USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 34
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which day General Miles arranged the terms of surrender with the Spanish. On the 17th the entrance to Santiago was made and Company M participated in the occupation of the city. Mr. Huston was promoted to corporal at Camp Alger. Since the return of the Eighth Regiment a reorganization has been effected, and our subject is now battalion adjutant, with rank of second lieutenant.
In politics Mr. Huston is an active worker in the ranks of the Demo- cratic party. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His family in religious matters are members of the Church of God, in Blooming Grove township.
Mr. Huston was united in marriage, June 21, 1900, to Miss Marie F. Pettker, of St. Louis, Missouri.
FRANK L. BOALS.
Among the agriculturists of Richland county who have attained a well- merited success in their chosen calling is Frank L. Boals, one of the leading agriculturists of Mifflin township, whose home is on section 16. He was born upon his present farm January 4, 1860, and is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county.
On the paternal side he traces his ancestry back to James Boals, a native of Ireland, who was the suitor for the hand of a young lady who had emigrated with her parents to America. Against the wishes of his parents he came to the new world and was rewarded by her consenting to become his bride. After their marriage they settled in Jefferson county, Ohio, where they continued to make their home throughout the remainder of their lives.
Among their children was David Boals, the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Jefferson county, in 1801, and on attaining man's estate was married there to Susan Glover, who was born in the same county, in 1803, a daughter of Josiah and Susan Glover. Her father was one of the pioneers of Jefferson county, having come to this state at an early day from Vermont. His parents were natives of England. After his marriage David Boals en- gaged in farming in his native county until 1828, and then removed to Rich- land county, locating on the southwest quarter of section 9, Mifflin township, which land had been entered by his father some time previously. In the midst of the forest he built a log cabin, and experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. In politics he was a Democrat, and for a number of years he efficiently served as township trustee. Religiously he was
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an earnest member of the Presbyterian church. This worthy pioneer died upon his farm in Mifflin township, in 1860, and his wife passed away in 1858.
James W. Boals, the father of our subject, was born in Jefferson county, June 20, 1825, and was only three years old when brought by his parents to this county. He married Miss Elizabeth Parkinson, by whom he had four children, three still living, namely: Frank L., of this review; Mary L., the . wife of C. L. Reed, a farmer of Madison township, this county; and Wade P., a farmer of Mifflin township. After his marriage Mr. Boals purchased the farm on which Gideon E. Hoover now resides, and there he followed agri- cultural pursuits until 1859, when he disposed of the place and purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is now the property of our subject. Here he spent the remaining years of his life. He met with excellent success in his farming operations, owning at the time of his death two farms,-one containing one hundred and ninety-two acres and the other one hundred and seventy-two acres.
Politically Mr. Boals was an ardent Democrat, but never cared for official honors. Although he never allied himself with any religious denomination, he was a liberal supporter of all church and charitable work; was a kind hus- band and indulgent father, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He died August 5, 1895. His wife, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, about 1837, died about 1869. Her parents were Jacob and Mary (Keller) Parkinson, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, who came to this state after their marriage, and spent the remainder of their lives in Jeffer- son county. Mr. Parkinson was a machinist by trade and had a shop on his farm, where he manufactured threshing machines, finding a market for his products throughout different sections of Pennsylvania and Ohio. He was very successful and became quite well-to-do. He served as a captain in the Mexican war, and the sword used by him in the service is still in possession of the family.
Frank L. Boals was reared on the home farm, and his early education was obtained in the local schools, but later he attended Frazier Business Col- lege at Mansfield. He was married on the 24th of December, 1889, the lady of his choice being Miss Josie Brindle, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Burns) Brindle. In early life her father removed from Franklin county, Pennsylvania, to Ashland county, this state, and for many years was one of the prominent and influential farmers of Ashland county, where his death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Boals have five children, namely: Edwin, Herman, Bryan, Shirley and Mabel.
