USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 29
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Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson began their domestic life in a log cabin on the farm where the family is still living, and there ten children were born
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to them, namely : James Glasgow, who is mentioned below; Wilhelmina E., the wife of William Lawrence; Samuel, deceased; Jennie, the wife of Ervin Beattie, of Michigan; Lycurgus E., a resident of Hiawatha, Kansas; Ella, the wife of Charles Dean, of Cameron, Missouri; Wilda O. and Rilda A., twins, the former the wife of John Longshore, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and the latter the wife of John Dean, of Mansfield; Nettie, the wife of Frank Brown, of Kansas; and one who died in infancy. James G., the oldest son, is now successfully carrying on the home farm, and has served as a trustee in Washington township for three years. He married Louisa Hiskey, who died October 6, 1900, leaving seven children : Anna L., Ethel W., John S., Mary O., Nettie M., Alice J. and William. Two children preceded her in death, namely: Josie, whose death was followed by that of her sister Maggie a few days afterward.
Throughout his active business life Mr. Ferguson followed farming and his labors met with well deserved success. He was one of the most highly esteemed men of his community, and was called upon to serve as a trustee for several years. Politically he was a strong Democrat, and re- ligiously was an earnest member of the United Presbyterian church. He died April 6, 1895. He had won by an honorable and upright life an untarnished name and the record which he left behind him is one well worthy of emu- lation.
DAVID WOLFORD.
In David Wolford we find a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Richland county, Ohio, his home being on section 26, Weller township, where he owns and cultivates a valuable farm. A native of Penn- sylvania, he was born in Dauphin county, February 17, 1825, and is a son of J. George and Esther (Castle) Wolford. Of their eight children only two now survive, these being David, and Mary, the widow of Allen Haverfield and a resident of Mansfield.
J. George Wolford, our subject's father, was also born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1795, his parents having emigrated from Germany to America shortly after their marriage. On reaching man's es- tate he wedded Esther Castle, also a native of Dauphin county, born No- vember 3, 1798, of German parentage. In 1829 they came to Richland county, Ohio, and the father purchased a quarter section of land in Weller township, where our subject now resides, making that place his home until
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called to his final rest December 31, 1871. A Lutheran in religious belief, he took an active part in church work, and served either as a deacon or elder of his church for many years. Politically he was a stanch Democrat; and for two or more terms held the responsible office of infirmary director, be- sides filling other minor positions, such as township trustee. His wife, who died in 1879, was also an active church worker from early life, was a kind mother and loving wife.
During his boyhood David Wolford received a common-school educa- tion, and acquired an excellent knowledge of all the details of farm work. On Christmas day of 1849 he led to the marriage altar Miss Leah M. Kohler, a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jacob Kohler, came to this county in 1829, arriving in Mansfield on the same evening as the father of our subject. He located in Franklin township, where he bought a farm of one hundred acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolford were born the following children: Maria, now the wife of Samuel Pugh, a farmer of Weller township; Amos Frederick, deceased; Sarah E., the wife of Henry Pugh, a farmer of Franklin township; Darius K., a farmer of Nemaha county, Kansas; Allen H., who now owns and manages the home farm; Henry, deceased; and William B., at home. The wife and mother, who was an earnest and consistent Christian and a most estimable lady, died August 6, 1885, leaving many friends as well as her immediate family to mourn her loss.
After his marriage Mr. Wolford took his bride to the parental home, and for five years he worked with his father upon the farm. The children having by this time all married and left home, our subject took complete charge of the place and purchased it after his father's death. Here he has since resided, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits. As a Democrat he has taken an active interest in politics, and on his party ticket was elected infirmary director, which office he filled for two terms with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the public. He has also held other positions of honor and trust. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is one of the most highly esteemed men of his community.
CHARLES G. GROSSCUP.
