Fayette County, Ohio - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1914 (part 7 of 11)

He to whom this review is mainly devoted was reared on his father's farm in Concord township, and secured his elementary education in the district schools of the neighborhood and the graded schools of Staunton. He supplemented this by four years' study in the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business University at Valparaiso, Indiana. He returned home in the fall of 1892 and remained on the farm until the following year, when for a short time he was engaged in the poultry business at Sabina, Clinton county. He then sold his interests there and secured employment in a bank at Sabina for two years. His business and banking experience were valuable in an educational way and he was well qualified when, in the fall of 1895, he accepted the position of teller in the People's and Drovers' Bank in Washmgton C. H. He faithfully and efficiently performed the duties of that posi- tion until the spring of 1899 and in the summer of that year he organized the Fayette County Bank, of which he was cashier for several years, since which time he has served as president. The Fayette County Bank was organized with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, which was afterward increased to one hundred thousand dollars. Its career from the beginning has been a notably successful one and today it is numbered among the strong, reliable and influential banks of western Ohio. The present officers of the bank are as follows: William Worthington, president; Dr, W. E. Ireland, vice-president; Robert Howett, cashier, and Fred Cline, assistant cashier. Much of the success of this popular institution has been directly due to the sound judgment and sagacity of the president, who has devoted himself indefatigably to its interests. Mr. Worthington has also other interests, being a director of the Fayette Grain Company and a stockholder in several other concerns, besides which he owns one thousand acres of good land in Concord township and one hundred and seventeen acres in Marion township. He is essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he undertakes, and has won and retains the confidence of all classes.

On the 24th day of November, 1895, William Worthington was married to Mepha Overman, who was born in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of W. C. and Elizabeth Ann (Young) Overman, and to their union have been born two children, Edith and Jean. Mrs, Worthington's parents were natives of Ohio, the mother dying when her daughter was a child of but eight years. Her father is still living. There were two children in this family besides Mrs. Worthington, Bruff and Ella. Mrs. Worthington is a well educated woman, having supplemented her public school course by attendance in the Lebanon Normal School. She is a lady of many gracious qualities of mind and heart and is well liked by all who know her.

Politically, Mr. Worthington is a supporter of the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, being a wide reader and a close observer of passing events. Fraternally, he is a member of the Fayette Lodge No. 107, Free and Accepted Masons, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is also identified with the Young Men's Christian Association, in the various activities of which he is deeply interested. He is a warm supporter and ardent advocate of every measure which, in any way, promises to benefit the community, and is rightfully numbered among the representative and influential

James M. Hartman

The men most influential in promoting the advancement of civilization and in giving character to the times in which they live are of two general classes, the men of study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted for the improvement of this age to the one class or to the other is a question of honest difference in opinion. Neither class can be spared and both should be encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence. J. M. Hartman is a man who combines the leading characteristics of the scholar and the energy of the public-spirited man of affairs. For more than a quarter of a century he has been a teacher in Union township, Fayette county, Ohio, and has made his influence felt, not only in the school life, but in all phases of the life of his community.

James M. Hartman, the superintendent of the Union township schools, the son of John and Sarah (Smith) Hartman, was born April 19, 1869, in Marion township, this county. His father was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and settled in Fayette county before the war. He served in that memorable conflict as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army of the Potomac for three and one-half years. After the close of the war he returned to Fayette county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Union township, where he is still living. John Hartman and wife were the parents of seven children, Charles, Frank, James M., Edward, Thomas, Margaret and Maud. All of these children are still living except Edward, Margaret, Maud and Thomas.

James M. Hartman received his education in Fayette county and later took a course in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He began teaching at the age of nineteen and has been connected with the schools of this county ever since. For the past five years he has been superintendent of the township schools of Union township, being the only township superintendent in the county and he is now district superintendent of Union, Wayne and Marion townships. He keeps fully abreast of the latest methods of teaching and, being a diligent student of educational matters, is recognized as one of the ablest teachers of the county. He lives on a small farm of twenty-four acres about three miles from Washington C. H. í ;

Mr. Hartman was married October 7, 1897, to Grace McCoy, the daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Cockerell) McCoy. Mrs. Hartman's mother is one of the oldest settlers of the county and is still hale and hearty.

in political-matters. At the present time he is a candidate for the office of auditor of his county. Mr. Hartman has devoted his life to the teaching profession and has lived an unselfish, helpful and altruistic life, whereby the hundreds of young people who have gone to school to him will become better men and women. Because of the good he has done and the life he has lived, he is eminently entitled to representation in the history of his county.

Leondis Baughn

There are several families in Fayette county, Ohio, who are descendants of the pioneers who settled here more than a century ago. One of the sturdy Virginian families to come to this county in 1811 was the Baughn family. Lester Baughn was the first member of the family to locate in Fayette county, and he came with his wife, Margaret, and his three brothers a year or so after the county was organized. One of the children born to Lester and Margaret Baughn was James, the grandfather of Leondis Baughn, with whom this narrative deals. James was born in this county, grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Bush. William Baughn, the father of Leondis, was one of the children born to James and Elizabeth (Bush) Baughn. He grew to manhood in Union township, where he was born, and enlisted. on August 9, 1862, in Company C, Ninetieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of the war. His regiment was in twentysix battles of that memorable struggle, and he was never found missing from roll call when duty demanded that he should be there. After the close of the war he returned to Fayette county and began farming in Union township, where he is still living today. His wife died February 28, 1911, and is buried at the Sugar Creek Baptist church. Three children were born to William and Mary C. (Hines) Baughn, Jesse, Leondis and Pearl. Jesse married Etta Hidy and has three children, Floyd, Inez and Loren; Pearl married Stella Wilson.

Leondis Baughn, the fourth in direct descent from the first member of the family to come to this county, was born in Jefferson township, January 30, 1872. He received such schooling as was given in the district schools of his neighborhood and later attended the graded schools in Bloomingburg. As a youth he was studious and, being interested in educational matters, it was Aural that he should turn to the teaching profession after leaving school as a student. He taught very successfully in Madison county for four years, but upon his marriage decided to leave the school room and engage in farming. He bought a highly improved farm of eighty acres three miles . south of Bloomingburg in 1896, and has made a pronounced success along agricultural lines. He is a man of wide reading and is thoroughly in touch with all of the latest methods in farming.

Mr. Baughn was married July 30, 1896, to Eva M. Thornton, the daughter of Anderson and Rachel (Snook) Thornton, and to this union has been born one child, who died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Baughn is a member of the new Progressive party, having joined it upon its organization in the summer of 1912. He believes that the Progressive party is the expression of the people's aspirations for a larger, freer and better political, economic and social life. Being a man of broad education, it is but natural that he should be deeply interested in political -matters, although he has never been an aspirant for a political office. He and his wife are affiliated with the Baptist church, in whose welfare they are interested and to whose support they are contributors.

The well known gentleman to a review of whose life the following lines are devoted is a native of the old Buckeye state and of this county, having been born on August 25, 1858, in Perry township, the son of E. J. and Hester (Cockerill) Lynch. E. J. Lynch was a native of Virginia, born at the family home on the Roanoke river, and throughout his life was a farmer. He was a son of Kentchen and Mary (Edmonds) Lynch, the former of whom also was a native of Virginia and was a son of William Lynch. The family first came to this state in 1843, Kentchen (the subject's grandfather ) emigrating westward with his family in search of better opportunities' than their native state offered. At that time E. J. was a young man of eighteen years, having been born on December 25, 1825. The family first settled on the Trimble prairie, near Sabina, and lived there for many years. Kentchen Lynch was the father of the following children, namely: Edward J., father of the subject; George H., Margaret, Elizabeth, Hezekiah and Mary C., all deceased, while Lily, the wife of R. Brake, resides in California and Martha _is deceased. E. J. Lynch had no school advantages when young and learned reading and spelling at home. However, when twenty-six years of age an opportunity came for him to obtain a better education, and so eager was he to do so that in spite of his age he faithfully took up the studies which should have been his when a youth, and he became a fairly well educated man. When a young man, together with several friends he journeyed into the West in search of a better location than Ohio afforded, but not being impressed with anything they saw they gladly returned to this state and for eleven years the subject's father worked on various farms, hiring out by the month. At the time of his marriage he settled down on a farm which he rented and in this way began business for himself. He was shrewd and energetic and was considered a successful man. At the time of his death he owned a farm and had reared his family of six children. Charles, the subject, was the oldest of the family; William lives at Washington C. H.; Eleanore resides in Washington C. H.; Ella lives in Springfeld, Ohio; Edward M., the youngest of the family, is deceased; James C. is teaching school and lives at Bloomingburg.

