USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 81
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 81
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
Ohio; and Thomas, who died when four years of age. Anna was the first graduate of the public schools in Van Wert, and is a most es- timable young lady.
Rev. Mr. Elcock is a man of high standing in the community, has always been liberal in his dealings with his fellow-man, and charita- ble in many ways. He has assisted in found- ing numerous Presbyterian institutions, educa- tional, religious and charitable, and has made donations to many others of the same denomi- nation; and, taking all things into considera- tion, both himself and his family are among the most highly esteemed in Van Wert county.
Mrs. Elizabeth H. (Moodes) Elcock, wife of the subject of this memoir, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., and is of Scotch-Irish descent. Her father was a farmer by occupa- tion, and held the office of elder, as well as other positions of honor, in the Presbyterian church. In political relations he was a whig. He was married to Miss Jane Quigley, a native of Pennsylvania, who died when their daughter Elizabeth was quite young, his death occurring before the war of the Rebellion broke out. He was the father of nine children, viz .: Robert, Mary. Jane, Nancy, Margaret, Elizabeth, Joseph, John and one that died in infancy. Two of the nine are still living-Nancy and John. Elizabeth removed to Ohio in 1838, and there, some years later, met Mr. Elcock, to whom she was married as related above. She died in Van Wert, Ohio, March 23, 1889, leaving a most worthy name and estimable record as a woman full of good deeds and of a most unselfish disposition.
AVID W. EVANS, farmer of York township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Wales and was born in the year 1838, a son of William and Jane Evans, who came to America when our
subject was but one year old. They located in Jackson county, Ohio, where the father bought land near Oak Hill, and also became manager of the Cambria furnace, and in 1854, while superintending the building of a stack, a rope that had been made fast to a lever snapped in two, killing him instantly. There were born to William and Jane Evans four sons and two daughters, as follows: David W., our subject: Thomas, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Jane, the widow of David E. Evans; John W., a druggist of Van Wert; William W., a farmer of Jennings township, and Annie, who died in childhood. After the death of her husband Mrs. Evans was married to Isaac T. Jones. William Evans had been a successful man in his lifetime, and at his death was the owner of 600 acres of land in York township, which land our subject, David W. Evans, had partitioned in 1859, leaving to him as his part 106 acres, to which he has added by purchase with money saved from school-teaching eighty acres more. Mr. Evans enjoyed more than the ordinary advantages for education, and saved over $1, ooo from his salary as a school-teacher, with which he pur- chased his farm and located thereon in 1861. in which year he married Miss Jane Bebb. daughter of William and Margaret Bebb. The children of this union were born and named as follows: William B .; Margaret J., wife of Elmer R. Owen, a merchant of Newark, Ohio; Thomas Charles and John Elias, twins, both very talented in vocal music. Thomas Charles, however, while out boating with some friends in the Blanchard river, near Findlay, Ohio, was drowned June 17, 1890; Laura Ann, was the next child of this family; Martha died an infant : David is at home, and Mary is deceased. The mother of these children died February 10, 1887.
Mr. Evans is a republican in his politics. and held office as justice of the peace for ff-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
teen years, successively, and after an inter- regnum of some years was re-elected in 1895. He has ever been a public-spirited citizen, and the residents of his village accord him the credit of bringing the Clover Leaf railroad to Venedocia. During his absence and without his knowledge he was first elected to the office of justice of the peace, and later elected a trustee. Mr. Evans has been very active in the Welsh Presbyterian church, serving as deacon and elder for many years. He controls over 300 acres of land, all well tilled, and im- proved with a substantial brick residence and fine out-buildings. Of such men as he the substantial citizens of York township are con- stituted.