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After his marriage Mr. Boals and his brother Wade took charge of the home farm, and carried on the same for the father up to the latter's death, when the home farm was transferred to our subject, while the upper farm became the property of his brother. Here he has since resided, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Being a natural mechanic he also runs "a machine and wagon repair shop upon his farm, and does all kinds of general blacksmithing. Industrious, enterprising and progressive, he has become one of the substantial men of his community, as well as one of its most highly respected citizens. He uses his right of franchise in support of the Demo- cratic party, and for the past six years has most capably and acceptably served as the treasurer of Mifflin township.
JOHN COLE.
Jolin Cole, whose farm in Worthington township comprises two hundred acres of land, is regarded as one of the leading and substantial residents of this part of the county. Upon the place stands a beautiful residence erected atta cost of five thousand dollars. The farm is improved with all modern acces- sories and conveniences, including substantial barns and outbuildings, good machinery and well kept fences which divide the place into fields of convenient size.
Mr. Cole was born near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, March 24. 1824. His father. George Cole, was a native of the same locality, born about 1803, and there he spent the greater part of his life. His last three years, however, were passed in the home of his son John, where he died at the age of eighty-three years and five months. He exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party. and held membership in the Baptist church, taking an active part in its work. His father, John Cole, was also a native of Pennsylvania, where he followed farming and lived to an advanced age. He was of German lineage. The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Catherine Overly. She was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and lived to be more than ninety-one years of age. She held membership in the Baptist church and died at the home of her son John. In their family were eight children, of whom five are still living.
John Cole remained upon the old homestead in the Keystone state until le had attained his majority, and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. On reaching manhood he rented land in Pennsylvania and there
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engaged in farming for eight or nine years. In November, 1859, he sought a home in Ohio and purchased two hundred acres of land, which he yet owns, lying partly in Richland and partly in Ashland counties. It has since been his place of residence, the scene of an active and useful business career. He married Miss Hannah J. White, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and died on the 15th of June, 1897, at the age of sixty-eight years, eight months and seven days. She was a member of the Lutheran church. In the family were seven children: Alsinas E., of Greene county, Iowa; Margaret J., the wife of Clark Graven, a prominent farmer of Greene county, Iowa; Ida C., the wife of M. M. Darling, whose sketch is given on another page of this work; Wesley, a mechanic of Cleveland, Ohio; Nancy A., the wife of Mckinley McCurdy; John E., a farmer of Ashland county ; and Homer, who works his father's farm.
Mr. Cole lost his right arm in a threshing machine about nine years ago, but since that he has learned to write with his left hand. This is an indication of his enterprise and determined nature. He has been very successful in busi- ness and his beautiful home stands as a monument to his thrift and enterprise. Prosperity has come to him not through speculation, but along well defined lines of labor and is richly merited. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church, and he is a Democrat in his political views. He has held various township offices and in all has discharged his duties capably. promptly and faithfully.
FREDERICK E. TRACY.
The value of genealogy is now widely recognized and many important historical facts have been discovered by genealogical research. Family his- tory is peculiarly interesting and it is especially so when it involves so much of historical interest as does the history of the family of Tracy, which has produced men of prominence in all generations since its establishment in America. Of this notable family Frederick E. Tracy, of Mansfield, Ohio, is a worthy representative.
Mr. Tracy was born at Painesville, Ohio, May 6, 1831, the third child of Judge Josiah and Diantha (Lathrop) Tracy. Judge Tracy was born at Franklin, Connecticut, October 1, 1796. Diantha Lathrop was a daugh- ter of Eleazer Lathrop, of Connecticut, who was an early settler at Sher- burne, New York, and she was born about 1802. Judge Tracy married her August 18, 1824, and they settled at Painesville, Ohio, where, in- company
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with his brother, he carried on a mercantile business until 1832. While at Painesville.he was appointed a colonel in the old militia. In 1832 he removed to Vermillion, Ohio, and was the superintendent of the Huron Iron Works until 1835, when he located at Huron and became interested in a business enterprise there. He soon became popular and influential and was elected a justice of the peace, the mayor of Huron, a state senator and the county, judge of Erie county. His wife died at Huron April 22, 1840, and in 1847 he removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he died January II, 1857, but was buried at Huron beside the remains of his wife. However, in an after year (1897), the subject of this mention removed their remains and those of other members of the family to the Mansfield cemetery.
