Thomas Horn
Thomas Horn, whose home is in Fairfield Township, Madison County, is an intelligent and progressive farmer and a man of unbounded energy and zeal in whatever project he undertakes. He is the son of John M. Horn, who was born in Berkeley County, W. Va., while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Recob, was a native either of Pennsylvania or Maryland.
After their marriage, the parents of our subject located in Ross County, this State, where they resided until 1851, and then came to Madison County, where the father's decease occurred March 4, 1861, in Fairfield Township. The mother, who survived him many years, departed this life at the home of her daughter in McLean County, Ill., in the fall of 1872.
Our subject was the youngest child in the parental family of seven children, his birth occurring in Ross County, January 26, 1836. He was a lad of fifteen years at the time of his parents' removal to this county, and on the outbreak of the Civil War enlisted in March, 1862, becoming a member of Company H, Second Battalion, Eighteenth United States Infantry. He participated in many of the important engagements in this struggle, among which were Mumfordsville, Ky., Hoover's Gap, and Chickamauga. In the first-named battle, Mr. Horn was taken prisoner, but was paroled the following day and exchanged. He was mustered out of service at the close of the war at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. While in the army, he met with a serious accident by being run over by a horse and for six months was unfit for duty.
Returning home when his services were no longer needed on the field of battle, our subject engaged in the mercantile business in Georgesville until 1872, when he disposed of his interest in that line, and coming to Lilly Chapel, this county, purchased a farm which he operated, and at the same time conducted a good mercantile trade. He had the honor of building the first house in Lilly Chapel after the town was laid out, and continued in business there until 1878, since which time he has given his entire time to farming pursuits. His estate, which includes eighty-six acres, is pleasantly located just north of the village, and by being properly cultivated, brings its owner handsome returns.
June 6, 1867, Mr. Horn and Miss Sarah J. Courtright were united in marriage. The lady was the daughter of the late Jesse and Mary (Brown) Courtright, natives of Franklin County, where the father held the office of County Surveyor, and at his death, in April, 1874, was one of the prominent citizens of his community. Mrs. Horn was born July 1, 1839, and was the eldest in a family of ten children. She has taken an active and prominent part in church work, holding membership with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and has been Class-leader and President of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the auxiliary at Lilly Chapel. She is a lady of culture and education, and prior to her marriage taught school for seven years.
Mr. and Mrs. Horn are the parents of six children, namely: Walter, Edward, Josephine, Samuel, Mary and Emma. Our subject has occupied a very high position in local affiars, and while residing in Georgesville was Postmaster for seven years. In politics, he votes with the Republican party, and by his good works has secured the unbounded confidence of his fellow-citizens.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]