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 83

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

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 83

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school education, and married a Miss Mary Mires, . Mrs. Mary Fleming, Frazeysburg, Ohio. Among daughter of John Mires, a saddler by trade and the pioneer settlers of Muskingum county, Ohio, one of the early settlers of Irville. Mr. Mires was are the Flemings, who descended from one of the the father of these children: Charles, Amelia, most prominent and numerous American families. John, Delilah, Mary, Samuel, Jane, Lizzie, William The name of Fleming is traceable as far back as and Stephen. Mr. Mires moved to Danville, the eleventh century. It is said that William The Vermillion county, Ill., and there received his Conquerer, king of Normandy, invaded England final summons when about seventy years of age. with a powerful army composed principally of To Mr. and Mrs. Fleming were born eleven chil- Flemings, inhabitants of Flanders, and that his dren, two of whom died in infancy. The others wife was a Flemish princess. It is also said that were: Margaret, Daniel, Delilah, Malvine (died a strange family settled in Scotland at a place at the age of eleven), Mary (died at the age of known as the Fleming-way, and were called by seven), Clara, George W., Eva and John M. common consent The Flemings, so they finally After marriage, or in 1835, Mr. Fleming settled adopted the name. There is little doubt that Scot- on the farm now occupied by his son, John M., land is the home of the ancestors of this branch of which was then covered by a dense forest, and he the Fleming family. The founders of the family

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

in America were William Fleming, of Delaware, next will is that of William Fleming, who died and three brothers, and from them all the Flem- July 1, 1766, and the next is the record of Alex- ings in the United States have descended. Will- ander Fleming, who died August 30, 1773. Will- iam Fleming was driven from Scotland to the iam Fleming Jr. died June 7, 1784. He left a North of Ireland by religious persecution, tradi- widow, Ann, and five sons, to survive him. The tion says, and with three brothers emigrated to sons were named as follows: Nathan, Boaz, America late in the seventeenth century, settling Benaiah and Benoni (sons by his first wife), Jane in Delaware. They arrived in America in 1680, Frame and Thomas (a son by his second wife, Ann 211 years ago, and took up land under William Hudson). Benaiah remained on the old homestead, Penn in what is now known as Kent county, Del. but the others emigrated to West Virginia, in the The private records of the family are few and vicinity of Fairmount. They liked the country, limited, as no one at that time took any account and in December, 1808, returned to Delaware and of passing events for the benefit of generations sold out their interests in the homestead to yet to come. The only source left from which can Benaiah. The latter died in 1845 and left the be gained anything like a reliable history of these homestead to his sons, and when they died it ancestors of the Flemings, who have become so passed into the hands of Benjamin H. Thorp, the numerous in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, husband of Mary E., daughter of Nathan Flem- Indiana and other western and southern states, ing. The Thorps were among the oldest and is from the public records of surveys, deeds and most distinguished families of Delaware, and Gov. wills found on record in the respective offices at Thorpe is connected to the Flemings through Dover, and from Kent county, Del. It there ap- this branch of the family. In 1816 James and pears that the first emigrants by the name of Jacob Fleming, two of the original four brothers, Fleming were in 1680, as above mentioned. The sold their land in Delaware and moved westward. land upon which they settled is what is now known They were the sons of Robert Fleming, men- as Mispillion Hundred, Kent county, and em- tioned above, who died in 1784, and settled near braced a tract of country three miles square. Chillicothe, Ohio, and their descendants are now The four families settled near together, and were scattered throughout Ohio and the West. Other all, as far as is known, of the Presbyterian faith, members of the family moved to Maryland, and among those dissenters from the Church of Eng- their descendants are numerous there, the original land who sought freedom from persecution in the settlement being near Vienna. From the four New World. Though tradition tells of the fact brothers who settled in Fairmount, W. Va., there that the four brothers grew wealthy, having cul- are a great many descendants, and the estates of tivated large estates, it was not until 1754, many the brothers are in some cases still in the hands of years after their landing, that the first authentic their descendants. Upon the farm of Boaz Flem- record appears on the court books. This record ing, one of the four brothers from Delaware, was is the will of Robert Fleming, who died that year built the town of Fairmount, one of the most and left to survive him a widow, Alice F. Flem- prosperous places in West Virginia. Until a few ing, and several children. Among other things years ago the log house of Boaz stood almost in he gave Robert Fleming, a son of Alexander the center of the town. The descendants are Fleming, 180 acres of land. He also left David, among the leading citizens of Marion county. a son of John Fleming, another brother, a farm From one comes the present governor of West of 180 acres. The next record is the will of one Virginia; from another the mayor of the town, of the four original brothers, George Fleming, who Hon. Thomas W. Fleming; from another branch died May 25, 1759. He left his widow Elizabeth, comes Gen. R. E. Fleming, whose distinguished and four children, a large landed estate. Two of services won him honor; also Capt. T. A. Fleming, the children were daughters; one, Martha, married another veteran, who is well known in the G. A. R. Alexander King, and from them descended some circles, and is at present justice of the peace. of the numerous branches of King families in Most of the Flemings of West Virginia are re- Delaware and Pennsylvania. These daughters publicans, the Governor being one of the few and their descendants lived and died on the old democrats of that name. Gov. Fleming, of Florida, Fleming homestead, which is still standing, occu- is a representative of the family, who went south pied by lineal descendants of the original Flem- many years ago. The family held a national ings. Of this landed estate the Delaware railroad reunion in August, 1891, at Fairmount, W. Va., runs through a portion, and upon it built the and members were present from twenty-five states town of Farmington, which was named after Farm- to the number of more than 1,000. The lawyer, ington, W. Va. A quarter of a mile from there merchant, preacher, journalist and laborer, the is situated the Fleming burying ground, where the man of affluence and the one of modest circum- remains of the early Flemings are resting. The stances, all of one family and one blood, gathered 26