When a boy Charles Lynch attended the schools of Perry township near his home, later taking the higher grades at Washington C. H. He early learned the meaning of "hard work" and passed a busy young manhood, remaining with the father until attaining his majority. For four years he was engaged in teaching school in Perry township and moved to Bloomingburg in 1886, since which time he has been regarded as one of the more prominent citizens of this locality. He at first was connected with the drayage business and served the town as mayor. In 1894 he turned to the vocation of farming, and now resides on his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on the Midway pike, about three miles north of Bloomingburg. Mr. Lynch occupies a prominent place in the esteem of the people of the community and is universally respected for his manly character. He lives to a good and useful purpose and the position he occupies in the community has been honestly and well merited: As a business man his methods have always been correct and fair dealing has characterized all of his transactions with his fellow men. Personally, he possesses those qualities calculated to inspire confidence in others and consequently is liked by all classes and conditions of people. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never had the time nor inclination to take a very active part in political work. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, serving both as trustee and steward of the local society, and being intensely interested in every department of church work. His fraternal affiliations are with the ancient body of Free and Accepted Masons and the Eastern Star. Mr.

Lynch is also one of the most active Grangers of this locality, doing all within his power to further the good work of the local organization.

Mr. Lynch was, on February 7, 1894, united in marriage with Emma Hays, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Parker) Hays, who bore him four children, and departed this life on April 16, 1908. Mrs. Lynch was an earnest and devoted woman, winning to herself many friends by her sterling qualities of heart and mind. She is buried at Bloomingburg cemetery. Charles E., the oldest child of the family, is engaged in farming and remains in the home, as do also Ray Parker, Candace and Walter M., all of whom are still in school. Mr. Lynch surrounds his family with many of the comforts and conveniences of life, carefully directing his children in ways of usefulness and happiness. He is regarded as one of the substantial men of the community and as such is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character. .

Jacob- Comms

The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the attention of the reader is directed is among the well known and representative citizens of Union township, Fayette county, Ohio. He has, by his enterprise and progressive methods, contributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality, and during the course of an honorable career has been fairly successful in his business enterprises, having been a man of energy, sound judgment and honesty of purpose and is thus well deserving of mention in this volume.

Jacob H. Coil was born on November 11, 1853, in this county on what was known as the old Coil farm, being the son of Samuel and Sarah (Fults) Coil, the former of whom was born also on the old Coil farm and was in his day one of the most prominent farmers of the county. When the subject was six weeks old, his parents moved to Union township to the farm, part of which the subject now owns and where he has ever since made his home. Mr. Coil owns about three hundred acres located on the Sabina pike and also owns one hundred acres of the old home place. Living with him is his brother, Jasper L. Coil, and together the two operate the business of the farm, in which enterprise they are quite successful. Samuel Coil, father of the immediate subject, was a son of John and Mary Coil, the former of whom was born in Virginia and came to Union township about the year 1812. He was a man of great energy and enterprise and took out government land to the extent of twelve hundred acres, at the time James Madison was Presi- dent of the United States. The land he thus obtained was in a primitive state and through his efforts almost all of it was placed in a state of cultivation. He was 'the father of the following children: Isaac, Elias, Amos, John, William, Abraham, Simon, Jane (who is still living at St. Mary, Ohio) and Samuel, father of the immediate subject. To each one of his children he gave one hundred acres of land in this county, thus starting them out in life, and it is an interesting fact that not one of the twelve failed, all having made good.

Samuel Coil started on his hundred-acre tract and later moved to the homestead in Union township, where he reared his family. He chose as his life companion Sarah Fults, the daughter of Peter and Frances (Rankin) Fults. The former was a native of Pendleton county, Virginia, and came to this state when a young man. He first located in Ross county, near Chillicothe, later coming to Fayette county, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was the father of eight children, namely: Jacob, Simon, John, Jerry and Thomas, all deceased, Phoebe, Sarah (subject's mother) and Jane. The subject was the eldest of a family of six children, the others being Jesse, Mary, Ida and Alice, all deceased, Jasper L., hereinbefore mentioned, and Jacob H. are the only surviving members of the family. Those deceased are all buried in the Coil cemetery on the old Coil farm.

When a boy, Jacob H. Coil attended school in district No. 4, known familiarly at that time as "Pop Gun College," later attending Midland school, where he received the balance of his education. From his early youth he had assisted the father in the work about the homestead and when, in his twenty-first year, his father died he had received such careful training in agricultural work that he was able to take up the work where his father left off and assisted the mother in raising the balance of the family. The mother survived the father a number of years, having passed away only a few years ago. Mr. Coil has lived an active and well-rounded life. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party and has always taken an active interest in politics. For six years he was a member of the school board and has always been ready and willing to do anything in his power to advance the welfare of the community along educational, social or moral lines. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Protestant church, in the work of which organization he takes a commendable interest. While living a quiet and retired life, devoting himself primarily to his own interests, Mr. Coil has a keen appreciation of what constitutes good citizenship, being always 'ready to back up his theories with actual service if necessary. He is one of the highly respected citizens of his community, having established a firm reputation for honesty of purpose in his dealings with his fellow men and by being the advocate of clean and wholesome principles in the home, society and politics.

Pelix Welton Green

A farmer and stock raiser of Fayette county, Ohio, who has made a pronounced success of his chosen life work is F. Welton Green, one of the substantial farmers of Jasper township. He came to this county about thirtythree years ago and started in with practically nothing, but by good management and close economy he has accumulated a fine farm of two hundred acres. The success which has attended his efforts has not caused him to forget his obligations as a public-spirited citizen and his support on all measures of general welfare has given him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.

E. Welton Green, the son of Charles and Angeline (Cunningham) Green, was born in Warren county, Virginia, December 3, 1847. His father was born in Prince William county, Virginia, and lived his whole life in the state of his nativity. Charles Green and wife reared a family of six children, Laura, William V., E. Welton, Mrs. Kate Seymour, Mrs. Jennie Scott and Seymour. The family were Presbyterians in faith and were prominent im the life of their community in Virginia.

The education of F. Welton Green was received in the district schools and Front Royal Academy, Virginia. He worked on the farm until the Civil War opened and then, although but fifteen years of age, enlisted in Company E, Seventh Regiment, Third Squadron, Virginia Cavalry. He served under Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee in northern Virginia until the close of the war. He then took up farming and has made it his life work. He married in 1871 and started farming in Warren county, coming to Fayette county in about 1881. He bought part of his present farm in Jasper township upon coming to this county and has since added to his original holdings until he now has a well improved farm of two hundred acres. He has been a careful farmer and has always ranked with the best in his township, always adding the latest machinery to his equipment, thereby being able to get the maximum results from his efforts.

the Confederate army, being a lieutenant of Company F, Second Regiment, Virginia Infantry. He was killed at the second battle of Bull Run. To Mr. and Mrs. Green have been born four daughters, Besse, Anna, Mae and Jennie. Besse is the wife of Edwin Dice and has two sons, Maxwell and James. Anna was the wife of Jesse Coil, but is now deceased. Mae became the wife of Roy Rankin and has two children, Arley R. and Marion E. Jennie is the wife of Albert Leach and has one daughter, Margaret. The mother of these children died in 1907. She was a member of Grace church at Alexandria, Virginia, the same to which George Washington belonged. Mr. Green is a Democrat in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his attention to his agricultural affairs,

Salathiel H. Carr

The reader's attention is now called to a short sketch of the career of Salathiel. H. Carr, now living in comfortable retirement after a strenuous life spent in agricultural circles. By his enterprise and progressive methods he has contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the community, and because of his high character and unquestioned integrity, he enjoys to a marked degree the sincere respect of the community.

Salathiel H. Carr was born on March 15, 1845, in Union township, layette county, Ohio, on the same farm where he is at present residing, being the son of Jacob and Polly (Herrod) Carr. Jacob Carr was born in 1817 in Madison county, this state, but was brought to Fayette county by his parents when but a baby. His parents were Joab and Malinda Carr, coming to this state from Virginia and being among the first settlers in this section of the country. Jacob, father of the immediate subject, was a small boy about seven years of age when both his parents died and he was taken into the home of a first cousin, by whom he was reared to manhood. For a number of years he assisted this cousin about his farm, later buying one hundred and thirty-two acres, where he lived for many years and where the subject now resides. The subject was one of a family of nine children, the others being Matilda (Mrs. Thornton), Ella (Mrs. Thornton), Eliza, David, May (Mrs. Baughan), Susan, Jesse and Amanda.

