USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 77
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were fit for duty, Mr. Winston being one of this number. After the regiment had per- formed its part in the siege of Vicksburg, it was sent into winter quarters at Red Bone, Mississippi, passing much of the winter of 1863-64 in fighting guerrillas.
At this time, Mr. Winston, with many of his comrades, re-enlisted as veterans and all such re-enlisted soldiers were given a furlough of 30 days. During Mr. Winston's absence his brother died. Later, at Clifton, Tennes- see, the Seventeenth Army Corps was reor- ganized, and it marched through Tennessee and Alabama and overtook Sherman's army at Big Shanty, Georgia. The members of Mr. Winston's company were thrown out as skir- mishers. The company took part in the bat- tle of Kenesaw Mountain and in all the en- gagements around Atlanta until the fall of that city. When the army left Atlanta, only five days' rations were issued, in fact they were only half rations, dependence being placed on the foragers for supplies. Mr. Winston being one of these, he had many ad- ventures and a number of narrow escapes from capture and death. He relates one inter- esting adventure as typical of others. Being sent out as a non-commissioned officer in charge of a squad of three foragers, he found provisions scarce and told his men to scatter and ordered that each one should work by himself. All were well mounted and Mr. Winston rode some seven miles through the enemy's country, naturally on the outlook con- tinually in some fear of attack. He finally reached a place where he saw provisions in plenty and there he ordered a servant to hitch up a wagon, load it full of meat, corn and poultry and a lot of tobacco, and congratulated himself that he was going to get back to camp with something worth while. When about a half mile distant he was attacked by a band of guerrillas, probably themselves out foraging, and barely escaped with his life, losing his load. Mr. Winston says he has not yet got- ten entirely over his disappointment at losing that really first-class load of provisions. War in an enemy's country overturns all previously established ideas of rightful possession, and
Mr. Winston recalls another incident, when, on finding an open buggy standing in front of a house, he took possession of it, quietly loaded into it the full contents of a near-by smoke-house and then peeped into the kitchen to see if he was observed. There he saw three loaded guns, which he proceeded to break and then went back to drive off his buggy load of eatables, but only to be confronted by three very determined looking men, who demanded by what right he was carrying off their goods. He represented that he was transferring them to a large body of Union soldiers in the near- by wood, and as he had taken their guns and was very frank about what he would do with his own, if they followed, he managed to get away. After some very diplomatic maneu- vers and many adventures, he did really come up with a regiment of Union troops and was able to deliver his goods. When he reached camp about midnight, all the soldiers were roused and a great cooking went on, and Mr. Winston asserts that eating continued until morning. Want of space alone prevents the recital of many other interesting adventures.
At Peach Tree Creek the regiment to which Mr. Winston was attached, was at- tacked seven times on July 22nd and had to jump over their little works to fight on both sides. On July 2Ist they were drawn upon the extreme left wing of the army. Mr.
Winston's company, being the color company, was given the tools to work with, and they threw up breastworks, but by the time the latter were complete they had to fall back and straighten the line, leaving their breastworks fifteen feet in advance. In their last charge the Confederates came in behind their breast- works and planted their colors there. They were shot down time and time again, until not another man was left to put them up and the next morning Mr. Winston's company found ninety dead men in that little enclosure barely twenty feet long, they having piled their dead up to defend their living, making a useless sacrifice. Many incidents of that time, some grotesque but the larger number pitiful, are engraved on Mr. Winston's memory. He was slightly wounded. He participated in the
FREDERICK P. VERGON
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grand review at Washington and was mus- tered out of the service at Louisville, Ken- tueky, July 12. 1865. He is an honored mem- ber and past commander of Joseph Tanner Post, No. 531, Grand Army of the Republic, at Ostrander. For a number of years he has been a member of the Soldiers' Relief and Burial Commission.
After the close of his military service, Mr. Winston returned to Wisconsin, and in 1866 he came back to Ohio and settled down to farming in Scioto Township, Delaware County. He has resided on several different farms, but in 1887 he bought his present farm of 125 acres. This he devotes to grain and hogs, raising Poland China and Duroc varie- ties, keeping about seventy-five head. He has business interests at Ostrander, in 1903 enter- ing into partnership with A. M. Manville, in a hardware enterprise, under the firm name of Manville & Winston.
