A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 34

Author: Lyle S. Evans
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 549

USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 34

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).

Francis N. R. Redfern was born on the Logan Road on a farm four miles north of McArthur, in Vinton County. As a boy he attended

Digitized by Google

750

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

the rural and village schools, and at the age of seventeen began teaching in Salt Creek Township of Hocking County. He proved a very suc- cessful educator and taught steadily until 1902, serving many communi- ties during that time. His last term was taught in Adelphi, his present home. In the meantime he carried on the study of law, and at the conclusion of his last term of school was admitted to the bar and began practice at Adelphi.

On April 10, 1890, Mr. Redfern married Miss Adele Floyd. She was born at South Perry, Ohio, daughter of George W. and Mary Floyd. Mr. and Mrs. Redfern have four children, Emery W., Audrey M., Paul L. and Mary M. The son Emery, who was educated in Adelphi and at Baldwin University at Berea, and in the Cleveland Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1913, and is now associated with his father in handling a large and important practice at Adelphi. Audrey, the second child, graduated from the Adelphi High School, and after one term of experience as a teacher, married Pearl D. Armstrong, a farmer in Pickaway County.

Mr. and Mrs. Redfern are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with and is past master of Adelphi Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; past grand of Adelphi Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is past chancellor commander of Adelphi Lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

FRED L. LUTZ. The record of a very old and prominent Ohio family can be written under the name of Fred L. Lutz, who for many years has been successfully identified with Ross County agriculture and is now living in Green Township.

He was born in Union Township of this county February 19, 1865. His emigrant American ancestor was Michael Lutz, who settled in North- ampton County, Pennsylvania, as early as 1730. The small tract of land which he bought in that county was located on the south side of the Lehigh River, not far from its mouth. That was the scene of his activities until his death. In the next generation comes Ulrich Lutz, who died in 1790. His wife, Elizabeth Deis, who died in 1818, was the daughter of parents who were born in Zwebrucken, Germany.

Jacob Lutz, great-grandfather of Fred L., was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and after his marriage rented a small house near his father, but over the county line in Lehigh County. In 1790 he bought a farm of 400 acres in the Shamokin Valley in Northumberland County, lived there about four years, and, selling his land, bought a farm of 200 acres in Buffalo Valley. In 1799 Jacob Lutz and a neighbor made a tour of the Northwest Territory, coming as far as Chillicothe. After that he continued to live at his old home in Pennsylvania until 1802, when he came out to Ohio to make a permanent settlement. He and his family made the entire journey overland with teams. His choice of location was in Salt Creek Township of Pickaway County. The first home of the family there was a small cabin, where they lived during the winter, but in the next spring moved into a larger house on the

Digitized by Google

751

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

east part of the farm. The widowed mother and five of her sons came with Jacob Lutz to Salt Creek Township. His industry and good judg- ment brought him a large success for that generation, and he was able to give land to each of his sons. His death occurred September 4, 1824. Jacob Lutz was married about 1787 to Elizabeth Demuth, of German descent.

Hon. Samuel Lutz, grandfather of Fred L., was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1789, and was thirteen years of age when brought to Ohio. He had many qualities which made him a natural leader and a forceful factor in this early country. He acquired a good education and for many years followed the business of surveying. He was also very successful as a farmer, acquired large tracts of land suffi- cient to give each of his nine children a farm. A wholesome, temperate life, filled with industry, came to a close with his death at the age of one hundred and one years and five months. In public affairs he was prominent, filled a number of positions in his home county and was several times elected a member of the State Legislature. He married Elizabeth Featherolf, who was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Their nine children were Samuel G., Harriet, Catherine, Isaac, John, Lydia, George, Mary and Rachel.

