USA > Ohio > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 35
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Levi Thomas received a common-school education, and in 1850 was married to Miss Mary Hutchinson, a daughter of John Q. and Nancy Hutchinson. Fonr children have been born to them, as fol- lows: Alice Gertrude, at home: Mary Ellen, now Mrs. Oscar Munn, in Jowa; Margaret Jane, also in Towa, and Emnette, at home. Mr. Thomas and his brother Jacob have always been earnest Repub- licans, standing firmly to their principles. They are both men of high standing in the community, possessing the respect and cordial good-will of all who know them. They will be long remembered in Wayne County as valuable citizens, labor- ing earnestly for the moral and material
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advancement of their town and county. Levi Thomas has built for himself one of the finest residences in the county. His wife is well known as a lady of strong per- sonal character, and is universally re- spected and beloved. The entire family are highly spoken of by all who know them. Jacob Thomas, who was born in 1835, has never married, but, with true brotherly affection, has devoted himself to his family. The brothers are well-to- do, and possess one of the finest farms in Wayne County.
JOHN COCKRELL was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., May 13, 1813. His parents were Robert and Pru- dence ( Tally ) Cockrell, who came to Wayne County in 1840, and purchased of Joseph Stratton the farm now owned by their son, John. They were sixteen days coming from Virginia. The father, who was in poor health, died the year after arriving here, and John and his brother conducted the farm, clearing the same and making improvements. The mother lived to be eighty-six years of age. Their family consisted of Hiram, deceased; John: Rob. ert M., deceased, and Caroline, wife of John Bowman, in Canaan Township.
The subject of these lines was reared in Virginia, and after completing his
schooling he engaged in teaching for sov- eral months. February 19, 1845, he married Miss Esther Ann, daughter of Cornelius Seely, of Lorain County, and they have had four sons: Robert Corne- lius, in Canaan Township, Wayne County; Emory MeK., in Topeka, Kas .; John Fletcher, who died January 4, 1581: James Finley, on the homestead, and married to Rosaline, danghter of Thomas Knapp, of New London ( they have three children: Frank E., Elsie May and Roy Seely). Mr. Cockrell was engaged in the warehouse business at Burbank for a number of years in partnership with his son. He is a member of the Republican party, and has served as school director, ete. He started in life with limited means, and by hard work and persever- ance he has made a success. He now owns a fine farm of 116 acres of land. He and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
D ANIEL S. TINSTMAN. Few citi- zens of Wayne Township, whose association with the interests of the county is of so short a period, stand higher in the estimation of the commu- nity than Daniel S. Tinstman. He was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1811, the eldest of three children of
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Christian and Catherine (Shupe) Tinst- man. His father, who has for years been a prominent farmer, is still a resident of that county, a hale. hearty old gentleman, seventy-two years of age. Daniel was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the common schools. He remained at home until after the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, and when twenty-one years of age enlisted as a pri- vate in Company B. One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Infantry. and served his country faithfully two years and eleven months, rising from the ranks to the first lientenaney of his company. May 23, 1864, at North Aun River, Va., he was wounded by a minie-ball, his life being saved by a cartridge-box. Return- ing home in 1865, he for the three fol- lowing years was engaged in mercan- tile business. Ho then for a number of years was employed in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and subsequently for three years was superintendent of the Rising Sun Coke Works of his father-in-law, Peter Sherrick. He came to Wayne County in 1884, and has since been ex- tensively engaged in farming and stock- raising in Wayne Township.
he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.
R OBERT B. THOMPSON, one of the best known farmers of Woos- ter Township, was born Septem- ber 14, 1823. His father, David Thompson, was a native of Westmoreland County, Penn., and in 1816 came to Wayne County, and settled where Woos- ter City now stands. There he was mar- ried to Maria Cook, daughter of John Cook, and a native of Georgetown, Ohio. To this union four children were born, three of whom, Mrs. William Downing, C. W. and Robert B., are now living in Wayne County. On the 26th of May, 1860, Mrs. David Thompson died, at the age of sixty-four years, and on the 14th of March, 1880, her husband followed her to the grave. Mr. Thompson had been a pioneer, and made the improvements upon the farm, redeeming it from its virgin wild state. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians.
