USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 20
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 20
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The father of Mrs. Johnson, James K. Fer- guson, was born in Richland county, Ohio.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
about the year 1822, and was married, in 1846, to Henrietta Stont, and reared a family consisting of the following children : Will- iam, painter of Van Wert; Mary, wife of George Torrey, of Union township; Laura; John, who resides in Van Wert; Celina, teacher in the public schools of Van Wert; Charley, a printer, and Maud, teacher of music-the last two liv- ing in the city of Van Wert. When a small boy, James K. Ferguson accompanied his par- ents to Kenton, Ohio, where he remained un- til 1851, at which time he came to the county of Van Wert, and engaged in cabinet-making, and later, for a number of years; followed the painter's trade in the city and throughout the county. Originally, he was an old line whig in politics, later became a republican, and is still living, being at this time, perhaps, the oldest member of the Masonic fraternity in the city of Van Wert. Mrs. Ferguson was born about 1825, in Maryland, and was the daugh- ter of a hero of the war of 1812, whose birth occurred about the year 1792, in Berks coun- ty, Pa. Grandfather Stout served as sheriff at Hagerstown, Md., prior to the late war, and died about eighteen years ago at the age of eighty-four.
B ENJAMIN JOHNSON, a highly re- spectable and prosperous farmer of Willshire township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Pennsylvania and was born June 1, 1839. His father, Elias Johnson, was born in Brooke county, Va., was reared a farmer, and was married in his native county to Miss Jemima Dimmit. daugh- ter of Jacob Dimmit. . To this couple were born the following children: Benjamin, Wil- son, Elizabeth, Jacob, Mary C., Marietta and Annetta. The parents of this family settled in Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio, in 1850, and here the father died June 11, 1861, his
wife having departed in September, 1859. greatly venerated by their neighbors as pio- neers and as members of the United Brethren church.
Benjamin Johnson was but ten years of age when his parents settled on a part of his pres- ent farm in Willshire township; since then lie has become one of the prominent agriculturists of the county and has assisted in converting the township from a wilderness into a garden. His marriage took place June 24, 1860, to Delilah Morehead, daughter of Vinton and Phebe (Heller) Morehead, and to this con- genial union have been born the following chil- dren: Wilson W., Rosa, Melvin A., Annie, Callinda A. and Benjamin F. (deceased) and an infant, also deceased. Of the above, Wil- son W. was married December 21, 1887, to Miss Nellie Mason, daughter of Gustavus and Mary (Trunky) Mason- the former a farmer of Defiance county, Ohio. The home farm of Mr. Johnson contains 180 acres, is well ditched and well stocked, and no better-kept farm of its size exists in the county. In politics Mr. Johnson is a republican, and in religion is a pillar in the radical branch of the United Brethren in Christ. He has seen a mighty change made in Van Wert county, since, when a child of ten years, he sat on the puncheon slabs that formed the seats of the old-fash- ioned log school-house. Mr. Johnson is one of the hard-working, thorough-going, upright men, and is most favorably known throughout the county of Van Wert.
O RLAND W. JOHNSTONE, the ac- commodating passenger and freight agent of the C., J. & M. R. R. com- pany at Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Marion, Ohio, September 23, 1859, a son of John C. and Louisa (Baker) Johnstone, of whom the former was born in Wayne county,
r.M.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
Ohio, January 25, 1830, and the latter in Marion, Ohio, May 21, 1836; they were mar- ried in Marion in 1856, when they located in Van Wert, where John C. practiced law until 1859; thence they removed to Marion, where Mr. Johnstone has since continued the practice of his profession, now ranking among the best attorneys of the state. They are parents of three children, to-wit: Genevra, recognized as one of the most accomplished vocalists in America, and wife of R. W. Bishop, M. D., of Chicago, Ill .; Orland W., subject of this sketch, and Homer C., secretary of the Ohio Coal company, at Saint Paul, Minn. The father is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a K. of P .; in religion he is a Methodist, while his wife is a devout Baptist. He has acquired considerable property in Marion, and also holds a large interest in an Arizona ranch, located on the irrigating canals and stocked with horses and mules and also devoted to the growing of fruit.