Mr. Carr received his education in the schools of the neighborhood where his boyhood days were passed, attending first district No. 6, which was a little primitive log structure, later finishing in the more modern school near the cemetery and about a quarter of a mile from his home. When quite young he began to assist his cousin about the farm and throughout his school days his spare time was passed in this manner. When twenty years of age he began renting land and farming on his own account, and in this one community has passed his entire life of sixty-nine years. He was quite successful in his chosen vocation of farming and had also quite an enviable reputation as a successful stock raiser.

Mr. Carr chose as his life companion Isabella Thompson, born in Ross county, near Austin, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Lucas) Thompson, with whom he was united in marriage in 1871. Mrs. Carr's parents come from old families of Virginia and were early settlers in Ross county. They were the parents of twelve children, Carrie, Henry, Elijah, Thomas, Austin, Dennis, Isabella, Sarah, Mattie, Lucy and two children who died in early infancy. Mrs. Carr passed from this life on June 22, 1908, and lies buried in the cemetery at Washington C. H. She was a very devout Christian woman, her sympathies large enough to embrace all creeds, and was never happier than when in the discharge of some helpful duty. Mr. and Mrs. Carr became the parents of six children, the eldest of whom, Delbert, died when young. Noah married Ella Craig and is the father of two children, Herrod and Richard. Frank chose as his wife Nettie Elliott and has one son, Delbert. Maud became the wife of Jesse Craig and is the mother of a little daughter, Margaret. The remaining ones of the family are Blanchard and Leroy.

Mr. Carr gives his earnest support to the old-line Republican party, having more than a nominal interest in the affairs of same. For six years he served as trustee of Union township and has been otherwise active in party affairs. He gives his moral and material support to church societies of different denominations and does all within his power to advance the moral, educational and material welfare of the community. While Mr. Carr's life has been a quiet one, not possessing any spectacular scenes, yet it has been filled with quiet, steady purpose and an honest ambition to fill well his place as-a man and citizen. It is just such quiet, substantial lives which are the backbone and sinew of the life of the nation, for, after all, the life of the town or community, the state or nation, is really only what the individual life makes them and the nation has need of men of high ideals and quiet, steadfast purpose. Throughout his life, Mr. Carr has so lived as to endear himself to a great number of friends and is well known all over the county.

Horace W. Wilson

There are one thousand eight hundred and forty-six farms in Fayette county, Ohio, and of this number there are only forty-three with an acreage of more than five hundred acres. Some of these large farms have come about as a result of inheritance and others have been the result of the individual labors of the owners. One of the most successful farmers of Marion township is Horace W. Wilson, who, by his own initiative, has accumulated a farm of six hundred acres, having started in with nothing at the beginning of his career. He started out to work by the month and later bought a small farm and to this has added from time to time until he has become the owner of his present fine farm. It has taken good management, close economy and progressive farming, and these qualities are strikingly exemplified in the career of Mr. Wilson. While he has been accumulating a comfortable fortune of his own, he has not neglected to bear his full share of the burdens of community life and has always been known as a public-spirited citizen, interested in everything which pertains to the welfare of his township and county.

Horace W. Wilson, the proprietor of Maple Lawn Stock Farm, on the Bloomingburg and New Holland pike, was born January 28, 1857, in Green township, Fayette county, Ohio. He is the son of John and Martha Jf (Cockerell) Wilson, and one of eight children born to his parents, the others being Mrs. Clara Neil, William G., Mrs. Sylvitha Hidy, J. M., Charles, John and Chilton P. John Wilson was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and came to this county with his parents, William and Peachy (Fishback) Wilson, about 1810 or 1812. John Wilson was a farmer and merchant and a man of prominence in his community. He was a man of excellent intellectual attainments and gave his children the best advantages which the schools of that early day afforded.

Horace W. Wilson attended the schools of Perry township and remained at home with his father on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he began to work out by the month, saving his wages with the intention of purchasing a farm of his own. He first bought one hundred and fourteen acres in Perry township, this county, and two years later sold it and purchased a farm in Ross county, Ohio, where he lived for a while, and then sold his farm at a good profit and invested the proceeds in land in Marion township, this county. After locating in Marion township, he added to his land holdings until he now has six hundred acres of as good land as can be found within the county. He has a beautiful country home, com- modious and convenient barns and everything which the up-to-date farmer needs for the successful tilling of the soil. He is one of the largest stock raisers of the county and sells stock by the car load every year.

Mr. Wilson was married in 1882 to Emma J. Cline, the daughter of William and Naomi (Glascow) Cline, and to this union have been born five children, Ethel, Glenn, Ray, Verne and Dale. Glenn married Ada King, and has two children, Horace and an infant unnamed.

The Republican party has received the support of Mr. Wilson since reaching his majority and, despite his heavy agricultural interests, he has always been deeply interested in local political matters. At the present time he is serving on the school board of his township and doing everything within his power for the advancement of the educational interests of his township. He and his family are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, to whose support they are generous contributors. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Wilson has a wide circle of friends throughout the township and county and, owing to his honesty in business and his upright social and private life, he well merits the high esteem in which he is held by every one with whom he is associated. Thus far his life has been one of strenuous activity and, by reason of the success with which it has been attended, his friends are justified in predicting for him a future of still greater usefulness and distinction.

James Cole

It is the custom with many farmers even in this day of known advantage in putting all corn and hay raised on a farm into stock, to sell the grain which they raise and only deal to a limited extent in live stock. Time has shown that this course is unwise and those farmers who stick to that obsolete custom are the losers. It is found that the best results are obtained from making the sale of live stock the first consideration, and it is not necessary to point out that most of the successful farmers have long ago adopted this practice. Aside from the improvement of the farm and the dealings in farms . perhaps, it is probably the fact that the great majority of the wealthiest farmers have obtained all or nearly all of their wealth from their dealings in live stock. Such at least has been very largely the case of the subject of this sketch, who is now considered one of the most successful farmers of the

James Cole, farmer and stock raiser, living on his fine farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres one and a half miles from Bloomingburg, is a native of the state of Tennessee, born in Carter county on July 4, 1854. He is a son of Joseph and Mahala (Garling) Cole, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the former being born in Johnson county and one of the most skilled blacksmiths of his day in that locality. Joseph was a son of Samson, who was also a blacksmith in addition to conducting the business of a farm. Samson was the father of seven children, James, David, Jesse, Joseph (father of our immediate subject), Jonathan and Winnie. Joseph, the subject's father, was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. He was the father of three children, the subject being the eldest. After the death of the father and the close of the war, this little family was sadly separated, the subject going into the country, where he worked on farms and became familiar with the ways of the agriculturist. In 1882 he came to this county, settling on the Squires farm and for ten years hired out his services to the farmers of the neighborhood. He then began farming on the share and succeeded so well that in due time he was able to purchase a tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres, which he retained and tilled for some time and upon the sale of it he purchased his present excellent farm. In his business methods, Mr. Cole is one of the most progressive farmers of this section, giving careful study and thought to every branch of his business. He is deserving of a great amount of credit for the way in which he has forged to the front and while his unremitting effort has been directed toward the goal ` of material success, he has never forgotten his duty as a citizen and father of a growing family. To this end whatever he could do to forward the social, moral, material or educational life of the community has been most gladly done and his manner of life and intercourse with his neighbors has won for him the kindest regard of all.

Mr. Cole was married when he came to this county, having been joined in holy wedlock with Amanda Taylor, daughter of David and Jane ( Blevens) Taylor, on September 29, 1880. Mrs. Cole is a native of Tennessee, where for many years her father was employed in the ore mines. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cole has been blessed with four children, the eldest of whom, Harget, they were so unfortunate to lose. The rest of the family, Earl F., Jessie M. and James P., are with the parents.

through the local lodge at Bloomingburg, and he is highly interested in the workings of that order. Politically, he supports the Republican party, but, while much interested in the party's affairs, has never found much time to devote to politics generally. He is at present serving Union township as a school director, making a most efficient member of that body. In all the affairs of life Mr. Cole is regarded as a man among men. His honor and integrity, as well as his energy and ability, are above question, while his sincere friendliness has won and retains for him an ever-increasing circle of

Ray Wilson

One of the most enterprising farmers of Fayette county, Ohio, is he whose name forms the caption of this review. While still a young man, he has succeeded in a manner which might well be gratifying to a man twice his age. He is thoroughly up to date in all phases of agriculture, employing in his business only the most modern methods as approved by science and good usage. His farm, containing two hundred and five acres of as fine land as the county boasts, is located on the Columbus pike, about two and one-half miles from Washington C. H. Mr. Wilson has recently constructed a comfortable and attractive residence on this farm and all farm buildings are both neat and well adapted to their various purposes.

