REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
MARION COUNTY, OHIO
1907 HISTORY
-A-
HENRY ACKERMAN,,(PICTURE) one of Marion's leading business men, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, was born in Germany, February 2, 1845. After receiving a common-school education, he learned the barber business and then from 1866 to 1868 served in the German Army.
In November, 1868, Mr. Ackerman came to America, locating first at Crestline, Ohio, but removing the following year to Marion, where he conducted a barber shop for six years. In 1875 he established the music business which he has ever since conducted with marked success. The business grew rapidly under his skillful management and for many years he has had what is acknowledged to be the largest music house in Marion, besides maintaining branch houses in Delaware, Mansfield and Galion. Mr. Ackerman has taken an extremely active part in the upbuilding of the city of Marion and has been connected with a number of successful enterprises, having helped to orgainze several manufacturing concerns.
He has also interested himself in the success of building and loan companies and has taken an active part in the establishment and management of several of them. He is at this time president of the Home Building, Savings and Loan Company, probably the most important and best managed concern of its kind in Marion. This enterprise has helped largely in the material advancement of the city and as a business concern is rated very highly. Among his business connections may be mentioned the fact that he is president of the Avondale Real Estate Company and a director of the Marion County Bank Company. He devotes a good deal of his time to the real estate business, being a large owner of real property in and about Marion.
On December 26, 1868, at Crestline, Ohio, Mr. Ackerman was married to Elizabeth Matthes, born in Germany, May 18, 1847. Of the seven children born to this union, five died in infancy and a son, William Henry, died at the age of 28 years-he had been married and left, at death, a bright little son, Henry Ackerman, Jr., who is a great favorite in the Ackerman family. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman's only living child is a daughter, Alice Pauline who is a great comfort to her father and mother. Mr. Ackerman, his wife and daughter are members of the Salem Evangelical Protestant Church. Fraternally, Mr. Ackerman is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Elks and Druids, and in the last named order he has passed all the chairs in the Grand Lodge of Ohio and is supreme representative from Ohio to the national organization.
CHARLES L. ALLEN, auditor of Marion County, belongs to a notable class of officials in this section of the State, whose efficiency and integrity have won public approval for them as a body. Mr. Allen was born in Marion, Ohio, on August 19, 1876, and is a son of Aaron B. and Margaret E. (Sorrick) Allen.
Mr. Allen's interests, up to the present, have been almost entirely concerned with Manon County. Here he was reared and also was educated. completing the high school course at Marion, after which he became connect with the Marion Street Railway Compsny which he continued for a number of years.
Allen has always been identified with the Republican party and on many occasions has testified to his fealty. He has frequently served on important committees and on November 8, 1904, he was elected county auditor. On this occasion his opponent was Miles Longshore a well-known citizen, whom he defeated by a majority of 394 votes. Mr. Allen appointed J. Spaulding as his deputy and also two assistants.
On May 4, 1905, Mr. Allen was united in marriage with Berthel Wetmore, a daughter of H. A. Wetmore, of Cheboygan, Michigan. Their beautiful home is located at No. 463 Delaware avenue, Marion.
Fraternally Mr. Allen is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Personally as well as officially, Mr. Allen has a ide circle of friends and admirers.
E. G. ALLEN, a leading business citizen of Marion, closely identified with her financial and banking interests, and one of the oldest bankers in the state, was born at Marion, November 10, 1834, and is a son of Curtis and Alma (Ashley) Allen.
Curtis Allen was born in Connecticut and came to Ohio about 1820, in the year 1832 settling it what was then the small village of Marion. He became of great prominence here, was postmaster in 1841, for nearly a quarter of a century was a justice of the peace, and was one of the early mayors. He was identified with much of the business growth of the city. For a long period he conducted a book and stationery store on Center street. He died September 10, 1853.
E. G. Allen was educated in the Marion schools and attended the old Marion Academy. On June 5, 1860, he married Mary Ann Baker, a daughter of Charles Baker, and a granddaughter of Eber Baker, the founder of Marion, who came to Ohio in 1817 and to Marion in 1821, where he invested largely in land. In the following year he laid out the town and named it in honor of Gen. Francis Marion, of Revolutionary fame. An extended sketch of Eber Baker will be found in another part of this volume.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of four children, namely: Charles Howard, Herbert Edgar, Robert Gilman and Tracy R. Charles Howard was born March 17, 1861, and is engaged in a banking business at Paulding, Ohio. He was married (first) to Lily Haas, and they had two children, Sadamae and Percy M. He was married (second) to Pearl Vanderhofe and they have two children, Charles Howard, Jr., and Loren Baker. Herbert Edgar Allen, who is a lumber dealer at Poplarville, Mississippi, was born June 18, 1863; he married Elizabeth E. Francis, and they have one child, Paul Francis. Robert Gilman Allen, residing at Paulding, Ohio, but with lumber interests in Arkansas, married. Stella Blizzard and they have two children, Robert Gilman, Jr., and Edgar Cunningham. Tracy R Allen, who is with the Prendergast Lumber Company, married Fanny DeWolfe, and they have two children, Frederick James and Gilman Baker.
SAMUEL C. ALLEN,a prosperous farmer and highly respected citizen of Bowling Green township, the owner of 257 acres of land, was born in Marion County, Ohio, and is a son of and Tabitha Ann (Kelly) Allen.
E. N. Allen was born in Kentucky and was married in Marion, Ohio. He was for some time postmaster at New Salisbury, Columbiana County, Ohio, where he and his brother owned some coal mines, which they disposed of about 1845. Mr. Allen then moved to Bastrop, Texas, where he lived several years. He served as a soldier in the Mexican War and then removed to Kentucky, where he remained for some time, after which he returned to Columbiana County, Ohio, locating at Wellsville, where he lived until his death. he had two brothers: R. T. P. Allen, who was a colonel in the Mexican War and later the founder and principal for many years of the Kentucky Military Institute at Frankfort; and Richard Allen, who was a major in the Mexican War, later a resident of Kentucky, from which State he finally moved to Missouri.
