From History of Madison County, Ohio pg 739

John W. Rector, farmer. West Jefferson, Ohio, was born on February 19, 1864, in

Wayne township, Pickaway county, Ohio, and is a son of Marcus and Mary F. (Van

Kuren) Rector. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, and then rented

his father's farm, starting in for himself as a farmer. Through his industry and good

management Mr. Rector has so skillfully conducted his business matters, until he now

owns one hundred and twenty-two acres of farm land. Mr. Rector has always been a

stanch Republican, and greatly interested in the welfare of his township, but has never

taken an active part in local politics.

Marcus Rector, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickaway county,

Ohio, and his wife, Mary F. (Van Kuren) Rector, was born at Albany, New York,

coming with his parents to Pickaway county, when a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Rector

both grew up in that county, and were married there. Mr. Rector was a generous-

hearted and prosperous man, but his generosity was taken advantage of and he lost all

he had. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death

occurred about 1893. Mrs. Rector still resides at Big Plain Madison county, Ohio.

They were the parents of eight children, as follow: Alva C. was born in Jefferson

township; Marcus is a blacksmith in Madison county: Robert S. is teaching school at

Big Plain; Roy is a musician, and resides at Columbus, Ohio: Clara became the wife of

George Alkire; Maud is the wife of Frank Edwards, of Big Plain, Ohio; Myrtle is the

wife of Daniel Brobert, and lives near Circleville, Ohio ; John W., of Jefferson town-

ship.

John W. Rector was united in marriage on August 9, 1889, with Amy V. Lane,

daughter of Mitchell Lane. She was born on August 1, 1875 in Oakland township, and

died in 1892. To this union were born two daughters: Ida M.. the wife of John

Borland, of West Jefferson, Ohio ; and Anna, a graduate of the West Jefferson high

school, now the wife of Harvey Heath, also of West Jefferson. Mr. Rector was mar-

ried, secondly, to Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Walker, August 16, 1909. She is a daughter

of Henry and Nancy H. (Harris) Wright, and was born on May 15, 1858* in Canaan

township, Madison county. Henry Wright, father of Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Rector, was a son of Dr. Henry and Margaret (Bogan) Wright, and was born on February 17, 1822, in Frederick

county, Maryland, and died on May 10. 1914. He came to Ohio in 1836, and began to

care for himself at the age of eleven years, working at first for his board and clothes,

and at the age of twenty-three years, he began to learn the wagon-maker's trade at

Amity, Ohio. Mr. Wright went to the Civil War in the One Hundred and Twelfth Ohio

Cavalry, in 1864, serving until the close of the war. He was married in 1852 to

Elizabeth Mahafi'ey, who died in 1853, leaving one son, Albert. Mr. Wright was mar-

ried, secondly, to Nancy Harris, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Harris, by whom he had

two daughters, Elizabeth A. and Iva. His second wife died, and he was married to

Polly Dominy, by whom he had nine children. Mr. Wright began life as a poor boy, and

succeeded so well that he at one time owned eight hundred acres of land, which he

acquired unaided, and which he divided among his children.

Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Hector was married, first, to Cassius B. Walker on July 2,

1874, by whom she has three daughters: Lenora, the wife of Roy Spring, of Dela-

ware, Ohio; Eva. who became the wife of Taylor Simkins, and resides at West Jeffer-

son; and Catherine, who married Hugh Cox, at Rome, Franklin county, Ohio. Cassius

B. Walker died on December IS, 1906.

Mr. and Mrs. Rector are pleasant, affable people, and are prominent citizens in the

township. Mrs. Rector possesses, in her own right, something over sixty-six acres of

land. The beautiful home where they reside is known as "Hilltop Farm," and is

located on the Blair road, one mile north of West Jefferson, Ohio.