USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 2 > Part 46
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John Pugh, for his second wife, married, in 1845, Clarissa B. Junkins, who was born January 3, 1820, in Preston county, Va. (now W. Va.). Her father having died in Fairview, Ohio, when she was two yearsold, her mother subsequetly married John Rice, and in 1833 they came to Wood county: but during their first year's residence in the county, Mr. Rice died, leaving a widow with five children, viz .: Samuel, who died when about fifty-seven years old: Thomas, a farmer of Wes- ton township; Julia Ann; Annabella; and Clarissa B., who now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Powell; she is the mother of five children: Ann M. (now Mrs. L. McKee). of Fostoria, Ohio: Luther S., of Weston: Mrs. William Martin, also of Weston; John A., who died at the age of twenty-five; and Mrs. Elfa Powell. Mrs. Pugh was among the earliest pioneers of Wood coun- ty, coming here when but thirteen years old, with the rest of the family. When they reached Beaver creek, their destination in Wood county.
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ELFA.
Mrs. De Esta (Tough) Powell Look Sowell
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they stopped at the home of uncle McKee (who had preceded them), until they could build themselves a log house, after the fashion of the country in those early days (they were not so long in building a house as they are now-a-days). Mrs. Pugh's stepfather, John Rice, having died in the first year of their coming here, as related above, there was much responsibility left on the widowed mother with her five children; but be- ing a woman of tact and foresight. she always provided years ahead for the family. So they suffered but little from the privations of early pioneer life among the Indians, who were nu- merous on Beaver creek at that time, and all be- came the owners of good homes in Wood coun- ty, except Annabella, who had died at the age of nineteen years. Grandmother Junkins-Rice's home was called "the poor house," because if there was an orphan child in the country she would bring it to her home and care for it until another home could be found for it. At one time she had no less than five infants on her hands to be cared for, and some remained with her until her death. Mrs. James Raymer, of Toledo, was one of grandmother Junkins-Rice's loves. After being left a widow with five chil- dren to raise in a new country. God gave her health and strength to help the helpless. Such was the kindheartedness and unselfishness of that noble pioneer grandmother and mother.
Mrs. Chester L. Powell was educated in part at the schools of Weston, and in part at those of Fostoria. After her marriage she resided al- inost constantly with her parents, and cared for them with a tender hand, her aged mother, now living with her, being an object of deep solici- tude. Her one great comfort is her flowers, of which she is a great lover, and which she gathers around her and enjoys. From earliest childhood Mrs. Powell has been the companion of her par- ents, and through them and their acquaintances learned of the habits of many of the pioneers, and has always felt a deep interest in them, al- though at a time when life was sweetest and separation hardest to bear, she has borne the death of her husband with a philosophic and Christian-like spirit. She has continued her husband's store, showing excellent capability, and, through the service of efficient employes under her personal supervision, it continues to be one of the flourishing business houses of Weston.
Prior to his death Mr. Powell had established a fruit farm within the corporation of Weston, and his widow also conducts this with marked success. It comprises some twenty-five acres,
given to Mrs. Powell by her mother, Mis. Jolin Pugh, whereon are abundantly grown plums, peaches, strawberries, grapes, and all other small fruits. There are also a house and lot in Wes- ton, and two other farms-one in Wood county, and one in Hancock county -- which Mrs. Powell rents. She also owns the store building, 35 x 50 feet in dimensions, and which is recognized as the pioneer building of Weston. Notwithstand- ing her many business engagements, and the care of a home, Mrs. Powell yet finds time for the study of literature, and for years past she been one of the teachers in the Presbyterian Church Sabbath-school, having an interesting class of girls of-which she is justly proud.
MALON K. MANLEY, a veteran of the Mexi- can war, and a retired merchant of Haskins, is a native of the Keystone State. He was born in Columbia county, Penn., March 28, 1825, a son of John Manley, who was born in 1799. The grandfather, John Manley, Sr., was a native of Switzerland, and took part in the revolution of 1776 to 1780. The father was educated in Penn- sylvania, and followed the carpenter's and builder's trade. He married Sybilla Case, and their children were: Eli R., a carpenter, who re- sided in David City, Neb., and died November 30, 1896; Malon K .; William W., a merchant of Pennsylvania; Anna, deceased wife of Joseph Buck; Mary J., deceased wife of Samuel Culp. The father of this family died in New York, by drowning, and the mother afterward married Francis Burdanier, by whom she had seven chil- dren, the only survivor being Gcorge, of Pennsyl- vania. Her death occurred in the Keystone State, January 27, 1888, when she was aged eighty- eight years, and six months.
