In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1909) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Memorial record of Licking County, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the country, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894), Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, vol. II: Biographies (1909)
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
John Atherton, came from Chambersburg, Pa., to Newark, Ohio, where he occupied a house on East Main Street. His trade was that of a chair maker, but instead of following that occupation he purchased land in Newark Township and engaged in general farming. At the age of eighty-two he passed away, leaving three sons, viz.: Augustus, father of our subject; Walgrave, a resident of Green County, Wis.; and Hon. Gibson Atherton, Member of Congress from this district.
Born in Licking County in 1824, Augustus Atherton grew to manhood in Newark Township, alternating attendance at the common schools with work on the home farm. His chosen occupation throughout life was that of a farmer, although he also officiated as a local preacher in the Christian Union Church, a branch of the Methodist Episcopal denomination during the war. Politically he was a stanch Democrat. His death occurred in 1889, at the age of sixty-five years. His widow, who now makes her home with our subject, was born in Vermont and bore the maiden name of Cynthia Taft. Her father, Phineas Taft, was born in Scotland, whence he emigrated to Vermont and later came to Licking County, where she married Mr. Atherton at Newark. She is a sincere Christian and a faithful member of the Congregational Church.
The children comprising the parental family were seven in number, namely: Herbert, of this sketch; Lee, a farmer of Delaware County; Alice, who married Felix Blizzard and died in Licking County; Wallace, who was killed at Bement, Ill., when in the employ of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad; Gibson, a miner in British Columbia; Warren, a blacksmith residing in Union County, Ohio; and John, of Newark. The subject of this sketch was born in Madison Township August 9, 1846, and was educated in the public schools. He followed farm pursuits until 1885, since which time he has been engaged in the real-estate business at Newark. For two years he carried on the coal business in this city.
Politically a Democrat, Mr. Atherton is serving his second term as Commissioner of Licking County. He is a Director of the Newark Savings Bank, a stockholder and Director of the Homestead Building it Loan Association, n. Director of the Baltimore Bent Work’s Company, of Newark, and a Director of the Newark & Granville Electric Railroad. lie owns the residence in which he lives, also owns and manager a farm consisting of one hundred and fifty-four acres in Madison Township, and manager his mother’s farm. He recently platted an addition to the city, on which he erected eight houses, and of these he still owns four.
November 17, 1870, Mr. Atherton married Miss Catherine \Shaw, who was born in Madison Township, this county, and is a daughter of William Shaw. Two children bless the union, William and Augustus. The social connections of Mr. Atherton are with the Knights of Pythias, in which organization he is prominent. As a citizen he is progressive and gives his support to all public-spirited measures.
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As printed in Memorial record of Licking County, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the country, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HON. HERBERT ATHERTON.
Hon. Herbert Atherton, mayor of Newark, is leaving the impress of his individuality upon democratic activity in Licking county. With firm belief in the principles of the party, he has labored earnestly for their adoption and _ his efforts have been effective factors in democratic success. He has also filled various offices and, as mayor of the city, is giving a business-like administration in which he has introduced many needed improvements and reforms.
One of Licking county’s native sons, Mr. Atherton, was born August 9, 1846, upon the home farm in Madison township, his parents being Augustus W. and Cynthia M. (Taft) Atherton. The father was a native of Newark township, this county, born February 22, 1824, while the mother was born in Knox county, Ohio, August 26, 1825. At the pioneer epoch of the history of this part of the state the family was founded here by the grandfather, John Atherton, who came from Pennsylvania and settled in Licking county when the land was largely uncultivated, the forests uncut and the streams unbridged. He took up the task of farming amidst pioneer environments and assisted largely in the early development of the county. He resided here continuously as one of the respected and early settlers until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-two years of age. One of his sons, Gibson Atherton, became a very prominent and influential resident of the county. He served as prosecuting attorney and gained distinction as a noted criminal lawyer. Called to public office, he has represented his district in congress for four years and was appointed judge of the supreme court to fill a vacancy, serving on the bench for about a year. He was also one of the first mayors of Newark after the incorporation of the city, being elected in 1860. He served for four years as chief executive here and was afterward for several terms a member of the city council. He was well fitted for leadership, for in addition to his thorough mastery of the questions and issues of the day, he is greatly interested in matters pertaining to the general good of the community and_ possesses much of that quality which, for want of a better term, has been called personal magnetism. He thus gained a large following and his official record shows that the confidence reposed in him is well placed. His brother, Augustus W. Atherton, the father of Newark’s present mayor, was a farmer by occupation and devoted his entire life to tilling the soil. He was, however, a man of genuine worth, respected by all who knew him. He died on the old homestead in 1889.
No event of especial importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Herbert Atherton in his boyhood and youth. He assisted in the work of the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools. After putting aside his text-books he followed farming until 1885, when he removed to the city of Newark, where he engaged in the real estate and coal business. In 1890 he was elected real estate appraiser for the city of Newark and the same year was chosen county commissioner by popular suffrage, filling the latter position for six years. In 1898 he was elected mayor of Newark, and that the public endorsed his administration is indicated in the fact that he was reelected in 1900, serving for four years. He then became connected with the city police department as station housekeeper of the city prison, resigning that position on the ist of September, 1907, to again become the democratic nominee for mayor. In the month of November he was elected, having a majority of ten hundred and sixteen, the largest majority ever given to any candidate for the office in Newark, a fact which is highly complimentary, indicating his personal popularity, the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens and their recognition of his good service while formerly an incumbent in that office. He has studied closely the needs of the city, the possibilities for progressive development and the demands of the city in the municipal business. While he is careful to avoid expenditure of public funds, he nevertheless advocates substantial progress and his influence is always given to the side of advancement.
On the 6th of April, 1902, Mr. Atherton was united in marriage to Miss Mary Keenan of Newark. Mr. Atherton has two sons by a former marriage, William and Augustus. The first named is secretary to the general manager of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad and the Pere Marquette railroad. Mr. Atherton is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles, the Modern Woodmen and the German Benevolent Society. He has made an excellent official ana in the unremunerated offices of private friendship he has been loyal and faithful. In turn his friends believe in him and feel that their faith has never been misplaced. Sincerity, loyalty, trustworthiness—these are qualities that stand as salient elements in the character of Herbert Atherton.
HONS Be G.2SM YAR EEE:
Hon. B. G. Smythe is the dean of the Licking county bar, having continuously engaged in practice in Newark for forty-three years. What he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of the innate talents which are his, and he is today honored not more for his professional accomplishments and successes than for those virtues and graces of character which have ever numbered him among the valued citizens and made his friendship and companionship prized wherever intelligence is regarded as a necessary attribute to agreeableness.
A native of Newark, Mr. Smythe was born on the 21st day of August, 1843, his parents being George B. and Sarah C. (Caffee) Smythe, the latter a daughter of Amos H. Caffee, one of the pioneer residents of this city. The father was a native of Saratoga county, New York, and about 1830 arrived in Newark, Ohio, where he resided for a short time. He then went to Washington, District of
As printed in Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, vol. II: Biographies (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: B. G. Smythe Gibson Atherton (b. 1831)
Their biographies name Herbert Atherton: John William Shaw (b. 1855) William Frederick Wulfhoop
The printed record stops around 1894. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.