Samuel C. Allen was eight years old when his mother died in Kentucky and from that time until 1861 he lived with his grandmother, Mrs. Martha Bond, who had married Thomas Bond as her second husband. She was quite wealthy and a large slave-owner. His grandparents both died in Kentucky. In August, 1861, in company with six other men Mr. Allen came up the Ohio River to Portsmouth, Ohio, and from there up the Ohio Canal to Jasper, Pike County, and then to Marion County. The party consisted of Mr. Allen, James, Alexander, Jesse and William Dean, John Irons and Edward Freeman. The two last named returned to Pike County, Ohio. William Dean is a resident of Marion and Jesse Dean is residing in Richwood, Ohio. When Mr. Allen left Kentucky, he had but $5 and when he landed in Marion County, he was without a penny. He first located at LaRue and obtained work, driving four yoke of oxen for six or eight months, starting at $1 per day and at the end of eight months receiving $3 a day. He had been reared in town and knew scarcely anything of farm work. At the end of eight months he engaged in cutting logs for a, mill, making from $7 to $I I per day. Toward the close of the Civil War, he purchased a tract of 51 1/2 acres, all in timber, although he had not a dollar to pay for the same. He moved to the property soon after purchasing it, erected a little log cabin about 14 feet square and began clearing the land. He chopped cord wood for the railroad in order to pay for the land, and put out the last contract for the "Big Four" Railroad. He got out wood and made ties for 20 years, also operated a threshing machine and ran saw-mills over the country. He finally paid for the land and also acquired more, at one time being the owner of 500 acres. he has sold some, gave his son 65 acres. and retains his present farm of 257 acres. Mr. Allen at one time paid $900 in taxes. His success in life has been due to energy, perseverance and good business management. He was at one time $10,000 in debt, all of which he has paid off and now owes not one dollar. He met with a severe set-back when one of his saw-mills was destroyed by fire, entailing a total loss of $6,000. When Mr. Allen first came to Marion County, there were but few improved farms and no public roads. he has made all the improvements on his farm the splendid residence he resides in was built about 10 or 12 years ago.
On September 18, 1862, Mr. Allen was married to Cynthia Rizor, who was born in September, 1845, and was a daughter of Elijah Rizor. Two children were born to this union: Alice, born September 22, 1863; and James N., born December 6, 1864. Alice married Miles Longshore, who served for some time as deputy auditor of Marion County and at present is bookkeeper for The Huber Manufacturing Company, of Marion. They have two children living-Frank and Coral-and one daughter deceased. James N. Allen, who is a prominent farmer of Marion township, married Fannie Burge, a daughter of Marshall Burge, and has three children-May, Lester and Annabel. Mrs. Allen died November 14, 1874. Our subject was united in marriage November 23, 1875, with, Nancy B. Schertzer, a daughter of Solomon and Lucinda (Thornton) Schertzer, of Union County, Ohio. One child was born to this second union: Charles Hugh, born January 8, 1882, who is a rural mail carrier in Marion County, and when off duty is engaged in clerking in, the clothing store of James Crowley at LaRue; he married Mamie E. Jones, a daughter of John Wesley and Mary Jones, of Bowling Green township.
Mr. Allen formerly owned property in LaRue and for a period of 10 years operated a, lumber yard in the village. He has always been a Democrat and for years took an active interest in the politics of the county. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit, is an excellent conversationalist and is highly entertaining. Mrs. Allen is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Allen accompany this sketch,.
TRACY R. ALLEN, one of the enterprising and public-spirited young business men of Marion, being interested in the Prendergast Lumber & Coal Company, is the popular secretary of the Marion Commercial Club. He was born in this city in 1873, and is a son of E. G. Allen.
The father of Mr. Allen was born at Marion in 1834 and for years has been one of the leading men of this city. For 45 years he has been identified with its banking interests. After completing his education in the public schools at Marion, Tracy R. Allen was engaged for two years in the banking business in Paulding County. Upon his return to Marion, he became connected with the Automatic Boiler Feeder Company and later became secretary of the Marion Supply & Oil Company, with which he remained! for five years. He has proved his capacity as a business man.
In 1900, Mr. Allen was married to Fanny De Wolfe, a daughter of James De Wolfe, of Columbus. They have two children, Frederick and Gilman. Mr. Allen is a member of the Elks, the Marion Commercial Club, the Tally Wag Club and the Hoo Hoos.
JOHN M. ALMENDINGER, a leading farmer of Pleasant township, where he owns and operates a fine farm of 160 acres, which is situated in section 28, 80 acres on each side of the Marion turnpike, was born on his father's farm in Prospect township, Marion County, Ohio, July 7, 1846. He is a son of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Fox)(German spelling Fuchs) Almendinger.
Gottlieb Almendinger, who was born May 13, 1807 in Horrheim, Wuerttemberg, Germany the son of J. Erhardt and Regina Dorothea (Fruh) Almendinger, (Elizabeth Magdalena Fuchs Almendinger was born May 28, 1809 in Hafnerhaslach, Wuerttemberg, Germany the daughter of Christian and Susanna Magdalena (Brussel) Fuchs) was a young man in years when he came to America with his parents who lived for a short time in Marion County, Ohio, later returning to Germany, where their last years were spent. The subject of this sketch can just recall playing around his venerable grandfather's chair, in childhood. Gottlieb Almendinger married Elizabeth Fox (Fuchs), the daughter of a neighbor who had also been born in Germany, and then settled on a farm in Prospect township. There were nine children born to this marriage, as follows: Gottlieb, a retired farmer living at Marion, who married Sarah Cort; Sophia, who married Charles Romosher, lives at Marion; Jacob, who died in 1904; Christiana, deceased, who was the wife of Michael Sophman; Christopher, who is a resident of Pleasant township, married twice; John M.; Philip, deceased, who married Kate Seiter; Caroline, who married Frank Sophman and lives in Waldo township; and one that died infancy.
When a child of five years, John M. Almendinger lost his mottler and he was taken to Pleasant township and reared by his grandmother, Mrs. Fox. Until his marriage he assisted his father in farming and then bought the farm which he has operated ever since, carrying on general farming and raising stock. In 1885 he erected his present comfortable residence of 10 rooms; he has a very nice home with pleasant surroundings.
