Wayne County, Ohio - Chapter 23: Towns of the County, 1910 (part 8 of 11)

Vtlliam Frary

Rising above the heads of the masses are many men of sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and pluck have conquered fortune and by their own unaided efforts have risen from the ranks of the commonplace to positions of comparative eminence in the business world, and at the same time have commanded the trust and respect of those with whom they have in any way been thrown in contact. Among the earnest men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principle exite the admiration of his contemporaries Mr. Frary is prominent and he is now recognized as one of the leading merchants of his portion of Wyne county.

William Frary is a native of the county in which he lives, having been born at Burbank, Canaan township (called Bridgeport then), on May 27, 1859. His paternal ancestors as far back as can be traced were New England Yankees and in that section of the country were born and reared his paternal grandparents, Orange and Jerusha Frary. They were married in their native state, and in a very early day they emigrated to Ohio, which at that time was considered a frontier state. Locating in Wayne county, they created a comfortable home and acquired a modest estate, where they spent their remaining years and died. The subject's maternal grandfather, Cornelius Seeley, was a native of Ohio, his family having been among the first comers here. Mr. Frary's parents were Asa and Florentine (Seeley) Frary, who were born in Huron county, Ohio, the former in 1830. The father was reared to the life of a farmer, which pursuit he followed throughout his life, his death occurring in February, 1906. His wife had died in 1882. Asa Frary loved his family and was devoted to them. He was an enthusiastic farmer and nothing diverted his attention from his family and his farm. In politics he was a Republican and gave a proper attention to public affairs, his support to every movement calculated to benefit the community. He was not an office seeker, however, and public preferment would have been extremely distasteful to him He was at one time, however, induced to serve as trustee of Canaan township and gave to the discharge of his official duties the same careful and painstaking attention that he gave to his private affairs, retiring from the office with the highest esteem of his fellow citizens. He and his wife were the parents of four children, all of whom are living.

William Frary received his elementary education in the common schools of his home neighborhood, supplementing this by attendance at the Burliank Academy. After leaving school he devoted himself to work on his father's farm, remaining there until about twenty-four years of age, when, in 1884, he went to Burbank and accepted a position as clerk for Eli Palmer in the latter's hardware store. He was careful and economical and saved his earnings, and eventually was enabled to buy a half interest in the store. Two years later he bought the remaining interest and has since run the business on his own account. He keeps one of the largest and most complete stocks of both shelf and heavy hardware to be found in this part of the county and he commands a large share of the local trade. Mr. Frary is accommodating in his attitude, genial in disposition and absolutely honest in all transactions, the result being that he has won a reputation for integrity and S([uare dealing that has made a friend of every one who lias patronized him. In July, 1897, he was appointed postmaster at Burliank and has held the olticc continually since. He is also the owner of a fine farm, which he o|)erales at a profit.

In politics, Mr. b'rary follows in the footste])s of his antecedents and gi\'es his support to the Republican party, taking a commendable interest in the trend of current affairs. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he and his wife belong and to whicb they render an earnest and generous su])port. His fraternal relations are with the Knights ot the Maccabees.

In January, 1883, Mr. b'rary was united in nian'iage with l.ibby .McBride, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and a daughter of John .\bner and .Mari.a

McBride, early settlers and prominent citizens of Ashland county. To Mr. and Mrs. Frary the following children have been born : Leslie, who married Maggie Shriner ; Eugene ; Grace, a student in the Burbank high school ; Wayne and Leah.

Personally, Mr. Frary is a gentleman of quiet demeanor, unassuming in his relations with his fellow men, but nevertheless popular with all classes and most highly respected by those who know him best. He has read and thought much, possesses a broad mind well stored with knowledge, and is a man of broad views and wide culture. Well posted in the general and political history of the country and keeping in touch with the times on current events, he is a loyal citizen and a true type of intelligent and symmetrically developed manhood.

Charles Munson

No citizen of Eranklin township, Wayne county, Ohio, is more widely known or highly esteemed than Charles Munson. Of a sterling pioneer family, he and his ancestors have been prominent in the development, organization and maintenance of this county, always being safely counted upon to endorse and support to the extent of their ability every good work, movement and enterprise. A successful farmer, public-spirited citizen and faithful friend, Mr. Munson is eminently deserving of representation in a work of this nature.

Charles Munson is descended from a long line of honorable ancestry. The subject's great-grandfather, Isaac Munson, Sr., was a native of Connecticut, who, some time after his marriage, emigrated with his family to the state of New York, where his wife, Eleanor Andrews, died in August, 1815. Soon after her death he and his son Henry came to Ohio. They passed the winter of 1815 in Holmes county and in the spring of 1816 they located in 'Eranklin township, Wayne county, where they made their future home and where the father died on July 10, 1830. He was a man of many and varied experiences, not the least of which was his sendee in the Continental army during the war of the Revolution, he having entered the service at the age of fifteen years. The subject's grandfather, Henry Munson, soon after coming to Wayne county recognized the value of the limestone deposits in this locality and he at once opened up the stone and built the first kiln in the county. His preliminary test of the stone was made by burning some of it in a big log heap. It proved to be of splendid quality and for many years he was successfully engaged in its manufacture. He sold it at fifty cents a barrel and people from a radius of fifty miles came to him for their lime. He shipped enormous Cjuantities to iMansfield, Ohio, by ox teams, it hauing been used in the construction of the old Wiler House in that city. Mr. Munson took a leading part in local public affairs and served as trustee of the township in 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1848. Henry Munson was married November 15, 1821, to Mary Cutter, a native of Holmes county. He then removed to Shreve, but five years later he returned to the old homestead, where his death occurred on December i, 1867. His wife died May 4, 1872. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Ezra, who married Ann Eliza Wycoff ; Isaac, father of the subject of this sketch; Samuel C., who married Jane Hughes, the daughter of John Hughes; Eleanor, who died September 9, 1856, was the wife of Jared Barker, of Summit county, this state; Mary, who died in 1862, was the wife of Isaiah Jones, of Holmes county; Elizabeth, who remained single, died on October 12. 1856; Henry, born February 12, 1837, married Rebecca Jones, a daughter of John Jones and granddaughter of Isaiah Jones, who died February 15, 1861. They had five children, John Henry, E. N., James K., William B. and one that died in infancy. Rebecca Munson died November 30. 1876, and subsequently Mr. Munson married Martha McCartney.

Isaac Munson, the subject's father, was born on the 19th of September, 1823, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood and during his mature years supplemented this education by much reading and habits of close observation. He was the possessor of a large fund of sound common sense and was practical in all his affairs. He long occupied a leading position in the community and at the time of his death, which occurred on February 13. 1898, he was considered one of the representative citizens of the township. He was twice married, first to Eliza A. Lowe, who bore him three children, namely : Mary, who is the wife of Samuel Geisinger, of Shreve, this county; T'hoebe, now deceased, was the wife of William Musser; Jacob is deceased. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Munson, in 1836. married Susan I honias, who is now living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 1 o this union was born one child, Charles, the subject of this review, llis l)irth took place in the place where he now lives. May 10, i860, and he has always made his home in this township, lie was early initiated into the m\sleries of successful agriculture and has followed that vocation coutinuouslv since taking up life's work. He is the owner ol a line farm ol three hundred acres, which is finely improved in every respect and is generally considered one of the best farms in Wayne county. Good buildings, well-kept fences and highly cultivated fields characterize the place, the general appearance of w Inch indicates the owner to be a man of sound ideas and practical methods. Mr. Munson is progressive and energetic and is not slow to adopt new ways of doing things when their feasibility has been demonstrated by experiment and experience. In addition to the raising of a general line of crops, he is also to a considerable extent engaged in the breeding and raising of livestock, in which he has achieved a distinctive success.

i\Ir. Munson was united in marriage to Rebecca J. Ven Ordel, a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and they har e become the parents of two children, Harry and Hazel. Harry was married on January 6, 1910, to Edna S. Crile, of Franklin township. Personally Mr. Munson is a man of splendid (lualities and has so ordered his life as to rvin and retain the unbounded confidence and respect of those rvho come in contact with him. He is popular in the circles in which he moves and has ever been found on the right side of every movement having for its object the advancement of the best interests of the community.

Oliver D. Bruce

Oliver D. Bruce, rvho is numbered among the leading and successful business men of Shreve, Wayne county, Ohio, is an Ohioan by birth and may justly bear the title of "self-made man," having rvorked his rvay unaided from the humble ranks of toil through the vicissitudes and adversities of life to an enviable position in his community. The success attained in his business enterprises has been greatly orving to his steady persistence, stern integrity and excellent judgment, ([ualities rvhich cause him to take rank rvith the leading men of his community, besides rvinning for him the confidence and esteem of the public to a marked degree.