In the next generation of this interesting family is Isaac Lutz, who was born in Salt Creek Township of Pickaway County, May 10, 1823. Until he was ten years of age he spoke only the German language. An English school supplied his subsequent training, and he was quite well educated and also applied habits of industry at home. When married, his father gave him a farm in Union Township of Ross County, and there he brought his bride and started housekeeping in a hewed log house. His years were also passed with a growing increase in material wealth, and his surplus was invested in lands, not only in Union Township of Ross County, but also in Pickaway County and in the states of Iowa and Kansas. His holdings at one time amounted to nearly 2,000 acres. On the home farm in Ross County he surrounded himself with all the comforts of life, and lived there until his death, December 19, 1914, in his ninety-second year. His first wife, Mary Spangler, whom he married January 26, 1846, was born in Salt Creek Township of Pickaway County and died in 1847. On September 13, 1855, Isaac Lutz married Susan Barton. She was born at Yellowbud January 22, 1838. Her father, Levi Barton, was born at Mifflin, Pike County, Ohio, May 23, 1811, and her grandfather, John Barton was a native of Virginia, married Susan Bryan, and came to Ohio about the year 1800, being one of the pioneer settlers of Pike County. A tract of timbered land was converted by his industry into a good farm, and it remained his home until his death. Levi Barton had to make the best of limited opportunities in such schools as were found in Pike County a century or more ago. He also had an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and on reaching his majority his father gave him a horse, saddle and bridle. With that equipment he went to Yellowbud, and set up in business as a contractor and builder. He studied architecture and always kept up with the

Digitized by Google

752

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

times. After the death of his wife he lived with Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Lutz, who cared for him in his old age. He married Eliza Ann Lee, who was born at Berryville, Virginia, a daughter of William and Jane Lee, who spent their lives in that old commonwealth. Eliza Ann was left an orphan and then came to Ohio to live with an aunt. She and Levi Barton reared five children, named Susan, Mary, John, George and Lida.

Mr. Fred Lutz, who was born in Union Township February 19, 1865, was one of six children, the others being Ada J., Mary Eliza, Freeman Barton, Elizabeth and Florence. He grew up on a farm, and after- wards took the management of the old homestead, which he retained until 1914. In that year he left the farm in charge of his son-in-law and moved to Green Township, where he now has one of the splendid country estates of that locality. It has excellent buildings and is con- veniently located as to the road from Kingston to Chillicothe.

In 1892 Mr. Lutz married Mandane Dick, who was born in Pick- away County, daughter of Jackson and Margaret (Bolin) Dick. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz have two children, Florence Margaret and Mary Suse. The daughter Margaret is the wife of Price Ashbrook, and they have a son, Fred Lutz Ashbrook.

FRANK HOLDERMAN. One of the oldest and most prominent families of Colerain Township is represented by Frank Holderman, who has spent practically all his life on the farm that he now owns and occupies. Mr. Holderman was reared and educated in this township, and since reaching manhood has been closely identified with the farming and stock raising interests of the locality.

His birth occurred on the farm where he now lives on April 23, 1853. One of the very early settlers in the township was his grandfather, David Holderman, a native of Pennsylvania. At one time he owned and occupied a stone house located on section 2, but spent his last years in Hallsville and died there at a good old age. His four sons were Oliver, Elihu, Francis and Levi.

Elihu Holderman was born in Colerain Township April 25, 1820, and was for many years a conspicuous figure in the farming life and enterprise and good citizenship of that section of Ross County. Reared to the life of a farmer, about three years after his marriage he bought a place on section 9 of Colerain Township. It contained a log house and stable, but aside from a few acres cleared, it was almost in the condition that nature had left it. In 1860 he built a brick house, and that was only one of the evidences of his increasing prosperity. Few of his contemporaries were more successful in raising the fruits of the soil and in managing their sale and his farm more efficiently. He gradually extended his holdings as a land owner, until his ownership comprised upwards of 700 acres, all situated in Colerain Township. He lived on his home farm there until his death on July 29, 1910.

In 1845 Elihu Holderman married Mary Karshner, a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Flannigan) Karshner, Mrs. Elihu Holderman

Digitized by Google

753

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

died at the age of sixty-four. Her two children were Frank and Susan. The daughter Susan married Lewis K. Cryder.

Frank Holderman as a boy spent his life on his father's farm, gained an education in the district schools and learned how to apply his efforts successfully to all phases of farm management. After reaching his majority he located on one of his father's outlying farms, and operated that until 1911, when he returned to the old homestead in section 9, and has since occupied his energies with its management and has brought about some further improvement in its condition.