Robert B. Thompson spent the first ten years of his life in Wooster, and in Mr. Tinstman was married to Miss Barbara Sherrick in 1866, and they have one son, A. Sherrick, now a promising young man twenty years of age. 1833 removed to the farm which has since been his home. April IS, 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Rineberger, a native In of Pennsylvania, who came to Wayne politics Mr. Pinstman is a Republican: County when young. Her father died in
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Harrisburgh, Penn., but her mother still lives in South Wooster. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son: John C., who died at the age of one month, and Maria Elizabeth, now Mrs. John M. Yoder. Mr. Thompson is inde- pendent in politics, using his best judg- ment to select proper men for positions of honor and trust. He is highly re- spected among a large circle of acquaint- ances, and has the confidence of all who know him. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
JOHN M. YODER, one of Wooster's ris- ing young farmers, residing on Section 5, Wooster Township, was born in that town- ship April 4, 1819. His father, Stephen Yoder, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer, and came to Wayne County at an early day, and settled in Wooster Township. Here, in January, 1845, he was married to Katherine Miller, dangh- ter of Peter and Barbara (Plank ) Miller. Mrs. Yoder died at the age of twenty-five, when her son. John M., was an infant. After his wife's death the senior Mr. Yoder removed to lowa, where he now resides. John M. went with his father to lowa, and worked on the farm until 1868, when he returned to Wayne County. In December, 1873, he was united in mar- riage with Maria Elizabeth, daughter of Robert B. and Elizabeth ( Rineberger) Thompson. Since his marriage Mr. Yoder
has resided on the farm which is now his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Yoder seven children have been born, as follows: Jes- sie M., Robert A., Stephen A., Grace J., John T., Edward E. and Florence M .. all at home.
Mr. Yoder is regarded as a rising young man. In the full maturity of his powers, he is destined to add to the success which has so far followed him in life. He is prosperous in worldly affairs, and richer still in the respect and cordial friendship of all who know him. In polities he is a Republican.
S AMUEL FEIGHTNER, one of the oldest nativo citizens of Wayne County, was born in Greeno Town- ship in 1821, a son of Abraham and Christiana (Coter) Feightner. Abra- ham Feightner came from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1819 to Ohio, and en- tered 160 acres of land in Greene Town- ship, Wayne County. He built a log cabin, and then moved his family to the county. He was a successful business man, and at one time owned 500 acres, lo- cated in different counties in Ohio. Ho died at the age of seventy-three years. his wife living to be eighty-eight years old. Of their family of ten children, but three are now living.
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Samuel Feightner has spent his life in his native county, and proudly relates the fact that in his infancy his cradle was a trough cut rudely from a sugar maple tree. His education was obtained at the primitive log school-house, and by studying at home by the old fire-place after the day's work on the farm was done. Farming has been his life work, and his snecess is due to his energy, fragality and good management. He was married in 1813 to Chrissy Shartzer, daughter of Philip Shartzer, of Pennsylvania, and they have had a family of eight children: Levi, Christiana, Mary, Melinda, Ange- line, Marie, Peter and Clara. Melinda and Peter are deceased. Mr. Feightner in his political affiliations is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the German Baptist Church.
R OBERT EWING, one of the most prominent and wealthy citizens of Chester Township, was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., April 5, 1824, son of James and Elizabeth (Cresswell) Ewing, natives of Hanling- don County. Four children were born to them, all yet living, viz .: Robert, William, Elizabeth and Mary. William Ewing, grandfather of our subject, was born and |
reared in Huntingdon County, and was twelve years old at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. He married Eliza- beth Anderson, and they became the par- ents of seven children-four sons and three daughters. He followed farming as an ocenpalion, and was known as a hard- working man, of powerful endurance, great strength and excellent health. A sister, Catherine Ewing, was captured by the Indians and held a prisoner for seven years. James Ewing was also a farmer, and in his day was considered a success in the occupation. He cared nothing for polities. He died at the age of seventy- three years, his wife at the age of seventy- sevol.
Robert Ewing was educated in the com- mon schools of his township, and, like his ancestors, has always been a farmer. He left his native connty in 1553, and came to Chester Township, Wayne County, where he purchased 143 acres of land, which at that time consisted partially of forest, and almost all the improvements have been effected by himself. He was married February 15, 1853, to Caroline Henry. daughter of Abraham Henry, of Huntingdon County, Penn. Their only child, Elizabeth, now resides at home. Mr. Ewing was a trustee of the township in the years 1563 and 1564. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church : polit- ically, a Democrat.
