USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 1 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
was in the defense of Washington against Early's attack, and was also in the battle of Wise's Forks. He was always a willing and faithful soldier, was never sent to hospital nor taken prisoner, and was in every march, skir- mish and engagement in which his regiment participated while he was in the service. and was one of the few who were three times en- rolled in defense of their country's flag during the Rebellion.
After the war, Mr. Johnson returned to Allen county, but soon afterward moved to Van Wert county and purchased 160 acres in the woods of Hoaglin township. He first mar- ried, in Allen county, Miss Jennie Ford, and settled down on his land in Van Wert county and there wrought out from the wilderness a fine farm and made a comfortable home But he had the misfortune to lose his wife August 10, 1875, and for two years remained a widower. July 15, 1877, at Bluffton, Ohio, he married Miss Mary Russell, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 12, 1844, a daughter of Daniel Russell, whose biography appears on another page. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Johnson settled in Bluffton and en- gaged in buying and shipping produce, doing a prosperous trade, but he still retains and manages the farm which he had cleared up with his own hands from the wilderness.
Mr. Johnson is an Odd Fellow, has passed all the chairs of his lodge, and is now a mem- ber of the encampment; he is also a member of Robert Hamilton post, No. 262, G. A. R., and in politics is a prohibitionist. For many years he held the office of mayor and civil engineer of Bluffton, and is a widely-known, popular and honored citizen. He is well read, has acquired a large fund of general informa- tion, and is a gentleman of practical expe- rience in the affairs of life and business He is genial and social in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and is public-spirited as a citizen,
340
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
being always among the foremost to render aid when the well-being of his town and county is to be subserved. He is self-made as to his fortune, and as a business man his integrity has never for a moment been called into question.
ILLIAM E. JOHNSTON, one of the most progressive farmers of Auglaize township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Fairfield county, December 4, 1832, and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. His grandfather, Esau John- ston, was an early pioneer of Fairfield county and came from England. He married Matilda Davis and he and wife, after rearing a respected family, died in the county of their adoption.
Frederick Johnston, son of Esau and father of William E., was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1810, was a farmer and married Barbara Rutherford, who was born in April, 1 808, and became the mother of the following named children: Mary A., deceased wife of Samnel Black; William E, our subject; John P., David A., Henry R. and James H. The parents both died in their native county, but in that portion, after its division, known as Hocking county. The family were in more than usually good circumstances, although the father had made all he possessed through his own industry. He was a republican in poli- tics and had held all the offices in his town- ship; in religion he was first a Presbyterian, and was an elder in that church, but later united with the United Brethren, in which de- nomination he was a class leader.
William E. Johnston, our subject, received a very good common-school education and always kept himself well informed on the cur- rent event ; of the day. In September, 1864, he enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Fightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, and took
part in the campaigns through Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. His hardest fight was at Kingston, N. C., although he had participated in many skirmishes and neces- sarily endured much hard marching, especially in dispersing the forces of the rebel general, Johnston. He received an honorable discharge in July, 1865, after the close of the war. The first marriage of Mr. Johnston took place in Hocking county, Ohio, in January, 1852, to Ellen Bowlin, a native of Hocking county, born in 1835 and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Work) Bowlin. One child was born to this marriage-Edison B., August 4 1853. He was educated at Ada Normal college, and taught nine terms; he marred Mary J Vor- hees, and is the father of four daughters. Mrs. Johnston died in February, 1854, a mem- ber of the United Brethren church, and her remains were interred in Fairfield county, Ohio. The second marriage of Mr. Johnston took place September 20, 1860, in Auglaize town- ship, to Miss Margaret A. Sherrick, daughter of John and Matilda J. (Neeley; Sherrick; she was born February 11, 1842, and her family history will be found in subsequent paragraphs. The union of William E. and Margaret A. Johnston has been blessed with three children: Wesley C., who attended the Ohio Normal school and became one of the most successful teachers in Allen county, and is now married to Millie C. Thompson; Emma J., married to G. A. Rumbangh; and James E .. who attended the Middlepoint Normal college, and is now married to Mand E. Thompson.
