USA > Ohio > Williams County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Henry County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Defiance County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 18
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At the termination of the trip Mr. Kinmont had some difficulty in effecting a settlement with the old Lord Manvers, and having become anxious to secure for himself and his children the benefits of a life under a free republi-
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can government, he determined to make his home in America. For some time after his arrival he resided upon a farm in Richland county, Ohio, but finding agricultural pursuits unsatisfactory he removed to Pittsburg, and later to Cincinnati, where he was connected with his brother's academy for five years as professor of languages. He afterward resided for a time in Champaign and Crawford counties, Ohio, where he combined farming with teaching, and in 1848 he located in Hicksville township, Defiance county, and cleared a tract of land for a permanent home. His wife, Nancy ( Pope), to whom he was married in Richland county about 1826, died December 13, 1881, and he survived her only a few years, his death occurring July 2, 1889. He was a member of the Swedenborgian Church, but his wife was a Baptist in faith. Their children were Alexander, Amanda, Thomas Cato, Lucy, Charles, Wil- liam, Elizabeth, Nancy, and Anna A.
Doctor Thomas C. Kinmont, who has been for a number of years a leading physician and surgeon at Hicksville, was born October 8, 1832, at Cincinnati, Ohio. During boyhood he not only attended the common schools near his home, but he received valuable instruction in various branches from his father. On attaining his majority he secured employment at farming, and while thus engaged he studied for two terms in the academy at Newville, Indiana, in 1856-57. In November, 1857, he went to Kansas, visiting Lawrence and Leavenworth, and later pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres of land in Anderson county. In that State he remained about two years, being engaged during much of this time as foreman on a farm one mile from Lawrence, and in carpentering. In 1860 he returned to Defiance county, and built his father a residence upon the old homestead.
At the outbreak of the Civil war he was among the first to offer his services to the government, enlisting in April, 1861, in Company K, Twenty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months. At the end of his term he came back home and spent some time in building a barn for his father, but on September 20th of the same year he re-enlisted, this time in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years. At the election of officers by his company he was chosen second lieutenant, and his knowl- edge of military affairs and movements enabled him to work effectively in drilling the men for service. On March 26, 1862, he was mustered in as captain, and was paid as such to date of discharge, February 25, 1863. At the battle of Fort Donelson he took command of the company in the after- noon, and continued the fight until night, which was spent under arms in the cold and snow. The morning found them ready to go on with the struggle, but at 9 A. M. the Rebels displayed the white flag in token of willingness to
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surrender. The Doctor's company was the first to enter the fort, and several of its men were detailed by him to remove the dead bodies of men and horses out of the way of the Union troops. Inside the fort were two thousand seven hundred armed men drawn up in line as prisoners, and the task of disarming them fell to the Doctor's men, who accomplished it by taking the arms from one company at a time, the disarmed men then marching out, when they were placed aboard a steamer to be transported to prison.
When the evacuation of the fort was completed, the victorious forces were ordered to camp, and at midnight they started in a heavy rain on a march to Fort Henry, where they remained in camp until one week before the battle of Shiloh, in which they took a notable part. At 9 A. M. April 6, 1862, our sub- ject, who was still in command of Company F, formed his men in line, and they were immediately engaged in a desperate conflict with some Texan troops, on that part of the field being known in history as "the hornet's nest." At that location they remained until 12 M., when they were ordered to take a position eighty rods to the left, where they were attacked by a heavy artillery fire. At 4 P. M. the line was ordered to advance, but the men wavered, and the Doctor, rushing to the front, called out, "Come on, boys!" and led them forward. He had gone but one hundred and fifty feet when a Minie ball struck him in the upper part of the thigh, inflicting a terrible wound. He did not fall, as two of his men caught him and carried him, under a fierce fire, to an ambulance half a mile away. By that time the Union line was falling back, and the ambulance was driven at a gallop over logs and other obstructions, for about two miles, two men holding the Doctor down that he might not be thrown out. After a surgeon had dressed his wound he was placed for a time in a log house at the landing, and later he was taken on board a boat which lay at the wharf, where he remained until the Sunday following.