Oliver D. Bruce rvas born in Holmes county, Ohio, on June 13, i860, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth Bruce, both of rvhom are dead. 1'he subject attended the common schools of his home neighborhood, supplementing this by brief attendance in the normal school at Millersburg. He w'as reared to the life of a farmer and after leaving school he followed that vocation, also engaging in teaching several terms of school, in which he was highly successful. In 1890 he came to Shreve and engaged in the livery business under the name of Coffman & Bruce. The style of the hrm changed a number of times, but eventually Mr. Bruce became the sole owner and ran the business alone until 1907, when he disposed of the business and engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He is a man of pronounced business ability and has met with very satisfactory success in his latest enterprise. He has handled a number of important real estate deals in this locality and is numbered among the solid and substantial business men of the town. In the insurance field he stands well, carrying none but the best companies and exercising a commendable conservatism in his placing of risks. While a resident of Holmes county he stood well in the community and served as clerk of his township. Since becoming a resident of Shreve he has been several times honored by election to responsible offices, having been elected mayor of Shreve in 1898, and serving in the position four years. He was again elected to this position in 1907 for a two-years term. He has given his community valuable and appreciated service as justice of the peace, to which office he was first appointed and afterwards elected three consecutive terms.

Politically, Mr. Bruce is a stanch Democrat and has been active in advancing the interests of his party, having served a number of times as a delegate to the county and state conventions of his party. Fraternally, he is a member of Challenge Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Shreve, and has several times passed the chairs in this body. He is a man of acknowledged ability and personal worth and by a life of unimpeachable integrity and right living he has gained for himself the unbounded confidence and regard of all who know him.

Few men of Wayne county are as widely and favoralily known as I rias F. Wells, whose attractive home is located in Clinton township. He is one of the strong and influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this county and for years his name has lieeu synonymous for all that constitutes honorable and upright manhood, dh'reless energy, keen perception and honesty of purpose, comhmed with every-day common sense, are among his chief characteristics and wliile ad\-ancing indi\ idnal success he has also largely ])romoted the moral and matei'ial welfare of the community.

Urias F. Wells is a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born in Ripley township, Holmes county, on the 28th of July, 1843. He is a son of Aaron and IMary (Shreve) Wells. The subject's paternal grandparents were Moses and Happy (Gorsuch) Wells, and the paternal great-grandfather was David Wells. The latter was a native of Wales, from whose rock-ribbed hills he came to the United States in 1816, locating first in Maryland and later in Ripley township, Holmes county, Ohio. Moses Wells, who also was born in Wales, came to this country at the time of the emigration of his father, and settled in Maryland, near Annapolis. He married Happy Gorsuch after arriving in his new home. Subsequently he located in Holmes county, where he remained until 1850, when he moved to Fulton county, Ohio, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He was the father of twelve children, of whom Aaron was the third in the order of birth. His birth occurred in Holmes county, where he was reared to the life of a farmer and where during his youth he secured his education in the neighboring schools. He followed farming during all the days of his life and was a prominent and influential man in the community. He was proprietor of the leading hotel in that section where they had general muster. He married Mary Shreve and they became the parents of the following children ; Martin, Thomas, Martha Jane, Ellen, all of whom are deceased; Urias F., the immediate subject of this sketch; Aaron, who lives in Clinton township, Wayne county. Aaron Wells died when the subject of this sketch was about four and a half years old and his widow subsequently married Isaac N. Fouch, to which union were born the following children: Caleb S., who resides in Shreve; Mary E., now deceased, who was the wife of William Easterday; Ira, deceased. The subject's mother died in 1881 and her remains were interred in the cemetery in Ripley township.

The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the district school. He made splendid progress in his studies and at the age of eighteen years he engaged in teaching school, following this vocation during a period of ten years, during which time he actually taught seven hundred and twenty-five days and one hour. He then relinquished the pedagogical chair for the plowshare and applied himself closely during the following years to agricultural pursuits. He was a practical man in his operations and. besides the tilling of the soil, he also devoted much attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which also he was successful. In 1881 Mr. Wells became a resident of Wayne county, where he has since remained. He is the owner of a fine farm in Clinton township and is numbered among the enterprising and successful men of the county. He keeps in close touch with the most advanced ideas relating to the science of agriculture and gives his personal attention to every phase of the work, in consequence of which he has been enabled to realize a handsome income from his investment. His property is well improved and is maintained at all times in the best of condition, the general appearance of the place indicating the owner to be a man of excellent taste and good judgment.

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Christian church, with which Mr. Wells united on October 19, 1862. In October, i88i, he became a member of the church at Shreve, and has been prominent and active in advancing the best interests of the society. He has long been active in Sabbath school work and served for the long period of forty years as superintendent of the school, his service covering two thousand and eighty consecutive Sabbaths. In politics Mr. Wells has been affiliated with the Democratic party and has been actively interested in local public affairs. He has been frequently elected by his fellow citizens to offices of responsibility, in all of which he has acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He served three terms as assessor and twelve years as a member of the school board in Ripley township. Holmes county, and since coming to Clinton township, Wayne county, he has served as a member of the school board many years, during nine of which he was president of the same. He has also served as a water works trustee and clerk of the board. In these positions he has given to the public interests the same careful attention and applied the same business methods that he employs in his own private affairs. His ability as a Sunday school worker has been recognized in bis election to the presidency of the Township Sunday School Association, which office he held for five years. He is now president of the Wayne County Farmers' Institute, having held this office during eleven of the sixteen years during which this organization has been in existence. In every avenue of life's activities in which he has engaged, Mr. Wells has performed his full part to the best of his ability, and this fact bas been generally recognized by those in touch with him and his work. Industry, integrity and progressivencss have been the keynotes to his character and are the elements which have contributed to his success.

Urias F. Wells married Louisa M. Mathew'son, a native of Ripley township, Holmes county, Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Ruble') Mathewson, and their union has been blessed in tbe birth of the following children: Robert D., who lives in Clinton township, married Maude rhonias;

Mary Shreue Wells, mother of the subject of this sketch, was a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( MMgel ) Shreue. Thomas ShreYe, who was a son of Richard Shreve and one of twelue children, came to Ohio in i8i6, locating at ShreYe. There he built one of the first mills in the county, in connection with which he also operated a sawmill. He was an enterprising and progressive man and did much for the upbuilding of the community. He was the first postmaster and in other ways was a leading man among his fellows, having served for many years as a justice of the peace. In connection with his milling business, he also successfully operated a farm. The Shreve family is of Holland origin, the first of the name to come to America being Israel Shreve, who married Maude, the daughter of a rich nobleman. They came to the new world at a date prior to the war of the Revolution and in this conflict the family took an active part on the side of the colonists, Israel Shreve having been a member of General Washington's staff and passing through the terrible experiences at Valley Forge. The present members of this family possess the original family coat of arms. Thomas and Mary ( Wag'd) Shreve were the parents of the following children: Rosanna, who is now dead, became the wife of Eson Hughes and the mother of twelve children ; Richard is the father of ten children ; Margaret, the wife of John Graven, became the mother of seventeen children ; Caleb, deceased, was the father of six children ; Charlotte became the wife of Peter Shreve, who was no relation; Henry; Mary, mother of the subject; William; Eliza Jane, who became the wife of Nicholas Crum and the mother of twelve children; Sarah Jane married Thomas Morgan and became the mother of ten children. Mr. Wells is a member of the Knights of Honor, of which there were one hundred and fifty members at one time, but he is now the only one left. Mr. W'ells was elected in 1899 and served three terms as a member of the Legislature from Wayne county, and it is worthy of note that his paternal grandfather served in that body in 1838-40. He has also been the leading stock buyer and shipper in the county for fifty years.

Mathew Gaut

The biographical history of WAyne county would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of Mr. Gant, who has passed his entire life on the farm which is now his home. In his youth he was familiar with the scenes and incidents of pioneer life, his father having been one of the early settlers in the county, coming here at a time when the section was practically an unbroken forest, when Indians and wild animals were still plentiful and when the homes of the settlers were log cabins of the most primitive type. Reared thus on the frontier, as it was then called, the subject has borne his part in the work of development, as did his honored father, both having been factors in bringing about the transformation which has made this one of the leading counties in the state, with its highly cultivated farms, thriving towns and villages, its school houses, churches and all other evidences that show the mark of progress and culture.

