USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. II > Part 21
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Elihu Wheeler, whose father's name was, also, Enos Wheeler, was born in Maine, his birth occurring in 1811. Migrating when a young man to Ohio, he purchased land in Noble county, and by dint of per- severing toil cleared and improved a valuable homestead, on which he and his wife spent their remaining years. He married, in Noble county, Ohio, Harriet Fogle, who was of Scotch descent, and to them six children were born. as follows: Enos, the subject of this brief biographical sketch; Solomon ; Maranda; Lydia; Josiah ; and Sylvester.
Gleaning his early education in the district schools of Noble township Enos Wheeler was initiated as early as practicable in the mysteries of farming. He proved a faithful worker, and remained on the parental homestead until after the breaking out of the Civil war. A certificate of record compiled by M. Wallingford, historian of the Soldiers and Sailors Historical and Benevolent Society certifies that Mr. Wheeler enlisted, August 9, 1862, from Noble county, Ohio, to serve for three years or during the war, and that he was mustered into service, September 10. 1862, at Camp Marietta, Ohio, as private in Company E, Ninety- second Ohio Volunter Infantry, under Captain Erwin G. Dudley and Colonel Douglas Putnam, Jr.
On October 7, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Point Pleasant, becoming a part of Gilbert's Brigade. Lightburn's Division, but was afterwards assigned to General George Crook's Brigade, Baird's Divi- sion, Fourteenth Corps, Army of the Cumberland. With his comrades Mr. Wheeler took part in various engagements, including those at Pocataligo Creek, Virginia; Hoover's Gap, Tennessee; Lane Chapel, Georgia ; Tullahoma, Tennessee; Chickamauga; Chattanooga; Brown's Ferry : Lookout Mountain; Mission Ridge; and in a number of minor
engagements and skirmishes. At the battle of Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863. the said Enos Wheeler, so reads the certificate, was wounded in the left shoulder by gunshot, and taken to the hospital at Nashville, where he remained two months. Then, receiving a furlough, he re- mained at home four months, when he joined his regiment at Resaca, Georgia. On account of disability from wounds, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. He received his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee. August 5. 1865, by reason of the close of the war In compensation for his brave military services during the conflict, Mr. Wheeler now receives a pension of seventeen dollars a month, a sum which he well deserves.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Soon after his marriage Mr. Wheeler began farming in Noble county remaining there until 1883, when he disposed of his interests in that part of the state, and came to Hardin county. Buying fifty acres of heavily wooded land in Lynn township, he began the ardnous task of redeeming a farm from the wilderness, and has since transformed his property into one of the best farming estates in the township.
On March 8, 1866, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage with Violetta Lamley, who was born in Noble county, Ohio, April 3, 1844, a daughter of IIenry and Dorcas (Linton) Lamley. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, namely: Amos D., born January 18, 1867, married Etta Dillon; and Hattie I., born June 21, 1871, is the wife of Marcena S. Spencer, of Hepburn, Ohio. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Wheeler served for six years as trustee of Lynn town- ship, and socially he is a member of Post No. 97, Grand Army of the Republic, of Kenton. Mrs. Wheeler is a consistent Christian, and a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Foraker.
LEONARD S. Cox .- The bar of Hardin county numbers among its able representatives Leonard S. Cox, a practicing attorney at Mt. Victory. He was born on a farm in York township, Union county, Ohio, December 16, 1876, and he is a son of George W. Cox and a grandson of Joshua Cox, who was born in 1801 in Maryland, and who died in Harrison county in 1854. IIe married Adatha Bell, born in 1810, and she came in 1865 with her family to Union county and spent the remainder of her life there. After leaving the school room George W. Cox, their son, worked for several years for neighboring farmers, and then buying the Cox homestead in York township, Union county, he has since lived there and farmed. He is a Republican in his political affiliations, but has never desired the honors or emoluments of public office. IIe married in September of 1875 Rebecca Sigler, born August 17, 1854. a daughter of William and Mary (Cook) Sigler, both of whom were among the first settlers of York township. The children born of this union are: Leonard S. Cox, the Mt. Victory lawyer: Iva Dell, the wife of William Layman, of Toledo; Edna F., wife of Milton Southard, a farmer in Union county ; Belle, a teacher in the Union county schools; Hazel, wife of Elmer Miller, also a member of the teacher's profession ; and Gail, at school.
