Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 119

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 119

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.As the name partly indicates, the Williams family originated in Wales and family records disclose that it was founded in America by several brothers who emigrated to New Eng- land in the latter part of the 17th century. Charles Williams, the immediate ancestor of the branch of the family to which Hon. Hosea Williams belonged, died at Colchester, Con- necticut, April 14. 1740. aged 94 years. He was survived by six sons, one of whom, Na- than Williams, was married September 16, 1725. to Elizabeth Lewis, also of Welsh ex- traction, and they reared a family of four sons and five daughters. Abraham Williams, the eldest of these sons, born July 21, 1726, mar- ried V'esta Hunt and they were the grandpar- ents of Judge Williams.

Abraham Williams, son of AAbraham and father of Judge Williams, was born Septent- ber 16. 1765, and married Anna Chamber- lain. They resided in Berkshire County, Mas- sachusetts, until after the marriage of their only child, Hosea, in 1817. The family then started for the still undeveloped region known as the Scioto Valley, Ohio, stopping at the little village of Delaware, and renting quarters there until a comfortable home could be pro- vided on the farm of 300 acres which had been purchased and which lay two miles west of the

hamlet. Abraham Williams and wife, after seeing the young couple comfortably settled, returned to Massachusetts, where they re- mained until 1825, when they rejoined Judge Williams and family and removal was made to Delaware, where both Abraham Williams and wife died.

Hosea Williams was 25 years of age when hie came to Delaware County. His education had been that usually afforded the sons of well-to-do parents, in Berkshire County, and for a short time he had been engaged in clerk- ing at Pittsfield. On May 29, 1817. he was married to Charlotte Elizabeth Avery, who was a half-sister of the late Governor Morgan, of New York, and was a sister of the late Judge Frederick Avery, of Delaware. The Avery and the Morgan families can trace their genealogies far back and there have been many intermarriages, the first of these in New England having been that of Deacon William Morgan, son of Glamorganshire James Mor- gan, to Margaret Avery, daughter of Captain James Avery, of Groton, Massachusetts, July 17, 1696. Mrs. Williams died February 23. 1839, having been the mother of five daugh- ters and one son, the latter of whom died in infancy. The daughters were: Anna, who married Rev. John W. White; Harriet, who married Judge Thomas C. Jones; Margaret. who married Chauncy Hills; Caroline, who married Dr. John A. Little, and Charlotte. Judge Williams was married ( secondly) in October, 1841. to Mrs. Clarinda D. Starling, who died in August. 1876, following the death of Judge Williams, which occurred Feb- ruary 12, 1876.

Upon the return of his parents from New England, in 1825, Mr. Williams moved from the farm, on which, in 1823 he had built a commodius frame residence, to Delaware. where he embarked in a general mercantile business, which he continued for many years. He was a man of character and enterprise and was an active promoter of the various agencies which go to the upbuilding of a com- munity. When he came to Delaware there was much to be done in the way of erecting churches and schools, in building and improv-

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ing the highways, in introducing various utili- ties to contribute to the health and comfort of the residents of the growing town, and also in making and regulating laws for its honest gov- ernment. Judge Williams was just the man to recognize all these demands and as one of the capitalists and public-spirited men, he became a leader in many of the most important move- ments.

While still residing on his farm, Mr. Wil- liams had been elected county commissioner, afterward became a village official and still la- ter judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1845 he was elected the first president of the Delaware County branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and until the expiration of its charter, was a member of the State Board of Control of this institution. When the Delaware bank was reorganized and became the Delaware County National Bank, Mr .. Williams . was elected president, a position he filled continu- ously until his death.

Judge Williams was chosen a member of the first Board of Directors of the Cleveland. Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad. serving for many years as such. In association with Judge Howard, in 1838, he erected a paper mill in what is now known as the village of Stratford. Subsequently this mill was de- stroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and became a valued industry of this section. The death of Judge Williams marked the passing of one of the old-time men of capacity, sterling honesty and honorable ideals.

HARLES STANBERY, a leading and representative citizen of Liberty Township, was born at Columbus, Ohio, July 18. 1844. and is a son of Charles and Mary ( Smith ) Stan-

bery.

