Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 97

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

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EREM J. HEALY

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who is attending a dental college in Columbus ; Clara, who lives in Oxford Township, is the wife of Harvey Lea, by whom she has two children : Merle and Robert E. ; and May and Elizabeth, both of whom are at home.

Politically, Mr. Bell is a Republican and at the present time is serving as township trustee and health officer. He formerly served two terms as trustee, and was also member of the School Board. He belongs to the Grange, and to J. E. Coomer Post, No. 281, G. A. R. at Ashley.

E REM J. HEALY, a leading citizen of Concord Township, residing on his well-improved farm of 152 acres, was born where he now resides. on the old Healy homestead in Delaware County, Ohio, August 10, 1850, and is a son of Ebenezer and Sophronia ( Cotton) llealy, and a grandson of Ebenezer and Eunice (Crossman) Ilealy. The first mem- ber of the Healy family that is on record as resident in America, came from England in 1630 and settled at Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Ebenezer Healy, paternal grandfather of Erem J., was born at Newton, Massachusetts, February 3, 1768. and died at Sennett, New York, September 22. 1857, aged nearly ninety years. In 1793 he settled in Cayuga County, New York, where he bought an undivided half of lot 8, on which the town of Sennett now stands, paying $2.50 per acre, which he added to an adjoining farm he already owned. In the autumn of 1793 he returned to Newton, Massachusetts, where he was married to Eunice Crossman. In the following February, Mr. and Mrs. Healy started for New York, reaching the new home in thirteen days. Eben- ezer Healy was a man of great enterprise and became prominent in the section in which he settled. His farm lay on the line of travel to the Western Reserve, and for a number of years he kept a well-patronized tavern. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church. His wife died September 16, 1810. They had the fol- lowing children: Lyman W., John Mason,

Nathaniel, Ebenezer and Sallie, twins, Eliza H., and two who died in infancy. Mr. Healy was married (second) to Anna Leonard. March 11, 1811, and they had one son, George. Mr. Healy built his barn in 1796 and in it the first Baptist Association in Cayuga County was formed in 1801.

Ebenezer Healy ( 2d), father of Erem J .. was born in Cayuga County, New York, Janu- ary 29, 1806. He grew up on his father's farm and was married November 5, 1838, to Sophronia Cotton, who was born in 1809. and died November 29. 1884. aged seventy-five years. Immediately after marriage, Ebenezer Healy and bride set out to find a western home. They traveled to Buffalo, thence to Cleveland, and from there by way of canal to Columbus, where Mrs. Healy remained, while her husband started out prospecting, traveling over a large part of the neighboring country on foot. Finally he found land to please him -a farm well located and with fertile soil- 152 acres situated in Concord Township. Delaware County, and this he bought. The land at that time was largely covered with tim- ber. By December 5, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Healy had established their household goods which they had brought from New York, in a temporary dwelling on the new farm and in this location Ebenezer Healy ( 2d ) remained until his death, which occurred October 25. 1873, when he was sixty-seven years old. His three children were: Erem J., subject of this sketch; Eunice, who died at the age of ten years; and Eliza, who married James T. Hutchinson, residing at Delaware.

Erem J. Healy grew to manhood on the present farm and obtained his schooling in the district schools. In 1870 he was married to Mary J. Freshwater, who died in 1890, aged thirty-six years. She was a daughter of George and Sallie Freshwater, the former of whom was the first white child born in Concord Township, where he died in 1906, at the age of ninety-three years. His wife died in 1872. They had five children. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Healy were as follows: Sarah Sophronia, who married George Berlet, who resides on a farm near Delaware, and has two

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daughters-Helen and Florence; Eliza Rae, who married Frank Loveless, a mail clerk on the Big Four Railroad, residing at Cincinnati, and has one daughter-Violet; Alice, who married 11. O. Moore, a farmer of Concord Township, and has two children-George and Harold ; and Minnie, who married W. C. Mc- Cloud, who is engaged in farming in Concord Township. Mr. Healy was married ( sec- ondly ) October 26, 1893, to Estelle Krohn, who is a daughter of H. S. and Anna Eliza- beth ( Swisher ) Krohn, and who was educated in the Galion High School and Otterbein Uni- versity. and for five years was a successful teacher in various high schools. They have two bright boys-Eldredge J., aged thirteen years. and Russell Krohn, aged five years.