On August 9. 1868, Mr. Winston was married to Sarah Jones, who is a daughter of Thomas Jones of Scioto Township, and they had three children, namely: Edward, residing in Scioto Township: Nora, who married A. M. Manville: and Charles D.
REDERICK P. VERGON, proprietor of Greenwood Farm, near Delaware, is one of the best known orchardists in the United States. He was born in the Department de Dieu, France. not far from the boundary line of Switzerland, December 16, 1829, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth ( Berlett) Vergon.
John G. Vergon was a native of the same French Canton, where he owned il acres of land. divided into 16 pieces. In 1834 he sold his little property and came to America, reach- ing Columbus from the East by the way of river and canal, and settled in Delaware County, Ohio, on the place now known as Greenwood Farm. Although the property was then wild and neglected, its purchase in- volved Mr. Vergon in debt, and he was further handicapped by his ignorance of the English
language. Thus it was remarkable that in a short time he had so bent circumstances 10 his will, through his native wit and ingenuity. that he was able to invest in 115 acres of land. a yoke of oxen, an old horse and a few cows. From that beginning he prospered continuously until his death. His fields became fertile and productive and his cattle and stock each year largely increased. Although several years be- fore his death he was afflicted with partial blindness, as long as he lived he retained his active mind and quick intelligence. Of his six children, two survive, namely: Margaret. who is the widow of Frederick Berlett, and re- sides in Troy Township; and Frederick P.
Frederick P. Vergon had few educational advantages in his boyhood but he made the most of those he had and he became very pro- ficient in penmanship. This has been partieu- larly noticed in the numerous contributions that he has made to horticultural publications during a period that covers many years. Ile was 26 years old when he took charge of the home farm and in 1852 he built the present brick residence. In partnership with his father. he bought 100 acres, then in the woods. and he has personally assisted in clearing 150 acres from the native forest. During his earlier years he drove an ox-team and did hauling, winter after winter. In 1873 he made Greenwood Lake, which is a body of water covering 25 acres, surrounded by a grove of 18 acres. It was a great undertaking, to con- vert this wild ravine into a lake and to sur- round the latter with 900 evergreen, besides the many deciduous trees.
With the assistance of his son, Mr. Ver- gon turned this favored spot into a pleasure ground, which they conducted together for many years, and he has always been proutd of the fact that it was a resort that prospered without the sale of beer. During his long and busy life he has been interested in numerous enterprises, all of which have been success- ful. this being due to his excellent judgment and deliberate consideration of every business principle. He built an ice house on his grounds and there were two seasons when there was not a pound of ice in Delaware County except
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in his warehouses. In 1854 he built his large barn. At that time he was a breeder of Short- horn cattle and had to compete with Judge Jones and Chauncy Hills, who were two of the oldest breeders in Ohio, but he produced cattle that captured the prizes at the county fairs, despite their competition. In 1888 he disposed of his cattle and in the same year he set out the bulk of his apple orchards, which now cover more than fifty acres. At first he followed the usual methods of fruit culture. but he subsequently evolved the idea of a cokl storage plant, and in the first year he made enough profit off his stored apples to pay for the buliding of the plant. lle has made him- self thoroughly acquainted with the apple business, and has been called upon to read scientific papers on the subject before the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, the Ohio State University at Columbus, at the State Experimental Station and elsewhere.
Mr. Vergon married Kate A. Jones, who was born in Virginia, but who has resided at Delaware since she was 13 years of age. She is a second cousin to "Stonewall" Jackson, the renowned Confederate general. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Vergon, six reached maturity, namely: Frederick L .; Elizabeth; Hattie, who married Dr. A. E. Smith, president of the Northwestern Univer- sity at Ada: Annie, who married George E. Warner, residing at Warren, Ohio; John G .. residing in Troy Township; and James C., who is his father's partner. In politics Mr. Vergon is a Republican and attends his party's primaries, but he has always declined to ac- cept nomination to office.
AMES M. RICHEY, one of Dela- ware's representative citizens, a mem- ber of the firm of Bird, Richey & Christian, proprietors of the White Sulphur Stone Company, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, June 23. 1854. He is a son of Isaac Newton and Eliza ( MeClure ) Richey.
