Clement Linkhart
For four terms of two years each Xenia has honored Clement W. Linkhart with the mayoralty of the city and as the chief executive he has largely promoted the city's welfare, improvement and substantial upbuilding. His political record is one most commendable. He is known as one of the leading members of the Repulilican party in Greene county and his labors in its behalf have been effective and earnest. Since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant, his zeal and interest in the party have never wavered, but have grown with passing years as he has studied more closely into the political situation of the country and viewed its needs from a broader standpoint. No higher testimonial of the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen could be given than the fact that he has been continued in the position of the chief executive of Xenia through four consecutive terms, honoring the city which has honored him through the faithful performance of duty and through his effective labors in promoting its advancement along many lines that contribute to its prosperity, development and attractive appearance.
Mr. Linkhart was born in Xenia township. Greene county, on the 20th of October. 1847, his parents being Joseph and Clara (Collier) Linkhart. the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Greene county. The Linkhart family is of German origin, and the grandfather of our subject, on leaving his native country, crossed the Atlaniic to the Old Dominion. Later he removed to Barnesville. Belmont county. Ohio, where he remained until the father of our subject was about ten years of age, when he came to Greene county, where he spent his remaining days. Joseph Linkhart was a mechanic and early in life learned to hew timber. In early manhood he was engaged in cutting ties for the Little Miami Railroad and later he cut the timber and built the dam for the Miami Powder Works. He afterward learned the cooper's trade and for years was engaged in the manufacture of powder kegs. In this county he married Clara Collier, a native of Xenia township and a daughter of Moses Collier, one of the old settlers of Greene county. Unto Joseph and Clara Linkhart were born nine children, of whom four reached years of maturity: Clement W.; Joseph, of Colorado; Nettie. who was first married to John Cromwell and after his death became the wife of Thomas Madden, of Xenia; and Harry A., who resides in Indiana. The father Iived to the age of seventy years and his wife passed away .April 27. 1899, at the age of seventy years, in our subjects home in Xenia. both being interred in Woodland cemetery.
In the district schools Clement W. Linkhart pursued his primary education and at the age of sixteen responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting on the 22d of February, 1864, as a memher of Company D, Eighth Ohio Cavalry. with which he served for nearly two years, until the close of the war. He was mustered in at Columbus and the regiment was assigned to the Army of West Virginia, becoming a part of the First Brigade, Second Division, under command of General Averill. Mr. Linkhart participated in the Hunter raid, taking part in a number of skirmishes when on the way to Lynchburg and on the retreat, and at that place his company was in the thickest of the fight. Mr. Linkhart lost his horse on the first day of the battle and for several days attempted to follow his company on foot. He then fell in with the Twelfth Ohio infantry. Its Comjiany D was from Xenia and they rendered him much needed assistance. For five days and five nights he had been on the retreat and had not had a single bite to eat. When he was found by the Union troops he was almost exhausted. With the Twelfth Ohio he returned to Charleston, West Virginia, where he remained for a few days when some stragglers of Company D, Eighth Ohio, arrived in Charleston, and with them he was sent to Parkersburg and then to Martinsburg, where he found the greater part of his company. There he was given another horse and then went to the front. On the second day after obtaining his horse he was on the skirmish line and his horse was shot dead. He then went to the rear and was sent to Sandy Hook, and was then put on guard duty at Bolivar Heights. He was on duty in front of one of the general's headquarters when General Sheridan made his famous ride and could hear him galloping down the valley long before he had reached his destination. On being relieved Mr. Linkhart was put on commissary duty at Harper's Ferry, but after two weeks was taken ill and from the hospital there was transferred to a hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland, and then to Harrisburg. In the fall of 1864 he was granted a thirty-days furlough and returned home. On account of ill health he remained at home for forty days and then proceeded to Columbus and Pittsburg and at the latter place was arrested because he out-staid his furlough. He was transferred to Baltimore and next to Washington and after being in the barracks facing the capitol grounds for two weeks under guard, then on to Alexandria, Virginia. Ten days later with a squad of men of his company he was sent to Grafton, West Virginia, where he was released. With fifteen others he started to march to Beverly, arriving on the 11th of January, and that night the whole Union command was captured by General Rosseau's Confederate Cavalry. The regiment lost forty men before surrendering. The Union troops were then marched to Stanton, West Virginia, enduring many hardships, and were then loaded into freight cars like cattle and sent to Libby prison, but that place was so crowded that no more could be received and these men were put in a large four-story brick warehouse across the street, afterward known as the Pemberton prison, About four hundred were put in one room on the second floor. On the 14th of February, 1865, they were paroled and transferred by rebel boat to General Butler's lines, and thence on the City of New York to Annapolis, Marvland, and after a week Mr. Linkhart was sent home on a furlough. Several weeks later he reported for duty at Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he remained for a month in charge of several thousand horses and mules. He was mustered out of service July 30. 1865. at Clarksburg. West Virginia, transferred to Cincinnati and then proceeded to Camp Dennison, where he was paid off and finally discharged. He was a brave and loyal soldier and deserves the gratitude of his country for what he accomplished as one of the defenders of the Union.
Soon after his return Mr. Linkhart learned coopering and for fifteen years was in the employ of the Miami Powder Company, most of the time in the coopering department, but some of the time in the powder department. He also engaged in painting for that company for a time.
On the 6th of March, 1870, Mr. Linkhart married Bessie J. Clark, a native of Fairhaven, Connecticut, and a daughter of Thomas Clark, who was connected with the Miami Powder Company. He was an expert powder maker and was killed at Newburg, now a part of Cleveland. Our subject and his wife were married in Cleveland and to them were born four children, but twin daughters died in infancy and Ira Fay died at the age of eighteen months, while Clara G., the only surviving child, is the wife of Newton L. Reutinger. of Chillicothe, Ohio, by whom she has one child, Clement H.
After severing his connection with the powder company Mr. Linkhart removed to Xenia, and was employed as janitor of the courthouse, in which capacity he served for four years, in the meantime he was elected township clerk of Xenia township, and served in that capacity for three years. At the end of his service as janitor he was appointed deputy sheriff under James A. Johnson, which office he held for four years. He was elected sheriff of Greene county in 1886, taking the oath of office in January, 1887. and was re-elected in 1888, holding the office until January. 1891. He thus served for four years, when, accordijig to the laws of Ohio, he was no longer eligible to re-election. He then lived retired for a time, but in 1892 was made the Republican candidate for mayor. Two years later he was again nominated but both times was defeated. In 1896, however, he was again nominated and this time was elected and so capably did he administer the affairs of the office that he has been continued in the position by re-election to the present time.
Fraternally he is a member of Lewis Post, No. 347, G. A. R.; Xenia Lodge, No. 52, I O. O. F.; Elks Lodge, No. 668; and he also belongs to the Trinitv Methodist Episcopal church of Xenia. He was elected to the office of president of the Ohio League of Municipalities at Columbus, January 7. 1902, an organization formed to further tlie interests of the cities and their officers. He is today as true to his duties of citizenship as when he wore the blue uniform of the country and fought to protect the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields. The terms progress and patriotism might be termed the keynote of his character, for throughout his career he has labored for every public interest with which he has been associated, and at all times has been actuated by a fidelity to his country and her welfare.
From History of Greene County, Ohio, by George F. Robinson (S. J. Clarke Publishing Co, 1902)