Josiah Tracy, the father of Judge Josiah Tracy and grandfather of Frederick E. Tracy, was born at Norwich. Connecticut, May 7, 1772, and was married, January 20, 1795, to Mary Birchard, who was born at Nor- wich July 25, 1773. a daughter of Jesse and Lydia (Waterman) Birchard. Lydia Waterman was a daughter of William and Margaret (Tracy) Water- man. . This William Waterman, who was born in 1710, was a grandson of Ensign Thomas Waterman and his wife Miriam, nee Tracy, the only daugh- ter of Lieutenant Thomas Tracy, and from this fact it will be seen that our subject's grandmother, Mary (Birchard) Tracy, descended from the only daughter of Lieutenant Thomas Tracy and his grandfather, Josiah Tracy, from Captain John Tracy, the eldest son of the same Lieutenant Thomas Tracy. Captain Jolin Tracy was born in 1642 and was one of the original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut, was a justice of the peace and repre- sented Norwich in the general assembly for six sessions. He married Mary Winslow, a niece of Governor Edward Winslow.
Lieutenant Thomas Tracy was born at Tewksbury, England, in 1610, and came to Massachusetts in 1636, in the interest of his friends, Lord Say and Lord Brook, in whose honor Saybrook, Connecticut, was named ; and his second wife was the widow of John Bradford, a son of Governor Brad- ford. He was a talented and active man and represented Norwich, Con- necticut, in the general assembly for twenty-seven years. He was a com- missary and quartermaster in King Philip's war and assisted in the relief of Uncas, the sachem of the Mohicans, when he was besieged. . Lieutenant Thomas Tracy's grandfather, Richard Tracy, was the sheriff at Tewksbury, England, in 1650, and married Barbara . Lucy, who was a pupil of Fox, the martyrologist. She was descended in the sixteenth generation from Hugh De Montfort, a son of Gilbert Gaunt, who was a great-grandson of Baldwin, the fifth count of Flanders, who married Alice, a daughter of 21
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Robert II, of France. Through Judith, the wife of Baldwin I, she was descended from the Emperor Charlemagne, and through his ancestress, Alfretta, the wife of Baldwin, the second count of Flanders, from Alfred the Great. The Tracy ancestors of Lieutenant Thomas Tracy were knights and sheriffs from the time of le sire de Tracy, who came over with the conqueror.
Frederick E. Tracy married, May 10, 1855, Anna Tracy Lord, of Hones- dale, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Russell F. and Mary Ann (Garrett) Lord. Her father was the chief engineer of the Hudson & Delaware Canal Com- pany. Mr. Tracy was a· teller in a bank at Zanesville, Ohio, 1853-57. In 1858 he came to Mansfield and engaged in the retail grocery business. In 1862. as the senior member of the firm of Tracy & Avery, he entered the wholesale grocery trade. In 1893 the concern was incorporated under the style of the Tracy & Avery Company, with Mr. Tracy as the president. It occupies a fine modern brick block on North Diamond street and does a large and increasing business.
Fraternally Mr. Tracy is a Freemason, politically a Republican, and religiously a Congregationalist. He is a member of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association of Mansfield, of which he has been a most earnest supporter, being a liberal contributor to the maintenance of their institution. Mr. Tracy's business career has been a conservative, successful one, and he is numbered among the men who have materially contributed to the prosperity of Mansfield.
The following facts concerning the children of Frederick E. and Anna (Lord) Tracy will be found of interest in this connection: Howard Tracy was educated at Oberlin and at Amherst, graduating at the latter institution, and married Bessie Lindsley, of Nashville, Tennessee. He is in the coal and coke business at Chicago, Illinois. Louise Massa Tracy married Dr. Charles E. Winslow, of Los Angeles, California. Russell Lord Tracy was educated at Oberlin and at Carlton College, Minnesota. He mar- ried Luella Smith, a daughter of Edward P. Smith, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and is a prominent financier and resident of Salt Lake City, Utah. Ruth Maria Tracy is the wife of the Rev. Sidney Strong, of Oak Park. Chicago, Illinois ; and Waldo Tracy married Fayette Darwin Winslow, who is a lawyer at Aurora, Illinois.
