Charles Wesley Whitmore
The unostentatious routine of private life, although of vast importance to the welfare of the community, has not figured to any great extent in history. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves by the possession of those qualities which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence of those around them, should not be permitted to perish. Their examples are most valuable and their lives well worthy of consideration. Such are the thoughts that involuntarily come to mind when we take under review the career of such an honored pioneer as the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph. Though he was not permitted to carry out his original plans for life-work, he has not been denied a fair measure of success in the work to which he has devoted himself, and today he is numbered among the representative citizens of Canaan township.
Charles W. Whitmore was born in Canaan township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 21st of April, 1868. He is the son of Hezekiah and Anna M. (Balmer) Whitmore, the former of whom was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of October, 1830, and the latter in the town of Mechanicsburg, the same county, on September 29, 1839. The subject's paternal grandfather, Samuel Whitmore, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, was a very early settler of Wayne county, bringing with him his son Hezekiah. They settled on a farm in Canaan township and after the death of his father Hezekiah Whitmore took up the operation of the home place, and lived there during the remainder of his life. He was converted in the United Brethren church at the age of fourteen years and thereafter he was an earnest Christian, devoting much time to earnest church work and frequently going many miles to attend meetings. He was the possessor of musical talent of a high order and was prominent in the singing in all meetings which he attended. In physique he was very muscular, being then considered the strongest man in his section of the state, it been asserted that he could, unassisted, lift and move around the rear end of a threshing machine. His death, which occurred at the early age of thirty-eight years, was caused by a strain from lifting. His death occurred August 18, 1868. On the 18th of December 1866, he married Anna M. Blamer, and they became the parents of one child, Charles Wesley, the subject of this sketch. Anna M. Balmer Whitmore sold the home farm after her husband's death and, on February 18, 1875, she became the wife of Cyrus Stratton, who died May 17, 1896. To this union was born one son, Franklin B., July 25, 1876. By a prior marriage Mr. Stratton had a son, Joseph W. Stratton, born in 1861, who died February 27, 1889.
The mother of the subject, Mrs. Anna M. Stratton, was born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on September 29, 1839, and is a daughter of Christian Balmer. The latter was a minister of the United Brethren church, and in his early days he followed the trade of a coachmaker, in this way supporting himself, and preaching on Sundays. The family came to Ohio in 1851. Anna M. attended school in Pennsylvania, and after coming to Ohio she attended the high school at Smithville. Subsequently she engaged in teaching school for twelve terms, meeting with splendid success. In 1866 she was married to Hezekiah Whitmore, to which union one son, Charles W., was born. Mr. Whitmore died on August 5, 1868, and in 1875 she became the wife of Cyrus Stratton. They had one son, Franklin B. Stratton, who was born July 25, 1876. He lives in Cleveland, is married and the father of four children, two sons and two daughters. Cyrus Stratton died on May 14, 1896, and his widow now makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Stratton is an accomplished penman, having given this line considerable study in her younger days. She has always been an ardent church worker and enjoys the unbounded respect of the entire community.
Charles W. Whitmore remained at work on the home farm until he was fifteen years old and during the interim attended the district schools near his home, completing his public school education by attending the high school at Burbank. He then took the classical course at the Northwestern Ohio Normal University at Ada, remaining there until within a year of graduation, when, by way of review, he took the preparatory course at Wooster University, afterwards entering the three-years classical course, including special courses in music and natural history. Soon after he entered upon his senior year his health began to fail and he was advised to quit his studies at once and take up work in the open air.
He and his mother then bought the Stratton farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres in Canaan township and since that time (1891) Mr. Whitmore has devoted his attention to the operation of that place. The outdoor life has brought a return of health and Mr. Whitmore is giving to his work the same enthusiasm and energy which he formerly devoted to his studies at school. He has taken a strong interest in educational matters and gives his support to every movement looking to the advancement of the moral, educational or material interests of the community.
In politics Mr. Whitmore is an arden supporter of the Prohibition party, believing the temperance question to be the most vital issue now before the American people. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, his membership being with the society of that denomination at Canaan. He has been actively interested in church work since he was eight years old and for many years he has served as class leader. He served as superintendent of the Sunday school for two years at Canaan and in a like capacity one year at West Canaan, and since 1897 he has served continuously as teacher of the adult class in the Canaan Sunday school. He is also a member of the official board of the church, being a steward and trustee.
On the 7th of March 1894, Mr. Whitmore married Jennie M. Frary, who was born September 30, 1871, in Canaan township, Wayne county, Ohio, the daughter of Asa Frary, who is referred to elsewhere in this work in the sketch of William Fray. To this union have been born three children, namely: Howard Seelye, born January 4, 1895; Lowell Asa, born May 1, 1898; Merrill H., born October 21, 1903. The subject has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful and progressive agriculturist, always known for his prompt and honorable methods of dealing, and thus he has earned the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen. His farm is well adapted to the cultivation of the products common to this part of the state, and also to stockraising, to which he has given some attention. His methods have been progressive, and his improvements of a character which are indicative of a thorough knowledge of his business and a deep interest in it. In 1906 and 1908 Mr. Whitmore set out two orchards of about sixteen acres, which are beginning to bear. He has already had some fine apples, peaches and pears and he takes a great pride in it.
The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., 1910