In 1871 Mr. Almendinger was married to Mary Seiter, who is a daughter of County Commissioner Daniel Seiter, and they have had five children, as follows: Samuel, a school examiner, living at Marion, who married Elizabeth Hagger; Bertha, who married' Harvey Klick, and resides in Marion County; Stella, who married John Mahaffey and lives at home; Nina, who is also at home; and Almon, who died aged three years.
Politically Mr. Almendinger has always been identified with the Democratic party. He served six years as township treasurer and for20 years was a member of the School Board. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN ALT, a manufacturer of wagons and buggies at La Rue, of which village he is a leading citizen, was born December 14, 1859, in Hardin County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Mary (Friaderger) Alt.
John Alt, Sr., was born in 1832 in Germany, and came to the United States in 1849, locating am Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio, where he entered a foundry to learn the trade of a molder at which he worked for many years while serving his apprenticeship. He subsequently engaged in the butcher business in Kenton at which he continued until about five years ago, when he retired from the business and now resides on a farm in Hardin County, near Grant. John Alt and his wife, who was a native of Switzerland, became the parents of three sons and three daughters: Henry and Adlolph, w ho reside in Kenton; John, Anna, who married George Semon, of Toledo; Caroline, who married Frank Brown of Lima, Ohio; and Mary, who married Peter Bridenbaugh and lives on a farm in Hardin County, near Grant.
John Alt, our subject, attended the public schools of Kenton, and when 16 years old entered the carriage works of Henry Kaiser of that city to learn the trade, at which he worked for a period of 10 years. going then to Greenville, Ohio, where he worked for five years as a painter and finisher in a carriage shop. Returning to Kenton, he was engaged for some time as a traveling salesman for farm implements. It was while making his trips that he selected La Rue as a desirable place in which to engage in his business. In 1893 Mr. Alt located in LaRue and started in his present business, in which he has been very successful, turning out no small amount of work from his factory and also representing other factories. He does a great deal of repair work and paints from 75 to 125 jobs annually.
Mr. Alt was married January 25, 1882, to Elizabeth Pfeiffer, a daughter of John and Margaret Pfeiffer of Hardin County and they have one child, Edith Leota, who is now a teacher in the public schools of La Rue. She is a graduate of the La Rue High School and also took a course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada.
Mr. Alt started in life entirely on his own resources and what he has accomplished has been the result of his own efforts and industry. He is popular and enjoys the full confidence of his business associates At an early date he united with the German Lutheran Church, the church of his parents, but since coming to La Rue he has joined the First Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is a member of Morris Scott Lodge No. 214 K. of P. and Tent No. 508. Knights of the Maccabees of the World, both of La Rue. .Although a Democrat in politics Mr. Alt is very liberal in his views and always supports the best man for office. He is at present a member of the Village Council and its president, which office he accepted at the earnest solicitation of his friends.
ROLAND E. AMANN, superintendent of the Marion Railway, Light & Power Company, was born in 1872 at Cincinnati, Ohio where he was reared and educated in the public schools.
Mr. Amann's business life began as a clerk in a dry goods store, but a year later he became connected with a wholesale tobacco house, dealing in leaf tobacco. After a year of business experience there, he became associated with the Cincinnati Electric Light Compally and served three years as a switchboard operator and eight years as superintendent of the repair department. From there he was called to Troy to take the position of foreman of the testing department of the Hobart Electric Manufacturing Company, and also to have charge of the installing of electric plants. He continued with that company for three years and then came to Marion, accepting the position of superintendent of the Marion Railway, Light & Power Company.
In 1896 Mr. Amann was married to Jennie Woods. of Covington, Kentucky and they have one child, Lillian Dale.Mr. Amann is a member of the Foresters and of the various Masonic bodies. belonging to the blue lodge at Marion in which he is an officer and also to the chapter, council and commandery With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MILTON R. ANDERSON, a leading citizen of Montgomery township, where he owns a valuable farm of 132 1/2 acres of finely cultivated land, was born in Marion County, Ohio, February 23, 1865, and is a son of Ira and Helen (Rubins) (Higgins) Anderson.
Mr. Anderson's ancestry on both sides includes old and honorable pioneer families of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, John Anderson, was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch parentage, and died in Pickaway County, Ohio, in middle life. His son, Ira Anderson, was born in Pickaway County and moved to Marion County when about 21 years of age, settling on the farm which his son, Milton R. Anderson, now owns and operates. He subsequently sold this property and removed to Grand township, where he lived some years. and then retired to LaRue, where he died in July, 1902, at the age of 78 years.
Ira Anderson was four times married. One daughter of the first union, with Miss Fuss, still survives, Ella, who is the wife of Cyrus Miles, of Kansas. There was no issue to his second- marriage, with Ann Bain. His third marriage was to Mrs. Helen (Rubins) Higgins, and to this union four children were born, namely: Milton R.; John who died at the age of four years; Charles, who resides in Grand township; and Thomas, a resident of Marion. Mr. Anderson's fourth union was with Sarah Walker; there were no children.
The mother of Mr. Anderson was born in Noblethorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and was five years of age when she accompanied her parents to America. She was a daughter of Edward and Ellen Rubins, who were natives of England. In 1829 they came to the United States, landing at Castle Garden, New York, and as their objective point was Ohio, they proceeded up the Hudson, crossed the State of New York on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, went by lake to Sandusky and thence to Richland County, where the father secured a farm, on which the family lived for six years. He then sold out and removed to Marion County, purchasing a farm later owned by Ira Anderson, where they lived for 30 years. Mr. Rubins died in April, 1869, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Heckathorn, in his 87th year.. His widow survived him for six years, and died in Huron County, Ohio, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Maria Skinner, in her 91st year. The family is noted for its longevity. Of the seven children, all except one, lived out the allotted four-score years and ten of the Psalmist, and the one survivor, Mrs. Heckathorn, is active and well preserved, at the age of 85 years., The family has also been a prolific one, its descendants being numerous.