Ray Wilson was born on April 10, 1887, on a farm located about six miles south of Washington C. H., being a son of H. W. and Emma J.° (Cline) Wilson, the former being a native of this county also, and almost his entire life has been passed within its borders. He has long been one of the most prominent farmers of this section. Several years ago he decided to seek the favor of Dame Fortune in the western part of the country, but after a short sojourn there, he returned to his native state and has since here remained. He is the father of five children, those other than the subject being Ethel, Verne and Dale, remaining at home with the parents, and Glenn.

The subject received his elementary education at the Greenville Pike school and also on the Circleville pike, east of Washington C. H., finishing later in Marion township. He also took a commercial course at the Bliss Business College. This liberal education well fitted him for his chosen vocation of farming, in which he engaged on his own account at the age of nineteen. He first rented various tracts of land, which he tilled, being signally successful in his venture. In addition to his home farm, he is now also man- aging a portion of his father's estate. He makes a specialty of breeding and selling Shire horses, in which venture he has met with gratifying success.

On January 2, 1913, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Marie Pavey, daughter of Austin and Ellen (Burris) Pavey, residents of Sabina, this state, being prominent farmers in that locality. One child, Robert Pavey, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson October 15, 1914.

Ever since attaining his majority, Mr. Wilson has given his earnest support to the Republican party, although he has never been a seeker after office. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church, while that of Mrs. Wilson is with the Methodist Episcopal church, both giving their most earnest support to these two church organizations. In the public life of the community where he lives, Mr. Wilson takes an intelligent interest, setting for himself a high standard of citizenship. He is a man of strong character and acknowledged ability and because of these elements and his genuine personal worth he enjoys a marked popularity in the locality honored with his residence.

Elba Wilson

Born during the last year of the Civil War, Elba Wilson has been a resident of Fayette county since the day of his birth. He has never been seized with the desire to wander, but has been satisfied to spend his career in the county which gave him birth. There is no better farming county in the state than Fayette, a county which, according to the census of Ig10, produced $3,129,313 worth of farm products. Consequently, there is no good reason why a farmer should want to leave this county to seek his fortune elsewhere. The success which has attended Mr. Wilson's efforts is sufficient evidence that he has made no mistake in choosing to remain in the county where he was born.

Elba Wilson, the present road superintendent of Union township, was born December 14, 1865, in Perry township, near New Martinsburg. He is the son of James M. and Martha (Simmons) Wilson, natives of this county, and the parents of six children: Libby (deceased), Wesley, Mrs. Armilda Cox, Elba, Mrs. Emma Chaffin and Trustin (deceased). James M. Wilson was the son of Wesley Wilson, who was born in Virginia and located in Greene county, Ohio, early in its history.

Mr. Wilson received a good common school education in the district schools of his home township and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age. He then secured two old horses and started - to farm on some land belonging to Samuel Hidy. He continued to rent until his marriage, when he bought his present farm in Union township and has lived on this farm ever since. He is recognized as one of the best farmers of his township because of his progressive methods. He has paid special attention to stock raising and has been very successful along this particular line of endeavor. His farm is well improved and he takes pride in keeping everything about him in a neat and attractive manner.

Mr. Wilson was married October 5, 1887, to Almedia Hidy, the daughter of Simon and Mary F. (Adams) Hidy. Simon Hidy was the son of George Hidy, a native of Virginia and an early settler of Union township. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Grace, who married Alva McCoy, and has four children, Harry, Lillian, Willard and Marion.

The Democratic party has claimed the support of Mr. Wilson and he has been one of the leaders in his party for many years, always active and foremost in its councils. He served for several years on the school board of Union township and at the present time is filling the responsible position of road superintendent in his township. Mr. Wilson is a man of pleasing personality and is one of the best known and liked men in the county. While primarily devoted to his own interests, he has not neglected his duty as a member of society and gives his hearty support to all public-spirited enterprises.

A successful farmer and stock raiser and one of the representative citizens of the county is he whose name forms the caption of this article. Martin McCoy has attained his present comfortable station in life by close application to his affairs, being blessed with undaunted courage, energy and business ability above the ordinary. His course is especially commendable in that he has won his way from humble beginnings and while he has achieved success along financial lines, he has also so ordered his life as to win the confidence and trust of his fellow citizens in every respect.

Mr. McCoy was born in Union township, Fayette county, Ohio, on June 26, 1855, being the son of Abraham and Margaret (Hoppes) McCoy. Abraham also was a native of this county, having been born in Union township and was the son of James. The father of James was one of the first settlers in the state, coming here in 1812 from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He lived to be one hundred and six years old. Abraham, father of the immediate subject, was one of the pioneer settlers of this county and was a large and prosperous farmer in his day. He was the father of a family of ten children, Elias, Sarah (Mrs. Briggs), John, James, Nancy (Mrs. Melvin), Martin (the immediate subject), Mary (Mrs. Burnett), Allie (Mrs. James), F, M. and Mrs. Clara Cleveland (deceased).

When a boy the subject attended the district schools of his home locality and from early boyhood assisted the father in the work of the homestead. When quite a young man he started out in life for himself, finally renting and farming the tract of land which he later purchased and where he now makes his home. In this home farm he has one hundred and ten acres, all in an excellent state of cultivation. In addition to the general farming which he does he also is greatly interested in blooded stock. He has a fine herd of cattle of the Angus breed and had made more than a local reputation for himself in this line. He also gives considerable attention to swine, his hogs being the Spotted Poland-China breed. In addition to the home farm, he also owns another farm above Washington C. H., containing some three hundred and eighty-six acres. Mr. McCoy has labored hard for the success which he has won, same being commensurate with the amount of energy, brain and brawn which he put into his enterprise.

On November 28, 1883, Mr. McCoy was united in marriage with Anna M. Parrett, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Connor) Parrett, and to their union have been born four children. They had the misfortune to lose their second born, Florence. Walter, the son, is a graduate of Washington high school, taught school for a number of years and is now located in Greensburg, Indiana. His wife was Ruth Allen. Ruth is a graduate of the high school, fitted herself for a teacher and is now employed in the schools of the township. Dorris, the youngest daughter, still remains at home, attending school. Mr. McCoy is a man of marked domestic tastes, finding his greatest enjoyment in his home and with his family. This family is considered one of the leading ones of the community, being broad-minded and interested in all that makes for the welfare of their home community.

Mr. McCoy's political affiliation is with the Democratic party, in the affairs of which he takes a commendable interest, and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church except Walter and wife, who are members of the Christian church. Mr. McCoy is one of the sterling men of strength of character so essential to the best growth and development of a community. gladly giving his influence to promote the social, moral, material or educational development of his home locality. During his long and industrious career, he has not only gained the confidence of his fellow men, but as a man of responsibility, upright and honest in his dealings with his fellow men, he has gained the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

The man who starts out when he is fourteen years of age to seek his fortune will find it if he has the necessary ambition and ability. Such a man is Bruce Pine, who started out for himself at a time when the boys of today are still in school. Beginning at the foot of the ladder, he has earned his way to independence solely through his own efforts and therefore is eminently entitled to recognition in this history of his county. Not only has he made a name for himself as an efficient farmer, but he has also taken an active part in the life of the community about him, thereby earning the approbation of his fellow citizens.

Bruce Pine, the son of George and Ellen (Irion) Pine, was born February 3, 1871, at Washington C. H. His father was a native of Martinsburg, West Virginia, and located in Greenfield, Ohio, when he was a young man. After his marriage, George Pine moved to the county seat of Fayette county, where he followed his trade of bricklaving and contracting. In addition to his other interests in Washington C. H., George Pine owned a farm in Union township, where he lived for a time. He and his wife reared a family of six children, Charles, Ward, Dudley, Bruce, Glenn and Frank. The father and mother are buried in the cemetery at Washington C. H.

The education of Bruce Pine was received in the schools of Washington C. H. and the district schools of Union township. At the early age of fourteen he began to work out by the month for Eli Post and, although his wages were very small, he saved enough within a few years to make a payment on a forty-acre farm in Union township. He worked on this farm for several years and then sold it at a good profit and bought his present farm of one hundred and eighteen acres in the same township. He.is a systematic and careful farmer and gets the maximum results for his labor and is rightly classed among the best farmers of the county.

