Union County, Ohio - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 2 of 16)

Xewton E. Liggett

Tlie telephone histor_v of the country is comprehended within the past twenty-five years and today there is not a hamlet in the whole state of Ohio that is not connected with some telephone system. Alexander Bell little dreamed when he invented the telephone that it would in such a short time be so universally used. Nearly every county, if not every county, in the state of Ohio has one or more telephone systems and it is impossible to calculate the wonderful benefit which the telephone gives society. One of the telephone companies of Union county, Ohio, is the Union County Telephone Company, of which Newton E. Liggett is president and general manager. ^Ir. Liggett started in the telephone business for himself twenty years ago. He was for many years a druggist in Marysville, but in 1906 decided to give all of his attention to his telephone business.

Newton E. Liggett, the son of Luther and Maria S. (\\'ilkinson) Liggett, was born in Mill Creek township, LTnion county, Ohio, June 21, 1857. Llis parents, both of whom were natives of Ohio, had a family of six children: Newton E., of Marvs\-ille ; James A., of Marys\'ille; Louisa, the wife of Gamble Shields, of ?\lary.>ville ; Lutlier jNL, of Gabon, Ohio; Clara, the wife of William Walgamot, of Marysville; and Henry C, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Luther Liggett was reared in Ohio and came to Union county early in its history and located in Mill Creek township where he bought the Henry Wolf farm. He prospered and }ear liy year added to his possessions until he finallv owned more than four hundred acres of land in the county. He reared his family on this farm and died there in 1892 at the age of fifty-six. His widow still survi\-es him and now makes her home with her daughter. Mrs. Walgamot. Mr. Liggett and his wife were both members of the Christian church. He was a prominent man in his community and was elected county commissioner in the early history of the county.

IMillie ( Carr) Liggett, natives of Delaware county, Ohio, and early settlers in Union county. They settled in Alill Creek township and died there well advanced in years, ha\'ing reared a family of eight children, Luther, Amos, Gidenn. .\nn, ( jeorge, Joseph, Susan and lunma. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Liggett were James Wilkinson and wife, early settlers in Ohio. They li\cd in Marysville a number of years and moved to Nebraska in November, 1837, and located at David City, where Mr. Wilkinson engaged in farming. Mr. Wilkinson started the town of David City and died there well along in years. Mr. Wilkinson and his wife were the parents of seven children, Maria S., Mrs. l-'rank Kinney, Augusta, Emily, William. John and James.

Xewton E. Liggett was reared on his father's farm in Mill Creek township and after attending the countrx' schools for a few years graduated from the Marysville high school. He then hecanie an apprentice in the drug store of S. N. McCloud in Marysville and became an expert pharmacist and druggist. In the fall of 1890 he engaged in the drug business for himself. He continued to follow this particular line of business until 1906, when he sold out and has since devoted himself solely to his telephone company.

His first experience in the tele[)hone business was in the spring of 1895, when he started the present telephone com])any which co\ers the central part of the countv. He continued alone until 1906 when the Union County Telephone Company was incorporated with a capital stock of one hundred and twentv-five thousand dollars, with officers as follows: X. E. Liggett, president; J. S. McCrackin, of Mt. X'ernon, (3hio. secretary; Luther Liggett, of Marvsville, treasurer; and h>ank L. Beam, of Alt. A'ernon, vice-president. In 1897 Mr. Liggett erected a handsome business block of three stories. The first floor is occupied by The Citizens' Home and Savings Bank and the Asman & Smith drug store. The second floor is used for office rooms anil the telephone exchange occupies the entire third floor.

Mr. Liggett was married September 10, 1890, to Anna Gibson, the daughter of George and Angeline (Mathers) Gibson. To this union two sons have been born, Luther and George E. Luther is assistant wire chief in the telephone exchange and is a graduate of the Marysville high school. George, who is also a graduate of the local high school, is employed in Hoffman's garage. Mrs. Liggett was born in Marysville. as were her parents, who are now deceased. They had four children, David, Richard, Lucinda and .Anna.

Mr. and Mrs. Liggett are meml>ers of the Methodist E]jiscopal church and are actixe workers in the church and Sunday school. Mr. Liggett is one of the church stewards and is the president of the Merrill Bible class of this church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Ro\al and Select Masters, Ra]>ier Commander}- of LTbana, Ohio, and Aladdin I'emple, Nobles of the Alystic Shrine, at Columbus, Ohio. He also holds his membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics, he has ahva_\-s cast his ballot for the Democratic partv, but owing to his extensi\e business interests has never been active in pi^litical circles.

The A'igor family ha\e been residents of Union county, Ohio, for more than half a century, and the father of Dr. WilHam Gary Vigor was the first physician to locate in Taylor township, settling near Broadway in the fall of 1864. The father of Doctor Vigor was also a physician and three of his sons ha\-e made this their chosen profession. Doctor Vigor has been practicing for the past thirty years and most of this time has been spent in Union county. He has been true to his profession and earnest in his efforts to enlarge his sphere of usefulness, and for this reason is one of the true benefactors of his county. He stands well in the front ranks of Union county's professional men, and has established a sound reputation along medical lines as well as winning the esteem of his fellow citizens by the upright character of his life.

Dr. William Gary \'igor, the son of Henry and Joanna (Gary) Vigor, was born at Etna, Licking county. Ohio. August 31. i860. His father was born in Frome, Somerset, England. Januar}- 24, 1821, and his mother was born in ]Morris county. New Jersey, August 17, 1821. His mother traces her ancestry back to the Pilgrim fathers who came to Alassachusetts in 1634.

Dr. Henry Vigor left England in 1840 and came to the United States, locating in Xew York, where he followed the tailor's trade for a short time. He then began the stud\' of medicine and was engaged in the active practice of medicine from 1853 until his death in Knox county, Ohio, in 1910. On October 4. 18(14, Dr. Henrv \'igor came into Union county. Ohio, for the first time and immediately began the practice of his profession in Taylor township, near Br(iad\\ay He continued to practice here until 1872. when he moved to Knox county, Ohio, where he li\'ed until his death. Dr. Henry Vigor was married August 16. 1845, to Joanna Gary, and to this union twelve children were liorn. fi\-e (jf whom are still living: John H.. who served during the Givil \\"ar as a meml)er of the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment Ohio \'olunteer Infantry and was killed in a railroad accident in Gincinnati ; Dr. Frederick A., who practiced medicine in Xew Dover. Union countv. from 1879 until his death in 1903: Dr. J. F., who is a practicing phvsician at Pomona, Kansas: Emma L., the wife of James E. Safiford, of Knox countv, Ohio: Ida M., the wife of \\ . F. Granston. of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Dr. William G.. of L'nion county. Ohio, and Gharles E., of Marion, Oliiu. b'ive children who were born to Dr. Henry Vigor and wife, flied in infancN", and the mother died May 9, 1901.

Dr. William Cary \'igor was (.mly four years of age when his parents mo\ed to l'ni(_>n county. His elementary education was receixed in the schools of Taylor township. After c(impleting the education which was provided by the schools of the county he entered the Columbus I\'ledical College at Columbus, and graduated in the class of 1884, and immediately located at Long Lake, Minnesota, where he practiced for three years. He then returned to Ohio and located at Leonardslxirg, in Delaware count}-, where he practiced for one year. On June 21, 1887. Doctor Vigor locatetl in Xew California. Jerome township. L'nion count)', Ohio, and here he has been practicing ever since. He is a meniljer of the L'nion County, Ohio State and American JNIedical Societies, and deeply interested in e\ervthing pertaining to the advancement of his profession.

Doctor Vigor was married April 29, 1891, to Margaret Anna Parrett, a daughter of Charles, Sr.. and Mary (Bown) Parrett. natives of Somersetshire, England, who came to America and located in Union county, Ohio, about 1870. Charles Parrett was born in England, Januar\- 7, 1820, and. coming to the L'nited States, located in Union county, Ohio, about 1870. His death occurred here July ly. 1909. ]\Iary (Bown) Parrett was born in England, October 17, 1828, and died in Union county, Oliio, January 31, 1903.

Doctor Vigor and his wife are the parents of four children, William P., Emma Gertrude, Mar\' Alice and Anna Laura. William P. was born January 30. 1893, and is a graduate of the township high school and also of the Marysville high school, and has spent two years at Otterbein L-niversity. He is now li\-ing \\'ith his parents. Emma Gertrude was born Eeliruarv 2^, 1896, and after graduating from the Jerome township high school, began to teach school in Jackson township in this countw Mary Alice was born ?ila\' i. 1899. and died .\ugust 4, 1900. Anna Laura, the youngest child of Doctor Vigor and wife, was born b^ebruary 12. 1901. and is attending the common schools of Jerome township.

Politically, Doctor \^igor is a Republican and has ser\ed as clerk of Jerome townshi]) since September i, 1890, a period of nearh- twentv-fi\-e years. The famil\' are all lo}-al members of the United Presbvterian church and ha\e taken a deep interest in its welfare. Doctor \ igor is an elder in the church and a member oi the l^iard of trustees. D(ictor X'igor has an interesting chest which has been handed down from his mother's side. It was in possession of John Cary, who brought it to this country in 1634. During the Revolutionary War the chest was in Alorristown, Xew Jersev.

It SO happened tnat George Washington was stationed at the house where his chest was then kept, and in a secret drawer in this chest General Washington kept some of his papers. It is needless to say that Doctor \^igor values this chest very highlv.

