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 43
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In Wooster, Rev. Elias Sichley met his future wife, then Miss Fannie Schmuck, to whom he was united in mar- riage February 12, 1886. She was, like her husband, a member of the Evangel- ical Association, with which she had united in early youth, and was in every way a fitting helpmate for her worthy husband.
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Of their union seven children were born, four of whom are now deceased. Rev. Mr. Sichley labored faithfully and suc- cessfully in the cause of Christ until his death, which occurred February 9, 1874, and was perhaps hastened by his arduous labors, which had weakened his constitu- tion. He was siek only five days, the im- mediate cause of his dissolution being pneumonia. On his death-bed he ex- horted his children to be faithful and firm in the cause of religion, speaking of the reward of those who endure to the end, which reward he was himself soon to par- take of. To his sorrowing life-compan- ion he spoke words of wisdom and conso- lation, and his last breath was exhaled in prayer. Thus passed to the eternal life one who was a faithful worker in the Lord's vineyard-who had fought the good fight and endured to the end, and who entered into the presence of his Mas- ter bearing his sheaves with him. His life had been full of good works, and his death was that of the true Christian. On his death-bed he had expressed a desire to donate money to worthy objects which he had at heart, but was too weak to make a will. The family respected his wishes, and shortly after his death they gave, as was his desire, $1,000 to the cause of home missions, $1,000 to German missions and $1,000 to foreign missions, the fuuds to be permanently invested and only the
interest to be used. His widow died in Chester Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, May 11, 1887. For two years prior to her death she had been a great sufferer, but bore her afflictions with Christian forti- tude. The immediate cause of her death was heart trouble. When her true posi- tion was explained to her on her death- bed, the good Christian, viewing death but as the beginning of a better life, ex- claimed, " It will be soon over. Glory! Glory! Glory!" She was buried from the Sichley Church, on Lafayette Circuit, of which she had so long been a devout mem- ber, and her funeral sermon was preached from Psalm cxvi: 15. The services were largely attended by those who knew and loved her.
Mr. and Mrs. Elias Sichley had seven children born to them, three of whom are now living, all in Wayne County; the oth - ers are deceased. Two daughters are liv- ing in this county-Elizabeth Ann, wife of Ephraim P. Keck, and Melvina Malin- da, now Mrs. Breidenstein, of Chester Township.
William H. HE. Sichley, the subject of this memoir, when some three years of age was, ont of respect to the Whig can- didate for the presidency, Gen. William IT. Harrison, named for him. His early life was spent upon the farm, and he re- ceived the advantages of the common schools of the day. He remained at
WAYNE COUNTY. 481
home until he was of age, and then | two finely improved farms in Wayne turned his attention to the cooper's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship, and which he subsequently followed for about twenty-one years, during which time he resided upon the farm in Chester Town- ship. In 1878 he embarked in the saw- mill business, at which he continued for some time. June 23, 1885, Mr. Sichley moved from the farm to Wooster, embark- ing in the business which he is now snc- : cessfully conducting. He keeps a line stock of goods, comparing favorably with those to be found in large cities, and is prospering.
William H. H. Sichley and Elizabeth Aun Wyckoff were united in marriage, in Plain Township. Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1860. She was the daughter of Peter and Maria Wyckoff, natives of New Jer- sey, where she also was born. The family came to Plain Township in 1819, and there the father died; the mother still re- sides there. Our subject and his wife have had four children (of whom three survive ) : Elmer W., on the home farm; Ora D. and Delphia Florence, at home, and Lillie May, who died when five months old. Mr. Sichley commenced compara- tively poor, but his life of industry, hon- esty and frugality has brought its own reward, and to-day he is in possession of a competence, and with all the material comforts of life around him. He owns
Connty, besides other property, and a flour- ishing business in Wooster, and is one of the best known citizens of the county, having the confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He and his wife are respected members of the Evangelical Church: he is a member of the K. of P. and the I. O. O. F .; polit- ically, a Republican. The twenty-third day of the month seems to have been marked in his calendar for several remark- "able coincidences. He was married on August 23, 1860; moved on October 23; his first child was born on May 23, 1861: he entered into his store, on South Mar- ket Street, June 23, 1SS5; removed his store into Frick Memorial Block October 23, 1586: and removed his family to Wooster March 23, 1887-a really curious chain of coincidences.
