A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 48

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

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HENRY T. HENDERSON.

Henry T. Henderson is one of the venerable citizens of Franklin county, now in his ninety-third year. He was born near Martinsburg, Virginia, October 22, 1808, and in the fall of 1814 became a resident of Ohio. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Scotland, where lived the great- grandfather of our subject, who crossed the Atlantic to the Virginia colony in the interest of Lord Fairfax. He lived to be ninety-five years of age,

HENRY T. HENDERSON.

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while his wife reached the extreme old age of one hundred and ten years. John Henderson, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Hali- fax county, Virginia, became actively interested in agricultural pursuits and operated his land by the slaves that he owned. He married Miss Tole, who was born in Virginia. His death occurred when he had passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. His children were as follows: Robert, who at an early age went to Kentucky, where he was married; Charles, the father of our subject; Samuel, who removed to Logan county, Ohio, where he died at the age of ninety-five years; Tarlton, who died in Virginia; Nancy, whose death also occurred in the Old Dominion; and Fanny, who was mar- ried and lived in Ohio.

Charles Henderson was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, and was reared upon his father's plantation, while in the subscription schools he acquired his education. He married Rebecca Duvall, who was of French descent and was born on Carl's manor, Maryland, her parents being Benjamin and Anna Duvall. After his marriage Charles Henderson accepted a situa- tion as overseer on the plantation owned by Mr. Swirenger, of Jefferson county, Virginia. Subsequently he removed to Berkeley county, West Vir- ginia, where he acted as overseer for Major Begnier, a brother-in-law of Governor Worthington, of Ohio. The latter gentleman induced Mr. Hen- derson to, come to the Buckeye state, and the journey was made with team and wagon in 1814. On the trip they were accompanied by another family, from whom they separated at Chillicothe, Ohio. The father of our subject located on the Worthington farm in Ross county, where he remained for five years, after which he spent a similar period on the McArthur farm, its owner being the father-in-law of Governor Allen. Later, however, he returned! to the Worthington farm, where he again spent five years. During that. time he had acquired capital sufficient to pay for two hundred acres of land. in Madison county, near what is now Big Plain, and there he devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-six years of age. His wife passed away at the age of eighty-one. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Henderson frequently served as one of the officers of the congregation with which he was associated. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican and was a public-spirited man who co-operated with all move- ments for the general good. His children were: Henry, of this review; Duvall, who died at the home of his daughter in Pennsylvania; William, who married Priscilla Foster and died in Washington county, Iowa; Sarah, wife of John S. Beatty, of Washington, Iowa; Susan, who became the wife of John Bell; she and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Duvall Henderson, were both accidentally killed while crossing the railroad near Morgan, Ohio, at the ages respectively of seventy and eighty years; Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Duvall and died at her home in Illinois; and Elizabeth, who married Obediah Copeland and died in Union county, Ohio.

Henry T. Henderson, the honored subject of this review, was only six

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years of age when he became a resident of Ohio. Few indeed of the citizens of the state can claim to have resided here eighty-six years. He was reared amid wild surroundings, for the work of civilization and progress had hardly been begun when the family came to the Buckeye state. There were no schools except those conducted on the subscription plan, and as he was the eldest of the family he had little opportunity to pursue his studies, for the work of the home farm largely devolved upon him. The first school which he attended was held in a log house in Ross county and his first teacher was Mr. Dunn. He learned the letters of the alphabet while sitting upon a slab bench in a log building of primitive structure and equally crude furnishings. From one side of the building a log had been removed and the aperture had been filled with glass, the schoolroom thus being lighted. Mr. Henderson only attended school in the winter months when the work of the farm was practically over, for during the summer season he found it necessary to labor in the fields and assist in clearing the land and cultivating the crops. He remained with his father until twenty years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He was apprenticed to learn the tanner and currier's trade in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained for two years, but was then compelled to give up his work owing to physical disability. After leaving home he became ac- quainted with the chief engineer of a company engaged in making a pike, and with whom he began work on the canal as rodsman, being thus employed for two years, after which he went to Alabama to work as superintendent in build- ing canals. He was superintendent of that work for two years, on the ex- piration of which period he went to Huntsville, Alabama, and superintended the construction of a macadamized road, the first of the kind that had ever been constructed in that portion of the country. A year later he went to Mis- sissippi, where he remained for five years, contracting for and superintending the building of railroads.

