Canton Township (part 58 of 62)

retary in the office of General Poe, chief engineer on General Sherman's staff, in Washington, D. C. In the spring of 1866 he located in Massillon and for some three years was engaged, first, as a clerk in the manufacturing establishment of Russell & Company, and subsequently as teller in the Union National Bank of that place. In the spring of 1869 he removed to Cleveland and for three years was employed as assistant cashier in the Ohio National Bank of that city, of which his father was president. In the spring of 1872 he returned to Massillon and held the position of bookkeeper for Paissell & Company. He became a partner in the concern in January, 1876, and was placed in charge oi the financial management of the business. In January, 1878, the firm was incorporated as Russell & Company, and Mr. McClymonds was made secretary and treasurer, which positions he held until 1 888, when he was made president of the company, and has retained this position until the present time. In 1900 he reorganized the firm of Russell & Company, separating the stationary engine business, organizing a separate corporation under the title of the Russell Engine Company and building a separate plant for the conduct of this branch of the business. The old firm of Russell & Company was reincorjwrated under the title of the Russell & Company, and continues the manufacture of traction engines, threshing machines and sawmills, Mr. McClymonds lieing at the head of both concerns as president. The firm of Russell & Company was established in 1842, the horse power consisting of one blind horse and the investment being only fifteen hundred dollars. From this small beginning it has grown to large proportions. The two corporations, as now constituted, conduct business that runs into the millions annually. Their product is in demand in every state in the Union and large shipments are made annually abroad. Russell & Company was one of the first agricultural machinery houses to commence the manufacture of a successful grain thresher and separator, and also among the first to embark in the manufacture of farm engines.

Mr. McClymonds has always been an ardent Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln while in the army. He never sought political preferment, though he has been repeatedly tendered positions in his party. In 1884 he served as president of the Ohio commission at the New Orleans exposition, having been appointed as a commissioner by Governor Hoadley. He was one of the presidential electors in 1888, wdien Benjamin Harrison was elected President of the United States. He was tendered the position of director general of the board of Ohio commissioners to the world's fair at Chicago in 1894, by Governor McKinley, but declined the honor, owing to his extensive business engagements. As pertains to continuous service, he is one of the oldest members of the board of directors of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railway Company.

On November 9, 1870, Mr. McClymonds married Flora .\., daughter of Nahum S. Russell, the head of the firm of Russell & Compan}-, who has borne him two children. His eldest daughter married Arvine Wales, treasurer of the Russell Engine Company, his second daughter being Ruth E. Mr. McClymonds, while a member of no church organization, is liberal in his contributions to all religious and charitable objects, and interests himself in every enterprise that promises to benefit his community. A broad-minded and public-spirited citizen, he occupies a place of prominence in industrial and financial circles of the country, while his course has ever been such as to command for him the unequivocal confidence and regard of all who know him, or with whom he has business relations.

THOMAS T. CROWL. - The Crowl family is of sterling German origin but has been established on American soil since the colonial epoch, the original representatives in* the new world having located in the statp of Maryland, with whose annals the name has been identified for several generations. The subject of this review, who was one of the highly esteemed and prosperous farmers of Stark county, was a native of this county, having been born on the parental homestead, in Paris township, on the ist of November, 1833, being a son of Daniel and Anna (Townsend) Crowl, of whose six children he was the eldest of the three surviving at the time of his death, which occurred May 17, 1903, the other three being Hubbard and David, who are prominent and honored farmers of Paris township, and Henry, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Columbiana county, this state. Daniel Crowl was born in the state of Maryland, in the year 1S08, being a son of Michael Crowl, who was likewise a native of that commonwealth. The father of the subject was reared on the home farm in Maryland, and shortly after his marriage he came with his bride to Stark county, Ohio', where they made their advent in 1833. For the first two years after his arri\'al he was employed by Peter Conrad, and he then etifected the purchase of a tract of eighty acres of timbered land, in Paris township, the same being now owned by his son Hulibanl. He gradually brought about the development of this farm, and in 185 1 he purchased seventy-one acres of the farm now owned by the subject. His first purchase was in the midst of the virgin forest, no improvements having been made on the place, and there he erected a log cabin of the primitive type common to the locality and period, later building another and more pretentious residence, in harmony with the other improvements which he made on his farm, and here he continued to reside until 1857, when he purchased twenty acres of land in the village of Minerva, and in a comfortable residence thereon he passed the remainder of his signally honorable and useful life, passing to his eternal reward in 1882. He was a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and though never an aspirant for public preferment, he was called upon to serve in various offices of local trust and responsibility and ever discharged the duties in\-olved with marked business acumen and distinctive fidelity. He was a devoted member of the Disciples church, in which he held various official positions for a long term of years. His first wife, the mother of the subject, was summoned into eternal rest in 1845, ^"d he later married Miss Matilda Unkefer, who bore him one child, Nora, who became the wife of Joseph Alexander, of Minerva, this county, , and who is now deceased, as is also her mother. Thomas T. Crowl was reared on the old homestead farm where he was born and received a common school education. Upon attaining his legal majority he assumed charge of the farm which he afterward owned, operating the same on shares for his father. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Boory, who was born in P^ris township, being a daughter of Frederick Boory, who was a native of Switzerland, whence he came to America with his parents when he was a boy, and he became one of the early settlers in Stark county, where he passed the remainder of his life. After his marriage Mr. Crowl continued to cultivate his present farm, for which he paid a cash rental up to i88r, when he purchased a half interest in the property from his father, after whose death he acquired the remaining interest, while he eventually increased its area by the purchase of an adjoining twenty acres, so that he had a fine farm of ninetyone acres, all of which is maintained under a high state of cultivation, while the permanent improvements are of that substantial and at- tractive order which indicate thrift and prosperity. For the last six years Mr. Crowl relegated the active management of his farm to his sons, who are prominent and successful farmers and stock-growers of this section of the county, and he personally retired from the more active labors. In his political proclivities he was an ardent Democrat and took an active interest in the party cause. He served one term as trustee of Paris township and was a member of the school board for many j^ears. He held membership in the Disciples church, to whose support he was a liberal contributor. Of his ten children nine are still living, and of them we offer the following brief record : Ola is the wife of Henry Perdue, of Paris township; Laura is the wife of John Stucky, also of this township; Frank H. is individually mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Orin is a resident of West township, Columbiana county; Caroline is the wife of Milton Slack, of Minerva, this county; Morris D. and Horace J. are twins, the former being associated in the management of the home farm, while the latter resides in the village of Minerva; Jennie Maud has been in charge of the domestic economies of the home since the death of her mother; and Homer C. is associated with his brother Horace in conducting the farm, as has already been noted. The devoted wife and mother was summoned into eternal rest on the i8th of July, 1896, at the age of sixty-one years, having been a zealous member of the Disciples church and having had that faith that makes for faithfulness in all the relations of life. Mr. Crowl erected his first residence in 1866, and the same was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1902. the present fine residence being erected immediately afterward and being one of the most attractive farm homes in this section of the county. Mr. Crowl died May 17, 1903.

HOSTETTER FAIMILY. - The original American progenitor of the family was Ulrick Hostetter, who came to America with nine brothers, they all being born in Switzerland, where they were reared to maturity. As young men they emigrated to America and took up their residence in the state of Maryland, where they passed the remainder of tlieir lives. David, son of Ulrick, was born in the city of Baltimore, and was there reared, educated and married, and there two sons were born, David and an infant deceased. David, Sr., was the founder of rhe family in Stark county, whither he came in the "year 1808. He first located in Lisbon and later he entered a tract of heavily timbered land in what is now Paris township, and it is pleasing to note that the property remains in the possession of the family to the present time. He became a man of prominence and influence in the pioneer community, and at the outbreak of the war of 181 2 his son David tendered his services in defense of the republic, becoming a second lieutenant in a company of Ohio volunteers commanded by Captain Roller, participating in the battle of Maiden and being present at the unfortunate surrender of General Hull, at Detroit. He succeeded in reclaiming a considerable portion of his land and here continued to reside until his death, as did also his wife. They became the parents of seven children, of whom the only two now surviving are Ephraim, of whom .specific mention is to be made later in this context, and Elderkin. Of his son Hiram, who died on the 28th of April, 1902, a previous publication has given the following appreciative estimate :

Hiram Hostetter was born on the pioneer homestead. September 19, 1825, and remained on the farm until his twentieth year, when he entered the Wooster Academy. He completed his education by "swinging the ferule" for a few terms in district school. In 1854. he taught school at Racine, Wisconsin, and in the following year he taught a precinct school in the city of Chi-

Illinois. In 1857 he returned to Ohio and began the stndy of law at Ashland. With this fine foundation in erudition and knowledge of men, he chose the pleasant occupation of husbandry, and returned to the homestead, which he later enlarged and improved. Mr. Hostetter never ceased the prosecution of his studies, to which the retirement of rural life is so favorable. His reading and research were wide and liberal and -gave him high rank in the community for his accom- .plishments in the sciences and history.