The children of Edward and Ellen Rubins were: Henry, who has 21 living descendants and 15 decreased; Thomas, whose descendants number 73 up to the present time, 56 living and 17 deceased; Mrs. Maria Skinner, who has 32 descendants, 27 of these still surviving and five deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Beamer, who had but two descendants, who are now deceased;
Joseph, who had 51 descendants, 39 of whom are living and 12 deceased; Mrs. Mary Heckathorn, who has had 29 descendants, 25 still living and four deceased; and Mrs. Helen Anderson, the mother of our subject, who had 54 descendants, 49 of whom are living and five deceased.
Mrs. Anderson was reared to young womanhood in America and was married (first) January 1, 1845, to Joseph Higgins, who died January 12, 1850. The children of this marriage were: Jane, who is the widow of John Clark; Marilla, who is the wife of Isaac Guthery, living in Union County, Ohio; John, deceased; Thomas, who is a resident of Marion; and Charles, a farmer in Grand township, who married Ellen Crabb, of that neighborhood.
In September, 1854, Mrs. Higgins was united in marriage with Ira Anderson, this being her second marriage and his third. It proved one of great domestic felicity and her death was a blow to her husband and the children, who had received from her a tender mother's care. Her death took place while the family lived on the farm in Grand township, when her age was 69 years, 7 months and 17 days. She had long been a consistent and beloved member of the LaRue Free Baptist Church. Her funeral was at the Paw Paw Methodist Episcopal Church.
Milton R. Anderson was reared to an agricultural life but was afforded good educational opportunities. He acquired a good, common school training in Grand and Montgomery townships and thus became qualified for almost any calling. He chose farming and has been located on his present property, the old homestead farm, for the past 14 years. Here he has successfully and rather extensively engaged in general farming and stock-raising and is numbered with the township's representative and progressive agriculturists. He has made a great many substantial improvements here. His fine residence and barns and outbuildings are of modern construction, all the old structures having been swept away by a fire, which caused a heavy loss. The new buildings are convenient and well adapted to their purposes and the whole place in its appearance is one to reflect credit on Montgomery township.
On April 7, 1892, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Gertrude McMillen, who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, but who was reared and educated in Hardin County. She is a daughter of G. W. and Charlotte (McKnight) McMillen.
The McMillen family was an early settled one in Muskingum County, Ohio, and there Mrs. Anderson's paternal grandparents, James and Elizabeth McMillen, lived and died. Both her parents were born in Muskingum County, and they now live in Hardin County. The mother was born December 18, 1841. The father was born October 21, 1836. He is an honored survivor of the Civil War, having served his country loyally as a member of the 122nd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. For a period of nine months he was confined as a prisoner in the awful prison pen at Andersonville, Georgia, but he managed to escape. He has since lost one eye from the effects of his exposure in prison.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. McMillen were: Myrtle, who is the wife of James Rager, residing north of Kenton, in Hardin County; James Carey, who married Ella Fisher and resides at Kenton; Della, resides at home with her parents; George who married Effie Madora and resides at ton; and Gertrude (Mrs. Anderson).
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have one daughter, Bessie Isabel, born March 1, 1895, and who is a bright pupil in the public schools. Mr. Anderson is deeply interested in educational matters. In political sentiment he is identified with the Republican party, but has always been too deeply engrossed in business to take a very active part in public affairs. He has not been willing to accept any office in the gift of his fellow-citizens, but takes pleasure in the friendly attitude of all toward him, deserving it by living a life of business integrity, practical charity and helpful neighborliness.
JOHN C. ANTHONY, proprietor of the Anthony Laundry at Marion, was born February 18, 1855, at Hagerstown, Maryland. His parents were David and Ann (Boward) Anthony, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland!, respectively.
Mr. Anthony was reared at Hagerstown until he was 16 years of age, when he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and worked for 18 months in the shops of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroad, and then became an engineer and ran an engine on that road for 17 years. Leaving the railroad, he located at Van Wert, Ohio, where he engaged for two years in the laundry business. He came to Marion in September, 1890, and purchased the Marion Steam Laundry, which at that time was a small concern. Mr. Anthony has since installed all the modern machinery known to this business and has one of the finest equipped laundries in this section of the State: Mr. Anthony is a member of the National Laundrymen's Association and the Ohio State Laundrymen's Association, and was honored by the latter society in 1906 by being: elected its president. He is also interested in other business enterprises of Marion, being a stockholder in The Marion County Telephone Company, The Marion Shoe Manufacturing Company and The Commercial Club Company, being one of the board of directors of the last named organization.
Mr. Anthony married Emily Perdue, of Portland, Indiana, in1878, and they have three children: Ethelwyn, who married W. A. Muntsinger, of Marion, and has one child, John Stewart, born March 13, 1905; Mabel, who is living at home, who was educated at Kee Mar College, Hagerstown, Maryland; and Alma R., a very accomplished musician, graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, who married D. T. Hamilton, of Marion, and has one child, Donald Eugene, born May 24, 1906.
Mr. Anthony is a member of all the Masonic bodies at Marion; of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Elks. With his family, he belongs to the Epworth Methodist Episcopal church. He has been instrumental in building up the Y. M. C. A. of Marion and continues one of its most enthusiastic supporters and workers.
OZIAS S. ANTHONY, a leading farmer of Waldo township, residing on his fine farm of 100 acres located in section 5, on the township line, was born December 19, 1857, on his father's farm in Iowa and is a son of William Fletcher and Leah (Harvey) Anthony.
John Anthony, the grandfather of our subject, was of Irish descent; he moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa where he lived to an advanced age. He was the father of five children, namely: Spencer, Wesley, John, Mrs. Minerva West and William Fletcher. William Fletcher Anthony was born on his father's farm in Iowa in 1833 and there was reared, educated and married. He married Leah Harvey, a daughter of Thomas and Martha (Kline) (McKelvey) Harvey. Mrs. Anthony's mother, by a previous married to James McKelvey, pioneer of Marion County, had two children-Susan and Charles. After death of Mr. McKelvey she married Thomas Harvey, also of Marion County. After their marriage they moved to Iowa in covered wagons, but soon returned to Marion County, Ohio, where they lived the remainder of their lives. There were seven children born to this union, namely: John, William, Bruce, Betty, Martha, Leah and Emily. Leah was born near La Rue, Marion County. When about five years old she accompanied her parents to Iowa, where she was reared and where she married William Fletcher Anthony. Shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony moved to Marion County, Ohio, and settled near La Rue on a farm that they rented from Joseph Thew. They subsequently bought a farm just over the line in Hardin County, where the father of our subject died in 1856. He had always been engaged in general farming and was one of the best known farmers in his section. After the death of Mr. Anthony, his widow moved to Marion County with the children, and there remained until about 1897, when she moved to Toledo, Ohio, where she now resides with her sister, Mrs. Betty Anderson. William Fletcher Anthony and wife were the parents of five children, namely: Ozias S., George, Martha, William and Elizabeth, all being deceased except the subject of this sketch.
