REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
MARION COUNTY, OHIO
1907 HISTORY
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JESSE IMBODY, a representative farmer of Green Camp township, operating 146 acres of fine farming land, belongs to one of the old and prominent families of this section. He was born in Bowling Green township, Marion County, Ohio, June 3, 1875, and is a son of Wilson and Elizabeth Mary (Griffith) Imbody.
Wilson Imbody was born May 5, 1837, in Salt Rock township, Marion County, Ohio, and since 1900 has been a resident of Marion, living retired. He is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Holt) Imbody, and is the only survivor of their seven children. He was long a prominent citizen of Bowling Green township, a large land-owner, and was also in public life, serving one term of three years as commissioner of Marion County. Wilson Imbody was twice married; (first) to Cynthia Berry, who died in 1859, and (second) to Elizabeth Mary Griffith, whose father, Edward Griffith, was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Mrs. Imbody was born October 15, 1841, in Pleasant township, Marion County, Ohio, where her father had settled four years before. The parents of Jesse Imbody had the following children: William, who is a farmer residing in Green Camp township; Alma, who is the wife of George W. Black, residing in Bowling Green township; Ruetta, who is the wife of Edward S. Wilson, residing at Marion; Idanetta, who, is the wife of Frank Wilson, residing in Green Camp township; Jesse; Bessie, who is the wife of H. M. Sylvester, residing in Bowling Green township; and Perry, who resides in Richland township.
Jesse Imbody was educated in the public schools of Bowling Green township and was trained to an agricultural life. For six months after his marriage he resided in Bowling Green township and then came to his present farm, where he has made many improvements, including a beautiful home. He owns 80 acres of some of the finest land in the county and rents the remainder of the 146 acres from his father, as do all the Imbody sons. He raises corn and wheat and a large amount of stock, and is numbered with the township's successful agriculturists.
On November 21, 1896, Mr. Imbody was married to Rosa Schotte, who is a daughter of Henry and Rosanna Schotte, of Bowling Green township. Mr. and Mrs. Imbody have one daughter, Mildred, a bright girl of nine years, who is attending the public schools of the township.
Mr. Imbody in his political views is a Republican, being thus in accord with other members of his family.
ROBERT MALV1N IMBODY, a prominent citizen of Bowling Green township and a member of one of the leading families of this section, was born in Green Camp township, formerly a part of Pleasant township, April 9, 1858, and is a son of Wilson and Cynthia (Berry) Imbody.
Wilson Imbody, father of Robert M., was born in Salt Rock township, Marion County, Ohio, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Holt) Imbody. Adam Imbody removed from Pennsylvania, his native State, in 1825 and settled in Union County, Ohio, in the vicinity of Richwood. Later he moved north of that place and in 1833 settled in Marion County. He lost his first wife when their only son, Wilson Imbody, was an infant. When he came through what is now the city of Marion, on his way to Green Camp township, he found a settlement of three log cabins. He resided in Green Camp, township until 1853, when he moved to the vicinity of Warsaw, Indiana, where he died in advanced age.
Wilson Imbody remained at home until the age of 15 years when he went to Noble County, Indiana, where he attended school for a year, but probably became homesick, as his father was still living in Marion County, and decided to return to the parental roof even if he had to walk the whole distance. The distance was 160 miles, but the youth was not deterred by any thought of danger or hardship and succeeded in reaching LaRue. There he took the steam-cars to Bryant station. It was his first railroad ride. His subsequent life has been spent in Ohio and he has been a prominent man in Marion County and a large land-owner. He served as county commissioner one term of three years and has been interested more or less in politics. When he first settled in Bowling Green township, dense woods covered the whole country. He resided one and a half miles east of Bowling Green for five or six years, and then lived for 18 months on his wife's farm north of Prospect, moving then to the farm in Bowling Green township, on which he resided and reared his family, until April, 1900, when he retired and removed to Marion. Since then he has purchased a farm in Richland township, which is operated by his youngest son. He has been largely interested in agriculture and during the youth of Robert Malvin owned a sawmill and was a very extensive dealer in lumber.
Wilson Imbody was married (first) to Cynthia Berry, who died in 1859, leaving one child, Robert Malvin. She was one of the two daughters of Robert and Jane Berry, the second child of whom Elizabeth, also deceased, married Richard Chard. Wilson Imbody was married (second) to Elizabeth Mary Griffith, whose father, Edward Griffith, was born in Wales. They have the following children: William, who is a farmer residing in Green Camp township; Alma, who is the wife of George W. Black, residing in Bowling Green township; Ruetta, who is the wife of Edward S. Wilson, residing at Marion; Idanetta, who is the wife of Frank Wilson, residing in Green Camp township; Jesse, who is a farmer along the Imbody turnpike in Green Camp township; Bessie, who is the wife of H. M. Sylvester, residing in Bowling Green township; and Perry, who is a resident of Richland township. Mrs. Imbody is a member of the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, of Marion, to which Mr. Imbody gives liberal support. In politics he is a Republican.
