USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 113
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When a returns. He finally moved to Newport, Ky., youth Mr. Ewing was captured by the Indians and where he passed the remainder of his days. He remained a captive in the old town of Chillicothe, and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Ohio, for two years. A young woman by the name church, and in politics he was an old line whig. of Kate Sea, was also captured. The Indians had He died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. stolen a Bible and at their request John Ewing Holcomb, June 6, 1874, when eighty-three years read to them, the Indians objecting to Adam, say- of age. His wife had died the year previous at ing that an Indian was the first man. John Ewing the age of eighty-two. Mr. Mitchell was a man finally escaped with the young woman, and arrived of honorable business methods, and one highly home, where he subsequently became a prominent esteemed. After marriage Edward T. Holcomb man and an extensive land owner. Samuel R. Hol- and wife settled at Vinton, Ohio, where he was a comb and wife became the parents of ten children: prosperous merchant. In 1863 he retired to his Anselm T., John E., Stephen, Edward T., Ann S., farm, where he still resides. In politics he is a Taphena, Lura, Caliphurnia, Olive and Jeanette. republican, and has held the office of postmaster Soon after marriage Mr. Holcomb moved to Ohio for twenty years. He has also been township and settled where the town of Vinton now stands. trustee. When the confederate general. John Mor- He came with his wife and two eldest children, all gan, made his famous raid, he passed through Vin- on horseback and their effects on a pack horse. ton and sacked the town and burned the bridges. Mr. Holcomb was one of the first settlers of Gallia They robbed the stores of Mr. Holcomb and his county, Ohio, and became one of the substantial brother, John E. Holcomb, and took what they farmers, owning over 400 acres of land and a fine wanted. They captured all the horses they could brick house. He was sheriff for several years and find, and one was a horse belonging to the vener- served in the legislature two terms. In politics he able Samuel R. Holcomb. Socially Mr. Holcomb was formerly an old line whig but afterward a re- is a Mason, and both he and wife are members of publican. He was a strong abolitionist and was the Universalist church. They were the parents connected with the "underground railroad," his of the following children: Victoria, Chauncey M., house being a station on the road. He was a prom- Elizabeth and Walter. Chauncey M. is an attorney inent man in his day, was noted for his integrity at Gallipolis and Walter is a farmer at Vinton. of character, and is yet well remembered. The Holcomb family is descended from old Revo-
His son, Edward T. Holcomb, the father of lutionary stock, which for generations have held Mrs. Trembley, was born in Vinton Ohio, January liberal views. When Morgan made his raid, 4, 1822. He received an academic education, read Chauncey M. Holcomb, then a lad of fourteen law, and in connection with his law practice taught years, took a musket, and going to a hill near Vin- school for a number of years. He was married ton, shot at the first raiders who made their ap- February 23, 1847, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Mitchell) pearance, narrowly missing the head of one of Morlan, widow of Jesse Morlan, daughter of John them. He was immediately searched for but could S. and Mary (Lord) Mitchell. Jesse Morlan and not be found, for he had hidden himself in the Miss Elizabeth Mitchell were married in Colum- attic of a house, the woman of the house denying biana county, Ohio, November 14, 1833. To this any knowledge of him. Thomas Goff Sr., the union were born two children: Mary M. and John father of Mrs. Dr. Trembley, and our subject's M. Mary married E. Jordan, and lives at Mara- maternal grandfather was born at Ludlow, Eng- thon, Ohio; John married Ann Garrison, and lives land, near the borders of Wales, February 18, at Dahlgren, Ill. Jesse Morlan, the father of the 1794, and at the time of his death was seventy-
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
four years of age. He removed with his parents place and erect a log cabin 16x20 feet, with a roof to the United States when about three years of age, of clapboards fastened down with poles. The fire- and resided for some time in eastern Pennsylvania, place at one end was built without jambs in order principally at Columbia, but was finally persuaded to take firelogs of great length, and the one room to leave and come to Ohio. In 1806 he came with of the cabin served as kitchen, bedroom and parlor. his father's family to Zanesville and assisted in In that house the family lived until our subject grubbing out the hazel brush on the spot where was about six or seven years of age when a house the courthouse now stands, and his father raised of hewed logs was built. About five or six years two crops there before the ground was secured by later a brick house was built and this, which is the authorities for the state