Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 98

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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and several other children, then made their way to Delaware County, Ohio, and were the first settlers in Radnor Township. this being in 1803. In 1811, Robert Perry married Sarah Hoskins and their first child was the mother of Mr. Wolfley. She was born March 22, 1812, and died August 24. 1894. Henry and Robert Perry helped to organize the first Methodist Episcopal Church in the township, the first place of worship being a log cabin. Robert Perry was one of the first trustees of the township. Ile died in September, 1852. aged 66 years.

When Robert Perry found his parents in Baltimore, he learned that they had left Wales in 1802. Together they came to Ohio and reached Radnor Township in May. 1803. where Henry Perry secured 100 acres of land and he remained with his sons until the fol- lowing July, two of them having accompanied him, the rest of the family having remaine.1 in Baltimore. They made the trip from that city to Radnor in a cart, and the family was reunited in November. The two sons who were left in the woods alone were Levi and Reuben and they had early learned the use of firearms. Game was plentiful and they had no difficulty in finding sufficient food and by the time the father returned they were able to show him a large part of cleared land. They had many undesirable visitors in wandering In- dians, who were not always friendly, and were invariably thievish. On numerons occasions the Perry boys were forced to show their met- tle but there is no record that they ever evinced any cowardice or failed to rout their enemies. They were pioneers by instinct and when they grew to manhood and the country in their neighborhood had become settled. they left home and again became pioneers, making homes for themselves in the still uncivilized regions of Indiana.

Of the seven children born to George Wolfley and wife, the survivors are four, but six passed infancy, namely: Lewis, who is a veteran of the Civil War. resides at Olathe. Kansas, having served in Company A. One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guard; Robert, who died in Kansas in

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

1896, was a member of the same regiment : George T .: Sarah, who was accidentally killed in a runaway, at the age of six years: Eben- ezer, residing at Edgerton, Kansas, served in the Civil War as a member of the Second Regiment, Ohio Heavy Artillery : John M .. who died in 1881, served in the Ohio National Guard; and Margaret Ellen, who married William H. Dildine, of Prospect.

George T. Wolfley attended the local schools and later spent three years at the Ohio Wesleyan University, following which he taught several terms of school. In 1867 he moved to Shelby County, Illinois, where he engaged in teaching school during the winters and farming during the summers until 1876. when he returned to Delaware County and for seven years engaged in farming in Troy Town- ship. In the spring of 1883 he came to Rad- nor, where he embarked in a mercantile busi- ness and conducted a store for twenty and one- half years. on April 1. 1904, selling it to Pow- ell & Coonfare. From 1888 to 1904, Mr. Wolfley was in the tile business under the firm name of Wolfley & Son, during which time he erected all the buildings used in the industry and carried on a large trade. From 1897 until 1904 he gave his attention to managing the mill, his son and partner, HI. W Wolfley, hay- ing moved to Prospect. In 1880, Mr. Wolfley was first appointed postmaster at Radnor, by President Ilarrison, and held the office for four years. On January 1. 1898, he was ap- pointed postmaster by President Mckinley and he has been the incumbent ever since. He is an ardent Republican and is in close touch with political matters in this section. On va- rious occasions he has been elected to other offices, being one of the reliable and substan- tial men of the community, but he has not sought political favors for himself and when he was elected justice of the peace for Rad- nor. he refused to serve. During his first resi- dence in Troy Township he served as a trus- tee and also served one year in Radnor Town- ship as assessor. In 1864. Mr. Wolfley en- listed in Company C, One Hundred and For- ty-fifth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and

accompanied his command when it was sent to the defense of Washington.

Mr. Wolfley was married to Louisa Darst, who is a daughter of Samuel Darst, of Troy Township, Delaware County, and five of their six children reached mature years, namely : Harvey W., residing at Prospect ; Jennie F., who married Thomas L. Wiggins, residing at Portales, New Mexico; Nannie B .; Cora L., who married Daniel Ritter, residing in Radnor Township, and Hattie. Mr. Wolfley and fam- ily belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. in which he is a trustee, and has held all of the offices of a layman. He is a member of Pros- pect Lodge, F. & A. M., and he served four years as master of Tower Hill Lodge, No. 493, in Illinois.

AMES R. THOMAS, who owns a mag- nificent farm of 200 acres in Radnor Township, on which he is extensively engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, was born February 11, 1863, in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Elizabeth ( Evans ) Thomas.