Mr. Pine was married February 20, 1901, to Laura E. Clifton, the daughter of M. J. and Serilda (Mallow) Clifton. Her father was born and reared in Ross county, Ohio, and came to Fayette county about twenty vears ago. M. J. Clifton is the son of Daniel and Eliza Ann (Rogers) Clifton, his father being one of the very first white children born within the present state of Ohio. Eliza Ann Rogers was the daughter of John Rogers, who was the nephew of Benjamin Rogers, one of the first settlers in the state. John Rogers came to Ross county in 1796 from Loudoun county, Virginia, by way of Kentucky, and he helped to build the first cabins in Chillicothe in 1796. Isabella Rogers, the mother of Benjamin, was the oldest woman in the state at the time of her death. Mrs. Pine is one of four children, the others being John M., Charles M. and Arthur B. John lives in Ross county and the other two brothers are residents of Fayette county, both being farmers in Wayne township.

Homer A. Garrett

The successful management of a large farm requires a man of good executive ability, wise discrimination and excellent judgment. lt is the possession of these qualities which has made Homer A. Garrett a successful farmer and, as the manager of the Worthington estate of two hundred and fifty acres, he has demonstrated his right to be classed among tHe most successful farmers of Fayette county.

Homer A. Garrett, the son of Michael A. and Mary M. (Haigh) Garrett, was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 18, 1883. His father was born in the same county and was the son of Dempsey Garrett. Seven children were born to M. A. Garrett and wife, Mrs. Lily Bean, John, Edward, Overton, Mrs. Cora Coffman, Homer A, and Burch W.

The elementary education of Homer A. Garrett was received in the district schools of Highland county. He then attended the Northern Ohio Normal at Ada and graduated from that institution. After leaving school he located in Pulaski county, Illinois, for a time, when he came to Fayette county and took charge of the Worthington estate of two hundred and fifty acres in Concord township. . This is one of the most productive farms of the county and under the management of Mr. Garrett is yielding good returns each year.

Mr. Garrett is a Republican, but has never been active in political matters. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in its various activities. Mr. Garrett is still a young man with a long career before him and the success which has attended his efforts thus far indicate that he will one day be classed among the substantial men of his county.

Glenn Hire Brock

One of the younger farmers of Fayette county in Glenn Hire Brock, who has always lived in the county where he was born, except ten years spent in Madison county, Ohio. Having received an excellent education, he is thoroughly in touch with all of the latest methods of agriculture and is regarded as one of the most progressive farmers of the county. He takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the farmers' interests and is active in all movements which have for their object the effective organization of rural interests. More attention is being paid to the farmer by the United States government at the present time than ever before and millions of dollars are being spent every-vear by the department of agriculture for the benefit of the farmers of the country. Experts are hired to collect all data concerning farming, and the results of their investigations are published and distributed to the farmers free of charge, so that the farmers are thus enabled to have scientific information regarding all phases of their work.

Glenn Hire Brock, the manager of the H. L. Hire estate, was born in this county on July 31, 1886. He is the son of A. J. and Laura (Thomas) Brock, natives of Madison county, Ohio. A. J. Brock is the son of Jackson and Sarah (Little) Brock, natives of Virginia and early settlers in Madison county, Ohio, where they located about 1850. A. J. Brock is a prosperous farmer of that county, although he owns land in Fayette county as well. He and his wife have reared a family of three children to maturity, one son, Lowell, being deceased. The three living children are Floyd, Glenn H. and Eva. Floyd married Merta Mowery and has two children.

Glenn H. Brock received his education in Madison county, and also in Fayette county, finishing the high school course at Jeffersonville, this county. He then entered Ohio State University, where he was in attendance two years, after which he married and took charge of his uncle's large farm in

Glenn H. Brock

Jefferson township. While attending schools during the winter seasons, he worked on his father's farm during the summer vacations and thus obtained an intimate knowledge of all phases of agriculture, so that when he took charge of his uncle's farm, in 1909, he was thoroughly conversant with all the best methods of farming.

Mr. Brock was married February 25, 1909, to Myrtle Watkins, the daughter of James A. and Lauretta (Mock) Watkins. Mr. Watkins and his wife were early pioneers of Greene county, this state, and have a family of two children, Myrtle and Frances.

Politically, Mr. Brock is a Democrat, but as yet has never been active in political matters, the management of his uncle's large farm demanding all of his time and attention. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grange, while he and his wife are both members of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Pythian Sisters.

The occupation of farming offers better opportunities today than ever before for bright young men. Since the advent of modern labor-saving machinery and the attention which is given to scientific farming by the department of agriculture and our colleges throughout the country it is becoming easier for the farmer to make a successful career. Seventy-five years ago there was not a farm journal or paper devoted to the interests of farmers in the country, while today there are hundreds of farm papers in which every phase of farming is treated. Volumes have been written on the themes of horses, cattle and all kinds of live stock; an agricultural encyclopedia has been compiled, while the United States government has issued through its department of agriculture a series of several hundred bulletins which treat in detail everything which could possibly interest the farmer. With all of these helps it is small wonder that there is an increasing number of our young men devoting themselves to agriculture. One of the scientific farmers of Fayette county is Alvin N. Peters, of Wayne township, who, although not a native of this county, has spent the past fifteen years within its limits.

Ohio, in Pickaway county. His father was born near Columbus, Ohio, and later settled in Pickaway county, where he and his wife reared a family of eight children, John, Mary, Mrs. Anna Waddell, Mrs. Alice Barr, Alvin N., Robert G., Lula and Myrtle. All of these children are still living except John and Mary. Robert W. Peters served two years during the Civil War as a member of the First Regiment Ohio Cavalry.

Alvin N. Peters was educated in Pickaway county, attending school during the winter seasons and assisting his father on the farm during the summers. He remained at home until he was married, in February, 1899, and then moved to Fayette county, where he and his young wife went to housekeeping in Wayne township. They purchased a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which they have made many improvements. In addition to his farm of one hundred and fifty acres, Mr. Peters operates an additional three hundred and fifty acres, and with this large acreage he raises a large amount of grain each year and handles several car loads of live stock for the market. Being a man of progressive tendencies, he thoroughly understands every phase of farming and justly merits the name of progressive farmer.

Mr. Peters was married in 1899 to Anna Hoppes, the daughter of John and Rebecca Hoppes, and to this union have been born two children, who are now in school, John R. and Martha L.

Politically, Mr. Peters is a Republican, but has never been active in political matters since coming to this county. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, belonging to the lodge at Greenfield, Ohio. The well regulated life he has led has gained him the respect and admiration of all his fellow citizens'and justly entitles him to representation in the history of his county.

One of the extensive land owners of Fayette county, Ohio, is Charles R. McLean, who owns two hundred and fifty acres in Fayette county and operates two hundred and fifty acres more, making a total of five hundred acres in this county. The McLean family have been prominent in their county history for more than a century and its various members have been active in every phase of the county's growth and development. The McLeans are of Welsh descent and located in this county in 1810. Mr. McLean is a

Charles R. McLean, the son of James A. and Catherine (Briggs) Mc- Lean, was born in Washington C. H. on July 31, 1870. His father was born in the same city in 1841, and served with distinction in the Civil War as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted as a sergeant in this company on August 9, 1862, and was discharged on account of disability arising from sickness after serving a year at the front. He was a civil engineer and helped to plan and lay out the breast works surrounding Vicksburg, and was present at the capture on July 4, 1863. As a civil engineer James A. McLean laid out most of the roads in Fayette county and surveyed a large number of the farms in this county at different times. James A. McLean and wife were the parents of five children, Nettie, Charles R., Lida, Fred and Mary. Nettie is the wife of Dr. Charles James, of Denver, Colorado, and has three children, Wathan, Charline and Marvin; Lida is the wife of George Fabb, and has one son, Charles; Fred married Louise McMullen; Mary is the wife of W. H. Riddel and has three children, Hildreth and twins, Williams and James. James A. McLean and wife were both loyal and consistent members of the Presbyterian church and are now buried in the cemetery at Washington C. H.

Charles R. McLean finished the common school course at Washington C. H. and then entered the University of Kentucky at Danville, where he graduated in the classical course. At the age of twenty-one he began farming and has since devoted all of his time to agricultural pursuits. That he has been remarkably successful is shown by his land holdings. He lives on his fine farm in Wayne township. He is one of the most extensive stock breeders in the county and markets several car loads of live stock annually.

Mr. McLean was married in December, 1904, to Leota Brown, the daughter of Jesse Brown and wife, of Clinton county, this state, and to this union has been born one daughter, Catherine L.