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

from all sections of the country to exchange greet- received a good common-school education. His ings, trace kinship, and to form ties of friendship father was a school teacher and wrote a clear old- that should exist among those whose blood and fashioned hand, specimens of which are still pre- name are the same. It was one of the most re- served in the family. Daniel Fleming was about markable reunions ever held in the United States. seventeen years of age when he came with his

Col. Nathan Fleming, the founder of one branch father to this county. He married Mary Bonham, of this family in Muskingum county, was born daughter of Rev. Zachariah and Susan (Hooper) in Marion county, W. Va., January, 1783, and mar-

Bonham. The father was of Scotch descent, born ried Mary Wood, daughterof John Wood, a farmer in New Jersey, and his father was Rev. Hesikiah of West Virginia. To Colonel and Mrs. Flem- Bonham, an old pioneer Methodist minister and a ing were born five children, whom they reared: well-known preacher of those early times. Among Margaret, James, Albert, John and Daniel. In his children are Robert, Jeremiah, Zachariah the fall of 1804, soon after his marriage, Col. Flem- Zedekiah, Mary and Rachel. Rev. Zachariah Bon- ing came to Muskingum county, Ohio, and settled ham married Sophia Johnson in Virginia, and they at Irville. He cleared a farm, settled there a few were the parents of seven children: Amos, Robert, years, sold his land and settled one-half mile east Johnson, Hesikiah, Isaac, Elizabeth and Jacob. of the town, remaining there many years. He en- In 1814 Mr. Bonham settled in Jackson township gaged in the mercantile business with Beverly and had a good farm of 200 acres which be cleared Lemert, under the firm name of Fleming & Lemert, up from the wilderness. He gave up riding the Mr. Lemert retired a few years later and Col. circuit and preached in Irville. His first wife died Fleming continued the business several years alone. and he married Susannah Hooper, daughter of He was a prosperous business man and one of the John and Sarah Hooper, and to them were born early shippers of produce from Zanesville to New three children: Mary, Rebecca and Sarah A. Mr. Orleans, going frequently on the boats himself. Bonham lived to the age of sixty-eight years and He was commissioned in the militia of the state of died on his farm. After his marriage, Daniel Ohio, April 3, 1812, by Gov. Return Jonathan Fleming settled on the old home farm and here Meigs, and promoted to major, October 29, 1812. spent his life. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming are mem- He held this office until October, 5, 1818, when he bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. Mary Flem- was class-leader and trustee for many years. He ing is the mother of Finley M. Fleming.