Mathew Gaut was born on his present homestead in the township of Canaan, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 3d of July, 1H33, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Montgomery) Gaut, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1799. The subject's paternal grandfather, klatthew Gaut, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, in which state he lived and died, being a farmer by vocation. His son Samuel emigrated from the Keystone state to Canaan township, Wayne county, Ohio, in 1821, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild land. This he cleared and developed into a hne and productive farm, on which he lived during the remaining years of his life, his death occurring in 1879. He was of that sturrly pioneer stock which wa.s instrumental in paving the way for the present wonderful ci\ ilization and his sterling qualities of character commended him to the confidence and regard of all who knew him. In politics he was a stanch and radical Democrat and took a prominent and influential part in public affairs during his active years. To him and his wife were born the following children: Oliver, Mary. Mathew, Harriet, John, Margaret and Vetencia, all of whom have passed over the silent river excepting the third named, the subject of this re\ iew.

Mathew Gaut was reared under the parental roof and secured his early education in the district school at Golden Corners. ,\fter the conclusion of his school days he continued to assist his father in the work of the farm until he had attained his legal majority, when he went to Iowa and was there em])loved a few years. At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Gaut gave unmistakable evidence of his jiatriotism by enlisting on June 13, 1861. in Companv G. b'irst Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, with which command he ser\-ed three vears and three months, being nurstered out on the (flh of September. i8f)4. During most of the period of his enlistment he was engaged in bushwhacking and in fighting (Juantrell's gang of guerrillas. 1 1 is command was a part of the arnw west of the Mississip])i and also took ]>art in sexeral severe engagements, including that at Prairie Grove ;md the capture of Little Rock, besides in.im- minor battles and skirmishes. At the close of his military service Mr. Gant returned to Canaan township and resumed work on the home farm, continuing to assist his father until the latter's death in 1879, when the farm became his. He has continued his residence here ever since and gave to its operation his personal attention and undivided efforts until his retirement from active labor a few years ago, since which time his son John has looked after the management of the place for his father.

Mr. Gant has been twice married, first to Julie Young, who was a native of Chester township, Wayne county, Ohio, and a daughter of Isaac and Lavina (McVicker) Young. Mr. Gaut's second union was with Elizabeth Francis, a daughter of William Francis, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gaut has become the father of two children, John, born May 18, 1876, and Ira, who is deceased. John was married on June 2, 1902, to Anna Rumbaugh, of Congress township, this county, the daughter of William and Catherine (McVicker) Rumbaugh, who were early settlers in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Gaut have been born two children, Edna and Wayne.

In matters political Mathew Gaut formerly gave a stanch and loyal support to the Democratic party, but in recent years he has stood independent -of party lines and votes for the men he considers best fitted for the offices He has ever taken a deep interest in the ad^'ancement of the community in which he lives and has always lent his support to all movements for the advancement of the best interests of the entire community. He stands as one of the strong and sturdy pioneers of the county and enjoys the respect of all. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and few men now living in Wayne county are better informed concerning its history when Ohio was a frontier state than is Mathew Gaut, whose reminiscences of the early days are most interesting.

Peter Housed

to Wayne county, Ohio, and here he engaged in the carpenter and contracting business, in which he was successful. He erected the Shreve high school building and many of the largest and best residences in this part of the county and was considered one of the leading men of his profession in this community.

Mr. Housel was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Ella Robinson, the daughter of Charles Robinson, of whose thirteen children she was the youngest. To this union was born one child, Elizabeth Elleanor, who, after completing a good education in the common schools, became assistant postmaster at Shreve, which position she retained until her marriage to Charles W. Keister. They now live at Toledo, Ohio, and have one child, Housel. Mr. Housel is an ardent Republican in politics and has rendered his party effective service as a member of the county and township central committees, in which positions he served many years. He also served as clerk of the township. On May i6, 1889, under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison, Mr. Housel was appointed postmaster and served a full term, his tenure of office running over into the Cleveland administration four months and fifteen days. He was out of office three years and eleven months and then was reappointed to the office on September i, 1897, and retained the office continuously until September 30, 1909, having served altogether as postmaster sixteen years, five months and a half and during all this long time Mr. Housel was never away from the office for one whole day at a time. He is an accommodating and obliging official and has given the patrons of the office a very satisfactory administration. Eraternally he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He is public spirited and gives his support to every movement that promises to be of benefit to the community, having served two terms as a member of the school board and in other local offices. He is a man of marked ability and integrity of character and because of this and his genial manner towards his acquaintances he occupies an enviable position in the community.

Asbury B. Oldroyd

The first half of the nineteenth century was characterized by the emigration of that pioneer element which made the great state of Ohio what it is. These immigrants were sturdy, heroic, upright, sincere people, such as constitute the intrinsic strength of a commonwealth. It scarcely ai)pears probable that in the future history of the world another such period can occur, or indeed any period when such a solid phalanx of strong-minded men and heroic, self-sacrificing women will take possession of a new country. Too careful or too frequent reference can not be made in the pages of history concerning those who have figured as the founders and builders of a great commonwealth, and in connection with this brief review of tlic i)crsonal Iiistory of Mr. Oldroyd it is a privilege to touch incidentally and specifically upon interesting data in regard to the sterling pioneer family of wh'ch he is a member and which has been identified with the annals of the Buckeye state since an early period in the last century. The subject is known as one of the influential and worthy citizens of Wayne county, where he has passed practically his entire life and because of a life which has been characterized hy unimpeachable integrity and upright living he is eminently deserving of the high position he holds in the community.

Asbury B. Oldroyd, who owns and operates a flne and fertile farm in section 14, Clinton township, was born Afay 10, 1842, on a farm located across the road from where he now lives. He is a son of Henry and Hannah (Ebright) Oldroyd. The latter was a daughter of George Ebright, who came in a very early day from Pennsylvania and settled in Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1863. While still living in Pennsylvania he was drafted for service in the war of 1812. but secured a substitute. However, the latter got only as far as Pittsburgh, when the news of the close of the war was received.

The subject's paternal grandfather, Charles Oldroyd, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was a fuller by trade in his native country. At that time it was the policy of the English government to prevent mechanics from emigrating, so he was compelled to leave the country surreptitiously. Arriving in America, he located first in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where for a number of years he operated a fulling mill with a gratifying degree of success. Some time after locating there he was joined by his wife and son, who had remained in England, and not long afterwards he sold his business and in 1832, accompanied by his son, Henry, he came to Wayne county, Ohio, making the trip afoot. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Clinton township. During the balance of his life he was employed in the fulling mill at Millbrook, walking back and forth to his work, a distance of two miles. The remains of Charles Oldroyd and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Ellis, are now resting in the cemetery at Millbrook. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were highly esteemed in the community.

Henry Oldroyd was born in Yorkshire, England, May 10, 1810, and, as related above, he accompanied his mother to America to rejoin the husband and father, who had preceded them to this country. In 1832 Henry accompanied his father on the trip to Wayne county, Ohio, and here he followed the pursuit of agriculture all the remaining days of his life. His early years here were characterized by much labor of the hardest kdnd, the land which his father entered having been covered by the primeval forest growth, which must be removed before the crops could be planted. Eventually he witnessed the wonderful transformation which transpired in this section and realized for himself the fruit of his labors. His death occurred in Shreve, this county, and his wife died in Kansas, their remains being interred in the Oak Grove Cemetery at Shreve. They were prominent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To them were born a number of children, namely: Mariah, who died young; Elmer George, who now resides at Shreve, was a soldier in the Civil war, serving three years as a member of the Eourteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Charles W., who now lives at Ottawa, Kansas, served three years during the Civil war as a member of Company C, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, entering as an orderly sergeant and being honorably discharged with the rank of first lieutenant; Asbiiry B. is the immediate subject of this review; Wilbur Fisk, deceased; Thomas B., who resides at Arkansas City, Kansas. Henry Oldroyd was a stanch and uncompromising Republican in his political views and was a strong supporter of the government during the Civil war.

Asbury B. Oldroyd was reared on the old homestead in Clinton township and early became accustomed to the strenuous labor of the farm. He secured his education in the schools of the neighborhood, and it is related that when he was learning his A B Cs his mother cut the letters out of paper and pasted them on a paddle, which he carried to school with him. The subject assisted his father on the home farm until i86i, when he enlisted in Company C, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He rendered faithful and valiant service to his country, but, owing to continued ill health, he was given an honorable discharge from the service about eighteen months after his enlistment. Since that time he has continuously applied himself to agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with splendid success. His fine farm in Clinton township is numbered among the best in the township and is so conducted by Mr. Oldroyd as to insure a handsome income each year. The property is well improved with substantial and attractive bnildings, these, with the well-tilled fields and other features of a modern farm, standing in marked evidence of the progressive character of the owner. In addition to raising all the crops common to this section of the country, Mr. Oldroyd also gives considerahle attention to the raising of livestock, which he has found to be a profitable and valuable adjunct to the regular farm work. In politics Mr. Oldroyd has at all times given a firm allegiance to the Repuhlican party and has taken a keen interest in its success, though not ambitious for office. Fraternally he is a member of the Shreve Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has served as senior vice commander.