Politically, Mr. McLean gives his allegiance to the Republican party, but his heavy agricultural interests so occupy his time and attention that he has not had the time to mingle in political affairs. However, he takes.an intelligent interest in the issues of the day, and is able to discuss them in a manner which shows that he is thoroughly conversant with the problems now confronting the American people. He is a man of genial disposition, kindly impulses and gives his unreserved support to all measures which have for their end the educational, moral or material advancement of his county.

Washington Lough

No profession has made greater advancement during the last century than the agricultural profession, and practically all of the disadvantages which surrounded the pioneer farmer have disappeared with the introduction of labor-saving machinery. It now takes less labor to operate a farm of fifty acres than it did to operate a farm of ten acres fifty years ago, and inventions are coming into use every year which are helping the farmer to increase his efficiency. Ohio is recognized as one of the best farming states in the Union and no county in this state has better or more progressive farmers than has Fayette county. Among the hundreds of farmers who have made this county famous as an agricultural section there is no one more worthy of a place in this volume than Washington Lough, the proprietor of two hundred and twenty-two acres of fine land in Wayne township. i

Washington Lough, the son of John W. and Mary E. (Mains) Lough, was born February 16, 1879, in Buckskin township, Ross county, this state. His father was a native of Franklin county, Virginia, and after serving throughout the Civil War in the Confederate army under Gen. Robert E. Lee, came to Ohio and located in Ross county. John W. Lough and wife reared a family of six children to maturity, Bert, George, Ada, Washington, Charles and Margaret. Bert, who is deceased, married Medora Rogers, and left his widow with one daughter, Dorothy B.; Ada, deceased, was the wife of Arthur Parrett; George married Elizabeth Lavery, and has two sons, Richard and Weldon, and a daughter, Mildred E.; Charles married Mary Beatty; Margaret is the wife of Arthur Kline and has two children, Louise and Harold.

Washington Lough received part of his education in the district schools of Ross county and completed it in the Salem school in the same county. He spent the summer seasons of his boyhood days working for his father on the home farm and remained under the parental roof until he was married, at the age of twenty-nine. He came to Fayette county in 1894 and located on his present farm of two hundred and twenty-two acres in Wayne township, where he has since resided. He is a progressive farmer, believes in introducing modern methods of tilling the soil and has met with marked success in his efforts. He handles a large amount of live stock each year and has been very successful as a stock raiser.

in Highland county, Ohio, where he is now living the retired life of the farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas were the parents of two children, Laura L., and Mary C., the wife of Mr. Lough. The one child of Mr. and Mrs. Lough, ome Norman, is deceased and is buried at Greenfield, Ohio.

Politically, Mr. Lough is an independent and has never taken an'active part in political matters. He and his wife are loyal and consistent members of the Presbyterian church, in whose welfare they take a deep and abiding interest and to whose support they are liberal contributors. Fraternally, he is a member of the Greenfield lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

One of the younger farmers of Fayette county, Ohio, who is making an enviable record as a progressive farmer is Russell McCoy, the proprietor of one hundred acres of fine land in Wayne township. He started in life with nothing but the ambition to succeed and by good management and close economy has attained to a definite degree of success. His family have been residents of this county for nearly a century and have always been prominently identified with the material, educational, social and religious welfare of the county. With such a heritage it is but natural that Mr. McCoy should be a man of influence in his community, and that he is influential is shown by the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

Russell B. McCoy, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Hackney) McCoy, was born in the township where he is now livi ing on December ro, 1879. His father is the son of Thomas and Margaret McCoy and was born in Wayne township, his father coming to this county early in its history from the state of Virginia. Thomas McCoy, Jr., and wife were the parents of five children, Mary, Russell B., Glenn T. and Oscar E.: the twin of Glenn died in infancy and the other four are still living. .

Russell B. McCoy first attended the Forest Dale school in his home neighborhood and finished his education in the schools of Good Hope in his township.. Like all sons of farmers, he worked on the home farm during the summers while he was attending school in the winter time. In this way he was well grounded in all of the many details which go to make the successful farmer. He was married at the age of twenty-two and rented a farm for nine years: then he bought his present fine farm of one hundred acres in Wayne township. He has placed many improvements on the farm since ac- quiring it and now owns one of the most attractive and well-kept farms in the township. He raises all of the crops which are usually grown in this locality and gives due attention to the raising of live stock as well. He is a good manager and has met with a success commensurate with his efforts.

Mr. McCoy was married December 24, 1901, to Bertha Walker, the daughter of Samuel and Margaret Walker. To this union there have been born three children, Melba, Geraldine and Thomas.

Politically, Mr. McCoy is a member of the Republican party and has always taken an active part in local political matters. At the present time he is serving on the school board of his township and favoring every measure which will help the schools. Mr. McCoy is still a young man and has a long and prosperous future before him. The success which has attended his efforts thus far indicates that he will eventually become one of the most substantial men of his county. He is a man of pleasing personality and has a host of friends who admire him for his many excellent qualities.

Edward W. Douglas

Although still a young man, Edward W. Douglas has shown marked ability along several different lines. Receiving a good education, he started in at the age of nineteen to teach school and while teaching saved his money, investing it in land. He farmed for a time and then added a garage and an automobile department.

Edward W. Douglas, the son of Asa and Mary (Beal) Douglas, was born November 20, 1883, in Madison township, this county. His father was a native of Madison county, Ohio, and is the son of J. W. and Mary Elizabeth Douglas, early pioneers of that county. J. W. Douglas and wife reared a family of ten children, Asa, Mrs. Kate Fitzgerald, Mrs. Jane Deal, Mrs. Kemp Hunter, Mrs. Margaret Camp, Perry, John, William, Richard and Mrs. Harley Downs. Asa Douglas came to Fayette county when a young man and later located in Benton county, Indiana, near Fowler, where he lived for a time and then returned to Fayette county and settled in Madison township, on a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres one mile from Madison Mills.

Edward W. Douglas was educated in the Benton county, Indiana, and Fayette county, Ohio, schools, finishing his education at Madison Mills. At the age of nineteen he began teaching school in Jefferson township and taught for a few years. He then decided to engage in farming on his father's farm.

He has also secured the agency for the Perry automobiles and has sold a number of these machines throughout the county. He has a garage fitted with machinery, where a large amount of automobile repairing is done. He divides his attention between his farming interests and his automobile business, with the result that he is building up a reputation as one of the business men of his section of the county.

Mr. Douglas was married in 1903 to Stella Ritenour, the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Vanorsdall) Ritenour, and to this union have been born four children, Freda M., Sherrill J., Russell E. and Max.

Politically, Mr. Douglas is a Democrat, but his business interests have prevented his taking a very active part in political matters, although he is interested in everything which pertains to good government. Mr. Douglas is a man of genial personality, honest convictions on matters of public welfare, and a man vitally interested in the life of his community.

One of the largest and at the same time one of the youngest farmers of Fayette county is Charles E. Sheridan, who is now farming seven hundred acres of fine land in Concord township. He is a man of excellent education and has made a pronounced success of his chosen life work because he has applied the latest and most scientific methods in his work. It is safe to say that he has made more striking advances along agricultural lines than any other man in the county. Commencing six years ago, he has been overseer of the C. C. Lewis tract of seven hundred acres.

Charles E. Sheridan, the son of William H. and Maggie (Craig) Sheridan, was born August 12, 1889, on the farm where he is now living. He is the second child of William Sheridan. He received his elementary education in the district schools of Union township and then attended the graded schools at Bunker Hill, Ohio. He then entered Bliss Business College, Columbus, Ohio, where he attended two years. He married at the age of nineteen and at once began farming for himself in Concord township. He settled where he now lives in 1898 and has since been overseer of this farm since his father retired in 1908. It is needless to say that he has been successful since he took charge of this farm, for its size demands ability of the highest kind. He is one of the largest stock raisers of the county and ships

Mr. Sheridan was married September 19, 1908, to Augusta Grandle, the daughter of Reuben and Hattie (Ruff) Grandle. Mrs. Sheridan's parents were born in Staunton, Virginia, and located in Highland county several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Grandle reared a family of eight children, Preston, Loberta, Buckey, Daisy, Lydia, Arthur, Harley, and Augusta, the wife of Mr. Sheridan.

The Democratic party claims the support of Mr. Sheridan, but his heavy agricultural interests have demanded all his time and attention, so that he has not had the time to engage actively in political affairs. However, his party nominated him for the position of assessor of his home township and he was subsequently elected to this office. He is now filling it to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

Mr. Sheridan is one of the most successful breeders of good horses in the county. He is the owner of "Homer. G," bred on his ranch and which has a mark of 2:1614, and he takes great pride in his horses and promises to produce some valuable strains.