Orland W. Johnstone was reared to man- hood in his native city and there received his preliminary education; in 1871 and 1872 he attended the Lincoln (Neb.) Military school, and in 1873-74-75 was a student in Oberlin college, Ohio; in 1876 he attended the Hills- dale college, and for the three following years was employed in school-teaching in Wyandot and Marion counties, Ohio; he then eagaged with the Hocking Valley Railroad company, at Toledo, Ohio, as extra agent along its line, and filled the position for ten years; thence he went to Portland, Ore., where he acted as train dispatcher for the Portland & Willamette Valley Railroad company for eight months, and then, in September, 1889, came to Van Wert and entered upon the performance of the duties of passenger and freight agent for the C., J. & M. R. R. company, which posi- tion he has since filled to the satisfaction of the company and the general public. The
marriage of Mr. Johnstone took place at Mor- ral, Marion county, Ohio, June 12, 1882, to Miss Emma L. Fowler, who was born at Lit- tle Sandusky, Ohio, November 27, 1863, a daughter of S. P. and Martha A. (Coon) Fow- ler, and this happy union has been blessed by the birth of two children -- Marguerite and. Genevra. Mr. and Mrs. Johnstone are mem- bers of the Universalist church, and frater- nally Mr. Johnstone is a knight templar Mason; in politics he is a strong and prominent repub- lican. He is also one of the organizers of the Van Wert Hedge Fence company, and has an enviable reputation as a business man in gen- eral. Both he and wife enjoy a large and pleas- ant social acquaintance.
J OHN L. JONES, now a thriving farmer of Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in northern Wales, May 20, 1830, and is a son of Lewis and Eliza (Lewis) Jones. Lewis Jones, the father, died when our subject was but two years old, leaving four children, viz: Evan L .; William, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Lizzie, and John L. Mrs. Jones re- mained a widow and died in Wales without further issue.
John L. Jones was reared to farm work, receiving but a limited education, and that was obtained in the Sunday-school of his native parish. In 1855 he came to America and found employment in a boiler shop in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted, in May. 1864, in company A, One hundred and Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, for 100 days, and served on guard duty in Maryland, at Point Lookout, and performed his duty promptly and cheerfully, but was greatly exposed and endured considerable suffering. He received an lion- orable discharge in July, 1864, at Cincinnati,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
but was much debilitated by chronic diarrhea. He returned to work in the boiler shop, and May 2, 1866, married Margaret E. Evans, who was born March 11, 1838, in southern Wales, a daughter of Evan J. and Mary (James) Evans, this union resulting in the birth of five children, viz: Mary Jane, Elizabeth, Anna, Evan (who died at one year of age), William Henry and Margaret Esther.
To Evan J. Evans and his wife, the par- ents of Mrs. John L. Jones, were born nine children, named as follows: Elizabeth, Mary, John, Evan, Edward, Ann, Jane, Murgaret and James-all born in Wales, Mr. Evans was a carpenter by trade, but became a farmer by buying forty acres of land in the wild woods of Jackson county, Ohio, which by dint of in- dustry he converted into a fertile farm, on which he lived in peace and comfort the latter years of his life, and died at the age of seventy- two years, a member, and also a Sunday- school teacher, of the Methodist church, of which his wife was also a devotee. He was a remarkably industrious man and held the re- spect of his fellow-citizens, who elected him to several local offices, such as supervisor and school director, and gave many other demon- strations of the esteem in which they held him.
Mr. Jones, after marriage, continued to work at boiler-making in Cincinnati for about five years, and then removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he followed the same business a year or more, and then, in 1873, came to Van Wert county, and bought eighty acres of land in the woods of Washington township, where he cleared up a space for a log cabin, and under the advice and assistance of his kindly neigh- bors soon made an excellent farm, and now has a tasteful and substantial residence and a home that compares favorably with any in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are mem- bers of the Calvinistic Methodist church, and in politics is a republican. They have reared
a family of respected children, and they them- selves are greatly respected for their industry, kindly actions as neighbors. and consistent walk through life as sincere Christians.
DWARD T. JONES, of York town. ship, Van Wert county, is a native of Jackson county, Ohio, was born in June, 1843, and is a son of. Thomas T. and Mary (Edwards) Jones, both natives of Wales. Thomas T. Jones, the father, lived to be eighty-four years of age and was then killed by a runaway horse; his wife died at the age of ninety years; they were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Ann, deceased wife of Thymas Allan; Thomas, who grew to man- hood but is now dead; David T., who died at the age of fifty years; Ebenezer, who lives in Jackson county, Ohio; Margaret, wife of Owen Morris, of York township. All the above chil- dren were born in Wales; the following are na- tives of Jackson county, Ohio: Elizabeth, wife of Evan Williams, also deceased; Edward T .. our subject; Elizabeth, who died in girlhood, and for whom the first grave was made for any of the Welsh people of Jackson county. Ohio; she was buried in the wood where after- ward was erected the Calvinistic church; John, the next born, grew to manhood and died in Jackson county, and Mary, the youngest child, resides in Columbus, Ohio.