Robert Malvin Imbody was about five years old when his father settled in Green Camp, township. He attended the district schools of Green Camp, and Bowling Green townships, although conditions were such as to prevent the educational methods now considered indispensable. His boyhood was spent in work on a farm and around sawmills. His father bought a great deal of land with standing timber and erected sawmills to convert this into lumber, developing an extensive business. During the early years of manhood, Robert Malvin hauled logs to the mills and had several yoke of oxen which he utilized for this purpose even before he discontinued attending school. After he quit lumbering, he worked on a farm until 1884, in Green Camp township, and then engaged in the manufacture of drainage tile in Bowling Green township, which he continued until 1905, when he discontinued on account of the difficulty he found in securing labor, although he made more money in his last year in the business than ever before. He continned manufacturing for 21 years and made the large tile used for township and county ditching for seven years and manufactured small tile for local farmers, selling 35 miles of the latter per annum. Mr. Imbody believes in drainage and in improving his own land has proved the great value of proper tiling, 175 acres of his farm being thoroughly drained by drainage tile. After he closed out his factory, he kept 11 miles of tiling and has laid nine miles and has two more to put in. He is authority for stating that in wet land the tiling will pay for itself in one year and on ordinary land in five years. When he started out in life his father gave him 20 acres of land and he now owns 190 acres and rents 80 acres from his father as do all the children, the policy of Mr. Imbody, the elder, being to encourage independence. In addition to his large agricultural and stock interests, Mr. Imbody has been connected with The Fairbanks Steam Shovel Company for many years and has recently been reelected vice-president of that organization.. He also is interested in oil enterprises in Wyandot County and in concerns of a lesser nature.
On December 5, 1886, Robert M. Imbody was married to Rebecca Harruff, who is a daughter of James and Sarah (Strine) Harruff. The father of Mrs. Imbody was born in Allen County and the mother, in Marion County, Ohio. They are residents of Manon. Mrs. and Mrs. Imbody have had four children, as follows: James Wilson, who bears the name of both grandfathers he was born in October, 1887, and assists his father; Malvin Mayo, born in July, 1889, who is a student in the public schools of Agosta; Wilbur Vernon, born in November, 1893, who attends school at Agosta; and William Harold, who is proud to have been born in June, 1896, on the day the late beloved President McKinley was first nominated.
Politically, Mr. Imbody is a stanch Republican in National matters but in local affairs he is apt to consider the man before the party, good government and wise laws being what he desires. He has never been a seeker for political honors for himself but is willing to lend a hand when friends seek such preferment.
Mr. Imbody has spent almost his whole life in this section and has much natural affection for it and admiration for the enterprise and public spirit of its citizens. He can recall the time when his parents lived in a log cabin with a mud and stick chimney and when deer were so plentiful that they could be shot in the door-yard. His father was fond of sport and killed many deer where are now beautiful, cultivated farms. He recalls also that when it was necessary to make a trip to Green Camp, the men had to take an axe along to cut a passage through the woods. Looking around he sees so many signs of civilization and indications of comfort and prosperity that he is led to declare that no section he has ever visited can equal the one in which he has so long had his home.
WILSON IMBODY, (PICTURE) an esteemed resident of the City of Marion, formerly a member of the Board of County Commissioners, has long been one of the leading citizens of Marion County. He was born May 5, 1837, in Salt Rock township, Marion County, Ohio, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Holt) Imbody.
Adam Imbody was born in Pennsylvania. He came to Union County, Ohio, about 1825, and settled in Marion County in 1833. He visited the site of the present city of Marion when only three log cabins marked the settlement. He located in Green Camp township, where he lived until 1853, when he moved to the vicinity of Warsaw, Indiana,, where he died. He married Elizabeth Holt and Wilson is the only survivor of their family of seven children.
Wilson Imbody remained at home until the age of 15 years, when he went to Noble County, Indiana, in which county he attended school for a year. In the winter of 1852 he returned to Ohio, making the journey of about 160 miles on foot, something of a feat for a boy of 16 years. Thus he reached La Rue, where he took the steam-cars to Bryant station, this being his first experience in railroad travel.