Mr. Oldroyd took unto himself a helpmeet in the person of Tamer Kean. The latter was a daughter of William Kean, who was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, six miles east of Lewistown, on January 12, 1805. He was a son of Joseph W. Kean, who left Mifflin county in 1815, and went to Beaver and Allegheny counties, that state, where he remained for six years. In 1821 he came to Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio, where he remained until his death in 1826. William Kean was but twenty-one years of age when his father died and he gave to his mother the most careful and loving attention until her death, which occurred in 1836. He then went farther west in search of a location, but became dissatisfied and returned to Wayne county. He was married January 13, 1831, to Elizabeth Case, a daughter of Augustus Case, of New Jersey, who settled in Plain township, this county, in the spring of 1831. Augustus Case was born on Long Island, New York, July 17, 1759, and in childhood moved to New Jersey with his father, Joshua Case. The latter was the son of Augustus Case. Mrs. Kean's father, Augustus Case, Jr., learned the carpenter's trade and was employed at that vocation in New York city and in the shipyards until 1777, when he enlisted for service on behalf of the colonists. He gave faithful service throughout the war, but took part in no battles, having been, because of his proficiency as a workman, assigned to special work along the line of his trade. It is a matter of record that he performed some very important service for the cause which he had espoused. In 1794 he was married to Elizabeth Bell, a daughter of Onisimus Bell, and born in New Jersey May 19, 1765. In 1798 they crossed the Alleghany mountains to Washington county, now Greene county, Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1813 he started afoot westward and, arriving in Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio, he entered the northwest quarter of section 31. He then started on the return journey and on the way he also entered land in Richland county, this state. He arrived at his Pennsylvania home January i, 1814, and immediately made arrangements to move to the new western home. The household goods were packed in a big covered wagon, drawn by an ox team, with a horse hitched to the end of the tongue. They started on the long and wearisome journey, he and the older children walking most of the way. They arrived at Wooster on the 25th of April, 1814, and there the family remained a short time, while the father was engaged in the erection of a small log cabin on the Plain township land. On its completion, they occupied it and the parents there spent the remainder of their lives. The wife and mother did not live long in the new home, her death occurring September 12, 1817. Her husband survived her many years, his death occurring March 24, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Kean were the parents of the following children : Dewitt C. ; Sophie, the wife of Edwin G. Ebright, of Clinton township, this county ; Anner, who makes her home with the subject and his wife; Augustus C., who resides at Shreve; John Avas a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and died while on board a boat at Young's Point; Tamer, the wife of the subject. William Kean was a prominent man in his day and served two terms as trustee of Plain township, having also held every other office in the township excepting that of constable. He died in March, 1884, and his wife Elizabeth in December, 1883, their remains being interred in the Maple Grove cemetery in Plain township. To Mr. and Mrs. Oldroyd have been born the following children: Lura, at home; Emma, at home ; Bessie is the wife of George William McCluggage, of Clinton township, this county, and they have one child, Ruth; Mabel, at home; Sophia, deceased; Helen and Gerald are at home.

John W. Crummel

An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the locality to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of the one whose name forms the caption to this sketch. During a number of years he sustained a very enviable reputation in educational circles and, now, in the responsible capacity of clerk of East Union township, he is rendering signally usefld and efficient service to his fellow citizens.

John W. Crummel is a native son of the township in which he now resides, his birth having occurred at Apple Creek, East Union township, Y ayne county, Ohio, on the 7th day of October, 1852. He suffered the loss of his mother when he was a very young boy and he then was placed in the family of W. W. Wyer, who gave to him the same care and attention that an own father and mother could have done. The subject secured his elementary education in the district schools of the neighborhood, which was supplemented by attendance at the Smithville Academy, lie then engaged in teaching school and in this effort he achieved a pronounced success, being occupied in this profession for many years in this county. In i88i and 1882 he attended the law department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, but on his return he resumed his pedagogical work, which he continued until 1895. He was then engaged in clerking in various mercantile houses until 1898, when he was elected clerk of East Union township. So efficient were his services in this position that he has been retained in it ever since, and is the present clerk. The duties of the position are manifold and are in some respects onerous, but Mr. Crummel has handled the details of the office in such a manner as to win the approval of his fellow citizens.

On the 6th of November, 1883, Mr. Crummel was united in marriage to Ella M. Hough, a sister of Isaac N. Hough, the present auditor of Wayne county. The union has been without issue. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Crummel lived for awhile at Honey town, where Mr. Crummel was engaged in teaching, but they are now residing at Apple Creek, where, in their pleasant and attractive home, they give a hearty welcome to all their friends.

In politics Mr. Crummel is a stanch Democrat and gives an enthusiastic support to his party. Mrs. Crummel is an earnest and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which society Mr. Crummel gives generously.

Mr. Crummel takes a deep and abiding interest in the progress and improvements in the schools and in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community. He belongs to that class of substantial citizens whose lives may not show any meteoric brilliancy, but who, by their support of the moral, social and political movements for the general good of the community are deserving of the commendation of all good citizens. A man of genial personality and integrity of life, he has won the unbounded confidence of all who know him and as a representative citizen of his township he is entitled to representation in a work of this character.

Warden Wheeler

The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave on the record the verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life history of the subject of this sketch the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise ; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life - a life characterized by perseverance, energy, patriotism, broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people who have known him long and well.

Warden Wheeler is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born at Zanesville on the 23d of November, 1833. He is a son of Benjamin and Eleanor (Warden) Wheeler. The family for several generations have been residents of Ohio, his paternal great-grandfather, Moses Dillon, havingdied at Zanesville at the age of ninety-seven years. The paternal grandparents were natives of Baltimore county, Maryland, and there the father, Benjamin Wheeler, also was bom in 1802. The subject's mother was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and is closely connected with an interesting bit of pioneer history. Her mother and children were at one time captured by the Indians, but succeeded in escaping and hid themselves in a school house, where they escaped detection. Benjamin Wheeler left his native state in 1820 and came to Zanesville, Ohio, making the trip by horseback, and there he began working as an ox-driver for the Dillon Iron Works. In this humble capacity he was faithful and industrious and was promoted from time to time until he became manager of the entire plant. Subsequently he started the Zanesville Foundry and Iron Works, which he conducted with considerable financial success until advancing age suggested to him the wisdom of retiring from active commercial life. Selling his manufacturing interests, he invested in bank stock, which enabled him to live a retired life free from worry or business care. His death occurred in 1874. He was also a large owner of farm lands, which required much of his attention. During his active years he was considered one of the most public-spirited men in Zanesville, giving his support to many enterprises which promised to be a benefit to the community. He was also very charitable, doing much in the way of benevolence, hut was unostentatious in his manner of giving, and many of his acts of benevolence never came to public notice. In politics he was first a Whig, but after the formation of the Republican party he gave that party his unreserved support. His widow survived him a number of years, dying in 1884.

Warden Wheeler was reared under the parental roof and secured his ]>reliminary education in the Zanesville public schools, supplementing this by ;ittendance at Marietta College, at Marietta, Ohio. He was not i)ermitted to graduate at this institution, howe\er, ill health forcing him to rcliu(|uish his studies. Upon recovering sufficiently to take up active work, he became a collector for the Adams & Wheeler Iron Works, at Zanesville, in which his father was interested. Subsequently, however, he became i)ossessed with a desire to take up agriculture and, with this end in view, he went to where is now located the city of Rochelle, on the line between Lee and Ogle counties, Illinois, and in 1853 entered eighteen hundred acres of government land. In the following year he returned to Zanesville and drove overland to his new land a herd of cattle, the trip requiring about six weeks. Mr. Wheeler continued his farming operations in Illinois until 1862. He has taken an active and intelligent interest in the trend of public events and was deeply concerned in the great struggle which ensued between the great political parties just prior to the Civil war. He cast his presidential votes for Fremont and Lincoln and was intimately associated with several of the great political leaders of Illinois, including Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. At the outbreak of the war he was in a mind to enlist for military service, but his father, to prevent him doing so, persuaded him to return to Ohio and take charge of a farm in IMorgan county. The Wheeler family were of patriotic blood, and several members took an active part in the great and bloody struggle. A brother of the subject, Samuel H. Wheeler, was captain of Company A, Twenty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was at that time the youngest and smallest captain in the service. He was injured in the battle at Cheat Mountain. West Virginia, and was brought home, dying soon afterwards. Another brother, Robert F. Wheeler, gave up his life at the battle of Shiloh, and a brother-in-law, Capt. T. C. Ewing, of Ewing's Battery, was shot through the body at the battle of Rocky Ridge, West Virginia, being afterwards captured by the enemy. The subject could not restrain his patriotic ardor and enlisted for service, and was sent to Knoxville, Tennessee, as master of transportation in General Burnside's army. He remained there during the siege of that city, and was then prostrated with an attack of typhoid fever, being sent home to recuperate as soon as well enough. On his recovery he was commissioned quartermaster of the Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, this appointment coming to him entirely wdthout his application, and he served in this capacity until the close of the war. His command was a part of Sheridan's cavalry at the battle of Opaken, Eisher's Hills, and the advance to Stanton, besides other minor engagements. The command returned by the Urah valley when the Shenandoah valley was devastated, and the subject was detailed by General Sheridan to go to Martinsburg and bring the whole army train from that point to Cedar Creek. In following out this order, they had reached Winchester, near Cedar Creek, when they heard the firing at the latter place. The train was at once started for the front and when they had reached the Stone Mill, four miles from Winchester, General Sheridan, who had spent the night at Winchester, overtook Mr. Wheeler and ordered him to park his train on the left of the road. The subject then asked permission to go to the front and try and save the brigade train, and was told to do so. He rode forward with Sheridan several miles and then struck off to the left and eventually was able to save the brigade train intact. This act was of greatest importance to the army at that time and the subject was highly complimented by his superior officers and promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He saw much arduous service during the remainder of the war and was always found at the post of duty. At the close of the war, Lieutenant Wheeler received an appointment as cjuartermaster with the rank of captain in the regular army, but he declined the commission, having no desire for military service in the time of peace.

