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 72
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Christmas day, 1843, and he thus never knew any- present commander. He has held the office of thing about a parent's care. He was reared by his chaplain for three years. He is still in the prime aunt, Achsah Bradford, wife of Benjamin Brad- of life and is a man of integrity and a practical ford and mother of Dr. John I. Bradford. [See farmer. He descends from one of the most ancient sketch. ] He was married January 10, 1867, to and honorable of the old colonial families who Lucinda J. Cone, daughter of Barton Cone and number among them many of the most distinguished Julia A. (Walker) Cone. Barton Cone was the men of the past and present.
son of Jared Cone and the father of Mrs. Bradford. Dr. John I. Bradford, Ostego, Ohio, is one of He was born in Monroe township and married Julia the leading physicians of Muskingum county, and Walker. They were the parents of ten children- the only one residing in Otsego. The family is one Lucinda, Celia, Eliza, Newel, Ozias, William, of the old pioneer families descending from Vir-
Hannah, James, Joseph and Edmund. He was ginia colonial stock, of English descent, who early a soldier in the 100 days' service and lived to the settled in Hardy county, Va., and came to Ohio age of sixty-five years, dying December, 1887. among the early pioneers, settling in Highland After marriage, George L. Bradford first settled township, Peter and John Bradford being the on a farm belonging to Barton Cone, in Muskin- first of the name to come. They married sisters; gum township, where he lived about three years, Peter married Nancy Davis, and John, Sarah and in April, 1870, bought his present farm. To Davis. John was the grandfather of our subject. His Mr. and Mrs. Bradford have been born five chil- father's name was also John, who came to Ohio and dren, all sons: Barton I. (born October 1, 1867), died here. John Bradford and his wife, Sarah, Wilmer L. (born October 10, 1869), Howard L. were the parents of eleven children: Peggie, Han- (born September 11, 1871), O. Ephram (born July nah, William, John, Casper, Benjamin, David, 27, 1873), Philander S. (born February 26, 1885). Isaac (deceased), Isaac, Sarah and Mary J. When Barton I. is a farmer of this township, and married Mr. Bradford settled on his land it was an entire Ella Case, daughter of James Case. Wilmer L. wilderness. He owned at one time about 350 acres
is an employe of the Pan Handle Railroad. of land and had money at interest. He lived to Howard L. is a school teacher and has taught in the age of about seventy-eight years and was one this township. The remainder are at home. They the sterling pioneer characters. He died in 1866. all have good common school educations. Howard His first wife died and Mr. Bradford married Cas- L. attended college at New Concord. Mr. Brad- sie Wright, a widow with a family of children. Bradford is a substantial farmer, good citizen, and John W. Davis, father of Sarah (Davis) Bradford, has held the office of township trustee for nine was also from Hardy county, Va., and was orig- years. He and his wife are members of the Bap- inally from Wales. He was a soldier in the tist church, and Mr. Bradford has been deacon Revolutionary war, and came with his family to sixteen years. In politics he is a stanch repub- Ohio at the same time the Bradfords came. John lican. On October 6, 1862, Mr. Bradford enlisted W. Davis married Margaret Cornell, and they were in Company F, Seventy-Eighth Ohio Volunteer the parents of Sarah, Nancy, David, William, Ben- infantry, and served nine months. He was in the jamin, John and Mary. Mr. Davis settled in the battle of Raymond, Miss., Champion's Hill, Jack- same section in Highland township as the Brad- son, Miss., and throughout the seige of Vicks- fords. Benjamin Bradford, son of John Bradford, burg. In February, 1863, he was on the night and the father of our subject, was born on the old watch at Nashville, Tenn., in the quartermaster's homestead in Highland township, April 11, 1821, department, six months. At the battle of Cham- and was brought up in the rough schools of the pion's Hill he was wounded by a gunshot in the pioneer and backwoodsmen. He early learned to right hand and had his gun stock shot to pieces by work on the farm and married Achsah Lane, No- a minie-ball, and at Raymond received a spent vember 2, 1845. She was the daughter of Abraham ball in his blanket which he had rolled around his and Mary (Baker) Lane. The father was from body. The ball struck him on the breast and Pennsylvania and was one of the old settlers of passed through about