Hardin County OH

Hardin County, Ohio, once the territory of various Native American tribes, including the Shawnee, was established in 1833 and named after Colonel John Hardin, an officer in the American Revolutionary War. The county seat, Kenton, serves as a hub for historical and genealogical records, with the Hardin County Courthouse and local historical societies offering extensive archives dating from the county’s establishment. Early settlement in the county was influenced by its location within the Great Black Swamp’s periphery, an ecological feature that challenged early settlers with its dense forest and wetlands but eventually became fertile farmland as the swamp was drained in the 19th century. The county’s development was significantly impacted by the construction of railroads in the mid-1800s, notably the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway, which facilitated the movement of people and goods, contributing to the growth of small towns and communities within Hardin. Genealogists will find valuable records including land deeds, birth, marriage, and death records, some dating back to the county’s formation.

Biography of Arthur C. Trumbo

The development and success of the Muskogee National Bank is attributable in no small measure to Arthur C. Trumbo, an alert, energetic and farsighted business man, who in financial circles has made a most creditable name and place for himself. He was born on a farm in Allen county, Ohio, on the 6th of August, 1866, and attended the country schools until he reached the age of seventeen, when he began teaching and soon afterward was made principal of the Columbus Grove high school at Columbus Grove, Ohio. Desirous of enjoying still further educational advantages himself, he later became a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Stephens

Stephens, Jesse; attorney; born, Wood County, Feb. 9, 1865; son of David and Elizabeth Bonam Stephens; educated, Fostoria Academy and The Ohio Northern University; read law with the Hon. Thomas N. Bierly, of Toledo; admitted to the bar in 1889; married, Fremont, O., 1887, Miss Belle Clark; issue, two sons, A. A. and Clarence Clark Stephens; practiced law in Fostoria, O., for twenty years, attaining a high place in the legal profession; particularly noted as trial lawyer, having tried some of the most important cases in Northwestern Ohio; has never sought political honors, although urged to become a candidate for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Crile

Crile, George W.; surgeon, born, Chili, O., Nov. 11, 1864; son of Michael and Margaret (Deeds) Crile; A. B., Ohio Northern University, 1884, A. M., 1888; M. D., Wooster University, Cleveland, 1887; student Vienna, 1893; London, 1895; Paris, 1897; (hon. Ph. D., Hiram College, 1901); married Grace McBride, of Cleveland, Feb. 7, 1900; prof. clin. surgery, Western Reserve University, since, 1900; surgeon, Lakeside Hospital Alvarenga prize, College Physiology, Phila., 1901; fellow, A. A. A. S.; member-Association of American Pathologists and Bacteriologists, A. M. A.; American Surgical Association; Soc. Experimental Biology and Medicine, American Physiology Society. Author: Surgical Shock, 1897; Surgery … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James B. Ruhl

Ruhl, James B.; lawyer; born near Lisbon, Ohio, on a farm; taught, prepared for college, at Lisbon High School, and taught in rural schools; graduated from Ohio Northern University, B. S., 1888, and LL. B., 1891 (in cursu); later took M. Sc. and L. L. M. (pro merito); supt. schools, McComb, O., 1888-1889; instructor at Ohio Northern University, 1889-1891; admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1889, U. S. Courts in 1894, and U. S. Supreme Court, 1901; practiced law in Cleveland since 1891; member, for five years, State board of examiners for admission to the bar; Knight Templar, 32nd degree … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Oriel D. Eshelman

Eshelman, Oriel D.; lawyer; born, Ashland, O.; son of David and Harriett Landis Eshelman; educated, Cleveland and country public schools, West High, German Wallace College and Ohio Northern University, B. S. and LL. B.; admitted to the bar, June, 1909; began practice in Cleveland, August, 1909; not connected with any law firm; director Cleveland Tie Binder; sec’y City Moving & Transfer Co.; director Motor Van Delivery Co.; treas. Interstate Adjustment Co.; member Dover Lodge, F. & A. M., Mount Olive Chapter, Geyer Lodge, K. of P., West Side Chamber of Industry, West End Business Mens’ Ass’n; general practice and commercial … Read more