On leaving his country's service, Mr. Wheeler went to Amesville, Athens county, Ohio, and entered the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1869, when he moved to Pike Station, now Creston, Wayne county, and has since made that his home, having in the year mentioned retired from active participation in commercial life. In March, 1870, he was commissioned a notary public, having been the first person in Canaan township to receive this appointment. He served awhile as postal mail agent on the Adieeling & Lake Erie railroad, but was caught in a wreck and badly bruised.

Mr. Wheeler has enjoyed the acciuaintance and companionship of a number of Ohio's foremost citizens and some of them men of national importance. He was a personal friend and admirer of William McKinley and in his home was held the first meeting of the congressional commission preceding the first election of McKinley to Congress. The district was then composed of Ashland, Wayne, Stark and Portage counties and among the men who composed that campaign committee were such well-known men as Cornelius, Colonel Hard and Smyser, of Wayne county, Robinson, of Portage county, and others who have been political leaders in their communities. For several years Mr. McKinlev was an annual visitor to the home of the subject, their intimacy having begun when they were comrades together in the army, both being assigned to General Crook's staff. Mr. Wheeler was also well acciuaintcd with Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield, the latter having served in the same brigade with the subject's brother-in-law, Gen. Samuel .\. (lilbert. When the subject was a lad of .seven years Gen. William Henry 1 larrison was entertained in his father's home, and he also gained the j)ersonal ac(|uaintance of Thomas Ewing, Thomas Calling and S. S. Cox. He also remembers seeing Henry Clay and Gen. Zachary I'aylor while they were on a steamboat trip up the Ohio river. Mr. Wheeler took a great interest in the early impn>\ ements of Ohio public highways and public works and was a member ol the first party to travel by rail from Zanesville to Bellaire. After his removal to Creston and the incorporation of that place, Mr. Wheeler was elected the first mayor and gave to the new corporation effective service.

On the nth of August, 1858, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Mary B. Smith, who was born at Bartlett, Washington county, Ohio, the daughter of Milton and Susan Smith, old settlers of that county and who later came to Wayne county, where they spent their remaining days. Mrs. Wheeler's grandfather and grandmother came to this country with Blennerhassett, who settled on Blennerhassett's Island. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler two children have been born, namely : Charles, who was born in Illinois, was for twenty-five years a conductor in the passenger service on the Northern Pacific railroad, and served as one of the presidential electors from North Dakota during William McKinley's first campaign. Benjamin Wheeler, who also was born in Illinois, is engaged in the grocery business at Orrville, this county. Both of these sons have married, and a grandson of the subject, B. F. Wheeler, married, in July, 1909, Sallie A. Royer, of Orrville.

Mr. Wheeler has been successful in life to a high degree and is recognized as one of the county's best citizens. He is well known and is highly respected by every one. He is now nearing the golden sunset of life and in the course of nature must in a few years take his departure, but he rests in the assurance that his life has been well spent and that he has honored the name which he bears, being the peer of any of his fellow citizens in all that constitutes upright living and correct citizenship. He is a close, and intelligent observer, has read much, and keeps himself well informed on current events. He is unostentatious in manner and quiet in demeanor, a thinker, and a man of deeds rather than words. He is essentially a man of the people, because he has large faith in humanity and is optimistic in all his views. The high esteem in which he is held by the people of his community is a worthy tribute to a most excellent man and his name will always occupy a conspicuous place on the roster of Wayne county's representative citizens.

From his boyhood the subject of this sketch has been a resident of ATyne countv, and he is an honored representative of one of its pioneer families. His life has been one of usefulness and honor, and his memory links the later pioneer epoch, with its comparatively primitive surroundings and equipment, with this later era of prosperity and opulent achievement and condition which have marked the advent of the glorious twentieth century. As a representative farmer of the county and a public-spirited citizen, it is entirely consonant that there be here entered a review of the life historyof Mr. Brown.

Elmer Brown, whose fine farm is located in section 10, Clinton township, Wayne county, was born August 8, 1857, a son of Thomas Aslrford and Mary (Bird) Brown. Thomas Ashford Brown was a son of John Buckner Brown, who was the second child and oldest son of Thomas and Ann (Ash) Brown. John Buckner Brown was born January 28, 1788, in Prince William county, Virginia. In the spring of 1805 he accompanied his father and family west of the mountains to what is now' known as Preston county. West Virginia, locating on what was called the "Stone House" property, consisting of five hundred and seventy-eight acres. About five years later, at wdiich time he was twenty-two years of age. he married Mary Morgan, who lived on the east side of the Cheat river, near Kingw'ood, West Virginia. She was a daughter of Hugh Morgan, one of the pioneers of Preston county. West Virginia. She was born May 12, 1790, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children, nine of whom were girls. She was a quiet, Christian woman, of many excellent personal qualities, an excellent housekeeper and a faithful and loving mother. In the summer of 1811 John Buckner Brown came to Wayne county, Ohio, and entered land in section 20, Clinton towmship, on which he made some improvements. He then returned to his family in West Virginia, and in the fall of 1813 he brought the family to their new western home, arriving here on the 17th of September. The tedious journey required several weeks' time, during which time the members of the party were in constant danger from various sources. Fhe trip incurred many hardships, the trail leading through unbroken forests and over bridgeless streams, while on every hand roamed hear, wohes, panthers, catamounts, wild red deer and wilder red men. 'khe party arrived safely at their destination and at once the ta.sk was begun of getting the land in shape for cultivation. One who has not ])assed through this experience can have no definite idea as to the extent of the task. I'he timber had to he felled, chopped and burned, the ground broken, crops planted, tences built and other labor performed which was not incumbent on those who hater took up the operation of the farms. 'Phese sturdy old ])ioneers did their work well and today they deserve the everlasting gratitude of those who are now enjoying the conditions made po.ssible by their sacrifices and strenuous labors.

John B. Brown continued to reside on this farm until their deaths. His death occurred September 15, 1855, and hers on July 12, 1850, their remains being interred in the old Baptist cemetery in Holmes county, near their home. Mr. Brown was a member of the Disciples church and the first meeting e\'er held Iw that denomination in MHyne county was held in his home. Mr. Buckner was said to haue been a man of fine personal appearance. He was fiue feet eight inches in height, weighed one hundred and sixty pounds, and had bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. He bore a splendid reputation in the community, his word being considered literally as good as his bond. At the time of the death of his father he received as his portion of the estate three or four slaves. Being bitterly opposed to the practice of slavery, he returned to Virginia, and hired out one of them, Rafe Harris, to Gen. Buckner Fairfax, for a term of six years, at the end of which time he and the other slaves were to be given their freedom, which was done. Politically, Mr. Brown was a Democrat until the campaign of 1840, from which time he gave his support to the Whig party. To him and his wife were born the following children: Ann, born November 28,

1811, died August 12, 1812; George Harrison, born April 4, 1813, died 1844, married Rebecca Hull; William Wesley, born March 23, 1815, died in June, 1893, married Phoebe Lee, who was born April 6, 1837, the daughter of James Lee, of Virginia, and died July 17, 1886; Hugh M., born October 14, 1816, married, on February 21, 1838, Margaret Neely, who was born June 25, 1819, and both are now deceased; Rebecca Ann, born February 25, 1820, died in infancy; Thomas Ashford, born June 22, 1818, married Maiy Bird March 5, 1845, are dead; John, born October

25, 1822, died April 19, 1889, married, in 1848, Rhoda Newkirk, who also is dead; Mercy, born December 19, 1823, died in infancy; Stephen, born August 8, 1826, now deceased, married, on January 31, 1850, Martha M. Riifie, also deceased, and had three children, Herbert, G. E. and Alice (Mrs. Kick); Mary Ann, born August 25, 1828, became the wife of James K. Campbell on February 13, 1851, and both are deceased; Isaac, born April 3, 1831, married Elizabeth AIcConkey on Eebruary 13, 1851, and is now living in Holmes county, this state; Samuel Elery, born August 12, 1833, married Almira Caldwell November 4, 1854. He is now dead and his widow lives in Nebraska.