Ozias S. Anthony was three years old when his parents moved from Iowa to Ohio. He was reared in Scott Town and obtained his education in the township schools. His father died when Ozias was eight years old, and as he was the oldest child most of the farm work devolved upon him. As soon as he was able to command wages, he worked out on various farms of the township. After his marriage Mr. Anthony lived for about three years at Toledo, and then moved to his present farm, which his wife had bought from the Kenyon heirs in 1897. Here he has since resided, engaged in general farming, raising grain and stock, and making a specialty of thorough-bred horses. For the past 15 years he has exhibited at the County Fair, where his horses have often won premiums, as have some of his poultry and other stock.
Mr. Anthony is a stanch, Democrat. He served two terms as mayor of Waldo village, and also as a member of the Village Council. He is a member of Waldo Lodge, No,. 588, I.O.O.F., in which he has served as an officer several times, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Anthony was (first) married, March 4, 1884, to Arvella Kennedy, who was reared in Scott Town. At her death, she left three children: William Ray, in charge of the Bell Telephone exchange at Waldo, who married Dolores Michael; Maude May, who married James Washburn and has one child; and Audrey Edward. On July 24, 1899, Mr Anthony was married to Mattie Kenyon, a daughter of Harvey and Eliza (Steen) Kenyou. Her grandfather, Aaron Kenyon, who was one of the pioneers of Marion County, located on the farm which is now owned by our subject and wife. He studied for the ministry and later taught school in Marion County for many years, where he became well known. He went to California in search of gold at the time of the discovery of gold, and was quite successful in his quest for the yellow metal. Some of the tools he used on that trip are still in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony. He made a second trip to California, after which he returned to Marion County and died in Waldo township. Mattie Kenyon, the wife of our subject, was born September 8, 1865, on her father's farm in Waldo township, and there was reared. She was educated in the district schools after which she became a school teacher and taught for 23 terms in various schools throughout Marion County She is the oldest child of a family of 14 children, as follows -Mattie; Jessie Margaret, deceased; George Aaron; Joseph Hamilton; John David; Mary Ellen, who married Henry Miller.; Sarah Eliza; Charles Monroe; Daniel Harvey; Clara, deceased in childhood; Frederick; James Lee; Frank Steen; and Estella May, who lives with Mrs. Anthony. Mrs. Kenyon died May 3, 1895, when the children were very young and Mrs. Anthony cared for them until they were able to care for themselves.
CAPT. JACOB F. APT, (PICTURE) general contractor at Marion, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born February 25, 1836, just east of Caledonia, in what is now Morrow but then was still a part of Marion County, and is a son of Henry Apt.
The Apt family is a pioneer one of this county, the grandfather and father of our subject, John and Henry Apt, coming from Pennsylvania to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1823, and to Marion County, in 1824. Henry Apt, who was 18 years old at the time, was an all around mechanic and subsequently became a good farmer.
Jacob F. Apt learned the carpenter's trade and one of the houses he assisted to build, in 1852, is still standing in Caledonia and is still occupied. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company D, Sixth Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav., which was sent to St. Louis and from there to the Rocky Mountains; while there the regiment was reorganized as the 11th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Cav. A great deal of scout duty was performed by this regiment, and the subject of this sketch had many thrilling experiences and many adventures. He was steadily promoted for his gallantry, from 1st sergeant to 2nd lieutenant and in November, 1864, to captain. For a space of four months he had charge of two companies. He was mustered out at Omaha, Nebraska, on May 6, 1865.
After his return to Ohio, Captain Apt engaged in a contracting business until 1872, when he engaged in dealing in hardware at Caledonia for four years, after which he went into a sawmill and lumber business. In 1890 he came to Marion and since has been in a general contracting line here, and has built many of the city's most substantial buildings, among which may be mentioned the Memorial Block, Forest Lawn School Building, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Union Depot, Busby Block and a number of others, in addition to some of the city's finest residences.
In 1857 Mr. Apt was married to Mary J. Deardorff, and they have two children: John Charles and Frank S., the latter of whom has been connected with the American Cereal Company at Chicago for the past 22 years.
Mr. Apt has always taken an active interest in politics and is one of the old-line Republicans of this section, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of Cooper Post, No. 117, G. A. R., of Marion, and of Caledonia Lodge, No. 299, 1. 0. 0. F. For many years he has been a member of Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM R. ARCHER, manager of the sales department of The Marion Manufacturing Company, at Marion, has been a resident of this city for the past eight years. He was born in 1871, at Caldwell, Noble County, Ohio.
When he was three years of age, his parents moved to the West, settling in Kansas, and there he lived until 20 years of age, when he entered the Nebraska University, at Lincoln, where he remained for two and a half years. In 1892 he became the traveling representative of The Huber Manufacturing Company, making Lincoln his headquarters. In 1898 he came to Marion and for the five succeeding years was employed by The Huber Manufacturing Company in the capacity of traveling auditor. On February 22, 1904, he assumed the duties of his present position and has carefully and efficiently looked after the sales department of The Marion Manufacturing Company ever since. He is interested in a number of Marion's successful enterprises and is a member the Marion Commercial club.
In 1897 Mr. Archer was married to Anna Grams, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who was born in Berlin, Germany, but was reared and educated in America. They have two children, Frederick Dale and Ruby Estella. Both Mr. and Mrs. Archer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Archer belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
EDWARD S. AULT, surveyor of Marion County, was born in Marion, Ohio, July 26, 1872, and is a son of Adam C. and Elizabeth (Mincinburger) Ault, who were of German ancestry. His father, who died in 1902, was in the insurance business at Marion, where he was well known.