house. Mr. Goff en- still standing, was the second brick house in the listed in the War of 1812, from Zanesville, just township. As might be supposed, at the time of after Gen. Hull surrendered, and served thirteen John Trimble's settlement here there were very months. He was in the regiment with the famous few settlers and only one house on the present site Col. Croghan, and saw Tecumseh fall in the de- of the town of Rural Dale. About 1822 a log cisive battle of the Thames. He was married schoolhouse was built on the farm of Jesse Johns, January 28, 1822, to Miss Mary (Martin) Putnam, who was the first teacher, and this was probably who bore him seven children. He moved to Fra- the second schoolhouse in the township. The zeysburg in April, 1838, when there were but three first church in the neighborhood was built by the or four houses in the place, and there resided, re- Society of Friends in 1821 or 1822. Mr. Trimble spected and honored, until his death August 19, and wife were members of the Society of Friends 1868. He was baptized in the Church of England, and though for many years there was no church, and confirmed a communicant of the Protestant he and his wife remained steadfast in their faith Episcopal church in the spring of 1860 at Dres- all their lives. He received his final summons on den. He was a substantial farmer, and owned 320 January 21, 1854, and she followed him to the acres of fine farming land, on which was a com- grave on June 16, 1872. Mr. Trimble advocated modious residence, an excellent barn, and substan- the principles of the Whig party and represented tial outbuildings, etc. He was a man who kept his county in the legislature two terms, 1846 and out of debt and left his property unencumbered. 1848. He was prominent in the affairs of the His widow was instantly killed in October, 1874, township and was almost continually in some of being struck by an engine while crossing the Pan the various township offices. His son, C. H., the Handle railroad at Frazeysburg. He was one of immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Mus- the oldest as well as one of the most respected kingum county, Ohio, within a mile of Rural Dale, citizens of the county; a soldier of the cross, a in 1819, and was educated in the schools of his soldier of the War of 1812, and a warm supporter neighborhood, attending irregularly until the age of the Union during the Civil war.
C. H. Trimble, farmer, Rural Dale, Ohio. C. and this has been his chosen occupation since. H. Trimble's father, John Trimble, was a native On Christmas day, 1842, he led to the altar Miss of Chester county, Penn., born May, 8, 1785, and Emma Taylor, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, in his younger days followed the trade of a born March 3, 1823, and the daughter of William stone mason, although in later years he devoted and Sarah Taylor, pioneers of Ohio, they having his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. He removed to that state about 1833. Mrs. Trimble was married on November 24, 1814 to Miss Lydia was one of a family of twelve children and is the Harlan, also a native of Chester county, Penn., only one now residing in Blue Rock township. born October 29, 1789, and their union was blessed To Mr. and Mrs. Trimble were born eight children, by the birth of nine children, who are named in three of whom are now living: Washington, the order of their births as follows: Elisha I., Sarah, and Ada. Washington resides in Michi- James, Caleb Harlan (subject) Mary, Edward, gan; Sarah became the wife of Everett Pierpont Isaac, Willis D. J., John D., and Phoebe H. Of and resides in Harrisburg, Penn .; and Ada is the these James, C. H., Mary and Phoebe are living wife of Edward Morrison and resides on our sub- in Muskingum county, Ohio, Edward resides in ject's farm near Rural Dale. Although not a poli- Morgan county, and the others are deceased. In tician Mr. Trimble is a stanch republican and 1818 John Trimble removed to Muskingum county, firmly adheres to the principles of his party. Al- Ohio, and settled on a farm now owned by his son though repeatedly solicited and eminently quali- C. H., near Rural Dale. This tract, consisting of fied to hold office, he has refused all public posi- 160 acres, together with another tract of 160 acres tions and attends strictly to his chosen occupation. he purchased from the government, was in the He is an Odd Fellow of many years' standing, very heart of the wilderness and not a foot had having been initiated in Zanesville in 1846, and in been cleared. His first work was to clear a small 1850 he was instrumental in organizing a lodge at
of nineteen years. He then began tilling the soil