Charles G. Grosscup, a prominent business man of Shelby, Ohio, was born at Lynnville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1849, and is a son of Charles and Mary (George) Grosscup, who were of sturdy German extrac- tion and most excellent people. They were the parents of four sons and
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two daughters, as follows: William, born in 1837; Caroline, in 1840; Owen, in 1843; Joseph, in 1846; Charles C., the subject of this sketch; and Matilda, born in 1852. Owen died in 1896; and Caroline, who married Jonas George, of Germansville, Pennsylvania, died in 1894. The other members of the family are still living. The parents of these children died at Germansville, Pennsylvania, each of them at about three-score and ten years of age.
Charles G. Grosscup located in Ohio in 1869, after having spent a year in visiting the west, especially Kansas and Nebraska. After his return from the west he married Amelia Neikirk, a daughter of Daniel C. Neikirk, of Republic, Seneca county, Ohio, the marriage taking place in the year 1873. To this marriage there has been born one daughter, who is the wife of Dr. G. A. Metzger, a practicing physician of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Grosscup located in Shelby in 1877, and was engaged in the pump business for ten years, at the expiration of which period he sold his business to J. L. Bloom. He then became engaged in the sale of creamery butter, being the first to intro- duce this system throughout this section of Ohio. This business he followed for nine years, when he purchased the business he had previously sold to Mr. Bloom, and engaged in the plumbing and pump business, taking as a partner Mr. Doty, who also had been engaged in the creamery business about four years with Mr. Grosscup. They put in a full line of plumbing supplies and are doing a thoroughly modern plumbing business.
Mr. Grosscup so won the confidence of his fellow citizens that they elected him a member of the city council in 1882, and he served in this posi- tion until 1886, and again from 1892 to 1899, with the exception of the year 1895, and they showed their confidence in his integrity by electing him, in 1898, the treasurer of Sharon township, which office he still retains.
Politically Mr. Grosscup is a Republican, is a member of the Royal Arcanunı, and attends the Methodist Episcopal church, though in reality he is what is known as a German Reformed Lutheran, as is also his wife. Both are among the best citizens of Richland county, and are highly esteemed by all their acquaintances.
NORMAN WEBSTER TUCKER.
The subject of this review is one of the most enterprising, energetic and progressive business men of Richland county. He owns and operates a well-improved and valuable farm on section 15, Mifflin township; is suc- cessfully engaged in the dairy and stock business, and is also interested in
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other enterprises which have materially advanced the welfare of his com- munity.
A native of this county, Mr. Tucker was born in Monroe township May 29, 1867, and is a son of David Franklin and Mary W. (Welty) Tucker, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. He grew to man- hood on the home farm and attended the local schools for some time, later becoming a student at the National Normal University at Lebanon, where he pursued a teacher's course and was graduated in 1888. During the following nine years he successfully engaged in teaching school during the winter months, while devoting the summer season to farm work. In 1891 his father purchased the farm of one hundred and forty-five acres upon which our subject now resides, and he kept the place as a renter until the spring of 1898, when he purchased it. For the past four years he has been largely interested in the dairy business, delivering his butter exclusively to private customers in Mansfield. In connection with his father and brother he has also engaged in buying and shipping stock since 1897, and in 1899 they organized the Mifflin-Lucas Telephone Company, which has since been in successful operation.
On the Ioth of March, 1892, Mr. Tucker married Miss Marilla Gatton, a native of Jefferson township, this county, and a daughter of Cyrus and Mary Gatton, one of the prominent families of that locality. By this union have been born four children, namely: Cyrus F., Mary E., George C. and Belva L. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are members of the Lutheran church.
JAMES HARVEY CRAIG, M. D.
For fifteen years a member of the medical profession of the city of Mansfield, honored and respected in every class of society, Dr. James Harvey Craig is numbered among the representative citizens of Richland county and as one of the able medical practitioners of the state. Dr. Craig entered upon the active practice of his profession here in 1885, immediately after his gradu- ation at the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland, in which he completed the course as a member of the class of 1885. He had previously read and studied in the line of his profession under the careful and discrim- inating direction of his father, James Wood Craig, M. D., who was one of the old and honored physicians of the state, having been a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical College in 1851, about three decades antecedent to his son's graduation in the same well known institution.
Dr. James Wood Craig was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in the year
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Harry Trang MOD.