In the fall of 1841 Mr. Henderson returned to Ohio and made his way into the woods of Pleasant township, Franklin county, where he began the development of a farm. He had previously purchased four hundred acres of land, to which he afterward added the remainder of the survey, comprising one hundred and fifty acres. At first he lived in a log cabin of one room, eighteen by twenty-two feet, his home being surrounded by a dense uncut forest. He was married, on the 7th of February, 1842, to Miss Mary A. Makemson, who was born near Bellefontaine, in Logan county, Ohio, May 10, 1820. She, too, experienced the usual life of the pioneer settlers, pur- suing her education in a log schoolhouse, heated by an immense fireplace and lighted by greased paper windows. Her father, John Makemson, was born and reared in Kentucky and married Margaret Lindsey, whose birth occurred in Cynthiana, that state. They came to Ohio at an early period in the nine- teenth century, when the land was wild and the Indians roamed in large numbers through the forests. Many families had to leave Ohio on account of the depredations of the redmen, who stole everything they could secure. John Makemson owned a large tract of wild land and developed there a good farm.

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He died in Logan county, Ohio, in 1843, at the age of sixty-three, and his wife passed away at the advanced age of ninety-five years.

After his marriage Mr. Henderson and his bride began their domestic life in a little log cabin, where many pleasant years were passed. His wife would operate the spinning wheel, for they kept sheep, from the wool of which they made the cloth which was used in making their clothing. She learned the art from her mother, who was an expert weaver. Mr. Henderson worked in the fields, clearing and improving his land. At the time they were married he had two small tracts cleared, one of eight, the cther of five acres, and on the latter stood the cabin home. He continued the develop- ment of his farm and in course of time erected thereon a neat frame cottage, built out of valuable walnut timber. Their first three children were born in the log cabin, and the family resided in the old homestead until the 31st of October, 1856, when Mr. Henderson rented his land and removed to Wester- ville in order to give his children better educational privileges and to enjoy a well earned rest. When he left the old home he had there a good farm of seven hundred and fifty acres, improved with all modern accessories and con- veniences. He spent twenty-one years in Westerville, and for thirteen years he lived among his children. In the winter of 1887-8 he was ill with typhoid fever and was taken to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Moffit, of London, Ohio, but is now living in Galloway. He also spent the winter of 1896-7 in Washington, D. C., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Florence Moffit, and attended the inauguration ceremonies of President Mckinley. He also paid the president a visit. He sent his card up by a colored servant and was ushered into the waiting room and afterward into the president's reception room. He found Mckinley besieged by office seekers, and when Mr. Hen- derson introduced himself, saying, "I am a pioneer farmer of Franklin county and am not seeking office for myself or others," the president said: "I am mighty glad to meet you," and when Mr. Henderson added that he had voted for every Whig and Republican candidate from the time of Henry Clay, in 1832, Mckinley again shook hands and said, "Well, I am indeed glad to see you." With a "God bless you," Mr. Henderson then bade him adieu. Mr. Henderson has served in a number of township offices. For fifty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist church and has lived a consistent Christian life. For nineteen years he served in various church offices in Westerville, acting as steward there for nineteen years, while for sixteen years prior to that time he had also filled the same office in another church. He is yet hale and hearty, and it is the wish of his many friends that he may be spared for some years to come. He is the oldest surviving member of his church, the oldest living citizen in his township and he receives the honor, respect and veneration which should ever be accorded to those of his years.