Mr. Stanbery attended the district schools during his boyhood, as he was mainly reared on a farm, and completed his education in the schools of Cincinnati and Zanesville. Mr. Stanbery has devoted his attention to agricul- tural interests and resides on his valuable farm !

of 150 acres, which is situated in Liberty Township, this being the old homestead farm of which his father settled in 1856. Hlis land is well cultivated and his practical methods have resulted in large agricultural returns. He is one of the few survivors of one of the finest old families of Delaware County, and one that has been identified for over a half century with the progress of Liberty Township. Hay- ing lived for fifty years on this farm and in the same house, no citizen of the township is bet- ter or more favorably known than he. Mr. Stanbery has never married. He was reared politically in the Democratic party but is in- clined to be independent and think for himself. He has always taken an interest in having wise and liberal laws enforced. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Powell.

IMOTHY C. STONE, a representa- tive citizen of Concord Township, re- siding on a valuable farm of 240 acres, which he devotes to farming and stock raising, was born in Dela- ware County, Ohio, November 3, 1853. and is a son of Leander and Rachel ( Coe) Stone.

Leander Stone was born in 1809, in Ver- mont, and was brought to Ohio by his parents, when he was four years of age. His father, William Stone, settled near Amity, Madison County, where he passed the remainder of his life. Leander Stone grew to manhood in Madison County, and prior to coming to Dela- ware County, he was married to Rachel Coe. In 1838 he settled on the farm which his son. Timothy C., now owns, and he acquired 300 acres. Here he died July 29, 1869. at the age of 60 years. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Stone were Ransome and Elizabeth Coe. natives of Pennsylvania, who were early set- tlers in Franklin County. Ohio. Mr. Stone's mother survived until May 12. 1807. Leander Stone and wife had four children, the three in addition to the subject of this sketch being : Samuel Ransome, residing in Franklin Coun- ty, who married Mary Chapman and owns val- uable property in Columbus ; and Alvin, who

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died at Memphis, Tennessee, of an attack of measles, while serving in the Civil War as a member of Company E. Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and Erastus, who is en- gaged in farming in Scioto Township, Dela- ware County, and who married Hester Gates, Leander Stone cleared the larger part of his land and made many improvements, including the building of the present comfortable resi- (lence, which took the place of the log cabin, in which his children were born. In politics, he was affiliated with the Democratic party.

Timothy C. Stone attended the district schools and through youth assisted his father on the farm. In 1886, he was married to Eunice Black, who is a daughter of Robert and Mary Black, of Union County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have four children-Maudie Louise, Harold. Nellie Duckworth and Rob- ert Thurston. With the exception of a brief period, Mr. Stone has passed his whole life on the present farm, where his interests have been largely of an agricultural nature during all this time. AAlthough he did not build the present house, he has made many improvements and has erected substantial farm buildings of all kinds on the place.

Ile is a strong supporter of Democratic principles. Mr. Stone enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens of Concord Township, to a very large extent and they have frequently shown their estimate of his character and ca- pacity by electing him to office. Ile has served for five years as township treasurer. He is a member of Lodge No. 525. Knights of Pyth- ias, at Bellpoint.

ACOB KINNEL, one of Delaware Township's highly esteemed citizens. who, after a long and useful period of activity is now living retired, is the owner of a fine farm of 48 acres. Mr. Kinnel was born June 4, 1838, in Berne, Ger- many, and is a son of Jacob and Caroline ( Christman ) Kinnel.

Jacob Kinnel, the grandfather of Jacob, was a native of Germany, and came to Amer- 1

ica in 1835, bringing with him his entire fam- ily. with the exception of his son, Jacob, who remained in Germany. The grandfather set- tled in Columbus, Ohio, where he followed his trade all of his life. Jacob Kinnel, father of Jacob, was a shoemaker of Berne, Germany, where he died in 1850, at the age of 42 years. Ile married Caroline Christman, who was a daughter of Daniel Christman.

Jacob Kinnel received a common school education in his native country and then learned the trade of shoemaker, which he fol- lowed until attaining his majority. He then entered the German army, in which he served six years. At the expiration of his term of service, he came to America, and from 1865 to 1868 worked at his trade in New York City, coming in the latter year to Columbus, Ohio, where he continued at shoemaking until 1874. He then removed to Washington Township. Franklin County, where he cultivated a rented farm for nine years, subsequently removing to Delaware County. Here he operated a rented farm until 1894, and in this year he purchased his present farm then a tract of but nine acres. To this he added from time to time, raising all kinds of garden truck, and he attributes mis success to carefully watching the market and giving special attention to the public demand. He also raised corn, oats and hay, and kept about 150 chickens. In politics Mr. Kinnel is a Republican, and while in Columbus he was, connected fraternally with the order of Red Men.