In January, 1873, Mr. Holderman married Matilda Reed. Mrs. Hold- erman was born in Hocking County, Ohio, a daughter of Alfred and Mary (Giberson) Reed, early settlers of that part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Holderman have the following children : Leota, Alda, Arrie, Stella, Howard, Charles and Guy. Leota married C. N. Clark, and their two children are Freida and Hugh. Alda married George Hinton and is the mother of three children, named Merle, Iva and Marvin. Arrie is the wife of George DeLong and has five children, Darrell, Carl, Wayne, Kenneth and Charles. Stella is the wife of Rowland Pontius, and they have one child, named Zola. Howard married Leota Waite, and has three children, Juanita, Lester and Gerald. Mrs. Holderman, the mother of these children, is an active member of the United Brethren Church.

HENRY WILLIAM ARLEDGE. Half a century ago Henry William Arledge bought the fine homestead in section 17 of Green Township which he occupies at the present time. There have been few more successful farmers in Ross County than Mr. Arledge. He began his career working at wages on farms, and with developing experience has turned his efforts to good account in almost every undertaking in which he has been engaged. He now has a splendid property, and is justly accounted one of the best-known and most highly esteemed citizens of Ross County.

He was born in Vinton County, Ohio, in 1832, and has long passed his eightieth birthday. His father, Isaac Arledge, was born in North Carolina and came with his parents to Ohio, settling in Vinton County in the very early days. Isaac Arledge made the best of his meager opportunities when a boy to obtain an education, and so successfully did he pursue his studies that he was well qualified for teaching, and taught for several years. When not teaching he was engaged in farm- ing. He finally bought a homestead in the northwest part of Vinton County, and occupied that until his death when upwards of seventy years of age. Isaac Arledge married Mollie Morrison, who was also a native of North Carolina, and spent her last days in Vinton County, Ohio. She reared nine children, James, Susanne, Isaac, Elizabeth, Huldah, Melinda, John, Jesse and Henry William. The sons Isaac and John were both soldiers in the Union army in the Civil war.

Henry William Arledge spent his early life in Vinton County. After gaining a fair education he left home and started the battle of life as a farm laborer at monthly wages. In the fall of 1853, when he was twenty-

Digitized by Google

754

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

one years of age, he went out to Missouri and spent the winter in feeding cattle, and for six months was engaged in farming. On returning to Ohio he continued work by the month, and by much thrift and self- denial accumulated a small capital. During that time he made his first purchase of land. It was in Vinton County, and he paid 121/2 cents an acre for a quarter section, or 160 acres. After keeping this land two years and making some improvements, he sold at $1 an acre.

Since 1858 Mr. Arledge has been a resident of Ross County. Here for seven years he continued employment by the month, but then bought 141 acres in section 17, the purchase price being $50 an acre. In a half century that land has been wonderfully improved and has increased correspondingly in value. He still lives there and it has been the center and stage of his best achievements. His farm, which is well cultivated and has a group of substantial buildings, is 21/2 miles southeast of Kingston. Through his success as a farmer Mr. Arledge has reared and educated a family of ten children, has bought other tracts of land from time to time, and now has upwards of 350 acres.

In November, 1859, while still a struggling worker in the field of agricultural enterprise, he married Miss Elizabeth Huffman. She was born in Ross County, a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Polen) Huff. man. Mrs. Arledge died in 1892. In 1893 he married her sister, Mrs. Mary (Huffman) Scott. Her father, Adam Huffman, was left an orphan at a very early age, and was bound out to live with a farmer in Vinton County, where he grew to manhood. After his marriage he settled in Ross County, lived there until late in life, and spent his last days near Urbana in Champaign County. His first wife, Catherine Polen, and the mother of both the Mrs. Arledges, died in 1860, at the age of forty-five. He afterwards married Elizabeth Root, who survived him. Mrs. Arledge was one of ten children: Elizabeth, Samuel, Francis, Joseph, Adam, John, Emanuel, Mary, William and Wilson. Three of the sons, Francis, Samuel and Joseph, were soldiers in the Union army. The present Mrs. Arledge first married Samuel Scott. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, a son of William and Ruth Scott, who were either natives of Scotland or of Scotch parentage. Samuel Scott spent his early life as a farmer, but afterwards was in the real estate business at Spring- field and Urbana, and died in the latter city at the age of forty-seven, leaving three children : Clifford, Frederick and Ethel.