SAMUEL PUGH. r
Samuel Pugh is one of Richland county's highly respected citizens, whose useful and well-spent life has not only gained for him the confidence of his fellow men but has also secured for him a comfortable competence which
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enables him to lay aside all business cares and spend the remainder of his days in ease and retirement. His home is on section 36, Weller township. Mr. Pugh was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1845, a son of Jolin and Elizabeth (Pifer) Pugh, both natives of Lancaster county, that state, the former born in 1801, the latter in 1809. His paternal grand- parents came to this country from Ireland at an early day, and settled in the Keystone state. Shortly after his marriage John Pugh moved to Franklin county, where for a number of years he drove a stage prior to the intro- duction of railroads, and later engaged in farming, gardening and lime burn- ing as a means of livelihood. He was one of the influential men of his com- munity, was an ardent Democrat in politics, and for many years was an active member of the German Reformed church. He died in 1879, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years, his wife in 1897, at the age of eighty-eight. Her parents were Jacob and Elizabeth Pifer, who emigrated to Ohio at an early day, becoming pioneer settlers of Franklin township, Richland county, where her father purchased a small farm, upon which they made their home through- out the remainder of their lives.
Samuel Pugh is one of a family of twelve children, ten of whom are still living, namely : George and Mark, both residents of Franklin county, Penn- sylvania; Mary, the wife of William Poe, of the same place; Jacob, also a resident of Franklin county ; Samuel, our subject ; Edward and Henry, twins, the former a teamster of Shelby, this county, the latter a farmer of Franklin township; Margaret J., the wife of Adam Henry, a farmer of Weller town- ship; Emaline, the wife of Manuel Oliver, a farmer of Franklin county, Penn- sylvania; and James, a farmer of Weller township, this county.
In the county of his nativity, Samuel Pugh passed the days of his boy- hood and youth, and pursued his studies in the common schools. On reaching his eighteenth year he left the parental roof and came west, locating in Frank- lin township, Richland county, Ohio, where he apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade. When his term of apprenticeship expired, he began con- tracting and building on his own account, and during the following nine years he steadily prospered. In 1874 he purchased ninety-six acres of land on sec- tion 36, Weller township, where he has since made his home, employing hired help to operate his farm, while he continued to follow contracting until 1888. Since then he has practically lived a retired life, though he occasionally does some work at his trade for the accommodation of his neighbors. Suc- cess has attended his well-directed efforts, and he now owns three good farms, aggregating two hundred and twenty-three acres. His home place is one of the best improved and most desirable farms of its size in the township.
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In 1871, Mr. Pugh was united in marriage with Miss Maria Wolford, a daughter of David Wolford, a well-known retired farmer of Weller town- ship, and they have become the parents of four children. Those living are Allen W., who has been teaching in the public schools for the past four years; Arthur E., a graduate of the Savannah Academy, who taught history in that institution in the year 1899-1900, and is now teaching in the public schools ; and Carrie Mae. All reside at home.
The cause of education has always found in Mr. Pugh a stanch friend. He has given his children good advantages along that line, and has efficiently served as a member of the school board for twelve years. He is an active and influential member of the Lutheran church, of which he has been a deacon for about fourteen years, and elder for the past five years. Fraternally he affiliates with the Patrons of Husbandry, and politically is identified with the Democratic party. He is now serving his second term as a trustee of the township. Notwithstanding the fact that he is a strong Democrat, he was elected to that office in a Republican community, thus showing his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He is justly numbered among the leading and representative citizens of his township.
MRS. MARY C. GANS.
We are now permitted to touch briefly upon the life history of one who has retained personal association with the affairs of Ohio throughout almost her entire life and one whose ancestral line traces back to an early epoch in the history of the state.