Mr. Healy is a director in the Deposit Bank at Delaware. He is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, being connected with Lodge No. 525 at Bellpoint. He has long been a leading factor in local politics and has represented Concord Township on the Re- publican Central Committee, for a number of years. He has been very active in educational movements and largely through his efforts the township high school was established here, it being the first one in the county outside of Delaware. Ile is a member of the United Brethren Church.

ESTER GILEAD PEET, a representa- tive citizen of Thompson Township, where he is engaged in farming and sheep-raising, was born in Berlin Township, four miles east of Dela- ware on the Sunbury Pike, June 20, 1855. His parents were William J. and Anna ( Welch ) Peet. and he is a grandson of AAlba Peet. who migrated with his family from Connecticut to Franklin County, Ohio, prior to 1830. settling near Worthington. They re- sided there about nine years and then came to Berlin Township, Delaware County. Alba Peet's wife was in maidenhood a Miss Orton. Alba Peet removed subsequently to Delaware, where he died in 1876 at the age of 84 years.

He and his wife reared three children, namely : Judd, who died in 1862; Orpha, who married David Croncelton and died in Delaware about 1904 at the age of 84 years ; and William J., father of the subject of this sketch. Their other children, of whom they had several, died young.

William J. Peet was born in Connecticut and accompanied his parents when they re- moved to Ohio, he being then about nine years of age. He was brought up to agricultural life and while a resident of Berlin Township he purchased a farm there. This he sold in 1862 and purchased land in Thompson Township, taking up his abode in the house that is now the property of his son Lester. In 1882 he re- moved to Richwood, where he died in 1886. At the time of his death he owned a farm of 221 acres. He was three times married : First to Penelope Halley, who bore him one daughter, Ida. The latter married a Mr. Thurston, of Knox County, and died subse- quently in Paulding County. Ohio. Mr. Peet married, secondly, Anna Welch, who was d daughter of Hiram Welch and a native of Delaware County. Of this union there were three children, namely: Lester Gilead, sub- ject of this article; William L., who resides in Richwood, Union County, Ohio; and Fannie, who died in infancy. William J. Peet's third wife was a widow. Mrs. Melissa Evans. They were married in 1861, and she is still living at the advanced age of 92 years. Mr. Peet removed in 1882 to Richwood, where he died four years later at the age of 69.

Lester G. Peet was educated in the district school, which he attended for some time in Richwood and for about a year in Delaware. He was married in 1882 to Miss Hattie Cone. a daughter of John and Mary ( Williams) Cone, and located on the farm which he now owns and cultivates. This union has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely : Mary B., Georgianna, Ralph C .. and Stanley, all of whom are residing at home. Stanley, the youngest, being now 18 years old.

In 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Peet removed to Richwood in order that their children might have the advantage of the superior schools

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there. Mr. Peet goes out daily to his farm which comprises 250 acres and which he has improved considerably since it came into his possession. Besides carrying on agriculture, he feeds Western lambs for the market. He is a member of the Rising Sun Lodge, No. 72. K. of P., at Richwood, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in that place. Ile is a Democrat po- litically and has served as township clerk and trustee and is now a member of the School Board. A good, practical farmer, he is one of the successful men of the township, of which he and his wife are among the most respected residents.

A LONZO FLEMING HOSKINS, ? prosperous and enterprising general farmer, of Thompson Township, was born on the homestead where he now resides. April 8, 1855, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fleming) Hoskins. His pa- ternal grandfather, John Hoskins, was a na- tive of Wales, who emigrated to America about 1807, landing in the city of Baltimore. He was an early settler in Delaware County, locating first near Millville, now Warrens- burg. later settling on a farm adjoining that of the subject of this sketch to the south. The farm was then covered with heavy timber. no improvements having been made, and should therefore be referred to in this connection as wild land rather than a piece of agricultural property. He built a log cabin on it and began the arduous work of clearing off the timber. In course of time the improvements made by him completely changed the aspect of the place. The log cabin gave way to a brick house. and smiling fields appeared instead of the trackless forest. There he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Their family included 12 chil- (Iren, several of whom died in infancy. The following is their record in brief : Jane, mar- ried John Randall. Rachel became the wife of John Lenox. Betsy married Owen Avery. Another daughter. Ann, married George Moyer. Henry married a Miss Fields. Ja-

cob ( father of the subject of this sketch ) mar- ried Elizabeth Fleming. Perry married Han- nalı Deck. Ebenezer never married.