Luther M. Irwin

There are individuals in every community who, by virtue of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the unbounded esteem of their fellow men. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues which never fail, such men always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personality serves as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. Having never been seized with the roaming desires that have led many of Fayette county's men to other fields of endeavor and other states, where they have sought their fortunes, Luther M. Irwin has devoted his life to industries at home and has succeeded remarkably well.

Luther M. Irwin, the son of Cornelius and Lavina (Tway) Irwin, was born in Paint township, in Fayette county, October 11, 1851. His father was born in Frederick county, Maryland, and came with his parents to this county when he was thirteen years of age. The family first located in Paint township and there Cornelius grew to manhood. Cornelius was the son of John and Leah R. (Ervin) Irwin, and, on reaching manhood was married to Lavina Tway, the daughter of Nathaniel and Sophia (Salmon) Tway. He located on a farm near Yatesville, in this county, after his marriage, where he reared a family of eleven children, an infant son (deceased), William A., Leah R. (deceased), Mrs. Elizabeth S. Smith (deceased), Nathaniel (deceased), Luther M., Mrs. Letha C. Durflinger, John (deceased), Mrs. Salina M. Walker (deceased), Mrs. Sarah J. Blue and Mrs. Mary A. Gibson.

The education of Mr. Irwin was received in the common schools and at the age of nineteen he began to work out by the month. A year later he engaged in the stock business and while following this line of business lived near London, Ohio, for two years. He moved to a farm near Yatesville after his marriage in 1874. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising until 1895, when he sold out and moved to his present location, one mile east of Jeffersonville on the State road. This farm comprises one hundred and seventy-five acres of fine farming land and is in a high state of cultivation, which entitles Mr. Irwin to a place among the progressive farmers of the county.

Mr. Irwin was married March 29, 1874, to Mary Jane Jones, the daughter of William and Olevia (Hidy) Jones, and to this union there have been born five children, Mrs. Lela Mae Wissler, William H. (deceased), Mrs. Ethel Culbertson, Mrs. Mary Hill, and one who died in infancy.

Politically. Mr. Irwin is a Republican and has always been active in local political matters. He is now serving as school director and township assessor and is filling these positions to the satisfaction of all his fellow citizens irrespective of their political affiliations. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Charles St, Clair Browne

The Browne family has traced their ancestry back four generations and during the one hundred years of family history various members of this family have occupied positions in business and professional life which have cast credit upon themselves. The first member of the family concerning whom definite information has been preserved is Aaron Burr Brown, who was born in New York state and came to Illinois in pioneer days, settling in Lawrence county. He came to Ilinois when a young man and operated a mill on the Ambaugh river in Lawrence county. Some time after locating in Illinois he married Elizabeth Wilcox, who was born at Fort Massac, Illinois, on the Ohio river. They were married at Massac, and from there moved to Missouri and located about thirty-five miles south of St. Louis, where he found employment at the lead mines. Aaron Burr Browne later returned to Illinois and died at Metropolis, in that state, in 1858, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died at the same place in 1856, at the age of fifty-six. Thirteen children were born to this couple, seven daughters and six sons. After the death of his first wife in 1856, Aaron Burr Browne married the second time and had a son by his second marriage, but he died four months after his marriage. It is known that the father of Aaron Burr Browne was Joseph T. Browne, but the passing of time has left the family without any definite information concerning him. The father of Elizabeth Wilcox, the wite of Aaron Burr Browne, was Isaac D. Wilcox.

One of the six sons born to Aaron Burr Browne was George Westcott Browne, who was the grandfather of Charles St. Clair Brown, with whom this history subsequently deals. George Westcott Browne was born February 28, 1831, in Lawrence county, Illinois, four miles from Vincennes, lndiana. He was reared at Metropolis, Illinois, from the age of six years, and attended the old-fashioned subscription schools for a short time and lived upon the farm until he was eighteen years of age. He then engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and worked on the flat. boats and steamers which made trips up.and down the rivers to and from New Orleans. He would take a flatboat of produce to New Orleans and return home on a steamboat. He followed this line of business until his marriage in 1855, and even continued it a short time after his marriage. He then moved from Metropolis, Illinois, to Vincennes, Indiana, and while living at the latter place enlisted in 1863, for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of the First Indiana Heavy Artillery, Company M. He served until January, 1866, and was sent to Fort Pickens, Florida, to guard prisoners there. Some time late in the year 1866 he was mustered out of the service and returned to Cairo, Illinois, and engaged in the hotel business in that place, and for the next forty years he followed this line of endeavor at different places. He came to Washington C. H. April 1, 1885, and took charge of the Cherry hotel as proprietor, running it for five years, and later he was engaged in the same business in other cities in Ohio. He returned to Washington C. H. in August, 1901, and = has lived here most of the time since. George Wescott Browne was married March 15, 1855, at Vincennes, Indiana, to Emily C. Sellers, the daughter of William and Rebecca (McLean) Sellers, and to this union five children were born, William, George, Fannie A., Charles and one who died in infancy.

George Edwin Browne, the father of Charles St. Clair Browne, was born in Metropolis, Hlinois, and lived in that city. For several years he operated his father's dairy and supplied boats on the Ohio river with milk and butter. He afterward engaged in the hotel business, which he followed in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Dayton, Washington C. H. and Springfield. In recent years he located in Cincinnati, where he is now the proprietor of the Browne hotel, which is located at the southeast corner of Sixth and Elm streets. This is a modern hotel of eighty rooms and enjoys a good patronage. The wite of George Edwin Browne is Blanche Curtis, the daughter of Thomas J. and Augusta Ann (Cheek) Curtis, natives of Ohio. Thomas J. Curtis was born in Cincinnati and lived there for many years, where he operated a dyeing and cleaning establishment, and here his death occurred in middle life, as did his wife. Thomas J. Curtis and wife were the parents of five children, Lulu, Blanche, Stella, Celeste and Willis. The father of Mr. Curtis established the first dyeing and cleaning house in Cincinnati. George Edwin Browne and wife are the parents of three children, Charles St. Clair, Ralph Curtis, and Georgia Edwina, who died when she was four years of age.

Charles St. Clair Browne, the present proprietor of the Arlington hotel, in Washington C. H., Ohio, was born in Silverton, Hamilton county, Ohio, January 6, 1887. He lived in Cincinnati until he was six years of age and then went to Jamestown, Ohio, where his parents lived for three years. From the latter place the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, and four years later located in Washington C. H. His father was a hotel man and moved from city to city, and this accounts for the many places in which Charles St. Clair Browne lived. From Washington C. H. the family moved to Cincinnati, and two years later Charles St. Clair Browne located in New York city for a year. From Cincinnati his father moved to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained for two years and a half in charge of the St. James hotel: The family then returned to Washington C. H., where they remained until the father took charge of the Browne hotel, in Cincinnati. .

Charles St. Clair Browne has had the benefit of the best educational advantages which the country provides. He received his education in many cities and finally graduated from the- Steele high school, Dayton, and afterwards from the Jacobs Business College, of Dayton. He then entered Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and after one year took a special course in business manual training in Columbia University, of New York city. He has lived in hotels all his life and has a remarkably large acquaintance with the traveling public, a fact which makes him an excellent hotel man.

hotel business it was but natural that Charles St. Clair Browne should take up the same line of business, and on September 12, 1913, he became pro- - prietor of the Arlington Hotel in Washington C. H., a strictly modern hotel, and enjoys a large and continuously increasing patronage. The fact that Mr. Browne has lived all of his life in hotels has given him an intimate knowledge of every detail of the business.

Mr. Browne was married June 5, 1912, to Emily Louise Meyer, the daughter of August and Caroline Meyer, both natives of Germany and now residents of Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Browne was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended the public schools of that city. After completing the course in the public schools she entered the New York School of Applied Design, an art school which has a national reputation. Shortly after finishing the course in this school, she was married. August Meyer, the father of Mrs. Browne, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 23, 1849. Her mother, Caroline' (Kresbach) Meyer, was born in Saxon Hausen, near Frankfort, Germany, on November 6, 1853. Mrs. Meyer came to America when eight years of age and grew to womanhood in New York city, where she was married. Mr. Meyer came to America at the age of seventeen, and was a commission merchant in New York city until his death, on March 1, 1904. Twelve children were born to August Meyer and wife, seven of whom are living, Dora, Fred, Julius and Alexander (twins), Helen, Edward and Emily.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Browne was Louis Kresbach and his wife was Elizabeth (Koehl) Kresbach, both being natives of Germany. Louis Kresbach and wife were the parents of six children, Caroline, Rosa, Elizabeth, Antoinette, Emily and Annie.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles St. Clair Browne are the parents of one son, Charles St. Clair Browne, fr. Mr. Browne is a member of Confidence Lodge No. 265, Knights of Pythias, and also of the Washington Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. While in college he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Greek-letter fraternity, being initiated while a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. Politically, he has never been very active and is not a partisan in any sense of the word. Although he was reared a Republican, yet he has reserved the.right to vote for the best man, irrespective of their political affiliations, and in so doing he feels that he is best serving the interests of his fellow citizens and his country.