HIRAM F. S. SICHLEY, a brother of Will- jam H. H., was born September 20, 1811, and at the age of thirteen received relig- ion, and early resolved to devote himself to ministerial work. He studied at Greens- burg Seminary, and in 1862, at Sandusky, was received into the itineracy, in the Ohio Conference, and was sent to the Tuscarawas Cirenit; the second year he was transferred to the Richland Circuit, and the third year to the Piekaway Cir- cuit. He lost faith in his ability, and left the circuit, coming to his home in Wayne
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County. His father said to him, ou his arrival : " Hiram, hitherto when you have come home you have been wel- come, but this time you are not," words which sunk deep in the young preacher's mind. The following winter he taught school, but soon, with renewed faith and zeal, returned to his ministerial labors, to which he dedicated himself anew; and in which he was remarkably successful. His first appointment now was to the Wayne Circuit, and from there he was transferred to the Bristol Circnit. At Akron, Ohio, he was engaged in mis- sionary work in South Akron, and from there was transferred to the English mis- sion at the city of Cleveland. That dread disease, consumption, had fastened upon him, but as long as strength lasted he was zealous in his Master's service.
Hiram F. S. Sichley was married March 7, 1862, to Miss Sarah Walkey, who pre- ceded him to the grave one year and fourteen days. On March 1, 1873, the summons came for him to join her on the other side. On the day of his death he was up and about as usual. At supper his father said to him: " Hiram, your end is probably nearer than you think it." He answered: "May be it is, I did not think God would answer my prayer so soon;" and in a few minutes thereafter the good and faithful servant had entered into his reward. He was an earnest and
consistent Christian in life, and death found him prepared. His means he do- voted to church and charitable work; $4,000 was given for mission work in Europe; $4,000 for heathen missions; $2,000 for the support of missionaries; $2,000 for the erection of churches; $4,000 for home missions; $1,000 for the Ebenezer Orphans' Home, at Flat Rock, Ohio; $1.000 for the Union Biblical In- stitute, at Naperville, Ill .; the interest of $2,000 to educate poor young men for the ministry, and $2,000 for churches near his father's home.
ARL MERZ, MUS. D. There is no more prominent figure in the educational field of music than the gentleman of whom we now write. He is a native of Germany, born September 10, 1836, at Bensheim, of musical and literary ancestry. His father being a publie school-teacher as well as an accomplished musician, young Karl naturally enjoyed a liberal educa- tion, both in literature and in the - Art Divine," and in 1852 he graduated from a literary institution. He inherited a love for music, and his musical education commeneed at an early age, but was some- what limited and irregular. After gradu- ation Mr. Merz moved to Bingen on the
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Rhine, where he filled a government po- sition as teacher for awhile.
to Miss Mary Riddle, of said county, who has borne him three children, viz .: Harry Pinkney (deceased) ; Dr. Charles Hope, now a practicing physician in Sandusky, Ohio, and Bessie C., a teacher in Linden- wood Seminary, at St. Charles, Mo.
