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 65
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The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly were as follows: Josiah D., born April 5, 1852, lives in Damascus township, Henry Co., Ohio; Rachel E., July 31, 1853, resides with her parents; Charles W., October 31, 1855, died August il, 1857; Eleanor E., October 20, 1860, married George A. Adains, and died in Montgomery town- ship, June 25, 1886; John A., January 19, 1861, lives in Montgomery township; Rezin W., Jr .. December 12, 1864, resides with his parents.
Mr. Kelly has always been a public-spirited citizen, and has contributed liberally toward get-
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ting the railroads through his portion of the coun- ty. He was originally a Whig, becoming a Re- publican on the formation of that party. In 1854 he served as assessor in Perry township, and in 1856 was elected justice of the peace, which office he resigned after one year. In 1870 he was elected land assessor of Montgomery township, and later served for one year as trustee. In 1871 he was elected county commissioner, and, after serving four and a half years, was re-elected; but resigned the office. In ISSo he served as real-es- tate assessor in Montgomery township. In all these responsible positions he showed much busi- ness ability and good judgment. He has for thirty-one years been a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the various lodges at Perrysburg, Tiffin, and Fostoria. In 1886 Mr. Kelly took a trip to the Pacific coast, visiting places where he had been in 1849, and noting with pleasure the wonderful growth and development in that portion of the country.
Mr. Kelly is a man exceedingly well preserved for his years, and possesses a wonderful memory, which makes him a very entertaining companion. He is a man of good judgment and much com- mon sense in business matters, and is consulted by his neighbors on many subjects. He is one of the best citizens of Perry township and, with his wife, has a host of friends throughout the county. Mrs. Kelly has for many years been a member of the Congregational Church, and is a most estima- ble woman.
GEORGE ELLSWORTH, fruit grower, etc., was born June 3, 1828, in Allegany county, N. Y., whence, when six years old, he came with his mother to Scott township, Sandusky county. Ohio, where he received his education in a log school house.
Mr. Ellsworth learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and followed the occupation of con- tractor and builder in Scott township, until 1865. when he came to Wood county, and located in Milton township, on a tract of land which he im- proved, working at farming in connection with his trade. He remained in Milton township until 1878, going from there to Center township, where he bouglit fifteen acres of land, now situated in the corporation of Bowling Green, and began the cultivation of fruit, making a specialty of grapes. from which he produces some excellent wine. Mr. Ellsworth was married July 4. 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Clinger, who was born March 12. 1838, a daughter of John and Sarah Chinger. They are the parents of the following children: Reuben M., born December 11, 1854, is a police
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officer in Bowling Green (he married Belle Fer- ciot, and they have two children); Francis H., born March 30, 1856, is in the insurance busi- ness in Kansas (he married Nellie Finnucan, and they have three children); George W., born No- vember 16, 1864, is a music teacher and piano tuner in Bowling Green (his wife was Hattie Shutt); Willis G., born November 19, 1867; Eugene E., born April 22, 1880; and one child died in infancy. Mr. Ellsworth was justice of the peace for four years in Scott township, San- dusky county, and no appeal was taken from his court while he was on the bench; he also held the office of assessor in the township. He is a man of broad mind and liberal views, and his sense of justice so clear that even his political opponents acknowledge his worthiness, and were satisfied with the manner in which he conducted the of- fice. In politics he is liberal, voting for the man rather than the party. In all matters pertaining to the moral advancement of the community, he has always acted a zealous part. Mrs. Ellsworth is a devout member of the Adventist Church, ac- cepting its primitive doctrines as orthodox. She is an extensive reader, a student in all Church matters, and her friends consult her as an author- ity on all religious topics.
James Ellsworth, the father of our subject, was born in New York State in 1768, and was by occupation a building and contractor. He died when our subject was four years old. He married Miss Margaret Smith, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, and in 1832, after the death of her hus- band, she came to Ohio, locating in Scott town- ship, where she bought ten acres of land, which her sons helped to clear. Those who see the present prosperous condition of the county can not fully realize the struggles and hardships en- dured by this noble pioneer woman in her efforts to make a home in the wilderness for her four small children. They were fifteen miles from mill, and hence they pounded their corn for the customary . Johnny cake" and "mush; " it was of freqnent occurrence, when the mother had pre- pared a meal for her children, that some Indian squaw would come in and demand her share-a share sufficiently large to make it inconvenient for the hungry children. Wild animals. carried off the poultry and stock, and the necessity of guarding their possessions early developed the instincts of the hunter in the son George. In spite of all the difficulties that beset the widowed mother, shie succeeded in accomplishing her pur- pose, and, in the consciousness of a duty per- formed, passed to her final rest in the eighty- fourth year of her age.