Among the worthy citizens of Marysville, Ohio, whose residence here has contributed in no small degree to the prestige of the vicinity, is Ernest G. McCann. While laboring for his individual advancement he has never forgotten his obligations to the public and his support of such measures and movements as have been for the general good has always been depended upon. He is essentially a self-made man and from the age of thirteen has made his own way in the world. Through the long years of his residence in Marysville. he has always lieen true to the trusts reposed in him. His reputation in a business way is unassailable, and his whole life has been such as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held.

Ernest G. McCann, the general manager and vice-president of the Robinson & Curry Company, lumber dealers of Marysville, Ohio, was born September 18, 1865, at Plain City, Union county, Ohio. He is the son of Sims and Sarah L. (Colwell) ]\IcCann. His father died when he was thirteen years of age. liis mother having passed away when he was only four years old. Since the death of his father he has shouldered his own way along the pathway of life.

After the death of his father Mr. McCann went to live with Eli Jones and worked on the farm of Mr. Jones until he was nineteen years of age. He attended the public schools and received a good common school education and when he was nineteen entered the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he spent two years. He then taught school one year in Madison county, Ohio, after which he entered the employ of the Robinson & Curry Company as assistant bookkeeper. Cpon the retirement of Colonel Curry a \ear later, he was made head b()okkee])er and held this position for ten years. During this time he mastered every detail of the business and upon the deach if C. L. Robinson, Mr. McCann was elected by the directors as vice-president and general manager of the company and has since held this important position.

Air. McCann was married September 21, iS'Sg, to Eva E. Tway, a daughter of H. H. and Mary Tway. Mrs. McCann was Ixjrn in Logan county, Ohio. To this union has been born one son, L. Twa\- McCann, wh<_) was born June Jj, 1890. The son is a graduate of the high school at Marvsville and after spending two years in the State University of Ohio, became the tra\eling salesman for a wholesale lumlier companv with headquarters at Xew Orleans.

Mr. McCann and his wife are members of the Episcopal church and are deeply interested in e\'erything pertaining to its welfare and ad\ancement. Mr. McCann is one of the trustees of his denomination at the present time. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of I-'.lks. Politically, he has always been identified with the Republican part)-, but on account of the demands of his business affairs he has not had the time to take an active part in political matters. Mr. McCann's hobby is along the line of fine h(.)rses and at the i>resent time he is president of the Marysville Matinee Club, an organization which includes a number of- Marysville men who are interested in breeding fine horses. Mr. McCann is a man whom to know is to admire, for he has led an exemplary life in all things. He has S(jught to dd his duty in all of his relations with his fellowmen and is a man of honor, public spirit, charitable impulses and unswerxing integrity and enterprise.

Lou W. Hazen

A man whcj started in a \ery small way in Marys\'ille, Ohio, and has built up a prosperous business within the past ten years is Lou \V. Hazen, the proprietor of a flourishing book and stationery store. His whole career of forty years has been spent in Marysxille, where his father was a prominent business man for many years.

Lou \^'. Hazen, the son of Fred V. and Sarah ( Derbv ) Hazen, was born in Marysville, Ohio, February 24, 1873. His parents were nati\-es (}f Ohio and Xew York, respectively, and reared a family of fi\-e children :

Fred F. Hazen was reared in Cleveland, Ohio, and came to Marysville early in life and established a cheese manufactory which he conducted for awhile and later conducted a wholesale confectionery and cigar business until his death in 1895. His widow passed away in March, 1907, at the age of fiftv-fi\e. Both were members of the Congregational church.

The paternal grandparents of Lou \\'. Hazen were natives of Xew Jerse\- and early settlers at Munson, Ohio, in the Western Reserve. They died there in middle life, after rearing a large family of children, Fred F.. Winfield L., Fayette, Annette, Electa and Elizabeth.

The maternal grandparents of Lou W. Hazen were natives of Xew York state and earlv settlers in Cleveland, Ohio. Grandmother Derby is still living at Seattle, Washington, at the advanced age of ninety-six. Mr. Derby and his wife reared a family of five children, John, ]\Iay. Ida, Julia and Sarah, the mother of Mr. Hazen.

Lou W. Hazen was reared in Marysville and graduated from the local high school in 1894. After the death of his father he started in the news and stationery business in a very humble way and has gradually built up his business until he now has the largest book and stationery store in ]\Iarysville. He is a capable and eflicient business man and b\' his courteous manner and desire to please his customers, he has built up a very flourishing business.

Mr. Hazen was married April 19, 1905, to Theresa Pike, who died in January of the following year. On August 27, 19 12, Mr. Hazen married Harriet E. Lee, the daughter of Martin B. and Martha (Davis) Lee.

The father of ]\Irs. Harriett Hazen died in i\Iarch, 1913. and her mother is still living. ?\Irs. Flazen was the only daughter born to her parents. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Hazen were William Lee and wife.

Mr. and Mrs. Hazen are earnest members of the Congregational church and ha\'e alwavs taken an active part in its welfare. ^Ir. Hazen is a member of the board of trustees of his denomination at the present time. Fraternallv, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch ]\Iasons and the Royal and Select Masters. He also holds his membership in the Marysville Lodge of Knights of Pythias. Tn politics he has always given his support to the Democratic party. He was elected clerk of ]\Iarysville in 1902, and was the first Democratic clerk to be elected in twenty-four \ears. At the present time he is filling the position of township and village treasurer and administering the duties of this important office with strict tidelity to his fellow citizens. Mr. Hazen has proven himself a man of tine bnsiness ability. He carries a large stock of goods and has as neat and attractive a store as can be fonnd in any town in the state the size of jMarys- \ille. He is highly esteemed as a citizen and well merits inclusion among the representative men of his city and county.

The "Pleasant Hill" stock farm, located about three miles north of AIarys\'ille. cintains one hundred and se\'enty-three acres of the finest land in Union county. It is within the boundaries of Paris township and located on one of the splendid gravel roads for which that township is noted. On this farm is an attractixe rural homestead, a large and conveniently arranged house, well furnishefl and provided with all the modem conveniences and comforts necessary to make life pleasant. The barns and farm buildings, the facilities for the proi)er care of tlie stock and products of the farm, are commodious and well arranged for the purpose designed, .\ltogether this is a model farm and is a splendid illustration of what can be accomplished by judicious management and the application of intelligent energy. "Pleasant Hill" is an appropriate name for this model farm.

The fortunate owner of this farm is ^^'alter Jewell, a brief re\-iew of whose life furnishes an interesting subject for this sketch. Mr. Jewell is a nati\'e (jf the Kevstone state. He was born in Greene county, near W'aynes- Inirg, Penns\'l\"ania, October i8, 1874. He is the son of John and Margaret (Iins) Jewell, who were also nati\"es of that countv and state, ha\"ing been born on the same farm that was the birthplace of our subject. John Jewell was the son of Thomas and Abigal ( Rose) Jewell. That the Jewell family were not of the migratory sort is evidenced by the fact that three generations were born and reared on the same farm in Pennsylvania. Thomas Jewell, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born on this same farm. Thomas was the son of Jonathan and Patience Mocire Jewell, all ijf them farmers and among the pioneers of Pennsyl\-ania. John R. Ijrought the familv to Ohio and after li\ing ior a short time in another part of the state thev came to Union county, where they have continued to live. There were four children in this family, namely: ^Merchant, deceased; Walter, subject of this sketch: Blanche married J. F. Wood and has two children, Helen and Marv: Maud, living at home.

Walter Jewell started his education by attending the Costell school, in Morgan township, Greene county, Pennsylvania. Then he took up advanced studies at \\"estland, Pennsyhania, and completed the course in that school. AVhile not in school he was doing his share of the work on his father's farm and Ijecame accustomed to the rugged outdoor life so conducive to physical de\elopment. .At the age of twenty-one he rented part of his father's farm and engaged in farming on his own account. Then he came to this county and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres and went to work on it, improving the farm and adding other acres from time to time, until now he is the owner of the splendid farm which has already been described. That his farming is of the up-to-date kind, and that he has made a success of the business, is evidenced by the appearance of the farm and his prosperous home surroundings.

Walter Jewell was married, June 6, 1903, to Bertha Shirk, daughter of George B. and Catherine (Mitchell) Shirk, both of whom were born and reared in Greene county, Pennsyhania. They had five children: Minnie, who married Mr. Phillips: Bertha, wife of Mr. Jewell: Lilly, who married Mr. Adleman; Etta, who married C. Edgar; George, who is fixing on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have (ine son, fieorge R. He is not a member of any secret or fraternal order, nor of any church. In his political relations ]\Ir. Jewell is a supporter of the Democratic part}- and is interested in its success, but he devotes more time t(.i his business of farming and stock raising than he does to pulitics. Hence the signal success he has made nf his Imsiness.

Charles A. Morelock

The Morelock family ha\e been identified with the history of L^nion county since sex'eral years before the Civil War, and during this long period of time have taken an active part in everything pertaining to the educational, moral, material and religious history of their county. Charles A. Morelock, tlie present auditor of L'nion county, is a worth}- representative of this sterling family and has spent his entire life in this count}-. The Morelock family are of German descent, the first members of the family coming from Germany to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Charles .\. IMorelock, the son of j. J. and Candace (Converse) Morelock, was born in Plain City. Ohio, l''el)ruary 13, 18(13. His father, who was a son of Michael and Anna M. Alorelock, was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother was a native of the same state. Michael Morelock was born in Maryland and his fatlier was born on the way across the ocean from Germany to the United States.