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1821, and in 1830 removed with his father, Joseph Carson Craig, to Rich- land county. Joseph C. Craig settled in Sharon township, where he was prom- inently concerned in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1865, at which time he had attained the venerable age of seventy-six years. He was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, his father having maintained his home in or near the city of Boston during the great struggle of the col- onies for independence. He later removed to Pennsylvania, and from that state his son, Joseph C., the grandfather of Dr. Craig, removed to Ohio. The grandfather was an active participant in the war of 1812, and at all times and in all generations the family name has stood significant of patriot- ism and loyalty.
As the name implies, the lineage is of pure Scotch extraction. Joseph C. Craig married Mary Wood, of Belmont county, who died in the year 1880, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. Dr. James Wood Craig was about twelve years of age when he went to live at the home of his maternal uncle, William Wood, an able attorney of Belmont county, and there he remained until he nearly attained his majority, when he began the study of law under the perceptorship of his uncle, continuing his studies. in the line about a year, after which he removed to the vicinity of Cincin- nati, where he was engaged in teaching school for a period of two years. Later removing to Shelby, he there entered upon the study of medicine, with Dr. John Mack as his preceptor, having decided to abandon the study of law ; and then matriculating in the Western Reserve Medical College, as noted, he there completed the course and graduated as a member of the class of 1851. He forthwith began the practice of his profession in Ontario, this state, where he remained until the fall of 1870, when he removed to Mans- field, where he resided until his death. He retired from active practice about the year 1894, and his death occurred August 15, 1895, he having reached the age of about seventy-five years. Dr. Craig was one of Ohio's most distinguished physicians and surgeons, being called into consultation as far west as the Rocky mountains and to the eastern seaboard, his reputation being one which bespoke his eminent ability in his profession and his sterling worth as a man among men. In political matters the Doctor gave a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, in which he was an active worker, and in religion he held to the faith of the United Presbyterian church; in his fraternal relations he was identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
In 1861, at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, Dr. James W. Craig entered the Union service as a surgeon, having charge of Camp Mans-
18
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field for a time, after which, not by assignment but as an individual, he went to the front in order to render his professional services and aid the cause to the extent of his ability. He was on the ground at the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Gettysburg, but was finally compelled to return to his home on account of impaired health, being relieved of his duties as surgeon.
He chose as his companion on the journey of life Miss Eliza McCon- nell, who is still living, making her home with her son, the subject of this review, who accords her the utmost filial solicitude. She is in excellent health and in full possession of her mental faculties, being a woman of gentle refinement and noble character. She was the daughter of Hugh and Mary J. (McCommon) McConnell, of Springfield township, this county, the former having been born in 1802 and his death occurring in 1885, at the age of eighty-three; while the latter, who was born in 1804, died in 1890, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years. Hugh McConnell was a prominent and influential citizen of Richland county, whither he came as a pioneer from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.
Dr. James H. Craig, the immediate subject of this review, was born at Ontario, Ohio, on the 26th of July, 1857, and in the public schools of that place he received his preliminary educational discipline. Upon attain- ing his majority he matriculated in Geneva College, at Beaver Falls, Ohio, where he was a student for three years, after which he read medicine with his father and later graduated at the Western Reserve Medical College, as has already been noted. He at once came to his home in Mansfield, and here was associated in practice with his father until the latter's retirement, since which time he has been alone in his professional work, having not only held the extensive general practice of his father as a physician, but also having established a prestige which is essentially his own, his ability as a physician and surgeon being widely recognized. He is to-day one of the representative physicians of the state. The Doctor has been health officer of the city for the past five or six years.
In social relations the Doctor is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias, in the latter of which he has passed all the chairs, being also a major in the Uniformed Rank of that order. In religion he is a member of the United Presbyterian church. The Doctor has. two sisters who are residents of Mansfield,-Mrs. Dr. Hedges and Mrs. M. O. Gates; and one, Mrs. L. A. Ewing, who is a resident of Boulder, Colorado.
The Doctor is extremely fond of animals and has many pets about him, while he also keeps a number of fine standard-bred horses, which have shown
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up well on the grand circuit, making records down to 2:16. Dr. Craig is a man of genial nature and unfailing courtesy, and enjoys a marked popu- larity in both professional and social circles.