In politics Mr. Johnston is a stanch re- publican and has served as township trus- tee for three terms of three years each, and now holds the nomination of his party for county infirmary director. He and wife are devoted members of the Methodhist Episcopal church, with which their children are also
-
341
OF ALLEN COUNTY.
connected, and to the support of which all render ready and liberal aid financially. For the past fifteen years Mr. Johnston has been superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school, in which he takes a profound interest. In fact, all his interests concentrate in his church and his home. Of his farm. which originally comprised 200 acres, he has given his children eighty acres, retaining 120 acres for his own use-breeding registered Jersey cattle and registered sheep. He is a first-class farmer in every detail of the calling, and has secured a comfortable competency for the coming years, and no man in the township or county enjoys a greater share of the public esteem.
Mrs. Mary A. Black, sister of Mr. Johnston, died of small-pox December 20, 1872; she was a sincere Christian and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and by her exemplary life won the love and confidence of all who knew her. She retained her mental faculties to the last, and with her expiring breath exclaimed: "My work is done; come, O Lord, and take me home." She left a hus- band and seven children to mourn their loss.
Jacob Sherrick, great-grandfather of Mrs. Margaret A. Johnston, came from Germany to America before the Revolutionary war was thought of. He was a weaver by trade and settled near Harrisburg, Pa., where the re- mainder of his days were passed. His son, also named Jacob, and grandfather of Mrs. Jolinston, was born near Harrisburg in 1788, became a weaver, and in 1828 came to Ohio, bought a farm in Fairfield county, and devoted the remainder of his life to agriculture, dying, in 1862, a member of the United Brethren church and in politics a democrat.
John Sherrick, son of Jacob last mentioned above and the father of Mrs. Johnston, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., October 17, 1814. He was well educated, and, following
in the footsteps of his forefathers, became a weaver, in which trade he was engaged until he reached his majority, when he turned his attention to farming, of which he made a pal- pable success. In 1839 he married, in Fair- fieid county, Ohio, Miss Matilda J. Neeley, a daughter of James Neeley, a native of Penn- sylvania but a pioneer of Fairfield county, Ohio. To this union were born the following children: Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Margaret A., now Mrs. W. E. Johnston; James N., deceased, and Jacob L. In 1858 the parents of this family came to Auglaize township, Allen county, and here the father purchased a tract of land in the woods, which he converted into the handsome farm on which his youngest child, Jacob L., now resides, and which then comprised 140 acres. Here John Sherrick departed this life May 27, 1886, a de- voted member of the United Brethren church, which he had liberally assisted with his means. In politics he was a democrat, but had never been an office seeker. His venerable widow still resides on the old homestead, respected by all who know her.
Jacob L. Sherrick, the youngest of the family born to John and Matilda J. (Neely) Sherrick, and the present occupant of the old farm, was born in Fairfield county, Ohno, May 29, 1848, and was reared a farmer. He was educated at a select school and at the Normal college at Ada, Ohio. From the age of eigh- teen years until twenty-two he made his home in Saint Louis, Mo., engaged in the live stock business, as raiser and dealer. September 9, 1885, he married Miss Hettie M. Vernon, a daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Brollier) Vernon, who came from Knox county, Ohio, in 1873, and settled in Richland township, Allen county, where the father died, February 2, 1887, and where the mother still lives Two children have blessed the union of Jacob L. Sherrick and wife, and are named Hazel and Harry L.
١٠٠
342
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
HOMAS R. JONES, a pioneer farmer of Sugar Creek township, Allen county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the late Civil war, is a native of Butler county, Ohio, was born May 26, 1827, and is of sturdy Welsh descent, and the first of his family born in America, as will be seen by the . following record.
Roland Jones, father of our subject, was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, about the year of 1788, was reared a fariner, and married Margaret Roberts, who was born in the same country about 1793. In 1820 the couple came to America in a sailing vessel, the voyage occupying nearly three months' time, and landed in Baltimore, Md., whence they came to Ohio and settled in Butler county at a place called Paddy's Run, where they remained until 1835, when they came to Allen county. by wagon, having had to cut their way through the woods from Wapakoneta to the 160-acre tract, in Sugar Creek township, which Mr. Jones bought from the national government at $1.25 per acre, and which land is now owned by their son, John E. Jones. Here Roland Jones underwent all the hardships of life in the wilderness, which were shared by his faithful wife and young children-then five in number and named Elizabeth, Catherine, Thomas R., John and Margaret-all of whom were born in Butler county with the exception of the eldest, Elizabeth, who was born in Wales. Later two more children were born to Roland and wife in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, and named Evan and Emaline. After clear- ing up his Butler county farm, or a good part of it, he came to Allen county, and was the sixth Welsh family to settle here --- the other families being those of James Nichols, Thomas Watkins, David Roberts, Evan Jones and John Watkins. Roland Jones became a substantial farmer of Sugar Creek township and died in March, 1876. age about eighty-two years, hav- |
ing lost his wife in 1867 at about the age of seventy-four.