J. J. Morelock was reared in Pennsyh-ania and when a young man came to Ohio and located in Union county. He was a journeyman tanner and walked the entire distance from his native state to Union county, and here he found employment as a tanner with Asa Converse. It so happened that ]\Ir. Con\'erse had a daughter, Candace. and eventually Mr. Morelock and his employer's daughter were married. J- J- Morelock was a man of great energy and abilit}- and within a few years purchased his father-in-law's business at Plain Cit\-. About 1864 he disposed of his interests in Plain City and mo\-ed to Marysville, the county seat of P"'nion county, where he joined with G. L. Sellers in the purchase of a tan yard. A few years later Mr. Morelock purchased his partner's interest in the tanyard and operated the business alone until 1S73, when he disposed of it at a good profit. In 1880 he and his son. Charles A., made a trip across the ocean to England, Scotland, France and the borders of Belgiam and purchased fine horses with the intention of going into the breeding of high-class horses. They purchased a number of horses of different breeds, imported them into the L'nited States and Mr. Morelock c(>ntinued in the breeding of high grade horses until his death, October 20. 1804. His widow is still living in Marysville.

Charles A. ]\Iorelock was one year of age when liis parents moved to ^larysN'ille. He completed his education in the public schools of Mar\-sville and when aliout nineteen years of age went into the business with his father, who. at that time, was engatjcd in the Itreeding of horses. His father died when Charles A. was twenty-one years of age and he then assumed charge of his father's farm and business interests in ]\rarys\ille. ]\Ir. Morelock owns one hundred anfl seventy-six acres of fine land in Paris township, the Morelock Ijlock in ^larysville and other business properties in the city. He is vice-president of the Commercial Savings Rank in Marysville and one of its directors and hea\-y stockholders.

After graduating from the high school, Asa F. ^forelock entered the State University of Ohio and graduated in the mechanical engineering course in that institution. He is now a contractor and has a brilliant future before him.

The Morelock family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Air. Alorelock is a member of the official board of his denomination. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been trustee of his lodge at Marysville for several years. Politically, he has always been identified with the Democratic party and has held various offices in Marysville. He has been a member of the city council and also a member of the school board. In 1912 he was elected auditor of Union county by a majority 'of twelve hundred and ninety-two and was re-elected for a second term by a majority of nine hundred. These figures are more striking when it is known that the Republicans have a normal majority of eight hundred in Union countv. His wife is assisting him in the duties of the office as his deputy and under their administration the office is being carefully and conscientiously managed.

Henry R. Lee

Among the representative farmers and respected citizens of Union county, one whose life history is eminently worthy of a place in a work of this character, is the gentleman whose name heads this article. He has passed to his reward, but his memory and beneficent influence has made an impress upon the community which will remain for all time, owing to the fact that he performed well his part in the sphere of life in which he was placed, and led a life that was exemplary in every respect. He set an example worthy of emulation by the younger generation, in that he was a leader in his locality in all matters pertaining to its upbuilding and advancement. As a consistent and progressive citizen he endeavored to do good in all lines as he labored for his own ad\'ancement and that of his family. The memory of such a man is well worthy to lie cherished liy his family and friends.

Henrv R. Lee was born September 22, iS'49, ^"d died May 24, 1914. He was the son of .Addison and Mary ( Bellville ) Lee. Addison Lee was born in Virginia and came to this county with his parents, Thomas and Anna (Good) Lee, at an early period. Thomas Lee settled in the woods in Leesburg township, cleared out a farm and built a home in these woods and lived and labored there for the remainder of his days. Flere he reared his large

.Addison Lee was reared on a farm and continued to work on the farm during his early years. After he was married he started out to farm for himself, beginning with small capital and in a small way. The first year he operated his farm with one horse and other equipments of similar inadequate character. But he was possessed of a capital of energy and industry which was unlimited and employed it to the fullest extent. The result was that he became a successful farmer, adding other acres to his original farm and at the time of his death he was one of the largest land owners in the county. His family consisted of the following named children: Joseph, deceased; William: John, deceased: Henry R., the subject of this sketch; Jane, who married Air. Hildreth; Alice, deceased, who was the wife of 'Sir. Mvers, and one who died in infancy.

Henry R. Lee received his early education in the country schools in Paris township and afterward finished his studies in the Darby school. During all his school period he lived at home on the farm and did his share of farm work when not attending school. At the age of thirty years he commenced farming for himself on fifty acres of land. August 24, 1881, he was married to Sarah Simpson, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Grist) Simpson, and to this union two children were born, namely : Emma, who married Clarence Westlake and has one child, Ada, deceased, and Dewey M., who is attending school.

Joseph Simpson, the father-in-law of Air. Lee, was born in England and came to America when he was only sixteen years old. He came with his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania, where they remained for some time and then came to Delaware county, Ohio. Joseph Simpson came to Union county and here he lived and reared his family. Of this family Sarah (Simpson) Lee, the widow of Mr. Lee, is the only one living : the others. George and Joseph, are dead. John and Thomas are half brothers of Mrs. Lee.

Henry R. Lee was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was counted among the most active and influential members of that order. In politics he was an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party but had no aspirations for office or political homirs. Other than as a member of the school board he ne\-er accepted a public office. While not affiliated with any particular church Air. Lee was a believer in the faith taught bv all the churches and was an advocate of e\ery cause that had for its object the uplift of humanity and the moral welfare of the community.

During his lite Mr. Lee accumulated quite a competence and was one of the largest land owners in the county. His farm of four hundred and fift}' acres, on which there is a fine home, is located on the Marion pike, where his widow still resides. It is one of the finest farm homesteads in the county and is a splendid testimonial of the intelligent management of Henry R. Lee.

Joseph J. Brannan

Marysville boasts of no man with a wider business experience than Joseph J. Brannan. Born in this county, he left it at the age of sixteen to make his own way in the world and it was not until 1905 that he finally returned to his county to locate permanently. For a quarter of a century he was engaged in various enterprises elsewhere and during all of these years he prospered with credit to the county which gave him birth. For the past ten years he has been living in Marysville and here he expects to spend the remainder of his life.

Joseph j. Brannan, the son of George and Mary (Jordan) Brannan, was born at Pharisburg, Union county, Ohio, August 22, 1852. His parents, who were both natives of Muskingum county, Ohio, reared a family of twelve children: Margaret, deceased, the wife of Chester Skeels; Julia, deceased, who was the wife of George Gourtwright, a soldier who died in the Civil War; Thomas M., of Columbus, Ohio; Nancy J., who died single in 1912; Salena A., the wife of Amos P. Coon, of Wheeler, Illinois; John, who died in the armv during the Civil War; George, of Fort Scott, Kansas; Joseph J., of JNIarysville; and four who died in early childhood.

George Brannan was married a second time to Elizabeth Ann McCullough and to this second union five children were born : Rosaltha, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Weatherholt ; Emma, who died single; Ida. the wife of Andrew Irwin, of Wheeler, Illinois; Chester, of Oklahoma; and Marion, of Wheeler, Illinois. George Brannan was a farmer and had the reputation of clearing more heavy timber from the land of Union county than any other man. He left Ohio in 1865 and moved to Jasper county, Illinois, and from there went on west to Joplin, Missouri, where he died at the age of eighty-four years, four months and fourteen days, at the home of one of his daughters. His first wife died in 1858 in middle life. Llis second wife died in 1904. He and both of his wives were ardent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The paternal grandparents of Joseph j. Brannan were natives of Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish descent. They were pioneer settlers of Muskingum county. Ohio, and made that their home the remainder of their lives. They reared a famil\- of several children. ( leorge, Joseph, John, Airs. Jackson and others whose names are not recorded. The maternal grandparents of Joseph J. Brannan were natives of Muskingum county, Ohio, and livea tnere all of their lives. Mr. Jordan and his wife reared a family of five children, Mary, Adam, James, Josephus and Mrs. Blackstone.

Joseph J. Brannan was reared the life of a farmer's lad in Union county and received such education as was afforded b\- the district schools of his home neighborhood. When he reached the age of sixteen he left home and started out to seek his fortune in the wide world. He first went to Jasper county. Illinois, and then to Piatt county in the same state and lived there until his marriage. In 1873 he returned to Ohio and located on a farm near Pharisburg, where he farmed for six years. For the next eighteen years he traveled on the road for the V. C, Austin Company, selling" rock crushers and road-making machinery. After that he became identified with the Fleming Manufacturing Company, of b'ort Wayne, Indiana, remaining with them for two years. After leaving this company, he became connected with the Aultman Company, of Canton, Ohio. After three }'ears service with this compau}', he joined the selling force of the Xational Drill and Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, Illinois, and was emplo\ed with them for two years. The next four years he spent in the employ of the Gallon Iron Works Comjjany, of Gallon, Ohio, and in 1905 he came to Marysville, Ohio, where he has since resided. He became interested in the real estate and loan business in 1912 in partnership with J. W'alter Kennedy and the firm known as Kennedy & Brannan rapidly built up a large business in real estate, loans and insurance. Mr. Brannan sold out his interest in the firm Nox'ember 9, 1914. Mr. Brannan is a man of Avide experience and is a verv entertaining conversationalist. It is probably safe to say that he has traveled more miles than any man in Union county, has met more people and has had more varied experiences and gained more knowledge of human nature than any man in the county.