Of these children, Thomas Ashford Browm, father of the subject of this sketch, became a well-knowm and highly respected farmer of Clinton township. On March 5, 1845, married Mary Bird, who w'as a native of

Kolnies county, Ohio, and to them were born the following children : Ralston Buckner, horn January 28, 1846, died 1902, married Sarah J. Gill, February 25, 1869, she being now a resident of Wooster, this county; Bird Ashford, born February 25, 1848, died April 29, 1877; Salina J., born September 12, 1849, became the wife of J. J. Sullivan on September 27, 1887, and they now reside in Cleveland, Ohio; Luderna died young; Mina J., born July 29, 1853, was married, on November 27, 1873, ^ W. C. Craig, of Wooster; Aurelia M., born August 29, 1855, married, on October 6, 1876, Lucustus Sidle, and they live in Wooster; Fdmer, the subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth. Fie was reared on the paternal homestead in Clinton township and received his education in the common schools. Fie was reared to the life of a farmer and has spent his entire life as a tiller of the soil in this township. He has been energetic and progressi\'e and has so operated his farm as to realize a gratifying return for the labor bestowed. The place is well improved in every respect and is numbered among the best homesteads of the township. In addition to the tilling of the soil, Mr. Brown also devotes some attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which also he is successful.

Mr. Brown married Ida Dike, who was born June 18, 1871, in Plain township, this county, a daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Kugler) Dike. Her parents were both natives of Germany, having emigrated to the United States in 1851. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but here followed farming as an occupation. He died September 2, 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his widow now makes her home with the subject and his wife, being now eighty-four years old. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children; Helen, born July 17, 1899; Mary, born October 6, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian church, l)oth giving their earnest and liberal su])port to this society. In politics Mr. Brown has given his support to the Republican party, though he is not in any sense an as[)irant for [lublic office. Standing "four sipiare to every wind that blows," he has so ordered his life as to win the unhoumted confidence of all with whom he has had dealings and his friends are in number as his acipiaintances.

D. C. Evans, scrn of fames Ifvans, a pioneer settler, was born in Baughman townshi]), April 4, 1833. .-\t the clo.se of his country school days ho he was engaged in various pursuits in Illinois and Missouri. At Springfield, Illinois, as liookkeeper in a large dry goods house, he was personally acquainted with Abraham Lincoln. He returned to Orrville in i860 and engaged in the drug and grocery business.

He was joined in wedlock to Mary Jane Taggart, daughter of Robert Taggart, one of the pioneer settlers of Baughman township and Orrville. Mary Jane died one year before her husband. He died in 1901 and left no children. He was known as one of Orrville's most strenuous and enterprising business men.

Robert C. Flack

Back to stanch old Scotch-Irish stock does the suliject of this sketch trace his lineage, and that in his character abide those sterling qualities which have ever marked these two nationalities is manifest when we come to consider the more salient points in his life history, which has been marked by consecutive industry and invincible spirit, eventuating in his securing a high place in the confidence and respect of his fellow men.

Robert C. Flack is a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born near Homesville, Holmes county, on February 8, 1866. He is the son of James and Isabelle (Dorvacter) Flack. James Flack, who also was a native of Holmes county, was a farmer by profession, and moved to Wayne county in 1866, when the subject was but six weeks old. He located one-half mile south of Maysville, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1894. The father was twice married. His first wife was Sarah Riddle, who was born in Knox county, this state, and to them were born three children, of whom only one is living. Thomas J. Flack, now living near Gambier, Knox county, Ohio. Isabelle Dorvacter who became the second wife of James Flack, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, and her death occurred in 1898. She became the mother of seven children, who are briefly mentioned as follows : Robert C., the subject of this sketch; John J., who lives four and a half miles southeast of Wooster; Ora O., who is connected with the experimental station work of the government horticultural department; Celia M. is the wife of Harry J. Jolloff, of Wooster; Charles S., living two miles northwest of Wooster; Ida V., of Wooster; two, Marion and Mary Ann., died in infancy. The subject's paternal grandfather, James Flack, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in an early day, being one of the highly respected pioneers of his locality.

As stated above, the subject of this sketch was brought to Wayne county by his parents when he was but six weeks old, and this county has been his home continuously since. He remained on the parental farmstead during his boyhood years and receiued a good education in the common schools of the locality. He continued to assist his father in the duties of the farm for a number of years and then entered the insurance business, working fraternal insurance and giving his attention principally to the Bankers' Fraternal Union. He then took up old-line insurance and for eight years was with the John Hancock Company, one of the strong and reliable companies. In this line of work Mr. Flack achieved a distinctive success, being considered one of the leadinginsurance men in this locality. He practices correct business methods and has won the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has transacted business.

R. C. Flack is at present engaged in the field of investments, in which he negotiates bonds, stocks and other first-class securities, making a specialty of western investments because of their larger profit return on invested funds. In this field he has been exceptionally successful, having influenced the investments of many thousands of dollars of Wayne county capital. He is a director of the Colusa Mining & Milling Company, operating rich gold proj)erties in the Tarryal district, Park county, Colorado, and a director of the Ohio Quartz Hill Gold Mining Company, operating valualfle gold properties on Quartz Hill, which is generally recognized as the richest square mile of gold producing territory in the world. Judge L. M. Goddard, for twelve years associate justice of the supreme court of Colorado, with other influential persons of that state, are officers and directors of this company. IMr. Flack's offices are in the Nolle building, Wooster, Ohio. Mr. Flack is heavily interested in other legitimate enterprises of the west, among which are the Stoughton Mining & Milling Company and the North Star Tunnel, Mining, Milling, Power S: Transportation Company, both mining enterprises of a profitable and succes.sful business character.

On August 31, 1887, Mr. Flack wedded Priscilla B. Floagland, of Danville, Knox county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Ste])hen .\. Hoagland, of Knox county, and is descended from a family of soldiers, five of her father's brothers having served throughout the Civil war as members of the Northern armies. To Mr. and Mrs. hdack have been born the following children ; Flmer C., now seventeen years of age, has completed his common school education and is now a student in Bixler's Business College, at Wooster; I lazel V., aged thirteen; Urshel F., aged ten years; (ienevie\e, aged five yeais ; Fdgar V. died at the age of ten years.

Socially, Mr. Flack is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both suljordinate and encampment, the Knights of Pythias, in which he has risen to the Uniform Rank, the Modern Brotherhood of America and the Home Guards of America. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, though not an aspirant for the honors or emoluments of pulilic office. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Flack and their children, Elmer and Hazel, are members of the Christian church, to which they give a generous support. The subject is one of the county's public-spirited citizens, and he has so ordered his life as to command unequivocal confidence and esteem in the county where he has passed practically his entire life. He is widely and favorably known and has co-operated earnestly in every movement which he believed would advance the general welfare and progress of the county.

Ohio J. Fiarrison

As a representative of one of the pioneer families of Wayne county and as one who has here passed his entire life, it is certainly consistent that we enter in this work a review of the career of Mr. Harrison, who has long been identified with the agricultural and stock-growing interests of the county, having a fine estate in Franklin township and being honored as one of its representative men. He is a native of the township in which he now maintains his home, having been born on the old pioneer homestead on the 9th of January, 1852. He is a son of William and Mariah (Criswell) Harrison. His paternal grandfather was William Harrison, who was born on the Harrison homestead in this township in 1823 and lived here all the days of his life, his death occurring on the 9th of October, 1900, at the age of sixty-seven years. His remains are buried in the Fairview cemetery at Fredericksburg. William Harrison was a man of many excellent parts and stood high in the estimation of the community. He was a farmer all his life and was a practical and industrious man. His wife died on January 9, 1898. He was in religious faith a Presbyterian and took an active part in the work of the society, having served efficiently as trustee. In matters political he was affiliated with the Republican party and took a commendable interest in local pulilic affairs, though he was never an aspirant for public office of' any nature. He was the owner of three hundred acres of fine and fertile land and was very successful in his agricultural operations, being energetic and progressive in his methods and a man of excellent discrimina-

Ohio J. Harrison was reared on the paternal homestead and secured his education in the schools of the township. He was reared to the vocation of a farmer and has always been a tiller of the soil. He has always lived in the immediate neighborhood where he now resides and has been considered one of the leading men of the township. He is the owner of a splendid and well improved farm of one hundred and ten acres, to which he devotes his entire attention, with gratifying financial results. His place is well improved with neat and substantial buildings and other accessories of an up-to-date farm and here he carries on a diversified system of agriculture, raising all the crops common to this section of the country. In addition, he gives much attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which also he is successful.