Mr. Kimmel was married ( first ) to Kather- ine Westerville, of Columbus, Ohio, who died in 1874, in the faith of the German Lutheran Church, and to them one child was born- Jacob, who resides at Larimer, Pennsylvania. In 1875 Mr. Kinnel was married ( secondly) to Mrs. Magdalena Frye, widow of David Frye and daughter of Conrad Gast, of Colum- bus, a stone cutter by trade. Mrs. Kinnel was born November 17, 1836, in Hessen-Cassel. Germany, and came to America in 1866, two years after her first husband. David Frye, who was born in Unternausbach, Germany, and who died in 1872, aged 45 years. By her first marriage Mrs. Kinnel had four children : An-

SILAS J. MANN

MRS. JULIA S. MANN

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nie. who is the wife of A. J. Topping of Dela- ware: Clara, the wife of Thomas Davis of Radnor Township: one who died in infancy ; and John, who is at home, and with his half- brother is engaged in the trucking business on the home farm, which he conducts in the same intelligent and successful way that his father did. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinnel two children have been born, namely: Edward, who mar- ried Elizabeth Knowlton, has two children- William and Marie; and Caroline, who is the wife of Marion Pendelton of Delaware. The family are members of the English Lutheran Church.

ILAS J. MANN, whose death on De- cember 1, 1900, was mourned by the citizens of Harlem Township as a sad and irreparable loss to the com- munity, was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served with honor and credit, and was one of the leading agriculturists in Delaware County which had been his home throughout nearly the entire of his life. He was born in Harlem Township, Delaware County, Ohio. December 31, 1838. was a son of Abijah and Betsey (Adams) Mann, and grandson of Shuah and Nancy ( Oldham) Mann.

Shuah Mann, the grandfather, was a na- tive of New Jersey, where he lived and fol- lowed farming for many years. He finally moved to Franklin County. Ohio, where he was elected justice of the peace and served continuously in that capacity 21 years, and al- though he had attended school but 11 days in his life, he discharged the duties of his office so intelligently and conscientiously that not a single one of the many cases decided by him was reversed on appeal. lle married Nancy Oldham, who was also born in New Jersey. Her father was a captain in the Revo- lutionary War, and during his lifetime served nine years as constable, five years as justice of the peace, and three years as sheriff of his county. To this union were born 12 chil- dren. Mr. Mann died in August, 1865, and

was survived by his widow. . Religiously, they were of the Methodist faith and active church workers.

Abijah Mann was born near Paterson, New Jersey, July 22, 1813, and was there reared until eighteen years of age, attending the common schools and then being engaged in charcoal burning and cutting hoop-poles. At that age, with a brother, he ran off with a man who was engaged in buying stock and came West. In 1835 he landed in Licking County, Ohio, where he commenced working out by the month, but in a short time his father came out to take the boys back home. Abijah would consent to return only on con- dition that his father would dispose of his property in New Jersey and move to Ohio. and the latter after an investigation into the character of the land and the prospects in this new country finally acquiesced. Returning to his old home, Abijah Mann served as ap- prentice at masonry until the following year when the family moved to Franklin County. Ohio. There he lived until his marriage, after which he went to Chicago, Illinois, and worked at his trade, helping build the first brick house erected there. He was offered forty acres of land if he would locate in that now great city, whose future greatness he lit- tle realized, and lie declined the offer. He returned to Ohio, locating in Harlem Town- ship, Delaware County, where he set up house- keeping, making most of the furniture they used, himself. He continued farming and worked at his trade until 1852. then went west to lowa, where he purchased 250 acres of land. lle continued his journey west to California. where in the gold fields he made the money to pay for his purchase. Upon his return to Iowa in 1854, he found his land had trebled in value, and sold out. He again came back to Delaware County, Ohio, and purchased 110 acres lying a quarter of a mile west of Center- ville, on which he thereafter resided until his death, January 16, 1874. His wife, whose maiden name was Betsy Adams, died here in 1866. They were parents of 10 children, as follows: Abijah ; Silas J., our subject : Lucy A. (Swickard ) ; Newton: Dr. Henry L. : Ma-

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dary D .: Nathan A. ; Isadora An ( Edwards ) : Norman N., deceased ; Nancy E. Abijah, the eldest of the family, was born in 1836 and died in 1838. The remainder, except Nor- man N., grew to maturity.