Thomas R. Jones, whose name opens this biography, received a very fair education in the cominon schools after coming to Allen county with his parents in the month of October, 1835, when he was about seven years of age and walking most of the way from Butler county and driving the cattle, sheep and hogs. He was here reared on the pioneer farm and did his part in developing it. October 2, 1856, he married, in Sugar Creek township, Miss Mary Watkins, who was born February 13, 1832, in Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Evans) Watkins, then of Paddy's Run. To this union have been born eight children, viz: Abner, Edwin, Alice and Charles, who still live to bless and console the declining years of their honored parents and four de- ceased.
Thomas Watkins was born in Montgomery- shire, Wales, March 4, 1805, a son of Evan and Mary (Roberts) Watkins, and came to America in 1827, in a sailing vessel, embark- ing at Liverpool, England, and landing in New York, where he bought a pair of new shoes and had left a capital of a five-penny bit, as sixpence was then denominated. He first found work on a farm at Evansburg, Pa., whence he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he found labor for six months, and then found his way to Paddy's Run, where there was a flourishing Welsh settlement. Working at farm labor until April, 1831, he there mar- ried Jane Evans, who was born in December, 1813, a daughter of William and Jane (Ro- lands) Evans, Welsh pioneers. After the birth of two children, Mr. and Mrs. Watkins came to Allen county September 12, 1833, ac- companied by the families of D wid Roberts and Jamies Nichols. Here That as Watkins settled on the 160 acres of land in Sugar Creek township at present owned by his son,
ـية
<.
மகன் இச்வட்டி
343
-
OF ALLEN COUNTY.
Thomas, and after a tremendous struggle wrested it from the wilderness and made a re- spectable-looking farm, mauger all the wild beasts and wilder land with which he had to contend. Here, by indefatigable industry, Mr. Watkins acquired 600 acres of land and be- came one of the most prominent citizens of the township. He and wife were members of the first Welsh Congregational church of Sugar Creek, which he aided liberally from his means to erect, and in the faith of this religious body he died at the age of about eighty-six years, a truly honored man.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Jones they settled on the eighty-acre farm which they still occupy. There had been a few spots cleared when Mr. Jones took pos- session, and the labor of clearing off the farm has been that of Mr. Jones himself; not only this, but he has added to it until he now owns a most excellent farm of 160 acres, which be has drained thoroughly and placed under culti- vation throughout its length and breadth. He has a tasteful residence, erected in 1872, and good substantial out-buildings, and everything to show the superior management of the farm- er born.
May 22, 1864, at Lima, Mr. Jones enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served 100 days under Capt. Isaac Patrick, doing duty at Washington, D. C., and on the Potomac river, and receiving an honorable discharge at Co- lumbus, Ohio, in August, 1864. In politics Mr. Jones is a republican, and he and wife are consistent members of the Welsh Congrega- tional church, in which they have an abiding faith. Mr. Jones has served as township trus- tee two terms and has also been a member of the school board, ever showing a willing dis- position to serve his fellow-citizens in any ca- pacity when called upon. He and wife, being early pioneers of Sugar Creek township, have
seen it grow from the mere settlement of a handful of sturdy Welshmen, to become the abode of civilization in the highest form, in the bringing about of which they have been prime factors and for which they now enjoy the highest honor which can be bestowed upon them by a grateful rising generation.
O WEN A. JONES, an ex-soldier of the Civil war and a pioneer farmer of Sugar Creek township, Allen county, Ohio, came very nearly being a na- tive-born American citizen, and thus eligible to the presidency of the United States, but it happened that his birth took place on the At- lantic ocean, in the A No. I sailing vessel Ark, May 14, 1839, his parents on that eveut- ful occasion being on their way from Wales to America.