Robert Ewing
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S R. SWITZER, farmer, is one of the hard-working and industrious citizens of Wayne County, and by his good management and frugality has made a success of agricultural pursuits. He was born near Greencastle, Franklin Co., Penn., in 1825, a son of Jacob and Margaret ( Balsby) Switzer, natives also of Franklin County, his father born in 1802 and his mother in 1807. His father was by trade a day laborer or "casterator," at which he worked the greater part of his life. He died September 23, 1871, his wife having preceded him to the bet- ter life in 1868. They had a family of thirteen children, but four of whom are now living: William W., S. R., Elizabeth and Ellen.
When our subject was five years old his parents moved to Dalton, Wayne Co., Ohio, and here he has since lived. He learned the stone-mason's and plas- terer's trade when he was twenty-four years old, and worked at it until 1883, since which time he has devoted his entire attention to his farm. He owns ninety acres of good land, well improved, on which he has lived since 1859. Mr. Switzer was married in 1850 to Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Miller) Baughman, of Lancaster County, Penn., and they have had a family of eight chil- dren: Jacob B., Margaret B., Abraham B., Elizabeth B., Isaac B., Ellen B., Will-
iam B. and Benjamin B. Mr. Switzer and his family are members of the Disci- ples Church. In politics he is a sup- porter of the Republican party. Mrs. Switzer's father makes his daughter's house his home, and is still enjoying good health, although now ninety years of age.
Z ENAS FUNK, son of Hugh and E. K. (Cornell) Funk, was born in Plain Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, in the year 1842. His grandfather, Jacob Funk, was a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Wayne County, mov- ing here in 1813, and. locating in Clinton Township. He was married three times, and had a family of twenty children. His first wife was a sister of Mrs. John B. Brown, and to them were born four- teen children, four of whom died in childhood. Three daughters died after reaching womanhood, and one, Tabitha, is the wife of ex-Sheriff J. J. Winbigler, of Ashland County, Ohio. Three sons, Hugh, America and Silas, who were resi- dents of Wayne County, aro deceased, und three, Stephen, John and Jacob, are living in Fulton County, Ohio. One son, Bruce, and five daughters, Charlotte, Ann, Rilla, Mary, and one deceased, were born to his last marriage. Of these children, America was married three times, first to
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Mary Ann Cowan, then to Fanny Kauff- man, and last fo Hannah Baumgardner; Silas was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Wells, and his second Matilda Shater; Stephen married Hannah Jewell; John, Anjaneite Loterdale; Jacob, Rachel Wells; Bruce, Hester Shreve; Charlotte is the wife of Mr. Ross; Am is the wife of Franklin Winbigler; Rilla married A. A. Carr, and Mary married George Sinkerson.
Hugh Funk was born in Virginia in 1802, and came to Wayne County with his parents, where, in 1827, he married E. K., daughter of Isaac Cornell, who came from Pennsylvania to Wayne County in 1813. They first settled in Clinton Township, and in 1834 moved to Plain Township, where Mr. Funk died in 1879, and Mrs. Funk still lives, aged eighty years. They had a family of seven chil- dren: Corpus C., in Ashland County, Ohio, married to Mary J. Foltz; Isaac, who was a member of Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Infantry, | and died while in the army; Mason, who died aged fourteen years; Lois, wife of A. G. Beall, of Mount Ayr, Iowa; Eunice, deceased wife of Louis Baird, of Porter County, Ind .; Laban, married to Eliza Bear, and is a farmer of Porter County, Ind., and Zenas, whose name heads this sketch.
E. C., daughter of William R. Tyler. and they have had five children-Bert A., W. Deloss, Lois B., Isaac (deceased) and Zenas Paul. After his marriage Mr. Funk located on the farm he still owns, where he has been a successful farmer and stock-raiser. During the War of the Re- bellion he was a member of Company C, Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and was wounded at Vicksburg, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He is identi- fied with the Republican party, and has served his township in various official posi- fions. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
AMES A. BRUCE, a well-known cit- izen of Wayne County, is a nafive of Scotland, where he was born in February, 1839, and is a son of Alexander and Martha ( Russell) Bruce. His father, who was a farmer, and his mother, a. daughter of John Russell, were also na- tives of Scotland, and came with their family to Wayne County in 1811. Here they settled upon a partly improved farm, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The mother died in 1863, aged fifty-five years, and the Father in ISCS, aged almost sixty-eight. Alexander Bruce was a stanch Republican, and both he and Zenas Funk was married, in 1868, to , his wife were members of the United
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Presbyterian Church of Wooster. Mr. Bruce began life a poor boy, and by his own industry and prudence, with the aid of his faithful wife, acquired a competence, and he also won the esteem and confidence of all who knew him.