Hiram Hostetter was in politics originally arrayed in support of the Whig party, but when the Republican party came into being, as the avowed opponent ot the fiu'ther extension of slavery, he allied himself therewith and ever afterward remained a stanch advocate of its cause. At the time of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he became a second lieutenant, continuing in service for three months. He was one of the most zealous members of the Disciples church and was active in the promotion of religious and educational affairs in the

On the 1st of January, i860, was solemnized the marriage of Hiram Hostetter to Miss Elizabeth P. Walker, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of June, 1838, being a daughter of Ely and Elizabeth (Barden) Walker, and she is still living on the -old homestead, being one of the revered pioneer women of Paris township. Of this union were born nine children, two of whom met accidental death, - Ethel, deceased, and Hiram B., who received a fatal shock in falling from a tree. The living children are Karl M.. con- 'cerning whom individual mention is made in later paragraphs: Almira, who died at the age of twenty-six years, and Atta Carma, who is a missionary in Japan, under the auspices of the Disciples church. She thus rendered effective service in the orient for a period of five years and then return.ed home for a rest and in August, 1900, she again returned to Japan to resume her devoted labors. Before entering the missionary field she taught for several terms in the public schools, after which she completed a special course of study at Hiram College, at Hiram, Ohio, and after returning to the United States she took a course of study in Nashville, Tennessee. Of Victor Grant, a prominent clergyman of the Disciples church, further mention will be made at a later point in this article. In the ownership of the old homestead Hiram Hostetter was associated with his brother Ephraim, and of the latter we now enter a brief record.

Ephraim Hostetter was born on the old homestead farm on which he now resides, in section 25, Paris township, the date of his nativity having been January 11, 1835, and it may be further said that his grandfather here took up an entire section of land, and that the latter was one of the ten brothers who came from Switzerland to the United States. Ephraim was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm, and in his youth has such educational advantages as were afforded in the primitive log school house of the pioneer epoch. In 1862 he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with wliich he continued in active service nearly three years. He participated in the battle of Resaca, and the regiment thereafter was engaged in almost constant skirmishing during the long and weary march to Nashville, where the command was held in reserve. They then returned with General Thomas to Knoxville. Tennessee, where, under Longstreet, the Confederates laid siege to the city, and the beleaguered Federal soldiers were eventually reduced to a diet of bread made from bran, depending on this subsistence at the time when

Sherman came north and raised the siege, the troops going llien on the Georgia campaign. The One Hundred and Fourth Ohio then returned with General Thomas, and took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and Mr. Hostetter was mustered out and honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 17th of June, 1865. After his return to Stark countv he again resumed his association with agricultural pursuits, he and his brother Hiram eventually purchasing the present fine homestead, which comprises one hundred and sixtyfour and one-hall acres, and which has been devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock. In politics he has ever given an unequivocal support to the Republican party and he is a devoted member of the Disciples church. Fraternally he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being identified with Minerva Post No. 106, at Miner\a. Mr. Hostetter remains a bachelor and has resided consecutively in the home of his brother and the latter's estimable wife.

Karl M. Hostetter, the eldest son of the late Hiram Hostetter, was born on the old homestead farm where he now lives, on the 19th of May, 1S61, and he received the advantages of the excellent public schools of his native county. He continued to be identified with the work of the farm until he had attained maturity, and in 1888 h.e removed to the village of IMiner^ a, where he became an interested principal in the Minerva Furniture Company, whose establishment was destroyed by fire in 1901, after which he returned to the home farm, of which he now has the active management, being known as one of tlie able and progressive business men of this section. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran church. On the 27th of January, 1888, Mr. Hostetter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hockenberger. a daughter of Henry Hockenberger, of Paris to\\nship, who came to this county from Germany when a boy, being

Rev. Victor G. Hostetter, the younger son of Hiram Hostetter, w-as born on the home farm, on the 28th of August, 1871, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools he entered Bethany College, at Bethany, West Virginia, where he completed a theological course and prepared himself for the ministry of the Disciples church, in which he was ordained in 1899. Previously to this he had been engaged in teaching for a number of years. He is at the present time pastor of the church at I.orain, Lorain county, Ohio, and previously to this he had held three other charges in the state. He accepted the pastorate of the church at Mungen, Wood county, and later resigned this to become pastor of a church in Zanesville, where he remained until 1901, when he took the Elmore charge at Elmore, Ohio, and in July, 1902, he assumed his present charge. He has been most successful in his work and is one of the valued clergy of the church and a man of high ability. He married Miss Alma Groh, of Bays, Wood county, and thev have one child, Claris.

FRANK H. CROWL was born on the paternal homestead in Paris township. Stark county, Ohio, on the 2d of March, 1861, being a son of Thomas T. and Mary (Boorey) Growl, of wliom individual mention is made on other pages of this work, so that a recapitulation of tlie family history is not demanded at this juncture, though it may be stated that his father still resides on the old homestead mentioned. Our subject was reared to maturity on the home farm and from his boyhood up contributed his share of work to the same, while he was accorded such edu- ' cational advantages as were afiforded in the public schools of the locality. Upon attaining his legal majority Mr. Cro\vl began work at the carpenter's trade, to which he devoted his attention about four years, becoming a skilled artisan in the line. On the 14th of September, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Leone Myers, a daughter of David M. Myers, one of the well known pioneer farmers of Paris township, and after his marriage Mr. Crowl rented the Schorey farm, located near tlie home farm, and there continued to be actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for the ensuing five years, at the expiration of which he leased the farm of Madison Farmer, also in this township, where he remained two years, while he passed the following year on the Thomas Jackson farm, near Minerva. In these years he had husbanded his resources in such a way that, in 1894. he found himself justified in purchasing his present tine farm of eighty acres, and here he has since been successfully engaged in general farming, conducting his operations upon scientific and practical principles, keeping his land at the highest possible state of productiveness and having excellent improvements of a permanent nature, including a comfortable and attractive I'esidence. Mrs. Crowl was summoned into eternal rest on the 22d of September, 1898, being survived by two of her four children. Myrtle and Frederick, both of whom remain at the paternal home. The two deceased are Anna and Harry. On the 23d of January, 1900, Mr. Crowl consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Mary Alice Barnhouse, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, being a daughter of the late Samuel Barnhouse, who was an influential and honored farmer of that* county, and of this union one child has been born, Bessie.

In politics Mr. Crowl is found stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and in the spring of 1900 he was elected to the office of trustee of Paris township, his term expiring in iQoG. He is a worthy member of the Disciples churcli, in which he held the office of deacon for a number of years and in whose work he has maintained a deep and helpful interest, his wife likewise being a member of this church. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees, holding membership in Minerva Tent No. 153.

