Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 83

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 83

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After that battle the Eighty-second Regi- ment was united with the Army of the Poto- mac and later took part in the battle of Chan- cellorville under General Hooker. After his

defeat they crossed the Rappahannock River and encamped in the Stafford Hills until Gen- eral Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. The regiment then broke camp and followed the Confederate forces into Maryland, and thence to Gettysburg. There, under Generals Rey- nolds and Howard, the Eighty-second took part in the first day's engagement. In relat- ing the subsequent movements at Gettysburg, Colonel Ayres' own vivid description may be used to give a clear idea to the reader.

"At four o'clock in the afternoon we re- treated to the village of Gettysburg and our lines were re-established by General Hancock and formed in line of battle around Cemetery Hill. The right wing stationed upon Culp's Hill was known as the Twelfth Corps and was under General Slocum, and the Eleventh Corps, under General Howard, joined the left of the Twelfth and extended around the horse- shoe bend of Cemetery Hill. The First Corps, under General Newton, joined the left of the Eleventh Corps and extended around the foot of Cemetery Hill, to the Second Corps under General Hancock and joined the left of the First Corps and extended on down Cemetery. Ridge and was joined on the left of the Sec- ond Corps by General Sickles with the Third Corps that extended down to Big and Little Round Top. That position was held by each corps until the close of the following engage- ment. The second day opened upon the ex- treme left at three o'clock by General Long- street of the Confederates against Generals Sickles and Hancock, and at eight o'clock Ewell's Corps of the Confederate army moved in upon the Union right and took the first two lines of the Union works, this closing the engagement of the second day. At the coun- cil of the generals it was decided to open against Ewell's corps as quick as they could cliscern an object in the morning. Slocum be- ing re-enforced. The attack opened early in the morning upon Culp's Ilill, and the Union position was re-established, the battle closing at eleven o'clock in favor of the Union forces. At 1:40 p. m. the artillery duel opened the advance of Pickett's charge, which immedi- | ately followed, and the Federal army was

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again victorious. The next day the scouts ad- vanced and found that Lee was making ar- rangements to retire, having withdrawn Ewell's corps from the front of Culp's Hill. and subsequently the Union army followed Lee for one day, being then drawn back to Frederick City. and thence to Funkstown, where they remained in line of battle until Lee crossed the river. The Union army then marched across the river again into Virginia and back to Bull Run battle-field, where the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were detached from the Army of the Potomac and sent to re-enforce Rosecrans of the Army of the Cum- berland. On the 27th they started from Bridgeport, crossed the Tennessee River, struck the Trenton Valley at the foot of Look- out Mountain, and at three o'clock in the af- ternoon, being the advance scout (having been detailed as a regular scout under Gen- eral O. O. Howard in May. 1863). I was wounded at the junction of the railroad where it passes around the mountain to Chattanooga and remained there until January 23, when 1 was furloughed from the hospital and went home. I returned from there to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, and from there was dis- charged for a gun-shot wound in my right hip." In the limits of the present biography, it would be impossible to give any adequate account of the dangers, adventures and thrill- ing escapes of Colonel Ayres, for. as a scout, bis was always the post of danger, the one where hazard was the greatest, and for this dangerous work only men of unflinching cour- age were selected. Colonel Ayres has a war record that should be preserved entire for it is one to which his descendants can refer with feelings of pride in years to come. In the heat of battle, or in making his way cautiously to watch the movements of the enemy in advance of the army, or in carrying a message through unfriendly territory, Colonel Ayres had sev- eral horses shot from under him, and on one occasion he ran a horse to death in making his escape from his captors. On another occasion he was taken prisoner in the Shenandoah Val- ley, and as rain was falling as it does fall only in Virginia, and the roads were such as only

Virginia can produce after such a rain, the officers of the capturing party decided that they would camp for the night in an old log cabin in a lonely spot, picketing their horses and taking their saddles and equipments within the cabin. There were fifteen Confed- erates in the party guarding Colonel Ayres, but that did not prevent the alert Union officer from managing to get next to the door when the tired party lay down around the room to sleep. . All were worn out and all fell asleep except the prisoner, who managed to slip out of the door without arousing them, and catch the halter strap on one of the picketed horses : and while lightning flashed and thunder rolled, a Union officer was wildly galloping bare-backed in the direction of liberty which was fifteen miles distant. Pursuit was con- tinned for almost the whole distance to the Union lines, the pursuers sometimes being so close that bullets whistled by the colonel's ears. Fortunately he knew the men on picket duty when he reached the Union forces and with the cry, "A friend in trouble and the enemy coming," he dashed by and fell exhausted in the arms of his comrades. This thrilling ex- perience was more than once almost duplicated by him and its recital enables the reader in these peaceful times to appreciate the nerve and valor of those who fought in the great struggle of 1861-65.