Air. Brannan was married Decenil>er 16, 1872, to Eliza Orsborne, the daughter of Jackson and Catharine (Conkling) Orsborne. Mrs. Brannan's father died six months before she was born and her mother passed away two weeks after her birth. Mrs. Brannan was the only child of her parents. Her father worked on a canal boat in the early history of the state and was drowned in the canal. Mr. and Mrs. Brannan have four children, Bertha Amelia, Adessa May, Zella Eliza and Blaine A. Bertha A. is the wife of Charles Grauman, a farmer of Allen township, and has two adopted children, Richard and Frederick. Adessa May is the wife of Leonard B. Pooler, of ]\Iarysville, and has two children, Cleta May and Clayton. Zella E. is the wife of Otto M. Burson, of Marysville, and has four children, Lydia, Howard, Catharine and Paul. Blaine A. married May Kline and is now a moulder in the Regal Brass Factory in ^Marysville. Blaine has two children, Ruth and Joseph.

Mrs. Brannan is a native of Ohio. Her mother was a cousin of the celebrated Roscoe Conkling of New York. Her mother's name was Susan. Catherine Conkling had a sister, Melinda Boudle, who died leaving a family of five children, David, Ida, Ethel, Virgil and Anna.

The Brannans are of Scotch descent and were early settlers in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Brannan are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Before the organization of the Progressive party in 1912 Mr. Brannan gave his support to the Republican party and is now a firm belie\-er in the principles and policies advocated by the new Progressive party. Mr. Brannan is a man of genial personality and has a host of friends throughout the county.

Clarence C. Perfect

A successful business man of ]\Iarys\ille, Ohio, is Clarence C. Perfect, the vice-president of the Perfect Cigar Company, which was organized in 1906. He is a wide-awake, capable business man, who started in a very modest way as a cigar manufacturer and has built up a business which now employs twenty-five hands. Mr. Perfect is a man of high personal qualifications and measures up to the best standard of American citizenship of his county. Pleasing in manner and kindly in his disposition, he has earned the regard of all with whom he has been associated.

Qarence C. Perfect, the son of Charles D. and Mary E. (Moore) Perfect, was born in Galena, Ohio, November 3, 1872. His parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, had three children. Burton E., Willis H. and Clarence C.

Charles D. Perfect was reared on his father's farm in Dehiware county, Ohio, and from the age of thirt}- tu fifty was engaged in the general mercantile business at Sunbury, Ohio. In 1S83 Charles D. Perfect came to Marysville, and he and Judge Sprague built one of the first flouring mills in the county and Mr. Perfect engaged in the flouring business until he retired in 1905. In 1S97 his two sons. Burton and Willis, bought Judge Sprague's interest in the mill, and after their father's retirement the sons continued the business until 1907, at which time they disposed of the mill to J. C. Spurrier. Charles D. Perfect died January 31, 191 3, at the age of seventy-eight, and his widow passed away on July ist of the following year at the same age. Both were members of the Presbyterian church.

The paternal grandparents of Clarence C. Perfect were William Perfect and wife, early settlers in Delaware ci>unty, ( )hio, where they died. William Perfect lived to be eighty-five years of age, while his wife died in middle life. To William Perfect and wife were born a large family of children, Alfred. James, Thomas, Emory, Edwin, Charles D., a son who died in the Civil War, and a daughter, who became the wife of Thomas \''an Fleet. The paternal grandparents of Clarence C. Perfect were Cornelius and Hannah Moore, natives of Pennsvh'ania, and early settlers of Delaware count}-, Ohio. Cornelius Moore bought a farm near Sunbury, in Delaware county, and lived there the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of eighty-fi\'e. His wife passed a\\a_\- at the early age of thirty-fi\'e. lea\-ing two children. Burton and jMary.

Clarence C. Perfect was eleven }ears of age when his parents moved from Delaware county, Ohio, to Marysville, consequently his schooling was received in the schools of both places. He has li\'ed in Union county since 1883 with the exception of three years which he spent in Oklahoma. After graduating from the Marys\-ille high school in 1889, Mr. Perfect took a business course in the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, Xew York, and then returned to [Marysville and opened a cigar manufacturing establishment and has been connected with this particular line of business since that time. He was in partnership with W. P. Beightler until 1906, at which time the Perfect Cigar Company was incorporated with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars with the following ofticials : William P. Beightler, president; Clarence C. Perfect, ^-ice-president : Gordon Beightler, secretary and treasurer. The company has no difficulty in selling all the cigars which aye made by their twentv-five employees and is gradually increasing its sale all the time.

daughter of Edson and Phoebe (Hunt) Perry, and to this union have been born two children, Moore and Perr}-. Mrs. Perfect was born in Union county, her parents both being natives of Massachusetts and early settlers in this county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Perry reared a large family of children, Addie, Genie, Mary, Belle, John, A\'illiam and Aurie M.

Mr. and Mrs. Perfect are loyal members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Perfect is a member of Marysville Lodge, Xo. lOO, Knights of Pythias, while in politics he is a Republican.

Charles Braun

In the year 1882 there arrived at Marysville, Union county, Ohio, a German lad of fifteen years. , He was without resources, had no knowledge whatever of the English language, but had a stout heart and an unusual willingness to work. He came here alone from his native land to make his home with an uncle in Marysville, and this same impecunious German boy who arrived here in the early eighties is now one of the wealthiest and most substantial citizens of Union county. Charles Braun little dreamed when he first came to Marysville that in the course of a comparatively few years he would be one of its leading citizens, and yet such is the case. A review of his career should certainly be stimulating to those of the coming generation.

Charles Braun, the cashier of the Union Banking Company, and one of the leading business men of Marysville, was born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, in the village of Oberschmitten, January 18, 1867. His parents, Conrad and Anna Katherina (Wird) Braun, spent all of their lives in Germany, and reared a family of three children: Eliza, the wife of Louis Jochim, of Rimbach, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany; Wilhelm, of Oberschmitten, Germany, and Charles, of Marysville, Ohio. Conrad Braun was the son of Hartman and Anna Margaret (Miller) Braun. Hartman Braun was the owner of a flour mill in Under-Schmitten, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, from which place he moved to Ober-Schmitten.

Conrad Braun was a life-long farmer in his nati\-e land and spent all of his days in Hessen Darmstadt, where he was born. He died in 1904 at the age of seventy-one. and his wife died in 1909 at the age of sixty-eight. They were both members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Conrad Braun was a member of the town council for nearly twenty years and a niemlier of the board of coniniissioiiers who looked after the city's welfare. The i^aternal grandparents of Charles Braun li\ed all of their days in Germany, his grandfather being a farmer and flouring mill operator, and the father of live children: Conrad (the father of Charles Braun), John, Elizabeth, Katherina and Margaret. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Braun also spent all of their li\-es in Germany and Anna Katherina Wird, the mother of Mr. Braun, was their only child.

Charles Braun was rearetl in ( )herschniitten. (lerniany, and received his education in the ])ul>lic scliools of that \-illage. Me left school at the age of fourteen and when fifteen years of age came to America to reside with his uncle, John Braun, in .\lar}'s\ille, Ohio. His uncle was a tailor bv trade and Charles learned this trade and followed it for several years. In 1890 he opened a general merchant tailoring shop and in 1897 opened a general clothing and gents furnishing store. In 191 1 he Iniilt a handsome modern business block at the southeast corner of the public sipiare known as "Fountain Corner." He owned the former building which stood on this site anil tore it down to build the present handsome block. He emi^lo^s a nunilier of clerks and handles the latest styles in clotliing and gentlemen's furnishing goods.

Howe\'er, the clothing lousiness has been onh- one of the manv ventures of Mr. Braun. He helped to organize and was the first president of the Commercial Savings Bank and still owns the building in which the l)ank is located as well as tlie building in which the postoffice is now situated. He is now cashier of the Union Banking Company and president of the Citizens Home & Sa\-ings Company. He is also president of the Marysxille Cabinet Company and vice-president of the ^Iarys\"ille Light & Water Company. In fact, Air. Braun has Ijeen heavilv interested in more enterprises than anv' other man in Marvsxille, a fact which speaks well for his business abilitv.

Mr. Braun was married in March, 1889, to Clara \\'eber, the daughter of William and Katherine (Doelph) Weber. To this union se\en children have been born, \\'illiam, Christina, Carl, Helen, .\lma, .\delbert and Clara. William is in his father's clothing store. \\'illiam and liis sister, Christina, graduated from the !Marys\ille high school, and all the other children are still attending the public schools of Marysville.

Mrs. Clara (Weber) Braun died May 20, iqoj, at the age of forty-one. She was born in Alarysville, Ohio, and always lived here. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in the German settlement in I'nion county. Ohio. yir. and IMrs. Weber had several children, only. two of whom are now living, Walter and Ella, the wife of Montfort Powers, of Malta, Ohio.

On August 28. 19 10, Mr. Braun was married to Mrs. IMeta Zwerner, the daughter of \\'illiani and Kate Otte, and the widow of John F. Zwerner. Mrs. Braun was born in Marysville, while her father was a native of Germany and her mother of Richmond, Indiana. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Otte, eight are now living, Ella, Louis, Meta, Frank, Anna, Minnie, Mary, Edith and Lily.

Fraternally, Mr. Braun is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pj'thias and the Bene\-olent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics, he has always gi\'en his stanch support to the Democratic party, but such has been his extensive business interests that he has never taken an active part in political matters. Such, in brief, is the life history of the poor German lad who arrived in Marysville at the age of fifteen and has made a name for himself as one of the leading business men of the town. It seems very fitting that his career be preserved in the history of the countv which he has honored bv his residence.