two inches of the rolled Highland township. After his marriage Benja- blanket which saved his life. He was discharged min Bradford settled on the old homestead and at Vicksburg, Miss, July 13, 1863, and re-enlisted remained here a few years, then bought a farm in at Zanesville February 2, 1865, in Company E, Adams township and remained here until 1869, One Hundred and Ninety-fifthi Ohio Volunteer when he bought a farm east of Otsego, where he infantry, and detained as mounted orderly for spent the remainder of his days, dying June 22, Gen. W. H. Banning and discharged at Alexan- 1889, at the age of sixty-eight years. Both Mr. dria, Va., December 18, 1865. Mr. Bradford is a and Mrs. Bradford were devout members of the member of the G. A. R., John Trimble Post 628, Baptist church and Mr. Bradford was a church Department of Ohio, of Otsego, Ohio, and is at trustee for some years. To them were born eight
398
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
children: Lane died at the age of four years and At quite an early age he left Germany, with the ten months, Mary B. died when three years and rest of his father's family to come to this country, six months old, (these two children died within and after a long journey of seventeen weeks (all twenty-four hours of each other of cronp), John of the family but himself having died on the I., Jeremiah M., Sarah C., Obediah L., Ephram voyage), he landed on American shores.
H. and Edgar E. Like his father, Mr. Bradford
The ship on which he sailed was manned by a was a good moral citizen, peaceable and an excellent desperate crew, who attempted to starve the pas- neighbor. He was greatly beloved by his family. sengers to death, and were only prevented from His widow is yet living. She was born November so doing by the threats of the passengers to throw 2, 1819, is now an old lady in good health, retain- the captain of the vessel overboard unless he ing all her faculties. John I. Bradford, their son reached land by a stated time. Jacob Brookover and our subject, was born on his Grandfather learned the tailor trade in Maryland; afterward Lane's farm in Monroe township, January 23, 1850. married, and raised a family of eight children. He grew up in this county and when about seven- Three of his sons served in the Revolutionary war, teen years of age hired out to work at farm work one being in the regular army. After the close for about three years. Then breaking his arm, he of the war he moved to Virginia, and afterward He began came to Ohio, where he died at the age of eighty.
attended school more continuously. teaching school in the fall of 1870, and so continued nine years. Richard Brookover, his son, and until 1876, when he took up the study of medicine grandfather of Milton Clay Brookover, was born with his uncle, Dr. J. M. Lane, of Bloomfield, at Fredericksburg, Md., October 26, 1771, Highland township, to which study he applied was a carpenter and farmer by occupation, was himself for three years, meanwhile attending the fairly successful in both callings, and was for Columbus Medical college and graduating in the many years a resident of this county. His home spring of 1879. He then began practicing medi- was in Wayne township, about four miles from cine at Otsego, where he has been in continuous Zanesville. He was a man whom to know was to practice for thirteen years and has built up a large honor. He died in 1846, and was buried in and lucrative practice. Dr. Bradford is a man cemetery near Fairview church. Lylle Brookover who keeps up with the times and is informed in all was one of seven children born to Richard Brook- new developments of medical sciences. He married over and wife, whose maiden name was Mary on May 1, 1879, Matilda Davis, and they were the Cochran, and first saw the light of day on Third parents of two children: Emma M. and James C. street, Zanesville, Ohio, on the 4th of October, R. Mrs. Bradford died April 23, 1884, and the 1808, at which time the place was a mere village, Doctor married again February 3, 1887, Florence and gave no promise of being the bustling city it I. Boyce. They have had one child, Boyce E., now is. He became a man of much discrimina- born January 6, 1892. Both Dr. and Mrs. Brad- tion and judgment, and was frequently called to ford are members of the Methodist Episcopal places of public trust. About middle life his church. Dr. Bradford is public spirited, contrib- hearing began to fail, and in his later years be- utes liberally of his means to assist his church and came entirely deaf. But for this sad affliction his has taken an active interest in the cause of educa- influence would have been more widely felt.