Soon realizing, however, that he had no opportunities there for the development and advancement his spirit longed for, he decided to seek his fortune in the broader fields of America, and accordingly, in Mr. Morz's wide reputation is undoubt- edly due to his numerous compositions. While he has written a great deal of music of a popular nature, he has produced many pieces characterized by deep senti- ment and pure style, among which may be mentioned his " Sonata." " Nocturnes." Lancaster County, Pen., acting at the ! an " Elegy " and a " Caprice," besides songs, choruses, and his ever popular op- erettas and waltzes. In 1873 he became editor-in-chief of the " Musical World " (his first connection with that journal having commenced in 1868), a position he yet fills, and is eminently fitted for. In connection with his musical work Mr. Merz has also been active as a lecturer on kindred topies, by which he has done much good in setting forth the high mis- sion of his chosen art. Though Mr. Merz was well educated while young, it must be said of him, as a musician, editor, com- poser and lecturer, that he is a self-made man, who, through much study and pa- tient labor, has developed his powers and attained the high degree of honor and es- teem which he now holds in the work of music. He is in the prime of life, an act- 1854, he sailed for Philadelphia, where he arrived in September. Here he was engaged as organist in the Sixth Presby- terian Church, a position he retained one year: then accepted a place as teacher in an Episcopal school for young ladies, in " same time asorganist in the village church. During his stay in this retired spot MIr. Merz diligently studied and composed. After this we find him teaching in the Sonth, among other places in Harrison- burg and in Hollins' Institute, Virginia. While visiting in the North the Civil War broke out, and this necessitated another change in location. At this time Mr. Merz occupied a position as teacher of music in the Oxford ( Ohio) Female Col- lege, where he performed a vast amount of labor during his twenty-one years' incumbency, and here, in Oxford, many of his popular works were composed. At the close of this college, in 1882, Mr. Merz accepted a call from the University of. Wooster, Ohio, where he now fills the chair of director of music. In 1859 he was married, in Lancaster County, Penn., Five and indefatigable worker. In dispo-
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sition he is kind, charitable and generous, and has formed many lasting friendships wherever he has lived.
H ENRY MUNSON, the youngest surviving son of Henry and Mary (Cutter) Munson, was born on the homestead which he now owns in Franklin Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, February 15, 1837. He received a dis- triet school education, and has always been engaged in farming. In 1861 he married Miss Rebecca, daughter of John Jones, of Hohues County, Ohio, and she died in 1874, leaving four children, viz. : John, living at home; Ellsworth, in Ne- braska, and James and William, at home. Mr. Munson was again married, on this occasion, in 1876, to Miss Martha Me- Cartney, daughter of Craig McCartney, of Holmes County, Ohio, and to this union has been born one child, Mand, who is still at home. Mr. Munson was drafted in 1862, and taken as far as Mansfield, Ohio, where he hired a substitute. Like all of his family, he is a Democrat, and has held the office of trustee and super- visor of his township. Our subject and family are members of the Fredericksburgh Methodist Episcopal Church, he holding the office of trustee ut the present time.
W ILLIAM W. BROWN, son of Johu Buckner and Mary ( Mor- gan) Brown, was born on the farm now owned by Ralston B. Brown, in Clinton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, March 23, 1815. Thomas Brown, his grandfather, a native of Virginia, was a soldier during the War of the Revolu- tion. His children were Elizabeth, John B., George, Lydia, Samuel B., William, Mary Ann and Thomas F., all now de- ceased. John B. was reared and educated in Loudoun County, Va., where he mar- ried Mary Morgan; they then located in West Virginia, where two children were born to them: Ann, born November 28, 1811, died August 12, 1512, and George LT., born April 4, 1813, died in 1841.
In 1513 J. B. Brown removed to (lin- ton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, and pur- chased the southeast quarter of Section 20, Township 18, Range 14, where the rest of his children were born. named: William W., Hugh M. (boru October 11, 1816, and married to Margaret Neely, in 1839, both deceased), Thomas A., born June 22, 1818, and married to Mary Bird, residing in Clinton Township, Wayne County; Rebecca Ann, born Feb- ruary 25, 1820, died in infancy; John, born October 25, 1822, married to Rhoda Newkirk, died in Shreve, April 19, 1859: Merey, born December 19, 1823, died in infancy; Stepheu, boru August 8, 1826,
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WWW Brown.
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married to Martha M. Riffle, who has since died, he is still a resident of Clinton Township; Mary Ann, born Angust 25, 1828, now Mrs. James K. Campbell, of Ripley Township, Holmes Co., Ohio; Isaac, now a resident of Ripley Township, Holmes Co., Ohio, married to Elizabeth McConkey, deceased, and Samuel E., a resident of Firth, Neb.