Ency .A., the eldest daughter of Abijah and Betsy Mann, was born in Harlem Town- ship, Delaware County, Ohio, July 4, 1841. After her marriage in September, 1859. to Davis W. Swickard, they moved to Pike County, Ohio, and later to Colony, Kansas.

Newton Mann. son of Abijah and Betsy Mann, was born March 19. 1844, and when 17 years of age entered Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity. teaching and attending school for five years. After graduation he spent one season in lecturing, appearing in many of the cities of the State. In 1866 he went west to Leaven- worth, Kansas, where he taught school and read law under the preceptorship of Judge Gardner. He was admitted to the Bar it 1868 and embarked in practice. He located at Tonganoxie, Kansas, where he served some years as police judge, and in 1876 was elected judge of the Leavenworth County Court, again moving to the county seat. There he resided until his death, being one of the most promi- nent residents of that city. He was a mem- ber of the Christian Church. In 1871, Judge Mann married Elizabeth Wambaugh, by whom he had three children.

Henry L. Mann, fifth child born to Abijah and Betsy Mann, was born June 7. 1847, and at the age of 18 years left home, going to Hardin County, where he clerked in a store for a time. Ile then returned to Delaware County and engaged in teaching in the public schools, at the same time attending school himself. He read medicine under the direction of Dr. An- drews, of Westerville, and in February, 1875. graduated with the second highest honors from Starling Medical College of Columbus. The same year he embarked in practice at Wapa- koneta, Ohio, where he rose to high standing in his profession. During President Gar- field's administration he was appointed medi- cal examiner in the United States Pension Office. June 6, 1877, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Frances Ingerbam, a dangh- ter of Dr. Ingerham, of Coshocton, Ohio.

Madary D. Mann, son of Abijah and Betsy Mann, was born October 15, 1850, and received a superior educational training. He attended school at Reynoldsburg, and subse- quently pursued a course of study in Otterbein University at Westerville. In 1875 he went to Kansas and engaged in teaching school for nine months, at the end of which time he en- tered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After graduation from that institution in March, 1877, he lo- cated at Paulding, Ohio, and the following year was elected prosecuting attorney of Paulding County. October 10. 1878, he was joined in marriage with Alice McMillen of Paulling. They are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.

Nathan A. Mann, the next in order of birth, was born August 24, 1852, and at the age of 20 years engaged in the sale of sewing machines and organs. After one year at that work he entered Otterbein University at W'es- terville, and in 1875 entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, in the same class as his elder brother. After gradu- ation in March, 1877, he went west to Leaven- worth, Kansas, to engage in practice with his brother, Judge Mann, under the firm name of Mann & Mann.

Isadora Ann ( Mann) Edwards was born February 11, 1856, and after completing a common school education attended Otterbein University at Westerville. She later taught in the public schools and also served as superin- tendent of the Sabbath school of the M. E. Church at Centerville. She was married to Mr. L. S. Edwards and now resides in Los Gatos, California.

Nancy E. Mann, the youngest of the family of Abijah Mann and his faithful wife. was born August 18. 1861, and attended the schools at Westerville, Ohio. In 1877 she went west to Leavenworth, Kansas, where her brothers were located. and there completed a course in music, becoming an accomplished musician. She also is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Silas J. Mann, the direct subject of this sketch, was reared in Harlem Township, and there received his educational training in the