After finishing the public school course in this city, Edward S. Ault studied civil engineering and completed his course in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, in 1898. For four years following he held the important office of city engineer of Marion, when he was called to Joplin, Missouri, where he was engaged for two years in supervising all the underground engineering for the extensive mines of the American Zinc & Lead Company. After successfully completing this remarkable work, he retired to Marion and continued to follow his profession until his election, in 1904, as county surveyor, by a majority of 1,360 votes over his opponent. Mr. Ault sustains the reputation of being an expert in his line.
Fraternally, Mr. Ault is a Mason, an Elk and a Knight of Pythias.
WILLIAM DANIEL AUGENSTEIN, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Waldo township for many years, who is now practically retired, residing on a well-improved farm of 145 acres which belongs jointly to himself and wife and is situated in section 35, is one of Waldo township's most highly respected citizens. Mr. Augenstein was born October 5, 1849, on the homestead farm in Marion County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Bender) Augenstein.
Daniel Angenstein was 15 years of age when he came from Germany to America, his birth having taken place in Ellmendingen, Baden, March 8, 1822. His parents were George F. and Barbara (Baushlicker) Augenstein, also natives of Baden. Daniel Augenstein was the pioneer of the family in Ohio. He crossed the Atlantic alone, and although he had not attained the years of manhood and was unacquainted with the language and customs of a strange country, he was of so steady a character and so industrious and intelligent, that he made his way to Marion County, Ohio, without great difficulty and here sought and found work. For three years he was employed on various farms in Pleasant and Richland townships, where his wages were from $6 to $8 a month. In seeking a better paying position, he finally went to Marion, where he was employed for one year in the Baker stables as a hostler, but at no time was he able to command what would be considered now even a fair salary for his labor. Nevertheless, Mr. Augenstein was able to save enough to allow him to visit Germany in 1841, and in March of the following year he returned to Marlon County accompanied by his parents.
George F. Augensteiin, father of Daniel Augenstein, purchased 240 acres of land from Rutherford B. Hayes, who later became President of the United States, paying $10 an acre, on the representation of his son Daniel, who had tramped all over this section of Marion County and had noted the lay of the land and had appraised the value of the timberland owned by Mr. Hayes, much of it being black walnut of fine quality. All but six acres of the tract thus purchased was covered with forest growth. Both George Frederick Augenstein and wife died in Marion County, the former September 7, 1845, aged 62 years, and the latter, March 23, 1865, aged 72 years. They had these children: Minnie, who died in Germany; Ernest F.; Daniel; Godfrey and Barbara and George F. (twins). The father of the above family deeded his property to his six children, dividing it into six 40-acre lots.
When Daniel Augenstein returned to Germany in order to urge his parents to come to America with him, he came very near being compelled to enter the German Army and do military service according to the laws of that country. Taking advantage of another law, one which permitted the discharge of a son when drafted, if the parents sold out their home and left the country, the Augensteins left Germany and came to Ohio, as stated. Daniel Augenstein proved himself a good business man, and after inheriting his 40 acres he bought 20 acres from his sister, and to this 60 acres continued to add until he owned 400 acres, all of which he cleared. He was generous with his children during life, and at the time of death his estate of 115 acres fell to his son, John F. Augenstein. In addition to farming Mr. Augenstein raised and handled Short horn cattle and horses from imported stock.
Politically, Daniel Augenstein was a stanch Democrat and was an influential member of his party in Waldo township and Marion County. For 18 years he served as township trustee, was a justice of the peace for one term and for two terms was a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors, his death occurring in May, 1896 before his second term had expired. For many years he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In all the relations of life he was a man who commanded respect and enjoyed in a large measure the esteem of his fellow-citizens. His burial was in the family burying-ground, on the Delaware turnpike.
On March 2. 1845 Daniel Augenstein was married (first) to Margaret Bender who was born in Huttengessas, Hessen, Germany, January 7, 1828, the daughter of Justus and Catharina (Rudel) Bender, and died in Waldo township, May 22, 1879. She was a daughter of Justus and Catherine Bender. Three of the four children born to this marriage grew to maturity, as follows: Hannah, who married John Kraner; William Daniel; and John F. In the winter of 1879-80, Mr. Augenstein was married (second) to Mrs. Malinda Jane (Overdeer) White, widow of Elijah White. She was born in Shelby County Ohio, January 27, 1827, and died October 9, 1898. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but Mr. Augenstein belonged to the German Reformed Church.
William Daniel Augenstein remained on the home farm until he was 23 years of age, almost from childhood taking upon himself the hard work of a man. He can remember his task was to plough a field when he was almost too small to reach the plow handles. His brother was 14 years younger than he and thus the hardest work fell on the one able to do it. He learned every detail of farming and stock-raising, and thus by the time he was married was able to successfully manage the farm his father then gave him. It contained 130 acres and on this he has resided ever since, later adding land which now makes the farm one of 143 acres. At one time Mr. Augenstein was one of his leading sheep-raisers of this locality, keeping as many as 100 head of Shropshire sheep, and he has been a member of the Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association for the past 15 years. Mr. Augenstein has now turned the management of the farm over to his son, Finley Elmer, who is a great horseman, as was his grandfather, and while Shorthorn cattle and a few hogs are raised the main business of the farm now is the breeding, buying and feeding of horses. The son resides on the home farm, just across the road from his father. Another successful industry conducted on this farm is dairying, Mrs. Augenstein having customers in Sandusky, to whom she ships choice butter of her own making, contracting to sell it for 20 cents a pound the year round. The demand is always larger than the supply.
On September 26, 1872, Mr. Augenstein was married to Mar Margaret J. King, a daughter of Henry and Marcia (Powell) King. The father of Mrs. Augenstein died prior to her birth and later her mother married William King, who is now deceased; Mrs. King died in 1886. Mrs. Augenstein has one brother, Henry T. King, who has been a traveling representative of The Marion Steam Shovel Company for the past 20 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Augenstein have had three children, namely: Lydia Hannah, who is the church organist of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Waldo, of which her parents have been members for the past 40 years; Finley Elmer; and Ella H., who died in 1881, aged one year and four months. Finley Elmer Augenstein was married September 12, 1902, to Ada Dearst, who is a daughter of Frank and Mary (Hoke) Dearst, and a granddaughter of settlers who came to Marion from Seneca County, Ohio. They have one child, Russell Dennis, who was born August 31, 1905.