George Everett Whitney

The Whitney family represented here by George Everett Whitney, have been residents of Union county, Ohio, since 1855. During the three score of years which have elapsed since that date they have been important factors in the commercial life of the county. George E. Whitney was born in Marysville and with the exception of the years which he spent in college has always lived in the city of his birth. He is a man of broad and liberal views and has always stood for those measures which he felt would benefit his community.

George E. Whitney, the son of Alonzo and Kate (Peck) Whitney, was born in Marysville, Ohio, August 29, 1875. His father was born in Susquehanna countv, Pennsylvania, and his mother in Milford, Connectiait. His parents came to Marysville, Ohio, in 1855 and here his father engaged in the general merchandising business until 1877, when he retired from active business life and devoted all of his attention to the Peoples Bank, which he had helped to organize in 1874. He died July 4, 1900, at the age of seventy-one. His wife passed away January 4, 1904, at the age of sixty-six. She was reared a Congregationalist and he was brought up in the Presbyterian faith, but both later united with the Methodist Episcopal church and gave that denomination their loyal support the rest of their lives. Three children were born to Alonzo Whitney and wife: Bessie, who died in infancy; George Everett, whose history is liere presented, and Willard A., who died at the age of thirteen.

The paternal grandparents of George E. Whitney were Everett and Juha (IMerriman) \\'hitney, natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Pennsylvania, where they located in Susquehanna county and lived the remainder of their days. He was a farmer and gunmaker. He and his wife reared a family of fi\e children, l-Vank, Duane. Alonzo, Ellen and Carrie. The maternal grandparents of George E. Whitney were Elisha and Amy (Clark) Peck, natives of Connecticut. Elisha Peck was a contractor at Milford in that state, and he and his wife both died in Alilford. Five children were born to Elisha Peck and wife, Jonathan, George, Julia, Emma and Kate.

George E. Whitney was reared in AJarysville and graduated from the local high school in 1892. He then entered Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and graduated from that institution in i8'97. He at once entered the Peoples Bank of Mar}-svi]le as assistant cashier, and in 1900 was promoted to his present position of cashier.

Mr. Whitney was married July 8, 1898, to Mary G. Murray, the daughter of James and Mary (Bennett) Murray, and to this union three daughters have been born, Helen C. Katherine M. and Mary L.

Airs. ^Vhitney was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father came from county Tipperary, Ireland, and her mother was a native of Brown countv, Ohio. Her father died in 1896 and her mother is still living in Urbana, Ohio. James ^Murray, the father of JNIrs. Whitney, was a ]\Iethodist minister and preached in many of the important cities under the jurisdiction of the Cincinnati conference. Four children were born to James Murray and wife, Bennett, Robert, James and Mary.

Air. and Airs. W'hitney are earnest and consistent members of the Alethodist Episcopal church and Air. Whitney is the church treasurer and one of its trustees. He is a member of Palestine Lodge, No. 158, Free and Accepted Alasons ; AIarys\-ille Chapter No. 99, Royal Arch Alasons ; Samuel Jewell Council, Royal and Select Alasters ; Raper Commandery, No. 19, Knights Templar; Scioto Consistory, Scottish Rite, and Aladdin Temple. Nobles of the Alystic Shrine.

Politically, Air. Whitney is a Republican and is a member of the board of commissioners who are now Ijuilding the State Hospital at Lima, Ohio, beinof secretary and treastirer of the board.

James E. Robixsox

Standing out distinctly as one of the central figures of the bar of his county, is the name of James E. Robinson, of Marysville, Ohio. Prominent in the legal circles and equally so in public matters in his county, with a reputation in one of the most exacting professions, he has won a name for service in a calling which has included many of the representative men of Union county. Characterized by perseverance and directing spirit, two virtues that ne\er fail, such men alwa^'s make their jjresence felt and the vigor of their strong personalities ser\'e as a stimulant and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class ]\Ir. Robinson very rightfully belongs.

James E. Robinson, an attorney at Marysville, Ohio, was born in Paris township, August 15, 1868. He is the son of John W. and Sarah (Coe) Robinson. His father was born in Darby township, in January, 1831, and is still li\ing in ]\Iar_\sville. John \Y. Robinson was actively engaged in farming until 191 i when he retired from active farm life and moved to ]\larysville to spend his declining years. He and his wife are the parents of seven children; J. Heber, of Marysville; Mary E., the wife of Allen E. Plate, of Marysville; Aaron F., of Milford Center, a hardware merchant; Jennie C, the wife of Albert Burnham, a farmer of this county; Carrie B., the widow of John M. Longbrake, of Marysville; J. Clyde, of Milford Center, and James E.

The boyhood days of James E. Robinson were spent on his father's farm in this count}'. He received a good common school education and then graduated from the Marysville high school, after which he spent two years in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and one year at the State University at Columbus. He studied law with an uncle and took a course of law for one year in the university, being admitted to the bar in 1893. For the first six vears he practiced his profession at Richwood and rapidly forged to the front as one of tiie leading lawyers of his county. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of prosecuting attorney and ser\ed two terms in this capacity, .giving entire satisfaction to the citizens of his county irrespective of their political affiliations. At the expiration of his second term he formed a law partnership with William T. Hoops, and in the fall of 1912 Clarence A. Hoops entered the partnership. On September 16, 1914, W. T. Hoops died and the firm name is now Robinson & Hoops. Mr. Robinson has been connected with manv of the most noted legal cases coming before the bar of 'Union county and has won a reputation as a pleader before the jury which has extended far beyond the confines of liis immediate county.

Air. Robinson was married May 31, 1895, to Lulu D. Flickinger, the daughter of J. M. and Sarah (Haines) Flickinger. Mrs. Robinson is a graduate of the Richwood high school. To this union four children have been born : Pauline, a graduate of the Marysville high school and now a student in Miami University; Sarah L. and Eloise, students in the high school at Marysville, and James Edgar, who is still in the grades.

Mr. Robinson and his famil\- arc memljers of the First Presbyterian church of Mar_\s\ille and are generous contributors to its maintenance. Politically, he has always been identified with the Republican party and has been one of its leaders in county affairs for many years. He is a man of sterling qualities and because of his high professional standing he is eminently deser\-ing of the jjosition he holds in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

Rev. John L. Davies

During the last centurv- one of the most significant facts in the movements among ci\'ilized nations has been the great influx of people from foreign lands to America. This immigration movement has been increasing from year to year until now the foreign people who are coming to our shores every year are numbered by the millions. A large proportion of these millions who are coming ncjw and ha\e jjeen coming for the past several years, are from countries of southern Europe and are largely of the undesirable class, and are a menace rather than a benefit to the citizenship of America. This has brought about a serious problem, a condition which this government is endeavoring to control by the strictest regulation. But in the earlier period of x\merica's history this condition did not prevail. The immigration was largely from countries of Europe where a higher degree of ci\'ilization prevailed, and the people who came were of an intelligent and industrious class. It is of these that our best citizenship is comjxised. Of the immigrants of the class just mentioned none rank higher for intelligence, industry and sturdy moral character, than the people who come from Wales. A Welshman is a synonym for character and integrit\' : a Welsh ancestr\' is a badge of honor.

These obsen-ations are prompted by a consideration of the character and life history of the gentleman of whom this brief review is concerned, and to

Re\-. John Lewis Davies was l)orn in Abereman, Glamorganshire, South \\'ales, March i6, 1848. He is a son of Rev. Evan and Mary (Pugh) Davies, who were also natives of Wales. Their family consisted of four daughters and one son, namely : Amy Jane, deceased, who was the wife of William J. Davies ; Gwenllian, wife of John E. Rosser, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Rev. John Lewis Davies, of Marysville; Eliza Mary, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Ann, widow of Rev. D. D. Davies, of Granville, Ohio. The father of our subject was reared on a farm in Wales and became familiar with the rugged duties and wholesome exercise of outdoor life. When a young man he began studying for the ministry and graduated from the Neuaddlwyd Ministerial Listitute, in Cardiganshire, Wales, was licensed to preach and continued preaching the remainder of his life. With his wife and family he came to America in 1855 and settled in Blosburg, Pennsylvania, where he became pastor of the Congregational church. He remained with this charge for two years and then came to Gallia county, Ohio, and took the pastorate of two churches, TynRhos and Nebo, and continued in this charge until his death in 1875. His wife survived him and died in 1878 at the age of eight\--three years.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Davies. He followed various occupations and li\'ed to the age of ninety-six years. His wife was a very devout Christian woman, but he did not accept her faith and did not unite with the church until he was ninety-three years old. For the last four years of his life he was blind. They had quite a large family of children, namely: David, who was a farmer; Rev. Evan Davies; Timothy, who was a man of great literary ability ; Thomas, who was a sailor, and three daughters. The maternal grandfather was Lewis Pugh, a farmer, who died in middle age; his wife survived him and lived to a good old age. The two children by this union were Elizabeth and Mary; the wife had one son, John Jenkins, by a former marriage.

Rev. John Lewis Davies was only seven years old when he came with his parents to America. He grew to manhood in Gallia county, Ohio, and received his elementary education in the district schools of Perry and Raccoon townships, supplementing this with studies in the higher branches in Gallia Academv at Gallipolis and Ewington Academy. While attending school as a student at Ewington he enlisted as a private in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1864, and served until 1865, when he was honorably discliargcd. By tliis ser\ice he manifested his loyalty and devotion to the flag of his adopted country, an example followed by many others of his nativity in the great Civil War.