On March 12, 1857, Mr. Imbody was married to Cynthia Berry, who died in 1859. She left one son, Robert Malvin, of Bowling Green township. On December 22, 1861, Mr. Imbody was married a second time, to Elizabeth Mary Griffith, who was born in Pleasant township, Marion County, Ohio, October 15, 1841, Her father, Edward Griffith, a native of Montgomeryshire, Wales, settled in Marion County about 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Imbody have seven children, as follows: William, who is a farmer, residing in Green Camp township: Alma, who is the wife of George W. Black, residing in Bowling Green township; Ruetta, who is the wife of Edward S. Wilson, residing at Marion; Marietta, who is the wife of Frank Wilson, residing in Green Camp township; Jesse, who resides in Green Camp township; Bessie, who is the wife of H. M. Sylvester, residing in Bowling Green township; and Perry, who resides in Richland township.
Mr. Imbody has been extensively interested in agriculture and has also been a large lumber dealer, his method having been to buy wooded tracts and manufacture the timber into lumber. Since 1900 he has been leading a retired life at Marion. He has always been a useful citizen and an honorable one in official life. He served on the Board of County Commissioners during the building of the Court House at Marion. He is a liberal supporter of the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, of Marion, of which Mrs. Imbody is a member. In politics, Mr. Imbody is a Republican. A group picture of Mr. Imbody and his family accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.
ALBERT E. IREY, a representative farmer and respected citizen of Marion township, operating a farm of 120 acres was born December 8, 1866 in this township, and is a son of Enos and Christina (Boyer) Irey.
Enos Irey was reared. and educated in Virginia and came to Marion County, Ohio, with his first wife, Mary Rollins, who was a native of Virginia. He bought a farm in Marion township and at one time owned the land where the Infirmary farm is now located. After the death of his first wife, who bore him 10 children, he married Christina Boyer, and they had one child, Albert E. Enos Irey died in March, 1874, and his widow later married Daniel Sult and moved to Richland township.
Albert E. Irey was about 10 years old when his mother moved to Richland township, where he remained until 17 years of age, when he returned to Marion township and worked as a farm hand. After his marriage, Mr. Irey lived for about two years with his father-in-law in Pleasant township, and then purchased and moved to his present farm, 40 acres of which he owns, where he has since been engaged in general farming and raising live-stock, especially sheep. In addition to this, he makes a specialty of breeding horses, of which he now has 13 head; four of these are registered and a fifth one is eligible for registration.
On December 25, 1889, Mr. Irey was married to Sarah Ellen Click, who is a daughter of David Click, of Pleasant township. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Irey: Herman, Allison, Clarence, Inez and Enos. Mr. Irey is a half-brother of Israel Irey, a member of the Board of County Commissioners, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
HARRISON H. IREY, a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors, who is now engaged in farming and dairying in the suburbs of Marion, is also a survivor of the great Civil War, to which he dedicated three years of young manhood. Mr. Irey was born December 16, 1841, in Claridon township, Marion County, Ohio, and is a son of Hannibal Irey.
The Irey family was established in Marion County at a very early day. Hon. Samuel Irey, who was judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Marion County at one time, was one of the leading citizens of his day. Judge Irey had come to this section from Virginia, accompanied by his son Hannibal, who died in this county.
Harrison H. Irey was reared and educated in Claridon township and remained at home until 1862 when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company E, 86th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was honorably discharged after serving for three years. He was with the Western Army and participated in the battle of Vicksburg, went through the Texas campaign and was slightly wounded at Arkansas Post.
After his return from the army, Mr. Irey resumed farming and stock-raising in Claridon township, where he continued until 1902, when he bought his present property on Mount Vernon avenue and has since been mainly engaged in a dairy business. He has always been interested in public matters and politics, and served one term as trustee of Marion township, and two terms as trustee of Claridon township. Quite recently he has been elected a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors of Marion County. He has always commanded the respect and enjoyed the esteem of his fellow-citizens, both in public as well as in private life.
In 1866 Mr. Irey was married to Sarah M. Howser, who is a daughter of the late Jacob Howser, who was once the largest wool grower in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Irey have five children, namely: Florence, who is the wife of William Williams, a tile manufacturer of Marion County; Bertha and John, both residing at home; William, formerly connected with the Marion County Bank, who is a resident of California; and Grace, who is a popular teacher in the Marion schools. The family belong to the Epworth Methodist Episconal Church.
Mr. Irey is a valued member of Cooper Post, 117, G. A. R., at Marion, and belongs also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
ISRAEL IREY, ex-commissioner of Marion County, and a prominent of Green Camp township, where he owns a fine farm of 90 acres, is also an honored survivor of the Civil War, three years of his young manhood having been spent in defense of his country. Mr. Irey was born June 21,1834, in Marion township, Marion County, Ohio, and is a son of Enos and Mary (Rollins) Irey.