William W. was raised and educated in Clinton Township, and April 6, 1837, he married Phebe, daughter of James Lee, of Ripley Township, Holmes Co., Ohio. They located on the farm he now owns in Clinton Township (his present residence) and engaged in farming. To them ten children were born: Elias, born Decem- ber 2, 1838, married to Sarah J. Numbers, October 2, 1862, is now a farmer of Kidder, Mo .; James, born April 13, 1840, married to Mary J. MeCleve, and died June 23, 1869; Hugh M., born Septem- ber 18, 1841, married first to Elmira Merkle, and next to Agnes J. Bareus, he died November 1, 1887: Caroline, born March 23, 1843, married to John HI. Batdorff, who is engaged in the saw-mill business at Liberty Center, Henry Co., Ohio; William Wesley, born March 2, 18.15, died July 25, 1877; Mary M., born October 20, 1846, now Mrs. James Kerr, of Clinton Township; Millard Fillmore, born November 12, 1848, married to Hadessa McMillen, and died November
9, 1879, she died December 31, 1886; David, born September 21, 1851, married to Effie McFadden, is now a farmer of Clinton Township; Stephen, born Febru- ary 2, 1854, married to Mary Keiffer, is now a farmer of Clinton Township; Phebe E., born July 25, 1857, now Mrs. Melvin Richey, of Clinton Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived together on the old homestead until her deeease, July 17, 1886; she was a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Brown is a mem- ber of the Disciples Church; political honors have been thrust upon him; he was justice of the peace fifteen years; trustee of the township nearly one-fourth of the time, and, what is most of all re- markable, school director fifty successive years. Mr. Brown is now seventy-three years of age, and has witnessed the growth and development of the county from a wilderness, there being but six log cabins in Clinton Township on his ar- rival here. Ile is a stanch Republican, having voted for Harrison in 1840, and the grandson in ISSS.
B ROWN FAMILY. In tracing the genealogy of the Brown family of Wayne County, Ohio, we find that the first of whom we have any record was William Brown, who was born in Prince
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William County, Va., in 1722, of Irish parentage, and died in 1806. He married a widow, Sealthy ( Asher) Buckner, who had two children, John Anthony, and one whose name we are unable to ascertain. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born three children, John, Thomas and Rebecca. John died ummarried; Rebecca married a man named Cornell, and moved to Fred- erick County, Va., and there closes the record we have of her.
Thomas Brown, the second son, was born in Prince William County, Va., in 1760, married, October 20, 1785, Nancy Ash, and in 1805 moved from Fauquier County, Va., to Monongalia (now Pres- ton ) County, W. Va., where Mrs. Brown died soon after, and Mr. Brown in 1844. They had a family of eight children, the record of whom as we give it was fur- nished by W. T. Brown, of Grafton, W. Va., and was copied from an old book of his grandfather's, owned by his aunt, Betsey Cartwright: Elizabeth, was born August 11, 1786; John Buckner, January 28, 1788; George, November 11, 1789; Lydia, October 22, 1791; Samuel Byrne, Octo- ber 24, 1793; William, March 6, 1796; Mary Ann, October 26, 1797, and Thomas Francis, May 4, 1801.
Elizabeth Brown, the eldest of this family, died June 23, 1867. She was twice married, her first husband being -- Stevens, and to them were born two
children: Marry B., born November 10, 1811, in Monongalia County, W. Va., married Susan Foster, and died Decem- ber 16, 1844; Anna M., born June 15, 1813, married Thomas Protzman, and died March 21, 1887. Her second hus- band, Isaac Cartwright, was born in Mor- gantown, W. Va., and died March 5, 1865. They had four children, as follows: William B., born January 1, 1823. mar- ried Margaret Mourton, September 4, 1846, and now lives at Flatwoods, Braxton Co., W. Va .; Thomas F., born October 17, 1825, was married September 26, 1854, to Rebecca Cortlo, and died April 16, 1879, in Howard City, Elk Co., Kas., at the age of fifty-three years, five months, thirty days, his wife having preceded him September 9, 1878, at the age of forty- seven years, eleven months, twenty-four days; Mary M., born January 2, 1827, was married to A. C. Hill, February 1, 1849, and now lives at Golden, Barry Co., Mo .; Marinda R., born November 10, 1831, was married May 22, 1873, to Wilson Darling, in Stewardtown, Monon- galia Co., W. Va.