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DANIEL FRALICK. Prominent among the men who have carved out their own fortunes by honest toil and careful management, is the sub- ject of this biography, a highly respected agricult- urist of Montgomery.
He was born in Dauphin county, Penn., De- cember 28, 1828, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Shupp) Fralick, and was brought to Ohio, dur- ing his childhood, by his parents. His father se- cured a tract of woodland near Bucyrus, where a brother resided, with whom he made a temporary home while constructing a log cabin upon his own property. He was a hard worker, but remained comparatively poor, owning at his death only a small farm. He lived to the age of cighty-eight years, but his wife dicd a number of years before him. They had eleven children, of whom five were boys.
Mr. Fralick, who was the third child and second son, from an early age was made useful upon the home farm, and did some work for others. The schools were distant, the roads bad, and at best the instruction was poor, and his chances for an education were limited. At twenty years he began working, on his own account, as a farm hand at fifty cents a day, and in a few years saved several hundred dollars. At twenty- six he was married in Crawford county to Miss Ann Newcomer, who was born in Delaware coun- ty, Ohio, about 1835, the daughter of Samuel and Polly (Houseworth) Newcomer, who both died during her childhood, leaving her to be reared by strangers. Mr. Fralick rented a small log house which he furnished very simply, and here the young couple began housekeeping, and for some years he lived upon rented farmns in dif- ferent parts of Crawford county.
In 1858 he came to Wood county and bought forty acres in Section 3. Montgomery township, near Bradner, upon which a few trees had been cut here and there, the cleared portion not being more than five acres in all. A log cabin stood upon the place, which, though small, had the unique charm of being the first home that he could call his own, and, when he could look over five acres of growing corn and two of wheat, he began to feel truly independent. His labor was rewarded with increasing prosperity, and he added small tracts of land until his farm now con- tains 120 acres - less the amount taken by the T. & O. C. R. R. for a right of way. His build- ings and other improvements are excellent; but we regret to say that his success was not won without the impairment of Mr. Fralick's health by overwork. He is a steadfast believer in Democratic principles. Of five children, Edwin,
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DANIEL FRALICK.
MRS. ANN FRALICK
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the youngest, is the only survivor; Calvin died at thirty years of age, Nelson at twenty-eight. and two daughters - Minerva and Mary - were called from earth in childhood.
DANIEL PHILO, a prominent agticulturist and stock raiser of Webster township, was born in 1827 in Luzerne county, Penn., where his father. Hurlbert Philo, was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits. On reaching his majority Mr. Philo left home and worked as a laborer for three years. He then rented a farm of 200 acres in Erie county, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1858, when he came to Wood county and settled on a farm near Tontogany. He was mar- ried in Erie county, January 19, 1854, to Miss Caroline Marks, a native of England, born April 27, 1835, who came to America with her parents when she was seven years old. Of this union seven children were born: James Dell is a farmer; Mary is the wife of Isaac Emmett: William Al- bert, George, and Ward are prosperous farmers; William L. died September 22, 1859, aged one year and ten months; Sarah Jane, the second in the family, who became the wife of Job Walker, died September 12, 1888, aged twenty-seven years and one day.
In 1866 Mr. Philo removed with his family to Webster township, where he bought twenty acres of land, to which he has added by subsequent purchases until he now owns 200 acres, and ranks as one of the largest land owners in the township. His thrifty and energetic management have been well rewarded, and his farm is considered a model one. In 1895 he built a residence costing $2,700. For the last twenty years, he has borne a heavy affliction, the gradual loss of his sight from catar- act. He is interested in several business enter- prises, and holds stock in the Dunbridge Elevator Company and the Lime City Mutual Fire Asso- ciation.
Politically he is a Democrat, and the esteem in which he is held among his neighbors has given him much influence in local affairs. He has been school director for twelve years, and has also served as supervisor of bis township. He and his family are leading members of the. M. E. Church.
