A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 76

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 76
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 76

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ready for a big day's work on the morrow." This was his course of life until his marriage. To again quote Mr. Collins: "Seeing it was not good for one man to be alone, John Collins, aged twenty-three years, five months and twenty-five days, and Sophia Stebelton, aged sixteen years, one month and two days, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony at the residence of Jesse Stebelton, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord 1848, comformably to the or- dinance of God, and the laws of the state." After marriage he continued to reside in Fair- field, Hocking county, four years, and then in October, 1851, he came to Van Wert county. and purchased forty acres of land; he then returned to Hocking county, where he passed the winter, and on the 12th of Mrarch, 1852, he started west again with his family, consisting of himself, his wite and three babies, a nephew, his mother and one dog, and a hired man by the name of Hayne. They reached Van Wert on March 21, rested in town awhile, and on the 27th arrived safely on his forty acres. On the twenty-first day of August following, he pur- chased forty-acres, of which twenty were deadened, just across the road from his first forty, and paid for it in full, with the excep- tion of $100, which was to be paid in nine months. The same day on which he made this purchase he was seized with inflammatory rheumatism, and for about six months was compelled to use crutches and was unable to do any work, and in the meantime his mother died-and thus his misfortunes were aug- mented; but his determination and will were strong, and his arms sinewy, and as soon as be recovered from his rheumatic attach he took a job of wood-chopping for Robert Conn at thirty-seven and a half cents a cord. and averaged four cords a day in the win-

JOHN COLLINS.

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MRS. SOPHIA COLLINS:

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

and from his work, and when his job was com- pleted he was ready to make the last payment on this part of his farm, and his eighty acres are now free of debt. To clear this land up, however, he worked from four o'clock in the morning until twelve at night, but now he has something to be proud of. In 1857 he bought sixty additional acres of John Hire, adding to the old farm on the east, making in all 140 acres in Ridge township, of which over 100 are under a state of cultivation, are thoroughly underdrained, and improved with buildings costing over $7,000.

Mr. Collins has had born to him seven sons and seven daughters, of whom eleven . still survive -- all married and themselves heads of families. The names of these children are as follows: Mary E., I. N., Andrew J., Martha E., Daniel W., Anna, Franklin, Lucinda, Jasper, Lovina, Dora, Ida, John and Perry. The integrity, industry and morality of Mr. Collins are well recognized in his community, and none stand higher in the esteem of the people of Ridge township than he and his fam- ily. As Mr. Collins naively quotes, " My life has been checkered with darkness and light, but the sweet star of hope was always in sight; though oft I have erred -- I confess it with tears-sustained by God's grace, I have reached seventy years."

IRAM R. CONN, one of the promi- inent citizens of Van Wert and an ex-soldier of the Union army, who served his country well in its hour of need, was born May 10, 1833. He is a son of John Conn, who was born in Scott county. Va .. in 1,90.

John Conn was of German and French an- cestry, was reared on a farmi, and was married, in 1807, to Miss Elsley Carter, of Scott county, Va. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- 6

copal church, and died in 1851. By her Mr. Conn had the following children: Lucinda, John, William. Jessie, Benjamin, Melvin, Mary, . Louisa, Hiram and Joseph. Five of these nine children are dead, viz: Jessie, Mary, Louisa, Melvin and Lucinda. All were married but Melvin, who was killed in the late Civil war at the battle of Richmond. John Conn married for his second wife Miss Melissa Bryant, of Tennessee. She was and is a member of . the Methodist Episcopal church, and is still living in Jackson county, Ohio. By his second mar- riage Mr. Conn became the father of five chil- dren, viz: Levi, Martin, Lydia, Daniel and Lavinda. One of these five, Martin, is dead, having been killed in a coal mine. He was married; all the rest are living and are all mar- ried. John Conn was a whig in the early day. was a patriot and volunteered to fight for his country in the war of 1812-15. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a good-hearted and liberal man, and was highly esteemed as a man and as a citizen by all who knew him.