The children whom he reared are as follows: Charles, who enlisted in 1861 as a member of Company C, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in Ashland county from exposure and brought home, his remains being interred in Franklin county; Abner B., who was engaged in general mer-

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chandising in Galloway for seventeen years, is now in the same line of busi- ness in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and married Stella Colburn; Margaret is now the wife of Edward Cummins, of Galloway; Rebecca is the wife of D. B. Peters, of Galloway; America is the wife of Thomas Gregory, of Franklin county; and Florence is the wife of Dr. Melvin M. Moffit, of Washington, D. C.

DAVID W. MYERS.

David W. Myers, one of the most reliable and intelligent farmers of Norwich township, Franklin county, Ohio, was born on the old homestead there September 26, 1865, and is a representative of an old Pennsylvania family. His grandfather, Christian Myers, was a native of that state, born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and in early life learned the cooper's trade, which he followed many years, and then turned his attention to farming, owning and operating a large farm in Letterkenny township, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, eight miles from the city of Chambersburg. He was twice married, his first wife being Katy Bashor, who survived her marriage only a short time. In Franklin county he subsequently wedded Barbara Cobel, also a native of Pennsylvania. He died upon his farm in that county in 1853, and his wife, who survived him several years, passed away when more than eighty years of age. To them were born the following children: John, who died in Franklin county, Pennsylvania; Abraham, who was one of the early, settlers of Truro township, Franklin county, Ohio, where he died April 26, 1900; Annie, wife of Christian Wingard, of Franklin county. Pennsyl- vania ; Jacob, who died in that county; Barbara, who married David Stoner and died in Illinois; Susan, who married Daniel Kuntz and died in Franklin county, Pennsylvania; Christian, who died in Maryland; David, father of our subject ; and Betsey, who became Mrs. Prettyman and died in Maryland. David Myers, the father of our subject, was born in Letterkenny town- ship, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1826, and received a limited literary education. In early life he followed the shoemaker's trade. He was married, on the 9th of August, 1853, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Fricker, who was born in Amberson's valley, the same county, June 7, 1831, and was three years old when her parents moved to Letterkenny township, where she grew to womanhood. She attended school conducted in a log house, her first teacher being a Mr. Parks, but she disliked study, preferring to remain at home and assist her mother in the household duties. Her father, Andrew Fricker, was also a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and a shoemaker by trade. He married Rebecca Faust, who was born in Lurgan township, the same county, a daughter of Philip and Barbara (Rod- derbaugh) Faust, and after his marriage located in Amberson's Valley, but later moved to Letterkenny township. where he followed his trade until called from this life in the spring of 1848, at the age of forty-two years. He also engaged in farming to a limited extent, owning a small tract of thirty-four acres of land. His wife survived him about eleven years. In their family

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were four children, namely: Catherine, who married Abraham Shearer and died in Franklin county, Pennsylvania; Mary Elizabeth, mother of our sub- ject ; Crissie, who died young ; and Andrew .P., a resident of Delaware county, Ohio. Mrs. Myers' paternal grandfather was Philip Fricker, an only son of Andrew Fricker, a well-to-do farmer and miller, whose farm was in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and whose mill was just over the line in Bedford county.

Soon after his marriage, in 1853, the father of our subject came to Franklin county, Ohio, and purchased a small tract of land in Truro town- ship, where he made his home for five and a half years, and then came to Norwich township, where he purchased over ninety acres, on which stood a log cabin and stable. In 1874 he erected the house that is still standing, and later added forty-five acres to the original purchase. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Democrat, and religiously was a faithful member of the River Brethren church. He died April 23, 1887. His widow then took charge of affairs, and her children operated the farm for her until 1895. The family numbered the following: Margaret, at home; John A., who married Laura Smith, of Franklin county, is a resident of Putnam county, Ohio; Catherine Naomi, who died in infancy; Maria T., who died young; David W., our subject; Ezra F., who married Carrie Rogers and lives at home ; Eva Ann, wife of Charles Glazer, of Putnam county; and Benjamin F., who married Anna Miller, also of that county.