JOHN ERVEN, deceased. Among the enter- prising agriculturists of Grand Rapids township, there were none who commanded in a greater measure the esteem and confidence of the com- munity than did the late John Erven. His parents, Henry and Sarah (Ward) Erven, were
prominent residents of Noble county, Ohio. where he first saw the light, November 27, 1850. Henry Erven, the father, was killed in a railroad accident in 1862, leaving his wife with five chil- dren to support, of whom our subject, then a lad of twelve years was the eldest.
John Erven received a good education there, and for some years was engaged in teaching, and later in farming and stockraising. In 1875 he came to Wood county and purchased fifty-six acres of land, which he cleared and improved. digging ditches, planting an orchard, and erect- ing neat and substantial buildings. To this home he brought his bride, formerly Miss Lucre- tia McLain, to whom he was married in Jeffer- son county, November 6, 1878. She was born February 20, 1852, and was one of the eleven children of William McLain, a prominent agri- culturist of Jefferson county, Ohio, and his wife Elizabeth (Clarke) McLain. Mr. McLain died April 12, 1878, and his wife survived him until August 3, 1887. After his marriage Mr. Erven added sixty-eight acres to his original purchase. making in all a fine farm, which is now under the judicious management of his widow, a lady of unusual executive ability.
Four children were born to their union: Orrin. December 4, 1879: Lottie, May 1, 1881; Lewis. December 18, 1884; and Bessie, November 11. 1 886, all of whom are living. To his little family the death of the father on January 17, 1893, was an irreparable loss, and outside the home circle the cutting off of so strong and vital an influence for good, was felt wherever he was known. To use his mother's words, " John always was a good boy." In the Methodist Church, which he and his wife had joined in early years, he was an active worker, holding the office of steward, and doing faithful work in the Sunday-school, both as teacher and superintendent. In politics he was a Republican, and his generous assistance was given to every local movement, especially those which promised educational advancement, and he served as school director a number of years.
ANDREW P. JAMESON, a prominent agricultur- ist and teacher of Webster township, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, July 2, 1831, of Irish parentage.
Rev. Ira Jameson, the father of our subject. an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, sometime in the early '30s settled on a large tract of land in Hancock county, and en- gaged in agriculture, at the same time continuing his ministerial labors among the settlers and Indians. Of the three sons of Ira, our subject is
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the eldest; C. S., the second son, is an agricult- urist still residing on the old homestead; and Ira M., the youngest in the family, is an ordained minister in the M. E. Church.
On September 25, 1861, Andrew. P. Jameson enlisted in the Federal army, becoming a mem- ber of Company H, 57th O. V. I. He was ap- pointed sergeant; but was disabled at the battle of Shiloh, and on October 28, 1862, at Corinth, Miss., he was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability.
In 1863, our subject was married to Miss Mary A. Boltz, daughter of Jacob and Mary C. Boltz, of German descent, born in Lebanon county, Penn., January 9, 1836. Four sons graced the union of our subject and his wife: (1) Elmer was engaged in the agricultural-implement business for some years, but is now a farmer in Jackson township. In October, 1889, he was married to Fannie L. Egbert, of Vanlue, Ohio, and to them three children have been born- Mary, Ralph S. and Ira Deloy. (2) Milan, the second son, completed a course at the N. A. N. S., and then taught school for some years. Under Gov. Campbell's administration, he was ap- pointed guard in the Ohio penitentiary; but since the change in the administration he has had charge of the old homestead near Dowling, where his mother resides with him. In 1895 he was elected assessor of his township. On December . 29, 1892, he was married to Miss Althea Hanney, a daughter of John and Maretta Hanney, of Dowling. One child has been born to them, Jewell J., born January 30, 1895. (3) Curtis, more familiarly known as "Curt," is a practical machinist, having engaged in that work almost from boyhood. At present he is running a line of farm machinery on Jackson Prairie. He is still unmarried. (4) Deloy H., the youngest of this family of boys, was ordained a minister in the M. E. Church, and is now stationed at Kingston, Tenn. When only seventeen he began teaching in the public schools, and was elected superin- tendent of the schools at Gibsonburg, Ohio, before he was twenty-one, and he held this posi- tion until he entered the O. W. U., at Delaware, Ohio, to prepare himself for the work of the inin- istry. His health failing, he went to Tennessee, where he entered the U. S. Grant University; but while in his Sophomore year. his health failed him again, and he entered at once on the active work of the ministry. In 1894, he was married to Miss Kate Wetzel, who at that time was prin- cipal of the Grammar Department of the Perrys- burg, Ohio, schools. They have one son, Ray- mond Deloy, born August 15, 1895. Rev. D.