Our subject acquired his education in the common schools near his home, but his privileges in that direction were limited, for at an early age he was thrown upon his own resources. He learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for forty years. During the Mexican war, in 1846, he enlisted at Danville, Penn., in Com- pany C, 2d Penn. V. I., and proceeded to Vera Cruz. He participated in the capture of that city, and in other service in that locality, and in July, 1848, returned to his home. He suffered intensely from the oppressive heat in the South. Again, during the Civil war, he manifested his loyalty to the government. enlisting on May 14. 1861. He formed a company at Danville, Penn .. which was attached to the Sixth Regiment of Peanslyvania Reserves, and went to Camp Cur- tin, thence to Richinond, and participated in the
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battles of Bull Run, the Wilderness, Fredericks- burg and others, serving in all for two years.
In 1868, Mr. Manley came to Wood county, and purchased a farmi of seventy acres near Haskins, which he operated for five years, when he removed to the town and established a gro- cery and shoe store, which he conducted for eleven years. He was afterward engaged in business in Toledo for a time as a dealer in shoes, but is now living retired in Haskins, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly de- serves. He has aided greatly in the upbuilding of this community, and has been an important factor in its progress and development.
On October 12, 1848, Mr. Manley wedded Mary A. Mellon, who was born in Danville, Penn., June 21, 1828, a daughter of Gideon and Sarah Mellon, the father a boot and shoe dealer, of Danville. Five children were born to them -- John, born July 29, 1849; Sarah M., September 26, 1853, now the wife of Philmore Gustin, a blacksmith; Clarence, born April 23, 1865, died April 20, 1889; Mary B., who died at the age of five years; and Anna B., who became the wife of A. L. Herritt, an oil operator, and died July 22, IS95. Mary B. and Anna B. were twins, born July 23, 1869.
Mr. Manley and wife have been faithful mem- bers of the Baptist Church for fifty-three years, and he has served as trustee, deacon, treasurer and secretary of the Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and for one term was school director, while in 18So he acted as census enumerator, being appointed by the general government, has served as assessor and tax-collector several years. Socially , he is connected with the Odd Fellows society, the Masonic fraternity, and Encamp- ment of Patriarchs. His honorable, upright life, his kindly manner, and his affable and social dis- position have won him a host of warin friends.
J. F. LONG, a leading merchant and citizen of Bowling Green, and senior partner in the dry- goods firin of Long & Rutherford, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, February S, 1837, and is a son of the Rev. John and Lydia (Fry) Long.
Daniel Long, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1779, of Dutch descent. He was there married to Mar- garet Brill, who was born in the same State in 1783, and in 1834 removed with his family to Seneca county, Ohio, where, on May 22, of that year, he entered the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 1, in Jackson township. For forty years he worked at his trade as a blacksmith, and he was a soldier in the war of 1812. His death took
place in 1871 at the good old age of ninety-two, his wife having passed away in 1853. This esti- mable couple were the parents of twelve chil- dren, as follows: Daniel is living in Stark coun- ty, and is now nearly one hundred years of age; Samuel, who was a minister in the United Breth- ren Church for many years, died in Seneca coun- ty, Ohio; Charles migrated to California during the gold excitement, and died in Seneca county; John was the father of our subject; Peggy mar- ried Jacob Sprout, of Seneca county, and is still living; Nancy became the wife of Samuel Sprout. of the same county, and died there; Michael became a minister in the United Brethren Church at Upper Sandusky, in 1835, and died recently at Fremont, Ohio (he was born May 3, 1814, was almost a giant in stature, with a voice which could be heard a mile away, and was a famous camp-meeting preacher); George died in Seneca county; David spent a part of his life in Cali- fornia, and died in Seneca county; Benjamin, who was born September 12, 1823, spent his life on the old homestead in Seneca county, and died there June 14, IS90; Wesley, who went west after serving in the army, was never heard from again; and Henry, who died when quite small.