Enos Irey, father of our subject, was born in Virginia and followed agricultural pursuits during the entire period of his life, his death occurring in 1872. He married Mary Rollins and they had 10 children, eight of whom survive. By a subsequent marriage to Christina Boyer, he had one son, Albert E., a resident of Marion township.
Israel Irey attended the schools of his native county during boyhood and was rear to, man's estate on his father's farm, becoming a thorough agriculturist. On August 6, 1862 , he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company E, 86th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., as a private under Captain Colter, and was honorable discharged July 9, 1865. During this long service he participated in many very serious battles. He was at Vicksburg and worked for some two days under fire in the construction of what was known as Grant's Canal. Immediately upon the close of the war, he returned to Marion County and has resided here ever since.
On February 9, 1858, Mr. Irey was united in marriage with Margaret Blocksom, a daughter of Jeremiah Blocksom, and they have two children, John M., who married Sarah Klinefelter, resides in Green Camp township and has one child, Zoe E.; and George A., who married Alice Autrey, of Colorado, lives in Bou!der, Colorado, and has one child, Paul F.
Mr. Irey: has always been identified with the Republican party and has been an active worker in its behalf. In 1902 he was elected county commissioner, his majority over the Democratic candidate, Robert Harvey, being 268 votes. In 1903 he became president of the board, to the duties of which position he devoted his attention until the expiration of his term on September 15, 1906, when he was succeeded by William Holverstott.
Mrs. Irey belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch is well known in all parts of the county and is held in especial esteem, both as a man and as a citizen, in Green Camp township.
RICHARD V. AND WILSON P. IRVINE, brothers, are proprietors of one of the largest and most profitable grain and stock farms in Marion County, consisting of 866 2/3 acres of valuable land, all of which is situated in Salt Rock township, and have an interest in 12O acres in Big Island township. Their farm is chiefly devoted to the raising of sheep, cattle and horses, with many hogs. It is their custom to buy cattle and sheep in the fall, feed them through the winter and market them in the spring. At the present writing (1907) they have 1,000 sheep, 200 head; of cattle, 25 head of horses and as many as 400 head of hogs. Each year they find their business largely increased and the products of their stock farm are in constant demand.
RICHARD V. IRVINE was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1854, and is a son of David and Catherine (Wilson) Irvine. Both parents were born in Ireland, were married there, and in 1850 came to America. They settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where William Irvine, an uncle of David, was already a prominent farmer and distiller. The Irvine family lived in Pennsylvania until 1863, when they moved to Marion County, Ohio, where the father rented a farm in Big Island township. He was not able to work it, however, on account of poor health, and its management fell entirely upon his sons. Thus they had a fine agricultural training as they grew to manhood.
The children born to David and Catherine Irvine were nine in number, as follows: Eliza, born in Ireland, who remained with her grandmother when the rest of the family emigrated, but subsequently joined them and still resides in Washington County, Pennsylvania; John, born in Ireland, who came to America, enlisted at Quincy, Illinois, and served under General Sherman until the close of the Civil War, dying some years later; James and William, both deceased, who were born in Ireland; Catherine, born in Ireland, who resides with her brothers; Richard V.; Wilson P.; Mary J., who lives with her brothers; and Sarah Jane, who died aged 17 years. The father died before the family left Big Island township, but the mother survived until 1892, dying on the present farm of the subject of this sketch.
The Irvine family lived for three years in Big Island township and then moved to Wyandot County and farmed rented land for another three years. In 1868 they came to Salt Rock township, where the first tract of land, 160 acres in extent, on which the home stands, was purchased from Emory Brewer. The brothers soon saw how they could profitably engage in stock-raising and bent every energy in that direction. Gradually they increased their acreage of land until now they own a magnificent stretch of country, which affords rich pasturage for their constantly increasing herds. They have made a notable success of their undertaking and deserve the reward that comes from diligence, energy and industry.
In politics, Richard V. Irvine is a Republican; he has served several terms as assessor of Salt Rock township. He is one of the directors of the National Commission Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, and is a stockholder in the Marion Manufacturing Company, the Morral Banking Company, of Morral, and the Morral Lumber & Elevator Company.
WILSON P. IRVINE was born March 1, 1856, in Washington County; Pennsylvania, in the same house in which his older brother was born. He is also a prominent Republican and has served three years as township trustee of Salt Rock township. He is interested in the same business enterprises as his brother.
In 1898 the brothers erected a handsome frame residence and in 1904 completed a substantial barn 100 by 40 feet in dimensions, both fine structures.