H. Jameson is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. P. fraternities.
In 1870, Andrew P. Jameson, the subject of this sketch, moved, with his family, to Wood county, purchasing 128 acres of the northwestern corner of Webster township, principally forest land, which he cleared and improved. For a number of years he taught school in the county, but consumption having fastened upon him, he went to Santa Barbara, Cal., for his health; after which he returned to Wood county, but died January 18, 1876, shortly after his return. Socially, he was a member of the F. & A. M., and politically, he was a member of the Demo- crat party, as are all of his sons, but one.
MILTON ASHLEY, a well-known carpenter and manufacturer residing at Bradner, is one of the prosperous business men of that town, and his success in business is due no less to his skill as a mechanic than to the confidence which his integ- rity in his dealings has won in the community. Since he started in his chosen calling he has always found plenty do do wherever he might be, and there is no one who has employed him for whom he could not work again. He is of "Down East Yankee" stock on both sides. and was born March 30, 1830, in what is now Ben- nington township, Morrow Co., Ohio, then a part of Knox county.
William H. Ashley, his grandfather, came from New England with his family in ISIS, de- scending the Ohio river to Portsmouth, and from there going up the Scioto to Morrow county. Our subject's father, William T. Ashley, was among the oldest children, and was the first son. He was married a few years after their arrival, to Miss Nancy Davis, a daughter of Samuel Davis, a New Englander by birth. Of the four children of this marriage our subject was the second, and is now probably the only survivor. Leroy, the first child, died at the age of four years; Harlas died in Cardington, Ohio, and Seaman, an expert jeweler, went to Washington State, and all trace of him has been lost. The father owned a small farm, and also followed the mason's trade. He died in 1845, and about five years later his widow married William Maley. She was a woman of fine executive ability and artistic tastes, and was engaged in the mnillinery business for many years. Her death occurred March 10, 1895, while she was in Bradner visiting her son.
Mr. Ashley's educational advantages were of the primitive order, the log school house of his district, with pancheon seats and floor, giving him his only opportunities. These were well-im-
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proved, however, and there is no one more desir- ous of better facilities for the youth of to-day- than our subject. At twenty he began to learn the carpenter's trade, serving two and one-half years at three dollars per month. In April. 1851, he was married in Sparta, Ohio, to his first wife, Ruth Rees, a daughter of Theophilus Rees, of Chester township, Morrow county. They began house- keeping at Sparta, where three children were born to them: Mary, now Mrs. John Sanderson, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; William, who engaged in stove manufacturing and the tinware business at Newark, Ohio, but died at the age of twenty-eight; and Wallace, now a leading plumber and gas- fitter at Newark. For a number of years Mr. Ashley followed his trade at Sparta, but after the death of his wife, which occurred December 31, 1867, he worked at different places, and was em- ployed to some extent in the manufacture of carriage bodies. On December 24, 1872, he con- tracted a second marriage, with Ellen Brown, who was born January 5, 1845, a daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Mills) Brown, and widow of John Stahl, of Company I, 72nd O. V. I. They have had two children: Allen B., a remarkably tal- ented boy, possessing great mechanical skill, died at the age of ten years; and Dot, an accom- plished musician, is now attending school at Val- paraiso, Indiana.
In 1873 Mr. Ashley moved to Freeport, Ohio. and after about three years, established himself in Bradner, where he has since remained with the exception of three years in Mt. Vernon in a sash, door and planing mill. He is a man of excellent business ability, and aside from his trade he has carried on the manufacture of sucker rods, tanks and other contrivances in demand for various purposes. He owns fifty-five acres of valuable land adjoining Bradner, and his home is a most pleasant one from every point of view. He and his wife are prominent members of the Baptist Church, and take an interest in the vari- ous lines of work. Mr. Ashley has always been a Democrat, in principle, although not a strict partisan, and he belongs to the Masonic order, and the I. O. O. F.