John Long, the father of our subject, was born in 1808. When a young man he entered the ministry of the United Brethren Church, and about the year IS47 removed to Gibsonburg, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he made his home for many years, traveling and preaching con- stantly throughout a large circuit in northern Ohio. About eighteen years ago he came to Wood county, where he continued his life work until broken down by years of toil and the feeble- ness of old age. For some years preceding his death he made his home in Bowling Green. He passed peacefully to his well-earned rest Febru- ary 9, 1895, at the home of his daughter, in Gib- sonburg; his wife died at her home, in Center township, Wood county, April 19, 1878, aged sixty-three years, eleven months, eleven days, a faithful member of the U. B. Church. After many years of faithful duty to her family. her Church and her God, she passed away in the triumph of her faitli, thus leaving to her family the best gift a mother could leave. To this hon- ored couple were born ten children, as follows: Louisa, wife of Jacob Sampsel, of Gibsonburg: Samuel, a farmier at St. Louis, Mich. : J. F .. our subject; Daniel S., residing in Bowling Green: Rebecca, married to A. B. Garn, of Gibsonburg. William, a farmer of Wood county, Ohio; Wes- ley, a farmer of Center township, Wood county: Arcanus C. and Michael, residing near Gibson-
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burg; and Samantha, the wife of Charles Pike, of Bowling Green. The parents of this interest- ing family became the grandparents of fifty grand- children, and the great-grandparents of thirty- one great-grandchildren.
On the maternal side, our subject's grandpar- ents were Jacob and Elizabeth Fry, who had ten children, namely: Jacob, Lydia (the mother of our subject), Moses, Mary, Anna, Adam, josia, Elizabeth, Solomon, and Samuel. All these are living in the West, except Jacob and Samuel, who died in Ohio.
J. F. Long, the subject proper of this sketch, spent his boyhood days in Gibsonburg, where he attended the common schools and secured his education. He was a natural mathematician, and became especially interested in the study of mechanics; in 1865 he removed to Wood county, where he bought a tract of land and put up a saw- mill. For several years he carried on the manu- facture of lumber, making a handsome fortune, and later, in 1871, removed to Bowling Green, where for some time he was not engaged in any active business except contracting and building. In November, 1892, he opened up his present store, in which he is carrying on an extensive business. It is the largest establishment of its kind in Bowling Green, the firm carrying from $20,000 to $30,000 worth of stock, and employ- ing ten clerks. Mr. Long also owns 180 acres of land and town property, and is recognized as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the county. He was formerly a Republican, but of later years has identified himself with the Pro- hibitionists, in the ranks of which party he is an earnest worker. In religious faith he is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Mr. Long was married December 31. 1861, to Mary Klotz, a native of Pennsylvania, born February 9, 1845, and three children have blessed their union, namely: ( 1) Frank M., who learned the business of a dry-goods merchant in Toledo, and is now chief buyer for his father's firin; he married Bertha Littelle, of Toledo, and they have one child, May. (2) Elsie D. is the wife of S. E. Vail, editor of the Sentinel, and they have one child, Merl DeWitt; and (3) Netta is the wife of R. P. Hankey, a son of Senator J. K. Hankey. The mother of this highly respected family died February 28, 1893, a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. From the year 1872 until her death, a period of over twenty years, she was known as an active worker' in the Sabbath-school, much of her time in the capacity of assistant superintend- ent thereof, having charge of a class of young
men, many of whom can give evidence of her faithful work. She spent many hours in look- ing after the poor and needy of the town, and searching out the lonely homes of strangers, and of the desolate and disconsolate. She was also an active worker in the cause of home missions. Any one visiting the Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home and Christ's Hospital will find therein a beautiful room, "No. 57," fitted and furnished in memory of her good life, and for the good cf that noble work.
GIDEON UNDERWOOD, deceased. The pio- neers of a country, the founders of a business, the originators of any undertaking that will promote the material welfare, or advance the educational and moral influence of a community, deserve the gratitude of humanity. Our subject was for many years an honored citizen of Wood county, and one of the prominent pioneers of Center township. Mr. Underwood was born in Lawrence county, Penn., August 22, 1820, and was a son of William and Mary (Wright) Underwood, both natives of the Buckeye State. He attended the cominon school in his native county, and besides assisting in the labors of the home farm while young, he also worked on the canals. He then went West to California, remaining in the Golden State for three years, and later came to Wood county, Ohio, and purchased eighty acres of land in Center township, turning his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, which occupation he continued to follow up to the time of his death. He cleared and improved his land, building thereon a sub- stantial dwelling, barns and other outbuildings, set out a fine orchard, and supplied the place with all the conveniences found upon a model farm of the ninteenth century. To his original purchase he later added 100 acres, and the en- tire tract comprised one of the best farins of the county.