The Richey family is one of those whose members have been of sufficient importance to leave an impression on their day and genera- tion, and thus make it an easy task to trace the line for quite a distance back. William Richey, the great-grandfather of James JI .. was born December 7, 1759, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was reared a farmer, but became better educated than many of his companions and was a successful school teacher for a number of years. He married Catherine Hale, in 1780, she being his first wife. She died in 1788, leaving four chil- dren, and he then removed to Westmoreland County, where he engaged in teaching. In 1792 he married Mary Kane, and three chil- dren were born to them in Westmoreland County. In 1796 they moved to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and while they resided there six more children were added to the family. In 1813 he came to Ohio and settled in Madison County, but February 2. 1819. he removed to Union County, where he lived for thirty years, his death taking place there Au- gust 17, 1847. He belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
James Richey, son of William and grand- father of James M., was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1798. In 1823 he married Sarah Newhouse, and came to Delaware County in 1830, where he died December 14. 1885. She was born in Picka- way County, Ohio, May 26, 1801, and died in Delaware County, December 27. 1880.
Isaac Newton Richey, son of James and father of James M. Richey, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, July 24. 1826. His main occupation through life was farming. On September 10, 1850. he married Eliza MeClure, who was a daughter of James and Olive ( Skinner) MeClure, and they had five children, namely : William, who was born September 11, 1851, and who is now a physician of Beggs, Oklahoma; James M1 .. whose name begins this article: Calvin, born November 4, 1856, who is a practicing physi- cian at Jerome, Ohio; Isaac Newton, born June 26, 1859, who is a resident of the State
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of California : and Sidney M., born March 10. 1866, who is a practicing physician of Francis. Oklahoma, and president of a bank.
Mr. Richey's maternal grandfather. James MeClure, was born near Greensburg. Penn- sylvania, and died in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1859. His parents, William McClure and wife, were natives of Scotland. The family came to Ohio when James was a young man. and after a short stay in Perry County, came on to Delaware. They settled on a wild tract of land which was subsequently developed into one of Scioto's most productive farms and is now the property of John McClure. James McClure and wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church and were connected at the time of their death with the old stone church at South Radnor.
James M. Richey was educated in the pub- lic schools, and his industrial training was con- fined to agriculture. About the time of his marriage he bought his own farm, which is situated south of Warrensburg, where he con- tinued to carry on general farming, making it his home until April, 1907, when he took up his residence in Delaware. For a long time prior to this, probably ten years, Mr. Richey had a tenant established on the farm, devoting much of his own time to building gravel roads on township contracts. When the time came that the public demanded stone roads. he equipped a plant and quarried stone on his own farm. This he continued as an individ- utal enterprise until 1904, when he formed a partnership with Oliver Perry Bird, under the firm name of Bird & Richey, and they began operating two quarries in Concord Township. In August. 1906. they purchased the quarry they are now operating. Mr. George B. Chris- tian, of Marion, Ohio, becoming a partner at this time, when the firm name became Bird. Richey & Christian. Their source of supply covers 100 acres. and they manufacture crushed stone for county turnpike roads, em- ploying about forty men. The company does over twenty miles a year of turnpike-making for Delaware County.
On August 3. 1873. Mr. Richey married Ella Berlett, who is a daughter of John and
Amy ( Davis) Berlett, of Scioto Township, and they have had four children-Frank H .. Ethel. John, and Raymond. Frank H. mar- ried Rosa Synder, and is a prominent farmer of Scioto Township. Hle and his wife are the parents of three children-Eliza, Kilbourne. and lola. John married Catherine Bird, a daughter of O. P. Bird, and they have two children -- Naomi and Jo K. Raymond. the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Richey, died at the age of five years. Miss Ethel Richey. who is a young lady of good business ability. holds the position of deputy county clerk of Delaware County, and is auditor of the Mag- netic Springs Railroad. She has taken a good deal of interest in the order of the Rebeccas. being a member of Delaware lodge. of which she is also past grand, and is past president of the Ohio Rebecca Assembly, a notable honor for a young woman. Mr. and Mrs. Richey both belong to the Rebeccas at Ruffner. of which Mrs. Richey is past grand. From 1897 to 1898 Mrs. Richey was superintendent and matron of the Odd Fellows' Home. Mr. Richey is past grand of the Ruffner Odd Fel- lows' Lodge, and he has been a representative to the grand lodge. He belongs also to Os- trander Lodge, F. & A. M. The family be- long to the Presbyterian Church.