GEORGE W. VANSCOY.
Of one of the pioneer families of the Buckeye state George W. Vanscoy is a representative, his birth having occurred in Geauga county, Ohio, on the 16th of October, 1822, and his parents being Abraham and Mary (Knapp) Vanscoy. His father was born and reared in Westchester county, New York. After arriving at years of maturity he was married to Miss Knapp. He then engaged in farming in the Empire state and during his residence there three children were born unto him and his wife. With his family he then came to Ohio and after remaining for some years in Geauga county he removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for five years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Ohio, locating in Huron county where he purchased a small farm of ten acres, making it the place of residence up to the time of his death, with the exception of two or . three years spent in New London, Ohio. Of the Democratic party and its principles he was an earnest advocate. By his marriage to Miss Knapp he had thirteen children, but only three of the number are now living, namely: Pris- cilla, who became the wife of a Mr. Jamison and is a widow living in Hills- dale, Michigan; George W., of this review ; and Abigail, who became the wife of Joseph Eddy, and is now a widow, residing in Calhoun county, Michigan.
George W. Vanscoy spent his boyhood days at his parental home and acquired his education in the common schools, but his educational privileges were limited, as the school facilities of that day were of a primitive character. On attaining his majority he entered upon an independent business career as a farmer, renting a tract of land which he operated on shares. He was industrious, ambitious and energetic and utilized his leisure time in chopping wood or at anything he could get to do which would yield to him an honestly earned dollar. This secured to him the nucleus of his present possessions.
In December, 1850, Mr. Vanscoy chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Judith Strimple, a daughter of Aaron Strimple, who came to Richland county at an early day from New Jersey. Five chil- dren have been born unto them: Myron Eugene, now a farmer in Butler township; Lavila Jane, who died June 27, 1859. aged five years and nine months; Lester A., who cultivates the home farm; Elliott W., who is engaged
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in the cultivation of his father's land in Indiana; and Noris D., who died December 27, 1879, aged fourteen years and seventeen days.
After his marriage Mr. Vanscoy purchased thirty-five acres of his pres- ent farm and began the task of making a pleasant home for his young wife. Only a very small portion of the land had been cleared and the improve- ments upon the place consisted merely of a log cabin. As the years passed and prosperity attended his efforts, he has added to his farm from time to time until it now comprises two hundred and eighteen acres of land in Rich- land and Huron counties, and he also owns seventy-four acres of land in Jennings county, Indiana, which he purchased in 1888. This is one of the rich farming districts of Ohio and he has a very valuable property which has come to him as the reward of his own labors. His political views connect him with the Democracy and on that ticket he was elected a trustee of his township for one year. He has also served for several terms as a supervisor and for many years as a school director, doing all in his power to promote the efficiency of the school. He is now one of the well known men of the county, having a wide circle of friends who recognize his worth and accord him their regard.
ERASTUS S. CLOSE.
Erastus S. Close, one of the most widely known citizens of Shelby, was born September 13, 1833, at Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, and is a son of Zaccheus M. and Lydia (Crane) Close, who removed to Hinckley when there were not more than two dozen houses in the city of Cleveland. They had formerly lived in Genoa; New York, and traveled from their native state to Ohio by means of a team and wagon. Zaccheus M. died in 1840, and Lydia Close in 1833. Soon after his father's death Erastus went to live with his uncle, Dr. E. S. Close, of Springdale, Hamilton county, Ohio, to which place he was taken by his grandfather, the two traveling by way of the canal' to Portsmouth, Ohio, and thence down the Ohio river to Cincin- nati. Living with his uncle until 1853, he then went to Columbus for the purpose of taking a course of lectures in Starling Medical College, having previously studied medicine three years with his uncle at Springdale. After one course of lectures in the medical college above named he became tired of the study and decided to establish himself somewhere in business, and in order to the better qualify himself for such a career he entered a busi- ness college, finishing the course of training in due time. Then after work- ing about Columbus a short time he removed to Shelby in 1856, and was
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there made clerk in the freight office of the S., M. & N. and the C., C. & C., now the Baltimore & Ohio and Big Four Railroads, and being about the same time appointed agent for the American Express Company, a position which he has filled ever since and still holds. About 1860 he was made joint agent for the two railroad companies and also for the United States Express Company, holding all these positions until within a few years, when the duties became too onerous for a man of his years and were divided.