Colonel Ayres was married to Mary P. Rhoades, who was born June 30, 1846, a daughter of Valentine Rhoades of Scioto Township, and who died March 9. 1907, leav- ing behind a sweet and gracious memory. She was a woman of many Christian virtues, one who bore years of suffering with patience and fortitude. There were four children born to this union, namely: John J., who is an auc- tioneer and carpenter : William A., who man- ages the home farm: Rosa Mary, who is the wife of Oliver Owens, of Radnor ; and George E., who resides in Thompson Township. Col- onel Ayres has fourteen grandchildren.

After his marriage Colonel Ayres settled in School District No. 11, Scioto Township. in which he has lived ever since, and where he has been a school director for eighteen years.

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In 1870 he settled on his present farm and for twelve years followed carpenter work. l11 1875 he began auctioneering, in which occu- pation he continued for many years, being the oldest living member of that craft in this sec- tion. Although reared in a Democratic fam- ily, he is a stanch Republican. He has served Scioto Township as a trustee on many occa- sions and has been elected when the Demo- cratie normal majority has been 100. Ile is a member of Edinburg Lodge, No. 467, 1. O. O. F., at Ostrander, being past grand of the same, and belongs to Tanner Post. Grand Army of the Republic, at Ostrander. For a considerable period he lectured through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan on the subject of a Un- ion Scout's Personal Knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg, and everywhere his vivid story was listened to with interest and benefit.

AMES WILLIAM JACKSON. gen- eral farmer and well-known citizen of Scioto Township, was born in Fau- quier County. Virginia, November 10. 1853, and is a son of John S. and Dorothy Ann ( Wilkins) Jackson.

The father of Mr. Jackson was also a native of Fauquier County, Virginia. He was a cooper by trade but after coming to Ohio in 1857. he followed general farming and the raising of livestock. The first year after com- ing to Scioto Township. John S. Jackson re- sided at what is now called Eagleville. Hle died at the age of sixty-one years. He mar- ried Dorothy Ann Wilkins, who was also a native of Virginia. Her death took place when she was sixty-two years old. They had the following children: George T., now residing in Nebraska: John S., a resident of Montana; Medora, who married Asa Franklin; Virginia

F., now deceased, who was the wife of Perry Erwin, of Berlin Township: James William. subject of this sketch ; and Richard H. L., re- siding in Scioto Township. Both parents died in 1876. They were held in high esteem in their community and were valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For over

twelve years John S. Jackson was a justice of the peace.

James William Jackson remained on the home farm until his marriage, and then moved to Rush Township, Champaign County, where he was engaged in farming for four years. He then resided in New Dover, Union County, for a few years, and later in Jackson Township, Union County, thence going to Lit- tle Prairie Township, Marion County, and later again to Jackson Township. He then settled on the old Bird farm in Scioto Township, which he continued to operate for six years. In 1900, he came to his present farm, which contains fifty-five acres, forty of which he has under a fine state of cultivation. He raises stock, making a specialty of hogs, and grows corn, oats, wheat and hay. November 11, 1880, Mr. Jackson married Mary Bird, who is a daughter of Abner Johnson and Catherine ( Newhouse ) Bird. On both sides Mr. Jack- son belongs to prominent and substantial old families of this section. Her mother, Cath- erine Newhouse, born January 22, 1831, in Scioto Township, was married to Abner John- son Bird, August 14, 1856, and died January 5. 1885.

She (Catherine ) was a daughter of Wil- liam Newhouse, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 11, 1800, and came with his parents to Delaware County in May, 1814. On January 6, 1823. he married Annie Richey, who was a daughter of William Richey. They settled on the banks of a river near Bellpoint, later moved to Union County but subsequently returned to Delaware County and settled on the farm now owned by John R. Newhouse, in Scioto Township. They had eleven children : Mary K., David Emery, Belinda. John R., Catherine, Nancy Jane, Adam, Joseph, William Lafayette, James H., and Isaac. William Newhouse died December 6. 1842. He served as township trustee. He possessed mechanical genius, but followed agri- culture as his life occupation. He constructed the first wagon ever made in this section and made many articles of household furniture.

