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 46
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and good management has built up the ' to Cincinnati, and took charge of a ' bns best trade in Smithville. On April 8, line; also examined all the cavalry horses obtained there for the cavalry service in the War of the Rebellion, his family in the meantime continuing to live in Canaan Township. His wife died in 1862, and he in 1878. Their family consisted of the following-named children: J. H. and one daughter, Julia, now the wife of Lyman Cotton, son of Esquire Cotton (deceased), of Creston, Ohio; they reside in St. Paul, Minn. 1880, Mr. Willaman was married to Anna, daughter of John and Lizzie Dresher, who have been for many years residents of Smithville, but were living in Chicago when Mrs. Willaman was born, on March 4, 1855. They have three children: John J., Glenn Dresher and Mary Edith. Mr. Willaman is a young man of mehr energy and enterprise. He attends closely to his business, and by watching the wants of his trade and keeping his stock woll sup- plied, and selling for a fair margin, has made a fine trade. He is justly regarded as a rising young man, who is bound to take a leading place in the business cir- cles of his native town.
D R. J. H. RUGGLES was born in Scholarie County, N. Y., July 13, 1831, son of H. B. and Elizabeth (Peak) Ruggles, former a native of Mas- sachusetts, and latter of Schoharie County, N. Y. They came to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1837, and located at Jackson, Canaan Township, where the father car- ried on the manufacture of harness, sad- dles, trunks, etc. He afterward engaged with Kimble Porter, proprietor of a stage route, acting as his agent, from Buffalo to Detroit for ten years. He then went
J. H. Ruggles came to Wayne County when six years of age, and received his classical education at Seville Academy. He first read medicine with Dr. Moore, of Wooster, Ohio, and afterward with Dr. Rob- ison, finishing with Dr. George, of Jackson, Ohio. He attended the Western Reserve College of Cleveland, and graduated from the Charity Hospital Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1562. Dr. Ruggles began the practice of medicine at Jackson, and remained there five years; thenee moved to Clyde, Sandusky Co., Ohio, for six months, and from there moved to Creston, Wayne County, where he has since been engaged in an extensive prac- tice. He is a member of the Northeastern Ohio Medical Association, and of Seville Lodge, No. 74, F. & A. M. In 1856 the Doctor married Miss Sarah Jane, daughter of Hollis and Sarah Stebbins, of Lockport, N. Y .. and by this union they
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have had four children: Emma A., de- ceased wife of Casper Johnson; Belva, wife of Hexter Hellinger, of Canaan Town- ship (has two children, Montrood and Fern) ; Ella and Carrie, at home. Dr. Ruggles conducts a farm in connection with his profession. He is a Republican in politics, and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is treasurer.
E DWARD F. KEELING is a son of William and Lucy ( Fullard ) Keel- ing, natives of England, who immi- grated to America in December, 1833, and in the spring of 1834 came to Wayne County, Ohio, where they purchased a farm in Milton Township, and here lived until their deaths. Edward F., their only child, was born at Woodhurst, Hunting- donshire, England, December 29, 1823. He accompanied his parents to this coun- ty when only ten years of age, and has since been engaged in farming in Milton Township. He erected, and operated for a number of years, the first saw-mill in Milton Township. In 1851 Mr. Keeling married Mary, danghter of Daniel John- son, of Medina County, Ohio, and two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Keeling is a mem- ber of the Democratic party, and has
served as justice of the peace for two terms, notary public for two terms, and in various other township offices. He was active in clearing the township during the War of the Rebellion.