The record of the children of Thomas F. Cartwright is as follows: Marinda C., born November 2, 1855, died November 2, 1858; America A., born January 10, 1856, married -- Fitts, died February 24, 1888; John E., born December 19, 1859, died December 8, 1853; James E.,
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born October 12, 1861, died September 26, 1862; Elizabeth L. V., born March 12, 1864, in DeKalb County, Mo .; Per- melia M., born June 4, 1866, died Novem- ber 2, 1867; Lee E., born March 14, 1868, lives in DeKalb County, Mo. ; Will- iam C., born March 13, 1870, died August 30, 1870; Mary Frances, born March 13, 1870, died September 14, 1870.
The record of the children of Alexan- der C. and Mary M. (Cartwright) Hill is as follows: Joseph Elara, born Novem- ber 26, 1849, married Esther Hurst March 28, 1879, lives in Livingston County, Mo .; Elizabeth Lowery, born April 5, 1851, married George W. Davis April 24, 1873, lives in Barry County, Mo .; Sarah Anna, born November 30, 1852, married Edman T. Taylor, Febru- ary 6, 1878, lives in Livingston County, Mo .; Isaae Scott, born June 14, 1857, died December 13, 1857; Benjamin F. W., born December 3, 1858, married Ledonia J. Houff, October 12, 1882, lives in Barry County, Mo .; Isadora Amberzine, born June 30, 1863, married C. E. Free- man, September 26, 1886, lives in Car- roll County, Ark. ; Mary Esmarelda, born April 15, 1866, lives in Barry County, Mo.
JOHN BUCKNER BROWN, the eldest son of Thomas and Nancy ( Ash) Brown, was born in Loudoun County, Va., and moved from there to Wayne County, Ohio, in
1813, in company with Jacob Funk and family, arriving in Clinton Township September 17. He located on the farm now owned by Ralston B. Brown, where he died September 25, 1855, and was buried in the Baptist cemetery, near the James Campbell farm. He married Mary Morgan, who died in July, 1850, and was buried beside her husband. They had a family of twelve children: Am, born November 28, 1811, died August 12, 1812; George Harrison, born April 4, 1813, died in 1844; William W., born March 23, 1815; Hugh Morgan, born Oe- tober 14, 1816, died June, 1868; Thomas A., born June 22, 1818; Rebecca A., born February 25, 1820, died in infancy; John, born October 25, 1822, died April 19, 1889; Mercy, born December 19, 1823, died in infancy; Stephen, born Au- gust 8, 1826; Mary Ann, born August 25, 1828; Isaac, born April 3, 1831, and Samuel Ellery, born August 12, 1833.
GEORGE BROWN, the second son of Thomas and Nancy (Ash) Brown, mar- ried, and had five children: John and Bailey, two sons who were killed by Con- federates at the outset of the Civil War- Bailey while guarding a bridge near Grafton, W. Va., the first Union man killed in West Virginia, in 1861; Mary married a man by the name of James Funk, residence, Newburgh, W.
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Va .; Anna,' married, but history not furnished; Ellen, married William Bart- lett, residence, Point Pleasant, W. Va.
SAMUEL B. BROWN, the third son of Thomas and Nancy ( Ash) Brown, mar- ried Termeline Zinn, and to them were born ten children: Ashford, of Webster, Taylor Co., W. Va. ; Lycurgus, of Glades- ville, Preston Co., W. Va .; William B., of Lyon, W. Va .; Granville, of Halleck, Monongalia, Co., W. Va .; Marciations J., of Gladesville; Clarissa B., wife of George Stoyer, of Oakland, Garrett Co., Md .; Anna Melia (or Anamela ), Elizabeth, Lo- retta and Sarah Anne.