HENRY SCHORY was born in Paris township. Stark county, Ohio, on the 31st of July, 1843, being a son of Christian and Anna (Zwallen) Schory, to whom were born nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Sophia, who is the widow of Charles Lebeau and resides in Paris township ; Henry, who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Foltz, of Carroll county; Mary, who is the wife of Jacob Geiger, of that county; Christian W., who is a successful farmer of Canton township, Stark county; Peter S., who is a prominent farmer of Sandy township; Amelia M., who resides in Lancaster, this state; Caroline J., who is a resident of Alliance, this county; and Melinda M., who is the wife of John R. Miller, of Alliance, where he is foreman in an extensive hammer factory. The father of these children was born in tlie fair little republic of Switzerland, the place of his nativity having been the fair little village of Radelfingen, ui the picturesque canton of Bern, where he was ushered into the world on the 14th of February, 1803, and where he was reared to the sturdy life of the farm. After the death of his parents, in company with his five brothers and two sisters, he emigrated to America, setting sail in the year 1833 and landing in due course of time in the city of New York. The family came forthwith to Canton, Stark county, their intention being at the time to seek a permanent location farther west, but the father of our subject, in company with his brother Peter, set forth to seek a desirable location, and finally selected one in this county, and the family forthwith effected the purchase of this farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Paris township and near the village of Minerva, the property being owned jointly by the brothers and sisters. There all took up their abode and there all continued to reside for a number of years with the exception of Peter, who returned as far eastward as Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in teaching school for a time and then studied theology and became a clergyman of the German Reformed church. Eventually the father of the subject became associated with his brother Jacob in the joint ownership of the farm, having purchased the interests of the other members of the families and in 1853 Jacob acquired the entire property and Christian then purchased eighty-five acres of land in the same township, the tract being contiguous to the present homestead of his son Henry, subject of this review, who purchased the property about three years ago. Here Christian Schory passed the residue of his life, being successful in his efforts, which were directed with energy and discrimination, and being known as one of the reliable and upright citizens of the community, commanding unequivocal confidence and esteem. He died on this homestead, in September, 1894, at the patriarchal age of ninety-one years. He was a man of fine intellectual powers and could speak the German, Swiss, French and English languages fluently. In politics he was a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and his religious faith was that of the Reformed church, of which his wife likewise was a devoted member, she having preceded him into eternal rest, her death occurring in February, 1892, at the age of seventy years. She likewise was a native of Switzerland, being seven years of age at the time of his parents" emigration to the United States. Her father, Henry Zwallen, located on a farm in Brown 'township, Carroll county. Ohio, purchasing the property from its original owner, who had shortly before entered the claim from the government and thus he became one of the first settlers in that locality, where he passed the residue of his life. Of the members of the Schory family who emigrated to America, seventy years ago, the last one. Rev. Peter D. Schory-, died May i, 1901, in Lancaster, this state, at the very advanced age of ninety-five years.

Henry Schory, whose name initiates this sketch, was reared to maturity on the homestead farm, to whose work he early began to contribute his due quota, while in the district schools he pursued his studies and laid the foundation for that broad and practical knowledge which he has since acquired in connection with, the active associations of an eminently successful business career. On the 26th of March, 1867, Mr. Schory was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Geiger, who was born in Brown township, Carroll county, Ohio, being a daughter of John P. Geiger, one of the influential and \\ell known pioneer farmers of that township, and after his marriage the subject located on his present homestead farm, which he rented for a period of about five years, at the expiration of which he purchased the property. At the beginnnig he acquired a tract ot seventy-five acres and by subsequent purchases its area has been increased to one hundred and eighteen acres, while in 1899 he purchased of the other heirs of his father's estate their interests in the old homestead farm, comprising eighty-five acres, so that his landed estate now has an aggregate area of two hundred and three acres, while it is maintained under most effective cultivation and has the substantial improvements and well ordered appearance which invariably indicates thrift and prosperity. In his early manhood Mr. Schory devoted his attention to threshing for about a decade, being part owner of an excellent equipment for this purpose, but he now gives his entire time to his farming operations. He exercises his franchise in support of the Democratic party, so far as national issues are involved, but is liberal in his views in the application of politics to local affairs, and gives his support to the men and measures endorsed by his judgment, rather than following strict partisan dictates. He and his wife are prominent and consistent members of the Reformed church, of which he is a deacon. To Mr. and Mrs. Schory have been born seven children, all of whom are living except one, and of them we here enter a brief record, in order of birth ; Ella F., who is the wife of Edward Schearer, of Maplelon, this county; Ida E., who is the wife of Clifton Coffel, an accomplished teacher of music in Paris township ; Alice, who died at the age of eighteen years; Mary, at home; Edward H., who is a successful school teacher and who remains at the parental home, as do also Grace A. and Erma E.

THOMAS B. KEITH, deceased, passed the major portion of his life in Stark county, though he was a native of the adjoining county of Canoll. having been born in the village of Pekin, on the 29th of September, 184T, and being the fifth in order of birth of the nine children of James and Sarah (Hnett) Keith. The father of the subject was born in Virginia, about the year 1804, and -was reared to maturity in the Old Dominion, and there he was employed as a slave-driver for a time, but became cognizant of the fact that his employer had stolen a number of slaves and was paid to leave the state in order that his compromishig testimony might not be entered. He was a voung man at the time and he came to Stark county, whei-e he was employed at farm work for some years and finally became identified with the construction of the Ohio & Beaver canal, in which he took a certain amount of stock, practically investing all his savings, and thus, when disaster overtook the venture, he found himself again at the foot of the financial ladder, but not deprived of the recuperative power ever inherent in self-reliant manhood. He continued in the employ of others until he had accumulated sufficient funds to justify him in the purchasing of a tract of sixty acres, in Paris township, this county, and he then located on this place, to which he subsequently added until he had a farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, his original place of abode being a primitive log house, which had been erected by the former owner. Here he continued to reside until his death, as a result of an attack of typhoid fever, in 1857, at which time he was fifty-two years of age. In politics he exercised his franchise in support of the principles of the Democratic party and both he and his wife were members of the Disciples' church. The mother of the subject was born in Paris townsh-'p, this county, in 1810, being a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Huett, who were born in Ireland, where they were married and whence they emigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1807, when they came to .Stark county and cast in their lot with the early settlers of Paris township, where Mr. Huett took up a tract of wild land, upon which he passed a portion of each year until his death, in the interim remaining in Pennsylvania for the purpose of earning the money with which to sustain the family and carry forward the improvement of the pioneer farm. He died in the old Kevstone state and his wife thereafter took up her permanent abode on the Stark county hom.estead, where she passed the remainder of her life, surviving her husband several years. The mother of the subject survived her husband by nearly forty years, her death occurring in iS03- at which time she had attained the advanced age of eighty-three years. She was a woman of noble character, self-abnegating and ever mindful of others, and she held the love

Thomas B. Keith was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm in Paris township, and here he passed practically his entire life. The district schools afforded him his preliminary educational privileges, and he made good use of his opportunities and laid the foundation for that ample fund of knowledge which he has since gained in the beneficent and practical school of experience. While he was still a youth he became associated with his brother Smith in assuming charge of the home farm, which they took from their father on "shares," and this partnership continued until 1890, when the subject purchased his present homestead farm, of eighty acres, on section 21, Paris township, where he forthwith took up his residence and where he resided until his death. May 21. 1903. After the death of his mother Mr. Keith also purchased the old homestead, the place being now in charge of his son. Smith, Jr., and his son-in-law, Allen Zininger. Through his indefatigable industry and good judgment ]\Ir. Keith advanced to a position as one of the essentially representative and influential farmers of this section, and at no point in his career can there be found a shadow upon his integrity and honor. He exercised his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, in whose faith he was reared.

On the 31st of October, 1874, Mr. Keith was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Wyman, who was a daughter of Jacob Wyman, one of the prominent farmers of Holmes county, Ohio, and of this union have been born four children, concerning whom we incorporate the following brief data : Lulu is the wife of Allen Zininger, and has one daughter, Ruth C. ; Mr. Zininger is in associate charge of a farm adjoining the old homestead farm of the subject's father, as has been noted: Smith. Jr.. is associated with Mr. Zininger in carrying on the work of the farm mentioned, and both are known as able and progressive young business men ; and Richard R. and Carrie remain at the parental home. Mr. Keith had typhoid fever in the spring of 1903, and later died from the eft'ects of pneumonia. His widow still resides on the homestead.

ELMER A. HURSH was born on the parental homestead farm in Paris township, on the 6th of December, 1872, being a son of John and Catherine (Riegel) Hursh, of whose eleven children the followng named eight are still living: Mary, who is the wife of Thomas Watson, of Carroll county, this state; Milton, who is a resident of Butler county, Kansas; John L, who is engaged in the coal business in the city of Canton; Francis, who maintains his home in Canton, being a traveling salesman for the Ohio Oil & Grease Company, of Cleveland; Alice, who remains at the old home: Curtis G., who is likewise engaged in farming in Paris township; Elmer A., who is the direct subject of this resume; and Martha J., w-ho is the wife of Jacob Potoff, of Carroll county.