James A. Bruce was about three years old when he came with his family to this country. His early life was spent upon the homestead, and he had the educational advantages afforded by the district and schools of Wooster. On the 7th of March, 1872, Mr. Bruce was united in marriage with Miss Maggie, daughter of Robert and Martha Dobbs, and a native of Wayne County. Her ancestors were of Irish origin, but were early settlers in this . country. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have been blessed with five children: Harry, Evan-
building of Wayne County and its interests. He has been prosperous in business, thanks to his industry, intelli- gence and foresight, and is a leader among men in his community, where he is highly respected and warmly beloved for his many manly qualities.
JACOB J. HAMMER was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 15, 1829, and is a son of John A. and Christi- ana (Gardhefner) Hammer, who immi- grated to America in 1840, and settled in Lawrence Township, Stark Co., Ohio, where they followed farming and lived and died. They reared a family of eight children, viz. : Mary M. (Mrs. Allen geline, Robert Pollock, Alexander and . Shunk), Dominick, Jacob J., Catherine Christina, all at home. Mr. Bruce has (Mrs. John Weaver), Simon, Andrew, four sisters living: Mina and Margaret, . Elizabeth ( Mrs. John Warner), and John who reside in Wayne County: Christina A., all of whom are now living. ( Mrs. Wallace), in Plain Township, and Jennie ( Mrs. Knox ), in Illinois. A brother, Alexander, lived in Holmes County, where he died, and where his widow and children now live.
Mr. Bruce is an earnest Republican, and he and his wife are active members of the United Presbyterian Church. His family is widely known and highly es- I successfully conducted until 1557, when teemed. Mr. Bruce's life, since coming to manhood, has been devoted to the up- , was engaged in farming ten years. In
Jacob J. was educated in the schools of Germany and Ohio, and served an appren- ticeship of three years at tho wagon- maker's trade in Stark County, Ohio. In 1851 he came to Doylestown, Wayne County, where he worked as a journey- man one year, and in 1852 he started a shop at Easton, samo county, which he he removed to Milton Township, where he
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1867 he located on the farm he now occu- pies in Chippewa Township, where he has since resided. About fifty acres of his farm are underlaid with a valuable coal deposit, which was developed by the Sil- ver Ceeek Mining & Railroad Company, and is now being operated by H. E. Loomis. In 1854 Mr. Hammer married Miss M. E., daughter of Benjamin and M. E. (Whitman) Kindig, of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, and by her had twelve children, as follows: John M., Charles B. (deceased ), Mary L., Christi- ana I. (Mrs. Peter Schwalbach ), Andrew B., Clement L. V., Rebecca E., Catherine L., Emma M., Augusta C., Josephine M. and Grace, Mr. Hammer and family are members of the Catholic Church. He served two terms as trustee of Milton Township during his residence there, also two terms in Chippewa Township. Polit- ically, he is an out and out Democrat. He is one of the leading farmers of Chippe- wa Township, and is deservedly popular in the community.
A NDREW MOORE, JR., is a son of John and Hannah ( Bovard ) Moore, natives of Beaver County, Penn., who came to Wayne County in 1812, and entered a traet of 160 acres of land, which is now owned by his sons.
They did not settle on this tract perma- nently, however, until 1514. Andrew Moore, brother of John. also came to Wayne County in 1814, and entered an adjoining tract of 160 acres of land. He married Nancy Caldwell, and they died leaving no issue. He was in the War of 1512. At his death he left $1,000 to Wooster University, and divided his land between Andrew Moore. Jr., and his brother Robert. The parents of our sub- jeet were married January 25, IS14. His mother was a member of the first log Pres- byterian Church of Beaver County, and after moving to this county they both took an active part in the Presbyterian Church of East Union Township. John Moore died October 15, 1863, and Hannah, April 25, 1560. They reared a family of six children, as follows: Jane, married to Abijab Carry, and died January 29, 1851; Margaret, now Mrs. James Cook, in Salt Creek Township, Wayne County ; Andrew, Jr .; Robert, in East Union Township, Wayne County; Mary Ann, married to William Hackett, and died May 2. 1852: Snsanna, married to Enos Johnson, and died March 6, 1564.