OHN MOWERY (deceased) was born in Greenbrier County, Va., in the year 1800. He was a son of John Mowery, who, with his wife, was a resident of Wayne County. His father's family consisted of himself, one brother and nine sisters, all of whom are dead ex- cept two sisters, namely: Mrs. Nancy Fiers, who resides at Stockdale, Ind., and Mrs. Catherine Lowery, who resides in Congress Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, the former being about eighty years of age, and the latter eighty-nine. John's mother died in Greenbrier County, Va., when he was abont six years old. When John was fourteen years of age, his father removed to Wayne County, accom- panied by his children. He first settled on a farm about two miles and a half west of Wooster. The father, being of limited means, was compelled to support his family by doing labor, in which his son, John also engaged with him. Until over nineteen years of age John's chief employ- ment was the clearing of land and mak- ing of rails, in which he was an expert,
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dexterously wielding an ax weighing nine pounds, made expressly for him by a blacksmith. By his father's permission, after he was nineteen Jolm set out in the world for himself, his only capital at that time being his good moral character, tem- perate habits, energy and industry. His physical constitution was remarkable. Though not a large or robust man, he was strong, active and vigorous, always enjoy- ing perfect health, never having been con- fined to his bed by disease until his last illness, which was of but a few days' dura- tion. He died at the residence of John N. Mowery, in Chester Township, Wayne County, on the 3d day of June, 1884, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
When twenty years of age John pur- chased seventy acres of land in Perry Township, then in Wayne, but now in Ashland County, near the present town of Rowsburgh, and these seventy acres formed the nucleus of the large fortune which he acquired. On the 1st day of June, 1820, he was united in marriage with Miss Mar- garet Adams, of Congress Township, Wayno County, a very worthy lady, with whom he lived in the utmost harmony until her death, which occurred in 1856. The issue of this marriage was Thomas, . Nathaniel, John N., Dr. Michael E., Sa- rah (Mrs. Jacob Snell), a son who died in infancy, and Rebecca, his youngest daughter, who died in 1879. Early in
his history, after marriage, Mr. Mowery became the owner of a quarter section of land in Chester Township. Owing to this land being to some extent overgrown with hard brushwood, and there being several John Mowerys in the neighborhood, he was called Hard John Mowery, by which title he was well known throughout the country. As a leading financier, money loaner, a man of sturdy habits, strict in- tegrity, honesty, great industry and re- markable energy, he had acquired a wide reputation. For forty years previous to his death Mr. Mowery was deeply inter- ested in religious matters. Having no education, and being thus unable to read or write, he was compelled to rely on his wife and other good friends to read to him the truths of the Bible. For two years he devoted the greater part of his time, as a pupil of his wife, in gaining an edu- cation and reading and studying the sa- cred scriptures. By earnest prayer, hum- bleness of heart and repentance he real- ized a change of heart to such a degree that he became converted and a full be- liever in the atonement. After his con- version he became a changed man, and lived a strictly upright life, believing, when death called him home, his soul would ascend to Heaven, and be with God and Christ forever.
Mr. Mowery, at his death, was the owner of 1, 100 acres of land in Wayne County, and
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personal property valued at about $125,- 000, all of which he accumulated by his own industry. As a pioneer he entered the forests, which he leveled with his great ax, making the dense wilderness blossom as the rose, even while the sav- ago Indian's sealping-knife gleamed in the sunshine and moonlight about his cabin. He was domestie in his habits, but a kind neighbor, ever courteous, and sharing the good-will of every one. In polities he was a Democrat of the Jeffer- sonian school, a supporter and admirer of Andrew Jackson. Calling his children to his bedside, bidding them all farewell, his last words were: "Now I will go to sleep." . Mr. Mowery made no will for the disposition of his estate, which is en- joyed by his surviving children, consist- ing of four sons and one daughter.
W ILLIAM A. RATHBUN was born in Chester Township in 1915, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Edmunds ) Rathbun, and is the youngest of a family of nine children. The Rath- bun family is recognized as among the most prominent in the county. Samuel was born in Rochester, N. Y., in the year 1800, and all of his life has been spent in farming. He left his native home with his parents when fourteen years of age,
and settled in Wayne County, Ohio. William A. now superintends the work on his father's farm, which comprises 165 acres of valuable land. He is among the more intelligent men engaged in farming. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. F., and of the Evangelical Church. He casts his suffrage with the Prohibitionists.
JOHN K. SALTSMAN, son of John Saltsman, a native of Westmore- land County, Penn., was born Sep- tember 5, 1825, in Jefferson County, Ohio, whither his father had come with his par- ents when only twelve years old. The latter married in Jefferson County, and there reared a large family, and died in his seventy-fourth year. The subject of this sketch, after leaving Jefferson Coun- ty, located in Carroll County, Ohio, for two years, and in the fall of 1866 he and his family became permanent citizens of Congress Township, Wayne County. July 3, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Barelay, daughter of Joseph and Jennette Barclay, both natives of Scotland, who in an early day immigrated to America, settling in Carroll County, Ohio, where they lived many years, both dying at an advanced age. To Mr. and Mrs. Saltsman have been born seven chil-
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dren. They have for many years been identified with the Presbyterian Church of West Salem, Wayne County. Our sub- ject now owns the old home place of John Mosier, who was one of the early comers into Congress Township, and entered the land npon which Mr. Saltsman now lives. The latter has at all tines been deeply in- terested in the private and public improve- ments of his township, and stands high in the estimation of the community.