On Thursday of that eventful week he had been visited by his brother, Alexander, who was also wounded, and both were sent to a hospital at Evans- ville, Indiana, where the Doctor stayed until the latter part of May. He then secured a room in a private house with a stretcher for a bed, and called in a physician of the city to attend him. On July I he started for his home, and on his arrival at Antwerp, on July 2, he was met by citizens who carried him on a stretcher from the river to Hicksville, a distance of six miles. A spring wagon then conveyed him to his father's house at State Line, where he lay under the care of Doctor B. M. Rakestraw until February 1, 1863. The bullet had splintered the bone, fifteen pieces being taken from the wound, and causing three and three-fourths inches shortening of the limb and a stiff knee as a reminder of his experience. During his convalescence he received
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notice of his promotion to the rank of captain, his commission dating from the battle of Fort Donelson. As he grew stronger he began reading medicine under the direction of Doctor Rakestraw at home, and later entered his office as a student. On October 1, 1864, he was enrolled in the Medical Department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, where he remained six months, and in June, 1865, he went by way of Niagara Falls to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to take a three-months' course in the medical school there. In October of that year he returned to Ann Arbor, and in March, 1866, he was graduated from that institution. He began his professional work at Hicksville in partnership with Doctor Rakestraw; but after one year he engaged in practice alone. With the exception of three months spent at Mansfield, Ohio, in 1876, he has been continuously in practice at Hicksville, where he has met with marked success. His practice has been general in its nature, but of late years he has devoted especial attention to surgery, and in this branch he stands second to none in this section.
In 1865 Doctor Kinmont was married to Miss Ruth C. Albertson; they have had no children. Socially they are prominent, and the Doctor is an active member of the F. & A. M., the G. A. R., and the I. O. O. F., which latter organization he joined in 1874, and in which he has held all the elective offices belonging to the local lodge, serving twelve years as its secretary. He is also active in religious work, being a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hicksville. In politics he is a Republican. He was the first mayor of Hicksville, and president of the Hicksville Waterworks Co., and at the present time is president of the Board of Pension Examiners. He is surgeon for the B. & O. R. R., a member of the County Medical Society and of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association.
Mrs. Kinmont, wife of our subject, is a daughter of Edward and Abigail (Aten) Albertson, natives of New Jersey, the former of whom was of Dutch descent, his grandfather having been born in Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Albert- son moved at an early day from New Jersey to Wayne county, Ohio, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and he also in later life conducted a mercan- tile business in Hicksville, dying there October 6, 1856. His wife passed away July 7, 1877. Their family numbered eight children-one son and seven daughters.
Mrs. Kinmont was born in Fredericksburg, Ohio, in 1838, where she received her earlier education, afterward attending Newville (Indiana) Acad- emy. On leaving school, she taught for one term in Paulding county, Ohio, and was then appointed to the charge of the post office at Hicksville, she enjoying the distinction of being the first lady postmaster at that place. In
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social and charitable work she has always been active, and for four years she was county superintendent of Mercy Department of the W. C. T. U. of Defiance county. Having made somewhat of a study of entomology, Mrs. Kinmont has written and has published numerous articles on that and other subjects.
DWIGHT S. BABBITT, M. D.
The Babbitt family originated in Wales, but the direct ancestors of our subject, who is a well-known physician of Defiance, came to America in early Colonial times, settling in New England, many of their descendants being still found in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Hon. Snellem Babbitt, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born at Savoy, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and as a boy of sixteen witnessed the famous "tea party" in Boston Harbor, when a cargo of tea was thrown overboard by a company of indignant Americans. He was a man of prominence in his day and locality, serving as a justice of the peace for many years, and at one time he was a member of the Massa- chusetts Legislature. His death occurred at Savoy in 1852, at the advanced age of ninety-four years.