He was first a whig in politics, afterward be-
tion. He was a member of the school board for twelve years. The Bradford family descend from came a republican, and so continued throughout good old colonial stock. Mrs. Dr. Bradford is en- the remainder of his days. He was a member of gaged in the mercantile business for herself in the the Methodist Episcopal church for over fifty years. firm of Cowden & Boyce. Jennie Boyce, her sis- He was an omnivorous reader, and had a most ter, now Mrs. McCurdy and formerly Mrs. R. M. thorough knowledge of the affairs of his country. Cowden, is her partner. The business was origi- He was married to Miss Sarah Mercer, in 1837, nated by R. M. Cowden and now run by the two who survives him and is seventy-eight years old,
sisters. The firm stands high and have ample by whom he had four sons. He died in 1886 in capital. They carry the largest stock in Otsego. his seventy-eighth year. Milton, the eldest of his
The Muskingum valley is one of the most fertile sons was born on the old homestead in Muskingum agricultural regions of the state of Ohio, and in county, Ohio. May 15, 1838, and acquired a fair Salt Creek township, near this locality, Milton education in the common schools. After teaching Clay Brookover is the owner of a farm of 136 acres, school for a short time he turned his attention to which he tills in a careful manner, and is also en- farming and stock dealing, and this has been his gaged in buying and selling stock. He is of chief occupation ever since. .
He was married April 10, 1864, to Miss
German descent, and traces his ancestry back to Jacob Brookover, who was born in Germany on Kate A. Shane, daughter of Samuel and Sophia the 29th of February, 1738, near the Rhine river. (Bowers) Shane, and to their union one daughter
399
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
was born, whom they named Eura B. Mrs. Brook- at Nashville and Savannah in January, 1865; Ben- over, a Christian woman, was called from life on tonville, N. C., March 19, 1865; Goldsboro, March the 29th of January, 1876, and on the 8th of 23, 1865, and Raleigh, April 13, 1865. Mr. January, 1878, he took for his second wife, Miss Brown served from the time of enlistment until Anna M. Adams, daughter of Zachariah and his discharge on the 20th of July, 1865. He Harriet (Williams) Adams. Mr. Brookover has passed through the battles above mentioned un- two sons by his second wife-Charlie A. and Will scathed, save a mere scratch from a bullet at At- Carleton, both promising lads. Mr. Brookover is lanta. Returning to his home he filled the posi- a republican in politics, and more than a year ago tion of salesman in a store for some time. In joined the Farmer's Alliance, in which he takes a 1867 he was wedded to Miss Kate Marshall, and deep and abiding interest. He is a believer in the afterward settled on a farm where he followed faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which agricultural pursuits for some time. In 1878 he he is quite a regular attendant and a liberal sup- opened a store in Junction City, Ohio, which he porter. He lives about one-fourth of a mile from conducted for some time and then removed to Carlwick station on B. Z. & C. R. R., and is the Stovertown, where he established a store and later postmaster at that point. He has entered heart conducted a hotel. In 1888 he opened a general and soul in the movement for the benefit of the store at Cannellville, where he is now doing a gen- agricultural classes, but is a patron of all worthy eral mercantile business, carrying a general stock institutions and movements Mrs. Brookover was of goods and doing an annual business of from born in Madison township of this county, April $10,000 to $12,000. He is a gentleman of high 8, 1840, and is of English and German descent. social and business standing, who has won success After she acquired an education, she followed the by honestly deserving it. He was born in Mus- occupation of teaching until about the time she was kingum county, Ohio, July 18, 1846, his birth oc- married. Her father, Zachariah Adams, was born curring at Roseville. He is a member of Dan in Norfolk, Va., the second of a family of ten Brown Post No. 380, Duncan's Falls, Ohio, and he children, eight sons and two daughters, and in is also a member of the K. of P., Cannell lodge mature years was elected sheriff of the county, but No. 437. Politically he is a republican.