M S. ROBISON, son of John and Evan (Stucky ) Robison, was born in Centreville, Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1851. Hisgrandfather, Charles Robison, who was of Scotch descent, and a native of Baltimore, Md., removed to Pennsylvania. Here he married Elizabeth Liekerty, and then located in Centreville, where he spent the remainder of his days. His widow then moved to Shreve, where she had her home until her decease. Their children were John (see below), Marga- ret (she married David Keggs, and lo- cated in Centreville, from which place they removed to California, thence to - Pike's Peak, where he died), David ( fore- man in ear-shops at Tillin, Ohio), James (killed by the Indians on the plains), Sarah (now Mrs. Oliver Bills, of Michi- gan), Joseph (deceased, his residence
having been in Wayne Township), Eliza- beth (now Mrs. Henry Snyder, of Cen- treville, Ohio), Lydia (the late Mrs. Edward Lake, of Big Prairie, Ohio), Charles (foreman in car-shops at Flint, Mich. ), Susan J. (now Mrs. John Bn- chanan, of Flint, Mich.), Cornelius (a resident of Shreve ), and Ellen ( now Mrs. Peter Housel, resident of Shreve). Simon Stucky, maternal grandfather of our sub- jeet, was a native of Virginia, and a sol- dier in the War of 1812, at the close of which he removed to Harrison County, Ohio, where he married a Miss Baker, and settled in Centreville, being among the pioneers of that village, and where they remained during their lives. To them were born three children: Polly (married Custard Bunting, when they located at Centreville, where he died and she still resides), Lydia (now Mrs. Joseph Geissinger, of Centreville) and Evan (the late Mrs. John Robison, of Shreve).
Jolm Robison, the first son of Charles, and father of M. S., was born in Franklin County, Penn., in the year 1822, where he received an elementary education, and remained until 1839, in which year he emi- grated to Ripley Township, Hohnes Co., Ohio, where he married Evan, daughter of Simon Stucky, of Virginia. They then located at Shreve, where he began his business career as a village blacksmith,
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and later became proprietor of a grocery, bakery and retail clothing store, owner of a mill, as well as owner and genial land- lord of the Robison House, a hostelry noted for its excellence throughont the county. Mr. Robison has always been a Democrat, and from time to time has been made the recipient of political favors. He was the first one of his party to be elected justice of the peace in Clinton Township, has held various positions since, and after the incorporation of Shreve he be- came its second mayor. Ile has always been one of the able and prominent citi- zeus, identified at all times with its local enterprises, and largely interested in edo- cational matters, having erected several of the school buildings of his township. Ever a man of broad views, he has been just, generous and serupulously honora- ble in all business transactions, not given to forcible expression of his sentiments, thereby rendering his opinion more valu- able; a desirable host, a devoted husband, a kind and affectionate father. Mrs. Rob- ison died December 17, 1884, since when he has made his home with his son, M. S. Their family are Jacob II. (who married Eliza, daughter of Daniel Batdorff, of Shreve, where they located; at the begin- ning of the late war he enlisted, and died in the army), Elizabeth (now Mrs. Matthias Keller, of Millersburgh: Mr. Keller entered the army, was captured, and 1
died in prison at Andersonville), May Jane (now Mrs. George Gates, of Lou- donville, Ohio), Darius (who married Mary Jane Smith, and is now a resident of Mansfield, Ohio), John M. (who mar- ried Emma Filby, and is now a resident of Shreve), Almina (now Mrs. John Davy, of Atchison, Kas.). Ellen H. (now Mrs. William Hall, of Shreve), and M. S.
The subject proper of this memoir at the early age of twelve years started in life to work out his own destiny. He engaged in various ocenpations in several States, until, in 1869, he married May C., dangh- ter of John P. Wise, of Clinton Town- ship, this county, and his first business venture was as a blacksmith, in Shreve, in 1870; later he was in the boot and shoe trade, and proprietor of a market, but eventually returned to his former vo- cation, and in 1879 re-established his blacksmith and carriage works at Shreve, which he conducted successfully until 1888, when fire destroyed his buildings, entailing a heavy loss. Not disheartened. however, he at once became proprietor of the Robison House, enlarged its capacity, refitted and refurnished it throughout, and under his able management it is rap- idly becoming the popular hotel at Shreve. May C., his wife, died in August, 1880. she was a lady who ably filled the posi- tion of wife and mother, and one emi- nently fitted to adorn the position she
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held, not only in the domestic but social circle. Her children are Bertie, Lulu, Howard M. and Walter.