James Thomas, father of James R .. was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and died in Radnor Township, April 9. 1891, aged 74 years. At the age of 12 years he accompanied his parents to America. They lived for three years at Utica, New York, and then came to. Delaware. Mr. Thomas was employed in Pettibone's hotel and drove a stage coach for a number of years, after which he bought a farm in Troy Township on which he remained until 1855, when he came to Radnor Town- ship, selling his Troy Township farm and buy- ing one north of Radnor village. It was wild land at that time, which he cleared off and here developed a valuable property. He mar- ried Elizabeth Evans, who was also born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. They had MI chil- dren, nine of whom survived infancy, namely : Mary, who is the widow of David W. Jones. resides at Radnor: Robert, who lives in Rad-

ASHTON STOVER CONKLIN

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nor Township: Margaret, who is the wife of Rees W. Jones, of Radnor Township: Wil- liam, who died in February. 1907, was the first break in the mature family in fifty years; John, who lives in Radnor Township: Eliza- beth, who married Charles Dildine, of Ash- ley Township: James R .: Martha, who mar- ried Samuel Seigfried, residing in Delaware Township : and Alice, who married William Wiser of Troy Township. The parents reared their children in the faith of the Congrega- tional Church.

James R. Thomas remained at home and assisted his father until his own marriage. He was educated in the excellent public schools of Radnor Township and his interests have been centered almost entirely in this section. In 1884 he bought his present farm of 200 acres and has 100 acres under the plow, but wheat is the only crop he markets. He keeps 30 heal of Shorthorn cattle. 100 Chester White hogs and from 10 to 12 horses. He erected a very fine residence on his farin and a substantial barn 40 by 50 feet in dimensions, with 16-foot posts.

Mr. Thomas married Lavina Feaster, who is a daughter of James Feaster, of Troy Township, and they have five children : Ha- zel. Goldie, Wealthy, Erma and Arden James. Mr. Thomas and family belong to the Congre- gational Church. In political sentiment, Mr. Thomas is a Republican, but his interest is only that of a good citizen who is anxious to see the laws upheld.

SHTON STOVER CONKLIN, cash- ier of the Deposit Banking Com- pany, of Delaware, was born in 1870. in Berlin Township. Delaware County. Ohio, and is a son of the late John Conklin.

John Conklin was born in Licking County. Ohio, and was brought to Orange Township, Delaware County, in childhood. During the Civil War he served as a member of Com- pany C. Fifth Independent Cavalry, which was afterward merged with the Thirteenth Ohio

Volunteer Cavalry. He returned unharmed from the army, and the rest of his life was passed as a farmer and stock-raiser.

Ashton S. Conklin was educated in Ber- lin Township, where he subsequently taught school, remaining six years in one district. In 1894 he came to Delaware and accepted the position of deputy county clerk, in which he continued until June. 1898, when he began work for the Deposit Banking Company as bookkeeper. In October, 1900, he was elected assistant cashier and served in that capacity until he assumed the duties of county auditor. to which position he was elected in the fall of 1904, and in which he made a good record. April 1, 1908, he was elected to his present position as cashier of the Deposit Banking Company. Politically, he is a Republican and he has always been more or less active in poli- tics, and is in close touch with the leaders of his party in this locality.

In October, 1901, Mr. Conklin was mar- ried to Loma Owen, who is a daughter of H. F. Owen. He belongs to the United Brethren Church. Fraternally, he is connected with the Masons, and the Knights of Pythias, and belongs socially to organizations which have charity for their object.

D AVID T. PERKINS, who has been prominently identified with the de- velopment of Ostrander, was born October 25. 1840. in Dover Town- ship, Union County, Ohio. on Little Mill Creek, and is a son of Schuyler and Re- becca (Rittenhouse ) Perkins.

Schuyler Perkins was born in Albemarle County. Virginia, a son of Samuel Perkins. and he remained in his native State until after marriage and the birth of one child, when he moved to Ross County, Ohio. He remained there two years, when, having found land to suit him better in Dover Township. Union County, he brought his family to this section. where he secured 137 acres for $1.37 an acre. In order to make his payments he was obliged to sell his "dandy-wagon," to chop down trees