Hiram R. Conn was born in Scott county, Va., and when twelve years of age began driv- ing stock for a living. This business he fol- lowed for about eight years, driving sometimes a distance of 420 miles in one direction. When he was twenty years of age his mother died and then he removed to Greene county, Ohio, where he remained for twelve years. He was engaged in Greene county in farming until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted, at Grape Grove, in company E, Ninety-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and went direct from camp at Piqua to the battle of Richmond, where, the third day after leaving camp, a ball passed so close to his lips as to make them bleed a little. He went then to the battle of Perryville, Ky., which took place October S. 1862. Here he suffered a bad rupture, but remained in the army until December 8, 1862.

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At a bridge across the Cumberland river, near Edgeville, Tenn., he had his left leg broken and ankle dislocated and right arm and hand partially paralyzed. He was first taken to the Masonic temple at Nashville, Tenn., and thence transferred to hospital No. 13, Lonisville, Ky., and then to the Marine hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received his discharge in Feb- ruary, 1863. He is now receiving a pension of $17 per month in compensation for his in- juries. Having been discharged from the army, Mr. Conn went to Greene county, Ohio, but later, in the same year (1863) removed to Van Wert, where he has since lived.

Mr. Conn was married February 18, 1852, to Miss Lucinda Shigley, of Greene county, Ohio. To this marriage there were born seven cdildren, viz: Virginia O., Ersley R., Flora L., Franklin L., Cornelia N., Ulysses E. and Elmer N. Of these seven children three are dead. viz: Virginia O., Franklin L. . and Flora L. All of the seven married and reared families of their own. Mr. Conn is a true and strong republican, and is now retired from active business and living a quiet, retired life, in Van Wert, with his wife.

Miss Lucinda Shigley, his wife, was born June 12, 1828. Her father, George Shigley, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802. He was reared on his father's farm, followed the occu- pation of a farmer during his entire life, and died in Greene county, Ohio, in 1880. He was married when he was eighteen years of age to Miss Olive Franklin, who was a distant relative of the great Benjamin Franklin, and by her became the father of eleven children. viz: Polly. Nancy, James, Betsy, Joseph, George, Lucinda, Rhoda, Nelson, Benjamin F. and Adeline. Of these eleven the follow- ing are dead: Polly. Betsy, Nancy, Joseph. James, Rhoda, Adeline, and all the family married except Rhoda. George Shigley was a volunteer in the army of the Union during the i two months, his weight being reduced from

war of 1812-15, and served three months. In politics he was a whig, but in later life became a republican. In religion he was a Methodist, and a consistent member of his church. He was a very conscientious man, and a liberal and a charitable christian gentleman in every way. Mrs. Conn was born in Greene county. Ohio, and resided at home with her parents until she was married to Mr. Conn. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal churchi, and a most exemplary christian lady.

ANIEL M. CONROY, of Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio. is a native of Ireland, was born De- cember 4, 1840, and is a son of Michael and Ann (Delaney) Conroy. The father, Michael, brought bis family to America in 1849, and this family at that time consisted of himself and wife and children, named James, Mary, Elizabeth and Daniel M. The father was a farmer in the old country, but in America worked on a railroad until his death in Delphos, at the age of about fifty-seven years. He was a devout Catholic and a much respected citizen, and gave his two sons to the defense of the Union, viz: James, who served throughout the struggle in company F. Twenty - fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, was in many severe battles --- among them Gettysburg -- was more than once wounded, and for a long time a prisoner in the Libby den in Richmond; he died some years later in Paulding, Ohio, from the effects of his wounds: Daniel M., the younger son and the subject of this mention, enlisted at Delphos, Ohio, in the Dennison guards, in 1862, for a term of three years or during the war. He served at Camp Deuni- son and in Kentucky on guard duty until seized with a complication of the hing fever and measles, and was confined in hospital over

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140 to 105 pounds, and the result being nearly fatal. On partial recovery he was found unfit for a soldier's duty, being almost totally deaf as well as emaciated, and he was therefore honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in January, 1863, after six months of army life.