By his first marriage Mr. Arledge had eleven children: Herschel, Catherine, Francis, Ellen, William H., Emanuel, Clara, George, Guy, Luther and Edward. The son Herschel married Vinie Barnhart, and their four children are Frederick, Ray, Grace and Arthur. Catherine married Addison Stevenson and has five children, named Mabel, Gail, Walter, George and Elizabeth. Francis married Lettie Garrett, and their children are Grace and Mary. Ellen is the wife of George Stout, and her five children are Ralph, Grover, Esther, Goldie and Elizabeth. Emanuel, by his marriage to Ellen Fry, has the following children : Maude, Walter, Ernest, Roland, Mary. Clara married Earl Carmean, and at her death left two children, Olie and Bertha. George married

Digitized by Google

755

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

Emma Ginther, and has five children: Nellie, Russell, Lucy, George and William. Guy married Annie Ginther, and their five children are Richard, Nettie, Edith, Tillie and Joseph. Luther married Flora Smith, and their children are Mervin, Bernice, Ralph. Edward, the youngest child, married Grace Reed, and their children are Leona, Merle, Carl, Paul. Thus, besides his large family of children, Mr. Arledge is sur- rounded by grandchildren to the number of forty or more. Mrs. Arledge by her first marriage to Mr. Scott also has grandchildren. Clifford Scott married Annie Reed; Fred Scott married Belle Vest and has a daughter, Mary Edna; and Ethel Scott married Clarence Moore, and their three children are Madge and Agnes, twins, and Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Arledge are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JESSE JONES. One of the oldest and most substantial families of Ross County is represented by Jesse Jones, who has had a long and useful career in farming and who looks after an extensive acreage in Green Township, both as a manager and as an owner.

Mr. Jones was born in Harrison Township of Ross County June 26, 1859. One of the pioneers of Harrison Township was his grandfather, Abel Jones, who came when that part of the county was in all its wilderness condition. Acquiring a tract of timbered land, he gave his energies to its clearing and cultivation until his death. John W. Jones, father of Jesse, was born in Harrison Township of Ross County in 1827. When he was a boy there were no public schools in Ohio, and he attended such schools as were maintained by community co-operation and by subscription. Many other affairs were conducted in a very primitive style. His mother did all the cooking by the open fireplace, and wool and flax were grown, which the housewives carded and spun and made into cloth, from which were fashioned the garments worn by members of the family. John W. Jones grew up to a life of usefulness and honor. He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, and many years ago erected there a hewed log house which was 11/2 stories high and at that time was considered one of the best homesteads in the township. In May, 1864, he enlisted for service in Company D of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and was out for 100 days, going to Virginia and taking part in several battles and skirmishes before receiv- ing his honorable discharge. After the war he resumed farming and cultivated the homestead until his death. John W. Jones married Sarah Leasure, who was born in Colerain Township of Ross County and like- wise represented a family of pioneers. Her father, Thomas Leasure, was born near Bedford, Pennsylvania, and about 1814 came to Ohio, making the entire journey across the country with wagon and team. He located in Colerain Township and was there when its population was very sparse and when few improvements had been made. He him- self improved a tract of land originally a wilderness and lived there until his death. Thomas Leasure married Hannah Luckhart, who sur- vived her husband and attained the great age of one hundred years two months and two days. Both she and her husband are now at rest in

Digitized by Google

756

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

the Leasure Cemetery. Before coming out to Ohio, Thomas Leasure had fought as an American soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. John W. Jones reared seven children: Hannah, Silas A., Nancy, David W., Jesse, Margaret and Thomas W.

Jesse Jones spent the first twenty-one years of his life on his father's farm, in the meantime getting a practical training in farming, and also attending the district schools. He worked by the month for a time, and then rented a small farm, and finally rented and became manager of the well-known Dresbach farm, which was later owned by Cyrus F. Pontius. Upon the death of Mr. Pontius, Mr. Jones became trustee of his estate, and has since managed the farm as trustee. In 1912 he bought a tract of sixty acres about a mile south of Kingston, has improved it with some substantial buildings, and his family now live there.