October 25, 1866, Edward T. Jones was united in marriage with Jane Owens, a native of Van Wert county and a daughter of David and Sarah (Griffith) Owens, both of whom were born in Wales, came to Ohio in 1837. and in 1848 settled in Venedocia, Wan Wert county, on land now occupied by William J. Bebb. Mrs. Jones' father brought with him from Wales his wife and one son, David, who enlisted in the late Civil war and died while in the service with typhoid fever; Mary became
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
the wife of John M. Jones and died in 1877. The children born in America were Thomas M., who died in infancy; Sarah, who died about the age of twenty years; Elizabeth, who died in girlhood; Jane, wife of our subject; Hannah, who died in babyhood; John C., died after reaching manhood in Kenton, Nebr., and Richard E., commonly known as "Dick."
The beautiful farm of 160 acres, now owned by our subject, was a gift from his father; it was however, at that time an entire wilder- ness and has since been cleared up by Mr. Jones. Here he and his wife have flourished and raised a family of eleven children, viz : Sarah Ann, wife of D. R. Owens; Thomas T., married Miss Anna J. Owens; and David Owen; May Elizabeth, who died in early childhood; Mary; John Newton and Margaret J., twins; Ebenezer and a twin sister, the later deceased; Everett; Edward Oliver, deceased in infancy. The family worship at the Calvinistic church and in politics Mr. Jones is a republican. His farm is one of the best improved in the town- ship and he also owns a fine farm of 166 acres in Washington township, and no family of York township is more highly respected than that of Edward T. Jones.
VAN L. JONES, one of the old set- tlers of Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a Welshman by birth and is a son of Lewis Jones, who was a son of Lewis, a butcher of Wales, who died at the extreme age of eighty-four years. Lewis Jones, the father of our subject, was a weaver by trade, also a miller, and mar- ried Elizabeth Lewis, to which union were born three children-John L., Willian and Evan L., our subject; the father died when his son, our subject, was but a little boy.
Evan L. Jones was born in the village of Raden Melton, Montgomeryshire, Wales, All-
gust 3, 1832, and learned to read his mother tongue in his native land, and to write in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, after his days's work was done. He had been reared on a farm in Wales to the age of fourteen years, and then, the last of May, 1846, in company with his younger brother, William, the about ten years old, came to America, with a colony of twenty-five of their young countrymen. They sailed from Liver- pool, England, in the good ship Elizabeth Barclay, and after a voyage of thirty-three days, landed in New York July 1. Coming to Ohio, Mr. Jones found work in the rolling-mills at Cincinnati, there being many Welshman in the iron business in that city, and finally be- came an adept puddler-a calling he followed for twenty-five years. In May, 1861, in Cin- cinnati, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Jane Bruce, also a native of Wales, who came to America with her grandparents, who were pioneers of Venedocia, Ohio. Mrs. Jones survived her wedding day about one year, when she died in Cincinnati, leaving no children, and for many years Mr. Jones mourned her loss.
Preparatory to and during the early part of the Civil war, Mr. Jones was employed in roll- ing iron plates for the United States gunboats. and in 1863 made a trip to California, sailing from New York to Panama and thence to San Fransisco, whence he went to the Sierra Ne- vada mountains, and for twelve years was engaged in gold mining, at which he met with acundant success. At the end of the period mentioned he returned east, and in 1880 came to Van Wert county, Ohio, here he purchased a tract of 160 acres of woodland in Washington township, and by dint of hard labor of which he is capable, has cleared up his land and made a farm and home equal to any in the township.
