BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
The History of Clark County, Ohio:
containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers
and prominent men, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, map of Clark County, Constitution
of the United States, miscellaneous matters, etc., etc.
Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co., 
1881

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	German Twp. - JOHN S. GARD, M. D., physician; P. O. Tremont City; born in this township and county Oct. 12, 1829; is a son of Gershom and Mary (Peacock) Gard, he a native of Kentucky and she is of Virginia.  The grandfather, Job Gard, was a native of New Jersey, and became one of the early settlers of Kentucky, and thence of Ohio first at Cincinnati, thence at Dayton, thence Miami Co., and finally of Clark Co., settling in German Township, about 1805, where he spent the most of his life.  Gershom, when his father settled here, was about 13 years of age; was brought up to farm labor till he reached his majority, after which he followed farming and the milling business; building during his life several mills along Mad River.  His life was one of great activity; was a soldier in the war of 1812, being then a young man just blooming into manhood.  He died Nov. 1, 1866; his wife died several years previous, about 1849.  They were parents of thirteen children, six now survive- Benjamin M., Silas H., John S., Emery R., Eli J.  and Margaret.  Mr. Gard was twice married; his second wife was Maria Smith, of Springfield, whom he married in the latter part of 1849, and by whom he had two children - Charles G. and Edwin V.  Our subject was brought up to manual labor on the farm till 18 years of age, receiving the advantages merely of a common school education.  At this period he attended the Ohio Conference High School, at Springfield, two years; thence the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, two years; thence R. S. Bacon's Commercial College, at Cincinnati, where he graduated; thence the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 186t4.  He now entered the army as Assistant Surgeon, under Maj. Grant, of New Jersey, being assigned to that position and located at Madison, Ind., by Charles Tripler who had command of the Northern Medical Department, where he remained till his appointment at Demonstrator of Anatomy in Starling Medical College, at Columbus, which position he held three years.  After his father's death, or in 1867, he bought the old homestead farm of the heirs, paying $106 per acre.  He was now owner of three good farms; these he rented and entered upon the practice of his profession, at Tremont City, where he continued till April, 1879, when he bought and located upon the farm where he now resides, retired from active practice.  He married, Nov. 11, 1851, Miss Emma E., daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Hurd, natives of New York State; issue, five children, four now survive - Horace A., Warren E., Mary B. and Laura A.; deceased, Edward DeForest.  Dr. Gard now owns 300 acres of excellent land, constituting three farms, all in good cultivation, with good improvements, and is pleasantly situated to enjoy the comforts of life.  He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, being the only Republican ever elected to that office in German Township.  The Doctor and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, he having been such twenty-five years, is Trustee of the Church, and the town of Tremont City.  SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio; Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co.,  1881
	Springfield Twp. - Springfield City - CHARLES OTIS GARDINER, of P. P. Mast & Co., manufacturers, Springfield; was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 18, 1826; he is of Scotch and German descent, being from the family who settled and whose descendants now own Gardiner's Island; is a son of Daniel Dennison and Orrilla (Fairbanks) Gardiner; his mother was of the same family connection as the inventor of the celebrated  "Fairbanks" scales; his father was a manufacturer of agricultural implements, and thus the native mechanical genius of Mr. Gardiner was early developed by practical application. He was a member of the first wrecking crew on the lakes; it was this crew who removed the safe from the steamer Atlantic, sunk in 160 feet of water off Long Point, Lake Erie; was three years' foreman of the works at Milwaukee where the Pitts thresher was manufactured. In 1857, he took charge of the Buffalo Agricultural Works, but the financial pressure of that year somewhat crippled the firm, and, in the fall of 1860, Mr. Gardiner came to Springfield, having made arrangements with Thomas & Mast to take general superintendence of the Buckeye Agricultural Works; he continued as foreman and general superintendent of the works until the re-organization, when he became a member of the firm of P. P. Mast & Co.; he is the inventor of their force-feed for grain drills, and, in fact, of all the important late patterns held by the firm, and is the real mechanical genius of the firm, and contributed largely to the success of the works, now one of the important manufacturing establishments which have made the village of Springfield an important city, with a good prospect of becoming one of the greatest manufacturing centers in the world. His residence is 100 Gallagher street. He married, in 1853, Miss Amelia A. Clark, of Chautauqua Co., N. Y.; they have one child living, Anna A., now Mrs. Dr. William Lagonda. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 830