John Hursh, the father of the subject, was born in the old Keystone state of Pennsylvania, on the 7th of January, 1826, being a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Harsh) Hursh, and he was but tW'O years of age at the time when his parents removed to Carroll county, Ohio, locating on a pioneer farm, and there his father died shortly afterward. John was then placed in the home of an uncle, Philip Harsh, while his mother passed her time in the homes of her brothers, Leonard, Philip, Lewis and William Harsh, all of whom came to Carroll county in an early day. The father of the subject was reared on the farm of his uncle and received most kindly treatment, while he secured such educational privileges as were to be had in the pioneer schools of the locality. As a young man he served an apprenticeship at the trade of cabinetmaking, but devoted his attention to the same for a comparatively brief interval, preferring to engage in agricultural pursuits. He accordingly settled on a farm in Carroll county, the property having been an inheritance of his young wife, whom he had married a short time previously. In 1863 they disposed of this farm and came to Stark county, where they effected the purchase of the present Hursh homestead, which comprises two hundred and five acres, and here Mr. Hursh continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 13th of April, 1889. In politics he gave his allegiance to the Republican party, while his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His venerable widow survived him and lived on the old homestead, endeared to her by the memories and associations of the past, and cheered and solaced by the love of her children and the affection of a wide circle of appreciative friends until her death, April I, 1903. She was born in Carroll county. Ohio, on the nth of February, 1825, being a daughter of George and Catherine (Stinger) Riegel. Her father was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, on the 19th of October, 1774, and he came to Carroll county in the early epoch of its history, becoming one of its honored and influential pioneers. He was twice married, and of his first union were born six sons, while his second wife, mother of Mrs. Hursh, bore him thirteen children, of whom only three are living at the present time. His second' wife brought him a handsome dowry and he became a wealthy man, his Landed estate at the time of his deatli comprising about seven hundred and sixty acres. Mrs. Catherine (Riegel) Hursh is likewise a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while in her home community she is revered as one of the noble pioneer women of the locality.

the old homestead farm and the public schools of his native township afforded him his early educational discipline. One year after his father's death, at which time he was eighteen years of age, he became associated with his brother Curtis in the operation of the home farm on shares, and this partnership thus continued for a period of four years, at the expiration of which the subject assumed the entire charge of the farm, which he conducted successfully for the ensuing three years. In the spring of 1898 he rented his present farm and forthwith took up his residence on the same, where he remained until the following October, when he removed to the village of Paris and there established himself in the general merchandise business, in which he was asociated with Allen O. Zininger, imder the firm name of Zininger & Hursh. The enterprise did not prove as successful as Mr. Hursh had anticipated and at the expiration of one year he disposed of his interests in the same, and in May, 1899, he purchased his present farm., upon which he had previously resided, the same comprising eighty acres of exceptionally fertile land. In politics he accords a stanch support to the Republican party, and both he and his wife are valued and consistent members of the Reformed church. Fraternally he is identified with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, being affiliated with Etlian Allen Council No. 171, in the village of Paris.

On the 2ist of March, 1894, Mr. Hursh was united in marriage to Miss Grace Sponseller, who was born in Paris township, being a daughter of Frederick Sponseller, a prominent and influential stock buyer and a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Stark county. Mr. and Mrs. Hursh have two children, namely : Vera M., who was born on the 14th of May, 1895, ^'""^ Carl H., who was born on the 6th of February, 1897.

OLIVER C. BATES was born in Washington townsliip, Stark county, Ohio, on the 8th of February, i860, being one of the ten children born to John and EHza (Bush) Bates, their names, in order of birth, being as follows : Adaline, who died in 1884; Henry, who is a farmer of Paris township; Mary A., who is -the wife of Oliver Haynes, of the same township: Phoebe, who is the wife of Reuben also of this townshp; Oliver C, who is the immediate subject of this sketch; John, who is a resident of Elwood, Indiana ; Wesley, who is a farmer of Paris township; Matilda, who is the wife of John Myers, of this township; Jesse, who is likewise engaged in farming in this township; and Harriet E., who is the wife of William Keister, of Osnaburg

John Bates, father of the subject, was like- Avise a native of the old Buckeye state, having -been born in Columbiana county, on the 8th -of October, 1827, his parents having been numbered among the prominent pioneer settlers in that locality. He was reared to manhood on the old homestead, assisting materially in reclaiming the same from the forest wilds, and there he remained until his marriage, soon after which he came to Stark county, where for a number of years he was engaged in farming on rented land, in Washington township. In 1863 he purchased the present homestead farm of seventy acres, on section 17, Paris township, and there he made his home for nearly forty years, up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 25th of October, 1902, at which time he had passed the span of three score years and ten allotted by the psalmist. In politics he was a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and during his long life he never failed to exercise his right of franchise after attaining his legal majority save in the case of the last two elections prior to his death, when he was too feeble to go to the polls. He was a consisrent and valued member of the Reformed church, with which he identified himself when a young man, and his was the faith that makes faithful, and when he passed on to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," the community mourned the loss of a distinct man and one in whose nature were many noble attributes. Mr. Bates was a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, in which he served with the patriotic devotion of a true son of the republic, and he was an horored comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, being affiliated with the post in the village of Minerva. His wife, who survives him, was born in Paris township, within a short distance of her present home, in 1830, being a daughter of Philip and Martha (Konkle) Bush, who were natives of Pennsylvania and who came to Stark county and settled in Paris township in an early day, here passing the residue of this lives and being numbered among the sterling pioneers of this section of the state. Like her husband, Mrs. Bates is a devoted member of the Reformed church, and she still resides at the old home so endeared to her by the memories and associations of the past.

Oliver C. Bates was reared on the home farm and secured his early educational discipline in the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he located in the village of Paris, this county, where he entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, at which he served the regular three years' term, becoming a thoroughly competent workman in the line. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he entered the employ of Pennock Brothers, the well known car builders of Minerva, this county, and while thus engaged he was united in marriage, on Christmas day of the year 1881, to Miss Mary E. Brothers, who was born in Paris township, being a daughter of James and Susan (Shepard) Brothers, both of whom are now deceased. In 1884 Mr.

Bates located in the village of Robertsville, where he conducted a blacksmith shop for one year, after which he removed to the farm of his maternal grandfather, Philip Bush, in this township, where he remained one year, while for the ensuing three years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits on the farm of George B. Maser, in the same township. In 1888 he disposed of his stock and farming implements and removed to the village of Minerva, where he purchased a home, and there remained in the employ of John Starkey, in a planing mill, for one year, at the expiration of which time he sold his property and removed to the farm of his father-in-law, to whose cultivation he devoted his attention for the ensuing two years, and then was again in the employ of the Pennock Brothers, in Minerva for a year. In 1892 he entered into a partnership with B. M. Stier and they Jointly purchased the present fine farm occupied by the subject, who forthwith took up his residence on the same and who has since continued to actively superintend its cultivation. In politics he has never had any ambition for official preferment, but he accords a stanch allegiance to the principles and policies of the Republican party, in whose support he has been arrayed from the time of attaining his legal majority, and fraternally he is identified with the Senior Order of United American Mechanics, holding membership in Minerva Council No. 21. He has two children, Nora N. and Chauncey H.

RICHARD CUNNINGHAM was born in East township, Carroll county, Ohio, on the 2ist of April, 1839, being a son of Sutton and Mary (Harsh) Cunningham, who became the parents of five children, of whom two survive, Alexander, who is a resident of Kensington, Columbiana county, this state, and Richard, who is the subject of this sketch. Sutton Cunningham was born in the state of Pennsylvania, whither his parents emigrated from Ireland, of which fair land they were natives, coming of stanch old Irish and Scotch lineage. The father of the subject was reared in the old Keystone state and as a young man he came thence to Carroll county, Ohio, being at the time without financial reinforcement and dependent entirely upon his own resources, so that with the attainrhent of the marked success of later years he also gained the right to the title of self-made man, which is one which the loyal American citizen ever holds in the highest regard and honor. For some time after his arrival in Carroll county he was employed as a farm hand, and later he became a clerk in a general store, the while gaining valuable knowledge and business experienceand also husbanding his resources and having ever in mind the placing of himself in a position of independence. Finally he engaged in the general merchandise business on his own responsibility, in the village of Augusta, that county, and he successfully conducted the enterprise for a number of years, then disposing of the same and purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in East township, that county, and forthwith taking up his residence on this farm, which continued to be his home until his death, which occurred in the year 1866. He was a man of alert mentality, progressive ideas and marked business acumen, and thus he attained a high degree of successin his efforts. In addition to his home farm he also became the owner of the one-hundredacre farm where our subject now resides, together with two other farms in Augusta township, Carroll county, one comprising one hundrd and fifty-six acres and the other one hundred and fourteen acres. He devoted special attention to the raising of sheep, and through this branch of his farming enterprise he realized large profits, becoming one of the leading representatives of the industry in this section of the state. In politics he was a stalwarts adherent of the Democratic party and was one of the influential men of his county, though he never sought the honors or emoluments of public office. His wife was born in Ohio, being a daughter of Leonard Harsh, who was one of the honored pioneers of the county. Mrs. Cunningham survived her husband by ten years, being summoned into eternal rest in 1876, at the age of about sixty years, and having been a devoted member of the Disciple church.