W. EVANS, present trustee of Jen- nings township, Van Wert county, is a native of Jackson county, Ohio, a son of W. William and Jane Evans, and a brother of David W. Evans, above. He was born about 1857. close to Oak Hill, Jackson county, Ohio, and spent his early life in the vicinity of Cambria furnace, in which his father, a notice of whom appears else- where, lost his life. At the age of sixteen, Mr. Evans came to the county of Van Wert and engaged in farm labor, following the same in different parts of the county, until his mar- riage, which occurred on the Ist day of March, 1873, with Miss Ann Alban, born in April, 1852, a daughter of Thomas Alban, a biogra- phy of whom is also given in this volume. Mr. Evans began the pursuit of agriculture upon his own responsibility, on a part of the place originally purchased by his father, but he subsequently disposed of this and bought his present farm in Jennings township, which consists at this time of 117 acres of highly cui- tivated and otherwise well improved land. Mr. Evans manifests exceedingly good judg- 1
ment in the management of the farm, is a inan of good taste, and his buildings and other im- provements are of the latest modern design. He is now serving his third term as trustee of Jennings township, and his management of the office has been creditable to himself and satisfactory to the people who repose the ut- most confidence in his honor and business in- tegrity. In politics, Mr. Evans is a stanch supporter of the republican party, the princi- ples of which he believes to be for the best in- terests of the country. The Calvinistic Pres- byterian church represents his religious creed, and his life, as well as that of his wife, has been in strict accord with his christian profes- sion. He is a gentleman of unimpeachable character, moral and upright in all his deal- ings, and his name well deserves mention among the representative citizens of the town- ship of Jennings. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have an interesting family of three children -- Thomas Walter, born February 3. 1$74; An- nie Jane. born March 22, 1877, and Mand, born April 20, 1887 .- all of whom are still with their parents.
VAN A. EVANS, a well known citizen of York township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Wales, and was born March 21, 1841, in the suburbs of Mestlyn Tydfil, Coed Cymmar, a son of Arthur Gwenfred (Jones) Edwards, who came to America in 1841, and in 1842 reached Granville, Licking county, Ohio, where Arthur Evans worked at shoemaking. Shortly after- ward he moved to Putnam county, and entered forty acres of government land, but shortly afterward removed to Chatham, Canada, where, in 1848, he bought in McGillery town- ship, eighty acres, and where he resided until May, 1850, when he returned to Ohio and settled on his forty acres in Putnam county.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
In 1851 he removed to Delphos, where he worked thirteen years at shoemaking, and where his death took place August 10, 1864, his widow finding her final home, February 13, 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Evans were born three children, Elizabeth, John and Evan A. Elizabeth and John died in childhood and were buried at Cefen Coed Cymmar.
Evan A. Evans gained his early education in the common school, which was finished at Den- nison university, Granville, Ohio. Mr. Evans was employed as drug clerk in Delphos, Ohio, for two years, and then undertook to learn mill- ing, at which he was employed three years: he was then employed as a clerk in a dry-goods establishment until 1863, when he enlisted in an independent military company at Camp Den- nison, which company was known as the Den- nison guards, but this was shortly afterward disbanded, and after a brief interval our sub- ject enlisted, in the spring of the same year, in comany A, One Hundred and Fifty-first O. V. I., with Ed. King as his captain and J. M. C. Marble as his colonel. After his dis- charge from the army, Mr. Evans returned to Delphos and was employed in the dry-goods house of Chamber, Roebuck & Co., with whom he remained until the spring of 1866. Septem- ber 5, 1865, he married Maria G. Whitting- ton, of Cincinnati, Ohio, adopted daughter of R. J. and Mary Whittington, and had born to them three daughters-Elizabeth Winnie, Flora Anna, and one that died in infancy. In 1866 Mr. Evans and R. J. Whittington located at what is now the site of Venedocia, Ohio, where they erected the first dwelling and business building in the village, and there em- barked in business as country merchants, un- der the firm name of Evans & Whittington, the copartnership lasting three years. During his residence in Venedocia Mr. Evans pur- chased his present farm of eighty acres in York township, Van Wert county, known as
the Jeremiah Perry farm, which, in connection with 105 acres purchased by his father, known as the Baldridge farm, he has consolidated into one tract, making one of the most beautiful and productive farins in the township. During his business life Mr. Evans served as treasurer of Jennings township, and most faithfully filled the position until the expiration of his terni. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and socially are esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Evans is recognized as one of the most public-spirited citizens of York township, and has won the respect of the entire community through his unvarying uprightness and genial disposition.
J OHN S. EYLER, a prominent citizen of Van Wert, was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, August 12, 1836. His father, George Eyler. was born April 4, 1787, in Bedford county, Pa., and was a patriot in the war of 1812, and his mother, Sarah (Stewart) Eyler, was a native of Mifilm county, Pa., born April 25, 180 ;. They were married in the Keystone state October 17, 1833, and came to Ohio, locating at Mc- Cutchenville, Wyandot county, where the fa- there followed his trade of cabinet-maker until 1848, when the family came to Willshire. Van Wert county, where Mrs. Sarah Evler died July 25, 1855, at about forty-eight years of age, Rev. N. C. B. Love delivering the funeral sermon, and where George Eyler continued cabinet-making until his death, February 12. 1861. Rev. C. Mounts delivering the funeral sermon. Both parents were members of the Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Eyler was a democrat. Their children were: William H., born October 1, 1834, deceased: John S .. subject: Susan E .. born March 31. 1839, wife | of D. Casto, Dayton, Ohio: George W .. born
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
January 30, 1842, deceased, and also a de- ceased infant.