AAnthony Newhouse, father of William, was born in London County, Virginia, Feb-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

ruary 10, 1772. He was about four years old when his father enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war. When he was eight his father died in the army, and Anthony re- mained with his widowed mother and assisted her in rearing the family. In 1794 he offered his services to suppress what is known in his- tory as the Whiskey Rebellion. and remained in the military service for six months, going as far as Fort Pitt, and afterwards returning to London County. In 1798 he went to Wheeling. West Virginia. where he remained for six months, thence going to an old red stone fort. the locality being now in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. There he met Nancy Coons, to whom he was married March 28. 1799. From there, with his father-in-law. . John Coons and family, and Henry More, he moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, this being in the early part of 1800. and settled on Scipio Creek, in Salt Creek Township. The place he chose was one which the Indians had cleared and somewhat cultivated. but the surround- ings were still wild in a large degree. The nearest settlements were Chillicothe and Lan- caster, the former thirteen and the latter eighteen miles distant. The little band of settlers constructed cabins close together on the banks of Scipio Creek, with an eye to pro- tection from the Indians, who were almost daily visitors. At this time the country was vet unsurveyed. all of it being Government land. The settlers subsisted on corn brought on horseback from Marietta, together with game which was plentiful. As there were no mills. native ingenuity had to fashion do- mestic utensils to take the place of that almost necessary .concomitant of civilization. What was called a mortar was made out of a sawed- off piece of log. eighteen inches in diameter and two feet long. An iron wedge was fastened on a strong stick, sometimes on a well-sweep, and the corn was pounded by this force in the scooped out end of the log until fanned with a turkey wing until it was reason- ably clear of chaff. It was then converted into bread and was the staff of life on which our pioneer forefathers were fed.

In 1812, Anthony Newhouse enlisted from Pickaway County, in John Boggs' company. under command of General Tupper. and they proceeded to Fort Defiance, to repulse the In- dians. One night, while they were on the way, they were surprised by a band of Indians. one of whom struck Anthony Newhouse's horse on the thigh, making a deep. bad wound. The poor animal made its way back to Pickaway County on three legs. Mr. New- house was discharged at Urbana, Ohio. In January, 1814. he sold his farm of 160 acres in Pickaway County and bought 200 acres in Scioto Township from Henry Massie, of Chillicothe, paying two dollars an acre. His first journey to this section was made under very uncomfortable circumstances, involving the fording of Mill Creek in cold weather, and the consequent freezing of his clothes on his body. In the following May he started back to Scioto Township, accompanied by his fam- ily, and bringing with him three cattle and three horses. Some of the descendants of these transferred live stock are now owned by John R. Newhouse.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are three in number-Lenna Fay, Strother Bird and James Arthur. Mrs. Jackson was reared in the Presbyterian Church and she is an active member of the old stone church of South Rad- nor. Mr. Jackson takes no very active in- terest in politics, although he votes as his father did, with the Democratic party. but he is ever ready to perform all the duties of a good citizen.

HOMAS OWENS. a well known prosperous farmer and a survivor of the Civil War. resides on a valuable. well improved farm of 100 acres in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ohio. Mr. Owens was born October 1, 1845.

it was fairly reduced to meal, which was then . in South Wales, and is a son of David and Elizabeth ( Griffiths) Owens, who were natives of North Wales.

Thomas Owens lived in his native country until reaching his eighteenth year, at which

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM W. JONES AND FAMILY

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time he emigrated to America, leaving Wales May 1, 1863, and taking passage at Liverpool on the ship City of New York, of the Innan line, which arrived at New York City in about eleven days. He came immediately to Ohio, locating for a short time at Marion, whence lie came to. Delaware County, and engaged in the lime business at Radnor, where he re- mained for several years. He then returned to Marion, near which place he carried on the same business for a number of years, but sub- sequently came again to Radnor Township. where he has since made his home. For a short time he was engaged in the manufacture of lime, but he has mainly followed agricul- ture, and his present farm is, through fertilty of the soil and advantageous location, admir- ably suited for general farming and stock- raising. He has been very successful in his operations and is classed' with the substantial men of the township. He enlisted in May, 1864, in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, for service in the Civil War, and much of his time in the service was spent in guard duty at Arlington Heights. He received an honorable discharge at Camp Chase. August 24, 1864.

