USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 26
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DANIEL ELLIOTT.
Daniel Elliott, now deceased, was a man of marked perseverance and strong force of character. and though he started out in life empty-handed at the early age of fourteen years at the time of his death he was the possessor of a handsome property, all acquired through his own well directed efforts. He was a grandson of James Elliott, who was born and reared in Sherman Valley. Pennsylvania. He married Jean Hart. During the war of the Revo- lution he fought for the independence of the nation and in compensation for his services was afterward granted by the government sixteen hundred acres of land in Norwich township. Franklin county. He never settled on that tract, however, but lived and died at the place of his nativity, where his wife also passed away. The following is the record of their children: Robert, the father of our subject, was the eldest. William located south of Piqua in Miami county. Ohio, and there spent his remaining days. James took up his abode in Hancock county, Ohio, where he remained until called to his final rest. John, who was an Indian agent for many years, lived and died in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Sally married a cousin, Mr. Elliott, and died
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near Wapakoneta, leaving an infant son, Thomas. The father engaged an Indian woman to act as nurse for the baby and when he grew older he ran away from home and joined the Indian tribe of which his former nurse was a member. Betsy became Mrs. William Nelson and died at Greenfield, High- land county, Ohio.
Robert Elliott, father of our subject, was born in 1774, in Sherman's Valley, Perry county, Pennsylvania, and was there reared to manhood on a farm. He married Nancy Black, also a native of the same locality, and soon afterward they started for Ohio, locating at Hillsboro, where they remained for about four years. They then located on a farm of two hundred and sixty- seven acres in Norwich township, Franklin county, which was a part of the government grant to his father. He built a log cabin in the midst of the forest on the banks of the Scioto river by a large spring, but the land was low and wet and produced ague : so he built a house on higher ground on the west side of the Dublin pike, making his home there until his death. He was a hard-working man and became prosperous. For fifteen years he served as justice of the peace, capably filling that office. By his first marriage he had six children : James, who died in Columbus; William, who died in Iowa; Robert, who died in Champaign county, Ohio; George, who departed this life in Franklin county; Nancy, who married Bigelow Spain, and died in Champaign county, Ohio; and Polly, who became the wife of Jacob Vorhees and died in Illinois. After the death of his first wife the father married Susan Brunk, a native of Maryland and a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Grace) Brunk, also natives of that state. She was four years old when she accompanied her parents to Ohio, the family locating in Washington township, Franklin county, where she grew to womanhood among the Indians. The children of Mr. Elliott's second marriage were Sally, the wife of Tillman Sullivan, of Norwich township; Samuel, who died in Columbus; Margaret, the wife of Edson Aldrich, of Hardin county, Ohio; Eliza, the wife of Cap- tain Imes. of Columbus ; Jackson, who died at the Soldiers' Home in San- dusky, Ohio; Daniel; and David, of Norwich township.
Daniel Elliott was born in Norwich township, spent his early youth on the farm there and attended school through the winter months until four- teen years of age. He was only four years old when his father died. He remained with his stepfather until fourteen years of age, when he went to live with his sister, Mrs. Sally Sullivan. He attended school only one winter after that. He became self-supporting at the age of fourteen, first earning his living by digging post-holes in connection with his brother David, at three cents per hole. He worked at anything he could get to do, husking corn, assisting in the harvest fields, or doing any kind of farm work that would yield him an honest living. He saved his money and when he was twenty-four years of age his grandfather, Daniel Brunk, gave him forty dol- lars. He inherited two acres of land from his father and from his brother
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David purchased two acres adjoining. In 1861 he built a hewed-log house of two rooms, which was raised on the 18th of March, 1861.