Mr. Browne is a young man with a bright future before him. A man of culture and refinement, he makes an ideal hotel man and is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by the citizens of this city and the traveling public.

Improvement and progress may well be said to have formed the keynote of the character of the man whose name appears above, a well known and influential farmer and stock raiser of Union township, Fayette county. He has not only been interested in advancing his individual affairs, but his influence has been felt in the upbuilding of the community life. His family are among the early settlers of this community, his father having come to this county in 1811, and therefore a history of this section is more or less a history of the Mark family, for they have left their impress on the life and institutions of this locality throughout the years. Throughout his long career, Mr. Mark has been known as a man of industrious habits, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced, more prosperous, and with an increased number of friends.

Henry Mark, residing on his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located four miles south of Washington, was born on November 29, 1834, in Concord township, this county. He is a son of Joseph and Naomi (Bush) Mark, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and first came to this county in 1811 when he was a small boy, being brought here by his parents. He was born in Pennsylvania on October 1, 1800, his father being Peter Mark. Peter was a man of influence and high ambition who left the impress of his strong character upon the early life of this locality. When he first came here he bought a tract of land, for which he paid one dollar and a quarter per acre, and the same land is today worth two hundred dollars per acre. At the time he obtained possession, it was virgin soil and largely covered by heavy timber. This he set about removing and for several years endured many of the hardships and privations of the early pioneers. As the years passed by, acre by acre his farm was reclaimed from the grasp of the wilderness and became one of the very best in this section. Following in the footsteps of Peter Mark came his son Joseph, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch. Joseph also was a man who desired the betterment of conditions surrounding the lives of those about him and who also did all within his power to raise high the standard of civilization in a new territory. Joseph was the father of a family of eight children, the immediate subject being the fourth child in order of birth. The others were Cynthia, Anthony, Mary, Lewis, Rachael, Harriet (deceased) and Huldah.

and locality afforded and assisted the father in the work of the home place until he reached the age of twenty-three. At that time he was desirous of starting in life for himself and rented land which he tilled during the summer seasons. He had also fitted himself for a teacher and for many winters was employed in several of the schools of the neighborhood. He made his first purchase of land in 1870 and later purchased the farm where he has since made his home. He has always been considered one of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers of the section and has also made considerable money on live stock, having something more than a local reputation in this line.

On April 15, 1858, Mr. Mark was united in marriage with Amanda Rowe, their union being blessed with eleven children, Alice, Joseph, Eliza, Ada, Charles E., Naomi, Fredrick, Mary and Ruth; two died in infancy. Mr. Mark's religious afhliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church and, politically, he has endorsed the principles of the Republican party for a great number of years. Mr. Mark is a man who has passed the allotted three score years and ten and in the community where he has lived for so many years he is held in the warmest regard by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

William Wagner Allen

The Allen family have been a noted one for many generations. It is not definitely known who was the founder of the family, but some members of the family who have investigated the genealogy of the Allens believe that it was Alan, Earl of Brittany, who came to England with William, the Conqueror, in 1066. The name itself has undergone many variations in spelling although it is now limited to three or four forms, Allen, Allan, Alan and Alleyne. The French spell it Allain, the Scotch use the form Alan or Allan, while the commonest form in England and America is Allen. It is not possible to follow the various families of Allens in America in this brief sketch, but it is interesting to note that Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, was one of the most illustrious to bear the name.

The first Allen to locate in Fayette county was Adam Allen, who was born in 1754. He was one of the earliest settlers in this county and died here in 1851 at the advanced age of ninety-seven, his wife, Nancy, passing away in 1854. How many. children were born to Adam and Nancy Allen is not known, but one son, Adam, became the father of William Wagner Allen, with whom this narrative deals. Adam Allen, Jr., married Rosannah Hidy, a daughter of one of the earliest pioneers of Fayette county. It seems that Adam Allen, Jr., was born in this county in the year 1812, but it may have been earlier.

William Wagner Allen, the late pioneer of this county, was the son of Adam and Rosannah (Hidy) Allen. He was born in Jefferson township, Fayette county, Ohio, August 19, 1842, and died at his home in Milledgeville, Ohio, March 24, 1895. He received the limited education which the country schools of his day afforded and remained at home until the opening of the Civil War. He then was so anxious to serve his country that he ran away from home to enlist. He enlisted September 6, 1861, in Company K, Fortyfourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a corporal. Previous to this enlistment he has served threeemonths as a member of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His time in the Fortyfourth Regiment was up in January, 1864, and as soon as he was mustered out of this regiment he re-enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, serving in the cavalry service for a year and three months after the close of the war. While in the cavalry he was captured near Huttonsville, Virginia, and placed in Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia. He remained there about two months and while being transferred to Andersonville prison made his escape. He wandered about in the mountains of eastern Tennessee for forty-one days before coming in touch with the Union forces at Knoxville. His record as a soldier was a brilliant one and he was signally honored by having the Grand Army post at Milledgeville named in his honor.

At the close of his service in the army he returned to his home in Fayette county. Shortly afterwards he went into the livery business at Cedarville, Ohio, and lived there for several years. He traveled for a few years, after which he settled on his farm in Jasper township. Later he moved with his family to the county seat and engaged in the contracting business, building many of the best roads in the county. His last years were spent in Milledgeile near which was located his fine farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres.

Mr. Allen was married January 3, 1878, to Rachel Anna Rankin, the daughter of Smith and Parthenia (Wood) Rankin. His widow is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born four children, Forest May, Fred Herman, Mary Elizabeth and Harry Rankin. Forest May received a good education in the common and high schools and then entered a school of dramatic art at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which she later graduated. She is now living with her mother in Milledgeville. Fred H. married Jennie Hunt, deceased, and has one daughter, Jane. Mary E. became the wife of Fred Jones and has three children, Marian, Ellen and Susan. Harry R. married Eva Carr and has one daughter, Martha.

Mr. Allen was always interested in political matters and as a Republican was one of the leaders of his party in this county. He served as supervisor of Jasper township and for many years was on the school board of his township. He was a public spirited man and interested in all measures pertaining to the general welfare of his community. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and had attained to the commandery degrees. Personally, he was a man of essentially domestic tastes and was never happier than when surrounded by his family. No place on earth had for him: so much fascination, or afforded him more comfort, than his own family and home circle. He was a true-and loyal citizen and upright in all of his business relations. Benevolent in spirit, seeking to aid the needy in whatever way he could, he was a man universally beloved by everyone who knew him.

David W. Tway

The career of the late David W. Tway presents many interesting lessons, which should be an inspiration to the coming generation of Fayette county. It is not possible to go into the details of his early life, but it is enough to' say that it was filled with hard and laborious work. For many years he occupied a prominent place in the affairs of his community and no one took a more active part in its civic life. That he did his part well and nobly cannot be gainsaid, and, though he has passed away, yet his deeds speak for him and his wholesome influence will be felt in the community for many years.

David W. Tway, the son of John and Elizabeth (McMillan) Tway. was born in Fayette county, Ohio, January 29, 1856, and died here September 1g, 1905. He was always a farmer and left at his death one hundred and twelve acres, which was owned before him by his father, including a splendid house and well kept place.

Mr. Tway was married November 22, 1883, to Mary C. Stuthard, the daughter of Isaac and Anna (Law) Stuthard. To this union were born two children, Ida B. and Besse. Ida is the wife of Eben Thomas and Besse is the wife of Stanley Little. Ida B. was a student at Oxford College for some

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Mrs. Tway's father was a native of Fayette county and died at the early age of thirty-one, leaving his widow with five children, Perry, Mary C., Ella and two who died in early childhood. Perry, who is deceased, married Lavina Badger and had five children, Leroy, Ida, Essie, David and Fay. Of these five children, Leroy and Ida are married. . Leroy married Sallie Bowsher and has four children, Nina, Irvin, Manuel and Leroy, deceased. Ida is the widow of Clarence Wissler. The mother of Mrs. Tway was the daughter of Marmaduke and Mary (Watson) Law, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent.