John Reddish

JOHN REDDISH, M.D:

Dr. John Reddish, who is now practically living retired at his pleasant home at 229 West Jefferson street, Springfield, was born near Fletcher Chapel, in Harmony township, this county, on the 3d of October, 1827, and is a son of Nathan and Harriet (Oxtoby) Reddish. The father was born near Kingston, Somerset county, Maryland, December 29, 1783, and was there reared

He learned the tanner’s and currier’s trade there and when a young man came to what is now Clark county, Ohio, establishing the first tannery near Clifton about 1807. A little later he removed to Springfield township, settling on séction 14, near the headwaters of Mill Run, and es- „tablished a tannery at what is now known as Locust Grove. He was three times married, the Doctor being a son of the third union. His first wife bore the maiden name of Matilda Miller and unto them were born five children. For his second wife he those Mary McCleve. On the 26th of November, 1826, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Harriet Loomis, nee Oxtoby. _ When the war of 1812 was in progress Nathan Reddish joined the army, serving with the militia at Zane's blockhouse near Bellefontaine, Ohio, near the headwaters) of Mad river. While defending that place he was wounded by an arrow shot from an Indian’s bow. Later in life he purchased a farm, upon which he lived! in practical retirement, for his business ventures and investments in land had brought to him capital sufficient to enable him, to put aside the more arduous duties of life. He had two farms, a part of one being now owned by Dr. Reddish. After an active, useful and honorable life he passed away July 7, 1853. By his third marriage there were three children, but two of the number died in infancy. In his political affiliations Nathan Reddish was a Whig, but he never sought or desired office. Numbered among the pioneer settlers of the county, he took an active part in its early development and improvement and in this work was associated with Jonathan Donnell, David Lowry and other well known early settlers. He held memto manhood.

bership in the Baptist church at Muddy Run and was well known as a man of sterling worth and unquestioned integrity.

Dr. Reddish of this review was reared upon his father's farm and pursued his education in a log schoolhouse, where he spent a few weeks each winter. When only seven years of age he was taught to handle a gun and when a boy of nine or ten years he hunted wild turkeys and other wild game. When ten years of age he spent one term as a student in a school in Springfield and later a summer session in the preparatory department of Wittenberg College. Much of his youth and early manhood, however, was devoted to farm work, but at the age of twenty-seven years he read medicine for one year under the direction of Dr. Isaac Kay and the following year attended lectures in the Starling Medical College at Columbus, in which institution he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1863: His study there, however, was not continuous. After he had spent one year in college he entered the office of Josiah Ramsey, a dentist, in order to learn that profession, but on account of ill health he gave up dentistry. He is now wearing a set of teeth which he made in 1866—the last work that he did as a dentist. He finished the first vulcanized work done in the office of his preceptor and would have undoubtedly become a successful dentist had not circumstances compelled his relinquishment of the work. About the time of the inauguration of the Civil war Dr. Reddish returned to Columbus and completed his course in medicine and surgery, being graduated in February, 1863. He afterward took a trip to the west and located four hundred acres of land about one hundred and fifty miles northwest of St. Paul, Minnesota, returning to Ohio in 1866.

On the 2nd of October, of that year, the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Vicory, a teacher in the public schools of this city. He then removed to his farm in Springfield township, where they lived until 1883. There the Doctor carried on general farming and also engaged in dealing in land, buying and selling many farms in this part of the county. He also became known as a dealer in city real estate and found the business to be profitable. In 1883 he removed to Yellow. Springs, where he remained until 1896, and there erected a modern home. In the latter year, however, he disposed of his property interests there and took up his home just outside of the city limits, but in 1897 he came to Springfield, where he has since lived. On the 17th of August, 1900, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. Two children had been born unto them, but John B. died at the age of seventeen years. Bruce Vicory, born June 30, 1876, is a graduate of Wittenbere College and is now preparing for the Episcopal ministry as a student in the Theological Seminary at Chelsea; Square, in New York city. In 1902 the Doctor was married to Mrs. Ella Melus, who was born in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Amzi and Catherine (Gray) Melius. Mrs. Reddish was reared to womanhood in Pennsylvania and was there married to Charles Melus, by whom she had one daughter, Minnie Gertrude, who became the wife of Charles-Ketchen, by whon she has one son, Charles, Jr. Mr. Melus died in Pennsylvania about a year after their marriage. His widow afterward removed to Maryland, and in 1899 came to Clark county, Ohio.