ORACE GABRIEL, representative citizen and successful general farmer. residing on his carefully cultivated farm of rio acres, situated in Scioto Township, was born December 28. 1849. in Scioto Township. Delaware County. Ohio, and is a son of Luther and Maria B. ( Lawrence) Gabriel.
The father of Mr. Gabriel was born in Union County. Ohio, March 14, 1823. and was reared at Milford Center. After his mar- riage, December 4. 1845. he came to Scioto Township and bought a part of the Lawrence farm, on which he lived during the remainder of his life. Ile erected a log house, cleared his land and raised cattle, sheep, hogs and horses. He married Maria B. Lawrence, who was
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born in Scioto Township, June 3, 1826. Her ancestors, in the persons of John and Mary ( Townly) Lawrence, came to America during the reign of George III. They settled near Boston, Massachusetts, removing thence in 1770 to Adams County, Pennsylvania. Their son. Joseph Lawrence, was born in 1733 and lied in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1795. He married Sarah Moffit, who was born in 1743 and died September 12, 1839. Ile probably served in the Revolutionary War. Their eldest son bore the name of John. He became a distinguished man and was serving his second term in the Pennsylvania Legisla- ture when he resigned political honors in or- der to take part in the War of 1812. In 1796 he married Jeanette Cochran who was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1777, and died October 18, 1818. He moved to Beaver County. Pennsylvania, and from there, in 1814, to Scioto Township, Delaware County. where he died June 4, 1815. His was the first burial in the cemetery north of Ostrander. He was an intellectual and enter- prising man, and hoped to be able to give his children a good education. When he died his widow was left in the wilderness home, with but a little patch of cleared land around her humble dwelling. His sons continued the clearing of the farm and never had the chance to lecome as well educated as their father.
Joseph Lawrence, a son of John and Jan- ette Lawrence and the maternal grandfather of .Horace Gabriel, was born in Pennsylvania, November 4. 1797, came to Scioto Township in 1814, and died March 14, 1859. He mar- ried his cousin, Mary Cochran, who was born July 9, 1799. Of their nine children. eight grew to maturity, namely: Milo H., Maria Butler, Elanor Jane, John William and James Smith, twins, Susan Emily, Roxanna Caroline and Joseph Samuel. The mother of this fam- ily died September 13, 1860. Joseph Law- rence was a fine singer : for many years he led the church choir, and when an old man still enjoyed attending singing school. All the members of the Lawrence family were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church.
The children of Luther Gabriel and wife were: Henrietta, born September 24, 1846, who married Adam Newhouse; Horace ; John W., born May 26, 1852, residing in Scioto Township; Joseph, born June 11, 1854, re- siding in Scioto Township; Edward S., born July 6, 1857, residing in Scioto Township; Rosalia, born July 2, 1858, residing at Os- trander : and Otis C., born September 6, 1860, residing in Scioto Township. The Gabriel family was reared in the faith of the Presby- terian Church.
Horace Gabriel spent his boyhood attend- ing the district school and in performing the usual duties of the farm. When he was twenty three years old he bought 30 acres of land, which he subsequently cleared and disposed of very advantageously. He then bought 50 acres and has since added to it until at present he has 110 acres. He raises cattle, sheep, horses and hogs, together with corn, oats, wheat and hay. His farm is a busy place during the summer harvests.
On March 13, 1873, Mr. Gabriel was mar- ried to Susan Frey of Scioto Township, whose father was killed on the western plains while en route for California. They have two chil- dren, Luther and Clarence. The elder son assists his father on the farm. The younger son, who resides at Van Wert, Ohio, married Nellie Bevo. Mrs. Gabriel was reared in the German Reformed Church at Delaware, but attends the Presbyterian Church with her hus- band, at Ostrander. Mr. Gabriel has been a trustee of the latter for eighteen years. In politics he votes with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Maccabees organiza- tion at Delaware.