This was a stanch republican in politics and .a strong is one of the prominent branches of the Fleming union man during the war. He died July 23, family of the county and lineal descendants of 1867, at the age of sixty-four years, and left a wife the four original brothers who settled in West and three children: Elizabeth, Finley M. and Virginia. Mathew Fleming was the great-grand- Jacob D. Dr. Jacob D Fleming had a good educa- father, and was a farmer of West Virginia, tion, was an excellent scholar and taught school born September 2, 1741. He married Jane Frame,

several years. He graduated at Hamilton Medical

and they were the parents of twelve children, college, Columbus, Ohio, and is now practicing John and Mathew only remembered. Mathew medicine at Frazeysburg. Finley M. Fleming at- Fleming died in West Virginia, and his son tended school at Utica, Ohio. Mrs. Fleming the Mathew was born in Virginia, September 6, 1781. widow of Daniel, lives on the old homestead. In He married in West Virginia, Lydia Fleming, the 1879 she built a fine residence and managed the daugher of Nathan Fleming, the father of Col. farm until her sons were old enough to assist her. Nathan Fleming, one of the original four brothers. Finley M. was born April 13, 1855, and reared on To Mathew Fleming and wife were born fifteen the farm. He married, at the age of thirty-two children, twelve of whom lived to maturity: Daniel years, Nellie K. Frazey, daughter of Guy and Phobe, Elias, Beniah, Franklin, Susan, Elihu, Kate (Mathews) Frazey. She is the great-grand- Rosena, Archibald, Jane, Mary and Martha, all daughter of the founder of Frazeysburg-Samuel born in West Virginia, except Mary and Martha Frazey. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have two chil- Mathew Fleming moved his family to Licking dren: Paul D. and Kate. The mother of Mrs. township, Ohio, making the journey with horses Fleming was the daughter of Alfred Mathews, and wagons, and settled on a farm, now occupied son of Dr. Increase Mathews, a prominent physi- by our subject, Mary Fleming, October, 1820. He cian of Zanesville.

cleared up a good farm, consisting of 140 acres. One of the most notable mercantile establish- Himself and wife are members of the Methodist ments of Nashport, Ohio, is that conducted by church, and he died at the age of fifty-four years. William H. H. Francis, who is widely known as a He was a man of excellent character and had many capable, enterprising, and reliable business man. friends. Daniel Fleming, the father of our sub- He was born September 3, 1841, in Licking county, ject, was born May 15, 1803, in West Virginia, and Ohio, and is a descendant of one of the prominent

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

families of Virginia. His grandfather, William means to build his church at a time when it needed Francis, was born in Loudoun county, Va., was of all the assistance it could get. His son, William an old colonial family, and was a soldier in the H. H. Francis, was born on the old homestead Revolution, being present at the surrender of Corn- which is still held in the family, and received a wallis. He was married in his native state to Miss good common-school education. At the age of Mary Romine and they became the parents of twenty he began learning the mercantile business twenty-four children, eighteen of whom lived to be at Black Hand, Licking county, and continued grown. In 1816 William Francis came to Licking clerking for two and one-half years, when he re- county, Ohio, settled near the west line of Mus- turned home where he worked on the farm for one kingum county, in Hanover township, and became year, two of his brothers being in the army and one of the substantial farmers, owning vast tracts his father needing help. In 1864 he clerked in a of land and giving his children all farms. He store at Cottage Hill, Muskingum county, but two died in 1847, when ninety years of age. He was a years later he came to Nashport, where he clerked member of the Old School Baptist church, in which for N. F. Claypool for six years, after which he he served as deacon, and he was widely known embarked in business for himself at that place. In among the old settlers as a man of sterling char- 1884 he bought the building he now occupies, a acter. His was the first log house that was plas- commodious brick, and has been doing a flourish- tered in that part of Licking county. The children, ing business ever since. August 26, 1862, he mar- so far as remembered, were: William, Isaiah, ried Miss Margery E. Drumm, daughter of John Everett, Lenen, James, Samuel, Stephen, Joseph, and Cynthia (Arter) Drumm, and of Irish descent. Maria, Mary A., Rebecca, and Fannie. The son, John Drumm was of an old pioneer family and was William, was the father of eighteen children. the father of seven children, four of whom are now Samuel Francis, another son and the father of our living: Amanda, Margery E., Sylvanus and Minerva. subject, was born in Loudoun county, Va., January He died in the sixties. To Mr. and Mrs. William 26, 1798 and received a meager education in the H. H. Francis have been born three interesting common-schools of that day. . He could read and children: Orlo D., Ella M. and Charles E. Mr. write well, and had some knowledge of arithmetic. and Mrs. Francis are members of the Old School In 1816 he came to the Buckeye state with his Baptist church, and he is clerk in the same. He parents. He was married to Miss Amy Shadley, lias the confidence of the people of his township, daughter of Daniel Shadley, who was one of the and has been treasurer of the same for many years. original settlers of Licking county. To Mr. and He now holds the office of township trustee. So- Mrs. Samuel Francis were born twelve children: cially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has Mahlon (died in infancy), Sarah, Mary, Stephen, held the office of secretary, recording secretary, Hannah (died at the age of twenty-two, a married treasurer, vice-grand, noble grand and has been woman), Basil B., Melissa, David, Rebecca, Will- trustee for fifteen years. In politics he is a stanch iam H. H., Daniel T., and Elizabeth. Nine of republican. Mr. Francis takes an active interest their children are still living, all married and have in having good schools and has been a member of families. Samuel Francis received fifty acres of the board of education for years. He has been land from his father and to this he added from postmaster since May, 1887. He stands deservedly time to time until he owned 220 acres, on which he high as a citizen and as a reliable business man, passed the closing years of liis life. He was in- and has been notary public for eight years.