After the war Reverend Davies was at home for about a vear before he resumed collegiate studies. Deciding to take up these studies and complete his college course, he entered Marietta College and graduated in that institution in 1872 with the honors of his class, being honored as the class valedictorian. Prior to this time, before enlistment in the army, he was engaged for two terms in teaching school, starting to teach when he was fifteen vears of age. After his graduation from college he taught for two vears in the institution at Marietta. He entered the theological seminary at Lane, Ohio, completed the course and was licensed ti> preach. He was ordained pastor of the Shandon Congregational church, in liutler county, Ohio, and continued in that charge for five years. Following this he became pastor of the Welsh church in Youngstown, Ohio, for a term of one year. While there he organized the Plymouth Congregational church in October, 1882, with a membership of eighty-six. He was pastor of this church for nine years and the result of his labors was an increase of memlicrship to three hundred and fifty, a flourishing congregation of active and influential members. His next charge was at Scranton, Pennsylvania, but he had only been here about fourteen months when he received a call to the West church at Akron, Ohio, which he accepted. He remained here for twehe years when he resigned his charge and accepted a call to become the pastor of the South church, Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until 1911, when he came to ?»Iarysville and took charge of the First Congregational church at this place.

]\Iarch 21, iS/f), Reverend Davies was united in marriage with Jane Jenkins, daughter of John and Ann (Thomas) Jenkins. Their two children are Gertrude Ann and Gordon. Gertrude Ann is a graduate of the Akron high school and a student in Buchtel College. Gordon is a graduate of the Akron high school and of the Ohio .State University: he studied law and graduated in the law department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor. He now lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is in the employ of the state board of health.

Mrs. Davies was born in Tredegar. Monmouthshire. England, A'larch 21, 1847. Her parents were natives of England and spent their lifetime in that country. Their children were ]\Iary Ann. John, Thomas, Catherine, William, Jane and Fannie. The paternal grandfather of ]\lrs. Dax'ies was a native (jf Wales. The maternal grandfather was John Thomas.

Rev. Da\ies" labors in Marysville, as in all the other communities in which he has had pastoral charges, have been highly creditable to himself and satisfactory to the congregation to which he ministered. He keeps in close touch with his membership, ready with counsel, encouragement and sympathy as occasion requires. He is in thorough sympathy with every cause that is conducive to the public good and tends to a higher standard of morals, and for the things that promote a better life. He stands high in the esteem of his fellow ministers and co-workers in the cause of Christianity and enjoys the confidence and respect of the public, irrespective of faith or creed.

Jostah Jacob Morelock

The late Josiah Jacob Morelock was one of the leading farmers, stock breeders and business men of Cnion county, Ohio, for many years. He was a resident of this county from 1853 until his death in 1899. Commencing life here as a young man without any resources, he was at the time of his death one of the most prosperous men of the county. As a j'oung man he worked at the tanner's trade and followed this line of endeavor for several years, but from 1880 until the time of his death he was mainly concerned with the breeding of high grade horses and general stock farming.

Josiah Jacob Morelock, the son of Michael and Annamary (Weaver) Morelock, was born in Carroll county, Maryland, February 18, i8'33. and died in Marysville, October 27, 1899. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age and in 1853 came to Union county, Ohio, and worked in his uncle's tannery for about a year, after which he spent the following year in a tannery at West Jefferson, in Madison county. In the spring of 1855 he went to Pleasant Valley, now Plain City, where he found employment in the tannery of Asa Converse for two years and a half. While working for Mr. Con\'erse he became acquainted with his daughter and their marriage followed in tlie fall of 1857. After his marriage Mr. Morelock continued working in the tannery at Plain City with his fatlier-in-law until 1863, having in the meantime acquired an interest in the business. In 1863 he disposed of his interests in the tannery to his father-in-law and located in Marysville where he and G. L. Sellers engaged in the tannery business together for a few years. He then bought out the interests of Mr. Sellers and continued to operate the tannery alone until about 1873, when he disposed of it to Messrs. England & Goodyear. He invested his money at this time in a business block in Marysville. In 1880 he and his son went to Europe and imported three horses and began the raising of high class horses. In 1883 he took his son, Charles, into the business and three years later he bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres in Paris township, two miles west of the county seat, and on this farm Air. Morelock and his son continued in the breeding of horses until his death October 27, 1899.

Josiah J. Morelock was married September 24, 1857, to Candace Ann Converse, a daughter of Asa and Thankful (McCloud) Converse. Thankful McCloud was a daughter of Rev. Charles McCloud. Mrs. Morelock's father was born in Bridgeport, Vermont, February 9, 1814, a son of Squire and Anna (Rand) Converse. Squire Converse was born November 4, 1782, and was a son of Rev. Jeremiah Converse, a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Rev. Jeremiah Converse had a very interesting experience during the Revolutionary War. He enlisted as a private and his company was sent to Ohio as a scouting party to ascertain the strength and position of a marauding band of Indians. His company traveled many miles along the banks of the Muskingum river and toward evening of the second day they found themselves confronted by about four hundred savages who had secreted themselves behind some fallen timber. The Indians waited until the little company drew near and then mowed them down with a deadly fire, more than half of the company being killed and wounded by the first volley. The remainder of the company stood bravely to their guns and, taking to the trees, as was the custom when fighting with Indians, they vainly endeavored to check the onslaught of the savages. Within a few minutes they heard the terrible war whoop of the Indians, and as the savages rushed from their hiding place, the little company knew that their only safety was in retreat and Mr. Converse was one of the tew who escaped to tell the story.

Squire Converse was a lifelong farmer until his death, November 19, 1823. He came to Ohio and located in Darby township in 1814 and here he and his good wife reared a large family of children, Jasper Rand, Edwin Gates, Asa, Charles, Betsey R. (who was born in July and died the following August), Betsey R. (the .second child of the same name), Anna, Harriett and Candace Ann.

father's death he took over the management of his father's business affairs and continued in the general farming and stock raising business until his election to the office of county auditor in the fall of 1912. At the expiration of his first term he was re-elected and is now serving his second term. The reader is referred to the history of Charles A. Morelock, which is found elsewhere in this volume. Annamary. the other living child of J. J. Morelock, graduated from the high school at AJarysville and is now living with her mother.

Josiah J. Alorelock was a member of the first fire department of Marys- \ille and a member of the city council for sexeral terms. He was an adherent of the Democratic party in politics and was always interested in political matters. He was a public-spirited man and never failed to give his hearty support to all worthy measures. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Marysville. He was reared in the faith of the English Lutheran church, although his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. ^Nlr. Morelock was a man of genial disposition, kindly impulses and ^ery hospitable, and is well remembered bv those of a past generation as one of the most influential citizens of the county.

T. Merrttt Lextz

.\ prosperous young business man of Marysville, Ohio, is J. Merritt Lentz, of the firm of C. F. Lentz's Sons, manufacturers of butter tubs. Mr. Eentz has been a resident of Union county since 1883, while he has been a member of his firm since he was seventeen years of age. He and his brothers conduct the factor}- and make from tweh-e to fifteen hundred tubs a day and ha\e Iniilt up a business which extends into several states. They now employ thirtv skilled workmen all the time.

J. ?\territt Lentz, the son of Charles F. and Lydia (Mooney) Lentz. was born in Cardington, Morrow countw Ohio, December 24, 1879. His parents, who were natives of Ohio, reared a family of four children: Ralph C, of Marysville; Florence, single; Laura, the wife of W. R. Weidman, of Marysville. and John Merritt.

Charles F. Lentz was born at Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, but grew to manhood in M'jrrow count}-. He began clerking when a young man and later entered the shoe business at Cardington in partnership with his brother John. They worked together in business for a number of years and then

Charles F. sold his interest to his brother on account of ill health and went on a farm to li\e. In 1S83 Charles F. Lentz came to Alarysville and bought the old butter tub factory in partnership with Doctor Connor and four years later Air. Lentz bouglit the Ddctor's interest and ran the business alone until 1897, when he associated \\ith him his two sons, Ralph C. and J. Alerritt, under the name of C. F. Lentz iJv- Sons, The !nrm continued under this name until the death of the father in 11)04. since which time the sons have conducted the business under the name of C. F. Lentz's Sons. Charles F. Lentz and his wife, who died in 1SS5, were members of the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the school board of Alarysville and also served in the council.

J. Merritt Lentz was about four years of age when his parents mo\'ed to Marysville and. consequentl}', he recei\ed all of his education in this city. Starting in before reaching his majority as a member of the firm, he has de\'oted all of his life so far to the industry which his father built up so ably.

Mr. Lentz was married June 2"], 1907. to Florence Wilkins, the daughter of Joseph .S. and Alinnie (Court) \\'ilkins. To this union two children have been born, John, Jr., and Virginia.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Lentz came from Germany and settled first in Pennsylvania and later in Perry county, Ohio. Subsec|uently, they moved to Alorrow county, where they died well advanced in years. A large family of children were born to the grandparents of Mr. Lentz, Elizabeth, Eliza, Mary, John, Charles F. and others who died in childhood. The maternal grandparents of Air. Lentz were AI. L. and Jemimah Aloonev, natives of New York state and earl}- settlers in Alorrow count\-, Ohio, where they died well along in years. AI. L. Alooney and wife were the parents of four children, Susan, Mary, Lydia and Henry.

