J. Milton Runyan

As printed in 1908

J. MILTON RUNYAN, one of the leading citizens of Pleasant Township, carries on general farming and raises horses and mules extensively on his farm of 440 acres, which is allen one body. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, June 20, 1841, and is a son of Henry and Rachel (Jones) Runyan.

The grandparents of Mr. Runyan, Abraham and Sophia Runyan, were among the Virginia pioneers who settled in Clark County in 1815. The burial of Sophia Runyan in 1823 was the second interment in the Asbury Cemeteiy.

Henry Runyan was born in Clark County, in 1809, and died in August, 1891. He married Rachel Jones, who was born in 1821, and died October 21, 1853. They had ten children born to them, seven of whom survived infancy, namely: J. W., deceased, who was married to Fidelia AVilson, had the following children — Clay, Lillian, Frank, Hattie; M. L., deceased, was married (first) to Sarah J. Mc- Conkey, and they had one child — Willie, deceased— was married (second) to Eliza Valentine, who survives, with their daughter, Irene; J. Milton; Esther A., who married J. W. Hendricks, has two children, Frank and Alfonso; Frank, who was a youthful victim of the Civil War, being killed at the battle of Louisburg, May 23, 1862. was the second soldier of Pleasant Township to fall; Mahala, who married Jesse Tarbutton, has five children, Jessie, Earl, Mertie, Claude and Carl; and Emma, who married Irwin Graham, has two children, Floy and Foster. Henry Runyan was married (second) to Maria Chapman and they had three children: Charles H., Maria and Cora. Charles H. Runyan, who is ])0stmaster at Catawba, married Malissa Melvine and they had five children. Maria married S. H. Neer and they had one child, Ross. Cora married

Frank McConkey and they have one child, Ruskin.

J. Milton Ruuyan was educated in the public schools and from boyhood has been acquainted with agricultural pursuits. In August, 1861, he left his peaceful life on his father's farm and enlisted for service in the Federal Army, becoming a member of the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, and after being on the field for a year was taken sick and was honorably discharged in 1862 at Columbus. He re-enlisted, entering Company D, One Hundred and Fortysixth Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and served the full 100 days and was honorably discharged in 1864 at Camp Dennison. He has resided on his present farm for the past thirty years, engaged in a general agricultural line, but paying particular attention to raising fine horses and mules. By trade Mr. Runyan is a miller and for eighteen years he operated the old mill which is still standing in this section. He remembers that during the first 5'ear he paid $2.50 and $3.20 for wheat per bushel, and even then was able to profit by grinding it. This mill was one of the first built in Pleasant Township.

On March 4, 1866, Mr. Runyan married Mary McClennen, who was born May 22, 1843, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ropp) McClennen, of Virginia. The McClennen children were: Mary J. Elizabeth, who married Milton Arbogast, has on child, Creston; Charles, who married Malissa Runyan, has ten children; George, who married Dorcas Hodge, has two sons, William aiTd Harry; Emma, deceased, who married William Longbrake, had four children.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Runyan is one of the leading Republicans of Pleasant Township. He has served in the office of justice of the peace for ten years and has just been re-elected to another term of four years. For twenty-one years he has been a school director and at various times he has served in the offices of trustee and road supervisor. His membership with the Odd Fellows at Catawba dates very far back and he has held all the offices in the local lodge. Both he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.