Richard Cunningham was reared beneath the parental roof and acquired his educational discipline in the public schools of his native county. When he attained the age of eighteen years his father assigned to him a portion of the home farm upon favorable terms, since he was to have all the crops raised on the land and with only specifie recompense asked was that he should pay the taxes during the five years through which the agreement was to remain in force. He made the best use of the advantages thus given him by his honored father, and to give further assurance of his independence and self-reliance, he assumed connubial responsibilities and the dignity of a man of family, since, on the nth of December, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Huett, who was bom in Washington township, Carroll county, being a daughter of the late Samuel Huett, who was one of the honored and influential pioneer farmers of that locality. After his marriage Mr. Cunningham removed to his present homestead farm, and one year later ho purchased the property from his father, while the finally improved farmstead has ever since continued to be his home, the same having greatly appreciated in value through the efforts which have been brought to bear in bringing it into the highest possible state of productivity and through the excellent improvements of a permanent nature which he has made on the place during the long years since he here took up his abode. He has carried on general farming but has devoted his attention more particularly to the raising of sheep and cattle, and thus finds use for the greater portion of the products of the farm. He has shown marked discrimination in the breeding up of his live stock to the standard grade and has thus done much to improve and facilitate the live-stock industry in this section of the state, while his judgment in the line is considered authoritative. He has not been denied the full measure of prosperity, and as time has passed he has added to his landed possessions, owning, besides the homestead place of two hundred acres, a farm of eighty acres in East township, Carroll county, two, of one hundred acres and eighty-three acres respectively, in Augusta township ; one of one hundred and thirteen acres in Brown township, that county; and ninety-five acres in Columbiana county, so that the aggregate area of his landed estate is now six hundred and sixty-eight acres. While Mr. Cunningham has thus devoted scrupulous attention to his industrial enterprises and has so directed his efforts as to attain the maximum of success in the connection, he has at no period been unmindful of the duties of citizenship nor those involved in his association with his fellow men. He has thus maintained a public-spirited attitude and has ever stood ready to co-operate in every legitimate movement looking to the advancement of the general welfare and material prosperity, while he has given an uncompromising allegiance to the Democratic party, though never an aspirant for the honors of public office. Though not formally identified with any religious organization, he gives his tangible and liberal support to church work, and his wife is a de\-oted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of two children, of whom one is living, Alameda, who is the wife of Edward S. DeFord, engaged in the banking business in Minerva.

SMITH KEITH. - The Keith family is of English ancestry, but the present generation in Stark county unfortunately have but little definite data relative to the ancestral history. It is known, however, that Thomas Keith, grandfather of the subject, emigrated from England to the United States when a young man, and it is probable that he took up his residence in the Old Dominion state of Virginia, where it is supposed his children were born, and where the closing' years of his life were passed.

Smith Keith, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Paris township, SIfark county, Ohio, on the 12th of April, 1843, ^^' ing a son of James and Sarah (Huett) Keith, whose three living children are as follows : Eliza, who is the widow of Nicholas Stonehill and who resides near Robertsville ; Smith, who is the subject of this resume; and Sarah, who is the wife of Irvin Cross, of East Rochester, Columbiana county. The father of the subject was reared in Virginia, but the place of his birth is not definitely known by his children. He became a slave-driver in the Old Dominion, and in this way he became aware of the malfaction of his employer in the matter of stealing slaves, and was paid to leave the state so that his testimony might not cause the apprehension of his employer. He thus amie to Stark county as a young man and without financial resources to maintain himself save for a short interval. For a number of years he worked on a farm and at such, other occupations as he could secure, and finally became identified with the construction of the Ohio and Beaver canal, in which he took a number of shares of stock. The venture proved ultimately a failure, and thus his savings of several years were swept away, but he bravely faced the outlook and set to work to retrieve his losses. He was variously employed until about 1837, when he found himself in a position to justify him in purchasing a small farm of sixty acres, in Paris township, and he forthwith located on the place and turned his attention energetically to the improvement of the place and to putting the land under effective cultivation, his original dwelling being a small log house which had previously been erected on the farm. As prosperity attended his efforts he made purchases of small tracts adjoining his home place until the same had an area of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, while he made excellent improvements of a permanent nature as his circumstances justified. He died on this homestead in 1857, at the age of fifty-two years, and here it was that the subject was ushered into the world. In politics he accorded a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Disciples of Christ, of which church his wife likewise was a devoted member. Sarah (Huett) Keith, the mother of the subject, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1810, being a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Huett, both of whom were born in the Emerald Isle, where they were reared and where their marriage was solemnized. They emigrated from Ireland to America and first took up their abode in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where they maintained their home until 1807, when they came to Ohio and numbered themselves among the early settlers of Stark county, though they did not settle here until 1812. Mr. Huett took up a tract of heavily timbered government land in Paris township, this section being at the time a veritable wilderness. They would pass a few months each year on their pioneer farm, gradually working its reclamation, and would then return to Pennsylvania to earn more money in order to provide themselves with the necessaries of life and the means to continue the improvement of the farm. The grandfather died while in Pennsylvania, and and his widow then took up her permanent residence on the Stark county homestead, where she passed the remainder of her life, the place being now owned by the Haynam family. The devoted mother of the subject survived her husband many years, entering into eternal rest in 1893, at the venerable age of eighty-three years, and loved and venerated by all who knew her, while her reminiscences of the early pioneer days were interesting in the extreme, for her memory was very excq:)tional and she loved to recall the scenes and incidents of the "dear dead days beyond recall."

Smith Keith was reared to maturity on tlie old homestead where he was born and his early educational advantages where such as the public schools of the place and period afforded. He well recalls the primitive log school house in which he secured his first scholastic discipline, but after he had attended the same for two terms it was replaced by a more pretentious structure. After his marriage he became associated with his brother Thomas in the operation of the home farm, and this partnership continued until 1890, when Thomas withdrew to engage independently in the same line of enterprise and our subject thereafter remained in charge of the farm until the death of his mother, in 1893, when he purchased the interests of the other heirs and thereafter continued his farming operations there until the spring of 1902, when he disposed of the homestead and removed to the village of Minerva, where he is now Jiving practically retired, having accumulated a competence and enjoying the rewards of his years of earnest toil and endeavor. In pohtics he is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and the confidence and esteem in which he is held in Paris towTiship h.ad signal manifestation in the circumstance of his being for nine years retained as incumbent of the office of township trustee. From his youth he has been identified with the Disciples of Christ, and of this church his wife also is a devoted member.

On the 3d of March, 1868, Mr. Keith wasunited in marriage to Miss Mary J. Clemens, who was born in Paris township, this county, being a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Clemens, who came to this county from Pennsylvania in an early day, being of stanch German lineage, and here tlie father engaged in farming, to which he devoted his attention for many years, finally taking up his residence in the vilage of Minerva, where both he and his wife died. Mr. and Mrs. Keith have five children, concerning whom we enter the following brief record : Harry is engaged in farming in Paris township; Nora is the wife of Charles Stockman, of Minerva; Maud is the wife of William Archibald, of Paris township; Grace is the wife of Frank Mitchell, of Minerva ; and James A. remains at the parental home.