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Rural Dale. He was its first treasurer and served teacher being Jesse Johns. When about twenty in that capacity for over forty years. In 1874 and years of age he entered school at McConnelsville, 1875 Mr. Trimble represented the district of and there remained about three months. He was which his lodge is a part, in the Grand lodge, married in 1840 to Miss Sarah A. Haworth, a and he has ever been alive to the interests of his native of Chester county, Penn., born in 1820, order and whatever pertains to Odd Fellowship. and the daughter of John and Susanna (Long- He was an active member of the Sons of Temper- shore) Haworth. In 1841 he went to Section 12, ance, and at various times .held all the offices of and settled on a farm that he had purchased the lodge. He and Mrs. Trimble are members of from his father, and there resided for forty-nine the Baptist church and he has been clerk in the years, removing to his present residence in 1890. same for about twenty years. He takes a deep in- His marriage resulted in the birth of seven chil- terest in Sunday-school work and is a regular at- dren, five of whom are living: Mary F., wife of tendant. His brother, Elisha Trimble (deceased) Benjamin Harlan, of McConnelsville; Angeline was married in 1839 to Miss Eliza Barr, a native K., wife of George Menefee; Eliza J. (deceased); of Ohio, and nine children were born to this union, Annie H., wife of J. H. Harlan; William H. eight now living: Mrs. Anna Finley, a resident (deceased); Esther H., wife of Vincent Reed, and of Muskingum county; Hayes, in Oklahoma; Mrs. Elmer E. All the children reside in Blue Rock Carrie Hall, of Blue Rock township; B. F., in township. Mr. Trimble advocates the principles Colorado; John C., in Muskingum county; Mrs. of the republican party, and has held various town- Allie Smith, of Muskingum county; Mrs. Isadore ship offices, having been supervisor three or four B. Van Meter, of Columbus, Ohio, and Lena also years, trustee from 1846 to 1856, and for seven or of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Trimble was an old line eight years was school director. Mr. Trimble is a whig, afterward became a republican and served member of Rural Dale lodge No. 157, I. O. O. F., his county in the legislature from 1858 to 1862. being initiated about 1852, and was treasurer for He also held a number of township offices, the ten or twelve years, besides holding various other most important being trustee and land appraiser. offices. He was a prominent member of the Sons In 1872 he went to North Carolina and there en- of Temperance during the time that order was in gaged in farming and the real estate business. existence. Mr. and Mrs. Trimble and their chil- He died in 1874. His widow is still living and dren are members of the Baptist church and he is makes her home in Rural Dale. Another brother deacon in the same.
of our subject's, John Trimble, Jr., was married Rev. William W. Trout, minister of the Meth- in 1859 to Miss Sophia White, and became the fa- odist Episcopal church at Hopewell, Ohio, was born ther of two children-James and John S. He en- in Lancaster, Ohio to Horatio Gates and Ruth listed in 1864 in Company -, One Hundred and Card Trout, natives respectively of the states of Sixtieth regiment, Volunteer infantry, and served Pennsylvania and New York. The paternal grand- until the war closed. He met his death from a parents were John W. and Hattie (Purcell) Trout, fall from a tree in 1866. His widow and sons are and the former was born in 1776 and died in now living in Iowa. Our subject's other brother, 1861 at the age of eighty-four years, while the James Trimble, was born in West Chester, Ches- latter was a daughter of Peter Purcell of Sunbury, ter county, Penn., on February 20, 1817, and Penn. Both the Trouts and Purcells came when but little over a year old was brought by to America during the early history of this country. his parents to Muskingum county, Ohio. There Horatio and Ruth Trout became the parents of his boyhood and youth were passed among such eight children, six of whom are living at the hardships and vicissitudes as are unknown to the present time: Randolph (deceased); Sarah Amelia present generation. Zanesville was the nearest (Davis) in Lancaster; Ella, a teacher in Jackson- market. Wild game abounded-deer, turkeys and ville (Illinois) college; Julia Frances, a student in squirrels were plentiful and wild cats and pan- the Philadelphia Medical college; W. W. the thers were too numerous to be pleasant. An occa- subject of this sketch; Mary and Abbie, who are at sional bear was seen. Mr. Trimble relates that home. Rev. W. W. Trout was born July 2, 1858, once, when a considerable distance from home, he and spent his early life in Lancaster, where he and his brother Elisha were chased by a large attended the public schools until he was seventeen gray timber wolf that whipped the two fierce dogs years of age, at which time he entered the Ohio accompanying the boys, and followed them nearly Western university, from which he graduated in home. Educational facilities were limited. Four 1881. The three following years he was in busi- or five months' subscription school during the win- ness with his father in Lancaster and on the 6th ter, that Mr. Trimble could only attend irregu- of August, 1884, he was married to Miss Jesse larly, was all the time afforded, and he attended Reece, of Hillsboro, Ohio, a daughter of James the first school taught in Blue Rock township, the and Eliza (McKenney) Reece, the former of whom
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