On the home farm David W. Myers passed the days of his boyhood and youth, attending the Milligan school, where he completed his education at the age of twenty-one years. During the summer he assisted in the work of the farm and remained at home until his marriage, in 1887, Miss Annie Burkett becoming his wife. She was born in Prairie township, this county, in 1868, a daughter of Thomas and Malinda (Hawke) Burkett. Three children bless this union, namely: Edna Hazeltine, Flossie Malinda and Norman Lester. Mr. and Mrs. Myers began their domestic life upon his present farm of forty-five acres, and he has since successfully engaged in general farming. He also owns sixty-one acres just across the road, and has converted his land into a highly improved and well cultivated farm, whose neat and thrifty appearance denoted the industry, enterprise and pro- gressive spirit of the owner. By his ballot Mr. Myers supports the men and measures of the Democratic party.

ALEXANDER PATTON.

The life of Alexander Patton, who was the mayor of Columbus from 1845 to 1849, connected the pioneer days of that city with the period of active development which immediately preceded the Civil war.

Mr. Patton was born in Hanover township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, March 27, 1791, and after having served his country in the war of 1812 emigrated to Columbus, Ohio, where he arrived July 17, 1813, and

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located in a log cabin on the east bank of the Scioto river, just south of where the Ohio penitentiary now stands. The city was at that time prac- tically a wilderness. He had acquired a good education in the schools of Pennsylvania and had familiarized himself with the carpenter's trade, and he and his brother Michael, who was a member of the first city council elected in Columbus, were contractors and builders and were prominent in that line until about 1840. They built the public offices for the state on High street, north of the old state-house, and many other prominent struc- tures of their time.

Alexander Patton was a justice of the peace of Montgomery township eight years, and was for a time at the head of the old volunteer fire depart- ment of Columbus. He was elected mayor in 1845 and served ably and hon- orably in that office for four years. In religious faith he was a Universalist. He married Miss Nancy Green, of Columbus, and had eleven children, all of whom are dead except M. Gustavus Patton, who is at this time a citizen of the Ohio capital.

ISAAC GRISWOLD.

It is not probable that any of the present residents of Franklin county, Ohio, under-rate the honor that belongs to its pioneers. The name of Gris- wold is one of the earliest in the history of the township of Blendon, and in that history the memory of Isaac Griswold will be kept green until the end of time.

Isaac Griswold was born in Windsor, Connecticut, October 27, 1779, and died in Blendon township July 14, 1869, aged nearly ninety years. The Griswold family in America traces its descent to Edward Griswold, born in England in 1607, who came to America in 1639 and settled in Connecticut. Isaac Griswold married Ursula Clark, who was born January 1, 1783, at Windsor, Connecticut, and died April 16, 1854, in Blendon township. Moses Clark, her father, was a Revolutionary soldier and her mother was a Phelps. Isaac Griswold and Ursula Clark were married in Connecticut and began their married life there. In 1805, in company with Colonel Kilbourne and Edward Phelps, Isaac Griswold made a horseback journey to Ohio and Mr. Phelps and Mr. Griswold located land in Blendon township and returned to Connecticut for their families. They came back in the spring of 1806, with wagons and Mr. Griswold drove three yokes of oxen which drew the mem- bers of their household and their belongings. One of the earliest settlers in the township, he became one of the most prominent and useful. He secured two hundred acres of good land which he improved and on which he lived until his death. He saw active service as a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1824 he secured the establishment of a postoffice at Blendon, as his homestead had become known. The business of the office was transacted in his house and he was postmaster through all administrations until 1864,

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when he was succeeded by his son Cicero P., who had charge of the office until it was abolished a few years ago.