Politically, both William D. Augenstein and his son are affiliated with the Democratic party and the latter is now serving as road supervisor. Mr. Augenstein has also served in this office, having always taken a great interest in promoting the building of fine public highways through the township. He graveled the road from his residence to the Marion and Delaware turnpike at his own expense.
JEROME AULT, a representative citizen of Claridon township, who resides on his well-cultivated farm of 103 acres, located in section 36, belongs to one of the pioneer families of Richland township, where he was born April 25, 1861. he is a son of Frederick B. and Ann M. (Gladfelter) Ault.
The paternal grandfather was John Atilt, who lived in Belmont County, Ohio, whence came Frederick B. Ault with his family, in 1854. The Ault home continued to be in Tully township until 1856, when Mr. Ault removed to Richland township, where he passed the rest of his life, developing a good farm out of the forest and becoming a man of acknowledged standing in his neighborhood. He married Ann M. Gladfelter, who was horn in Pennsylvania.
Jerome Ault was born in the log cabin built by his father after the family came to Richland township, and obtained his education in the township schools. Until he attained his majority, he assisted on the home farm and then engaged in manufacturing tile for drainage purposes carrying on a successful business. Since coming to Claridon township, he has engaged in farming and has a well-cultivated property.
Mr. Ault was united in marriage with Mary Fisher, who was born in Marion County and is a daughter of August Fisher, of Claridon township. Seven of their eight children still survive, as follows: Alma 0., Harley E., Britton H., Frederick, Carl, Fern and May Irene. Lulu is deceased.
Politically, Mr. Ault is a Democrat. He has always taken an intelligent interest in public matters and has been a useful member of the School Board for a number of years. He served six years as a trustee of Claridon township and during two years of this period was especially honored by being made president of the board. As a public official, Mr. Ault served faithfully and honestly and he enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
WILLIAM SWAZEY AYE, who is the oldest native-born citizen of Marion County to-day and also the first male white child born in Claridon township, has been a resident of Marion and Morrow counties all his life and for the past 13 years has lived in the city of Marion. He is a son of Jacob and Rebecca(Hyde) Aye and was born September I9, 1821, in what is now Claridon township, Marion County, Ohio, which township at that time, however, was included in Delaware County.
His great-grandfather came from Germany and settled in Fredericktown, Maryland, in 1750 and there opened a cabinet-shop. He died six months after his first and only child was born. The latter, at the age of about 18 years, married Katharine Dutrow; Jacob Aye, the fifth in the family of nine children that they reared, was our subject's father.
Jacob Aye was born February 22, 1793, in Washington County, Maryland, and was nine years old when his parents removed to Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia), where for two years the family cultivated a rented farm, planting 75 acres to wheat one year. They then moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania, and two years later, in 1806, settled in Berkshire, Delaware County, Ohio. Jacob Aye and his father went to Berkshire in the spring of that year, after which they returned to harvest their wheat in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The family removed to Delaware County, Ohio, in November. Their journey was one of hardship and many trials. The roads were in a terrible condition, consisting in many places of a trail cut through the forest. Grandfather Aye brought five horses and a large Pennsylvania wagon; but as the roads were very crooked in the woods he was able to use only four of the horses and the wagon. Progress was tedious and difficult throughout the early portion of the trip on account of the ground being soft and the wagon was often stuck in the mud. While on the road between Granville and Berkshire the weather suddenly turned cold; while this made traveling easier, it also brought great suffering to the party, one of the daughters having her feet frozen. The first years of their residence in Delaware County were filled with many hardships and privations. They were often without what are usually considered the actual necessities of life. Salt was secured with great difficulty and expense. Mr. Aye had to travel on horseback as far as Zanesville to secure a supply of salt, for which he paid $5 per bushel; the salt was loaded on the back of the horse, which Mr. Aye led all the way to his home. Wheat and corn were also scarce. When, with arduous labor, a little clearing was made around the cabin in the forest and corn and wheat planted, it was only by exercising constant vigilance that the pioneers succeeded in saving a portion of the crop from the ravages of the birds and wild animals that abounded in the region. In order to keep the animals from doing damage to the crop it was the custom when the corn was in the roasting ear for Jacob Aye and his eldest brother to go through the field in the early part of the night while his father and a younger son took their places during the latter part of the night. The educational advantages of the district were so meager during the early period of its settlement that Jacob Aye secured only nine months' schooling during a period of nine years. In 1812 the rifle company to which he belonged was called out and sent to Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) for the purpose of building a fort. The troops beat a hasty retreat homeward when they learned of Hull's surrender at Detroit. Jacob walked all the way back, carrying his rifle and knapsack and also the sword and knapsack of his brother John, who was lst lieutenant of the company and who had gone home previously on a furlough and there had been taken seriously ill. The soldiers encamped not far from Big Island and had trouble in getting fire from their flint and steel as it had been raining for many hours. With the two-fold annoyance of rain and mosquitoes, Mr. Aye was unable to sleep. At daybreak they resumed the march and upon reaching the Little Scioto found it had overflowed its banks. They were obliged to wade across in water that came up to their necks. Upon reaching the Radnor settlement, Mr. Aye left the knapsack with his brother-in-law, John Foos. When he arrived at Delaware he found almost all the people had fled, fearing an attack from the Indians. Nearly every house in the neighborhood was deserted except the Aye home, the family having decided to remain despite what might happen, as John Aye, Jacob's brother, was too ill to be removed. Soon after the war, Jacob Aye was elected captain of a militia company that met in Berkshire.
In December, 1820, Jacob Aye was married to Rebecca Hyde, who was born in Lenox, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, September 12, 1792. She had come to Ohio about two years before and had taught school the two summer seasons prior to their marriage. Shortly after their union, Jacob Aye and wife came to what in now Marion County and entered 80 acres in of land in Claridon township. The log cabin where they took up their home and where the subject of this sketch was born in the following September was located about a mile and a quarter northeast of Claridon. In the spring of 1823 Mr. Aye sold this 80-acre tract to Vincent Douce and with his brother Henry purchased 80 acres, adjoining on the southeast the present corporation limits of Caledonia. The surrounding country was heavily timbered at this time but was being rapidly settled and cleared, many of the settlers coming here from England.