John S. Eyler was twelve years of age, only, when his parents settled in Willshire, where he was reared and educated. At the age of twenty-one he became a clerk in a gen- eral store, and on August 6, 1862, enlisted in company A, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, uuder Capt. William C. Scott, men- tioned in the biography of Charles P. Richey, on another page, and was at the side of his captain when the latter was mortally wounded. Mr. Eyler served with his company as a pri- vate and quartermaster sergeant until mus- tered out at Salisbury, N. C., July 26, 1865. On his return to Willshire, Mr. Eyler engaged in the general merchandise business in part- nership with D. Casto & Dettmer until 1871, when he sold his interest in the firm, and in 1873 came to the city of Van Wert, where the firm of Casto, Leahman & Eyler was estab- lished and continued as such until 1876, when the style was changed to Casto & Eyler. In 1877, Mr. Eyler sold his interest in this con- cern and began selling, on his own account, a full line of agricultural implements, including reapers, binders, threshers, etc., continuing until 1892; he then retired from business until 1894, when he united with O. D. Billman in his present business, that of handling jewelry, ete , carrying a full and well assorted stock. Mr. Eyler was married, August 12, 1866, in Van Wert county, to Miss Ruth A. Casto, a native of this county and daughter of Amos Casto, the result of the marriage being two children -- Frankie and William, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eyler are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee or director, and in politics he is a re- publican. He is a member of the Royal Ar- canum, is a pensioner, owns a fine residence property on South street, and a business prop- erty at the corner of Market and Water streets.
The family are highly esteemed in a social sense, and in a business view Mr. Eyler has always been regarded as enterprising and pro- gressive, with a high reputation for integrity and straightforward dealing.
SA D. FARNAM, one of the honored citizens of Van Wert and one who has distinction as having rendered his country gallant service in the late war of the Rebellion, is a native of Richland county, Ohio, was born the 27th of March. 1831, and is the son of Solomon and Mary (Cook) Farnam, both of whom were natives of Vermont. The father devoted his life to agri- cultural pursuits, and met his death in Van Wert county, Ohio, as the result of an acci- dent, incidental to the running away of a horse. The mother died in Newaygo county, Mich. They were the parents of cight chil- dren. of whom but three survive. viz: Daniel S., who is engaged in farming in Michigan; Sabra, wife of A. J. McQueen, of Michigan, and Asa, the immediate subject of this memoir. The parents were people of inflexible integrity and lived honorable and useful lives, both hav- ing been devoted members of the United Brethren church. In politics the father was a stalwart democrat and fraternally was a men- ber of the Masonic order.
Asa D. Farnam was a boy of five years at the time his parents took up their abode in Van Wert county, locating in Pleasant town- ship, where the father engaged in farming. Our subject remained on the parental home- stead until he was twenty-three years of age. after which he was engaged in common labor until October. 1861, when he made ready to respond to a higher daty, as the call was made for men to aid in suppressing arnied rebellion. He enlisted as a member of company F. Sixty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, for a 1
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
service of three years, or until the war should close. He was assigned to John Sherman's brigade, in the army of the Cumberland. In the initial stages of the war Mr. Farnam was shot through the left thigh, at Stone river, and was sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he was compelled to remain for three months; he then rejoined his command at Stone river. aud re-entered active service, hav- ing held preferment in turn as orderly sergeant and as first sergeant. Upon him would have eventually been conferred the rank of captain, had it not been for the fact that his commander and colonel had been killed. He afterward participated in all the battles of his regiment, until the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., where he was wounded in the side by a gun- shot and was then sent back to Camp Denni- son, where he remained four months, after which he was transferred to the veteran re- serves at Rock Island, Ill. When the Con- federate soldiers were mustered out, the re- serves proceeded to Springfield, Ill., where they remained on provost guard duty until November, 1865, after which Mr. Farnam re- turned to Van Wert county, where he became concerned in the saw-mill industry and in the operating of stationary engineering work, and continued in these lines of enterprise until 1888, when he assumed charge of the coal and wood yard of his son, J. G. Farnam, in the city of Van Wert, and has since continued in that capacity.