owing to failing health was obliged to resign the Robert Burns Brown was born in New Concord, office, and made a trip to the island of Cuba, where Ohio, October 2, 1844. His ancesters were Scotch- he remained six months. He died in 1864. His Irish and emigrated to America about the begin- father, Littleton Adams, was also a Virginian, and ning of this century. Robert Brown, his grand-
was a soldier in the War of 1812, and became pay- father, originally settled at Chambersburg, Penn., master. When ten years of age he was brought and here Alexander, the father of Robert Burns from his native state to Ohio, as his parents were Brown, was born in 1812. In 1816 the grand- not believers in slavery, and spent the remainder father entered a quarter section of land in High- of his days in Muskingum county. Mrs. Brook- land township, Muskingum county, Ohio, and this over's mother is still living at the age of seventy- farm remained in the possession of the family six- three years on the old home place in Madison ty years. Robert Burns Brown, who was named township, and is a most estimable Christian lady. after the great Scotch poet by his patriotic grand- Mr. Brookover's three brothers, Newton H., Charles mother, who rejoiced in their Scotch origin, spent M. and John M., are still living, as is also his his youth in the village schools of his native town mother in her seventy-eighth year. One sister of and was preparing to enter Muskingum college his father, Mrs. Mary C. Patton, is still living, the when the war's dread alarm thrilled the country in only surviving member of his father's family.
the spring of 1861. He enlisted with two cous- Among the thousands of brave men who fought ins and several classmates, April 17, 1861, in Com- desperately in defense of the old flag was D. J. pany A., Fifteenth Ohio Volunteers, but was Brown, merchant, Dillon, Ohio, who enlisted in rejected on account of his youth. August 9, fol- the winter of 1863 in Company G, Thirty-first lowing, he was sworn into the service as a private Ohio Volunteer infantry. He was transferred to in Company A, Fifteenth Ohio infantry, then the front immediately and assigned to Gen. Sher- being organized for "three years or during the war." man's army, then in front of Atlanta. He partici- He re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer in February, pated in the battles of Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864; 1864, and served throughout the war in the ranks, Tunnel Hill, May 8, 1864; Dalton, May 12, 1864; being mustered out December 27, 1865, after a serv- Dallas Gap, May 27, 1864; Pine Mountain, June ice of fifty-three months. He participated in all 19, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 24, 1864; the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment Chattahoochee River, July 5, 1864; Peach Tree was engaged, except the battle of Nashville, when Creek, July 20, 1864; Atlanta, September, 2, and he was suffering from a wound received in front of Jonesboro, September 4, of that year. He was Atlanta, Ga., July 23, 1864. Mr. Brown entered
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Eastman's National Business college at Poughkeep- medical staff of the penitentiary, cholera was prev- sie, N. Y., in March, 1866, and after his gradua- alent in the penitentiary, and Dr. Brush battled tion taught school in Minnesota four years. He with this fell destroyer so bravely and successfully improved his spare hours in fitting himself for as to receive honorable mention in the annual re- the profession of law, but in 1873 accepted the port of the prison board to the governor. Imme- city editorship of the Zanesville "Courier," and has diately upon leaving this position he was appointed continued in the newspaper business ever since. demonstrator of anatomy in the Columbus Medical He is now secretary and treasurer of the Courier college, and the following year, 1879, he resigned company, and as business manager conducts the to accept a similar position in his alma mater, which affairs of that establishment under the direction he occupied two years, one year of which, in addi- of the board of directors. In 1885 at the twen- tion to his duties there, he was assistant physician tieth annual session of the Department of Ohio, to the insane asylum. In 1881, desiring to get into Grand Army of the Republic, Mr. Brown was general practice, he resigned his position and lo- elected department commander of Ohio, and main- cated in the mining district, at Corning, Ohio, ly by his efforts the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors' where he was appointed surgeon of the Ohio Cen- Home at Sandusky, Ohio, was established. He tral Mining company, also of the Ohio Central was the first trustee appointed, and is now serving Railroad company. There he remained until the his second term of five years. In politics Mr. spring of 1884. On October 24, 1883, while there Brown is an earnest republican. He early im- he was united in marriage with Miss Fanny R. bibed from his father, who was an original abo- Russell, of Zanesville, daughter of the Hon. litionist, an intense hatred of slavery and the radi- Charles C. and Lavica (Morehead) Russell. In cal protection doctrine as taught by Henry Clay. May, 1884, Dr. Brush removed with his wife to In religion he is a Presbyterian with a more than Zanesville, where he at once began practicing. He reverential love for the stalwart theology of his is surgeon for five of the lines of railroad here, a sturdy ancestry, the Scotch Covenanters. Robert member of the United States board of pension ex- Burns Brown has lived a quiet and uneventful aminers of Muskingum county, president of the life, seeking as far within him lay, the right, and Hildreth District Medical society, and from 1886 is content to pursue the even tenor of his way with to 1891 he served as one of the physicians at the no thought of fame, craving only the esteem and county infirmary. For two years he was physician good-will of his fellow-citizens.