Mr. Robison, in December, 1881, mar- ried Almedia, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Shrimpler, of Killbuck, Holmes Co., Ohio, and their home is as stated above. Mr. Robison is a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 528, F. & A. M. of Shreve; Shreve Council No. 27, R. A., and of Killbuck Ruling No. 79, F. M. & C. He is also identified with the Democratic party, and he and wife are members of the Disciples Church.
E BER B. CONNELLY was born at. Morristown, Ohio, August 12, 1828, and died October 13, 1883. For nearly thirty years he had been a resident of Wooster, the first ten years of the time working at the tailor's trade. About the close of the war he went into the hotel business, assuming the proprietorship of the old Washington House, on the corner of East Liberty and Buckeye Streets. His widowed sister-in-law, Mrs. Linda Connelly, now Mrs. A. M. Parrish, took charge of his domestic affairs, and be- came the popular and skillful hostess of the hotel. Together they worked, and by careful and judicious management acen- ulated means sufficient to supplant the
old wooden building with a handsome, substantial and well-appointed brick structure, which now occupies the site of the old Washington House, The new hotel was built in 1878, and was named "The Archer House," in honor of Mrs. Connelly's son Archer, deceased.
Mr. Connelly was a successful, aecom- modating landlord, and was ably assisted in the management of the fine hotel by his sister-in-law. Mr. Connelly died a bachelor. His father died in the prime of life, and his mother afterward mar- ried a Mr. Findley, who also died, and after the death of her second husband, found a home with her son. She survived him only about six months, dying in 1884 at the age of eighty-six years. Mr. Con- nelly was a man of genial and affable manner; of solid and strict business in- tegrity ; of a generous, kind-hearted dis- position ; of determined and settled con- vietions, and of uncompromising prin- ciples. In his business he formed many friendships and acquaintances, and was always well thought of and universal- ly liked. As a citizen he was always public-spirited, and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to aid any enterprise that would contribute to the prosperity and advancement of his city. In politics he was an uncompromising Republican.
The remains of Mr. Connelly were interred in the family lot in Oak Hill
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Cemetery, and his memory is still held dear by hosts of friends and acquaintances.
JACOB B. FRANKS is a son of Aaron and Rebecca ( Willoughby ) Franks, natives of Fayette County, Penn., who came to Wayne County in 1827, and located in East Union Township, where they remained one year, and then pur- chased eighty acres of land one and one- half miles east of Moorland, where they carried on farming and stock-breeding. Aaron Franks was a prominent member of the Democratic party, and was infirm- ary director for ten years. ' His wife died in 1868, the mother of nine children, as follows: Isaiah, in Holmes County, Ohio; Jacob B., our subject; Israel, Cornelius, George and Elizabeth, all deceased; Michael, in Franklin Township, Wayne County; Abigail, wife of Wallace Benebee, also in Franklin Township, and Aaron, on the homestead. Mr .. Franks married for his second wife Miss Ann Zaring. No children were born to this mion. Mr. Franks died in 1883, and his widow now resides in Wooster, Ohio.
Our subject was born in Fayette County, Penn., January 6, 1826, and was brought to Franklin Township, Wayne County, by his parents, at the age of one year. He. was reared on the farm and sent to the
schools of his township, where, with the exception of sixteen years spent in East Union Township, he has always lived. . In 1852 Mr. Franks married Elizabeth, danghter of John Rowland, of Holmes County, Ohio, and eight children have been born to them, of whom two died in infancy. The others are as follows: Isaiah N., in Franklin Township, Wayne County, married to Margaret, daughter of Andrew Miller, of Franklin Township, and they have four children-Tilden, Jacob E., Alwilda and an infant; Matilda, living at home; Rachel, wife of Charles Math- ews, of Holmes County, Ohio, has one child; James, at home; Maria, wife of William Lawrence, of Plain Township, Wayne County, has one child, Warren; and Amzi, at home. Politically Mr. Franks is a Democrat, and he has held nearly all of the township offices. He is a member of Franklin Grange; holds the office of treasurer and trustee of the Moorland Methodist Episcopal Church.