Mr. Harrison married Margaret Moore, a daughter of William kloore, and to them have been born two children, namely : George Clarence married Ellen Hall, a daughter of Asa Hall, of Holmes county, and they have three children, Margaret Helen, Wayne Hall and Dorothy Fay. George C. Harrison served five years as a private in Company H, Eighth Regiment Ohio National Guard. William I., the youngest son, lives at home with his parents. Politically, Mr. Harrison is an enthusiastic Republican and is active in the interest of his party, though not himself ambitious for the honors or emoluments of office. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. He is a man of fine personal qualities and during his lifetime spent in this community he has done nothing to forfeit the unbounded regard in which he has been held by his friends and neighbors. Fie is keenly alive to the best interests of the community and gives a hearty support to every movement calculated to advance the moral, educational, religious or material interests of the township in which he lives.

William S. Evans

William Shafer Evans, son of James and Katherine Gardner Evans, was born on the family homestead farm in .section 25, school district No. 5, Baughman township, Wayne county. Ohio. December 23, 1S43, fourth son of his father's family, the other children being David G., John G. and James S. He traces his lineage back to John Evans, who was born in Wales in 1724, emigrated to Pennsylvania and died in Ohio. Plis grandfather (James Evans) and father were both Ijorn in Pennsylvania. The former died on the above mentioned homestead in the year 1852: the latter died in Orrville in the }^ear 1887.

W. S. Evans never attended any other schools or educational institute than the "Pokeberry" district school near the place of his birth, and it was exceedingly primitive at that time. As early as ten years of age he gave evidence of his journalistic or newspaper tendency in editing and reading before the school each Eriday afternoon, or literary day, an imitation local newspaper, in which the neighborhood and school news and gossip was presented in a semi-comical manner, which afforded much amusement to the scholars and their parents, who would asseml)le to enjoy the exercises of the occasion in the little red school from which it took the cognomen "Pokeberry." He was also the champion speller in the school and his elder brother frequently carried the smaller Ijoy on his shoulder through the deep snow for the purpose of "spelling down" the champions in the surrounding districts such as "Bunker Hill," "Number Pour" and "Mock's" schools.

His first effort in writing for publication occurred when, at about nine years of age, he conceived the idea of reporting the condition of the growing crops and other farm news for the Ohio Farmer, then published in Cleveland. In February, i860, his brother, D. G., opened a grocery and drug store in Orrville and brought W. S. with him to help about the store. During the next two years and wdiile about the store during the day he got permission from John D. McNulty, Orr\'ille's hrst telegraph operator, to go into the telegraph office at night and practice the art of telegraphy. In this way he became extra operator for the relief of operators along the line of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railway. In the spring of 1863 he was sent to take charge of the telegraph office at Plymouth, Indiana, where he was emjjloyed for one year and was returned to Orrville in 1864 and was the manager of the telegraph office in that place for ten years, or until 1874, when he went to Akron and spent the summer in the office of the Akron Daily Argus, as assistant to the editor and in other office duties. Resigning this position at Akron, he returned to the railway office and filled such positions as telegrapher, freight office clerk, ticket, freight and express agent, with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe : Northern Pacific: Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific; Chesapeake & Ohio; Chicago Great Western; Wheeling & Fake Erie ; Pennsylvania and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railways.

On June 21, 1868, Mr. Evans was joined in marriage with Celia Seymour Painter, adopted daughter of the late Rev. W. H. Painter, and who is yet living. From this union one son, Wdlliam P. Evans, was born. This son gave great promise from his very unusual mental endowment, but died on his twenty-fifth birthday in Chicago in the year 1894 from spinal tuberculosis.

In the year 1866, while in the telegraph office at Orrville, the subject of our sketch procured a small printing outfit which included a "Lowe" press, a conical shaped cylinder, which swung around from one end and by which he could execute various kinds of job work, such as sale and hand bills and indifferent card printing. This was the first printing press and outfit in Orrville and rendered much service for those days, but its work was not fine enough for the fastidious taste of our pioneers in this line of progressive development, so he sold it to C. INI. Kenton, a printer at Shreve. Determined upon continuing yet further efforts in the printing line our amateur purchased a Novelty foot-power press and a nice outfit of type, with which he turned out much of the small work in a highly creditable manner.

In the year 1867 Mr. Evans began the publication of Orrville's first newspaper and on September 15th of that year he issued number one of volume one of The Orrville Ventilator, a four-page monthly paper devoted to the local news and business interests of Orrville. the printing being done at the office of the Wooster Republican. This arrangement was continued until January. 1870. when John A. Wolbach, of Wadsworth, came to Orrville with a printing outfit of type and presses and prepared to issue a weekly j)aper. On the third week of January, 1870, i\Ir. Wolbach issued the first number of the Orrville Ventilator, weekly, taking the data of the monthly ] cn.tilator number one, volume five. In April, or three months later, the name was changed to Omhlle Crescent and Mr. Evans was continued as local editor the first year of the issue of the weekly I cntilator and Crescent. Mr. Wolbach is now a respected resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In October, 1906. Mr. E\ans was offered and accepted the editorship of the Orrville Courier, which he held for one year, when too arduous lal)or and advancing age obliged him to reliiKiuish. Me found much pleasure in conducting its columns in accordance with his ideas ol what best subserves the reciuirements of a x'illage and countr}' weekl_\' and m:ule a commendable record.

tions and random notes that he always upheld and advocated optimism, hopefulness, good cheer and a higher and better life. He was possessed of a rare appreciation of genuine wit or clean, good humor and always liked to publish anything that he thought would be appreciated and cherished by his readers. He also nourished an inherent hatred of hypocrisy, conceit and falsity. He was naturally of a retired, reserved disposition, but a true and devoted friend to any one whom he believed to be honest and trying to do what is right. If he accjuired a dislike of any one it was not his disposition to quarrel with him, but rather to let each go his own way. He was generous to an unusual degree and would give the last cent he had to help a friend. In politics he was an ardent Republican from the date of that party's birth in 1856, but did not care to indulge in political discussion, because he believed that every man was entitled to his own opinion.

Holding worthy prestige among the leading business firms at Apple Creek, East Union township, Wayne county, Ohio, is that of Studer Brothers, proprietors of a thriving and important milling business, one of the best known and most important establishments of the kind in the county. The proprietors, L. S. and C. E. Studer, enjoy honorable reputations as enterprising, progressive and eminently reliable men in the lines of commerce in which they are engaged and since locating at their present place of business they have built up, by fair dealing and correct methods, an extensive and lucrative patronage, which under their able and judicious management is steadily increasing with each succeeding year.

The milling plant now operated by the Studer brothers was built about the year 1880 and is a modern and up-to-date mill, with a capacity of one hundred barrels in twenty-four hours. The plant is equipped with the best of machinery and other appliances for the production of mill products and is kept busy practically the year round. In addition to the milling business, the firm also handles coal, plaster, lime and cement, and in these lines also they do an immense and constantly increasing business. They carry large supplies in all these lines and by the courteous treatment of the trade and their fair dealing they have built up a splendid trade throughout this part of the county. They are also heavy buyers and shippers of all kinds of grain, handling many carloads annually. They have been uniformly successful in

L. S. Studer, the senior member of the firm of Studer Brothers, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 19th of March, 1870, and is a son of Edward and Mary (Zurcher) Studer. He was reared on the home farm and received a fair education in the district schools of his native county. In 1890 he apprenticed himself to learn the milling business at Kent, Ohio, and served three years, during which time he made it his business to accpiire a knowledge of every detail of the work, from the handling of the grain and the manufacture and shipping of the finished product to the keeping of mill accounts. After the completion of his period of apprenticeship he became a regular or "trick" miller in the same mill, holding the position four years. He then was offered and took the management of Thompson Brothers' mill at Brink Haven, Ohio, and continued in this capacity for eight years. In 1905 he and his brother C. E. bought the flouring mill at Apple Creek, which they put in first-class condition and have continued to operate it continuously to the present time.