Mr. Close was married, March 4, 1857, to Miss Annis M. (Close) Close, of Sullivan, Ashland county, and a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gale) Close, who were among the earliest settlers of Ashland county. To this marriage there were born seven children, six of whom are still ( 1900) living. Their names and the dates of their birth are as follows: Harry K., born November 19, 1858; Willis Irving, April 14, 1860; Anna E., July 20, 1861; Erastus S., Jr., October 29, 1867; Charles, born November 22, 1868, and died February 6, 1869; Harriet E., born May 1, 1870; and Annis Mary, September 24. 1871. The mother of the above named children died in 1873, and Mr. Close, in November of that year, married Lenora L. Bar- ber, of Shelby, to which marriage there have been born four children, viz. : Charles Lilley, November 16, 1874; Zaccheus A., born May 26, 1876, and died December 2, 1900; Mamie Drake, born December 31, 1878; and Lucian Mack, January 18, 1881. Of these children Harry K. is the ticket clerk at the railway station; Willis Irving is employed in the First National Bank of Shelby; Erastus S., Jr., is in Pueblo, Colorado; Charles L. is the chief clerk in the tube works. The daughters are all employed as bookkeepers or stenographers. Annis Mary is a stenographer for J. A. Sultzer & Sons. The youngest daughter and the youngest son are in the office with their father.
At the last election Mr. Close was chosen city treasurer for two years by his Democratic friends. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Presbyterian church, in the latter organization holding the office of elder.
In 1860 Mr. Close built the house on North Gamble street now occupied by Charles Holbrook, and in 1865 removed to West Main street, where he at present resides. In 1872 he erected the large brick residence which still stands, one of the largest and handsomest in the city. Few men remain so long in the employment of the same company, to say nothing of filling the same office. And as agent of the express company he has become acquainted with almost every one in the vicinity of Shelby, and is highly
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regarded by every one that knows him as an upright, honorable citizen and a good neighbor and friend, of all of which his long service with the Amer- ican Express Company bears ample testimony.
AUGUSTUS ALLEN DOUGLASS.
Richland county, Ohio, is fortunate in the possession of a bar of which any county in any state of the Union might well be proud; and one of her able lawyers whose success is most creditable is Augustus Allen Douglass, of Mansfield, who as prosecuting attorney for Richland county did a work in the interest of law and order which made him known throughout Ohio and adjoining states and set an example for public prosecutors worthy of emula- tion everywhere.
Mr. Douglass was born in Monroe township, Richland county, Ohio, October 30, 1850, a son of John J. and Elizabeth (Schrack) Douglass, and on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish descent. John J. Douglass was a son of Samuel and Mary (McCurdy) Douglass, and was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1821. Samuel Douglass brought his family and settled in Worthington township, Richland county, in November, 1829, and in March, 1831, they removed to the southwest quar- ter of section 28, which Mr. Douglass acquired by purchase. He was an energetic man who possessed many of the traits that have made the name of Douglass famous in many lands and in many generations. In Scotland the Douglass family, from the year 1605, when the first Lord Douglass appears in history, has furnished to Great Britain and to Europe more men prominent in war, statecraft and learning than any other family, and in these later days it has given to America some of its great and influential men. John J. Douglass, the only son of Samuel, bore his full share in the toils and achievements of a pioneer life. He possessed indomitable energy and great decision of character and mental qualities of a high order and lost no oppor- tunity to improve in a time when opportunities for intellectual improve- ment were rare in that part of the country. He qualified for the perform- ance of the duties of a teacher and for a number of years taught school, successfully, during the winter months. Such predominating traits of char- acter as he inherited and cultivated, combined with a religious regard for and a faithful observance of the higher duties of life, have made the Scotch- Irish a wonderful factor in modern history.
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