The wife of J. AI. Lentz was born in Cleveland, Ohio, her parents being natives of L^nion county. Her father died in 1903 and her mother is still living. Four children were 1)om to Air. and Mrs. Wilkins, Bess. Florence, and Jane ( Stewart ) Wilkins, natives of Ohio, and the parents of five children, Joseph, Carew, A [aria, Kizzie .Ann and Frank. The maternal grandparents of Airs. Lentz were George and Elizabeth Court. Thev had two children. Alinnie, the mother of Mrs. Lentz, and Edward.

Air. Lentz and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and deeply interested in everything pertaining to its advancement. Air. Lentz is a member of the official board of his church.. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Alasons, the Royal and Select Alasters, Paper Commandery, Knights Templar, and Xobles of the Mystic Shrine. Politicallv, he gives his loyal support to the Republican part)' and has been one of its leaders in county and state affairs for many years. At the present time he is serving as deputy state super\'isor of elections, a position which carries with it considerable responsibility. Mr. Lentz is a man of pleasing appearance and is highly regarded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county.

From the earliest history of Union county, Ohio, the Curry family have been prominent factors in its development. The county was organized in 1810 and the father of J. Earl Curry was born in Jerome township in 1817. Thus it is seen that the Currys have been identified with the history of Jerome township for at least a century and during all this time have been prominent in the educational, civic, reHgious and business life of the county. Without exception the various members of the family have borne their parts as befits the good American citizen. He and his brothers have been engaged in partnership for several years and their well improved farm of five hundred acres in Jerome township is one of the best farms in the county.

J. Earl Curry, the son of John and Tabitha (Gill) Curry, was born in Jerome township. Union county, Ohio, January 22, 1868. In this same township his father was born in 181 7, while his mother was born in Darby township. Their marriage occurred in 1845 and nine of the eleven children born to his parents are still living, .A.llen T., Louis, T. H., Frank, Olive, Jesse, Stevenson, Phoebe. Samantha, J. Earl and John M.

The grandfather of J. Earl Curry was James A. Curry, who was born in Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, Virginia, March 30, 1787. He came with his parents in 1798 to Ross county, Ohio, where he lived until 1811. On March iSth of that year James Curry married Phoebe Winget, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1799. James A. Curry and his wife were one of the first couples to locate in Jerome township and here he died March i, 1874, while his widow survived him until 1891. The reader is referred to the history of Louis Curry, elsewhere in this volume, for further information concerning the Curry family.

J. Earl Curry graduated from the common school and the high school of Jerome township and remained at home until his marriage. He then iiegan farming in partnership with his bf-others, Louis and John M., the firm being known as the C. L. Curry & Company. They are engaging in general

J. Earl Curry was married November 19, 1898, to Ella Mitchell, the daughter of Calvin and Sophia (Ashbaugh) ^Mitchell, natives of Franklin county, Ohio. To this union five children have been born, two of whom are living: Mildred, born May 19. 1906, and John, born November 8, 1907. Hester, Harold and Robert Lee died in childhood.

The father of Mrs. Curry is now living near Dublin, Ohio, and her mother died in 1914. Mr. Mitchell and his wife were the parents of six children, four of whom are still living: Osborne, of Dublin, Ohio; Minnie, who died about 1895, the wife of Thomas Dodge, of Union county; Joseph, of Linworth; Ella, the wife of Mr. Curry; Nora, who died in 1883; and Wilbur, of Dublin, Ohio.

Politically, Mr. Curr\- gives his hearty support to the Democratic party but has never had any inclination to become a candidate for public office or take an active part in political affairs.

George Frank Hoover

Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle of life practically unaided and with unfavorable environments, gradually overcomes obstacles that appear in his pathway and by force of his own individuality forges his way to success. No country in the world affords such opportunities for a young man to make his own way and attain to the highest success, regardless of difficult and unpropitious circumstances of early youth, as is afforded by the opportunities found in this country of ours. That "honor and fame from no condition rise" is exemplified by what are called the self-made men who have acted well their part in all the professions and vocations of life. Self-made men are found on the farm, in the workshop, in the manufacturing industries and in the mercantile business, as well as among the men who have achieved great honor in the professions. It is to the men of this class, rather than those of fortunate circumstance of birth, that America is indebted for its wonderful development in natural resources and its high standard of citizenship.

George Frank Hoover, whose life career is the subject of this sketch, is entitled to a place among the self-made men of his time. His place is among the successful farmers and stock raisers of Union county, and whatever may be the measure of success he has achieved in this industry, it is certainly not due to the fortunate circumstance of his early youth. He was born, November 1 6. 1855, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and was the only son of Levi and Sarah ( Seiger) Hoover, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War Levi Hoover enlisted in the army and died in the service. In 1864 Mrs. Hoover, the mother of our subject, died and thus the son was left, at the age of nine years, an orphan and without a home.

At the age of ten vears George F. Hoover was legally adopted as one of the family of Benjamin Schlier and here he made his home until he was twentv-one }'ears old. His education was received in the country schools which b.e was privileged to attend during his early years. Arriving at his majority, he began to look about for an opportunity for employment by which he could earn a livelihood for himself and make his own way in the world. In 1878 he left his Pennsylvania home and came to Champaign county, Ohio, where he found work on a farm. That he had acquired the habit of industry and a disposition characterized by thrift and economy is evidenced by the fact that after working on the farm at this place for a few years he was able to purchase a tract of land and engage in farming on his own account. He bought fifty-four acres of land in Union county near Marysville, and moved to this farm and began to cultivate and improve it. From time to time he has added other acres to his original purchase and at the present time has a farm of over two hundred acres, as fine a tract of land as is in Union countv. Like many other Union county farmers he has added stock raising to his farming interests, and his success in this line of industry is equal to that of anv of his neighboring farmers. His farm is located on the Hoover road, about three and a half miles northwest of Alarv'sville. Here he lives in a beautiful country home furnished with all modern comforts and conveniences. His barns and farm buildings are models of convenience and adapted for the purpose used, and everything about the fami is indicative of intelligent management and the prosperous condition of the owner.

]\Ir. Hoover married Lucy Pollitt and to this union four children have been born, Allaerta, George, Earl and Florence. Alberta married Dalton Reed and has two children. Gertrude and Loyd Franklin; George married Miss Nellie Moore and has two children, Vivian and Robert; Earl married Anna Carr ; Florence married Benjamin Turner and has three children, Geneva Bell, Mildred and Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are not affiliated with anv particular church but are friendly to all. Mrs. Hoover was born in Brown county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Jane (Edington) Pollitt. She was educated and grew to womanhood in Brown countv.

Charles M. Jones

The life of the farmer of today is the most independent existence which can be enjoyed and with all the modern inventions to facilitate farming it is rapidly losing those objections which ha\-e always been so ominous to the average farmer lad. The public school has taken cognizance of the subject of farming and today in .the schools of Ohio farming is being taught, and our colleges are conferring degrees in agriculture in many of the states of the Union. The department of agriculture of the I'nited States government is doing an immense amount of work for the farmers" welfare throughout the country, but it is a lamentable fact that so few farmers know what the department of agriculture is trying to do. They have issued hundreds of bulletins bearing on every phase of farming and distributed them free of cost. These bulletins cover all phases of farming and stock raising and are prepared by experts in every line. Many farmers of Union county are taking advantage of the assistance afforded by the United States government, and one of these progressive and up-to-date farmers is Charles M. Jones, proprietor of the "Pleasant Valley Stock Farm" adjoining Plain City.

Charles M. Jones, the son of Thomas and Marion (Newton) Jones, was born in Madison county, Ohio, June 9, 1850. His father came from Wales to America when a lad with his parents. William and Winifred Jones, William Jones came to America with his family and settled in Columbus, Ohio, and is buried in that city. Thomas Jones learned the harness maker's trade in his youth and worked in Columbus, Ohio, for some years, later locating in Madison county, Ohio, and following his trade there. In 1847 Thomas Jones commenced general fanning and gradually drifted into the breeding of Percheron horses, and brought the first Perchernn horse into that county in 185 1. To Thomas Jones and wife were born six children, Harriett, Charles 'SI.. Anne, Albert, Ellsworth and Winifred. Of these children Anne, Winifred and Harriett are deceased.

Charles M. Jones was educated in the common schools of his county and later attended the high school in Columbus for one year. He then entered Ohio \\'esleyan Uni\-ersity at Delaware and graduated from that excellent institution in the spring of 1873. He then returned to his father's farm where he has since lived. He took up his father's business of breeding Percheron horses and has made a reputation which extends throughout the state and even throughout the whole United States. He is a member of the National Percheron Association and is treasurer of the national organization at the present time. This is the largest association of horse breeders in the United States and has its local organizations in practically every state in the Union. The fact that Mr. Jones is one of the national officers shows that he is a man of ability and integrity.

Mr. Jones was married October 29, 1879, to Ida S. Snider, of Mt. Gillion, Ohio, and to this union has been born one daughter. Bertha, who is the wife of Pearl Crabill and has three children, Ruth, John J. and Marion.

Mr. Jones gives his hearty support to the Democratic party but has never taken an active part in political matters. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Plain City and give of their means to its support. The family home is in the edge of Plain City and was built by the father of Mr. Jones, although he has remodeled the house in recent years. The farm of Mr. Jones lies in Union and Madison counties and comprises one hundred and fifty acres of excellent land. Fraternally, Mr. Jones is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Plain City.