Daniel M. Conroy, our subject, was between eight and nine years of age when he came with his parents to America, received a common- school education at Delphos and Van Wert, and learned the stone-mason's trade, and up to the date of his enlistment his life was uneventful, or, at least, was not marked by any special incident. After his army experience he at once returned to Delphos, but it was some time before he was capable of doing any work. In due course of time, however, he resumed his trade of stone-cutting, and March 4, 1867, married Miss Sarah Ann Gilliland, who was born in Ridge township, Van Wert . county, June 8, 1836, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Gilliland. Thomas Gilliland was a pioneer of Ridge township, coming, in November, 1835, from Fredericksburg, Md. He had married, in Maryland, October 29, 1831. Catherine McCann, a native of Fred- ericksburg, born December 7, ISII, and to this union were born seven children, who grew to maturity, viz: Robert, Edward, Maxwell, Mary, Martha, Henrietta and Sarah. Thomas Gilliland cleared up a farm of 170 acres, became an influential citizen and a justice of the peace, and died on his farin at the age of about fifty-one years, a member of the Pres- byterian church. . For further information regarding this prominent pioneer family the reader is referred to the biographies of E. B. Gilliland and others to be found elsewhere in this volume.

After marriage Mr. Conroy continued to work at his trade in Delphos until 1873, when he removed to Van Wert, and in ISSe came to

his present farm in Washington township, where he owns twenty-nine and one-half acres, and has a pleasant home. He has been quite successful as an agriculturist-drawing from his early experience --- and makes the pursuit profitable, and to the income derived from his farm he has been remembered by the govern- ment with- a pension of $22 per month. The inarriage of Mr. and Mrs. Conroy has been blessed by the birth of five children ---- Cath- erine, Mattie, Mary, John, and one who died young. The Conroy family are all devout members of the Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Conroy is a republican. He has been a very industrious man, and has always been an upright and respected citizen, but is now unable to any longer labor, and his deafness has become almost total. One of his daugh- ters is now the wife of John Fawcett of Mid- dlepoint, and has one child.

PILLIAM H. CORBET, manager and superintendent of the People's mill, Van Wert, was born in Guern- sey county. Ohio, March 12, 18:6. a son of Rev. Thomas W. and Elizabeth A. (Robins) Corbet, now residents of Lafayette, Allen county. Ohio, and of whom a more de- tailed account is given in the Allen county de- partment of this volume. William H. Corbet was but five years of age when brought by his parents to Allen county, where he attended the public schools until the death of his mother when he was fourteen years old, when he came to Middlepoint, Washington township, Van Wert county, and engaged as a general assist- ant in the stave factory for a year, and for another year was employed in cutting stave timber; he then studied at the Ada Ohio nor- mal school for six months, when he again re- turned to Middlepoint and served as clerk in a general store until i8;9, when he was em-

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ployed in buying and shipping grain, cattle, sheep and swine until 1883, when he was elect- ed county treasurer by the democracy, and entered upon the duties of his office in Septem- ber, 1884. To this office he was elected two consecutive terms, was the youngest man who- ever held the position, was the only democrat on the ticket elected the second year, and can boast of being the only treasurer to go out of office without being compelled to correct an error the first year. At the close of his second term he engaged in buying and shipping grain for eighteen months, then moved to his farm of 160 acres in Washington township, where he still resides. In June, 1894, he accepted the position of manager of the People's mill, in which position he fulfills the function of pur- chasing agent and salesman of grain, etc .; he is also engaged quite extensively in feeding sheep during the winter season, and is likewise the owner of some very fine Jersey cattle.

Mr. Corbet was united in matrimony at Middlepoint, Ohio, December 27, 1876, to Miss Mandane Calhoun, born in Van Wert county April 29, 1857, and a descendant of the cele- brated statesman, John C. Calhoun. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Corbet have been two children -- Zenan, attending the Chicago university, and Verna, at home. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, and fra- ternally Mr. Corbet is a knight templar Mason; he has served, also, on the school board and as a member of the town council several terms.

AVID COUNSELLER, an influen- tial citizen of Union township, and representative farmer of Van Wert county, is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Auglaize, February 23, 1843. His father, William Counseller, was born in New Jersey September 9, 1809, and married in that state, May 17, 1832, Temperance

Girtin, also a native of New Jersey, where her birth occurred on the ISth day of September. 1813. William Counseller followed farming in New Jersey until his removal, in 1835. to Auglaize county, Ohio, where he remained until 1877, in which year he became a resident of the county of Van Wert, locating in Ridge town- ship, where both he and wife died in May. I891. William and Temperance Counseller reared a family consisting of the following children: Elias; Rebecca, deceased; Benjamin, killed in the battle of Nashville, Tenn .; Mariah E. : Isabella, deceased; David, the subject of this memoir; William H., killed at Culpeper Court House, Va .; Levi, Emily A., Josiah, Charles, Jennie and Temperance. Both Mr. and Mrs. Counseller were devout members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, in which he held the position of class leader, and for many years. was a local preacher.