Leonard S. Cox attended public schools until the age of twenty-one, and afterward taught school for three years in Union county, and following this pursued a course in the Ohio Business Institute. In 1902 he engaged in the insurance business, from 1904 until 1906 was an attendant in the Toledo State Hospital, and coming to Mt. Victory in the last named year he was admitted to the bar on the 19th of JJune, 1906, and has since practiced in this city. IIe is an active Republican worker, and was elected a justice of the peace in 1907, and is quite promi- nently identified with the fire insurance and real estate business. has fraternal associations with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, Lodge No. 734.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
PHILIP J. CORWIN .- One of the most prominent business men of Lynn township is found in Philip J. Corwin, who became identified with Hardin county and its interests in 1895. In that year he leased the farm of William Lawrence, which is an extensive tract of five hundred and fifty acres lying in Lynn township. He has become extensively and widely known as a stock buyer and feeder, selling in carload lots, and during the past twenty-six years he has also been engaged extensively in buying and selling wool, shipping from both Kenton and Yelverton.
Mr. Corwin was born in Logan county, Ohio, May 1, 1843, a son of George and Margaret (Dickinson) Corwin. George Corwin was born in Champaign county, Ohio. August 12, 1815, and he was a son of Phineas Corwin, who was from Pennsylvania. Margaret Dickinson was born on September 17. 1817, and was a daughter of Thomas and Maria Dickinson, who came from their native state of Virginia to Ohio in the year of 1812. Phineas Corwin became the father of seven sons and a daughter: John, Oliver. Dan, Jacob, Thomas, George, Phineas and Mary A. George Corwin was reared in Champaign county, and after his marriage he came to Logan county and spent the remainder of his life there, a life-long farmer and stock raiser. He became the father of four sons and five daughters, namely: Philip J., Ann M., Milton, Leidigh Jane, Emily, Martha, Zachins. Austin A. and Etta. Philip J. Corwin, the first born of these nine children, was reared as a farmer boy in Logan county, attending its district schools until the age of eighteen, and since laying aside his text books he has been identified with the farm. He remained at home with his parents until his mar- riage at the age of twenty-two years to Sarah A. Wren, and the only child of that union, Andrew F .. died in Michigan. In 1874 he was married to Jane A. Kautzman, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, May 28, 1849, and the seven children of this union are: George B., born November 30, 1875; Thomas P., born April 13, 1878; Martin E., . born January 12, 1880: Clifton W., born February 25, 1883; Irene E., born March 12, 1885; Everett L., born November 23, 1888; Goldie D., born May 23. 1893. The son Clifton is a graduate of the Ada and Lima Business School. Mr. and Mrs. Corwin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Silver Creek, and Mr. Corwin also has membership relations with the Grange and with the fraternal order of Odd Fellows.
MRS. MATTIE H. LUDWIG is numbered among the representative citi- zens of Hardin county, honored for her true worth of character, and prominent as a member of some of the oldest and best known families of the county. She resides on one of the most valuable farms in Washing- ton township, a highly improved tract of eighty acres and containing one of the finest homes in the township, and she also owns a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Cessna township and valuable residence prop- erty in Ada. She was born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 22, 1851, to the marriage union of J. H. and Mary Hamilton, who lived and died in that county. They were the parents of three children, but only two daughters are now living, the younger being Mary A. Schaaf. John H. died at the age of fourteen months. The father died on the 3d of
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ELMER MATTHEWS
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
December, 1893, and his wife Mary a number of years previously, on the 30th of May, 1882.
Their daughter Mattie was reared and educated at Westerville, and on the 7th of November, 1878, she was united in marriage to Elmer Matthews, with whom she lived peacefully and happily until his death on the 18th of June, 1903. He was born in Cessna township of Ilardin county October 17, 1843, being also reared there and being edneated at Delaware, Ohio, and agriculture was his lifelong vocation. He was an industrions farmer, a loyal citizen and a neighbor always to be depended upon in time of need, while as a husband he was true and faithful, and above all he was a true Christian gentleman, a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. ILe was but twelve years of age when he united with that church, and he continued one of its active workers dur- ing the remainder of his life. Mr. Matthews was a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Wetzel) Matthews, and he was the younger of the two of their three children who reached mature years, the elder son being Mortimer Matthews, a resident of Kansas and he has been county sur- veyor of Nemaha county for thirty years. Levi Matthews, the father, was one of the first to enter government land in Hardin county, selecting his farm in Cessna township, and that land is now the property of Mrs. Ludwig. He died on the 8th of March, 1885, surviving his wife, who had died on the 3d of March, 1876.