THOMAS FRANCIS BROWN, the youngest son of Thomas and Nancy (Ash ) Brown, married Elizabeth Zinn, and to them were born six children: Adaline, born July 9, 1831, married W. J. Morgan, of Hills- boro, Ohio, and died June 13, 1868; Buck- ner B., born November 6, 1832, lives at Reedsville, W. Va .; William T., born Jan- mary 7, 1535, near Gladesville, W. Va., lives at Grafton, W. Va. ; Charles M., born January 25. 1837, married Harriet Fair- fax, and died November 26, 1868; Virgil S., born October 15, 1838, in Preston County, W. Va., and lives at Garrison, Mo. ; Chloe N., born August 15, 1841, died October 5, 1865. The three members of this family who have died are buried at Independence, W. Va. The family history of Lydia, William and Mary Ann, three of the family
of Thomas and Naney (Ash ) Brown, has not been furnished us.
[We have thus briefly sketched three genera- tions of the Brown family as far as able to ascer- tain faets, and this brings us to the fourth genera- tion, which we are able to give more at length. ]
GEORGE HARRISON BROWN, eldest son of John B. and Mary ( Morgan ) Brown, mar- ried Rebecca Hull, and to them were born two children: Lucy Ellen, wife of John- son Battles, of Nokomis, Ill. and Mary Esther, wife of Dr. Ferrell, of Columbus, Ohio. After the death of Mr. Brown his widow married Uriah White.
WILLIAM W. BROWN, second son of John B. and Mary ( Morgan ) Brown, lives at Shreve, Ohio. He was married April 6, 1837, to Phebe Lee, who died July 17, 1886, and they had a family of ten chil- dren: Elias, of Kidder, Mo., born Decem- ber 22, 1838, and married October 2, 1862, to Sarah J. Numbers; James, born April 13, 1840, married Mary J. MeCleve, and died June 23, 1869; Hugh M., born September 15, 18-11, and married Elmira Merkle, who died and he afterward married Agnes J. Bareus; Caroline, born March 23, 1843, married September, 1565, to John Batdorff: William Wesley, born March 2, 1845, died July 25, 1877; Mary Margaret, born October 20, 1846, married James Kerr; Millard Fillmore, born No- vember 12, 1848, married Hadessa MeMillen; David, born September 21,
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1851, married Effie MeFadden ; Stephen, born February 2, 1854, married Mary Keiffer; Phebe E., born July 25, 1857, became the wife of Melvin Richey, De- cember 3, 1878.
James, son of William W. Brown, mar- ried Mary Jane MeCleve, and has three children: Hugh M., born September 22, 1862; James W., May 8, 1865, and Dolor- ous Elva, October 19, 1868.
Hugh M., son of William W. Brown, died of lock-jaw at Liberty Center, No- vember 1, 1887. He was twice married, first to Elmira Merkle, and second to Agnes J. Barcus. To his first marriage was born one daughter, Minnie.
Caroline, daughter of William W. Brown, married John Batdorff, September 24, 1865. Mr. Batdorff was a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Infantry, and was a prisoner at Camp Ford, Texas, one year and twenty- four days. Mr. and Mrs. Batdorff have had three children: Russell B., born De- cember 12, 1867; Mahlon, born October 1, 1871, was killed by an accident in a saw-mill at Damaseus, Ohio, May 20, 1887; Viva Blanche, born January 29, 1886, in Liberty Center, Williams Co., Ohio.
Mary M., daughter of W. W. Brown, married James Kerr; to them were born two children: Tey and John.
Millard Fillmore, son of W. W. Brown,
married Hadessa McMillan; to them were born two children: Nellie, now deceased, and Harry, the only one of the family now living.
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