ANDREW REESE was born in Washington township, this county, on the 13th of April, 1843, being a son of Andrew and Man,' (Eisenman) Reese, of whose six children four are living at the present time, namely : Andrew, who is the subject of this review ; Emanuel, who is a prominent farmer of Plain township, this county; Catherine, who is the wife ot Alfred Unkefer, of Washington township ; and Mary C, who is the wife of George Schwalen, of Homeworth, Columbiana county. The father of the subject was bom in Westminster, Carroll county, Maryland, in the year 1802, being a son of John Reese, who was undoubtedly born and reared in that state, where he became the owner of valuable property. Shortly after the British shelled the city of Baltimore, in the war of 1812, he left Maryland and went into Pennsylvania, where he remained a few months in Franklin county, whence he camewith his family to Stark county, Ohio, where he arrived in the latter part of the year 18 12, and he settled in Canton township, near the- present city of Canton, having here entered claim to a quarter section of government land, while he also took up three tracts of land in the adjoining county of Tuscarawas. He held a large amount of real estate in the state of Maryland, and when he left there he still retained possession of a considerable portion of the same, though he never thereafter received any revenue from the property, which he practically neglected, though still retaining his title to the same. This property, as a matter of course, has greatly appreciated in value with the lapse of years, and is now worth many thousands of dollars, and his heirs are making an effort to either regain possession of a portion of the estate there or else secure equitable returns from its holders. Grandfather Reese continued to reside on his farm in Canton township until his death, and was known as one of the sterling pioneers and influential citizens of the county, being a man of fine mentality and impregnable integrity of character.

Andrew Reese, Sr., father of the subject, was a lad of about ten years at the time when the family came to Stark county, and he was reared to maturity on the old homestead farnij in Canton township, while he attended the primitive schools of the locality and period as opportunity afiforded. As a young man he was employed for a number of years by Peter Trump, who established one of the first distilleries in this section of the state, and after his marriage he removed to one of the farms owned by his father in Tuscarawas county, where he continued to reside for two years, and there his eldest child, Catherine, was bom. At the expiration of the period noted he came to Washington township, Stark county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which was covered with the heavy growth of native timber, and which is now the property of his second namesake, with whom this sketch has specifically to do. He made his ed in the township about live years previously, until he had made a clearing on his own land, and there erected a log cabin of the usual pioneer type, when he established himself in this primitive dwelling and set himself valiantly to the work of reclaiming his land to the uses of cultivation, in which work his indefatigable and well directed efforts were eventually attended with a high degree of success, and it was his privilege to live to see the wonderful transformation of this section of the state from its status as practically a virgin forest to one of the most prosperous and attractive divisions of the great Buckeye commonwealth. He was eighty-four years of age at the time of his demise, and had survived all of his brothers, being thus the last of the immediate family to pass away. In politics he was a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, but he never sought otticial preferment of any order. A few years prior to his death, after deep reflection and study, he became a communicant of the Catholic church, in which faith he died. His wife was born in France, being, it is thought, a daughter of Joseph Eiseman, who was one of the sterling pioneers of Stark county, but died in Missouri. She lived to attain the age of seventy-one years, her death occurring in 1886. She was a devoted wife and mother and a consistent member of the Catholic church.

Andrew Reese, Jr., was reared to maturity on the old homestead farm, where he was born and which he now owns, and he early became familiar with the manifold and arduous duties pertaining to its reclamation and cultivation, while he is indebted to the public schools of the period for that basic knowledge upon which he has reared a fine superstructure indicative of broad intellectuality and valuable information. On the 3d of May, 1866, Mr. Reese assumed connubial responsibilities, since he was then united in marriage to Miss Mary Hildenbidtle, who had been for fourteen years a successful and popular teacher in the district schools of Washington township arid who was a young lady of distinctive refinement. She was born in Nimishillen township, this county, where her father, John Hildenbidtle, was an early settler, and whence he removed to Washington township when she was seven years of age. He was a native of Pennsylvania and of stanch German ancestry, and he came to Stark county when a young man, from Lancaster county, that state.

After his marriage the subject settled on the old homestead farm, and the following year he removed to the village of Freeburg, where he has since maintained his home, though he still retains possession of the old farm, as has previously been intimated in this context. For a period of six years after his removal to the village Mr. Reese was incumbent of the office of postmaster, and in connection with his official duties he also conducted a grocery for two years, while his wife assumed the practical charge of the postoflice after he had disposed of his grocery business. He then purchased an interest in a sawmill, and has since continued to be associated in the operation of the same, also conducting a prosperous lumber business and being known as one of the progressive and representative business men of the town. In 1888 he purchased the old homestead, which he has since rented, and from which he receives a good income. For nearly a quarter of a century Mr. Reese also carried on a successful threshing business, keeping the best sort of outfit for the purpose at all times and having the patronage of the farmers througliout a wide radius of country. He disposed of his interests in this line in 1901.

Although he was reared in the Democratic faith, Mr. Reese early became convinced that the principles of the Republican party were best intended to conserve the prosperity and wellbeing of the nation, and he showed the courage of his convictions by casting his first vote in support of the "grand old party," of which he has ever since been a stanch adherent, while he has been a leader in its local ranks. He served for three years as assessor of Washington township, and in 1877 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, in which he has served consecutively to the present time, with the exception of an interim of six months, having thus been incumbent for a full quarter of a centur}', while his administration has been such as to conserve peace and good will instead of promoting litigation and personal animosities. In the autumn of 1899 he was nominated and elected to the office of director of the county infirmary, and his interposition has proved of marked benefit in the handling of this worthy eleemosynary institution, where the unfortunate wards of the county are cared for in an effective manner, and he has been clerk of the toard of directors from the time of being inducted into office, having been re-elected to the office of director in the autumn of 1902. Mr. Reese is not formally identified \\\i\\ any religious organization, but he has ever given a ready support to church work. Of their nine children we enter the following brief record : John A. is engaged in the mason business in Louisville, this count}'; ;\manda M. is the wife of Byron O. Meese, of Washington township ; Harry is engaged in the Lake Erie, Alliance & Southern shops in the city of Alliance, this county; Joseph H. resides in the village of Minerva, where he is devoting his attention to carpenter v.ork ; Jeanet E. died at the age of eleven da}'s; Arden O. remains at the parental home, as do also Robert F., Maud and Alfred B.

CHRISTOPHER T. SWALLEN is a native son of tlie Buckeye state, having been born on a farm in Brown township, Carroll' county, Ohio, on the 7th of June, 1847, and being a son of Christian and Elizabeth

(Schory) Swallen, to whom were bona nine children, of whom five are yet jiving, namely: Sophia, who resides in the city of Alliance; Henry R., of Paris township, of whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Christopher T., who is the subject of this review ; Albert, who is a resident of the city of Alliance; and William L., who resides in Corea, where he has been for the past nine 3-ears engaged in missionary work as an emissary of the Presbyterian church. Christian Swallen was born in Switzerland, where he was reared to the age of twelve years, when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. They came to Canton, this county, which was then a mere village, and shortly afterward they removed over into Carroll county, where Grandfather Swallen took up a tract of wild land, in Brown township, where he reclaimed a good farm and where he passed the remainder of his life. On this old liomestead Christian Swallen was reared to manhood, and for a number of years after attaining maturity he had charge of the fai'm. In 1859 he removed with his family to Stark county and purchased a farm in Paris township, the same having been partially improved, and here, as the years fell into the abyss of time, he made the best of improvements and developed one of the valuable farms of the county, the property being now owned by his daughter Sophia. Here he remained until his death, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a man of energy and sterling character, and while he was industrious and progressive he was unassuming and kindly in all the relations of life and held as his own the unmitigated confidence and regard of the com munity in which he lived and labored to so goodly ends, while he is to be remembered as one of the honored pioneers of this portion of the county. He was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities, and both he and his wife Avere consistent and valued members of the

Christopher T. Swallen was about twelve years of age at the time when his parents removed to Stark county, and he was reared under the sturdy discipline of the farm and gained that practical knowledge of means and methods which has proved of so inestimable value to him in his independent operations along this important and beneficent line of industry. As a boy the major portion of his time was demanded in connection with the work of the farm, and thus, like the average youth of the locality and period, he received but limited educational advantages, attending the district school at irregular intervals and in a desultory and perfunctory manner. However, he thus laid an adequate basis for that excellent practical education which he has since gained in the broad school of experience. On the 24th of .September, 1870, Air. Swallen was united in marriage to Aliss Amanda Stuckey, of Washington township, she having been born on the farmstead now owned by our subject and being a daughter of Samuel Stuckey. who came to Stark county from Pennsylvania and took up his residence in Washington township, where he cast in his lot with its early settlers and here passed the residue of his life. After his marriage Mr. Swallen located on the farm of his father-in-law, and conducted the same "on shares" for a -number of years. After the death of his wife's parents he purchased the interests of the other heirs and has since retained the ownership of the place, which comprises ninet}'-nine acres and which is one of the most valuable places in this section. He de- A'otes his attention to diversified agriculture and has used such discrimination as to gain the maximum returns from his efforts, while he has erected the present substantial and attractive buildings which add to the appearance of unmistakable thrift and prosperity and indicate the progressive spirit and excellent busi- ness methods of the owner. Air. Swallen is recognized as one of the influential men of the township and is held in the highest regard in the community where so many years of his earnest and useful life have been passed. In politics he is an uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Prohibition party, believing that the liquor trafiic is one of the most menacing agencies with which our republic has to contend, and his religious faith is that of the German Baptist church, in which he holds the office of deacon, while his wife likewise is a devoted member of the church, both taking an earnest interest in the forwarding of its spiritual and temporal welfare. They have no children, but in their home they have reared with true parental kindliness and affection two orphaned brothers, David and TYederick Eshler, the former of whom is associated with our subject in the work of the farm, while the latter is married and retains his residence in the city of Canton, where he is engaged in the Canton Rubber Works.