The second marriage of Mr. Jones was solemnized, in 1886, with Mrs. Ann Davis. widow of Edward B. Davis, a pioneer of Van
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Wert county, and this happy union was blessed by the birth of four children-Daniel, Mar- garet, Maria and Annie. He and wife are consistent members of the Methodist church, and in politics he is a republican. He is made of the metal of which the citizens of a republic should be constituted, with thews and sinews to match. He has had a varied experience, and it may be said has endured some suffering. At one time, while crossing a valley in the Sierra-Nevadas, at Fremont pass, he and two companions, having met with no water for many days, came near dying from thirst; their tongues were swollen almost to an extent suffi-
cient to produce suffocation and blackened through want of circulation, and when water was at last obtained, its use in itself produced an al- most unendurable, although temporary, agony. But Mr. Jones survived it all, and has lived to see the day when he has become a substantial citi- zen, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early industry and frugality, and surrounded by a host of friends who delight to do him honor.
LIZABETH HATTERY, widow of Josiah Hattery, late of Pleasant town- ship, Van Wert county, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 27, 1822, a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Mont- gomery) Ritter. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1787, of Dutch parent- age. He was educated in his native state and in early life learned the trade of a millwright, and subsequently owned and operated a mill. About the year 1812 he married Anna Mont- gomery, daughter of James and Anna (Brady) Montgomery. To their union were born the following children: Martha, deceased wife of Hezekiah Bennett; Elizabeth, of this mention; John, deceased; Saralı, widow of James Hoghe ; Joseph, deceased. The mother of these chil- dren died in 1854 and the father in about IS84.
Elizabeth Hattery, subject of this memoir, was reared on a farm, and received a limited education in the common schools of her early days, and in 1841 was united in marriage to Josiah Hattery; to them were born the follow- ing children; Martha, wife of Jacob Mohr of Hoaglin township; Joseph S., of Waterloo, Iowa; Mary, now at home with her mother; Dr. John E., of Celina; Esther E., widow of John Montgomery; Thomas, of Dubuque, Iowa.
Josiah Hattery, the husband and father, was born in Virginia, in 1821, the son of An- drew and Rachael (Smith) Hattery, of old Vir- ginia stock. When a boy Mr. Hattery came with his parents to Carroll county, Ohio, in wagons, by an overland route, and here was educated in the common school, and in early manhood learned the trade of cabinet-making. For three years following his marriage he lived in Carroll county, where he followed his trade. In 1844, he moved to Van Wert, then a small village, and soon established himself as the first cabinet-maker of the town, and there car- ried on the business for a number of years, until failing health compelled him to abandon his trade and adopt farming as the means of a livelihood. About 1854, he purchased the farm on which his family now resides, then a strip of wild woodland. This he proceeded to clear and improve, and from that time until his death he was associated with the agricultural interests of the county, in addition to which he was a contractor and builder, and many of the better buildings of his home community are monuments of his handwork, Mr. Hattery was one of the progressive and enterprising men of his day, a thorough agriculturist, aud one in whom the confidence of the people was never betrayed. Politically he espoused the cause of the republican party and was a stanch supporter of the principles he advocated. He took an active interest in the welfare of the community in which he lived, and no enter-
Josiah battery
319 380
Elizabeth Thattery 351-382
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
prise that was for the good of the community or county at large passed by him without his endorsement and support. He was a skilled workman and was quite successful in all his pursuits in life, upright and honorable in all his dealings with men, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His death oc- curred January 27, 1880, and in his death, a kind and indulgent father and husband was taken away, as well as a good citizen. He and his wife were worthy members of the Presby- terian church. Mrs. Hattery still resides upon the old home farm with her daughters, having passed the alloted period of three score and ten, and with complacency looks back upon a long and useful life.
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J OHN J. JONES, a substantial farmer of York township, Van Wert county, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 16, 1853, a son of John H. and Mary (Edwards) Jones. In company with his brother, D. J. Jones, he came to Van Wert county, in 1876, and purchased a tract of land, in which his brothers and sisters were equally interested, the tract comprising 160 acres, entirely without improvements. July 4, 1879, he felled the first tree to clear a space for his dwelling, and erected thereon a resi- dence inuch superior to those of the locality and times. The forest was so dense and crowded so closely upon him that he made it a business to burn his brush at night, in order to keep better trace of the straying sparks. In three years from the date of liis settlement be had widened his little patch of sunshine until sixty-three acres of his forest home were trans- formed into fertile fields, yielding him tlie reward that honest toil assures to the diligent. Not only is his farm now improved with com- modious and modern buildings and wind- engine, but Mr. Jones has laid therein more 17
than 9,000 rods of tile; his farm will now compare most favorably with any of its size in the township and leave a rich reward for the labor bestowed upon it; not only is Mr. Jones a thoroughly practical farmer, but is also a wide-awake and competent business man. He has the agencies for the Star wind-pump, the Nicholos thresher, and the Mast Wild Fence company, with his office on South Washing- ton street, Van Wert, at the hardware store of Mr. Kime.