Mr. Owens was married (first) to Ann Williams, who was born in Wales, and of this union there was born one son: Oliver Ivor, who resides in Radnor Township. He mar- red Rosa Ayers, and they have four children- Lloyd, Clyde, Myrtle and Mildred. Mr. Owens was married secondly to Mrs. Rebecca Lewis, who was born in Wales, and she is also cleceased. On March 8, 1900 Mr. Owens mar- ried for his third wife Mrs. Clara Thomas, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Jester) Johnson, who were natives of Butler County, Ohio. Samuel Johnson was a well-known hotel proprietor in his day, at one time keep- ing the Burnett House at Cincinnati, where King Edward of England, then the Prince of Wales, stayed during his tour of this country. Mrs. Owens' first husband was Samuel P. Thomas, who was born in Kentucky and died August 2, 1899.

In political matters Mr. Owens is a Re- publican, and he has always been interested in public affairs, although he is no office- seeker. With his wife he attends the Con- gregational Church in the southern part of Radnor Township.

ILLIAM W. JONES. Radnor Township can boast of many good farms and representative men, and both may be found respectively in the property and person of Wil- liam W. Jones, who owns a finely-cultivated estate of 265 acres. Mr. Jones is one of the township's native-born older citizens, his birth having occurred November 4, 1825. He is a son of John P. and Mary ( Penry) Jones.

The parents of Mr. Jones were born in Wales and came to America in 1818, bring- ing with them three children. They came as far west as Delaware County, Ohio, the father purchasing a wild farm in Radnor Township. The family had few neighbors at that time, as this section was only partially settled. John P. Jones was one of the useful and hardy set- tlers of pioneer days, and he continued to be respected and esteemed until his death, which took place in 1864.

William W. Jones was born and reared in Radnor Township and obtained his early knowledge of books in the old-time log school- house near his father's farm. He grew to manhood strong and sturdy, from the hard discipline of clearing the land and putting it under cultivation, and he has since continued to follow agriculture. During the progress of the Civil War he took a deep interest in public matters and when the call came for 100-day men, in May. 1864, he went out with Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was sent to Arlington Heights on guard duty. He was in the service 115 days and was mustered out in August, 1864. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is connected with the post at Prospect.

On March 25, 1852, Mr. Jones was mar-

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ried to Eleanor Evans, who was born in Wales, August 15, 1829. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Jones) Evans, who came from Wales when she was in her third year. They settled first at Philadelphia, later lived at Pittsburg for a short time and then came to Delaware County. She was still small when they settled in Radnor Township, where both parents died. Mrs. Jones has one brother and one sister, namely : John Evans, residing in Scioto Township, and Elizabeth, who mar- ried James R. Mckinney, late of Delaware, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have six surviving children: Margaret A., who married Evan Price, residing in Radnor Township, namely . John P. and Frank C., both residents of Rad- nor Township: Mary E., who married David L. Pritchard, residing at Richwood, Ohio; Charles F., residing in Radnor Township; and Ella, who married Perry J. Griffiths, and re- sides at Radnor Station, Delaware County.

Mr. Jones is a stanch Republican and takes considerable interest in public affairs as be- come- an intelligent citizen. For a number of years he served as trustee of Radnor Town- ship. and has acceptably filled other township offices. Mrs. Jones belongs to the Baptist Church of Radnor Township. They are well known and very highly esteemed residents of this section.