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

and to exercise every known principle of strict economy. He gradually cleared his land and put in a first crop, but the work was weari- some and often discouraging as he had neither farm implements nor machinery. He built on his land the log cabin in which his son David T. was born and continued to live in it until he erected a substantial frame house. At the time of his death he was the owner of several hundred acres of excellent land which he had acquired through farming and stock raising. He married a daughter of Henry and Martha (Turner ) Rittenhouse, and they had 12 chil- dren born to them, of whom the following reached maturity: William H., residing in Dover Township: Samuel Price, who died aged eighteen years; Martha Jane, who is the widow of Perry J. Sherman, residing in Dover Township: James Il .. residing at Hutchinson, Kansas; David T .: Frances Elizabeth, de- ceased, who was the wife of William Abrams, of Iowa: Daniel Morgan, residing in Okla- homa : and Adoniram Judson, residing at Os- trander. Schuyler Perkins was a faithful member of the Baptist Church and in early days frequently rode six miles on horseback in order to attend religious exercises.

David T. Perkins obtained his education in a log school-house near his home, three months in the winter being all that was of- forded him. as from boyhood he was kept busy on the home farm, on which he continued to live until he was 21 years old. He then vis- ited Indiana and remained one winter in Ful- ton County, during which time he was first married, after which he returned to Dover Township and engaged in farming for a few years. After his wife's death he went back to Indiana and lived for two years with his fa- ther-in-law, and then returned once more to Doyer Township, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, which he operated until 1907. He now owns 165 acres of land which he uses for grazing in summer, also owns 54 acres in and adjoining Ostrander.

Mr. Perkins was one of the organizers of the Ostrander Banking Company. In 1891 he bought 66 acres of land from Dr. John Fields, which he platted and made into town

lots. He erected his own fine two-story brick residence on the southwest corner of North and Fourth Streets. All of the attractive and substantial houses which stand on Fourth Street and on the south side of North Street. west of Mr. Perkins' residence, are built on the land which he has improved since 1891. Probably more than any other individual, Mr. Perkins has developed and improved Ostran- der

Mr. Perkins was married ( first ) in Fulton County, Indiana, March 31. 1863. to Lydia . 1. Hudkins, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Hudkins, residents of Kewanna, Indiana. They had three children: Marion P .. born March 3. 1864, residing at Muscatine, lowa ; Sarah Rebecca, who died in infancy: and Olive Candace, who was born September (, 1866, and died aged 26 years. Mrs. Perkins (lied April 12, 1871. She was a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Mr. Perkins was married (second) September 18, 1873. to Melissa G. Rittenhouse, who was born March 23. 1851, and died February 18, 1905. She was a daughter of Thomas Rittenhouse and a granddaughter of Samuel Rittenhouse and a grandniece of Henry Rittenhouse, who was a Revolutionary soldier. To his second marriage Mr. Perkins had born the following children : Floron D., born July 4. 1874, who is a mem- ber of the faculty of a Baptist College at Wil- liamsburg, Kentucky: Norman B., born June 17, 1877, residing at Williamsburg: Cora Belle, born June 13, 1878, who married Frank Shover, of Ostrander: James E., born July 18. 1880, residing at Westburn. Tennessee : Maude M., born April 18, 1883, who married Prof. Harvard Valance, residing at Columbus; and Ervin C., born May 2. 1893. residing at Wil- liamsburg. Kentucky.

In political preference. Mr. Perkins is a Democrat but he is not active in politics. On several occasions he has accepted office. but has never sought it and has served as trustee of both Dover and of Scioto Townships. He is a member of Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M .. at Marysville, Union County, Ohio. He is a member of Springdale Baptist Church.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

HIOMAS B. JONES, a prominent re- tired farmer of Radnor Township. was born in Belmont County, Ohio. December 20, 1834. and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth ( Warner)

Jones.

The founder of this family in America was Griffin Jones, who came from England to America at a very early day, when somewhat advanced in years, but his son Edward, who was the grandfather of Thomas E., was born after he settled in Virginia. Edward Jones learned the carpenter trade and he also was employed as an overseer on Virginia planta- tions. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and received a land warrant on that account, but he never made use of it. His last years were spent at the home of his son Nicholas, in Delaware County, Ohio, where he died in 1856. at the age of 62 years. He married Nancy Wharton and they had several chil- dren. She had five brothers, all of whom be- came ministers either of the Baptist or the Methodist Episcopal faith.