Biography of Hon. Vinton Stillings

Hon. Vinton Stillings, only son of the late Judge Edward Stillings, had lived in Leavenworth since early boyhood, though he spent much time in the East and abroad while securing his education and for purposes of travel. With the leisure afforded by ample means he had accepted the many opportunities which come to such men for rendering the vital service so much required in realizing the civic ideals of every community. He is a citizen upon whom progressive Leavenworth had often called and who had never failed to respond. While he is extremely modest as to his personal role, others … Read more

Biography of Charles H. Overly

Charles H. Overly is associated with Owen A. Thompson at Independence as co-inventor and active partner in the Safety Pulling Machine Company, and while Mr. Thompson superintends the manufacture of that useful device he had exercised his abilities as a salesman in distributing it throughout the oil fields of the country. Mr. Overly was born near St. Mary’s, Ohio, September 8, 1865. His ancestors came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in the early days of the latter state. His father Joseph K. Overly was also born near St. Mary’s, Ohio, and died at Lamont, Oklahoma, April 1, 1916. As … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George C. Hansen

Hansen, George C.; attorney-at-law; born, Schlesni, Germany, May 30, 1868; son of Henry William and Hannah Peterson Hansen; educated, Ohio Northern University, B. A., 1895, University of Michigan, LL. B., 1898; married, Cleveland, June 29, 1904, Orra Phillips; issue, three children; asst. county prosecutor of Cuyahoga county, from 1908 to 1910; pres. Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, 1912-1913; pres. Cuyahoga County Sunday School Ass’n, 1908-1910; taught country school in Wood county in 1889-1891; supt. of Hoytville, O., schools, 1892-1894; supt. Perrysburg, Ohio, schools, 1896-1897; began practicing law in Cleveland, September, 1898; director Lakewood Bank, Crucible Steel Castings Co., and W. E. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis W. Norris

Norris, Willis W.; secretary of police; born, Dec. 19, 1877; Smithville, O.; educated, public school and Normal Academy, Smithville, 0., graduating in 1898; married; served as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War, 8th O. V. I.; taught school for five years, 1900-1905, and during this time, attended summer school at Wooster University and Law School, Ada, O.; came to Cleveland in 1905, and worked as a lather; was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Ohio in 1908; and as such gave particular attention to legislation in the interests of labor; most important of … Read more

Genealogy of Peter Spracklin

Apparently the name Spracklin had other forms: Spartling, Sprackling. In English or Welsh it meant “the one with the crooked legs.” As far as known to the writer, some early Spracklins on English records were of the Canterbury Catholic Church, Canterbury, County Kent, England. The church records there show a Robert, baptized 1645, son of Spratling; Adam, baptized 1653, son of Robert Spratling. Heraldic arms were granted in 1619 to Leonardus Sprackling, Rob’tus Sprackling, and Adam Sprackling, of Thanet, Co. Kent. Possibly this Robert Spracklin was an early ancestor of Peter Spracklin who came to America in 1823. Peter’s youngest … Read more

Biography of James C. Holland

James C. Holland. The public architecture of Kansas, especially in the capital city, is largely a record of the skill and experience of one man, James C. Holland. Mr. Holland by all the standards that can be applied is a great architect. He has gained a well deserved prominence in this profession. His experience in Kansas covers more than thirty years. At one time he held the office of state architect, but throughout his business has largely been in connection with the designing and the superintending of construction of buildings which serve a public or quasi-public purpose. A few years … Read more

Biography of Evan Evans

Evan Evans, a successful business man of Grangeville, came to this town in 1880 and for almost twenty years has been one of her enterprising and highly valued citizens, taking a deep interest in and giving aid to every measure and movement intended to promote the general welfare. He was born in Norway, February 5, 1855, and is of Norwegian ancestry. His parents were Andrew and Mary (Olson) Evans, successful farming people and respected members of the Lutheran church. The subject of this review acquired his education in his native country, and at the age of seventeen went to England, … Read more

Biography of Willis Arnold

Willis Arnold, proprietor of a sawmill at Kendrick, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Kenton, that state, April 29, 1862. His father, Samuel Arnold, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and after the inauguration of the civil war entered the service of the Union. He was wounded and held as a prisoner in Andersonville, and after great suffering he died from the effects of his wounds in 1866. Our subject was born when his father was at the front and was thus deprived of his care at a very early age. He was educated at Big … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frederick Henry Caley