Mrs. Matthews married in 1907 G. C. Ludwig. The home in which they reside is a model farm residence, complete in all its appointments and beautifully surrounded. This home was built by Mr. Matthews in 1884.
FERDINAND COPP, a successful farmer of Hale township. Hardin county. Ohio, was born in Logan county, Ohio, March 19, 1840, and is a son of Christian and Julia ( Deisher) Copp. Christian Copp was born in Botetourt eounty, Virginia, in March, 1809, and died in Febrn- ary. 1891; his wife was born in 1812, also in Virginia, and died in February, 1894. They removed to Logan county. Ohio, where they spent three years, and then bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Hale township, Hardin county, in 1841, where they spent the remain- der of their lives. Mr. Copp was a Democrat and served some time as justice of the peace ; he also held other local offices. Besides Ferdinand his children were: Jenny, widow of K. Gaines, of Springfield: Mary, widow of N. Swallow, of Kenton; Harriet, wife of John P. Swallow, of Kenton; and Samantha, widow of M. Seedle, of Kenton. Mr. Copp and his wife were members of the Christian church.
Ferdinand Copp attended the public school, and later took up farm- ing with his father. From the time his father became too old for active work he took charge of the farm, and has lived here ever since. Ile makes a specialty of raising cattle and sheep, in which line he is very sneeessful.
Mr. Copp enlisted, May 2, 1864. in Company II. One Hundred Thirty-fifth Volunteers, and skirmished under the command of the Army of the Potomac one hundred days. He was mustered out in 1865. In
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1862 he was a member of the celebrated "Squirrel Hunters," of Cin- cinnati, Ohio. Mr. Copp is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, of Ridgeway, Ohio. Politically he is a Democrat, and has held the office of trustee and member of the school board for many years. He is an enterprising, ambitions farmer, and highly respected in the com- munity.
May 25, 1876, Mr. Copp married Eunice, daughter of Abraham and Ada (Drew) Haynes; she was born December 28, 1851, in Hardin county, and the family came here from Vermont. Mr. Copp and his wife have three children, Avis. Ethel and Christian H. Avis married Morton Ansley, a farmer of HIale township, and they have five children, Malcolm, Merrill, Rachel, Geneva, and Lanren. Ethel, born in 1881, married II. C. Me Vay, a farmer of Hale township, and they have one daughter, Pansy. Christian Haynes married Miss Nora Ansley, Decem- ber 18, 1909.
R. DOLPHI BROWN .- Among the most important residents of any community are the farmers; upon the success of agricultural operations depends the prosperity of the country. Among the successful farmers of Dudley township. Hardin county, Ohio, is R. Dolph Brown, who was born November 17, 1859, in Union county, Ohio, a son of Jacob Brown. Jacob Brown died in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years. He came from Virginia to Union county, Ohio, with his father, as a small boy, and later they settled in Hardin county, in Dudley township, along the Scioto river. He married Naomi Arhood.
After reaching the age of sixteen years, R. Dolph Brown began working on the farm for his parents; at the death of his father, he and his brother took charge of the farm until Dolph was twenty-seven years of age, when he rented a farm twelve years and then bought his present place, where he carried on general farming and stock raising. He is a prominent citizen of the township, and actively interested in public affairs. He is well known and highly respected, and all who have had dealings with Mr. Brown are assured of his good business principles and high character. Politieally he is a Democrat, although he has never cared for the emoluments of publie office. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and served five years as trustee. He belongs to the Maccabees, of Hepburn, Ohio.