In 1884 Mr. Jones married Ida B. Luckhart. She was born in Cole- rain Township of Ross County, a daughter of Nelson L. and Mary (Strawser) Luckhart. Nelson Luckhart was born in Colerain Town- ship, a son of John Luckhart, a native of Pennsylvania, who had settled in Colerain Township among the pioneers, and developed a tract of timbered land which he bought in the east part of the township, until it comprised a very comfortable farm. That was his home until his death at the age of seventy-six. Nelson Luckhart grew up on that home- stead, and began his independent career as a renter. After his marriage he located on the Strawser homestead, in section 22, and continued general farming until his death at the age of sixty-eight. His wife, Mary Strawser, was born in Colerain Township, a daughter of John and Hannah (Cutshawl) Strawser. Mrs. Luckhart now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have a son, Clarence F. His early education was acquired in the rural schools, and later he attended the Kingston High School. Much of his active career has been spent in teaching, and he made his mark in that work. In 1907 he taught his first term in the Pleasant Grove District, and remained there two years. Following that he took a commercial course at Columbus, and then resumed teaching at Sulphur Lake for one term, spent another three-year period at Pleasant Grove, then taught one term in the grammar school of Kinnikinick, and has since been engaged in farming in association with his father. Clarence Jones was elected a justice of the peace in 1912, serving one year, and in 1913 was elected township trustee and re-elected in 1915. He is a member of Lodge No. 419, Knights of Pythias, and is past and present grand chancellor of that lodge. He married Florence Richter.

JOHN H. WEST. It is no small distinction to have lived ninety-two years. When the living of so many years is accompanied by good works, honorable achievement, integrity and probity of character, such a life counts for a great deal. Recently John H. West of Green Township in Ross County celebrated his ninety-first birthday. He has a host of recollections and associations covering more than three-quarters of a

Digitized by Google

Johan & West

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

757

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

century. He has also established a worthy line of progeny, and he is now a great-grandfather.

His life began at Newmarket in Frederick County, Maryland, December 20, 1825. His father John West was born at Mount Airy in Frederick County, Maryland, and his grandfather Charles West at one time owned and operated two farms including the site of Mount Airy. Charles West was a tobacco planter, but in later years turned his atten- tion largely to the cultivation of fruit. John West in his youth served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade and was first in business for himself at Newmarket and afterwards at Fredericktown. As was the custom of the times, much of his work was done in an itinerant manner. He visited all the plantations in his section, carrying his tools with him, and employed his skill in putting all the farm implements in the best of order. Late in life he moved to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, five miles west of Fredericktown, and in those peaceful and beautiful surroundings spent his last days. The maiden name of his wife was Annie Sayne. They reared nine children: Upton, Mary Ann, Susanne, Joseph, John H., William, Dennis, Isabel and Henry.

While growing up near Fredericktown, Maryland, John S. West was a witness of some of the beginnings which have transformed modern civilization. In 1835 when a boy of ten years of age he rode on the first engine owned and operated by the old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. This engine was built in 1832 and more than eighty years later, in 1914, it was exhibited during the carnival at Chillicothe. Prob- ably Mr. West at that time was the only one who had witnessed it when it was first in operation drawing a few primitive cars along a wooden track in the East. Again Mr. West was invited to ride on the engine and he delivered an interesting address to the assembled audience, telling them what he knew of the early history of the Baltimore & Ohio road.

When he was sixteen he left his father's home and went to Harper's Ferry, where in 1841 he assisted in building a bridge across the Potomac River. From Harper's Ferry he crossed the Alleghenies to Charleston, West Virginia, and served an apprenticeship in the woodworking de- partment of a wagon factory. Having completed his apprenticeship his first location was at Leestown, where he served out his term in learning the blacksmith's trade.

It was in 1850 that Mr. West first came to Chillicothe, Ohio. Up to that time his highest salary had been $3 a month and board. He liked the situation of Chillicothe and determined to make his work there at least for several years. He called upon a Mr. Hitchins, the principal blacksmith of the town, and offered to work a month for his board. His services were accepted, and at the end of the month Mr. Hitchins pre- sented him with $12 in cash and offered him permanent employment. However, this was not in line with his ambitious plans. He had the enterprise and the skill but lacked capital. Another blacksmith in town offered to sell him his tools and goodwill for $100. In the meantime he had gained the confidence and friendship of a number of local citizens, and a young man named George Fells had $50 in capital while a brother Vol. II-18

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.

A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 34

Author: Lyle S. Evans Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 549

Author: Lyle S. Evans
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 549