William E. Yeazel

As printed in 1902

WIELIAM E. YEAZEL.

William E. Yeazel, a representative of the agricultural interests of Pleasant township, was born in Moorefield township, January 24, 1829, his parents being Jeremiah and Jane (Hodge) Yeazel. Upon the home farm he was reared, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him. In his youth he acquired a common school education and lived at home until twenty-one years of age. His father was a good manager and an enterprising man and became the owner of four hundred acres of land.

On the 27th of January, 1850, Mr. Yeazel was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Bennett, of Harmony township, where she was born and reared. At the time of his marriage Mr. Yeazel began operating his father's land and resided upon that place for three years, after which he purchased fifty-eight acres in the village of Harmony. He carried on farming and butchering for thirteen years and through the dual occupation he made considerable money. While living there he also organized a company and was appointed captain by Colonel Todd, but in reorganizing the war committee endeavored to persuade his men to join an organization of which he was to become a lieutenant. Refusing to do this he resigned and did not enter the service. At a later date he disposed of his butchering business and traded his farm in this locality for a farm in Champaign county, Illinois. To that property he gave his supervision but never removed to the west. In 1859 he purchased his present farm, comprising eighty-three acres of land, and in 1873 he took up his above thereon. As the years have passed and his financial resources have increased, he has added to this property from time to time until he is to-day the owner of an extensive farm of four hundred acres. This was all covered with forest trees when it came into his possession and the fine improvements upon the place are the result of his energetic efforts and progressive ideas. He is regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of his community and certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, because he started out in life for himself empty handed and has depended entirely upon his earnest labor for the acquirement of a competence.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Yeazel has been blessed with five children: James, who is living in Cold Springs, Ohio, and has five children; Jane, the wife of Silas Engel, a resident of Harmony township; Ellen, the wife of William H. McClintock, ot Moorefield township; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Walter Marsh, of London, Ohio, by whom she has two sons; and Mary, who became the wife of E. C. Overturf and lived in Madison county until her death, at which time she left three children. Mr. Yeazel was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife on the 2d of November, 1884. About two years later, on the 2d of September, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily Paul, of Harmony township. She was born in Pleasant township and was a daughter of Edward

-and Margaret (Morris) Paul. Two children graced this union, Hattie and Scott, both of whom are at home.

Mr. Yeazel cast his first presidential vote for Winfield Scott in 1852 and in 1856 he voted for Fremont. He is now independent in politics. He was once a candidate of the Prohibition party for the office of county commissioner but on account of the greater majorities of the older parties he was not elected. He has always been a warm friend of the cause of temperance and of morality, and his life has been in harmony with the principles which develop an upright, honorable manhood.

ASOMAN: ces TEL Ve

Jacob R. Athy, who was born in Mad River township, Clark county, in 1833, has therefore been a resident of the county for nearly seventy years. During his infancy he was brought to the farm upon which he now resides, the family removing here in the year above mentioned. His father, John Athy, was born and reared near Cumberland, Maryland, but emigrating westward, took up his above in Clark county. He was a resident of Mad River township at the time of our subject's birth in 1833, but the same year removed to what is now the old Athy homestead. He purchased this land in 1847, paying twelve and one-half dollars per acre for the tract, which is now worth ninety dollars per acre. This farm originally belonged to William Burnet, of Cincinnati, and at the time it was sold to John Athy it was covered with timber, not a furrow having been turned or an improvement made upon the place. With characteristic energy, however, he began its development and soon the fields were cleared and prepared for the plow, so that in course of time good harvests were garnered as the result of the care and labor of the owner. Throughout his entire life John Athy carried on agricultural pursuits there and was classed among the representative farmers of his community. Upon the old homestead Jacob R. Athy, of this review, spent the days of his boyhood and youth. As his strength increased with the growing years he aided more and more largely in the work of the farm, taking his place ın the fields as soon as old enough to handle the plow. He thus gained practical experience in all departments of farm work and was well fitted for carrying on business on his own account in later life. He was united in marriage to Eliza J. Ashing, a daughter of Jacob Ashing, of Champaign county, this state, and unto them have been born seven children. Oliver F., the eldest, married Dora Shank, a daughter of Cyrus Shank, of Springfield, and they have two children, Viola Fern and Lina. He is now acting as foreman for the American Radiator Company, of Springfield. Raymond W., who is a carpenter and contractor, married Cora Conrad, of Donnelsville, and they have six children: Theresa, Ralph, Lola, Clifford, Harry and Pearl. Newton is at home.

Irvin Lillie is the wife of George W. Jenkins, a farmer and dairyman of Mad River township, and they have two children, Leah and Sayers. Granville Roper died in 1871, at the age of seventeen months. George Mahlon, born in September,. 1871, died in March, 1898. Laura E. is the wife of William Caid King, a native of Mad River township, who is now operating her father's farm. They have three children, Lillie, Hazel and Gladys.

Throughout his entire life Mr. Athy has ‚carried on farm work and the neat and thirty appearance of his place indicates the careful supervision of the progressive and enterprising owner. He is a member of the Grange and in his political views is a Republican. He belongs to the Christian church and is interested in everything pertaining to the general good. He represents one of the old pioneer families of the county and through almost two-thirds of a century he has been a witness of the progress and improvement of this portion of the state.

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.