Caley, Frederick Henry; sec’y Cleveland Automobile Club; born, Hudson, June 2, 1873; sou of Frederick P. and Clara S. Palmer Caley; educated, public and high school and Ohio Northern University, Ada, O.; married, New York, Nov 27, 1913, Harriet E. Weffler; 1st Lieut. 4th Ohio Infantry, 1902-1910; active Republican; with National Republican committee two campaigns; State Insurance Dept., 1903-1906; office sec’y of State, 1906-1908; Ohio State Registrar of Automobiles, 1908-1911; has been successful in organizing automobile clubs throughout Ohio; mgr. The Cleveland Automobile Show Co.; member Y. M. C. A., Akron Lodge, No. 547 I. O. O. F., Akron-Canton, two … Read more

Ewing, Myron J. – Obituary

Myron J. Ewing was born in Trubull county Ohio, December 30, 1850. After an illness of one week he passed on to rest at the home of his daughter, Mrs. N. Jay Billings, at Wallowa, Oregon, December 27, 1917, being just three days short of his 67 years of age. His parents were of sturdy pioneer stock that settled in the midst of the forests of Ohio and proceeded to work out life’s tasks. Their sturdy fiber entered largely into the life of their son. His life was marked by earnestness of endeavor, firmness of conviction, breadth of vision and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Milton Freshwater

Freshwater, Milton; paving contractor; born, West Virginia, Sept. 11, 1877; son of E. A. and Clarenda Campbell Freshwater; educated in commercial course at Morgantown, W. Va.; married, Johnstown, Pa., Dec. 31, 1907, Miss C. B. Williams; two children; has worked at the street-paving business since 1893; completing street paving in the following places; Johnstown and Freeport, Pa., Chester, W. Va., Alliance, Richwood, Ada and Cleveland, Ohio; since April, 1909; the paving contracts are man-aged by three members of the firm, while Mr. E. A. Freshwater takes no part in this branch of the business; the firm consists of E. A. … Read more

Genealogy of George Spracklin

George Spracklin, son of Peter Spracklin and Elizabeth Andrews, continued living in Dudley Township, Hardin Co., Ohio. There he met Arloa Turner Minor and was married 9 April 1840, Knox Co., Ohio. In December of 1864 George bought land here in Shelby Co., Illinois in Drypoint Township. He paid $3680 for 200 acres south of Lakewood, Ill; in 1865, he and his family lived in Edwards County, Ill. before moving to Shelby County. By 1868 George owned 300 acres in Shelby County. Arloa, George’s wife, died in July, 1892 and is buried in Red Bank Cemetery, land formerly owned by George … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Harris Hopkins

Hopkins, David Harris; lawyer; born, Granger, Medina county, O., Oct. 8, 1882; son of Chauncey J. and Ale Harris Hopkins; graduated from Granger High School in 1900; following year attended Ohio Northern University, and graduated from Baldwin University, 1911, receiving LL. B. degree; married, Granger, O., Jan. 16, 1904, Vira Marie Kerstetter; opened his law office in the Engineers’ Bldg. in November, 1911; interested in farming and breeder of Holstein-Friesian cattle, Poland China swine and fancy poultry; director The Cleveland Poultry Breeders Ass’n Co.; member Masons, Odd Fellows, Maccabees, and Sigma Kappa Phi Fraternity.

Biography of Thomas W. Taylor, M. D.

Dr. Thomas W. Taylor, a well known urologist of St. Louis, was born at Newcastle in Staffordshire, England, March 4, 1880, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Onions) Taylor, who likewise were natives of the Merrie Isle. It was in the year 1882 that the father brought the family to the new world, settling originally in New Castle, Pennsylvania, while later he removed to Piqua, Ohio, where he successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits for many years. He passed away December 16, 1915, at the advanced age of eighty, while his wife died in Piqua, in 1914, at the age of … Read more

Biography of Isaiah H. Jones

Isaiah H. Jones was born in Hardin county, Ohio, July 27, 1837. His parents were Jonathan and Eleanor (Pugh) Jones. His father was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and a native of Maryland. His mother was born in Virginia. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and began his business career as a clerk in a dry goods store at Mt. Victory, Ohio. After two years in that business he went to Rule, Nebraska, where he remained during eight months. From there he went to Grundy county, Missouri, where he engaged in school teaching for a time, … Read more