Hugh W. Binegar
One of the best remembered men of a past generation in Fayette county,Ohio, is H. W. Binegar, who spent his whole career of fifty-five years within this county and in the township where he was born. He possessed great simplicity, purity and humility of character. He had convictions, yet was careful and patient in coming to conclusions, but when he finally made up his mind as to the course he wanted to pursue nothing could swerve him from what he considered his duty. A busy man, interested in his daily tasks, yet he was never too busy or too absorbed in his temporal affairs to give time and thought to the service of his church, which, with his home, lay close upon his heart. He had the faculty of becoming interested in the daily affairs of the people about him and when one met him he felt at once that Mr. Binegar was genuinely sympathetic. As a citizen he was easily among the foremost. Any movement which had for its object the betterment of his home city met with his hearty support. He was always courteous and those who differed with him admired his fairness and his open-hearted honesty.
The late H. W. Binegar was born in Perry township October 27, 1858, and died on his home farm in the same township April 23, 1913. He was the son of John and Frances (Fishback) Binegar, natives of Virginia and early settlers in this county. John Binegar and wife were the parents of seven children, only three of whom are now living, Margaret, Matilda and Nettie. H. W. and three who died in infancy have passed to that better world.
H. W. Binegar received his education in the schools of New Martinsburg, Perry township, and commenced farming at the age of eighteen. That he was remarkably successful is shown by the fact that at the time of his death he was the owner of a finely improved farm of three hundred acres in Perry township.
Mr. Binegar was married January 15, 1885. to Sarah E. Black, the daughter of Jacob and Christine (Sprinkle) Black. Jacob Black came from Kentucky with his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Snyder) Black, when a youth and settled in Brown county, this state. Samuel Black was a soldier in the War of 1812. serving in a Kentucky regiment. Jacob Black and wife were the parents of a family of eleven children, Mrs. Sarah E. Binegar, William, Mrs. Hannah Bond, Samuel. Mrs. Mary Van Eman, Walter, Jesse, Mrs. Elizabeth Starr, Mrs. Frances Godfredson, Rose and Mrs. Sina Erfurth. All of these children are still living except Samuel and Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Binegar are the parents of five children, three of whom are living: Waldo; Wallace, who married Nina Haines, and has two children, Harlan and Wanda, and Velma, who is still attending school. Two children are deceased, Omer and one who died in infancy. Waldo married Lois Todhunter, and had one son, Herman, the mother and child being dead; Velma lives with her mother.
Fraternally, Mr. Binegar was a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Patrons of Husbandry. Religiously, he, as well as all the members of the family, was a stanch adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church and actively identified with its various interests. Wherever Mr. Binegar went his geniality kindness and honesty made him welcome, and these characteristics won him friends, who were glad to enumerate him among their acquaintances.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)