to the Zanesville workhouse, and for five years, Dr. Edmund Cone Brush was born in. Zanes- from 1885 to 1890, he was assistant secretary to the ville, Ohio, October 22, 1852, to the union of Ed- Ohio State Medical society, and has this year, 1892, mund and Alice S. (Cone) Brush. When eight been elected second vice-president of that society. years of age he was left fatherless, and the mother He is at present surgeon to Zanesville hospital, subsequently moved with her family to Marietta, also trustee of The John McIntire Children's Ohio, where the Doctor attended the public schools. home, at Zanesville, and president of the board of When ten years of age he entered the academic trustees of Zanesville Athenaeum. Dr. Brush is department of Marietta college, graduated from descended from Revolutionary stock, and takes an that institution in 1868, and afterward held a clerk- active interest in military affairs. He is at present ship until 1871. At that date he began reading colonel of the First regiment artillery, O. N. G. medicine under Dr. B. F. Hart, one of the most He has been a close student of the military history prominent and leading physicians of that section, of our country, and his articles on military subjects and the following year attended the lectures at have been published in the "Army and Navy Jour- Starling Medical college. On July 3, 1873, he was nal" and the "Century Magazine." He has also appointed, under Gov. Noyes, on the medical staff been a constant contributor to the medical litera- of the Ohio penitentiary, and was relieved from ture of the day. The Doctor's marriage has re- his position in the summer of 1874 by a change in sulted in the birth of four children-two sons and political rule. He then completed his medical two daughters: Edmund Russell, Alice Russell, studies at Starling Medical college, under Dr. Russell, and Fanny Margaret. Mrs. Brush is a Davis Halderman, graduating in the spring of 1875. much esteemed member of the Episcopal church. He immediately located at Harmar, Ohio, and prac- Dr. Brush is a republican in politics, and advo- ticed his profession successfully until the spring of cates the principles of that party.
1876. The republicans having come into power Ebenezer Buckingham Jr., son of Ebenezer and Rutherford B. Hayes having been elected gov- Buckingham Sr., and Esther (Bradley) Bucking- ernor, Dr. Brush was elected to his old position on ham, was born February 9, 1778 at Greenfield, the medical staff in the penitentiary, where he re- Conn., and was married three times: First, Novem- mained until the election of Gov. Bishop, when he ber 27, 1805 in Marietta, Ohio, to Catharine Put- again retired. In 1873, during his first term on the nam, who was born October 17, 1780, daughter of
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Gen. Rufus Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. She the Northwest Territory had aroused the pioneer died March 14, 1808, and was interred at Zanes- spirit over all the country. The thirst for ad- ville, Ohio. Second, March 31, 1812, in Fairfield, venture and the hope of fortune, fostered by the In - Ct., to Sarah Sturges, who was born December 4, dian traditions among which he lived, took such 1786, daughter of Dimon and Sarah (Perry) possession of this lad (for such he was), that when Sturges. She died April 9, 1815, in Zanesville, he was eighteen years old, he bade farewell to his Ohio, and is interred there. Third, August 5, 1816, family, and started on foot across the Allegheny in Glastonbury, Conn., to Eunice Hale, who was mountains to find the El Dorado. Early in the born October 22, 1792, fifth child of Benjamin and spring of 1796, he crossed the Ohio river from Martha (Wells) Hale. She died February 28, Williamstown to Marietta, with a small grip sack 1843, in Zanesville, Ohio, and is interred there. and an ax and 12} cents in his pocket, and Mr. Ebenezer Buckingham was killed August 21, walking up into the town, going to the first house 1832, and lies buried in Woodlawn cemetery, he saw, which proved to be Gen. Rufus Putnam's, Zanesville, Ohio. Mr. E. Buckingham Jr., was of Revolutionary fame, asked him "if he could one of the pioneers of Ohio. His ancestors, both give him