remained until the
close of the war. He was ever true to the old flag and the
cause it represented, and where duty called he was always
found.
The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Thornton
was in her maidenhood Miss Emeline Hendricks. Our
subject and his wife had one daughter, Laura Jane,
who died in December, 1892. She was an intelligent and
popular young lady, beloved by all who knew her, and her
death has proved a deep loss to her parents and many
friends.
In politics Mr. Thornton is a stalwart and
earnest Republican, but has never been an aspirant for
political honors. Socially he is a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He is a lover of fine horses, and owns some of the best
roadsters and draft horses in this section of the county. To
the hotel business he now devotes the major part of his time
and attention, and his frank and cordial manner makes him a
favorite with the traveling public.
Source: Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union &
Morrow, Ohio; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1895, p.
412
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
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JAMES W. TILTON
- the Subject to whose life history we now direct particular
attention ahs been a resident of Marysville, Ohio, for more
than a decade and had become closely and a conspicuously
identified with the material progress and interests of the
thriving little city, where he conducts in its line a
representative enterprise in the way of a general
real-estate and loan agency.
Mr. Tilton is a native of the Buckeye State,
having been born in Licking county, July 2, 1843, the son of
William and Jane A. (Reid) Tilton, the former born in
New Jersey, the latter in Virginia, the parental lineage on
either side tracing back to good old British origin.
The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, Joseph
Tilton, was a stalwart patriot who took up arms in
maintenance of independence when the colonies united to
thwart the unjust dominion of the mother country. He
was an active participant in the war of the Revolution, and
contemporary annals bear record of his efficient service in
that ever memorable conflict which marked the inception of
ours, the grandest republic the world has ever looked upon.
The original American Ancestors of the Tilton family
represented two collateral strains, one portion having been
established for several generations in the State of
Maryland, and the other in New Jersey. From the
latter, whose history was identified for many years with
that of Monmouth county, New Jersey, our subject traces a
lineal descent. Both branches of the family turned
their attention principally to the tilling of the soil, and
ever stood as types of the more intelligent, progressive and
prosperous yeomanry of the nation, - a God-fearing,
industrious and honorable people, such as ever constitute
the bulwarks of the country's defense and stable prosperity.
William Tilton, the
father of our subject, came to Ohio when but sixteen years
of age, locating in Licking county, where he passed the
residue of his life, save the four years prior to his
demise, during which time he was a resident of Knox county,
where he died in 1888 at, the age of sixty-nine years.
His widow is still living, maintaining her home in
Martinsburg, Knox county, and having attained the venerable
age of seventy-one years. William and Jane A.
Tilton became the parents of four children, of whom we
here offer brief record in consecutive order of birth:
James W., our subject; Noah H., a prominent
merchant of Martinsburg; Sarah, wife of Simon
Shrake, who is engaged in merchandising at Fallsburg,
Licking county, Ohio; and Martha, wife of L. H.
Robinson, a prosperous farmer of Licking county, Ohio.
James Tilton passed his youth on the paternal
farm, where his duties, his pastimes and his privileges were
practically analogous to those of the average boy of
that-period and section. He had been enabled to attend
the district schools during the winter terms and had
assisted in the cultivation of the farm during the
intervening summers, - this routine being but slightly
varied up to the time he attained his eighteenth year.
At this time grim-visaged war reared its horrid front, soon
plunging a divided Union into a desperate fratricidal
conflict in which the eternal principle of right was clearly
involved. Like many another patriotic youth, our
subject became fired with enthusiasm, and promptly made
ready to render to his country that service which is the
true patriot's votive offering. He accordingly
enlisted in Company A, Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, Captain Thad. Lemert, and was sworn into
service October 5, 1861. Mr. Tilton's regiment
was one that rushed into the thick of the fray, and the list
of battles in which he participated stands in sufficient
evidence that the service rendered was not short of the
earnest which his patriot spirit had inspired. The
principal engagements in which he took part were those of
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Lookout Mountain,
Ringgold, Atlanta campaign, Jonesboro and others. He
was with Sherman in the memorable march to the sea,
and his last appearance in battle was at Goldsboro, North
Carolina. He was mustered out, at Columbus, Ohio, July
23, 1865, as Sergeant.