Jopin Henry Schoneberger

The German nation has furnished thousands of good citizens for the state of Ohio and Union county has been fortunate to count a number of them as a part of her body politic. While there are many Germans of native birth in the county, there is a still larger number of German descent, and this latter class is characterized by the same thrift and economy which made their forefathers leading farmers and business men of the various communities in which they settled in the United States. John Henry Schoneberger is a worthy descendant of German ancestors and has met with a success which stamps him as a man of more than ordinary business ability.

John Henry Schoneberger, the son of William and Maria (Weber) Schoneberger, was born in New Jersey, three miles from Morristown, May 18, 18^3. His parents were both natives of Bavaria, Germany, and came to this country in 1844 with five children. Three children were born to William and Maria Schoneberger after arriving in America. The children in the order of their birth are as follows: Frederick, deceased: Benjamin, deceased: Gertrude, the widow of Jacob Schreiner, of Parsons, Kansas; Philip, deceased; Mary, deceased, who died at Bridgeport, Ohio, and was the wife of Henry Maag; William, who lives in New Jersey near the old home place;

William Schoneberger fanned near! Morristown, N^ew Jersey, after coming to this country in 1844, and died there in 1866 at the age of sixtyfive. His wife lived until 1898 and was almost ninety years of age at the time of her death. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. The paternal grandfather was a blacksmith by trade and reared a large family of children, among them being William, Adolph and Frederick.

John Henry Schoneberger was reared in New Jersey until he was sixteen years of age, and in 1869 he went west and located near Pomeroy in Meigs county, Ohio. He attended the public schools and academy there for a short time and worked around Pomeroy among the salt works at that place. At the age of eighteen he started in the grocery business for himself in Miners\'ille, Ohio, and continued this line of activity imtil 1876. He then engaged in the manufacture of bromine in that vicinity, and for the next twenty years was actively engaged in the manufacture of this product. In 1884 he added to his other business the manufacture of calcium chloride and continued to manufacture bromine and calcium chloride in furnaces in Syracuse and Pomeroy, Ohio, and also Hartford, West Virginia, until about 1900. In that year he built the Pittsburg Calcium Chloride Works at Alleghenv and continued as general manager of that plant until 1907, when he sold his interests in Allegheny and came to Marysville, Ohio, where he has since made his home. He lived in Columbus, Ohio, from 1899 to 1905.

Mr. Schoneberger was married September 8, 1875, at Syracuse, Ohio, to Catherine Schreiner, the daughter of Frederick and Charlotte (Bergman) Schreiner, and to this union five children have been born, Minnie, Bess, J. Harry, Charlotte and ]\Iarie. Minnie is the wife of John A. Schott, of Columbus, Ohio, and has one son, Harry Edwin. Bess is still at home with her parents. J. Harry is secretary and general manager of the Crawford Chair Compan}- at Grand I-edge, Michigan. He married Catherine Crawford. Charlotte was the wife of C. A. R. Catesmani, who died se\'eral years ago in California, leaving one daughter, Catherine. Charlotte afterward married Clark Morgan and now resides in Columbus, Ohio. Marie is the wife of Otis Hatton, the superintendent of schools at Co\'ington, Ohio.

^Irs. Schoneberger was born at Minersville, Ohio. Her parents came from Germany and were married in New York city, April 18, 1847. Her father was born January 20, 1820, and upon the opening of the Civil War in this countv, he enlisted for service in the Union armv and was killed acci- dentally by a comrade while cleaning their guns just after the battle of Culpeper. He was forty-two years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. Schoneberger's mother was born in Germany, December 7, 1827, and died in January, 1886. Three daughters were born to Frederick Schreiner and wife, Maria, Charlotte and Catherine, the wife of Mr. Schoneberger.

Mr. and Mrs. Schoneberger are members of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, Mr. Schoneberger is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Democrat, but owing to his extensive business interests has never taken an active part in political matters. He is a man of quiet and unassuming demeanor and in his short residence in Marysville has won the high regard of all with whom he has become acquainted.

Jeremiah Poling

The Poling famil}- might appropriately celebrate September 27, i860, for on that date Jeremiah Poling arrived in Union county, Ohio, from West Virginia. On that day the parents of Jeremiah Poling located in Allen township, and the various members of the family have been identified with the history of this county since that time. As a farmer, Jeremiah Poling ranks among the best in his township and his farm of three hundred and eight acres, five and one-half miles southwest of Marysville, is one of the most attractive as well as the most productive farms of Allen township.

Jeremiah Poling, the son of Joseph and Phoebe (McKiney) Poling, was bom in West Virginia, June 26, 1851. His father was born in Maryland and went with his parents t.o West Virginia when he was only si.x months of age, and in that state he grew to manhood and married Phoebe McKiney, who was born in West Virginia. In i860 Joseph Poling brought his family to Union county, Ohio, and farmed in Allen township until his death in 1893. There were four sons and four daughters born to Joseph Poling and wife, seven of whom are still living: Jane, the widow of G. A. McGill ; Jessie B., of Marysville: Siloan H., a fairner of Allen township; Sarah E., the wife of Charles Fowler, of Allen township; Savannah, the W'idow of C. R. Dunbar, of Allen township; Jeremiah, with whom this narrative deals; J. D., who is a resident of California, and Catherine, deceased.

Jeremiah Poling was about nine years of age when his parents came from West Virginia to Union county, Ohio, and consequently he received part of his education in his native state. He attended school in Allen township in this county after his parents moved here, and after leaving school worked on his father's farm until his marriage. He then started farming for himself and his success as an agriculturist is indicated by tlie fact tliat he now has three hundred and eight acres of land on which he carries on a diversified system of grain and stock raising. He keeps onW the best grades of live stock on his farm and has found, as have other farmers, that stock raising is the most remunerative part of general farming.

Air. Poling was married March 31, 1S80, to Calinda Turner, who was born in Union county on January 20, 1862, and educated in the common schools of this county. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Poling: George E., who married Alaude Epps; Bertha G., single and now li\-ing in Tennessee; Victor G., single, and Joseph M., single. Both of the younger sons are still living with their parents.

Mr. Poling and his family are loyal and consistent members of the Baptist church and are interested in its various activities. Politically, he gives his stanch adherence to the Republican party, but has never taken an active part in political matters.

James P. Fleck

For more than a score of years, James P. Fleck has been engaged in the general merchandise business at Arnold, Jerome township. Union county, Ohio. He has built up a large business in Arnold and the surrounding community and by honest methods and good business judgment has accaimulated a verjf comfortable competence for himself and family. He is a man of sterling integrity and is highl)- esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

James P. Fleck, the son of David A. and ^Nlaria ( Buck) Fleck, was born in Jerome township. Union county, Ohio, Xox'emlier 25, 1854. His father was born November 28, 1824, and his mother was born in Fayette county, Ohio, February 20, 1819. David A. Fleck and wife were married May 15, 1849, and to them have been born three children: Martha J., born October 22, 1850, and died in Paris, Missouri, July 13, 1888; James P., who is now living at Arnold in this county; and Ney. who was born September 16, i860, and died July 23, 1883. David Fleck died July 2, 1872, and his widow passed away May 19, 1868.

James P. Fleck spent his bo\'hood days on his father's farm and received such education as was afforded by the public schools of his home township. In 1889 he engaged in the milling and saw mill business in partnership with J. T. Clevenger and about two years later Mr. Fleck sold out his interest and

Mr. Fleck was married May 7, 1894, to Carrie E. Woodburn, the daughter of James and Sarah J. (Robinson) Woodburn. James Woodburn was bom Febmar>' 12, 1824, and died November 2, 1897. Sarah J. (Robinson) Woodburn was born in 1826 and died July 22, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. James Woodburn reared a family of five children: Sarah H., deceased, who was the wife of Chester Farnum; Jane Elizabeth, the wife of Hiram Crottinger, of Marv'sville; James L., who died in Goldfield, Nevada; Harvey S., who died in Arkansas, and Carrie E., the wife of James P. Fleck. Mr. Fleck and wife have two children: Ney S., born April 21, 1895, and Freda, born April 11, 1901. Both of these children are still with their parents in Arnold, the son being a graduate of the New California high school and now employed in his father's store.

Politically, Mr. Fleck is a member of the Democratic party, but owing to his extensive business interests has never felt inclined to take an active part in political matters. Fie is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Plain City and has always taken a deep interest in this fraternal organization. Mr. Fleck is a man of wide acquaintance and is well esteemed by those who know him.

Aaron B. Robinson

To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and respected even from childhood, deserves more than passing notice. A man may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke of public policy and even remain in the hearts of friends and neighbors, but to take the same position by the practice of an upright life is worthy of the highest praise and commendation. Aaron B. Robinson, a retired merchant and lawyer of Marysville, Ohio, is a man who has spent his whole life in Union county and the four score and two years which he has lived here ha^-e served to gain for him a place among the most representative citizens of the county. A man of high moral character, unimpeachable integrity, persistent industry and excellent business judgment, he has stood for the best interests of Union county. Today there is no citizen of the county who is better entitled to representation in the annals of his county's history. He served with distinction in the War of the Rebellion and in peaceful pursuits since that memorable struggle he has been no less distinguished.

kinds. He continued in the mercantile business until a few years ago when he retired from active life and turned his business over to other hands.

Mr. Robinson was married to Keziah Wilkins, the daughter of Alfred and Harriet Wilkins, and to this union four children were born, Harriet E., Gertrude, Martha C. and Alfred J.