Dr. Reddish is a Democrat in his political affiliations and in early life was a Whig, his first vote having ‘been cast for Taylor in 1848. In 1856 he supported John C. Fremont and afterward cast his ballot in support of Lincoln, Grant and Greeley. He belongs to the Central Methodist Episcopal church and served as a trustee of the church at Yellow Springs, which he joined in 1886. He was also an active Sunday-school worker there. The Doctor has traveled quite extensively, gaining that broad culture and wide information which only travel bring. In 1853 he attended the Crystal Palace exposition in New York; in 1876. the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia, and in 1888 he took a trip to California, traveling extensively along the Pacific coast. He returned by way of Yellowstone Park. In 1893 he was a visitor at the Columbian exposition in Chicago and in 1901, accompanied by his son, he made a trip to the old world, landing at Liverpool on the Ist of June. Then, on pleasure bent, he traveled to many interesting points in England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany, making a trip down the Rhine, and also going to Holland and Belgium. He then returned to his native country and he and his wife are now living quietly in their pleasant home in Springfield in the enjoyment of the fruits of his successful business ventures. He is a self-educated and self-made man. Without any special family or pecuniary advantages in early life, he has worked his way steadily upward, continually broadening his knowledge by reading, travel and investigation, and at the same time acquiring a handsome competence through well directed business efforts and judicious investments.

He has a wide acquaintance in the county of his nativity and the circle of his friends is an extensive one.

Levi Atkinson, now deceased, was a respected and honored resident of Clark county. He was born on the Jonathan Cheney farm, December 5, 1818, and was reared to farm life. His parents were Cephus and

¿Abigail (Oren) Atkinson, and our subject accompanied them on their various removals during his youth. They went to Madison county, where they owned a large farm, but afterward sold that property and took up their above in Champaign county. The father became a wealthy man and gave to each of his children twelve thousand dollars when they were ready to leave the parental roof and start out in life for themselves. They had also been provided with good educational privileges and were thus well equipped for life’s responsible duties. Levi Atkinson was united in marriage July 27, 1848, to Miss Mary B. Phillips, who was born in Fairfax, Vermont, April 22, 1827. She was four years old when she came to Ohio. Her father, Seth Phillips, had removed to this state some time before and the mother, Mrs. Nancy (Blake) Phillips, came about 1831, bringing with her seven children, including Mrs. Atkinson and her twin sister, who were then but four years of age, and two younger children. Mrs. Atkinson received fair educational privileges in her early girlhood, but her mother‘ died when the daughter was only thirteen years of age and she afterward went to work to make her own living, receiving but fifty cents per week, and among her duties was that of milking ten cows each night and morning.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson lived for some time upon his father’s farm. They afterward removed to Greene county, where Mr. Atkinson purchased two hundred and ninety-six acres of land, upon which he spent his remaining days. He became the owner of over thirteen hundred acres, all in one body. His business affairs were capable conducted and his enterprise and untiring labor brought to him very creditable success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson were born six children: John O., who is living: at Lawrence, Kansas; Mrs. Ann Pennington, of Jamestown, Ohio; Mrs. Laura Larkin; Charles, who died at the age of four years; Seth, who died in 1890; and Gwenn, who married James Armstrong and lives in Denver, Colorado. The father of this family was called to his final rest February 5, 1881, while the mother passed away on the 29th of September, 1901.

Mr. Atkinson was a Republican in his political affiliations. He was a birthright Quaker, and his wife joined the Society of Friends. Both were highly esteemed people, whose lives were in harmony with their Christian faith and all who knew them respected them for their sterling worth. In his business affairs as the years passed Mr. Atkinson prospered, and his course was such as to commend him to the confidence and regard of all. He won a handsome competence and was thus enabled to provide well for his family. He left behind a comfortable competence, and also an untarnished name.

Mrs. Laura Larkin, his daughter, was born September 2, 1854, obtained a good common school education and afterward became a student at Earlham College at Richmond, Indiana. On the 8th of March, 1874, she gave her hand in marriage to O. M. Larkin and unto them have been born seven children, who are yet living. Paul P., who was born February 24, 1876, in Lyon county, Kansas, where the family resided from 1874 until 1879, is at home. Mary F., born in Kansas, November;12, 1877, is the wife of Porter Cook, who is a graduate of Earlham College, and is now a teacher in the high school at Anderson, Indiana. Carl B., born in Greene county, Ohio, November 21, 1880, is now engaged in clerking in a general store in Anderson, Indiana. Lena M., born in Greene county, September 22, 1883, is now a student in a hospital in Denver. Walter J., born in Stokes township, Madison county, December 30, 1885, is at home. Mark R., born in Madison county November 14, 1892, and Ruby Gwenn, born in Madison county September 12, 1897, are also with their parents. Mrs. Larkin's father gave to each of his children two hundred and thirty acres of land. She sold her share in January, 1902, and has since purchased one hundred and fifty-two acres, upon which she is now living, having a good home here. She is a birthright member of the Quaker church, as are all her children. The Atkinson family and the Larkin family are well known in this section of Ohio, where they have gained many friends.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.