His military career ended, Mr. Tilton turned his
attention once more to the gaining of those no less renowned
victories which peace hath ever in store. He continued
his educational work, so rudely interrupted, entering the
Martinsburg Academy, where he remained for three terms,
after which he engaged in teaching, in Licking county, for
two terms. He then turned his steps Westward, locating
in DeKalb county, Missouri, were he devoted his attention to
farming and school teaching for a period of two terms.
He then returned to Ohio and soon thereafter, May 8, 1872,
was consummated his marriage to Charlotte Floyd,
daughter of Joseph and Fanny (Rodgers) Floyd, of
Martinsburg. After his marriage, Mr. Tilton, in
the company with his brother, engaged in the mercantile
business at Fallsburg, Licking county, and there they
continued for five years, when the business was removed to
Martinsburg and conducted by the firm for a period of four
years, after which our subject sold his interest to his
father and brother, who assumed full control of the
enterprise.
The transfer just noted marks the approximate date of
Mr. Tilton's arrival in Marysville, for very soon
thereafter he removed to this city, where he opened a real
estate and insurance office, later on extending the province
of the agency by the inclusion of a department of financial
loans, securing a representative clientage in the way of
handling valuable realty and in the placing of real-estate
loans as factor. The enterprise has grown to be one of
the wide scope and much importance, and the transactions
made determine the status of the agency as one of the most
flourishing in this section of the State. In 1893 he
admitted to partnership in the real estate department of the
business T. M. Brannan who is thus associated with
him at the present time. He has charge of several
farms in the vicinity of the city, and to the supervision of
these he devotes considerable time and attention.
Mr. Tilton is distinctively
a public-spirited and progressive business man, is ever
ready to lend his influence and assistance to all measures
urged forward for the public good, and his popularity in the
community is beyond cavil. He is a stock-holder in the
Davis Chair Company, one of the important industrial
enterprises of the city. In politics he is a
stanch Republican, and though never a seeker after public
office he has been called upon to fill numerous positions of
trust and responsibility. He served as Mayor of
Marysville two years, from 1888 to 1890, and as Justice of
the Peace for two years. Fraternally he holds
membership in Palestine Lodge, No. 158, A. F. & A. M.;
Marysville Lodge, No. 100, K. P.; and Ransom Reed Post, No.
113, G. A. R. In the last named he has been twice
Commander, twice Adjutant, and in 1890 was a delegate from
the same to the National Encampment, at Boston.
Mr. Tilton is a man of marked literary taste and
talent, and his composition is ever graceful and refined in
tone, his diction pure and perspicuous. He has acted
as special correspondent and contributor to leading
periodicals and newspapers, and his poetical offerings have
been of high order. Upon the death of John A. Logan,
he indited a very spirited and beautiful memorial ode
which was copied far and wide in the public press, and which
elicited from Mrs. Logan a letter of appreciation and
heartfelt thanks. We are permitted to reproduce the
poem and the letter in this connection, and the same as
appending are sure to be read with interest.
The family have been for many generations identified
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in this church our
subject and his wife retain an active membership. They
have had three children: Edith J., who died April 10,
1879; Dollie E., whose death occurred within the week
following; and Wesley Earl who is now nine year of
age. The family home is located on West Fifth street,
near the court-house, and our subject's business
headquarters are on the same street, near the square, which
represents the business center of the city. Following
is the memoir to which reference has been made:
OUR
LOGAN. (click here for poem)
~ Page 317 - Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union and
Morrow, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ: Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1895. |
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CALVIN TIMMONS,
Raymond’s, Union county, Ohio, is ranked with the successful
and well-known farmers of Liberty township. He is a native
of this county, born near Irwin Station, March 14, 1841.