On the 6th of July, 1860, Mr. Elliott had married Miss Sidney Wynkoop, who was born in Brown township, Franklin county, September 20, 1843, a daughter of Strickland and Eliza (Sandy ) Wynkoop. In 1850 her father removed to Louisa county, Iowa, going by way of Cincinnati. He accom- plished part of the journey by taking passage on a steamboat to St. Louis. At the falls of the Ohio river the oldest son, James, fell overboard and the steamer backed up to rescue him, but he was struck by the vessel and sank to a watery grave. At. St. Louis, on account of an accident, they had to change boats, but ultimately arrived at Fort Louisa, Iowa, then a small place of six houses and one shop. They were three weeks on the water. After landing they proceeded by wagon to the Missouri river, crossed that stream on a ferry to Wapapello, and by wagon went four miles into the country. With a land warrant Mr. Wynkoop secured forty acres of prairie land and began the erec- tion of a house. He had almost completed it when he was taken with ague, which developed into dropsy, and the other members of the family also became ill. Their two little children, twins, between three and four years of age, had to carry water for them. Another child was born and nine days later the mother died, leaving thirteen children. Mr. Wynkoop then sold his land and returned to Franklin county, Ohio, making his home with relatives while the children were scattered among families in this portion of Ohio. He died in 1882, at the age of ninety-one years, six months and six days.
Mrs. Elliott was only eleven years of age when she went out in the world to do a woman's work. For a year she lived with her sister, Mrs. Delilah Harrington, and then went to live with her grandfather, but he had married a second time and therefore she was not welcome there. She hired out to do house-work, providing entirely for her own support. Her educa- tion was acquired at intervals when she found opportunity to attend school. At the age of seventeen she gave her hand in marriage to Daniel Elliott, and to him she proved a faithful helpmate and companion on life's journey. In 1871 he purchased twenty-three and three-fourths acres of land adjoining the old Elliott homestead. Mrs. Elliott would bake, churn and cook and attend to all the household duties. Her husband would prepare the fields for cultivation and then she would go out to assist him, working in the fields until dinner time, when she would return and get dinner and afterward again join her husband in the fields, where they would work until dark. In 1876 they purchased sixteen and three-quarters acres of the old homestead, and in 1882-3 added fourteen acres more, making a total of fifty-seven and three- fourths acres. To the cultivation and improvement of his land Mr. Elliott devoted his energies untiring until his death.
Unto our subject and his wife were born the following children : Samuel Francis, born October 14. 1861, died in infancy. Nettie Adeline, born April 16, 1865, was married, September 29, 1886, to Elmer E. Shrum, and
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they have two children,-Ivan E. and Sidney Lester. Ida Eliza, born Novem- ber 29, 1866, is the wife of Ulysses Hoffman, who resides near Logansport, Indiana, and they have one child, Daniel Elliott.
When seventeen years of age Mr. Elliott, the subject of this review, was converted, joined the Methodist Episcopal church and lived an earnest Chris- tian life. In politics he was a stanch Republican, but never sought or desired public office. He was honest and conscientious in all his dealings and conr- manded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He passed away December 21, 1891, esteemed by all who knew him. His widow still resides on the homestead farm, which she assisted him to secure, and in the com- munity she has many friends.
JOHN PEIFFIER.
Long a resident of Columbus and known as one of the reliable and enter- prising citizens, John Peiffier certainly deserves representation in this vol- ume. He was born in Little York, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1834, and was four years of age when he accompanied his father on his removal to Winchester, Ohio. They had been installed in their new home about a year when Jacob Peiffier, the father, was killed by a team of horses that ran over him. His wife, Mrs. Margaret Peiffier, was left with a family of small children. She afterward married Henry Herpst, at Winchester, and about 1844 the step- father with the family came to Franklin county, locating on a farm three miles north of Columbus, and afterward removed to the city, where Mrs. Peiffier died in 1882.
The subject of this review continued upon the homestead farm in this county until he had attained his majority, when he removed to the city and for thirty-five years was connected with the fire department, the period between 1855 and 1890. He was a well known figure among the members of the department and in the city, and his bravery was displayed on many occasions. It requires a spirit no less fearless and resolute to fight the fiery element than to meet the enemy upon the field of battle, and, though there are periods of rest and quiet in the life of the fireman, there are also many times of great danger and excitement, when cool nerve and steady hands are needed. Meet- ing every requirement, Mr. Peiffier long continued in the service and rendered valued aid to the city in suppressing the chief element of destruction to life and property.