David Counseller remained with his parents. until eighteen years of age, and received from them valuable lessons of industry and morals, factors which have contributed much to his subsequent success in life. At the age above named, he went to Allen county, where he remained with his brother until the breaking out of the war, at which time he responded to. the country's call for volunteers, enlisting in September, 1862, in company E. Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years' serv- ice, his regiment forming a part of the Fourth army corps, western division. He was with his command through all its varied experiences and took part in a number of the bloodiest battles of the war, including Perryville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Peach Tree Creek, Buzzard's Roost and other engagements of the Atlanta campaign. While with Sher- man in his operations around that city, Mr. Counseller was taken quite sick. which neces- sitated his being sent to the hospital at Nash- ville, where he remained until sufficiently re-

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·cuperated, when he was removed to Jefferson- ville, Ind., remaining in the latter place for a period of three months. Subsequently he re- joined his regiment at Willmington, N. C., and continued at the front until honorably dis- charged at the expiration of his term of service, after which he returned to Allen county, Ohio, and resumed his chosen calling of farming. In 1867 Mr. Counseller changed his residence to the county of Van Wert, purchasing a small place consisting of forty acres in Union town- ship, to which he has from time to time made additions, until he is now the owner of a fine tract of 200 acres, all well underdrained and in an excellent state of cultivation. In addi- tion to general farming he pays considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, being a large breeder of thoroughbred China hogs, and also deals extensively in hay, handling upon an average from 150 to 200 car-loads per year.

Mr. Counseller is a thoroughgoing man of . the times, keeps pace with all inodern improve- ments pertaining to agriculture, and possesses rare business acumen. He is a man of fine address, exceptional personal appearance, and in the community few people stand as high in the estiniation of the public. On the 25th day of July, 1865, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Counseller and Elizabeth Shockey, who was born March 24, 1843, the daughter of Abraham and Rachael (Smith) Shockey. natives of Ohio, of Irish and German descent, respectively. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Counseller consists of eight children, viz: Franklin C., William H., Josephine L., Thomas A., Ada, Eva B., Rufus H. and Ora B.

EORGE COVER, a substantial farni- er and respected citizen of Washing- ton township, Van Wert county, is of sturdy Pennsylvania-German de- scent and was born in Perry county, Ohio,

February 11, 1845. His father, Henry Cover. also a native of Perry county, was born March 12, 1819, a son of Jacob Cover, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., but was one of the original pioneers of Perry county. Ohio. Henry Cover was a farmer, and married, in Perry county, Mary M. Foster, daughter of George Foster, to which union were born three children who grew to maturity, viz: George, Francis and Christian.

In August or September, 1849, Henry Cover came from Perry county to Van Wert county, Ohio, and located on 160 acres of land in Ridge township, of which he had become possessor through his wife, and which was situated deep in the forest. This land he im- proved in every respect necessary to make a first-class homestead, and by the exercise of well directed energy and industry became the owner of 657 acres of good farm land, all in Van Wert county, with the exception of 160 acres, which lay in Grant county, Ind. Of this property he has donated to his children about 300 acres, retaining the remainder for himself, and so shaping up his home place that it now comprises 200 acres. He is a good farmer and an intelligent manager, and conse- quently has been very successful in his under- takings. In politics he is a republican, and in religion is a Lutheran, of which church he has been a trustee, and is likewise an influential and highly respected citizen.

George Cover, the gentleman whose naine opens this sketch, was about five years of age. it will be noticed, when brought to Van Wert county by his parents. Here he received such educational advantages as were afforded by the pioneer schools, and here, also, he was trained to thic vocation of farming. At the age of about twenty-four years, December 27, 1868, he married, in Van Wert county, Elizabeth .1. Crooks, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June 5, 1848, a daughter of Robert E.