The Stuckey family, of Swiss ancestry, came to \'irginia prior to the Revolutionary war and later went to Pennsylvania, and in 1811 settled in Washington township. Stark county, where he and his wife (Samuel and Catherine (Studebaker) Stuckey) passed the remainder of their lives. They had ten children : Jacob, San.uel. Simon, Abram, Daniel, Elizabeth, Barbara, Catherine, Susan and Hannah. Samuel, Jr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1804 and was eight years old when he came to Stark county. He married Catharine Burgert, daughter of David and Catharine (Heffner) Burgert, she a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of eleven children, Simon, Herbert, Eliza (deceased), Mary, Adaline, Sarah, I-ydia Ann, Harriet (deceased), Amanda, Lucinda, and Catharine, Airs. Swallen being tlie tenth in order of birth.

WALTER S. TAYLOR, AI. D., is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in North Benton, Mahoning county, Ohio, on the i6th of August, 1875, ^i""^ being a son of Hugh S. and Catherine (Shaffer) Taylor, of whose nine children eight are still living, namely : Robert, Enlow, iNlartin and Emlon, all of whom are engaged in agricultural pursuits in Alahoning county; Marion, who hascharge of the old homestead farm in that county; Margaret, at home; Waller S., who is the immediate subject of this sketch, and Frank, who is a representative young member of the bar of Portage county, maintaining his residence in Fremont, Ohio. The Taylor family has been identihed with the annals of Mahoning county from the early pioneer epoch, as is evident from the fact that the father of the Doctor is likewise a native of that county, having been born on the farm where he now resides, in the year 1826, his parents having been numbered among the first settlers in that county. He was reared under the conditions and influences of pioneer life, and after his marriage he assumed charge of the home farm, which he purchased after the death of hisfather, and there he has made his home from, the time of his birth to the present, a period of more than three-quarters of a century. Thehomestead comprises one liundred acres, but Mr. Taylor was signally prospered in his efforts and acquired a landed estate of about five hundred acres, which in recent years he has divided among his children. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, exercising his franchise in support of men and measures rather than being guided by strict partisan dictates. He and his wife are consistent and valued members of the Presbyterian, church.

preliminary educational discipline in the district schools, after which he entered the high school at Alliance, Stark county, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895. In the autumn of the succeeding year he was matriculated in the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he continued his technical studies for one year, at the expiration of which, in the autumn of 1897, he entered the Ohio Medical University, in the city of Columbus, where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated in the spring of 1900, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine and being amply fortified for the practical work of his profession. Shortly after his graduation Dr. Taylor located in the city of Canton, this county, where he served his practical novitiate, being there established in practice about seven months, within which period, on the loth of October, 1900, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret M. Fortney, of Sterling, Wayne county, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas Fortney, who is now a resident of New Pittsburg, that county. In February, 1 90 1, Dr. Taylor came to the village of Maximo, and here, within the comparatively short period of his residence in the village, he has built up a gratifying practice and one that shows an unmistakable accumulative tendency, for his professional ability and pleasing personality have brought him into marked favor and given him precedence in his chosen field of endeavor. The Doctor also holds a diploma granted him by the Protestant Hospital, in Columbus, where he served as interne from April, 1899, until the time of his graduation in the university, his clinical experience in this connection being of varied character and of inestimable value to him in a practical way. In politics the Doctor gives an unequivocal allegiance to the Republican party, in whose cause he takes a deep interest. In the spring of 1902 he was the nominee of the party for the office of justice of the peace, and was elected by a gratifying majority. He and his wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian church, in whose work they take an active part, while they enjoy distinctive popularity in the social circles of the community in which thev have their home.

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH. - Not to a work of this nature is the privilege of entering more than incidental record concerning the great and all pervading influence which the holy Catholic church has exerted in connection with the history of Stark county, and yet from no compilation which touches the generic iiistory of this section of the Union can there be eliminated frequent and appreciative references to those noble emissaries of the gracious mother church who have here lived and labored for the salvation of souls and the furtherance of the Master's cause. From the earliest period until the present time, when the majestic twentieth century swings into the cycle of the ages, there have been found within the borders of the state of Ohio priests of the church who have lived lives of high consecration and utmost usefulness, "rejoicing in hope, patience in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality," and with the utmost self-abnegation giving themselves and their li\-es to the work which stands for the only ultimate good in human life and human accomplishment. The work of the early missionaries was such as to merit a volume in record, for theirs it was to condescend to men of low estate," "in weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness," ever holding to the mark of their high calling as servants in the vineyard of the Divine Master. Thus in this work will be found many incidental references to the holy Catholic church and its zealous workers in Stark county, and among the members of the priesthood in the diocese at the present times is Father Charles H. Gardner, who is installed in charge of St. Joseph's church in the village of Maximo, and who has kindly supplied us with data concerning the history of his parish.

The parish of St. Joseph in the village of Maximo was organized, under missionary auspices, in the year 1874, and the present church edifice was erected in 1874. The first priest to minister to the people of the parish, which was then attached as a mission of the church in the city of Alliance, was Father James O'Leary, who continued to look to the spiritual welfare of the parish until April, 1882, when the church was transferred to the missionary supervision of the parish of Harrisburg, while it was then placed in pastoral charge of Rev. Father F. Senner, whose ministrations continued until 1884, when Father A. Sauvedet was appointed to the station, where he remained until succeeded by Father J. P. Kunnert, in 1S86, and the latter was pastor until 1888, when Father J. J. Hetet was installed and continued incumbent until the recall of his predecessor, in 1890. Father Kunnert then continued to serve the parish until September 26, 1899, and after his regime, which was blessed with excellent results, Father Thomas Kolb filled in the interregnum until the appointment of the present pastor, on June 15, 1900, as the first resident priest of the parish. Father Gardner has thn^wn the full force of his enthusiasm and energy into the work of the parish, and its spiritual and temporal affairs ha\-e been materially prospered under his able and devoted administration. Extensive repairs have been made on the church buildings and a term of parochial school is now had each year, while, as before intimated, the church has, for the first time in its long history, a resident priest. The parish has about forty families, of French and German descent, and Father Gardner is favored in having the earnest co-operaton, sympathy and affection of his people, so that he finds that his lines are cast in pleasant places and that he has abundant field for his consecrated and earnest labors.

JOSEPH L. VESSERIAT is a native of Washington township, where he was born on the 2 1 St of November, 1866, and here he has passed essentially his entire life. He is a son of John C. and Margaret (Moinet) Vesseriat, of whose nine children seven are yet living, namely : Mary, who is the widow of August Jordon and resides in Chillicothe, Missouri ; Louis, who is a resident of Kent, this state; Louisa, who resides in the city of Canton, this county, being the widow of the late Joseph INIaudru, who was formerly treasurer of Stark county ; Charles, who is a resident of Ma.ximo ; Celesta, who remains at the parental home; Frank L., who is a resident of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Joseph L., the immediate subject of this sketch. The father was born in Barraux, France, in the year 1816,. where he was reared to the age of seventeen years, when he came with his parents to the United States, his father, Benoit Vesseriat, coming to Stark county and purchasing twohundred and forty acres of land in \\'ashington township. This estate eventually came into the possession of his sons, John C. and Celestine.. As a young- man the former of these two brothers went to Randolph, Portage county, where he .served an apprenticeship at the trade of shoemaking, and lie then went to the city of Louisville, Kentucky, where he was employed as a journeyman at his trade about three years. In 1845 he returned to the old homestead in Washington township, and shortly afterwards was married, and thereafter he continued to work at his trade in the village of Maximo until 1 85 1, when he returned to the farm, which he and his brother Celestine purchased at this time, and here he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death.

in 1 89 1, his demise occurring six days subsequently to liis seventy-filth birthday anniversary. He had developed and admirably improved the one hundred and sixty asres of the old homestead, which represented his portion of the purchase and the same is still held intact by his estate. Since his death his widow has resided with her son Joseph, subject of this review. She was born near Bedford, France, being a daughter of Frank and Magdelene (Juif) Moinet, both of whom were born in France, whence they came to Stark county in the pioneer days. She is a devoted communicant of the Catholic church, as was also her honored husband, and he was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities, and though never a seeker for public office he was called upon to serve as township supervisor and also as school director, while his integrity was beyond cavil and he held the esteem and confidence of all who knew him.