John D. Jones, father of our subject, was born in the shire of Caermarthen, in the south' part of Wales, was reared to farming, and there married Mrs. David Jones. who bore the maiden name of Jane Thomas, and who, by her first husband, became the mother of one child, Mary D., who was married to Richard J. Morgan, whose biography is given in full elsewhere in this volume. By her marriage with John D. Jones she became the mother of three children-Owen A., our subject, Marga- ret, and David, who died in Wales. In 1839 John D. Jones and wife sailed from Liverpool for America, and on the voyage occurred the notable event recorded in the opening para- graph of this memoir. Arriving in Baltimore, the father and mother and ocean-born child tarried from May until the fall of the year, when they came to Ohio, and bought in the woods of Sugar Creek township, Allen county, 120 acres of land-of which eighty acres were purchased of Neil Clark and forty of Richard
344
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Thomas-of which a small lot had been cleared up and on which was a rude log cabin. Here the usual pioneer life was gone through, but eventually a productive farm was wrought out, and here Mr. Jones died in 1878, at the age of about seventy-eight years, a member of the Welsh Congregational church.
Owen A. Jones was reared and educated in Sugar Creek township, attending school in the winter seasons until eighteen years of age, and also becoming an excellent farmer. At the age of twenty-three he enlisted at Delphos, Ohio, in company F, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and for meritorious services was soon promoted to be sergeant. He served until honorably dis- charged at Salisbury, N. C., June 24, 1865, and was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, the following July, the war having closed. Among the battles in which he took part were those of Mossy Creek, Kingston, Morristown, Sweet- water, and Philadelphia, all in Tennessee; and Dalton, Ga., Buzzards' Roost -- at the lat- ter being slightly injured by a rifle-ball graz- ing his hip; he was at Resaca and through the 'Atlanta campaign; at Kenesaw Mountain and at Joneshoro, and during his service had several rifle-balls pass through his clothing, but was never severely injured. He was in numerous skirmishes, and also in the sanguin- ary engagements at Franklin, Tenn., at Nashville, and the fall of Wilmington, N. C., and finally at Kingston, N. C. On his return to Allen county, he resumed farming on the homestead, and March 22, 1866, married Miss Ann Owens, who was born in Wales February 22. 1844, a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Morris) Owens. Hugh Owens came to Amer- ica in 1846, bringing his wife and five children -- Richard, Elizabeth, Evan, Marv, and Ann - and settled in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, in :247, having passed one year at Paddy's Run. He bought 160 acres of land.
of which he cleared twenty acres, and died in 1851, at the age of forty-seven years, a mem- ber of the Welsh Congregational church.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones they settled on their present farm-the old Jones homestead-and here have been born to them two children: Elizabeth and John C., both of whom have received excellent educa- tions. In politics Mr. Jones is a republican and has held the office of township clerk two years and also that of assessor for two terms. In religion he and his family are members of the the Welsh Congregational church, of which he has for many years been a deacon and trustee. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres and its ap- pearance gives every indication that he knows how to take care of it. He is a gentleman whose integrity has never been questioned, and he is a broad-minded, public-spirited citi- zen, who has never been found wanting when any project for the good of the general public was to be pushed forward.
a DWIN JONES, one of the prominent business men of Bluffton, and the only furniture dealer and undertaker in the place, was born in Erie county, Ohio, July 5, 1846. He is a son of Edward and Ann (Roberts) Jones, both of whom came from England. Edwin Jones received a good common-school education, learned the cabinet- maker's trade in his youth, and located at Bluffton in 1865. Here he acquired the cabi- net-maker s trade, and on March 27, 1868, he married Cynthia Bentley, who was born in Cannonsburg, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jefferson Bentley. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones there were born four children, as follows: Melta, Annie, Lottie and Albert. Mrs. Jones died April 13. 1884, and Mr. Jones was next mar- I ried, in 1885, to Araminta Eaton, who was
345
OF ALLEN COUNTY.
born in Bluffton, Ohio, and is a daughter of H. P. and Cynthia Eaton. To Mr and Mrs. Jones there have been born three children, viz: Clara, Eva and Mabel.