In 1887 Mr. Brown married, at Hepburn parsonage, Maggie Kelly, born March 27, 1863, daughter of Edward and Mary Ann (Lewis) Kelly. They were the first couple married at this parsonage. Edward Kelly was born December 30. 1821, and died in 1894. He came as a boy with his father. Benjamin Kelly, from Eastern Pennsylvania to Ohio; the father was a cooper by trade and settled in Marion county, later in Hardin county. Edward Kelly .remained with his parents until his marriage ; he then rented a farm in Marion county, but on account of his wife's poor health moved, in a covered wagon, to Greene county, Indiana, where he was employed for about a year teaming and freighting to different towns, and then settled in Hardin county ad bought what is now called the Old Kelly Home, which he cleared, and where the re-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
mainder of his life was spent. His widow died in 1899. Ile was a member of the United Brethren church. and was a Republican, holding many township offices. Mr. Kelly was one of the pioneers of the county. and was widely known and highly esteemed. Besides Mrs. Brown he and his wife had children as follows: Willis, a farmer of Dudley town- ship; Ellen, wife of Caleb Harmon. of Mt. Victory, Ohio: Emma, wife of Cyrus Dille, a farmer of Dudley township: Lewis, also a farmer of Dudley township; Edward II .. a farmer of Oklahoma; and Itorace, who died in the Civil war, of illness, at Chattanooga, being the oldest of the family.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born children as follows: Elsie, born May 16. 1888; Clella, deceased : Mary. deceased; Amy. born August 29. 1895; Dewey. April. 1899; Harley. February 26. 1901; Mabel. July 30. 1903; Orvy. June 10, 1905; David Kelly. February 11. 1907. Mrs. Brown is an earnest member of the United Brethren church and of the Ladies Aid Society.
C. W. Wood. a successful stock farmer living near Dunkirk, and having registered horses, was born in Union county. Ohio. October 14. 1857, and is a son of Joseph E. and Ruth A. Wood. both natives of that county. The parents moved to Hardin county, Ohio. in 1872: Joseph Wood died in 1903 and his widow survives him (1909). They were parents of thirteen children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely : C. W., Laura (deceased ). J. R. (deceased). William, John I. (deceased ). Howard and Hattie. Those who survive live in IJardin county.
C. W. Wood was reared and educated in Union and Hardin counties : he resided twelve years in Logan county. Until 1903 Mr. Wood carried on farming exclusively, but since that time has devoted considerable time to buying and selling stock. On his ten acre farm, which is located just south of town. on the turnpike road. he keeps a stud of four blooded horses, consisting of two Percherons, one German Coach Imported and one Wilkes road horse. He is an industrions and enterprising citizen. and stands well in the estimation of his fellows.
In 1882 Mr. Wood married Mary E. Smith ; they have no children. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
ISAAC PHILLIPS .- One of the most prominent and substantial citizens of Taylor Creek township. Hardin county. Ohio. is Isaac Phillips, who is a native of Canfield. Ohio, born September 14, 1825. Hle is a son of Samuel and Mary (Clive) Phillips and grandson of Joseph Phillips. Samuel Phillips was born in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, and later moved to Wood county. Ohio, where he died. in 1880. at the age of eighty-seven years.
Having received a good education Isaac Phillips remained at home with his parents until he reached his majority. He then removed to Coshocton county and later to Pike county, where he remained until locating in Hardin county. in April. 1564. He cleared land adjoining his present farm and the following year brought his family to his farm.
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Some years later he bought his present home of forty-six acres, on which he erected a log cabin. He cleared this land and made all possible improvements, becoming very successful. £ In 1901 he retired from active life. He was the youngest of a family of seven children.
In 1847 Mr. Phillips married Esther Martha McKee, who was born May 14, 1831, the second of five children, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Leach) McKee, of Coshocton county, and granddaughter of William and Martha (Mordick ) McKee, of Pennsylvania. Both Mr. Phillips
and his wife are the sole survivors of their respective families. They are the oldest couple living in Taylor Creek township, Mr. Phillips being eighty-four and his wife seventy-nine, and both have given up work. They are well known in the community and stand high in the respect and esteem of all who know them. They remain on the farm and their youngest daughter keeps house and cares for them. Both belong to the
United Presbyterian church. He is a Democrat in political affiliations and cast his first vote for President Buchanan. During the last year Mr. Phillips has had the great misfortune to lose his sight.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are: Eliza Ellen, born August 20, 1848, wife of Dan Beltz, died leaving six children; Mary Elizabeth, born November 17, 1849, married William Stevenson, of Taylor Creek township, and they have four children; Joseph McKee, born February 25, 1852, married Laura Shockey, lives near Walnut Grove, and has six children ; Hulda, born February 5, 1854, married Lem Liles, and they have three children; Uriah Burton, deceased, mar- ried Cynthia Burrell and they had two children; Louise, married John Pyers, of Taylor Creek township, and they have no children; Melissa Jane, born April 14, 1860, married E. MeLain, and died leaving one child ; Isaac V., born April 15, 1862, married Eliza Moon, and both died, leaving three children ; Martha Belle, born April 29, 1864, married Elmer Griffis, of DeGraf, Ohio, and they have three children; Jacqueline, born May 16, 1867, married J. Chamberlain, of Zanesfield, Ohio, and they have two children; William Hunter, born February 6, 1871, lives in Taylor Creek township, married Etta Roberts, and they have four children ; and May, born April 14, 1876, remains at home, as before mentioned. Mrs. Phillips and daughter May adopted a grandchild Vinal, born Angust 12, 1897, now deceased.