dustrious, hardworking and prosperous. He was a Lewis Frazee is the owner of a fertile farm of member of the Old School Baptist church for more 355 acres of land in Salt Creek township, and is than sixty-nine years and a deacon over fifty years otherwise well supplied with worldly goods, the re- of that time. In politics he was an old line whig sult of many hours of honest toil, and much good and voted for every president from 1820 up to the management. He was born in Greenbush town- present, except for James G. Blaine, having missed ship, Rensselaer county, N. Y., April 1, 1816, to that on account of a hard rain and his advanced Nathan and Nellie (Barmeger) Frazee, the former age, eighty-six years. He voted for William Henry of whom was born in England, and in 1820 came Harrison and lived to vote for the grandson, Ben- to America, settling after a time in this county, jamin Harrison. On July 14, 1890, when ninety- where his death occurred in the year 1865. Lewis two years of age, this good man received his final Frazee was married on the 19th of March, 1840, summons. He had a wonderful constitution, was to Miss Mary J. Neff, a native of Brooke county, temperate in his habits, although he used tobacco Va., and daughter of Christian Neff, and to their all his life, and retained his mental faculties to the marriage an interesting family of nine children end. He was a well-known man, and a represent- were born, four of whom are living: Nathan E., ative Ohio pioneer. In religious matters he was Catherine B., wife of J. J. Moore: Mary E. and particularly active and assisted liberally with his Lewis C. Mr. Frazee has always been methodical

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

in his business affairs, also thrifty and persevering, on which Mr. Frazier is now living. He first pur- and his diligence and nuremitting toil has been chased 120 acres of partially cleared land from rewarded in the accumulation of an abundant Jonathan Carlisle, and to the improvement and share of this world's goods. He has always sup- cultivation of this and adjoining land since pur- ported the men and measures of the democratic chased he has devoted the best energies of his life. party, and in appreciation of his services his party His union with Miss Armstrong resulted in the elected him a member of the state legislature from birth of the following children: Eleanor, born Muskingum county in 1858-59, during which time February 23, 1832, the deceased wife of George he proved himself an able and incorruptible legis- Dutton, her death occurring November 5, 1881; lator. During his busy career he has found time Elizabeth, born January 9, 1834, wife of Dr. Rob- to devote to social pleasures, and he is an honored ert George, of Elgin, Ill .; Samuel A., born Sep- member of the A. F. & A. M., and the I. O. O, tember 9, 1837, and died April 2, 1842; Rosanna, F. He and his family worship in the Presbyte- born April 30, 1839, wife of Capt. Henry C. Baugh- rian church. His original farm, or old homestead, man, of Mona, Kas. ; Margaret Ann, born January is now the property of his daughter, Mrs. Moore, 16, 1842, wife of Robert Morrison, of Thomasboro, and in addition to his fine farm of 355 acres, above Ill .; William H., born January 23, 1845, and re- referred to, he is the owner of large farming inter- sides in Taylorville, Ohio, and Robert A., born ests in Missouri, and is a wealthy and influential September 22, 1847, is a resident of Nevada, Iowa. citizen.

Mrs. Frazier died on the 25th of August, 1848.