JOHN RUSSELL, a prominent carriage dealer of Bloomdale, is a native of Bloom township, and a representative of one of our oldest and most highly esteemed pioneer families.
John Russell, his father, for many years known as Squire Russell, was born in Austin- town, Mahoning county, August 23, 1814. He was married at Middlesex, Mercer Co., Penn .. by Rev. William Nesby, to Miss Lois May, a |
native of New Troy, Kingston township, Luzerne Co., Penn., born August 6, 1820. They lived in Mahoning county for about six years, Mr. Rus- sell following the occupation of millwright. Two of their eleven children were born there: Caro- line, who was born in Boardman township, June II, 1840, and died January 23, 1850, at their later home in Wood county; and Benton, born on Mill creek, January 11, 1843, who enlisted in Company F, 49th O. V. I., and died of typhoid fever at Nashville before seeing any active serv- ice. His remains were brought home and buried in Bloom township. In October, 1843. our subject's parents came to Wood county by wagon, the father having previously bargained for eighty acres of land in Bloom township. His brother Jonathan had come two weeks before to prepare a shelter, and on their arrival they found a 20x20 cabin, minus floors, doors and windows; blankets supplied the places of the latter, and with true pioneer spirit they made the best of ev- erything. The father had only $20 left at the journey's end; but he began to work as he could at carpentering, and the mother made some money by tailoring. They went to mill at Fos- toria, Tiffin or Perrysburg, their ox-team taking two days to make the trip. The timber on their land was heavy, and they had to hire help to as- sist in clearing, paying for it in farm produce. Nine children were born at their new home: Mary, October 20, 1844, who now resides in Bloomdale; John, February 17, 1847; our subject; Homer, September 24, 1849. a farm- er of Cass township, Hancock county; Pierce, November 20, 1851, who met his death by accident, June 4, 1870, while shearing sheep; Frank, September 1. 1853, a resident of Jackson township, Hancock county; James, March 21, 1855, who died November 26, 1872; Lois, July 19, 1857. who died August 30, 1878: Ada- line, March 17, 1860, now a resident of Youngs- town; and Lorinda J., March IS, 1863, who died April 9, 1866. In spite of some misfortunes, including the entire loss of home by fire in 1868. Squire Russell managed to acquire a fine prop- erty, and owned at the time of his death 200 acres in good condition. He was a Democrat until the Dred Scott decision, when he became an ardent advocate of Republican principles. He was a man of sterling integrity, possessing the courage of his convictions, and was highly re- spected throughout the community. He was a justice of the peace for twenty-three years, and held that office during the stirring time attending the removal of the county seat. He died Decem- ber 24, 1884, and his wife, who was a devout and
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consistent member of the Disciples Church, greatly loved for her many good qualities, survived him but a few years, dying January 17, 1890. She had lived on the farm forty-five years.
The subject of this sketch found plenty of work to do in his early days upon the farm, but he availed himself of the advantages afforded by the schools of his day. At twenty-one he began working for wages on neighboring farms, and in 1870 he went to Kansas and followed the saine occupation in Jefferson and Douglas counties. Later he pre-empted 160 acres. not then surveyed. in Howard county, now Chautauqua county. He remained two years, keeping "bachelor's hall " in a plank house, and in the fall of 1872 returned to Bloom township, with health permanently impaired by chills and fever. He remained at home until after his mother's death, working at the carpenter's trade, and in November, 1890, he and his sister Mary went to Bowling Green to reside. In September, 1892, they moved to Bloomdale. For some time Mr. Russell has been engaged in selling carriages, and in 1894 he built a repository to accommodate his rapidly extend- ing trade. He is a stockholder in the Bloomdale Building & Loan Association, and by the success of his various enterprises he has won a high rank in business circles. In politics he is a Republican, and has taken an active share in local work, serving as township trustee and supervisor. He is a member of Lodge No. 406, I. O. O. F., at Bloomdale, and Green Encampment No. 210, at Bowling Green.
D. K. BROUGHER, one of Wood county's in- telligent and progressive farmers, belongs to that class of representative citizens on whom the wel- fare of every nation depends. History usually deals with the lives of those who are prominent in political, military or literary circles; but it is the men who remain quietly at home, faithfully and honorably performing each day's duties to whom the stability of the country is due. Such a man is our subject.
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