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and Mary A. (Foster) Crooks. The father of this lady was born in America, but was the son of a native of county Donegal, Ireland.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cover settled on 100 acres of land in Washington township, on which they still reside, and which Mr. Cover has cleared up, improved with a substantial dwelling and out-buildings, and thoroughly drained -- making one of the neat- est and most profitable farms of its dimensions in the township. Here have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cover five children, viz: Mary E., Law- rence A., Marion F., George I .. and Nettie L. In politics Mr. Cover is a republican; in religion, he, wife and two elder children are members of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Cover has been a trustee and treasurer, and from the members of which he has received many other evidences of the high esteem in which he is held. For nearly half a century Mr. Cover has been an eye-witness of the thousand and one metamorphoses that have taken place in Washington township and Van Wert county, and has, indeed, been himself an important factor in bringing about many of these changes, thus earning the high position in which he stands in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.

OAH CRAWFORD, an old resident and prosperous farmer of Ridge town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Walnut township, Fairfield county, Ohio, November, 5, 1833. a son of John H. and Margaret (Buriff) Crawford, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but who were married in Fairfield county, Ohio, whither they had come when still young, and to whose union were born the following children: Thomas, who died after attaining manhood; Sarah, who died in girlhood: John, who owns and resides on the Fairfield county homestead, which comprises 109 acres; Adam, who was a soldier in the war

of the Rebellion and was killed in the battle of Bull Run; Sophia Jane, who died in girlhood; Noah, the subject of this sketch, and Peter Monroe, who was also killed at Bull Run.

Noah Crawford remained on the home farm until his marriage, March 26, 1857, to Chris- tiana Alspach, daughter of David and Mary A. (Stouder) Alspach, who were the parents of three children, beside Mrs. Crawford -- Frank, Sylvester and Alpheus. In 1857, also, David Alspach came with his family to Van Wert county from Perry county, and settled near the county line of Allen county, a short dis- tance from Delphos, and there improved a fine farm, now the property of his son Frank, with whom Mrs. Alspach now makes her home. Noah Crawford, who came to Van Wert county in the same year with Mr. Alspach, rented what was then known as the Pat Sheeley farm. in Washington township, on which he made his home for four years. and then rented the Bink- ley farm in the same township. and here farmed for two years. The following spring, at the earnest solicitation of an old friend of his boyhood days, named Charles Denman, he purchased a tract of forty acres in Ridge town- ship-the tract being then a dense forest. through which not even a pathway had been hewn out. Here Mr. Crawford toiled assidu- ously until he had wrought out a charming home, to which he has added thirty acres, the whole improved with every modern conveni- ence and underdrained with over 1, 700 rods of tiling. His dwelling is notably neat and at- tractive, and the farm phenomenally product- ive under its owner's skillful management. To Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have been born three children, viz: Ida, who is the wife of William Spridgeon; Charles Ellsworth, who married Mary Neiswitz, and Francis Marion, who mar- ried Dora Whers-and no more 'respected family than that of Mr. Crawford exists within the limits of Ridge township.

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

OHN CREMEAN, of Washington town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in German township, Allen county, December 24, 1841, and is one of the oldest soldiers of the late Civil war, in which he served over three years, and is now a pros- perous farmer of his present county.

Smith Cremean, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Maryland, married a lady of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent, and came to Ohio at a very early date, eventually settling in Allen county. Edward Cremean, son of Smith and father of John, our subject. married, in Allen county, Mary Povenmire, daughter of John Povenmire, who was also of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and after marriage settled on 1045 acres in Greensburg township, and cleared up a good farm from the woods. He was a volunteer in the Mexican war, but although he was willing to fight, saw no active service. To Mr. and Mrs. Cremean were born thirteen children, named as follows: James, Maggie, Mary J., Martin Van Buren, John, Elizabeth, Henry, Daniel, Ellen, Sarah A., Lucetta, Abraham and Lavina. Mr. Cremean sent five of his sons to the Civil war, viz: James, Martin, John, Henry and Daniel, of whom three-Martin, Henry and John -- were in company K, Sixty-sixth Illinois volun- teer infantry, while James and Daniel served in an Ohio regiment. The father of this family was a democrat in politics and died on his farm in Allen county about 1868, at the age of forty-seven years, a member of the United Brethren church.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 76

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1310

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310