About 1824 Jacob Aye and others of a society of the Methodist Episcopal Church that met at Nathan Clark's built a round-log church south of Caledonia, which was the first structure erected in Claridon township for religious purposes. Here William Swazey Aye was baptized by the Methodist circuit rider, Rev. James Gilruth. Daniel Bennett, a cooper, and Mr. Aye made the first coffin interred in the church cemetery, constructing it of a wagon box. In these early days there was a great deal of sickness, chills and fevers being especially prevalent. About the same time the church was built, John Allen erected a saw mill on the Olentangy River south of Thew Cemetery. The neighbors volunteered their services and put in a dam, Mr. Aye working at it several days. After two years a flood took out the dam, which was never rebuilt. About the same time Nigah Rice built a water mill just south of Claridon and Comfort Olds put up a horse-mill on the farm that is now the Harvey Coen farm. Previous to the completion of these improvements, Mr. Aye went to Delaware to mill.
The Indians were frequent visitors at the home of Jacob Aye. On one occasion when alone, Mrs. Aye observed someone pass around the house; the door latch was gently raised, the door pushed upon and a large Indian came into the room. He began to talk in broken English and to make her understand drew a large butcher knife from beneath his jacket. On seeing it, she screamed and he drew back and left. A few days later he met her husband and explained to him that he wanted to sell her a broom made of a hickory sapling by stripping the wood in small splints and had attempted to explain to her with his knife the process of manufacture. From old Tom Lyon, a Delaware Indian, Mrs. Aye secured a butter ladle of buckeye wood that was used until very recent years and is still in the possession of the family. On another occasion two Indians came to the home and bought the dog, a large and ferocious beast, that Mr. Aye never set on anything unless he wanted to kill it. For this they gave $1.50 in money, a red cotton shawl and a cotton handkerchief.
Early in 1826 Mr. Aye and his brother Henry sold their 80-acre farm in Claridon township to John McCue and each entered 80 acres in Canaan township in what is now Morrow County. They followed a trail for some four and a half miles to their new possessions, selected a suitable site, to which they hauled as many logs as was possible. Four days afterwards they returned with their neighbors, in all a party of 14 men, finished the cutting of the logs, put up a house, made the clapboards and cut out a door and a fire-place, all in one day. Into this primitive structure the family moved about the 1st of April. Jacob Aye planted three and a half acres to corn on the 18th of June and raised a good crop. In the following year he planted nine acres, but unfortunately the squirrels ate more than half the corn in the roasting ear and the family had, therefore, but little for themselves. They obtained some corn in exchange for a cow sold to English John Hines. Their hogs were stolen by some thieves which left them almost entirely without meat. During a visit to his daughter, the father of Mrs. Jacob Aye made a loom for her and she aided in supporting the family by taking in weaving. Day after day she plied the loom early and late, the children helping her with the spooling and quilting. In the harvest season Mr. Aye secured work as a reaper for which he received a bushel of wheat per day, while Mrs. Aye at home with her loom earned a bushel of wheat a day; besides plain weaving, she wove table linen, figured blankets and coverlets. About that time they had their last visit from an Indian, Peter Standingstone by name, who brought with him a dozen ponies. One morning when it rained so hard that he was unable to hunt, he came to the house where he enjoyed a hearty dinner. A day or two later he repaid the kindness shown him by bringing to Mrs. Aye the forequarter of a young deer. This farm continued to be the home of Jacob Aye for the remainder of his life, with the exception of a short period spent in Delaware County. In January, 1831, he moved seven miles east of Delaware, where he took charge of a mill for his father-in-law, Mr. Hyde and his brother-in-law, Salina Hyde, and on the latter's death he purchased the property from the heirs, but in the spring of 1834 he sold the mill and moved back to the farm. One object in moving to Delaware County had been to secure better school advantages for his children. His death took place on the homestead in Morrow County, August 24, 1871. Mrs. Aye died in her 78th year, September 12, 1871.
In the summer of 1828 the subject of this sketch attended his first school, which was taught in a building located near the present site of the Denmark schoolhouse, the path to it being marked by blazed trees. He attended there about six weeks, his sister accompanying him. In the following year they went about the same length of time. They also went regularly to school while living in Delaware County, attending winter and summer terms. On the return of the family to Morrow County, the children were obliged to work on the farm in the summer and walk a long distance to school in the winter. In the fall of 1837 the people of the neighborhood built a log schoolhouse on the township line of Claridon and Canaan townships and in this building our subject was a pupil four winter terms. In the spring of 1841 he completed his education by attending for one term the Marion Academy, which was conducted by John J. Williams. Subsequently he taught 11 months, boarding himself and receiving $12 per month.
On October 10, 1844, Mr. Aye was married to Sarah Jane Mitchell, who was born March 27, 1829, in Ross County, Ohio, of Irish extraction. They became the parents of eight children, four of whom still survive, namely: Maria P., who is the wife of John Nelson Campbell, a retired farmer residing at Marion; Melville C., who resides at Marion; William M., who resides at Manhattan, Kansas; and Laura F., who is the wife of W. J. Myers, residing at Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Aye continued to reside on the farm one and a half mile east of Claridon for a period of nearly 50 years. In April, 1894, they removed to Marion, where, in the following October, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Aye died February 12, 1906, when almost 77 years of age. For many years she had been a very active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Aye has been a member since 1842. He had served in almost every church office.
Mr. Aye still retains the farm in Canaan township, Morrow County, on which his father settled when all the country round about was forest and the red men still resided here. The forest and all its primitive grandeur now live only in the memory of a few pioneers like Mr. Aye. Marion from a hamlet of one store and a few houses, has grown to the importance oŁ a thriving and prosperous city with all modern improvements, inhabited by cultured, prosperous and wealthy people. Mr. Aye has always performed the duties of a good citizen and has assisted materially in developing the country, but he has never accepted any political office save that of township treasurer.