	Pleasant Twp. - S. C. GILBERT, retired farmer; P. O. Vienna Cross Roads; a son of Allen Gilbert, a native of New York, who came to Ohio in the year 1814, and located in Harmony Township, this county, where he lived till his death, which was caused by milk sickness in August, 1819.  The subject of this sketch was born Feb. 6, 1811, nine miles southeast of Albany, N. Y.; was raised upon a farm; when 18 years of age, he learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at it all his life, with exception of the last ten years, he has paid more attention to farming.  He was married May 29, 1832, to Miss Elizabeth Clark, of Harmony Township; they had nine children.  Mrs. Gilbert died Feb. 18, 1879, leaving seven children living - Allen, William, Mary, Lydia A., Austin, George  and Charles.  His farm is located near the south line of Pleasant Township, with good improvements. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 974
	Springfield Twp. - JAMES S. GOODE, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Springfield; was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1823; his parents emigrated from the State of Virginia early in the history of the State of Ohio, and lived and died in Warren County.  Judge Goode was educated at Miami University, from which he graduated in 1845;  he subsequently studied law, and was admitted to the bar in January, 8148, and commenced the practice of his profession at Springfield in the following April, in partnership with Gen. Charles Anthony; he was Mayor of the city one term, and County Prosecutor two terms; he continued in active practice until 1875, when, at the solicitation of hte bar of the county, he consented to become a candidate for the office of Common Pleas Judge, and was elected without opposition, and re-elected by the unanimous vote of both political parties, and is now serving as Judge for the second term.  Judge Goode, while not an active partisan, was a Whig in politics until the organization of hte Republican party, since which eh has been actively identified with that party; he has also been identified with the business interests of hte city and general interest of the county.  His son, Frank C., is prominent among the younger members of hte Springfield bar. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 830
	Springfield Twp. - JOSHUA GORE, sewing-machine dealer, Springfield.  In an old Springfield Directory of 1852, in a statement of organization, capital and officers of the Springfield Gas & Coke Company, appears as one of hte Directors Joshua Gore, the worthy subject of this sketch; to this statement is added," The city was first lit with gas on the eve of Apr. 4, 1850."  Mr. Gore was born in 1812 (a year so memorable in American History), in Baltimore Co., Md.; his father died in the trenches of Bladensberg, in his country's service, in the year of Mr. Gore's birth; hence he was almost orphaned at birth.  He came to Springfield in 1836, when it was a village of 1,500, and in 1838 linked his fortunes with those of Miss Rebecca Jane Hughes, of this county.  Mr. and Mrs. Gore have only one child - Mrs. Emma M. Miller, residing at Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio.  Mr. Gore's business career has been a varied one; he commenced her in the hardware business; was a victim of fire in 1840; clerked a few years; opened a dry goods establishment in 1844, commencing on nothing; after three years he abandoned dry goods and embarked in the manufacture of boots and shoes, continuing this business until 1852, when, being seized with a violent attack of the California "gold fever," he sold out and turned his face toward the "Occident," as much, however, on account of his health as for anticipated wealth.  A sojourn of three years on the Pacific Slope restored his health, but gave him few additional ducats.  Returning in 1855, after one year of clerkship he went into the fruit-tree business, traveling over the South in this interest until the tocsin of war sounded; returning home, he took charge of the hardware business of Col. E. M. Doty, who tried the fortunes of war; taking up the fruit-tree business one more year at the close of the war, he then bought out a hat house, added boots and shoes, closed out this business two years ago, and went into the sewing-machine business, handling extensively the Domestic and New Home machines, in which he now does a nice, profitable business.   Mr. Gore is an honored and consistent Methodist, and his name is a synonym for honesty. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 831