Joseph L. Vesseriat, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared to maturity under the gracious influences of a good home, in all the name implies, and as he was born after his father's removal to the farm he early began to lend his aid in this work, while he received such educational advantages as were afforded in the public schools of the locality, later supplementing this by a course of study in Duff's Commercial College, in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he well fortified himself for the active responsibilities of an active business career. In 1892 he located in the city of Alliance, where he worked at the plumber's trade alx)ut two years, and his college business course was taken subsequently to this time. After his return from Pittsburg he accepted a clerical position in the mercantile establishment of J. A. Shaffer, in Maximo, and incidentally served as assistant postmaster, thus continuing from 1895 until 1898. In February, 1900, he received from Governor Xash his appointment as notary public, in which office he has since continued to serve, while in the spring of 1902 he was elected to the ofi'ice of township clerk, of which he is still incumbent and in which he has handled the records and duties committed to his charge with admirable ability, gaining unqualified commendation from the public, irrespective of political allegiance. He is himself an unwavering supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and maintains a lively and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the day. In 1894 he was elected township assessor and continued in tenure of this office three years, while he has been called upon to serve as administrator of various estates, whose affairs he has handled with consummate judgment and ability, thus adding materially to his just hold on popular confidence and esteem. He is a communicant of the Catholic church, in whose faith he was reared, and for a number of years he served as treasurer of St. Joseph's parish, in Maximo. Mr. Vesseriat has not yet been cajoled into entering the ranks of benedicts, and his mother presides over the domestic economies of his bachelor home, which is a favorite rendezvous for his many friends. In 1895 he served as deputy treasurer of Stark county, holding this office about eighteen months.

JOSEPH SHAFFER. - Although of German lineage, the Shaffers originally lived in Alsace, France (now a province of the German empire), and in an early day representatives of the family came to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. William Shaffer, the subject's grandfather, was bom and reared in native of Wurtemburg, Germany. As early as 1816 this couple left their Pennsylvania home and moved to the newly settled country of eastern Ohio, locating in what is now Washington township, Stark county. About one year later ]\[r. Shaft'er acquired a tract of land in section 10, one mile novtlieast of the subject's present place of residence, and in due time developed a fine farm, on which he and his good wife spent the remainder of their days. He appears to ha\-e been a man of great energy and from time to time added to his original purchase until he became the possessor of about six hundred and forty acres of land, much of which he cleared and reduced to cultivation. He was not only a highly successful farmer and enterprising business man, but also took the lead in his community in all matters making for the public welfare and his influence was always exeixised for the good of his fellow men. \\'illiam and Sophia Shaffer reared a large family of six sons and seven daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and became the heads of families, and it is a remarkable fact that but one of these children died under the age of forty-eight. The father and mother of the family lived to be four score, one of the sons dying in his ninety-fifth year.

Among the children of this excellent old couple was a son by the name of John, avIio was born in W^ashington township. Stark county, in 1S19. He was reared on the home farm, experienced the vicissitudes incident to life in a new country and grew up a strong, well developed man with a definite purpose to make the most of his opportunities. He remained with his parents until his marriage with Miss Margaret Cairns, when he settled on a small farm in section 10, wliere he lived tor a short time, subsequently, in partnership with his brother, purchasing the quarter section on which his son, the subject of this sketch, now resides. In the division of the estate, one hundred acres fell to John Shaffer and on this farm he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1866 at the age of forty-seven vears, being the youngest member of the family to pass away. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and at one time filled the office of township trustee, besides being an active and influential worker for the success of his party under all circumstances. Religiously he was a Presbyterian and his life was in harmony with the rather strict training for which that church was formerly noted. Margaret Cairns, wife of John Shaffer, was born in 1814 in Dumfreeshire, Scotland, and at the age of twenty-four came to the United States with her parents, Andrew and Margaret Cairns, who settled in Washington township, Stark county, on a part of the farm now in possession of the subject of this review. Mrs. Shaffer bore her husband five children and survived him a number of years, dying in 1890. She was a woman of excellent judgment and strong powers of mind, a faithful wife and devoted mother, and her death was deeply lamented not only by her family but by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who learned to love her beautiful character and exemplary Christian life. Of the five children constituting the family of John and Margaret Shaffer all but one are living, their names being as follows : Andrew J., a farmer of Washington township; James A., of Maximo, Ohio; Jennie, wife of Charles F. Reickert, of Lexington township, and Joseph, whose name introduces this interview.

Joseph Shaffer \\as born November 2j, 1846, in Washington township. Stark county, Ohio, and spent his childhood and youthful years in close touch with nature on the home farm. He was taught the true nobility of labor and while still a lad assumed his share of the work and responsibility of running the place, the meanwhile looking carefully after his mother's interests, to whose welfare he continued to devote his attention until her death, four years later.

Mr. Shaft'er carries on general farming quite extensively and in addition thereto has achieved wide reputation as a successful raiser of fine live stock, his income from these sources resulting in a fortune of no small magnitude. Since his twentv-first vear, he has voted the Democratic ticket and at the present time is regarded as one of the inflnential members of his party in the township of \Vashington. While not connected with any church or rehgious organization, he beheves in and has profound reverence for Christianity and in many ways has aided the good work in his neighborhood and elsewhere. He is a liberal contributor to different churches and all moral enterprises have his sanction and hearty support. Standing for social reform and public order, he advocates a strict enforcement of the law and few have been more active and energetic in upholding the dignity of manly conduct and good government. Mr. Shaffer is a single man, with no family ties of his own, notwithstanding which he has strong domestic tastes and is as great lover of home as those whose households resound to the laughter and music of childhood.

HENRY ALDINGER is a native son of the Keystone state, having been born on the 13th of May, 1846, and being the eldest of the three surviving of the four children born to Andrew and Catherine (Knoll) Aldinger. his brothers, Joseph and John, being residents of the village of Maximo, Stark county. The father of the subject was torn in the province Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and when he was a child of three years his parents bade atlieu to the Fatherland and set sail for America, for the purpose of establishing a new home in a country where they felt that superior opportunities were afforded for attaining a position of independence. They settled in the state of Pennsylvania, which had become the home of so many of their worthy countrymen, and there Andrew Aldinger was reared to maturity and securetl his educational training in the -common schools. He grew up on a farm and toil was his daily portion from his youth up. As a young man he was for some time engaged in rafting on the Ohio river, transporting produce and other commodities by the primitive means then in vogue, and through the exposure thus entailed his health became impaired, the effects being particularly appreciative during the later years of his life, when he w-as much enfeebled. In 1853 he removed with his family to Stark county and took up his residence on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, in sections 9 and 16, Washington township, and here he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in i860, at which time he was about fortj'-five years of age. He was a man of inflexible integrity, industrious and progressive and very active until the time came Avhen his health rendered it impossible for him to assume the more arduous work of his farm. He was, it is thought, a Democrat in his political proclivities and both he and his wife were devoted members of the United Brethren church. The mother of the subject was born in Pennsylvania, of stanch German ancestry, and she survived her husband by several years, being summoned into eternal rest in 1900, at the age of eighty years.

Henry Aldinger was about seven years of age at the time when his parents came to Stark county, and he was reared to manhood on the farm which is now" his home, his educational privileges being such as were afforded in the district schools of about a half-century ago, while his attendance in the same was desultory, since much of his time was demanded in connection with the work on the farm. He was but fourteen 3-ears of age at the time of his father's death, and as he was the eldest of the boys the major portion of the responsibility of the farm fell upon his youthful shoulders.