Nicholas Jones was born near Fredericks- burg. Virginia, in January. 1807, and died in Ohio, in 1868. He remained in Virginia until the construction of the National road was im- der way, when he came to Ohio and engaged as a hotel clerk at Morristown, in Belmont County. He married Elizabeth Warner, who (lied in 1883. aged 72 years. She was a daugh- ter of Henry Warner, who kept the hotel at Morristown, in which Mr. Jones was em- ployed as a clerk. To this marriage were born 12 children, the following of whom grew to maturity : Edward, who was a physician. died in Missouri: Thomas B .: Nicholas, who resides in Nebraska: Winfield S., who resides at Moberly, Missouri: Mary, who is the wife of Sidney Howe, of Black Rock, Arkansas: Charles, who resides near Rochester, New York: and Stella, deceased, who married Rit- fus Wells of Chicago, who is also deceased.

Nicholas Jones and wife continued to live in Belmont County, until after the birth of Thomas B., when they came to Troy Town- ship. Delaware County, where Mr. Jones built a log cabin in the woods and subsequently

cleared up an excellent farm. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and force of character and so impressed his fellow citi- zens that for many years he was retained in public office. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican and he was elected a justice of the peace in Troy Township and served for 12 consecutive years. In 1847 he was elected sheriff of Delaware County, an office hie efficiently filled for four years. leav- ing it to became county auditor for a like pe- riod. He then returned to Troy Township, where he bought what was known as the broom-corn farm, but five years later he sold that property and retired to Delaware, where the remainder of his life was passed. Both lie and wife were leading members of the Baptist Church.

Thomas B. Jones was educated in the pub- lic schools of Troy Township and at the Ohio Wesleyan University. He engaged in farm- ing with his father until his marriage in 1861 and continued to live in Troy Township until 1866, when he came to Radnor Township. In the above year he bought his farm of 187 acres on which. until within the past two years, he has carried on general farming and stock rais- ing. He made all the improvements here and erected all the buildings except the residence.

In 1861, Mr. Jones was married to Ellen Bush, who is a daughter of David Bush. of Troy Township. Mrs. Jones was a school teacher for a number of years in southern Ohio and in Iowa, prior to her marriage. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, all but one reached maturity, as follows: Louis J., residing at Lorain, Ohio: Alice, who mar- ried Cadwallader Price, residing at Magnetic Springs, in Union County: Thomas Bennett, (leceased; Walter A., residing in Concord Township: Victor W., residing at Columbus : Hosea H., residing in Radnor Township: Elizabeth, who married Edmund Morrison, re- siding on the home place; and Anna, who married Frank Graham, residing in Thomp- son Township. Mr. Jones and family belong to the Baptist Church at Radnor.

Among the many recollections of his boy- hood, Mr. Jones recalls seeing a party of Wy-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

andot Indians riding through Troy Township on their way to the Ohio River. They im- pressed him as a very jolly company, singing as they went on out of hearing. They never returned to this section. Mr. Jones remem- bers also the mob that came out from Colum- bus, in 1844, for the purpose of tearing down the gates along the Columbus & Sandusky turnpike road. When they reached Thomas Casey's gate, in Troy Township, they found a band of militia awaiting them and when the mob persisted in tearing down the gate, the militia fired and wounded one of the invaders. In spite of the militia the gate was demol- ished.

OHN P. GRAASSER. a prominent busi- ness citizen of Delaware, senior mem- ber of the cigar manufacturing firm of Grasser & Haas, was born in Ba- varia, Germany, July 10, 1858, and is a son of Michael and Eva ( Bayerlein ) Grasser.

The father of Mr. Grasser was also a na- tive of Bavaria, where he was a man of con- siderable importance, being a general farmer and owning 100 acres of land, a very large amount in that country of small farms. He never came to America, but survived in his own land into advanced age, dying December 14, 1903, when 83 years old. He married Eva Bayerlein, who died in 1893, aged 75 years. Their family consisted of six sons and two daughters, two of the former coming to America, John P. and John George.

John P. Grasser was reared in the town of Neudorf and was educated in the parochial school, his parents being of the Catholic faith. He assisted his father on the home farm until 1882. when he crossed the Atlantic and joined his brother, who had settled at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1872. After a visit of two months there, Mr. Grasser came to Ohio, reaching Delaware November 27, 1882. He continued to be active in various lines of in- dustry at Delaware until 1886, when he be- came a stockholder in the Delaware Co-opera-

tive Cigar Company and went to work for this concern. In 1893 he formed a partnership with AAugust Dauernheim under the firm name of Dauernheim & Grasser and they purchased the business of the Delaware Co-operative Company and continued together until 1897, when Mr. Grasser bought out his partner's interest. He continued to carry on the busi- ness alone until 1898, when he admitted W. E. Haas to partnership and the firm style be- came Grasser & Haas. Employment is given to about nine people and 400,000 cigars are annually turned out. The leading brands are the Henry Gray, the Ripper and Tom Watts, the last being a ten cent cigar.