Mr. Studer is a benedict, having been united in marriage with Etfie Klein, who is a native of Stark county, this state. This union has beep without issue. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Studer are active members of the Reformed church at Apple Creek, of which the subject is an elder. His political belief is that of the Republican party, in the support of which he takes an active part. He is interested in all that promises to benefit the community, giving his support to all worthy enterprises. In evidence of this fact it may be stated that he is a stockholder in the .Apple Creek Banking Company, as is also his brother. Air. and Airs. Studer are well liked in the community. Though they have no children, their hospitable residence is ever open to young and old alike and within its walls the guest is sure of a welcome such as only comes from hearts in close touch and sympathy with what is noblest, best and most elevating in humanity.

The Heckman family needs no introduction to the readers of this history, for members of the same have figured prominently in the lite ol Wayne county for several generations, h'rank lleckman. to whose career the reader's attention is especially directed in the following paragraphs, was born in

Clinton township, this county, in 1868, the son of Henry B. and Rarliara (Jacobs) Heckman, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter born in Knox county, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of Frank Heckman were Samuel and Catherine (Grafius) Heckman. To Henry B. and Barbara A. Heckman were born six children, five boys and one girl. The sister died April I, 1908.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was educated in the common schools of Clinton and Plain townships, and early in life he decided to become a tiller of the soil and consequently he has devoted his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits, his wife now owning one hundred and thirty-nine acres in Plain township, which is one of the best farms in this vicinity and which yields its owner a very comfortable income from year to year.

Mr. Heckman was married on April 5, 1888, to Lora Bunyan, a native of Macon township, Ashland county, Ohio, where her people were well known. She is the daughter of Elijah Bunyan, a leading farmer of Ashland county. Mr. Bunyan was one of the men who made a successful trip to the gold fields in California in 1849, came back in 1851.

To Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heckman the following children have been born : Howard Cuyler, Clarence Clark. Sherman LeRoy, Ralph Richey and Earl Wayne.

Mr. Heckman has an attractively located and comfortable home and excellent outbuildings on his place and he is carrying on general farming in a manner that shows him to he fully abreast of the times in this line. He takes considerable interest in the affairs of his township and has been superintendent of the township roads, discharging his duties in this connection in a very able and conscientious manner. He is a member of the United Brethren church.

Samuel M. Brexneman

In the past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquests. Today history is largely a record of commercial and flnancial activity and those whose names are foremost in the ann''ls of the nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The financial and commercial history of Orrville, \A"ayne county, would be incomplete and unsatisfactory without a personal mention of those whose lives are interwoven closely with the industrial and financial development of this portion of the state. W hen a man, or a nninber of men, set in motion the machinery of business, which materializes into many forms of ]jractical utility, or where they have carved out a fortune or a name from the common possibilities, open for competition to all, there is a public desire which should be gratified to see the men as nearly as a word artist can paint them, and examine the elements of mind and the circumstances by which such success has been achieved. These thoughts are prompted by reference to the lives and works of him whose name appears as the caption to this article and his father, both of whom -have exerted a wide-felt and wholesome influence on the growth and development of W^ayne county.

The subject's paternal grandfather was Adam Brenneman, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who came to W ayne county. Ohio, in about 1832. and nobly performed his part in the development of this section. He was the father of a large number of children, nearly all of whom remained in this county and became prominent and respected citizens, so that it has been aptly said that the history of this part of WWyne county is a history of the Brenneman family. The subject's parents were Jacob and Nancy (iMartin) Brenneman. The latter was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and is still living at the old homestead in Orrville, which was erected in 1874. Jacob Brenneman, who was born in Pennsylvania, accompanied his father to W^ayne county in the thirties, and during the subsequent years he occupied a conspicuous place in local business circles. He was a pioneer in commercial enterprises and a man of large infinence. In 1859 he came to Orn ille and the following year he built a store building and entered the dry goods business, in which he was successful from the beginning, continuing this line until 1867. when, on account of ill health, he retired to his farm. Fi\ e years later he returned to Orrville and erected the building now occupied Iw the (3rr\ ille Savings Bank. About 1868 the Brenneman & Ploist Exchange Bank was organized and he remained identified with this institution until uSyfi, when he withdrew. In 1881, with the suliject of this sketch, he organized the Orn ille Hanking Comjiany, with which he was identified until his death, which occurred in 1885. Lie was a larger holder of landed interests and was a hea\'y de.aler in grain, owning a warehouse for its storage, lie was a Mcnnonite in religious belief and was a man of sound moral principles and sterling integrity, in whom the ])eo])le with whom he dealt had absolute confidence.

Samuel M. Brenneman, who was born in Baughman tow nship. W ayne county. February 12, 1855, attended the schools ot ()rr\ ille and W ooster. and subscapiently matricnlated in the law department ol the I nixersily ol Michigan, at ,\nn ,\rbor, where he was graduated in 1880. He was a member of

Sigma Chi fraternity. The following year he was interested with his father in organizing the Orrville Banking Company and was identified with it until 1892. A few 3^ears later he organized the Orrville Savings Bank, of which he IS the proprietor. The banking room was first located in what was then known as Dr. D. L. Moncrief's office and moved into its present convenient and wellarranged quarters in 1905. The bank has been prosperous from its inception and is counted among the prominent and solid financial institutions of the county. Mr. Breneman is also proprietor of the Rittman Savings Bank, at Rittman, this county, a private bank which was established in October, 1907.

In 1886 Mr. Brenneman was united in marriage to Maria Orr, a daughter of the late Judge William M. Orr and a granddaughter of the founder of Orrville, Smith Orr. She was a native of Wooster and was a most estimable woman, possessing many qualities of character which commended her to all who knew her. Her death occurred on January 5, 1909. To this union were born two daughters. Charlotte and IMaud, both of whom are students at WMoster University and popular young ladies among their associates.

In politics Mr. Brenneman is identified with the Republican party, in the success of which he takes a strong interest, though not in any sense an office seeker. His fraternal relations are with the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the lodge at Orrville. Mr. Brenneman is a man of strong mentality and keen discernment, and he commands the confidence and respect of his fellow men because of his sterling worth of character.

Charles E. Burcheield

The subject of this sketch has lived what to many persons might appear to be an uneventful life, yet to one who looks beneath the surface and seeks the hidden springs of human action, there comes into view the intrinsic worth of a man who has in every sphere of action in which he has engaged been faithful to his trust, and in any line of activity faithfulness is the keynote to success. Mr. Burchfield is well known throughout Wayne county and everywhere his sound qualities are recognized and he enjoys the unbounded confidence of all who know him.

Charles E. Burchfield is a native son of the old Keystone state, having been born in Juniata county. Pennsylvania, on the iith of April, 1857. His parents were Hiram and Sarah (Eox) Burchfield, also natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married. They came to Wayne county, Ohio, in i860.

when the subject of this sketch was but three years old, and here they spent their remaining cla}^s, the father's death occurring in 1886. He was a miller by trade and after coming here was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Massillon. The subject of this sketch was the only child born to this union. After his father's death, his mother again married and is now living at Apple Creek, this county.

Charles E. Burchfield was reared by his parents and in his youth was early inured to the labors of a farm. During his boyhood days he was given the advantage of attendance at the common schools and secured a fair education. In 1876 Mr. Burchfield entered the employ of Silas Moore as a grain buyer and continued in this capacity until 1882. He then entered the employ O'f the Orrville Milling Company, at Orrville, this county, in which he has remained continuously since. He has a position of responsibility and has performed his duties to the full satisfaction of the company. He is widely known and has by his own efforts brought much business to the firm with which he is connected. He has exercised a wise economy and has exercised sound judgment in his investments and is now the owner of two good residence properties at Apple Creek, which are a source of income.

In 1879 Charles E. Burchfield was united in marriage with Ida Hough, a sister of Isaac N. Hough, the present auditor of Wayne county, and to them have been born three children, namely: Earl, who is deceased: iMaude,

Politically Mr. Burchfield gives an unqualified support to the Republican party and takes a keen interest in the trend of public events. He is an influential worker in the ranks of his party, but is in no sense a seeker after office or public preferment. Eraternally he is a member of Apple Creek- Lodge No. 674, Independent Order of Odd Eellows, and Apple Creek Lodge No. 374, Knights of Pythias. He has passed the chairs in both of these subordinate bodies and is a member of the grand lodge in each order. PI is religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the Apple Creek church of which denomination he and his wife are devoted members. Mr. Burchfield is a leader in the work of the church and is now a memlier ol the board of trustees.

Mr. Burchfield has been public spirited and progressive in his attitude towards all movements having for their object the betterment of the community morally, educationally, religiously or materially, and he has honestly won and retains the respect of the entire community.