In Van Wert county, on the 26th of June, 1883, was consummated the marriage of our subject to Miss Christina Bearo, who was born in Tuscarawas county, May 26, 1838. The offspring of this union has been four children: Orlando, deceased: Johan G., of Van Wert; Franklin P., a merchant of Van Wert, and Celestia, wife of I. A. Brown, of Toledo. Mrs. Famnam is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Farnam owns valuable real estate in the
city, having attractive residence property on Jackson street and three dwellings on Center street. while his wife owns a residence prop- erty on Vine street.
J OSEPH PRESTON FAUDREE, al present night watchman at the Cincin- nati. Jackson & Mackinaw railroad yards. Van Wert, Ohio, was born April 17, 1840, in Monroe county, Va., now W. Va. He is a son of John W. and Sarah (Tygert) Faudree, both natives of Virginia and of French descent. The parents of each came to the United States from France. Mi. Faudree was by trade or occupation a miller, running one of the old-time water-power mills. In 1859 he removed with his family to Ohio, set- tling first in Logan county, where he remained three years. From there he removed to Madi- son county, where he remained five years In 1867 he removed to Van Wert county, locating in Union township, where he had purchased a farm, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1888, when he was seventy-two years of age. His widow now resides in Tully township, at the age of seventy-three. Mr. Faudree was a most in- dustrious and honest man, careful in the man- agement of his financial affairs, and one of the kind-hearted and genial men of his day. Ho had many friends while he lived in Van Wert county, and his memory will long be revered for the good qualities which he possessed.
Joseph Preston Faudree spent his boyhood days in his father's mill, assisting with the work, and as opportunity afforded attending the district school. After coming to Ohis with his parents he remained with them until his marriage, in 1862. at Logansville, Logan county, Ohio, to Miss Catherine Whitman. daughter of Septimas and Lucinda Wartet: Whitman. Both were natives of Kentucky.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
but at the time of their daughter's marriage they were residents of Ohio. Both are now dead, the mother dying in Van Wert in 1888, at the age of eighty-one.
Mr. Fandree removed to Van Wert county a year after his parents, and engaged in farm- ing about five years. At the end of that time he removed to the city of Van Wert, and ac- ceptcd a position as janitor of the Third ward school, which was at the time the only school in the place. This position he held three years, the first two of which he had to carry wood for twenty-one stoves, as that was before the present system of heating by steam was adopted. At the expiration of the three years spent as janitor Mr. Faudree accepted the po- sition of night policeman in the city of Van Wert, which he filled to the acceptance of the people for two years. and then he removed to Rockford, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of handles, at which he engaged three years. For some time afterward he was engaged in the same line in Saint Mary's and also in Wapakoneta, and then returned to Van Wert, where he became an employee of the Oil Well Supply company, with which con- pany he remained in different capacities for seven years. He then returned to the school building and was again janitor, this time for one year. In 1890 Mr. Faudree accepted a position with the Cincinnati, Jackson & Macki- naw Railroad company as night policeman for that company's yards, which position he still holds. giving entire satisfaction to all interested in the manner in which his duties are per- formed. He is also a member of the police force of Van Wert.
In 1863 Mr. Faudrce proved his patriotism by enlisting in the Union army, and although he saw but little active service, yet that was not owing to any fault of his. as he was with the rest of his regiment ready to perform any duty they were called on to perform. He was i land. He was a successful and int' ntial
in the company commanded by Capt. Timmons, and took part in the campaign against John Morgan when he made his raid through the southern part of Ohio in 1863. When his terni of enlistment had expired he was honcr- ably discharged, and has since been as loyal to private duties as he was at that time to his country.
Mr. Faudree is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. and of the Northwestern Ohio Police association. In politics he has always been a democrat, but has never sought after or held office of any kind. He lives his wife and their two children in his comfortable and pleasant home at the corner of Center and Wall streets, and is a highly respected citizen of Van Wert. The children of Mr. Faudrce are named John Vallandigham, who is living in Van Wert, and Flora Ellen Crawley, now a resident of Union city, Obion county, Tenn.
ETER R. DAVIDSON, of Union township. Van Wert county, Ohio. and a highly respected citizen, is a son of Joshua and Catherine (Koss) Davidson and was born in Allen county, Ohio, May 3, 1848. Joshua Davidson, the father, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, June 22, IS13, a son of John D Davidson, of sterling Scotch stock, and was reared on a frontier farm. In 1835 he married Catherine Ross, a daughter of Richard Ross, and to this marriage were born thirteen children. Mrs. Catherine Davidson was born November 8, 1811. 81 Holmes county, Ohio, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1847 Joshua Davidson purchased a farm in Allen county, on which he built a log house, and then returned on foot to Hohnes county, whence he brought his family to the new home, and with their help cleared of the
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