Mary Churchill (Weldon) Gans was born in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, October 28, 1865, and died in Mansfield, August 23, 1899. She was the wife of E. W. Gans, an influential citizen and for many years connected with the Aultman & Taylor Machinery Company as the manager of its col- lection department. Her parentage connected her with many of the promi- nent pioneers of the county, who were potent factors in determining its progress. Her paternal grandfather, James Weldon, was a pioneer of Mans- field, and early erected a block on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. For many years he followed merchandising, confining his business operations to his own city. His was a long and honorable career, and he had a wide acquaintance. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Gans was James Purdy, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and studied law at Canandaigua, New York. He came from there to Mansfield in
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1823, when the city was a mere frontier hamlet. He owned and edited the . first newspaper, the Mansfield Gazette, and was prominent in the movement for internal improvement in the state, obtaining the location and partial com- pletion of the canal through the Mohican valley, and when railroads came into favorable consideration, as early as 1836, secured a partial survey of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago road, but did not secure the charter until 1848. He was also instrumental in the organization of the Mans- field & Sandusky Railroad and became the president of the company. In 1856 he was the projector, vice-president and joint owner of the Chi- cago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad and many town sites located along its route. In 1846 he assisted in securing the charter for the State Bank of Ohio and was a member of its board of control, establishing a branch of the bank in Mansfield in 1847. Of this he was the president until it was merged into the present Farmers' National Bank, his presidency covering a period of over forty years. He also established banks in Chicago and California. He served in three wars, namely : that of 1812, the Mexican war and the war of the Rebellion,-surely a record which is scarcely paralleled for patriotism and active service. His wife, together with other prominent citizens of Mansfield, was a descendant of the Hodges of Buffalo, New York, who traced their line- age back through a line of patriots to those who fought in the Revolution.
William Harrison Weldon, father of Mrs. Gans, was born January 8, 1839, and died December II, 1867, when yet a young man. As a boy he was of very studious habits, completed the course in the Mansfield city schools and a business course in Cleveland, and entered the bank of James Purdy at the age of fourteen years. He made such rapid progress that when, in 1860, Mr. Purdy, Judge William Granger and James Weldon established a bank in Chicago they placed him in charge of it. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he was appointed assistant paymaster in the navy, shipping first with the old Bainbridge, then with the steam sloop Sacramento, filling that po- sition from February, 1862, until January, 1865. At the close of the Re- bellion he formed a partnership with Colonel William Painter in the bank- ing business in Philadelphia, but a form of low fever contracted while on blockade duty at Panama forced him to return to Mansfield, and he was never again able to take up business cares. In early manhood he had wedded Mary Hodge Purdy, the eldest daughter of James Purdy, and on the early death of her husband she devoted herself to the education of her daughter and younger son, the latter, William McElroy Weldon, now a successful lawyer.
Mrs. Gans, the daughter, enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the Mansfield schools and was graduated in the high school with the class
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of 1883. The following years she took a special course at Vassar College, and the subsequent year studied in Dr. Ganett's school in Chester Square, Boston. After a year spent among her many friends in the south and some months passed in Miss Willard's special school in Berlin, Germany, she joined a party of college mates in a travel and study tour over much of the old world, the party traveling under the direction of Professor Dorchester, then famous in this specialty. They visited England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Greece, after whichi, being joined by her mother and brother, another year was spent in study and'travel. She spent much time in Florence, which city she greatly loved and which was her favorite next to Mansfield, to which she returned for permanent residence in 1889. Subsequently she traveled extensively in the United States. Her patriotism was intense. While her journals show careful study and thorough appreciation of all the old world has accomplished, the love of her own country and town was ever first and strongest, and her friends often heard her say that no views in all her travels so thrilled her as the sight of New York harbor andMansfield. Her religious work was always engaging, as she was an enthusiastic member of the Presbyterian church and found full oc- cupation along all lines of its service. But her training and study in foreign lands led her naturally into great activity in the literary club life for which Mansfield is justly famous. She was a prominent member of "The Nomads," a club for literary study. This club was the first of the now numerous Mansfield clubs to break away from specific instruction and start on inde- pendent lines, determining its own course of study and doing its own in- vestigating. In all its work Mrs. Gans was a prominent figure, and was at all times and to the end of her life by her gentle and wise counsel a strong factor in determining the policy of the club. The club gave expression to its regard in these words: "She was one of the club's most efficient and de- voted members,-at one time its president and many times the moving spirit which directed the course of study. The strength and nobleness of her char- acter and wise counsel have been an inspiration."
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