Jacob Hoskins was born on the farm in Thompson Township above referred to, March 21, 1822, and resided there all his life. He married Elizabeth Fleming, who was a daugh- ter of Crozier Fleming, a native of Ireland, who settled in Radnor Township, Delaware County, at an early day. Jacob Hoskins set- tled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Alonzo, and made thereon some of the first improvements, building the present resi- dence about 1870. Soon afterwards he erected the barn that stands on the farm. The first house was a weather-boarded building. which was destroyed by fire. after which Mr. Hos- kins erected a log house. About 1870 he built the present residence. His wife Eliza- beth died in 1862. She had borne him six children, as follows: Oliver, who was a drug- gist residing in Prospect, married Miss Ellen Greek : Jennie who died in 1862: Alice, who is single, resides in Prospect ; Alonzo F. mar- ried Miss Jennie Fields, daughter of Marshall Fields, of Delaware County, Ohio; Ida. who is single, resides in Prospect : and one son who died in infancy.

Alonzo F. Iloskins was educated in the district schools and was brought up to farm life and labor. He was married in 1882 and subsequently resided in several different places, being a resident of Union County for nine years. For the past seven years he has occupied the old Hoskins homestead in Thomp- son Township, the farm which he owns and cultivates successfully, containing 103 acres. He is a highly esteemed citizen of the town- ship and is well versed in the science of farm- ing. He is a member of Prospect Lodge. F. & A. M., No. 144; Durwood Lodge. K. of P., at Prospect ( No. 153) : and of the Prospect Lodge of Modern Woodmen. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Jennie Hoskins died February 15. I903. She and her husband had been the parents of the following children: Ethel. re- siding at home: Annie B., wife of Albert B. Keef, residing in Cleveland, Ohio; and Leah,

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who married Dillon Howser, and has one son -Robert Hoskins Howser. Mr. and Mrs. Howser reside in Richwood.

HARLES E. MCELWEE, who comes of an old and respected Dela- ware County family, is a prosperous farmer and also an undertaker, and resides in Harlem Township. Ile was born in this township May 14, 1869, and is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Haycook ) Mc- Elwee, and grandson of John McElwee.

John MeElwee was born in Virginia and there grew to maturity and was married. His first wife's maiden name was Orndorff, and they reared six sons and three daughters, of whom Joseph was the oldest. His second wife was Margaret Haycook and they had four daughters and one son. He came to Delaware County, Ohio, at an early age and here lived the remainder of his life. Joseph McElwee was born in Virginia and was young when his parents came to Ohio, and received his education in the schools of Harlem Township. He has always followed farming, owning a farm of 125 acres in addition to property in Centerville, and has ranked as one of the pro- gressive men of the community for many years. He married Mary Haycook, who was born in Harlem Township and is a daughter of Amos Haycook, who was a native of New Jersey. Amos Haycook came to Harlem Township, Delaware County, at an early period and followed farming near Center- ville where he owned property. This mar- riage resulted in the birth of two children : Charles E .; and Zora, who is the wife of Luther Johnson, an implement dealer of Wes- terville. Joseph McElwee is a Republican in politics. Ile is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Centerville.

Charles E. MeElwee was reared. on the home farm and was educated in the common schools of Harlem Township, and a high school in Franklin County. He began farm- ing in his youth and has always followed that

occupation, and has also engaged in the under- taking business.

September 27, 1888, Mr. MeElwee was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Lucy Wilcox, who was born near Richwood. Union County, September 26, 1868, and is a daughter of Martin Wilcox, who was born in this county and made his home here all his life. He was engaged in farming in Berk- shire Township. He was an unusually well- informed man, having been a great traveler. visiting in many States and viewing many points of historical interest. Mr. and Mrs. MeElwee have four children : William. Blanche, Charles and Lucy. All were born on the farm on which they now live. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at present serving as master of exchequer, and has filled all the other offices, and twice he has been a delegate of the home lodge to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry and both he and wife belong to the auxiliary lodge. They are consistent members of the Christian Church.