In Lowell, Penn., on December 29, 1852. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Underwood and Margaret (McMahan), who was born in Ma- honing county, Ohio, January 21, 1821, and was then the widow of Henry Humston. Two chil- dren graced this union-John W., and Laura C ... who was born November 22, 1860, and is now the wife of John Walker, a farmer of Center township, by whom she has three children. By her first marriage Mrs. Underwood had one daugh- ter, Amerilas, who married Simon Cruin, a farin- er of Center township.
Mr. Underwood always bore the reputation of an honest, upright man, affable and genial in dis- position, and no man took a deeper interest in
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the prosperity of his adopted county, while it is safe to say that few contributed in a larger degree to bring about this result. His death, which oc- curred April 7, 1895, was deeply regretted by his loving wife and children, and also a large num- ber of friends who loved and respected him in life and mourned for him in death. He was a Re- publican in politics, and was school director many terms. For many years he was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, but later he joined the M. E. Church. Mrs. Underwood still resides upon the old homestead where so many happy years of her life were passed.
During the Civil war Mr. Underwood served as a soldier in the one-hundred-day service, being a member of Company C, 144th O. V. I.
SILAS H. POWELL. In manner hospitable and kind, disposition genial and social, this gen- tleinan is one of the most highly esteemed resi- dents of Liberty township. He was born March 10, 1852, in Green Castle, Ohio, a son of George and Sarah (Beatty) Powell. In 1872 the father removed with his family to Wood county, loca- ting on a farm of 460 acres in Liberty township, where he made his home until his death, January 26, 1893. The mother died April 27, 1892. Their children were Wesley; Martha, wife of Louis Smaltz; Silas H .: Alonzo V .; Chester L. (deceased); and Laura, wife of James Stafford, of Liberty.
Our subject acquired his education in Green Castle, was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty years came with his parents to Wood county. In 1873, however, he returned to Fair- field county, and was married in Winchester to Miss Margaret Elizabeth Fellers, who was born November 27, 1853, in that county. Her par- ents, Joshua and Barbara (Runkle) Fellers, were born February 14, 1821, and June 8, 1822, re- spectively; they are still living in Fairfield coun- ty. In the family were the following children: Eliza, wife of David Smith, of Pickaway county, Ohio; Minerva, wife of Thomas Courtwright, of Green Castle, Ohio; Martha, wife of Joseph Green, of Fairfield county; Clara, wife of George Courtwright, of Fairfield county; Mrs. Powell; Eleanora, wife of Samuel Brown, of Warren county, Ohio; Florence, wife of Henry Hemple- man; John, a farmer of Fairfield county; Alice, wife of James Cheney; and Docia, wife of Ed- ward Hickle, of Wood county.
Upon their marriage Mr. Powell and his wife took up their residence on the family homestead which he now owns, his farm comprising 191 acres. He is progressive in his methods, and his
close attention to business has secured him a comfortable property. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and a strong advocate of temperance. In the family is one son, Chauncey, born April 4, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are members of the United Brethren Church, the one known as the "Powell Church."
OSMAN A. DIVER, a prominent oil operator of this section of the State, and one of the most extensive land owners in Montgomery township, is perhaps more widely known as an able and popular worker in the political field. A Demo- crat in a Republican stronghold -- he has heavy odds against him, yet he has been called upon to fill nearly every office on the township ticket, sometimes carrying the day by 160 plurality against a Republican plurality of 140, and throughout the county he has hosts of friends who would gladly see him serving the public in a wider sphere. At times when the prospect of certain defeat has made it almost impossible to fill the county ticket, he has allowed his name to be used, and this has always meant a hard fight for his opponent, the large vote given him being a high testimonial from the independent voters of the county, to his ability and worth.