October 23, 1879, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Pritchard, and this union was blessed with the following chil- dren: Mary Elizabeth, Annie Jane, Johnny, Edna, and Unice, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died October 10, 1889, and Mr. Jones subsequently married Mary Ann Davis, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Davis. One child, David Oswald, has come to bless this union, shedding a new light in the household, Mr. and Mrs. Jones are ear- nest christian people, and so deport themselves as to gain the honor and respect of all their neighbors. Mr. Jones has served as trustee of the township of York, has always been indus- trious and enterprising, and few men of the township stand as high as he, either as a farmer or business man.
OHN M. JONES, a resident of York township, Van Wert county, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born October 10, IS49, a son of Hugh F. and Mary (Morris) Jones, both natives of Wales, and who came to America in their single days, and wedded in Cincinnati, where his father was employed as head sawyer. Hugh F. Jones was born in 1819 and reached Cincinnati in 1846; then in 1850 he came to Van Wert county, bearing a son, John M., on his back from Spencerville, Ohio. He had, however,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
previously entered eighty acres of land near Jonestown, York township, where he settled in the thicket, and at once set about clearing away the forest. He afterward added to this tract 142 acres, and later purchased 160 acres, 120 of which are now owned by John M., our subject. The children born to Hugh F. and Mary Jones were named as follows: John M .; Elizabeth; Margaret, wife of T. M. Jones, of Missouri; David, also of Missouri; Jane, de- ceased wife of David E. Lewis; Sarah, wife of Evan A. Davis, of Marion, Ind .; Edward R., of York township, and Mary C., residing on the old homestead. Hugh F. Jones, the father of John M., died April 10, 1890, aged seventy years, eight months and seven days. His com- panion had been called to her last resting place February 2, 1870.
John M. Jones, our subject, labored faith- fully on his father's farm until attaining his majority; he had good educational advantages, and quit the school to begin teaching, which profession he followed for fifteen winters; after quitting the public schools, however, he at- tended the normal school at Delphos, and later at Van Wert. February 24, 1884, he was united in wedlock with Miss Maria Will- iams, a native of Portage county, Ohio, but a resident, at the time of her marriage, of Ma- con county, Mo. She was an accomplished lady and a teacher in the high schools of New Cambria, Mo .; her parents were Moses and Mary (Evans) Williams, both deceased. In the spring of the same year Mr. Jones began the cultivation of his present farm. The chil- dren born to John M. Jones and wife were named as follows: Ada Mary, Hattie Jane, and Hugh Moses.
In politics Mr. Jones is a stanch member of the republican party, has served as town- ship assessor two terms, and in April, 1896. was elected township clerk-his father having been treasurer for more than a quarter of a
century, twenty-three years of this time hay- ing been passed in office continuously. His father died honored and respected by all who knew him, he and wife having been for many years consistent members of the Welsh Pres- byterian church. Hugh F. Jones also served as trustee and assessor of his township, as well as land appraiser for two terms. John M. Jones is a highly honored citizen of the township, is industrious, pious, and is a most excellent citizen in all respects.
J D. JONES .- Among the well known citizens of Jennings township, Van Wert county, Ohio, entitled to specific mention, is J. D. Jones, who was born of Welsh parentage in Jackson county, Ohio, on the Sth of August, 1859. His parents, David S. and Ann (Morgan) Jones, came to America in 1857, and located in Jackson county, Ohio, where for a number of years the father was employed in the Jefferson furnace. They had a family of children, whose names are here given : J. D., subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of D. H. Edwards; and Rachel, wife of John Pritchard, of Chicago. About the year 1860 David Jones brought his family to Van Wert county, and located on the farm in Jennings township where his son, J. D .. now resides. As is well known, the south- ern part of the county at that time was not very highly improved, and Mr. Jones found his land almost as nature had made it. He erected a small cabin, which in time was replaced by a more comfortable and preten- tious structure, but the first modest dwelling served Mr. Jones as a home until his death, which was caused by the explosion of a mill. His widow subsequently became the wife of Morgan H. Morgan, and died September 24. 1883.
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