In 1903, Mr. Grasser re-visited his native land and while there made some investiga- tions into his ancestry. He found it easy to trace back to Hans Grasser. a senator in Nurn- berg in 1452. The family own a coat of arms which displays the symbols of eagle, sickle and crown, each of which have a dis- tinctive significance.

In politics, Mr. Grasser is a Democrat. He is a member of the Catholic Church and of many of its strong organizations, including the Catholic Society, of which he has been sec- retary and treasurer at various times; of the Knights of Columbus ; of the Catholic Knights of Ohio, of which he is treasurer. He is treasurer also of the Federation of Catholic Societies. He is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles. He is a public-spirited, pro- gressive man, one who has prospered through his own efforts. He has literary tastes and takes pride in his private collection of well-as- sorted literary works.

5 AMHILTON W. RITTENHOUSE, a retired farmer of Scioto Township who has resided at Ostrander since 1903, still retains 122 acres of land in Delaware County and 120 acres in Union County, Ohio. He was born in Al- bemarle County, Virginia, January 24, 1834, and is a son of Henry and Martha ( Turner ) Rittenhouse.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Henry Rittenhouse was born in Pennsyl- vania and was taken in childhood to Vir- ginia by his father, who settled in the rich lands of Albemarle County, where he ac- quired a large plantation and slaves to work it. He died on his Virginia land prior to the Civil War and during the great struggle about one-third of the estate was lost. It made no difference to Hamilton W., however, as he never claimed any part of it. Henry Ritten- house married Martha Turner, who was a (laughter of Terrence Turner, who was a wealthy Virginia planter and a strong sup- porter of President Andrew Jackson. Of the ten children born to this marriage. Hamilton W. was the youngest. His paternal grandfa- ther probably was born in Germany and he took part in the Revolutionary War, while his father served in the War of 1812.

Hamilton W. Rittenhouse was reared and educated in Virginia. In 1855 he came to Scioto Township, Delaware County, and set- tled south of Ostrander, where he engaged in farming and raising cattle, horses, hogs and sheep. During his last years on the farm he gave a large acreage to hay. He was one of the organizers of the Ostrander Banking Com- pany and has been one of its Board of Direc- tors ever since, with the exception of the year 1902. He has always taken an interest in the progress and development of this section and has been a patron of school and church. His grandfather and his father were stanch Democrats, but he is an independent voter, se- lecting his candidate according to his own judgment. He is pronounced in his temper- ance views. He has never sought political of- fice but served for 12 years as trustee of Scioto Township and always held himself ready to perform any act of good citizenship which would be for the general welfare of his com- munity.

Mr. Rittenhouse was married (first) to Jane Liggett, who was a daughter of Joab and Mary ( Carr) Liggett. They had one child, James H., who is deceased. Mr. Rittenhouse married for his second wife, Sarah J. Elsom, a daughter of Nelson Elsom, of Albemarle County, Virginia, and their children who

reached maturity were : Nelson, now deceas- ed: Eva, who married Alexander Mosely, of Union County ; Lulu, who married Thomas B. Newhouse, of Scioto Township; and Bernard H., residing at Ostrander. Mr. Rittenhouse was married ( third) to Amanda J. Reed, who is a daughter of William Reed. of Union County, Ohio. Many years ago, in the in- fancy of the Marysville lodge, Mr. Ritten- house was made a Mason and later, when a Masonic lodge was established at Ostrander, he secured a demit on account of convenience. He has never lost his deep interest in the fra- ternity. He is a deacon in the Baptist Church at Ostrander and one of its most liberal sup- porters.

5 ON. THOMAS R. SMITH, one of Delaware County's leading citizens. who represented the county in the seventy-third and seventy-fourth ses- sions of the Ohio General Assembly. and is prominently identified with large public and private interests of this section, resides on his well-cultivated farm of 225 acres, which is favorably located on the Sunbury Turnpike Road, in Berlin Township. He was born on this farm, in 1838, and is a son of Rodney and Delilah ( Reynolds ) Smith. The grandpar- ents of Mr. Smith were William and Lucinda ( Witter) Smith, natives of Massachusetts. who came to Ohio and settled in 1816 on the farm now owned by him.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 98

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