Marion Township (part 2 of 2)

In politics Mr. Lemmax is a firm, uncom])romising Republican, and for many years has taken a deep and intelligent interest in both local and national i>olitical affairs. Early in life he became an adherent of the Whig party. In September, 1840, he attended a Democratic mass meeting at Carlisle, addressed by leading Democratic politicians of Monroe County. After they had finished, John McMahon took the platform on the Whig side, and made a telling speech. Hon. Joseph Morris, representative in Congress, who was one of the speakers present, went home with Mr. Lemmax and spent the night at his father's house. In conversation with him, the question was asked, What would take the place of bank-notes^ Morris replied, '* Subtreasury notes.'' On being asked what they were, he admitted that he did not know. " Well, it is not good policy to destroy the bank-notes unless you have something better to take their place." Mr. Morris said: ''John. I am afraid you won't make a good Democrat. To be one, you must stick to the party, right or wrong." And John did not become a Democrat. lie voted first for Henry Clay, and acted with the Whig and Free-soil parties until the campaign of John C. Fremont, since which time he has been a Republican. Mr. Lemmax has been several times a delegate to State conventions. He was a delegate to the National Convention of 1870. He was the lirst delegate to propose Hayes' nomination, and, in a conference of the Ohio delegation, secured the )>a8sage of a resolution pledging a solid vote for hini, and that no delegate sliould vote otherwise without first conferring with the remainder of the delegation. Mr. Lemmax held the office of county commissioner one term and declined a renomination. He was a candidate for representative to the legislature in 1884, but was defeated by a small majority, owing to the hostility of the Greenback element, who at this time were energetically preaching the doctrine of "fiat money," claiming it as the " poor man's money." Mr. Lemmax vigorously opposed this craze and took a decided stand for resumption and a stable eurn^ncy. He t^>ok a pmininent part in semiring the extension of the 15. Z. & C. Itiilroad, from Woodsfieltl to Zanesville, suhseribing liberally to further the selienie, giving it much of his time and attention for over a year, besides furnishing a buihling for a dej)ot at his own exj)ense. The road runs through his land for a mile and a half. After the completion of the rojul, on the resignatifm of one of the directors, he was unanimously chosen to fill the vncancy and ha.s since been thrice chosen to till the same position. In the spring of ISS;^, with twelve other-s who paid a like sum, he advanct^l iN2,0(H) to secure the opening of the road and the running of trains, lie has had contracts for furnishing the road with over four hundred thousand feet of trestle timber, besides a large quantity of cross-ties. Mr. Lemmax has lH»en a stockholder and director of the Noble County National J^ank at (?«ddwell since its organ iziit ion. He has held the office of i>ostmaster, at Freedom (Whigville Postofti(MM, for twenty eight yeai*s, without any complaints from j)atrons or the Department.

Hknkv Lak(jk, one of the succissful financi(»rs and early settlers of Marion Township, was born near the city of J)ublin, July 21, 1S17. His parents, George and Eliza J.arge, were farmei*s, and came to America in 1825. They landed in Quebec, where the elder l^irge died some three weeks after his arrival, leaving the family in rather destitute circumstances. They removed to Montreal, where they lived about three

Mrs. I^irge, Mi's. Dr. Craig, had settled near Summerfield some time in ISIS, and by her advice Mi*s. I^irge dis|H)sed of her little proj>erty and came to the new country in February of 1S2S, with her little family of six children. She* entered fnmi government eighty acivs of land near the villiige of Freedcmi, which she improved and on which she reside<l until IS.'Jl), wh(*n Henry lKK*ame the owner.

The early life of Mr. I^irge was one of toil and hardship. At the age of sixteen he made his initial effort in business l)y taking a job of splitting rails at thirty-one cents y>ev hundred. At eighteen he began life as a farm laborer at $S per month. These facts, although seemingly trivial, show what can l)e done fnmi small beginnings. By dint of industry and close ecMmomy he accumulated a sum nearly sufficient for the purchase of the homest<nid fann, which he bought in 181^1). On this farm, which he still owns, he laid the foundation of his fortune. Never at one time hsis he owned more than 155 acres. The life of Mr. Large has l)een a busy and successful one, in fact it may be said that, considering his op|M)rt unities, no resident of Noble County has IxHMi more so. He has devoted his time to farming, tobacco raising and loaning his net earnings, and is thought to be the wealthiest man in the county. Many are curious to know how it was possible for him to accjuire so fine a competency under such advei^se circumstances. J I is answer to the question is, ''By the rigid practice of inchistry, economy, promptness and the avoi(hince of debt," and we might achl, shrewd management and a desire to excel. Mr. Large is (piiet and reserved in manner, and ]>ossessed of no disti ngu ish i ng characteristics, excepting his financial ability and his extraordinary mathematical ac(]uirements; his gift in this respect is wonderful, and like that of Pascal and Colburn, is a God given faculty, as his e<lucation was almost wholly confined to that school in which the teachers are observation and experience.

In politics he is a Republican; in religion a Metliodist, although not a member of any church. He is classed among the foremost men of the county in wealth, brains and intelligence.

Mr. J^arge was married early in life to Miss Maria, daugiiter of Edward ('leary. She was born in King's County, Ireland, in 1823 She has been to Mi*. Large a helpmeet in all that the word implies. They have had nine children : Mary A. (Mc('lintock), John, Sarah J. and Emma (died in infancy), Eliza II., Clara I. (Guiler), George E., Emma J. and Josei)h II.

Noble County, Ohio, March 11, 1844. Like most other farmer boys of that day, his op])ortunities for education were (juite limited. He succeeded, however, in obtaining a good English education, and at the age of eighteen commenced life as a teacher. Soon after he enlisted as a private soldier in the Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service with the reiriment, which for the greater portion of the {.ime.was stati(med at (>olumbus and (Cincinnati, Ohio. The last year of the war he was detailed as clerk at the headquarters of the northern department, commanded by Generals Hooker and Ileintzlemein. He remained in the service until the close of the war, when he resumed his former vocation. In 1807 he began mei'chandising in Sarahsville, which he f(»llowed successfully for six years, when, in consequence of failing health, he sold out his stock and engaged in farming in Center Township, where he remained until the purchase of the farm on which he now resides, in Marion Township, to which he removed in 1880. Mr. Finley has been quite prominentl}' identified with State and county politics. In 1870 he r<»ceived the nomination for auditor of the county on the Democratic ticket, but the county being largely Republican, he was defeated by J. F. Knouff.

In 1888 he was again c<miplimented by a nomination for represc^ntative, and was elected by a handsome majority ov(*r one of the strongest men in the Republican ranks. In the legislature Mr. Finlev made an