	Springfield Twp. - JACOB GRAM, farmer; P. O. Springfield.  Jacob Gram, son of Cornelius and Catherine (Spear) Gram, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Apr. 30, 1817; came to Clark Co., Ohio, in 1832, with his parents.  He was married Sept. 29, 1853, to Isabella M. Dory; they have four children - William J. Harriet E., Martha C. and Charles J.  William was married, Oct. 28, 1880, to Mattie Otstot, daughter of Hunter and Sarah Otstot; Harriet was married, Dec. 27, 1877, to Samuel C. Rebert; Martha was married Nov. 18, 1880, to Henry O. Leffel.  Mrs. Gram is the daughter of James and Elizabeth M. (Cosway) Dory; she was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1832; her parents were both natives of and were married in England, and emigrated to America in 1830, and to Cincinnati in 1831, and moved from there to this in a wagon, in 1833, in February, the weather being so cold that Elizabeth's (now Mrs. Gram) mother carried her all the way from Cincinnati to Springfield in a large muff to keep her from freezing.  Mr. Gram started for himself a poor boy, and, by his own exertions, ahs managed to provide a comfortable home and a good farm; he has, all through his life, been an honorable, upright gentleman.  Mrs. Gram is one of those good, intelligent mothers, who knows how to provide for the welfare of her children. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 831
	Springfield Twp. - WILLIAM GRANT, SR., butcher, Springfield; was born in England in 1811; came to the United States in 1831, and, after a few years' stay in Columbus, Ohio, came to Springfield in January, 1836, and has since been a resident and one of the active business men of the city.  He commenced his business (butcher) by attending market, and gradually increased his trade, with the growth and increase of the city, until he established a regular daily market, located on High street near Market space, in a building erected by Mr. Grant for that purpose; his three sons, William H., Martin M. and Thomas P., are now associated with him.  During Mr. Grant's residence here, he has laid out and contributed two additions to the city, one on South Center street, including Mulberry and Pleasant streets; the other on North Plum and Yellow Springs streets, his present residence being in the latter addition, at the corner of North Plum and Cedar streets.  He married, at Columbus, in 1835, Nancy, daughter of George McConnel, one of the early settlers of that city, and the builder of the first State House; her decease occurred in 1850; of the children from this union, six are now living - William H., Mary J. (now Mrs. John Mulholland), Fannie (now Mrs. Quincy Petts), and Martin M. and Thomas P. (twins).  In 1852, he married Martha L. Darling, a native of Massachusetts; from this union have been born two children - Dr. George D., and Harriet B., now Mrs. William H. Weir. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 831
	Bethel Twp. - SAMUEL E. GREIDER, carpenter and builder, Osborn; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Jun. 6, 1849; is the son of John M. and Anna Grieder, natives of Pennsylvania.  Emigrating to this State in 1856 and purchased a farm in Wayne Township, Montgomery Co., where he now lives.  Mr. Greider has been a Bishop in the old Mennonite Church for about nine years.  The subject of this sketch lived with his father until the age of 20 years, then went to learn the carpenter's trade, and at the age of 23 years he united in marriage with Rebecca A. (daughter of Henry and Margaret Heffner, of Miami Co., this State), Jan. 7, 1873; by this union they were blest with three sons, viz:  John H. G., born Aug. 11, 1873; B. F., born June 24, 1875; Jacob E., born Nov. 3, 1877.  Mrs. Grieder, born Oct. 22, 1854.  Mr. Grieder is a member of the old Mennonite Church and an excellent mechanic, and has the confidence of all his friends and acquaintances. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 1028
	Moorefield Twp. - ALBERT D. GREINER, farmer; P. O. Springfield; born in Lancaster Co., Penn., May 10, 1853; is a son of Henry H. and Susan (Stoner) Griener, natives of Pennsylvania; who removed to Ohio, locating upon the farm where Albert now lives in the spring of 1857; here they resided till their death.  She died in October, 1872; he died June 4, 1876.  They were parents of four children; two now survive - Albert D. and Estella I.  Mr. Greiner, while young, learned the plasterer’s trade, which business he followed several years; then gave his attention to farming, which occupation he followed the remainder of his life.  He was a very industrious, hard-working man, and gave his attention strictly to his business; whose integrity of character was undoubted, and who held the respect and confidence of the community in which he lived.  Financially, he was quite successful, having acquired a good competency, and was well situated to enjoy the comforts of life when the messenger of death called him hence.  Our subject, who was about 4 years of age when his parents came to Clark Co., was raised and grew to manhood here, and remained with his father principally till his death; since his death he has continued upon the home place, and will probably continue to make this his home and residence.  He was married, Feb. 20, 1877, to Josie, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Hedges, he a native of Champaign Co. and she of Clark Co.  Mr. Greiner is very pleasantly situated, and is, like his father, very industrious, attending closely to his own business, and we have no doubt will, like his father, make life a success. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co.,  1881 - Page 987