was born in Highland county in July, 1815, and life was spent on a farm in Fayette county, Penn., upon reaching manhood held the position of and at the age of twenty years he enlisted in the county auditor and county treasurer three terms. War of 1812 as a private. He received a common- His father David was born in Virginia and moved school education and emigrated to Guernsey to Highland county in 1802, while his father, who county, Ohio, in 1825, where he settled on a farm. also bore the name of David, was born on the He resided on this farm and cultivated it until his Brandywine near Philadelphia. Eliza Reece was death in 1880, at the age of ninety years. After born March 15, 1839 to Jesse G. and Mary Ann coming to Guernsey county he married Sarah McKenney who were of Welsh decent. The latter Ansley, and this union was blessed with eight was born in Virginia and in 1830 came to Ohio. children: James (who died in 1862 in Guernsey Her father William was born in Cork, Ireland, but county. He was a soldier in the late war and died became a resident of America in 1806. Mr. and of the effects of a sickness contracted in the army. Mrs. Trout are the parents of two children; Marion, He was a man of family), Mary J. (who married born April 10, 1886, and Horatio Gates, born John Cherry, of Highland township, Muskingum January 29, 1888. Mr. Trout was ordained a county, Ohio, and died in 1891, leaving four chil- minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in dren), Nancy (who married Hamilton Pollack, 1884, after which he preached for two years, then formerly of Guernsey county and later of Kansas. entered the Boston Theological university, in She died in 1888 leaving two children), Margaret which institution he remained three years grad- (who died in 1855, unmarried), Elizabeth (who uating in 1889 and receiving degree of S. T. B. died in 1857, unmarried), John A. (who is living In 1889 he was appointed the pastor of Ashbury on the old home farm in Guernsey county and was circuit, which appointment he is still very satis- married first to Mary Agnes Neal. They had factorily filling. He is not only faithful in the seven children. After her death he married Agnes discharge of his pastoral duties, but he is inde- Boyd. He is a republican in politics, and a mem- fatigable in his labors and during his short minis- ber of the United Presbyterian church. He does terial career has done much to further the calling farming and general stockraising and owns a he represents. He also received the degree of A. farm of 300 acres. He is a prominent man and M. from Ohio Wesleyan university in June, 1888. has been county commissioner. He and our sub-
The subject of this memoir, William H. ject are the only surviving members of the family), Thompson has been a resident of Muskingum William H. (our subject and the youngest of the county, Ohio, in Union township, buying a farm of family), and one son died in infancy. The father 160 acres two miles northwest of New Concord. was a whig in politics, and later a republican. He He was born in Guernsey county, this state, June was a member of the United Presbyterian church 24, 1841, the youngest of eight children born to and took an interest in all church and school work, William and Sarah (Ansley) Thompson. The father was a very successful farmer and at the time of was a son of Matthew and Mary (McKeiver) Thomp- his death had a good farm of 200 acres. His wife, son. Matthew Thompson was born in Tyrone, Sarah (Ansley) Thompson was born in Beaver
Ireland, there married and some of his children county, Penn., in 1799, and was the daughter of were born there. In 1793 they came to the United John and Jane (Beaver) Ansley. Her parents States, settled in New York state, remained there came from Ireland and were of Scotch descent. but a short time when they came to Fayettecounty, The father was born in Ireland in 1775 and died Penn., and here Matthew Thompson followed his in 1831 and the mother was born in Scotland in trade of a wheelright. By his first marriage he 1776 and died in 1826. They were the parents of became the father of five children, all lived to ma- ten children: Sarah (born 1799), Jane (1800), turity : James, David, Joseph, Catharine and Eliz- Mary (1803), Thomas (1805), Nancy (1808), John abeth. His first wife died and he married the (1810), Amos (1812), Sampson (1815), Myrtilla mother of William and reared a family of six chil- (1818) and Elizabeth (1820), only one now living, dren: William (the father of William H., our Myrtilla, in Kempton, Ill. Mrs. Thompson, the subject), Jane, Matthew, Mary, Sarah, Andrew mother of William H., died in Guernsey county, (all deceased). The father of this family died in Ohio, in 1878. She had lived here since her mar- Pennsylvania about 1810, and his wife died in riage and was a lifelong member of the United Guernsey county, Ohio, about 1848, having moved Presbyterian church. William H. Thompson re- here about 1825 and settled on a farm in Monroe ceived his education in the district schools of this township. They were members of the Associate Re- county and was reared to farm life. At the age formed church and of Scotch-Irish desceut. Will- of twenty years he enlisted in the late war in Com- iam Thompson was born in February, 1791, in Ire- pany H, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer infantry, as a land, and only two years of age when he was private and was promoted to sergeant. Some of brought to this country by his father. His early the principle battles in which he took part were: 35