On the 3d of July, 1856, in the home of the bride on Mound street, in Columbus, Mr. Peiffier was united in marriage to Miss Olive Pope, whose parents were among the honored pioneer settlers of the capital. Her father, John Pope, was born in New York, in 1786, and served during the war of 1812. With his father he came to the west, settling in Ohio about the year 1823, and here he was married. From 1829 until 1844 he conducted a hotel at Hibernia, Franklin county, and in 1850 he took up his abode in Colum-
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bus, spending his remaining days in this city, his death occurring at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Miller, in 1862. His wife, Mrs. (Jettruda) Pope, died in the same year. Their children were: Mrs. Peiffier; Henry, who was born in 1836 and died on his farm in Franklin county in 1875; Phoebe Ann, who married Phillip Dutoit, of Columbus, and died at their home east of the city; Mary Jane, who became the wife of William Lennox, who resides in Mattoon, Illinois, where her death occurred in 1898; Martha Pope, who became the wife of Gilbert Green and after his death married a Mr. Brown, who died in 1895, since which time she has been living with her daughter, Mrs. Helmbrech, on East Livingston street, Columbus; Caro- line, who became the wife of Harvey O'Hara and died in 1870, her husband passing away in 1895, leaving one daughter; Mary, now the wife of James Brown, who is living on East Sixth street, Columbus; Harriet, the wife of Gideon Miller; John, who died soon after the Civil war; and Louisa, who passed away in 1844. The following is the record of the children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Peiffier: William, their eldest child, was born in 1857 and married Miss Tillie Brown, of New Britain, Connecticut, where they reside with their children, Grace, Jane, Lionel and Charles. Charles, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Peiffier, was born in 1859, is married and is engaged in the grocery business on Harrison avenue, Columbus; Jettonda was the wife of Joseph Davidson, the proprietor of the Columbus Iron Works, and their children were as follows,-Florence and Frank Davidson. Flora Belle, who was born in 1864, is the wife of Frank Smith and has five children, namely : Edgar, Hardy, Elizabeth, Franklin and Robert. Her death occurred in 1894. Her son Edgar, who was born in 1884, resides with his maternal grandparents. Nettie, the next member of the Peiffier family, is the wife of Edward Radcliffe, of Columbus, and their children are: Eva, Hazel and Margaret. Olive resides at home. Frederick married Miss Ada Tobin and resides on Second avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. Peiffier have resided at their present home through the past eighteen years. Their house occupies the site of the old sugar camp which was on his father's farm more than a half century ago. The family are all members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Peiffier is numbered among the pioneer residents of Columbus, having witnessed much of the growth and development of the city as it has emerged from a village into a thriving metropolitan center. His life has been a useful one, devoted to the welfare of his fellow men, and wherever he is known he is held in high regard.
HENRY R. HESS.
Prominent as a representative of the farming interests of Franklin county stands Henry R. Hess, an enterprising, practical and progressive agricult- urist, whose labors are bringing to him desirable prosperity. He is the only child of Thomas M. and Mary A. (Rutherford) Hess, who was born in
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Delaware county, Ohio, in the year 1850. His mother died when he was only eighteen days old, and he then resided with his grandparents in Dela- ware county until six years of age. He pursued his education in the district schools of Franklin county and remained upon the farm with his father until twenty-eight years of age, when he left the parental roof in order to establish a home of his own, securing as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Katie Reeb, a daughter of Henry Reeb, of Franklin county, the wedding being celebrated in 1879. Their marriage was blessed with two children, of whom one, Anna R., is still living. The mother died in January, 1890, and her loss was deeply mourned not only by her family but by many friends, for her womanly qualities and estimable characteristics had gained her the warm friendship of those with whom she had been brought in contact.
Throughout his business career Mr. Hess has carried on agricultural pursuits and now owns and operates one hundred and fifty-two acres of rich land, all under cultivation and well improved with modern accessories. The richly tilled fields bring to him golden harvests, and the buildings upon his place stand as a monument to his enterprise and thrift. He is a man well and favorably known for his many good qualities and he takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community. He is a public spirited and wide-awake citizen, and in his life exemplifies the enterprise so characteristic of America.