D AVID C. COOK, ESQ., is a son of Robert and Jennie D. (Cummings ) Cook, former a native of Butler County, Penn., and latter of Indiana County, Penn. Samuel Cook, the pater- nal grandfather of David C., came to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1816, and en-
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tered a tract of 175 acres of land in what is now Sugar Creek Township. He was a school-teacher, and taught the first school in Sugar Creek Township. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and was a prominent member of the Dalton Presbyterian Church. He died in Sugar Creek Township in 1867. David Cum- mings, the maternal grandfather of David C., settled in Crawford County, Ohio, about 1818, where he lived and died. He reared eleven children, viz .: Sylvanus, ยท deceased; Robert, father of David C .; Asa, living near Dalton; James, in Salt Creek Township, Wayne County; John, who died in 1887; Samuel P., deceased; Jesse, in Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County ; Josiah, deceased; Christian, deceased; Mary, wife of Lincoln Pancost, of Medina County, Ohio, and Jennie, wife of Abijah Cary, of Medina County, Ohio.
Robert Cook was born December 3, 1803, in Butler County, Penn. June 18, 1831, he married Jennie D. Cummings, and located on the farm in East Union Township, Wayne County, where he now resides, and is still occupying a part of the first house he built. He helped to erect the first school-house in East Union 'Township, and took an active part in get- ting men to serve in the late Rebellion. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held various township offices. He has been a ruling elder in the Dalton Presby-
terian Church for over thirty-five years. Mr. Cook reared a family of seven chil- dren, all of whom are living, viz .: David C .; Samuel M., in Crawford County, Ohio; Sylvanus G., on the homestead; Rebecca, wife of William McCullough, of East Union Township, Wayne County; Eliza, wife of James Sharp, also of East Union Township; Nancy J., wife of J. A. Bone- witz, also of East Union Township, and Mary E., wife of Daniel W. Forrer, of Orrville, Ohio.
Of these children, David C., the sub- ject of this memoir, was born July 5, 1832, and was reared on the farm and attended the district schools. March 29, 1855, he married Miss Maria, daughter of Daniel Weaver, of Baughman Town- ship, and they settled on their present farm. Five children have been born to them: Robert C., in East Union Town- ship, Wayne County, married to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Jennings, of Fred- ericksburgh, and has one child, Clara Edna; William H. and David Howard, living at home: Laura is the wife of Jacob B. Jennings, of Fredericksburgh, Ohio, and Ida M. is the wife of William Badger, of Shreve, and has two children, David H. and Alma May. Mr. Cook was drafted into the Civil War, and furnished a substitute. He has followed threshing as a business for twenty-five years in East Union Township. He is identified with
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the Democratic party, and has served as township trustee and school director for many years. In 1885 he was elected justice of the peace, and is still serving. He and his family are members of the Dalton Presbyterian Church.
W ILIMAM R. WILSON. Among the prominent and representative farmers of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, is the subject of this sketeb, who was born in Cecil County, Md., October 13, 1809, a son of Thomas and Mary ( Wilson ) Wilson, and of Scotch- Irish stock. He was reared in his native county, and learned the blacksmith's trade .at Charleston, Md., at the head of Chesa- peake Bay. In 1832 he came to Ohio, and settled in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, on the farm he now occu- pies, which he cleared and improved, and where he has since resided. In 1835 he married Margaret, danghter of Michael Franks, a pioneer of Chippewa Township, and granddaughter of Michael and Amy (Furst) Franks, of Fayette County, Penn., and a great-granddaughter of Michael Franks, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, Ger- many, who, with his father, Jacob, was among the pioneers of Fayette County, Penn. To Mr. and Mrs. William R. Wilson six children were born, who grew
to matnrity: Leonard W. (a prominent clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church ), Fletcher, Martha (Mrs. Jacob Lehman), Franks, John M., and Martin, a Methodist divine. Mr. Wilson has always been a farmer, and a successful one. He is a member of the United Brethren Church. He has represented Wayne County in the State Legislature two terms, with credit to himself and the county; was formerly a Democrat, but is now an advocate of prohibition.
WOHN FORRER was born July 15, 1816, in Lancaster County, Penn., and is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Kindeg) Forrer, who came from Lan- caster County to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1833 or 1834, and purchased a farm in Baughman Township, near Orrville, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Ho was a carpenter by trade, and built many of the farm buildings in that section of the county. He accumulated about 300 acres of land, including the land now occupied by the Orrville fair grounds. Their family consisted of nine children: Martin, living in Indiana; John; Nancy, now Mrs. Samuel Morten, of Baughmau Township, Wayne County; Daniel, living on the homestead; Henry, in Baughman Township; Eliza, deceased: Eli. in Chip-
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