Dr. Snell Babbitt, our subject's grandfather, was born in 1786 in Hancock township, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and during the greater portion of his life he resided in that county, in the town of Adams. He was also prominent as a citizen, while as a physician he held a high reputation, his professional advice being frequently sought by physicians in adjoining States as well as in his own immediate vicinity. He married Jael Edson, by whom he had eight children-six boys and two girls-and his death occurred at Adams in 1853.
Erasmus Darwin Babbitt, our subject's father, was born December 26, 1810, at Hancock, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was the eldest in the family. He was married December 26, 1830, to Miss Rhobe Mason, a native of Adams, Massachusetts, and a descendant of an old Colonial family. Her father, Nathan Mason, died January 31, 1850, at that place. For about four years after his marriage Erasmus Babbitt followed farming as an occupation, and for twelve years he acted as deputy sheriff of Berk- shire county. Although he was of slight physique, being only five feet ten inches in height, he possessed indomitable courage and successfully met all the emergencies of that office. Later he conducted a boot and shoe store at Adams, but on July 20, 1852, he started west with his family, arriving six
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days afterward at Markesan, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, at six o'clock in the evening. He purchased a tract of farming land in Metomen town- ship, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and his judicious management and scientific improvement of the place made it the model farm of the county. His first wife died there on June 13, 1877; in 1879 he sold out and retired to a residence which he owned at Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and later he removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where he now resides at the age of eighty-seven. In 1879 he married a second wife, Nancy Jane Nurse, who died June 7, 1887, and on September 15, 1890, he wedded his present wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Carter. He had four sons, all by his first marriage: Erasmus D., Jr .; Dwight S., our subject; George Dallas, and Nathan Mason, both deceased.
Doctor Babbitt was born October 6, 1841, at Adams, Massachusetts, and his education was begun in the schools of that city. After the removal of the family to Wisconsin, he remained upon the farm for some years, attending the local schools in winter, and at the age of twenty-two he entered Brockway College, at Ripon, Wisconsin, where he spent one year. In June, 1863, he began the study of medicine with an uncle, Doctor Mason, of Green Lake, Wisconsin, but his work was soon after interrupted by his enlistment in the Union army. On November 17, 1863, he joined Com- pany D, First Wisconsin Cavalry, at Ripon, and from that time until the close of the war he was on active duty, being detailed during a large portion of that term to service in the brigade commissary department. He took part in some severe fighting, being in a number of skirmishes in Ten- nessee, and his first important engagement was the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. He also participated in Wilson's cavalry raid through Georgia and Alabama, in 1865, and was one of the party that captured Selma, Alabama, and West Point, Georgia, both places being taken on Sunday. Selma was a most important point, large quantities of war material being stored there, and as the orders given to the raiders were to destroy every- thing that could possibly benefit the Confederates, they were obeyed to the letter, the losses entailed doubtless having a direct effect in bringing the Rebels to terms. Millions of dollars' worth of property was destroyed in this raid, fifteen railroad locomotives being wrecked in one day, and the cavalry lived "off the country" during the entire campaign. On May 13, 1865, the Doctor was at Macon, Georgia, and saw Jefferson Davis, with his wife, son, daughter, and son-in-law, delivered as prisoners to General George H. Wilson. On July 19, 1865, our subject was mustered out of service at Edgefield, Tennessee, and soon afterward he returned home, the winters of 1866 and 1867 being spent in teaching school.
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In June, 1867, he resumed his medical studies, and in the following January he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, where he attended lectures for two winters, while his vacations were devoted to pri- vate study. On graduating on February 9, 1869, he returned to Wiscon- sin, and in October of that year he located in Ripon, where he practiced successfully for several years. On February 26, 1873, he entered upon a partnership with Doctor E. B. Bracy, at Hicksville, which continued until May, 1875, and from that time until December 8, 1885. Doctor Babbitt carried on his practice at Hicksville alone. He then removed to Defiance, where his abilities soon secured him a large and lucrative practice. While he does much general professional work, he makes a specialty of the diseases of women and children, and in all lines he has met with marked success, being both resolute and capable.