CLINTON W. TUSING.
One of the successful and enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Franklin county is Clinton W. Tusing, of Truro township, who has one hundred and ninety-two acres in his homestead farm and also owns valuable property elsewhere. He was born in Violet township, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 24th of August, 1849, and is a son of Rev. G. N. Tusing. His edu- cation was acquired in the schools of his native county and he afterward engaged in teaching in Franklin and Fairfield counties for five years. He first began farming upon a forty-acre tract of land which he received from his father. He made all of the improvements upon the place, transformed it into a richly cultivated tract and afterward sold that property at a good advance in price. He then purchased the farm upon which he now resides and it has been his home for a quarter of a century. As he had to give possession of the old farm sooner than he had expected his house upon the new one had not then been completed and he therefore took up his abode in the barn until the residence was erected. It was finished in the year 1875, and in it his family were soon installed. As the years have gone by he has added to his place all the improvements and accessories of a model farm, and to-day his home place of one hundred and ninety-two acres is a very valuable tract, the well tilled- fields yielding a golden tribute in return for his care and labor. He also owns a farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres in Lick-
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ing county and he has three city lots in Columbus. He makes a specialty of raising polled Aberdeen Angus cattle, and his stock is of a fine grade and finds a ready sale on the market, thus materially increasing his income.
On the 16th of November, 1871, Mr. Tusing was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Roads, a daughter of Joseph Roads, who was a successful farmer living near Hebron, Licking county, Ohio. His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Moore and was born near Newark, in Licking county, Ohio. They were the parents of eight children. Emily became the wife of Amor Smith, of Fairfield county, Ohio, and died in 1863. The others were: Mrs. Laura Stover; Mrs. Rebecca Smith; Mrs. Louise Tusing; Jessie, deceased ; Hulda; Mrs. Anna Bretz; and Mrs. Lucinda Miller. The eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Tusing was born while they were living in a barn. They have become the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: George N., who aids in the operation of the home farm; Ludo Lonzetta, who is a bookkeeper with the Consolidated Street Car Company of Columbus; Myrtle Maud, who is a teacher in Jefferson township; Lutie Gertrude ; and Ernest Clem and Edna Esther, who are still with their parents.
In his political affiliations Mr. Tusing is a Democrat on questions of national importance, but votes independently at township and county elec- tions, nor has he sought office as a reward for allegiance to Democracy. His wife and two oldest daughters hold membership in the Primitive Baptist church and he contributes liberally to its support. He gives his aid and co-op- eration to all movements for the general good and is an enterprising citizen. In his business affairs he has manifested strong determination, unabating energy and industry, and thus he has been enabled to overcome all the diffi- culties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to success.
WILLIAM NEISWENDER.
Throughout almost his entire life William Neiswender has made his home in Jackson township, this county, and has been prominently identified with its industrial and agricultural interests. His has been a long and useful career, and he well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
He was born in Pennsylvania, on the 25th of May, 1818, and was only two years of age when he removed to Knox county, Ohio, with his father, John Neiswender, a native of Pennsylvania. Subsequently the family came to Franklin county and took up their residence in Jefferson township among its first settlens. Here the father purchased a tract of woodland, which he cleared and improved, his occupation being that of farming.
William Neiswender began his education in Jefferson township, his first teacher being Worthy Mitchem; but he was able to attend school only about two months during the year, the remainder of the time being employed in helping his father in clearing and cultivating the home farm. After attain- ing his majority he entered a select school, where he paid his own expenses by chopping wood mornings and evenings. When his education was com-
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM NEISWENDER.
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pleted he worked as a blacksmith's striker for some time and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for fourteen years. Being the only car- penter in the neighborhood, in case of a death he was called upon to make coffins. After discontinuing work at the carpenter's trade, he bought the farm in Jackson township, which has now been his home for fifty-six years. His first residence was a log house of but one room, which has since been replaced by a modern and commodious residence. He has made many other improvements upon the place, and now has one of the best cultivated and most desirable farms of the locality.