He is a native of Montgomery township, born March 16, 1845, in Section 30, a son of the late Osman Diver, a pioneer farmer of that locality, and his wife, Esther F. Robinson, a woman of rare mental ability and noble character, who was a teacher in this county in the early . forties." As the only son of this worthy couple, our sub- ject was given better advantages in his youth than fell to the lot of some of the boys of that time -- his district school course being followed by an attendance at more advanced schools in Fostoria and Osceola, with one year at Oberlin College. He was an active boy, and his ener- gies were given full scope in farm work on the large tracts of land owned by his father.
On February 20, 1869. he was married, in Amherst township, Lorain Co., Ohio, to Miss Saralı Curtis, daughter of Zebulum and Lucy (Belden) Curtis, well-known citizens of that locality. After his marriage Mr. Diver began farming on his own account, in his native town- ship, giving considerable attention to raising and dealing in stock. In 1885 he removed to Prairit Depot, and engaged in mercantile business with A. Fike. Later lie became sole proprietor, con- tinuing until 1894, when, after a successful career, lie sold his store. He has large individual oil holdings, and owns 450 acres of land in his town- slip.
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Margret & Powell
Silas Nr. Powell
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His home at Prairie Depot is an elegant one, and Mrs. Diver's fine intellectual gifts and liter- ary tastes give it an additional charm and in- fluence as a social center. She is a member of the Disciples Church, active in various lines of local and foreign missionary work, and is also prominent in the Daughters of Rebekah order, also the Good Templars, at the present time being State deputy and district superintendent in the latter society. She has held different elective offices in the State work in that order, being State superintendent of the Juvenile Depart- ment, and organized in Ohio sixty-six Juvenile temples, re-organized many, also several sub- ordinate lodges, and held meetings in the inter- est of the order and cause. Mr. and Mrs. Diver have had three children: Flora L., who was fatally burned at the age of four years, her clothing catching fire from a stove, and death re- sulting from her injuries forty-eight hours later; Frank E., a law student at Toledo; and Curtis B., a young man of more than ordinary talent, and an accomplished musician.
Mr. Diver is a skilled reinsman, and has al- ways been an admirer of good horses; his stables . contain some of the best specimens to be found in the county. Public spirited and progressive, he is active in the cause of better education, and has served it ably as a member of the school board. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and was a charter member of Petroleum Lodge No. 499, K. of P., at Prairie Depot, and its first chancel- lor commander. For two years he represented his lodge at the State meeting.
Osman Diver, our subject's father, was born in Deerfield, Portage (then Trumbull) Co., Ohio, August 23, 1807. He was the oldest son of John Diver, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Deerfield in October, 1803, and of Laura Ely Diver, a descendant of the Elys, of England. When twelve years of age he went with a party to Cleveland for supplies, when that city was but a hamlet of log houses, he driving one of the teams there and back. On November 13, 1832, he married Margaret Kinnaman, and settled in his native town, where two years later a son was born, who lived but a few hours. On March 29, 1836, a second son, Franklin, was born, and in the fall of that same year he, with his wife and child, moved to Montgomery township, Wood county, and settled on a farm in Section 30. The country was then a wilderness, the roads being little more than Indian trails along the banks of streams. In the course of a few months he bought property in Fostoria (then Rome and Risdon), and engaged in hotel business in that
city. There a daughter, Laura H. (now Mrs. Cline), was born, September 19, 1838. The fol- lowing year he sold his town property, and re- turned to his farm, taking up the arduous task of converting it into fertile fields. On January IS. 1841, his home was made desolate by the death of his wife. Placing his two little children in the care of their grandparents, he lived on alone, toiling unremittingly to leave to his loved ones a. home. On February 24, 1842, he married Es- ther F. Robinson, and to them three children were born: Margaret E. (Mrs. Miles), Osman A. (our subject), and Harriet N. (Mrs. C. W. Lenhart). By this time he had made quite an opening in the dense forest, and in addition to the house of unhewed logs that had served him for a dwelling, he built a hewed log front, one and one-half stories high, with a good cellar- quite a pretentious mansion for those days. He usually went to Fremont (twenty-two miles dis- tant) for flour and groceries, always taking an axe along to chop the fallen trees and remove them from the road. On one trip he stayed two nights at the same place; leaving his wagon in the mire, he proceeded with his team the first night, and returning the second night for shelter.
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