W. K. ZEHNER is one of the honored pioneers of Hardin county, where he has resided since 1846. He traces his ancestry to the father- land of Germany, the birthplace of his great-grandfather, but coming to the United States he became a loyal citizen of his adopted country and took an active part in the war of 1812. Among his children was a son Peter, who was born after his father's emigration to America, and his children included Reuben Zehner, born in Pennsylvania. Reuben Zehner purchased in an early day one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, Hardin county, Ohio, receiving a tax title to the same, as did all pioneers, and the crudest of log cabins, with blankets for doors and windows, sheltered him and his family until more conven- ient quarters could be prepared. The simple residence which he soon
M. R. Delinca
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
completed served as their home for twenty-five years, and with the help of his sons he had succeeded in clearing about two-thirds of his farm when death claimed him on the 26th of January, 1881. IIe was born on the 15th of September, 1806, and his wife, nee Sophia Klingerman, born in Pennsylvania August 27, 1812, died June 23, 1880. Seven chil- dren were born to them, namely: Mary A., Caroline, Cordilla and Sophia, all deceased, William K., Michael, also deceased, and Jesse. Reuben Zehner was by trade a shoemaker and was also a singing teacher, and a man of delicate constitution, but of the most sterling characteris- ties and these qualities have been instilled into his children.
William K. Zehner was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, and coming with his parents to Ilardin county when six years of age he was educated in its public schools and in his early life began farming its land. On reaching his twenty-fifth year he bought one hundred acres of its virgin soil, and as did his father, built him a log cabin and began to prepare his farm for enltivation. His home is now a modern one, showing thrift and artistic taste, and his land is valnably improved. IIe has served his township in several of its offices, including those of supervisor, trustee and school director, and has in many ways been prominently identified with the life of his community.
Mr. Zehner has been twice married, wedding first, on December 27, 1865, Miss Ineretia Dickson, and of the nine children which were born to them the following reached mature years: Nora E., the deceased wife of A. J. Garmon ; Amanda J .; Florence, the present wife of Mr. Garmon ; James R., who died September 29, 1909; Lydia S .; Carrie E., a music teacher, wife of Charles Nosker ; and Sarah E., wife of M. Nowlan. Mrs. Zehner died on March 6, 1886, at the age of thirty-nine years, and on the 29th of December, 1889, Mr. Zehner married for his second wife Christine Ann Garlinger, and a son, William J., has been born to them. Mrs. Zehner was born in Hancock county, Ohio, April 4, 1854, a daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth Garlinger, who were among the pioneers of Ilancock county. Mr. Garlinger died with cholera. Mr. Zehner is a worthy member of the Methodist Protestant church, in which he has served in nearly all of the offices, and he is also a member of the order of Patrons of Husbandry.
JOSHUA D. VIRDEN, a prosperous farmer of Dudley township, Har- din county, Ohio, was born in Marion county, May 21, 1852, and is a son of Theodore W. and Sarah (Davis) Virden. Theodore Virden was born in Delaware about 1816 and died December 5, 1899. He came with his father, Alson Virden, to Marion county, Ohio, when eighteen years of age. Alson Virden, a carpenter by trade, married Mary Wilson, and after his wife's death he removed with his family to Marion county, Theodore being the oldest in the family. Alson Virden having poor health gave up working at his trade and removed to Hardin county. and there entering one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he died at the age of eighty years. He had cleared his land and erected a house.
Theodore Virden was the oldest of six children, and followed farm-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
ing on the old homestead until he was twenty-three years of age. He bought a farm of eighty acres in Marion county, later adding land until he owned four hundred acres. He carried on general farming making a specialty of stock-raising, and remained on his land until his death. He was married in October, 1830, to Sarah, daughter of Wil- liam H. Davis, and she died September 17, 1877, at the age of fifty-
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