HRISTOPHER POTTER, a repre- sentative citizen of Delaware, was born in County Meath, Ireland. March 27. 1831, and is a son of John and Mary ( Lynch) Potter. In Ireland. John Potter was considered a man of some little means and it was not with the thought of increasing his own wealth that he came with his family to America, in 1844, but with the hope that in this country his children might find easier conditions and better oppor- tunities than prevailed in his own land. He discovered. however, as did many another emi- grant that the capital brought so confidently from the old home soon melted away, in pro- viding for a hundred unforseen wants. He

found after locating at Utica. New York, that he was not able to care as thoroughly for his family as heretofore, and that his elder sons would have to become self-supporting and help to provide also for the younger members of the family. He bought a small farm in West- moreland Township, Oneida County, New York, and settling on it devoted the rest of his life to its cultivation. He died in the fall of 1852, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died in October, 1849, aged fifty-two. Their second son, James, died in Ireland, in 1843, while serving an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade. The oldest of the family. William, learned the carpenter's trade and worked in Westmoreland, New York, where he died in 1848. He married Bridget Devoe.

The other children of John Potter and wife were : Ann. John, Christopher, Nicholas, Mark. Francis and Stephen. Ann Potter mar- ried Nicholas Walsh and accompanied him to Rome. New York, where he had a position as foreman on a boat in the service of the State. He probably met an accidental death as his lifeless body was found in the sand after he had been absent from home for an unusual time. He left one child and his widow with her babe came to Delaware County with Mrs. Walsh's brother John, taking up their resi- dence in a house owned by Christopher Potter, opposite The Children's Home. John Potter subsequently married and then bought prop- erty on Central Avenue, Delaware, on which he built a residence, and his death occurred in March, 1907. Mrs. Walsh, who is now over eighty years of age, makes her home with a nephew. John Potter is survived by a son, Frank Potter, who is employed by the Big Four Railroad as baggage master.

Nicholas Potter resided on the home farm until his father died, when he came to Dela- ware, Ohio. After five years of railroad work he bought a farm in Troy Township, Delaware County, on which he lived some seven years, when he sold out and moved to Columbus. He married Rosa Dunn, who died in 1891, and they had four daughters and four sons. One of his sons went to the Klondyke gold regions. Another is employed as yard master for a

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railroad entering Columbus and one is a sta- tionary engineer. Mark Potter also secured a railroad position, being walking foreman for a long period. for the Big Four Railroad, be- tween Columbus and Lewis Center, Ohio. Hle never married. He died at Columbus, where he was first interred, but in 1907. his brother Christopher had his body brought to Dela- ware.

Francis Potter resided with his brother Christopher until 1858, when he went to Se- dalia, Illinois, where he was living when the Civil War broke out, being engaged as a con- tractor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He immediately enlisted in the Federal Army and served three months and then re-enlisted for three years, but was taken ill and refused hospital care, dying in the service. in the first year of the war. He held the rank of corporal.

Stephen Potter remained at home with his father until the latter's death and then joined his brother at Dresden. where he learned the cooper's trade. Later he came to Ohio, where his brother Christopher extended to him a helping hand, securing him a railroad position. After frequent promotions, he was made yard- master and thus continued until he was ap- pointed postmaster of Delaware, by President Cleveland, during the latter's second adminis- tration. Since retiring as postmaster. he has twice been elected county commissioner of Delaware County, largely on account of his personal popularity. he being a Democrat and the county being normally Republican by a majority of 600 votes. Stephen Potter mar- ried Ellen Qualey, and they have one son, who is chief clerk at Little Rock, Arkansas, for the Iron Mountain Railroad. He married and his one son is employed in the office of the locomotive department, being chief clerk for the chief engineer of the Iron Mountain Rail- way system. He also secured his position through the good offices of Christopher Potter.

Christopher Potter came to Ohio in the spring of 1851. locating first in the city of Cleveland. He came to find work and it was characteristic of the boy, as it later was of the man, to find what he sought. He was soon

hired to check off pork and beef, for a salary of $14 a month, shortly afterward finding an easier position at the same salary with George Nichols, near Elyria, and from there he went to Detroit, Michigan. In the meantime he had married and shortly afterward he secured a situation as section foreman on the Lake Shore Railroad, his first work being on the construction of the line. Starting as section boss with a salary of $36 a month, he was soon after made conductor of a construction train. From railroad work Mr. Potter turned his attention to investing in land, this being just the time when agents for Nebraska land were visiting prosperous communities in the East. Mr. Potter invested some of his hard-earned money in a land claim and traveled many miles and lived on deer and corn pone in order to reach it. When he finally found it he dis- covered that it was occupied by a family of squatters. The question of ownership was amicably adjusted, however, the squatters pay- ing for the claim, and he set out on foot on his return journey, meeting on his way with many adventures.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 83

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