some work." The answer was "No, he paternal and maternal, were of the old New did not know that he needed any help." He then England Puritan stock. Thomas Buckingham, told him he would like to do some work to earn the ancestor of the American Buckinghams, arrived his breakfast; the General told: "I see you have at Boston, June 26, 1637, and March 30, follow- an ax on your shoulder, and there is a pile of ing, sailed for Quinnipack, now New Haven, where wood which you can chop up for fire wood until he arrived in about a fortnight. Of his children, breakfast time, and I will give you your break- it is necessary to mention but one, the youngest, fast." While he was busy chopping this wood,
and ancestor of the subject of this sketch, Rev. the General's daughter Kate, looking out of the Thomas Buckingham, who was born at Milford, dining-room window, said to her father : "Who is Conn., November 8, 1646. He was held in high that good-looking young man out there chopping esteem by his people, and was one of the founders wood? He has now chopped more wood than that and a fellow of Yale college, from 1700 till his man you had yesterday all day." Shortly after-
decease, and a strong supporter of its interests. ward the General told his daughter Kate to call He died April 1, 1709, at Saybrook, Conn. His the young man in to breakfast, which she did. monument is still standing in the old burying Afterward, the General finding how industrious ground of Saybrook, and also that of Mrs. Hester he was, asked him if he knew how to drive oxen, Buckingham, his first wife. Daniel, the third he answered that he did. The General told him to child of Rev. Thomas and Hester Buckingham, yoke up the oxen and hitch them to that cart and was born October 3, 1672, and married Sarah Lee, go up to the base of the hill and haul some clay he of Lyme, Conn. He was a prominent and useful would find there, until noon, and after dinner they member of the church, and died March 25, 1725. would make it into mortar and chunk and daub the His son Stephen married Elizabeth Sherwood, of cabin next adjoining the General's. At noon-time, Fairfield, Conn. (Their home was for some time having finished hauling the clay he sprinkled some at Norwalk, Conn., where his uncle, Rev. Stephen water over it, and from an adjoining corn crib he Buckingham, who had adopted him was pastor for procured a small measure of shelled corn, which many years.) He was lost at sea in 1756. His he scattered over the clay; just at that moment the widow died at Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1792, aged General appeared, with a desire to know what he eighty-four years, in the home of her son, Ebenezer, was throwing that corn there for; his answer was: who married Esther Bradley, of Greenfield, Conn., "Do you see see those hogs up there? While we and after removing to a place west of the Hudson are eating dinner they will come down here, and River, Nine Partners, thence to Ballston, N. Y., rooting for that corn they will make the clay came in 1794 to Cooperstown, N. Y., when Eben- up into a nice pile of mortar," all of which amused ezer Buckingham Jr., the subject of this sketch, the General very much. The next day the General was about sixteen years old. The facilities for went on a surveying trip on the west side of the getting an education were limited in those days; river, taking him along as rodsman, and in find- but Ebenezer Jr., made the most of his oppor- ing he was so adept and quick he told him if tunities, and spent many of his study hours in his he would stay with him, he would teach him sur- boat, floating on the clear waters of Lake Otsego. veying; in a few weeks' time he was even a more His favorite books were those on mathematics and expert surveyor than the General himself. At that surveying, having to walk several miles to his period General Putuam had charge of surveying recitations, where he fitted himself for the first nearly all the southeast quarter of the state of work that he was to undertake in the wilderness of Ohio. Whether the General was prepossessed by the West. The exodus of the Ohio company to this circumstance or not, does not appear, but he 23
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