Harry F. Fauver
A native of Madison county, Harry F. Fauver, well-known real estate and insurance agent of London, has been prominently identified with the agricultural and business interests of his home county ever since he arrived at manhood's estate, and few men in the county are better known or more deservedly popular than he. Though making his home on his fine farm of three hundred and twenty-five acres in Somerford township, Mr. Fauver has been actively engaged in the insurance and real estate business in London for more than twenty years, during which time he has been one of the pronounced factors in the development of the best interests of his home county and, in consequence, enjoys a very high degree of popular favor throughout this entire section of the state, his acquaintance extending far beyond the borders of his home county.
Harry F. Fauver was born on a farm in Union township, Madison county, Ohio, on October 30, 1864, son of Matthew J. and Maria J. (PRUGH) Fauver, the former of whom was born near the city of Dayton, in Montgomery county, this state, and the latter in Somerford township, this county.
Matthew J. Fauver, who was born on August 24, 1834, was the son of John and Anna (JOHNSON) Fauver, natives of New Jersey, the former of whom was born on July 7, 1793, and the latter on June 15, 1797. They were married in 1816, and twelve years late came to Ohio, locating in Montgomery county, in the vicinity of Dayton, where they spent the rest of their lives, John Fauver dying in March, 1877, and his widow in March, 1879. They were the parents of nine children, Matthew J. Fauver, father of the subject of this sketch, having been the fifth son and the eighth child in order of birth. When Matthew J. Fauver was eighteen years of age he began clerking in a store and thus continued for eight years. He then was engaged in farming for a period of fifteen years, at the end of which time he moved to the village of Somerford, this county, bought property there and engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed with much success for many years. During the time of his residence in Somerford, Matthew J. Fauver was regarded as one of the most prominent and influential men in that part of the county. For years he served as trustee of Somerford township and did much to advance that community in a material way. He and his wife were members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. Mr. Fauver was a Democrat and for many years took a leading part in the political affairs of the county.
On May 27, 1858, Matthew J. Fauver was united in marriage to Maria J. Prugh, who was born in this county on February 17, 1842, daughter of G. W. and Louisa (WILSON) PRUGH. His father was born in Somerford township, this county, on June 16, 1816, son of George and Margaret (MARKLEY) PRUGH, natives of Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio in 1812, shortly following their marriage, and located in Somerford township, this county, where the rest of their lives were spent, they being regarded as among the leading pioneers of that section of the county. George Prugh died in 1841 and his widow survived him more than twenty years, her death not occurring until in 1864. G. W. Prugh, Son of this worthy pioneer couple, was a prosperous farmer and was trustee of Somerford township for a period of seven years. On February _, 1838, he married Louisa Wilson, who was born in this county on January 5, 1823, and to this union three children were born, Valentine H., Maria J. and Theodore.
To Matthew J. and Maria J. (PRUGH) Fauver were born three children, namely Anna L., born on January 1, 1861; Harry F., the immediate subject of this sketch and Augusta L., born on July 27, 1875. Matthew J. Fauver died on October 26, 18__, and his widow is still living at Summerford, enjoying, in the beautiful evening of her life, many evidences of the affection of the entire countryside.
Harry F. Fauver received his elementary education in the common schools of his home township, supplementing the same by a course in Antioch College, following which he engaged for a few years with his father in the grocery business at Summerford and then, for about ten years, was engaged in the carriage and vehicle business, five years as a traveling salesman and five years located at Mechanicsburg, this state. In 1894 Mr. Fauver located in London, where he opened a real estate and insurance office and ever since has been thus engaged, in that time having built up a business in this line second to none in this immediate section. He continues to make his home in Somerford township, where he owns one of the best-appointed farms in that part of the county and where he and his family are delightfully situated, their fine residence possessing all the conveniences conducive to the fullest measure of domestic comfort.
On May 13, 1890, Harry F. Fauver was united in marriage to Alice J. MITCHELL, daughter of Charles and Mary E. Mitchell, the former of whom was a well-known and substantial farmer of Somerford township and whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Fauver three children have been born, Gwynneth, Matthew Mitchell and Harry Ordell, all of whom are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Fauver are members of the Christian church at Summerford, of which Mr. Fauver for years has been one of the trustees, and their children have been reared in that faith.
Harry F. Fauver is a Democrat and for years has given close attention to the political affairs of his home county, ever having been an exponent of the best principles of good government. For two terms he was treasurer of Somerford township, his father and grandfather having served in their lifetime as trustees of the same township. His services in that connection were valuable to the public and much appreciated by the people of that township. Mr. Fauver is a Mason, having joined the lodge of that order in Mechanicsburg in 1894, and also is an Odd Fellow, having joined the lodge of that order at Summerford in 1886. In all his relations in life he has done well his part, and few men in the county may rightly claim to have been actuated by a higher sense of civic duty than he. In both his business and social obligations he has faithfully met all the requirements and possesses in full measure the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - Chester E. Bryan, Ed. [Bowen & Co: Indianapolis, 1915)