Isaac and Ursula (Clark) Griswold had six children: Isaac M. went to Illinois early in life and died there at the age of thirty-eight years. Edwin B. spent his entire life on his father's farm and died unmarried in 1834, at the age of twenty-eight years. Christiana, born in 1808, was the first white girl born in Blendon township. She married Thomas Shrock and died in her native township in January, 1887. Fredus N. was born in Blendon township in ISII and died there in July, 1881. Cicero P. was born in Blendon township in December, 1815. He was a good business man and financier, and he and his brother Fredus, neither of whom married, carried on farming operations in connection with their father until the latter's death, and afterward managed their own agricultural interests so successfully that they left a large estate and considerable money to their sister Mindwell, the youngest of the family, who now lives on the old family homestead. Mind- well Griswold was born December 19, 1822, and married George B. Clark, a native of Knox county, Ohio. Soon after their marriage they removed to Iowa, where Mr. Clark died February 17, 1852. Mrs. Clark returned to her childhood home, in which she has lived continuously to the present. She bore her husband five children: Louisa is the wife of H. Warren Phelps, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these pages. Edwin E., born in April, 1845, died in October, 1893. George W. is a prominent business man of Ohio. Eunice is a member of her mother's household. Charles W. is a farmer of Sharon township.

AUSTIN D. BEASLEY, M. D.

In no other country are young men found so prominently at the front in business and professional life as in America. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that the public trust is early reposed in them, so that business judg- ment is necessarily developed. They learn to form their plans readily and grasp a situation both in detail and general principles and to control it advantageously. In professional life many men not yet in their prime have attained lasting fame. Among the younger representatives of the medical fraternity in Columbus is Dr. A. D. Beasley, who has already gained a creditable position among the followers of the calling.

He was born in Athens county, Ohio, at Amesville, June 6, 1872, and is a son of John J. and Mazeppa ( Hill) Beasley. His father, a native of Ohio, was born and reared in Athens county and after his marriage settled at Amesville, dealing extensively in live stock, and a high degree of prosperity attended his efforts. Making judicious investments in land he became the owner of valuable property in Athens county, affording him excellent pas- turage for his stock. He removed to Columbus in 1899, where he is actively engaged in buying and shipping wool besides paying considerable attention to live stock. He resides at No. 1084 East Main street. His grandfather,

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George Beasley, was one of the early settlers of Athens county, married Mary A. Gardner, and was among the prosperous farmers of that section of the state.

Austin D. Beasley spent the first seventeen years of his life in Athens county, Ohio, where he received the rudiments of a good common-school edu- cation. Later he entered Marietta College, where for four years he dili- gently pursued his studies, and then, with a good literary knowledge to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learn- ing, he began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. Frank Warner, of the capital city, professor of operative surgery in Starling Medical College. He completed his studies and was graduated at that institution in 1897, when he opened an office on East Main street, where he has already gained a good professional clientage.

JOSEPH CLAPHAM.

Joseph Clapham, who in an early day was identified with educational interests in Ohio and through a long period has been interested in farming pursuits, now resides in Genoa township, Delaware county, but is so well' known in Franklin county that he may well be termed one of the representa- tive citizens of his community. He was born in Welton, Yorkshire, Eng- land, October 20. 1816, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah ( Hudson) Clap- ham. Of their family of nine children our subject is the only one who now survives. He entered Central College in order to pursue his education and during that period boarded at home. After two years spent in that school Professor Washburn thought him competent to teach and he secured a school in Piqua, Ohio, where he followed his profession for five months. He then returned to Central College, continuing one of its students through the suc- ceeding season and in the following winter he taught a six-months term of school in Piqua. Wishing to add still more to his knowledge, he again matriculated in Central College, where he completed his education the fol- lowing term, after which he taught two more terms of school in Piqua.

In 1841 he went to Illinois, where for nine months he engaged in teach- ing in the neighborhood of Springfield. The following year he went to Iowa, spending eleven months in the city of Dubuque, during which time he was connected with various pursuits. In the fall of 1843 he returned home and in the succeeding winter he engaged in teaching in his home dis- trict. In 1844 he took up his residence in Columbus and began driving a team for A. H. Pinney, a contractor in the prison. After six months here passed he was united in marriage to Miss Candace C. Wilcox, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and a daughter of Tracey Wilcox, who came from Connecticut, his native state, to Franklin county, Ohio, casting in his lot with its early settlers.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 48

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156