On November 19, 1863, the Doctor was married to Miss Augusta Buchholtz, who died October 25, 1885, and on February 2, 1890, he formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Mrs. Sarah A. Henderson. He has had three children, all by the first union: Ira Dallas, born at Metomen, Wisconsin, April 6, 1867; Erasmus Frederick, born at Ripon, Wisconsin, December 3, 1869; and Dwight S., Jr., born at Ripon February 25, 1872. The family reside in a pleasant home at No. 509 First street, Defiance, and is prominent in social life. The Doctor's office address is No. 2143 Clinton street. He is a member of several fraternal organizations, including the Order of Red Men, the Knights of Honor, and the F. and A. M. In relig- ious faith he is an Episcopalian; politically he gives his allegiance to the Populist party.
JACOB DICKMAN.
One of the most intelligent and highly respected citizens of Noble township is Mr. Dickman, the subject of this memoir. He has spent his entire life in Defiance county, having been born in Tiffin township, August 5, 1850.
The late William Dickman, father of Jacob Dickman, was born in Han- over, Germany, October 2, 1810, emigrated to the United States in early life and took up his residence in Pennsylvania. Soon after locating in the State he married Miss Rebecca A. Kanecamp, also a native of Hanover, Ger- many. Shortly after their marriage they came to Wooster, Ohio, where they made their home for a time, and in 1846 removed to Tiffin township, Defiance county, continuing to live there until called to their final rest, the
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mother dying in 1872, the father on November 2, 1892. Wherever known they were held in high esteem.
In their family of eight children-six sons and two daughters-Jacob Dickman was the youngest. Upon the old home farm in Tiffin township he grew to manhood, early becoming familiar with every department of farm work, and acquiring a good practical education in the common schools of the neighborhood. For six winters he successfully engaged in teaching, but throughout the greater part of his active business life his attention has been given to agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he located upon his present fine farm of seventy-three and one-half acres in Noble township, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings.
In Mark township, Defiance county, Mr. Dickman was married Sep- tember 7, 1871, to Miss Susie Smith, who was born in that township, October 17, 1851. Of the ten children born to them, seven are still living, namely : Nellie (now the wife of Charles Fortney), Alta (wife of A. L. Overly), Joseph Clay, Lulu, Jacob Ray, Blaine, and May. Those deceased are: Minnie C., Susie I., and Fay.
Mr. Dickman uses his right of franchise in support of the principles of the Republican party, and takes quite an active interest in local political affairs. He is now acceptably serving as one of the trustees of the Orphans' Home in Defiance county. In the United Brethren Church he holds member- ship, and takes an active part in all church work. As a business man he has met with success, and in connection with his farming operations he is making a specialty of bee culture, having upon his place a fine apiary, and he has taken over ten thousand pounds of honey in a single year. Mr. Dickman's articles on Bee Culture have appeared in the "American Bee Journal," "American Apiculturist," "Ohio Farmer," and "American Agriculturist."
FRANCIS NEWELL HORTON.
The blood that tinges the veins of this honored business man-farmer, public official, and banker-and prominent citizen of Hicksville, is derived from English sources. The first of the family in a direct line to our subject, to come to America, was Barnabas Horton of England, who settled in Southold, Long Island, New York, in 1640. Caleb Horton was a son of Barnabas Hor- ton; David Horton was a son of Caleb Horton; John Horton ( I), of Wood- bridge, Connecticut, was a son of David Horton; John Horton (2) was the only son of John Horton ( I) ; and Calvin Horton was a son of John Horton (2), who was great-grandfather in direct line to our subject. Enoch Horton
7. J. Horton
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was a son of Calvin Horton, and grandfather to our subject; Calvin Horton was a son of Enoch Horton, and father of our subject. Francis N. Horton (our subject ) was one of four children of Calvin Horton-Francis N., Samuel E. S., Keren H., and John C. Horton.