His father, George W. Timmons, was born in one
of the Eastern States, and his mother, whose maiden name was
Sarah Smith, was born in Ohio. They had a family of
six children, three of whom are living, all in different
States, —John in Missouri, Lewis in Kansas,
and Calvin in Ohio. James was a Union soldier,
and died from disease contracted while in the army. The
father died in Champaign county, Ohio, at the age of
fifty-seven years; the mother lived to be over eighty-two.
Calvin Timmons was reared on a farm in Champaign
county, and early in life was inured to such work as is
found on a frontier farm. His education was obtained in the
common schools and in the practical school of experience.
Twenty-five years ago he settled on his present farm and
here he has since lived. He has made all the improvements
found here now, the old fences and buildings all having been
replaced by new ones, and the farm now being classed with
the best in the neighborhood. The residence is a
story-and-a-half cottage located on a beautiful building
site and surrounded by an attractive lawn dotted over with
shade trees; and the barn, 34 x 6o feet, adorned with a
cupola, is as convenient as it is neat. A fine orchard and
an acre of small fruit are among other additions to this
valuable property. Indeed, the whole farm has an air of
thrift and prosperity and shows the owner to be a man of
more than ordinary enterprise.
At the age of twenty-four Mr. Timmons married
Miss Mary E. Argo, who was born in this township,
daughter of D. S. and Sarah (Hensen) Argo. Her father
was one of the prominent early settlers of Union county, as
also was her grandfather, William Hensen. Mr. and
Mrs. Timmons have three daughters, namely: Ida Mary,
wife of Frank Jones, residing near Urbana, Ohio, has
four children, Omer, Norma, Oral and Twan;
Enola Leota, wife of Frank Scott, of Liberty
township, has one daughter, —Fern; and Autice,
at home.
Like his worthy father, Mr. Timmons affiliates
with the Republican party. Both he and his wife are members
of the Freewill Baptist Church. Few men in this vicinity are
held in higher esteem than is Calvin Timmons.
Source: Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union &
Morrow, Ohio; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1895, pp.
447-448
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist. |
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EDWIN B. TURNER
has for the past ten years been superintendent of the
Children's Home of Union county, Ohio, located near
Marysville. This is his native city and has always
been his place of residence. He was born on the 25th
of November, 1851, and is a son of the late Judge Turner,
a well known and prominent citizen of Union county, who died
in 1859. His mother, who bore the name of Elizabeth
Gibson, was a native of Virginia.
In his parents' home, our subject spent the days of his
boyhood and youth, and in the public schools of his native
city acquired his education. About 1884 he received an
appointment as superintendent of the Children's Home, and
has served in that capacity continuously since in a most
creditable and acceptable manner. The Home is well
kept up, and his efficient administration of the affairs
connected therewith reflects honor upon himself and shows
the wisdom of the selection of those who chose him for
office.
In 1874, Mr. Turner was united in marriage, the
lady of his choice being Miss Mary C. Severn daughter
of James Sevirn, of New Dover, Ohio. She is a
lady of culture, refinement and high education, and before
her marriage was a most popular teacher. By the union
of our subject and his wife has been born one child, a
daughter - Allie B., who is a young lady of
rare musical ability. At the time of this writing, in
the fall of 1894, she is a student in Delaware College.
Mr. Turner has followed in the political
footsteps of his father, the Judge, who was a stalwart
Republican, having supported the men and measures of that
party since attaining his majority. He keeps well
informed on the issues of the day and takes great interest
in the growth and success of his party, but has never been
an active politician in the sense of office-seeking.
He is a member of the Odd Fellows Society and Encampment,
and he and his wife and daughter hold membership with the
Methodist Episcopal Church. The family is one of
prominence in the community, and the household is noted for
its hospitality. Mr. Turner is ever alive to
the best interests of Marysville and Union county, and is a
loyal citizen. His entire life has been passed in
Marysville, and those who have known him from boyhood are
numbered among his stanchest friends, a fact which
indicates an honorable and upright career.
~ Page 95 - Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union and
Morrow, Ohio - Illustrated -
Publ: Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1895. |
NOTES:
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