E DSON B. COLE, general manager of the Galena Clay Products Company, of Galena, is a well-known citizen and general farmer of Berkshire Township, residing on his valuable farm of 42 acres, which is situated one- half mile northeast of Galena. Mr. Cole was
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born March 6, 1864, in Trenton Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and is a son of Thomas and Harriet (Leak) Cole.
The parents of Mr. Cole were both natives of Trenton Township, where their respective fathers, Merreen Cole and Cooper Leak, were early settlers. Thomas Cole was reared and educated in his native township and en- gaged in farming there until 1870, when he sold out and removed with his family to War- ren. Huntington County, Indiana. Five months later he returned to Ohio and bought a farm in Harlan Township, Delaware County, on which he remained until his death. May 15. 1882, when he was aged fifty years, one month and five days. His widow, who was born De- cember 14, 1835, still resides on the farm in Harlan Township. Of the family of nine chil- dren, four survive, as follows: Ervin, who is engaged in farming in Harlan Township; Ella, who married William Crabill, residing at Centerville, Delaware County ; William, re- siding in Genoa Township, Delaware County ; Edson B., whose name begins this sketch.
Edson B. Cole obtained a common school education and remained on the home farm un- til the age of twenty-one years, when he hired out to neighboring farmers and after the death of his father, worked his mother's farm for two years. For the twelve succeeding years he rented land in Harlem Township, and in 1902. he purchased his present property in Berkshire Township. Here he carries on gen- eral agriculture. His property is favorably located for increasing value, being so close to the growing city of Galena, and Sunbury and he has already seen the wisdom of his invest- ment. In the spring of 1907 the enterprise known as the Galena Clay Products Company, was organized for the manufacture of tile and brick. The officers are : William Roberts, president : James Rose, vice-president : Joseph J. Adams, secretary ; E. C. Bennett, treasurer. and Edson B. Cole, general manager. The prospects of the company are bright.
On March 6, 1889. Mr. Cole was married to Estella Van Fleet, who was born in Galena. Ohio. April 4, 1867, and who is a daughter of Hiram and Thirza ( Bancroft ) Van Fleet.
They have one daughter, Velmah E., who was born March 30, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Cole and daughter are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a steward since 1905. For a number of years he has been very active in church work, has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees, been a class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school. In his political opinions Mr. Cole is a Democrat and since 1903, he has been clerk of the Galena Special School Dis- trict. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow, be- longing to Galena Lodge, No. 404.
ILLIAM C. NYE, one of Dela- ware's leading business men, is engaged in a real estate, insur- ance and loan business, with of- fices at No. 48 North Sandusky Street, was born July 20, 1847, in Tarlton, Pickaway County, Ohio. He was reared and educated in his native place until he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was graduated in 1871. For the following twenty years he was extensively interested in the buying and selling of stock. both he and his father having large business connections in that line. On December 1, 1891, Mr. Nye came to Delaware and formed a partnership with Judge Carpenter in a loan, real estate and insurance business. The firm was very successful and continued until 1900, when Mr. Nye purchased his partner's interest and since then has managed his large business alone, meeting with gratifying success. He handles valuable property all over the county, does an extensive loan and investment business, and represents the leading fire, life and accident insurance companies of the country.
In 1873, Mr. Nye was married to Ella V. Lee. who was born at Urbana, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Hiram and Caroline ( Mc- Gruder ) Lee. Mrs. Nye's ancestry on both sides represents distinguished families of old Virginia. The late Gen. Robert E. Lee, com- mander of the Confederate forces during the Civil war, was a member of the same branch
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of the Lee family from which she came. The mother of Mrs. Nye at one time in her child- hood attended a school which was taught by John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame. Mr. and Mrs. Nye have three children, namely : Mary Lee, who married Francis Pattison, an attorney, who is a nephew of the late Governor Pattison of Ohio; Carrie V., who married Stanley Pettit, residing at Huntington, New York, where he is engaged in a wholesale grain business; and W. Stanley, who is a student in the senior class of the Delaware High School.
Mr. Nye and his family belong to St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a steward, and for the past seventeen years he has been superintendent of the Sun- clay school. Ile retains his Greek fraternity connection, being a member of the Phi Gamma Delta, of the Ohio Wesleyan University.
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