Mr. Jones engaged in the furniture business in 1867 and has been thus engaged ever since. In 1893 he added the undertaking part, and he now carries a full line of furniture and is well equipped as an undertaker, having a fine, modern hearse. Mr. Jones stands high as a man of character and as a model business man. Both he and his wife are members of the Evan- selical Lutheran church, of which he has been a deacon for five years. He is a member of Bluffton lodge, No. 433, F. & A. M., in which he has held the offices of junior deacon and senior warden. Politically he is a prohibition- ist, is a 'nan of sterling worth, is entirely a self-made man, and has reared an excellent family of children.
The father of Mr. Jones came from Eng- land when a young man, settled in Erie county, Ohio, and there cleared a farm of eighty acres, . being one of the pioneers of that county. After- ward he moved to Paulding county, where he lived five years in the woods, and then re- moved to Putnam county, where he now owns a good farm of 140 acres, and resides one and one-half miles southwest of Columbus Grove, Ohio. Hischildren were Annie, Edwin, Philip, Albert, Dora, Haney, Hattie and Melissa. He is yet living on his farin at the age of seventy- eight years, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held the office of steward, and in politics is a prohibi- tionist. All through his life he has been a highly honorable man, and is respected for his sterling worth by all who know him.
The attention of the reader is called to the biographies of other members of the Jones family, related to the subject of this sketch, to be found in the department of this volume devoted to Putnam county.
LEWELLYN JONES, a prominent citizen of Sugar Creek township, Allen county, and the leading undertaker of his part of the county, was born in Sugar Creek township, March 17, 1856.
Josiah Jones, the grandfather of the sub- ject, was born in Wales, and married Mary Jones. They were the parents of quite a fam- ily of children, all of whom died young ex- cept Josiah, the father of the subject of this sketch. Josiah Jones, the father of the sub- ject, was born Montgomeryshire, Wales, July 4, 1807. He was well educated in his youth and became an unusually intelligent man. Early in life he was set to work in a woolen mill, and was married, April 17, 1833 to Mary Hughes, who was born in August, 1807. She was a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Hughes) Hughes. Mr. and Mrs. Jones lived on a farm in Montgomeryshire, and to them were born seven children that grew to mature years, viz: Thomas H .; Mary M., who mar- ried, and died at the age of thirty-five years; Annie C., who died at the age of thirty-nine; Josiah, who died at the age of forty-two; Martha E .; Margaret L., who died at the age of thirty-nine, and Llewellyn There were other children that died when yet yonng.
Mr. Jones came to the United States in 1850, bringing his family. He sailed from Liverpool, England, on the good ship New World, and landed in New York after a two months' voyage, in September of that year. He came directly to Sugar Creek township, Allen county, and settled on forty acres of land, which was for the most part covered with timber. He cleared up his farm, im- proved the land by judicions cultivation, and erected good buildings, among them an at- tractive residence. He was, beside a farmer, one of the early undertakers of Allen county, beginning in 1856, and followed the business regularly during life. Having in Wales learned
-
346
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the cabinet-maker's trade, undertaking came quite natural for him. Throughout his part of Allen county he was frequently called upon in the line of his business, and also went into Van Wert county occasionally. He and his wife were devout members of the Welsh Con- gregational church in Gomer after arriving in this country, but had been received into the church in Wales in 1824. Mr. Jones held the office of deacon for forty-five years. When he settled in Allen county, the building used by his denomination was a little log cabin, and he assisted liberally in erecting the first brick church, and the present tasteful brick structure at Gomer.
Thomas H. Jones his ellest son, was a soldier in the late great Civil war, serving three years in company F, One Hundred and Eight- eenth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was in many battles, and was promoted to quarter- master-sergeant, before the expiration of his term. Mr. Jones was for many years an old- line whig, but upon the organization of the party, became a republican, remaining con- nected with that party the rest of his life. He was an Odd Fellow in Wales, and very promi- nent in the order. He was a man of high character and as well known for his sterling integrity. He possessed natural ability and was besides well informed. He was a great reader of the Bible, and was guided in his daily life by its precepts. Everywhere and by every one, he was highly respected as a good man and a good citizen.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.