Andrew Moore, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was born on the homestead he now ocenpies, in East Union Township, Wayne County, February 6, 1819. His education was gained in the log school- house of that period, he having to walk
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three miles to reach the same. He has always remained on the homestead. May 11, 1848, he married Miss Deziah, dangh- ter of John Rogers, of Salt Creek Town- ship, Wayne County. She died January 25, 1881. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore: Elizabeth, born July 19, 1844, is the wife of Ebenezer Thomas, of Apple Creek, Wayne County, and their children are Edwin, Hettie, Andrew and Mary; John R., born March 15, 1846, lives on a part of Andrew Moore's homestead, in East Union Town- ship, and is married to Emma Armstrong, by whom he has four children: Nora, Delano, William and Isie; Amos, born September 17, 1847, married Elizabeth Dill, of Apple Creek, Wayne County ( they live in Holmes County, and have two children, John and Guy ) : Hannah Maria, born December 3, 1849, married R. G. Merriman, lives at home with our sub- jeet, and has one child, Clarence; Mary Jane, born October 17, 1851, married John Smith, of Wooster, and has three children, Audrew, Maggie and Nellie: Sarah Isiphine, born August 23, 1853, ; married Prof. J. B. Eberly, of Smithville, Ohio (she died Angust 4, 1878, leaving two children, Isie Moore with her father. 1 and John, who is being reared by Mr. and Mrs. R. (. Merriman); Margaret D., : 16, 1816, to JE Magdalena Thomas, a born May 27, 1856, died in infancy; Ma- tilda Alice, born July 12, 1859, married
Dr. Charles Baldwin, and lives in Wash- ington Territory (they have no children) ; Lola Anne, born July 20, 1868 (married Harry Smith, and lives in East Union Township, Wayne County ).
Andrew Moore, Jr., is a member of the Democratic party, and has served as in- firmary director for six years; also held offices of trustee, assessor, school director and supervisor of the towiship. He is a ruling elder in the Apple Creek Presby- terian Church.
JACOB HOFFMA, an old resident and well-known itizen of Wayne County, Ohio, ws born in Manor Township, Lancaster/o., Penn., January 16, 1792. He was farmer by occupa- tion, living in hisnative county until 1850. He was veryond of fishing in his early life, and may of the fimy tribe have become victis of his net at Safe Harbor, on the Squehanna River. In ISSO he remove with his family to Wayne County, hio, and bought 200 acres of land iEast Union Township, which he clearednd improved, and made "one of the best fms in the township.
Mr. Hoffmawas married, December native of the se township, born Devem- ber 13, 1791. fter a happy married life
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one daughter now living ) : Henry, of Mil-
of over half a century this tie was severed by the death of Mrs. Hoffman, which oc- ton Township, died March 29. 1875, the entred March 26, 1575, she dying of apo- owner of a nice town property ( he was married to Elizabeth Hoover, and they plexy, at the age of eighty-three years, three months and thirteen days. Mr. : had two sons and two daughters, of whom one son and one daughter are living); Martha, widow of Emanuel Geyer, owns a good farm of eighty acres in Wayne Township ( Mr. Geyer died September 12, 1865; they had a family of three sons and one daughter; one son is deceased) ; Philip died August 22, 1522; Frederick and Margaret, both ummarried, own a good farm of sixty-eight acres in Wayne Township, which is well improved, and is one of the pleasantest homes in the town- ship (they have taken a little girl, Cora Hoffman Berger, and intend to give her a good home and an education, and fit her for the duties of life) : Daniel T. is a resident of Wayne Township, and owns a nice farm of 100 acres; Benjamin is the owner of a fine farm of eighty agres in Elkhart County. Ind. (he married Mar- garet Coble, and they have four sons and one daughter) ; Tobias died April 1, 1828; Anna is the wife of Henry li. For-
Hoffman survived her nine years, and died also of apoplexy. August 8, 188-4, aged ninety-two years, six months and twenty-two days. Mr. Hoffman was a member of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ over forty-five years. When seventeen years old Mrs. Hoffman joined the Evangelical Church, but after her removal to Ohio, in 1850, there being no church of her choice here, she joined the Church of the United Brethren in 1 Christ with her husband. Father and mother Hoffman were quiet, massuming Christians, and were faithful adherents to their religious principles. They had a Family of twelve children -eight sons and four daughters-as follows: John, Jacob T., Henry, Martha, Philip, Frederick, Margaret, Daniel T., Benjamin, Tobias, Anna, Elizabeth. . Of these, John is a resident of Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., Pen., where he is the owner of a nice town property (he is married to Anna i rer, of Sugar Creek Township, where Flory, and they have one daughter ) : ' they have a fine farm of 100 aeros ( they have three sons) ; Elizabeth, who died June 11, 1872, was the wife of Jonathan Weaver, of Wooster Township, and they had a Family of seven daughters, three of whom are living.
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