€ I. POLLOCK. cashier of the Dela - ware National Bank, was born at Port Clinton, Ohio, in 1860, and came to Delaware in 1887. His edu- cation was secured at the points where his father, who was a minister in the Metho- clist Episcopal Church. happened to be sta- tioned. but it was thorough and practical, and was completed at the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity. Mr. Pollock entered into business as bookkeeper for W. Z. Evans, with whom he remained for over six years. Ile then came to the Delaware County National Bank as teller and bookkeeper, later becoming assistant cashier, and in 1900 was elected cashier. The Delaware National Bank began its career as a branch of the old State Bank of Ohio, and was established in 1845. being succeeded in 1865 by the Delaware County National Bank. which institution became the Delaware Na- tional Bank, January 7, 1905. Its officers are :

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V. T. Hills, president : L. L. Denison, vice- president, and E. 1. Pollock, cashier. It has a capital stock of $150,000, and is a carefully and profitably managed institution. As cashier Mr. Pollock has made many friends for the bank, his genial manner and accommodating demeanor making him an agreeable person with whom to do business.

In 1884 Mr. Pollock was married to Alice C. Armstrong, of Delaware. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs and for a number of years has been president of the City Council. He retains his old fra- ternity membership, in the Beta Theta Pi So- ciety of the Ohio Wesleyan University. He is a member of the St. Paul's Methodist Episco- pal Church, which he is serving as a steward.

OSEPH H. ANDREW'S, a well-known resident of Delaware Township, Dela- ware County, Ohio, who owns and operates a fine farm of 50 acres, was born July 27, 1869, in Concord Town- ship, Delaware County, and is a son of Dr. Hugh B. and Mary E. ( Dall) AAndrews. Hugh AAndrews, grandfather of J. H., was born in 1781, in Dauphin County. Pennsyl- vania, and came to Ohio when 12 years old. He served in the War of 1812, being with Hull when he surrendered, and after the war set- tled in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he fol- lowed the trade of tailor and later took up farming, which he continued until his death.

His son, Dr. Hugh B. Andrews, was born October 6, 1819, in Fairfield County, and in the spring of 1852 came to Delaware County, where for many years he practiced medicine, but subsequently settled on a farm in Concord Township consisting of 85 acres, where he has since carried on general farming and stock raising. Originally a Whig, Mr. Andrews is now a Republican. He is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Andrews was married to Mary E. Dall, who was the daugh- ter of James Dall, and five children were born to this union: John and James HI., who are deceased : Nettie E., who is the wife of David Bailey of Concord Township: Maggie, who

married Adron Cook of Concord Township; and J. H.

J. H. Andrews received a common school education in his native township, and spent one year at Lebanon, Ohio, and two years at what is now Ada University. He taught several terms before entering the last named institu- tion. He left school to make his campaign for the office of county recorder, to which he was elected in 1899, and in which he served until September, 1906. On April 1, 1907, he pur- chased his present farm of fifty acres in Dela- ware Township, where he gives special atten- tion to the raising of corn and hay. selling most of the latter, while the former is fed to his fine Chester White hogs.

Mr. Andrews was married to Jessie C. Cutler, who is the daughter of Orange D. Cut- ler, formerly of Jerome, but now of Delaware, Ohio. One daughter, Mary Stiles, has been born to this union. Mr. Andrews and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is connected with Delaware Lodge No. 76 of the Elks, of which he is esteemed loyal knight, and the Odd Fel- lows at Jerome, Ohio, of which he is past grand and of which he was district deputy grand master for four years; and at one time was a member of Delaware EncampMent No. 52. of the Odd Fellows.

P ROF. CYRUS B. AUSTIN, D. D., Dean of Women of the Ohio Wes- leyan University, and professor of Mathematics and Astronomy on the faculty of that institution, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, son of David S. and Lois (Smith ) Austin. The Austin family is, well and favorably known throughout Clin- ton County, where Prof. Austin's father was a substantial farmer and a man of large influ- ence in civic and religious matters. lle was a local preacher in the Methodist Church. His (leath occurred in 1886. His wife, the Profes- sor's mother, is still living in Wilmington, Ohio. They reared a family of eight chil- dren.

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Cyrus B. Austin acquired liis elementary education in the schools of his native county, and subsequently entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was graduated in 1879. Immediately following his graduation he was elected Tutor of Mathematics in the univer- sity. A few years later he was made a profes- sor in the department of which he is now the head. In 1883 he was placed in charge of Monnett Hall, the home for the young women of the university, which position he still holds with the official title of Dean of Women. Since 1883 Monnett Hall has been greatly improved and its size more than doubled. Twelve teach- ers and 260 pupils reside in the building. Mon- nett Hall was formerly the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, and was founded in 1854; ad- ditional facts in regard to it may be found in another part of this volume.