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common schools. He remained on his father's farm until the war broke out, then on August 8, 1862, responded to his country's call by enlisting in Company G, Forty-fifth regiment. (). V. 1. He participated in numerous im- portant engagements and on July 4. 1863. ac- companied his regiment in the memorable pur- suit of the Morgan raiders, in which they were on the march constantly for 28 days. During that time they passed through the States of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, a dis- tance of fourteen hundred miles, making an average of 50 miles per day, a truly remark- able accomplishment. This long tramp proved too much for many of the sokliers, among them being Mr. Mann, who was incapacitated for some time. On November 23, 1864. he was transferred to the Eighth Veteran Re- serve Corps, stationed at Camp Douglas, Chi- cago, and while in the service there became a member of the Post band. This band played for twenty days at the North- west Sanitary Fair, and established an enviable reputation. July 4. 1865. at the close of the war, Mr. Mann was honorably discharged and at once returned to his home in Delaware County, Ohio. He was married in the fall of the same year and set up house- keeping in Centerville, where he remained un- til he located on the farm in Harlem Town- ship, where he died. He owned 150 acres of land, upon which he made extensive improve- ments, erecting a large modern home, a sub- stantial barn and outbuildings. Ile farmed ac- cording to up-to-date methods and was ever classed with the progressive element of the people, among whom he stood foremost.

September 21. 1865. Silas J. Mann was joined in marriage with Miss Julia A. Stan- sell, who was sixth of. a family of nine chil- dren born to George Stansell and his wife, her natal day being October 1. 1841. Her father was born in Palmyra, New York. in 1798. died September ro. 1855, and was sur- vived fourteen years by his widow. Mr. and Mrs. Silas J. Mann became the parents of two sons, namely: Arthur C., born August 14. 1870: and Jasper D., born February 5. 1876. Both are men of educational attainments.

They attended the district schools in the vi- cinity of their home, after which they engaged in teaching for a number of years, then supple- menting their education by a course of study in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. They reside on the home place and are suc- cessfully engaged in farming, although they have frequently, in the past. taken many pleasure trips to different parts of this country. visiting points of historical interest and scenic beauty. They are broad minded men and have always evinced an earnest interest in the de- velopment and improvement of their home community. Mr. and Mrs. Mann also reared an orphan girl, Miss Daisy P. Cochran, who was born August 20, 1875, and is a daughter of Thomas and Emma Cochran.

Silas J. Mann took a deep interest in the public affairs of his township and county, and not infrequently was called upon to serve in official capacity. Ile was an active Republican in politics, and was elected on the ticket of that party as township trustee, serving seven years. and as a member of the Board of Education of Harlem Township. He was elected county commissioner in November, 1888, and re- elected in November. 1891, serving two full terms. That he discharged the duties of his office in an efficient and satisfactory manner is attested by the fact that in 1895 he was ap- pointed to fill an unexpired term of nine months in the same capacity. He served as president of the Delaware AAgricultural Society two years, and was director ot that body three years. Fraternally, he held membership with Galena Lodge. No. 404. I. O. O. F. : Center- ville Lodge No. 645. K. P. : and Charles Slack Post. No. 59. G. A. R., at Galena. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his family also belong.

AMES CLARK WHIPPLE, a success- ful farmer of Brown Township, was born in Peru Township. Morrow County, Ohio, January 28. 1850. and is a son of Noah and Margaret ( El- liott ) Whipple.

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The paternal grandparents of Mr. Whip- ple were Reuben and Sarah ( Cooper ) Whip- ple and they settled in Morrow County in 1818. The land they selected was covered with a natural growth of timber and they made the first improvement. The second log cabin which they erected is still standing on the place. They had five sons, namely : Barton. Jason, Noah, Lewis and James, all of whom have passed away. Noah Whipple was born in 1811. at Providence, Rhode Island, and he accompanied his parents to Ohio and was reared in Morrow County. AAfter his mar- riage to Margaret Elliott, he began farming on the home place. She was born in 1813. in Virginia, and she accompanied her parents to Brown Township. Delaware County, when they made the overland trip in her childhood. They were the first settlers on Mr. Whipple's present farm, where they made the first im- provements. Noah Whipple remained on the home farm for a time and then purchased a small place near the present home of James Clark Whipple, in Brown Township, but la- ter returned to Morrow County, and in 1885 he retired and moved to Ashley, where he (lied in 1900, aged 88 years. His wife died in 1895. They had eight children, namely : Edwin, who died in 1906, at Ashley, married Mary Chadwick; Rachel, deceased, who mar- ried George W. White, of Kingston Town- ship. Delaware County; Phebe, who married Charles Kohler, residing at Ashley ; Mary El- len, residing at Ashley. is the widow of John B. Wallace; Albert, who died in childhood : James Clark : Frank E., who is engaged in a banking business at Ashley, married Nettie Slack: and Josephine, who married Wilbur Benedict. residing at Massillon, Stark County, Ohio.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 119

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926