On the 3d of November, 1842, Mr. Neiswender married Miss Polly Hoover, who was born in Jackson township, this county, February 4, 1823, and died in 1873, leaving six children, who are still living, namely: Levi, Catherine, Aaron, Ezra, Lydia and Julia. Mr. Neiswender also has twenty- two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Through his own individual efforts Mr. Neiswender has become a well educated man, and can speak both English and German fluently. He has ever taken an active and commendable interest in educational affairs, has done his share toward its advancement, and gave the land on which the first school- house in his neighborhood was built. He served as clerk and treasurer of the school before they had a board of directors, and was afterward elected one of the directors. He is a life member of the Free Thought Federation, and. is one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of his community,. as well as one of its most honored members. In the course of his life he has visited Florida four times and has brought back a fine collection of shells and. other relics, and also has the finest collection of old coins in the state.
FRANCIS B. DEAN.
Francis B. Dean, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Mifflin township, was born on the farm where he yet lives on the 6th of October, 1832. His father, Ebenezer Dean, was born in Stamford, Fairfield county, Connecticut, and in the year 1810 came to Franklin county with his parents, Lebbeus and Ruah Dean, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. They located in the midst of the wild forest in Mifflin township where the home of our subject now stands, and there the grandfather carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. The father of our subject was married, in Columbus, to Miss Rachel Dalzell, who was born in Rochester, New York, and came to Franklin county in early life, locating here in 1818. Her father, William Dalzell, removed with the family from Rochester in July of that year, and located at Columbus, but afterward engaged in farming. The young couple began their domestic life on the farm which is still the home of their son, Francis. The father was killed by a falling tree in 1841, when about forty years of age. His wife passed away in 1893. at the age of eighty-four years, having long survived her husband. In their family were six children, all of whom were born on the old family homestead, namely : Francis B .; Robert D., of Colum-
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bus : John D., who is also living in that city : Ebenezer, who resides in Mifflin township; and George and James, who have passed away.
Mr. Dean, of this review, was the eldest child. He was reared on the old family homestead which was the scene of his childhood pleasures as well as of his manhood labors. With the family he experienced all the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the pioneer. He pursued his education in the district schools of the neighborhood, spent one year as a student in Columbus and also one year in a school in Pittsburg. On the expiration of that period he accepted a clerkship in the wholesale grocery house of Bailey & Renshaw, of Pittsburg, continuing in that position for one year, after which he returned to his home in Mifflin township and resumed farming. He was then twenty-one years of age. As a companion and helpmate on life's jour- ney he chose Miss Fredonia C. Phelps, their courtship being consummated by marriage on the 4th of May, 1854. The lady was born in Blendon township, Franklin county, November 14, 1835. Her father, Homer M. Phelps, was also a native of that township, born February 9, 1812, while the grandfather, Edward Phelps, was a native of Windsor township, Hartford county, Con- necticut, whence they came to Franklin county in the month of August, 1806. He located in Blendon township and was prominently connected with the work of pioneer development here. One of his sons, Edward Phelps, cut the first stick of timber in the township and the family name has been deeply engraved on the history of this portion of the state. Homer M. Phelps was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth G. Connelly, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who, in 1831, came to Franklin county. Mrs. Dean is the eldest of their three children and is the only daughter. Her brothers are: Warren, who is living in Columbus : and E. Clinton, who makes his home in Chicago. Mrs. Dean was reared in Blendon township and com- pleted her education by a five-years course in the seminary in Worthington, Ohio.
After his marriage our subject took his bride to the old homestead, where, as the years passed. seven children were added to the family, but only three are now living : Homer P., who married Shirlie Turney, by whom he has two children, Francis B. and Emerson T. : Katie R., the wife of W. E. Postle, by whom she has two children, Sydney E. and Cyril D. ; and Howard F., who married Olive McLeish, and has a daughter, Helen M. Those who have passed away are Clara B., who was the wife of William Longman, by whom she had two children. Hazel and Francis F .; Mary E., who married W. E. Dill and had three children; Joe Foraker, Dean E. and Parke E. Laura M. died when twelve years of age, and Blanche died in infancy. The children were all born on the old family homestead which has been occupied by the Deans for almost the entire century. Howard is now a student in a medical college.
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