Dr. Austin was married in 1884 to Mary McVay, who is a daughter of Jason McVay, formerly of Columbus, Ohio. They have three sons-Jason McVay, Raymond Brooks and Cyrus Bashford, of whom the two elder are students at the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, while Cyrus is attending the public schools. Dr. Austin is a member of the Cen- tral Ohio Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which church the family are all members. Politically he is a Republican. His fraternal affiliations are with the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and the Free Masons.

P. WINTERMUTE, who is inter- ested in a number of business enter- prises at Delaware, notably the Delaware Hardware Company, was born February 25. 1854. in Muskin- gum County, Ohio, son of Ashfordby and Mary ( Fleming ) Wintermute. When he was six years old. the parents of Mr. Wintermute moved to Licking County, where his boyhood was spent. He was about 21 years of age when he came to Delaware County and found a position as clerk in a mercantile store at Nor- ton, but four years later he returned to Licking County, where he carried on a similar business

for four years. He then went back to Norton and bought a half interest in the store of his uncle, J. F. Wintermute, when the firm be- came A. P. Wintermute & Company, and this firm continued in business until 1893, when J. H. Schaaf bought the interest of J. F. Win- termute, the style being then changed to Win- termute & Schaaf. The firm later pur- chased a hardware store at Waldo. When the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Wintermute took the Norton store which he conducted un- der the name of A. P. Wintermute until 1903. when he sold out and came to Delaware. In January, 1906, he purchased an interest in the Delaware Hardware Company and he has made a number of other excellent investments in this city and the vicinity.

In 1878, Mr. Wintermute was married to Emma E. Schaaf, who was born in Marion County, right on the Delaware County line. They have two children : Imogene and Edna. The family belong to the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church of Delaware.

While still a resident of Norton. Mr. Win- termute was elected township treasurer, in 1884 and served in that capacity until his re- moval to Delaware, in 1903. resigning after serving seven days in the new term to which he had been re-elected. In 1884 he was ap- pointed postmaster under a Republican admin- istration and served continuously until 1903. with the exception of three years during the administration of President Cleveland.

EORGE T. WOLFLEY, postmaster at Radnor, has been prominent in the affairs of this section of Dela- ware County for many years. He was born at Radnor, Ohio, May 22, 1837, and is a son of George and Nancy ( Perry ) Wolfley, and a grandson of Lewis Wolfley.

Lewis Wolfley was born in Germany and after he came to America he settled in Penn- sylvania, where he married Mary Tute for his second wife. George Wolfley, son of Lewis and Mary (Tute) Wolfley, was born in Lan-

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caster County, Pennsylvania, July 8. 1807, and died at Radnor, December 29, 1879. When he was three months okl his parents moved to Lancaster. Ohio, where they resided until the death of the father. On May 3, 1823, George Wolfley came to Radnor, with his widowed mother, teaching several terms, having settled on a farm which was situated one and one-half miles of what is now Radnor village. The first settler on the place had been a pioneer of 1805 and he left a log cabin into which the Wolfley family moved. George Wolfley re- sided on that farm until 1871, when he sokl out and moved into Radnor. He was a man of sterling traits of character, active in both pub- lic affairs and in the educational and religious advancement of his community. Ile was one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was as firm in his belief as were his neighbors and close friends, John Humph- reys and James Kyle, in theirs, the former be- ing a Congregationalist and the latter a Bap- tist. These three representative men con- trolled and promoted many of the industries of the neighborhood. and were warm friends as long as they lived. In his political views. George Wolfley was first a Whig and later a Republican. For twenty-five successive years he served as township clerk and he filled other offices.

George Wolfley married Nancy Perry. who was a daughter of Robert Perry. He was born in Wales and left home when a boy of , 16 years with the intention of being a sailor, and came to America on a vessel in that ca- pacity. When again on land he decided to make the United States his home, and after working at farming for four years in the State of New York, he went to Baltimore, with the intention of returning to Wales in order to bring his parents back with him. As he walked down a street in that city he was amazed to see a woman who walked with his mother's peculiar gait and when he stopped her it proved indeed to be the mother whom he had imagined to be in Wales. The meeting was an affecting one and the mother had no idea that lier sailor son was in America. The Perry family, consisting of father, mother. Robert

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 97

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