My Genealogy Hound

JAMES MILTON RUNYAN. An influential, active and progressive citizen, the gentleman above named is honored and respected wherever he is known, and among the farmers of Pleasant Township, Clark County, is ranked as one of the most substantial of their number, and a leader in all matters which will advance their interests. He has a gallant record as a soldier, and as a public servant and business man has shown ability and trustworthiness. He was born in the village of Catawba, June 20, 1841, and was reared upon a farm, receiving his education in the common schools. The attempt upon the nation’s life aroused him, and young as he was when the war began, he determined to give the strength of his arm to his countrys cause. He therefore enlisted August 20, 1861, as a private in the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, his campaigning in that regiment being in Missouri and Arkansas.

In September, 1862, young Runyan was sent home on sick furlough and about the 20th of the month was discharged at Columbus, on account of disability. After his health was sufficiently restored he went to Charleston, W. Va., during the winter following his discharge entering a hospital as a nurse. Following this came a period of home life, and in May, 1864, he again entered the Union Army, becoming a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-six Ohio Infantry. The regiment served in West Virginia until fall, when its members were honorably discharged and returned to the duties of civil life.

Mr. Runyan resumed farming, in which he had previously been somewhat occupied, continuing thus employed until 1867, when he purchased and engaged in operating a grist and saw mill. Until 1886, he continued his operations as a miller, since which time he has resided upon his farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres on sections 15 and 16, adjoining his mill property. He belongs to the social orders of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served as Township Trustee two terms and has been School Director for twenty-one years. The latter fact indicates the opinion which his neighbors have of his intelligence, good judgment and interest in the future welfare of the section, he has also been before the public for county honors.

The estimable companion of Mr. Runyan was known in her girlhood as Mary J. McClenen and was born near Harper’s Ferry, Va., May 22, 1843. She became the wife of our subject March 4, 1866, and is the mother of seven children — J. Arthur, Clarence L., Eddie J., Percy E., Charles G., Maud R. and Walter, the latter of whom died at the age of four months.

The parents of Mrs. Runyan are John and Elizabeth (Ropp) McClenen, who were born and reared in Virginia, and who located in Clark County, Ohio, in 1861. Mr. McClenen is a gunsmith by trade and during the war was inspector of arms at Fortress Monroe; he is now engaged in farming. He was born the night the British burned Washington, D. C., during the War of 1812. His family includes two sons and three daughters.

The Runyan family is of Scotch-Irish lineage, and the first representatives in this country settled in Virginia. A sister of our subject’s grandfather was captured by the Indians and never recovered. Abraham and Sophia (Lynch) Runyan, the grandparents of our subject, came to Ohio early in this century and to Clark County in 1811. The husband served during the War of 1812, and was a prominent man in his township, filling various local offices, and both he and his wife were leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They settled on eighty-six acres of land which was increased to one hundred and thirty-six. This property had been cleared and well improved by Mr. Runyan prior to his death, which occurred in 1836, at the age of fifty-six years. His widow survived until seventy-five years old. Their nine children married and reared families. One of these, Henry, was born in Warren County May 15, 1809, and was an infant of less than two years when the family located near Asbury Church in Clark County.

Henry Runyan was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the traditional log school-house with its greased paper windows and primitive furnishings, and after completing his own studies taught in the home district. In 1834, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Catawba and after ten years thus occupied, turned his attention to agriculture. In June, 1856, he removed to his present home, taking possession of fifty acres to which he has added thirty acres adjoining. He also owns another farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, also in Pleasant Township. He has made his own way through life and has given his children about $5,000, while rearing his large family well and making preparations for his declining years. The only assistance which he received, aside from his education and training, was $237 which came to him from his father’s estate. He has served as Trustee, Appraiser, and in other local offices for many years. For fifty years he has belonged to the Masonic fraternity. His first political adherence was given to the Whig party and he afterward joined the Republican ranks, while during the war he was a strong and active supporter of the Union. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1828, and has held office in that denomination continuously and to its work has devoted much time and money.

The first wife of Henry Runyan was Rachael Jones, who was born near Harper’s Ferry, Va., in 1815. This lady was the only child of John Jones and wife, who settled in Ohio about 1817. Her father had a large family by his second wife. Mrs. Rachael Runyan was the mother of the following named children: Abe, William H., John W., Martin L., J. Milton, Esther A., Francis M., Mahala F., and Susan E.; and two infants who died unnamed. Francis M. enlisted in the fall of 1861, in Company F, Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry. The brave lad, who was but sixteen years old when he joined his countrys defenders, was killed in his first battle, at Lewisburgh, W. Va., in May, 1862. The affectionate and devoted wife and mother died October 23, 1853.

The widower subsequently married Mrs. Lucia M. Chapman, who was born in Portage County, June 1, 1819. She is a daughter of William and Lucretia (Sisson) Eaion, who were born in Stafford, Vt., and Wilberham, Mass., respectively, and who came to Portage County, Ohio, in 1818. Thence they removed to Geauga County, and afterward to Missouri. Their daughter, Lucia, became the wife of Enoch S. Chapman, to whom she bore one son, Enoch C. Her marriage to Mr. Runyan has been blessed by the birth of three children — Charles H., Lucretia M., and Cora B. A portrait* of Mr. Runyan is presented in connection with his personal sketch.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.