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, burg, Penn., where they were married. From Peach Tree Creek, Ga., Spring Hill, Tenn., Frank- there they subsequently moved to Morgan county, lin, Tenn., and Nashville. He was wounded at his Ohio, and there the mother received her final first battle at Stone River and was taken prisoner summons. F. M. Townsend was left motherless and confined in Libby prison a part of fivemonths. when about five years of age, and an elder sister He was in a number of hard battles and was dis- then took charge of the family and reared the charged December, 1865. After the war Mr. younger children. He received his primary edu- Thompson settled in Guernsey county, and here cation in Morgan county, but completed it in married, in 1866, Mary J. Lee. They were the Beverly, Washington county, where he remained un- parents of six children: Frank L., Samuel H., til sixteen years of age. In 1871 he came to Zanes- William O., Albert R., Andrew A. and Robert H. ville and finished his trade, that of a tinner and Mrs. Thompson was born in Guernsey county in sheet-iron worker, in 1873, but never followed it. 1838 and was the daughter of Samuel Lee. She He went with his brother, T. B., and took charge, was a member of the United Presbyterian church as superintendent and general manager, of public and died in 1878. In 1879 Mr. Thompson mar- contract work through Ohio and Virginia for five ried Maggie L. Moore, a native of Perry county, years. In the winter of 1878 he began contract- this state, born in 1844, and the daughter of Will- ing for himself and followed the same until 1886. iam C. and Jane (Boles) Moore. Her father was The last work that he accomplished in this line a native of Washington county, Penn., but at an was ten miles of the Zanesville & Ohio River rail- early day settled in Jefferson county, Ohio, later road. He also worked extensively for the P. & in Perry county, and about 1861 moved to Guern- W. R. R., the Connotton Valley railroad, now the sey county, near New Concord, where he died in C., C. & S. R. R., and on railroad and county April, 1881, at the age of seventy-four years. His bridges. In June, 1886, he bought the interest wife died, December, 1891, in her eighty-second of J. Burgess (his uncle) in the street railway, and year. They were the parents of nine children, took charge of the road in August as its president
five living: James, Samuel E., John, Mary (de- and superintendent. When he bought the road it ceased), Robert (deceased), Margaret, Robert (de- was run down, and had scarcely any business. He ceased), William A., and Jane (deceased). By went to work and fixed it up and soon had it on a this marriage Mr. Thompson became the father of paying basis. In 1877 he built two and a half three children: Myrtis B., Maggie M. (deceased) miles of road from Greenwood cemetery to Gant . and John S. (deceased). Himself and wife are Park and leased the park. He erected a great members of the United Presbyterian church of many buildings and soon was doing a good busi- Norwich of which he has been ruling elder for ness. He managed the street railway until Octo- some time. He has held the office of school di- ber, 1890, made some money out of it, and turned rector of Fox Creek district and is always ready to it over in good shape to his successor. In June, assist in any work for the benefit of the church 1890, he purchased Gant park, consisting of and school. He has been a republican in politics, twenty-two acres, and in September of the same but is now with the prohibition party, in which year fifteen acres of the Street Railway company he is very much interested. He owns a well-im- at an enormous outlay, and has since devoted his proved farm of 160 acres and is engaged in farm- time in beautifying these grounds. He has put at ing and stockraising. His children are all at least $10,000 improvements on the park and is home, except Frank, who is out West. William C. still improving. He also contemplates making a Moore, the father of Mrs. Thompson, was a son of zoological garden out of part of it. He has a James Moore, who came from Ireland and settled base-ball diamond, a race track, and show ground, in Washington county, Penn., about 1800. He which is the only available place in the city. Gant married in Ireland and was the father of the fol- Park is the finest natural park in the state of lowing children: Esther, John S .. William C. Ohio. and with Mr. Townsend's improvements it (father of Mrs. Thompson), Mary, Robert Nancy, is bound to become the most beautiful. It is cer- and McConkey Moore (who died soon after the tainly one of the finest pleasure resorts in the late war from effects of campaign life while in the state, and the people of Zanesville appreciate the service of his country). enterprise of Mr. Townsend. He certainly de-
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