Among the men gifted alike with energy and Mr. Frazier's second marriage was celebrated enterprise stands Jesse Frazier, the prominent November 6, 1851, Miss Sarah Whitaker, the merchant and popular postmaster of Coal Hill, daughter of Lemuel Whitaker, a pioneer settler of Muskingum county, Ohio. He was born April 1, Brush Creek township, becoming his wife. She 1836, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Atkin) was born March 21, 1818, and died February 13, Frazier, his father a native of Virginia, and his 1862. Mr. Frazier's third marriage was consum- mother of Pennsylvania. Jesse Frazier was reared mated on the 5th of March, 1863, Miss Kate Weaver on a farm, attended the district schools until the becoming his third wife. She was born in Ger- age of twenty-one, when he began for himself, many, February 2, 1839, and has borne her hus- working by the month for his father. This he con- band two children: Hattie, wife of Charles U. tinued two years, tilling the soil in the summer, Shryock, born January 17, 1864, and Samuel, born and teaching school during the winter months. December 30, 1867, and died September 19, 1878. On the 27th of October, 1859, he married Miss The mother of these children died on the 10th of Eliza James, daughter of John and Huldah James, June, 1878. Mr. Frazier has been a member of of Meigs township. Soon after marriage he com- the Presbyterian church a great number of years, menced farming, and continued this occupation and has always been a consistent Christian gentle- with fair success until the year 1873, when he man, having the confidence of all with whom he started a general store at Coal Hill, where he has has had acquaintance or business dealings. When been in business ever since. He is a pleasant, he first came to this county he was engaged in saw- enterprising and honorable business man, practi- milling quite extensively, and manufactured con- cal and reliable, and highly respected by all with siderable quantities of lumber. The carding and whom he has dealings. In 1874 he was appointed woolen factory formerly located at Taylorville he postmaster of Coal Hill, and he has filled this po- operated for a number of years, and he yet has an sition in a satisfactory manner ever since. He has interest in the gristmill at that place, in which he also held the office of township treasurer since is jointly interested with his son William. Mr. 1885, and was elected county treasurer in Novem- Frazier has, during his long and not uneventful ber, 1891. Mr. Frazier is a member of the Masonic life, been a republican in politics, voting with that fraternity, and in politics is a stanch republican. party on all questions of national and local impor- He holds membership in the Baptist church. tance. In his father's family there were eleven chil-

Among the old settlers whose names and history dren, all of whom, with the exception of two, are adorn the pages of the "Memoirs of Muskingum dead: Robert, who resides in Missouri, and the County " none are more favorably known than subject of this sketch, who was the youngest of the William Frazier, who was born in Ohio county, family. Those deceased are James Robinson, W. Va., near Wheeling, March 7, 1806, a son of Samuel, Elizabeth(wife of Samuel McCoy), Andrew, Samuel and Eleanor (Robinson) Frazier. On the Rosanna (wife of Jesse Davis), James, Margaret 23d of September, 1830, Mr. Frazier was married (wifeof John Bell), David, Hamilton and Robinson. to Nancy Armstrong, a daughter of Rev. Armstrong, Grandfather Frazier was born August 28, 1776, and the year following the celebration of their and died March 31, 1850. His wife was born Feb- nuptials, they settled on the farm in this county ruary 5, 1778, and died July 25, 1850.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Among the prominent farmers and large land- Bennett. They have one child); Charles E. (is a holders of Muskingum county must be mentioned farmer, of Cass township; was educated at Woos- Stockton Frazier, Frazeysburg, Ohio. His father ter, and married Enna Blizzard. They have one was Samuel Frazier. [See sketch of James Fraz- child); Margaret R., Rose E., and Luella J. are ier. ] Stockton Frazier was born January 17, 1829, young ladies at home, and are receiving good edu- in Belmont county, Ohio, on his father's farm, and cations. Mr. Frazier is a man well informed on was but seven years of age when his father re- all important subjects of the day, and has a good moved to Muskingum county and settled in Lick- library. He is interested in educational matters ing township. He received a common-school edu- and all subjects for the advancement and good of cation and was brought up as a farmer. He the county. He has a beautiful home, of brick, married, October 19, 1859, Elizabeth A. McCann, two stories high, with everything about it to make daughter of Maxwell and Margaret (McDonald) it comfortable and pleasant.

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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 83

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642