Enoch Horton, the grandfather of our subject, was born at or near Litchfield, Connecticut, whence, when along in years, he moved to Coventry, New York, and followed farming. This vicinity was the family home for some years, during which time he made a prospecting tour to northwestern Ohio, and also visited his daughter, then the wife of Israel Stoddard, in what is now St. Joseph township, Williams county ; while on this trip he was taken sick and died of fever at or near Denmark, on the Saint Jo river; his wife died at the homestead near Coventry, New York. They had a family of five daughters and six sons, and of these was a son named Calvin, who was the father of the subject of this sketch.
Calvin Horton was born November 18, 1808, and when a young man learned the trade of a machinist. He was married to Dorcas Newell, and moved West with his wife and one child, the subject of this sketch, and located at Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, in 1835, where he followed his trade until 1842. At this time, having made arrangements to enter partner- ship with his brother-in-law, Israel Stoddard, in the erection of a woolen-mill in Farmer township, Defiance (then Williams) county, he started with his family and goods for that place, but while on the way he received news of the death of Israel Stoddard. He continued on his way, however, and in the same year established a woolen-mill at Brunersburg, which he operated for two seasons; then removed to Orland, Steuben county, Indiana, and with a partner began the erection of a woolen-mill at that place. The work on this mill was well advanced, and a large expense had been incurred, when Mr. Horton was taken ill with lung fever, and died very suddenly in January, 1844. His partner then gathered all the available effects of the concern, and left for parts unknown, leaving the firm debts to be settled out of Mr. Horton's estate, which was nearly all used up. Mr. Horton's remains were laid to rest at Orland, Steuben county, Indiana. He was a conscientious Christian, holding membership with the Baptist Church (as did also his wife) ; in politics he was a stanch Whig, and active in promulgating the principles of that party. He and his wife had four children, named in order of birth, as follows: Francis Newell (our subject), Samuel E. S., Keren H., and John C. His widow afterward married Robert M. Kells, a farmer of Farmer township, and died there January 4, 1854, and was laid to rest in the Fisher cemetery by the side of her second husband.
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Francis Newell Horton was born May 12, 1833, at Pompey Hollow, Onondaga county, New York, and at the death of his father, being then but eleven years of age, he was thrown upon his own resources, having to begin earning his own way in the world among strangers. For the first four years he was in the employ of a farmer in Lagrange county, Indiana, where, as stipulated, he was to attend school during the winter months-a privilege after- ward much abridged. He subsequently was employed for a short time in the same vicinity until taken sick, when, unbeknown to him, his mother had been apprised of his condition, and came and carried him to her home in Farmer township. On his recovery, at the age of seventeen, he began working at carpentering, and this he followed until 1856. Until 1854 he had attended the winter schools, and had so well employed his time that he was qualified to teach, which he did during the winters of 1854-55, and 1855-56.
On March 6, 1856, Mr. Horton was married to Miss Mary E. Haller, a daughter of Jesse Haller, of Farmer township, and with his wife began housekeeping at the Haller homestead, which farm he operated two years. At the end of this time he moved to a heavily-timbered tract of eighty acres that he had bought ; this farm he cleared, erected thereon suitable farm buildings and otherwise improved, and then sold. After selling this land he moved to another timber tract of eighty acres, on which he erected buildings, and cleared and improved. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Horton has done his share of opening up a new country. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company F. One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was mustered in as teamster, and served till April 13, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability.
His faithful helpmeet passed away, May 1, 1882, and was buried in the Lutheran cemetery in Farmer township, leaving a family of children named and described as follows: (1) Nettie I., born March 28, 1857, married George Foust, who owns and lives on the old Haller homestead. (2) Ernest M., born in July, 1859, married Emily J. Ringer, and is now a merchant of Eustice, Lake county, Florida. (3) William F., born May 27, 1867, was united in marriage with Miss Cornelia M. Hemenway; he is now assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Hicksville. On January 24, 1884, the father of this family was again married, this time to Sarah E. Ringer.
In April of that year he removed to Hicksville, Ohio, and at once organ- ized and established there the Merchants & Farmers Bank, under a State charter, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, which was opened for business June 16, 1884. Of this bank Mr. Horton became a director and cashier ; in 1887 he was appointed president thereof, and a successful business
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