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. 3, Part 32

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1140

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. 3 > Part 32

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

a mere lad his father used to send him to pur- chase young stock for the farm, and in this way he came to be one of the best judges of cattle in the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Pelton are identified with all movements for the social and religious advance- ment of the community. They have ten chil- dren, all healthy, intelligent and industrious: Emma married Oliver Swartz, of Bloom town- ship, and has two children, Ada and Golda: Scott S. is a resident of Bloomdale: William H .. Blanche, Olive, Earl, Edna, Mary, Ina, and Clyde M., are all at home. Mrs. Pelton is a prominent member of the M. E. Church at Bloomdale. In politics Mr. Pelton is a Repub- lican, and he discharges faithfully the duties of a citizen. attending caucuses and conventions in order to help in the selection of competent candi- dates, although he never seeks office for liimself. his private business demanding all his time and attention. -

WILLIAM HARDGROVE was born in Washing- ton county, Penn., May 2, 1823, and is a son of John and Margaret (Jackson) Hardgrove. His grandfather, William Hardgrove, was born in Maryland, in 1776, and wedded Mary Crawford. Soon after he removed to Washington county. Penn., where he lived on a farm of 200 acres un- til his death, which occurred April 26, 1821. His wife died April 25, 1823. Their children were Ruth, wife of John Sloan, a member of Congress: Amassa; Wilson ; Margaret; William; Reason: Sal- lie and John.

The father of our subject was born on the old family homestead in Pennsylvania, March 22. 1793, and there resided for some years after his marriage. He afterward lived for a number of years in Wayne county, Ohio; but, on the death of the grandfather, he returned and took charge of the homestead for a time. His last days, how- ever, were spent in Stark county, Ohio, where he died October 9, 1852. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife died January 15, 1865. Their children were Mary, who was born August 31, 1819, wife of George Archer; Orick J., born January 26, 1821; William; Theodore, born May 16, 1833; Edward, born January 16, 1834: Leila E. ; Ann J. ; Harriet E., born June 12, 1836; John H., born May 18, 1837, a member of the ;oth O. V. I., in which he served for three years dur- ing the Civil war: Helen, born June 19, 1838. wife of Eugene Davenport, of Massillon, Ohio.

At the age of nineteen our subject began teaching school, and at the age of twenty-three he left home and formed a partnership with his

of 0 . Felton

1049

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

brother, Orick J., in the livery stable, blacksmith and repair-shop business, which continued for three years; shortly after this (October 11, 1849) he was married to Miss Judith A. Downs, of Mt. Hope, Holmes Co., Ohio, who was born July 28, 1825, daughter of Curtis and Ann (Hall) Downs, the latter a native of England, and the former of Delaware. They were married in Jefferson coun- ty, Ohio, afterward removed to Stark county, Ohio, and later went to Holmes county, where the father died May 2, 1845, and the mother January 26, 1856. Their children were Henry, John, Curtis, George, Samuel, Benjamin, Will- iam, Robert, Mrs. Hardgrove and Owens. All are deceased with the exception of the last two -Owens being a resident of Buchanan county, Iowa.

Mr. Hardgrove purchased fifty acres of land in Holmes county, Ohio, on which he located at the time of his marriage. This he sold in 1856, and in the spring of 1857 removed to Knox county, Ohio, whence in 1890 he came to Wood county, and purchased his present farm which he has greatly improved, and has six oil wells upon it. He is a strong advocate of temperance, gives his political support to the Republican party; and is an active member of the Disciples Church, and a teacher in the Sunday-school. Mr. and Mrs. Hardgrove have five children-Margaret, born July 1, 1850, wife of Rev. S. M. Cook, of Lib- erty township; Curtis, born November 4, 1851, married to Mary Ackerman, of Waterford, Ohio; Clarin, who was born December 9, 1854, and died December 16, 1861; Constance L., born Jan- uary 8, 1860, wife of Isaac D. Garber, of Liberty township; and William, born March 22, 1864; he married Olive Frederick, and has three chil- dren, Esther, Frederick and Curtis.

IRA B. AUSTIN, a leading agriculturist of Webster township, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Medina county, December 25, 1846. His grandparents, Daniel and Polly (Baker) Austin, were residents of Rochester, Vt., and reared a family of twelve children, among whom was Rufus Austin, our subject's father. He was born March 26, 1816, and had lost both his parents when he was only fourteen years old. At twenty-one he came to Ohio and located in Medina county, where, on December 20, 1842, he was married to Miss Deborah Hurlbutt, a native of Chittenden county, Vt., born Septem- ber 13, 1816. She was a daughter of John Hurl- butt, a farmer and shoemaker, and his wife, Sarah (Ambler) Hurlbutt. Four children were born to Rufus Austin and his wife: Alvin C.,

born in 1843, a farmer in Freedom township, Wood county; Ira B., our subject; Augusta L., deceased, formerly the wife of Charles V. Black, of Michigan; and Lucien H. who died in infancy. In May, 1850, Mr. Rufus Austin moved with his family to Wood county, and settled upon a farm of 160 acres in Webster township, where he en- gaged in stock raising. For the last thirteen years he was an invalid; but previous to that time he was an active and prominent worker in all lines of effort. He was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the 144th O. V. I. In politics he was a Republican, and was school director of his district for twenty-five years, and also had been supervisor and constable. His death oc- curred August 9, 1896. The subject of this sketch was educated in the district schools of Webster township, and at the Central Ohio Con- ference Seminary at Maumee. He taught school for seven years in Wood county, and for four years was employed in erecting windmills in this and adjoining counties for a Bowling Green firm: but he now devotes his time to stockraising, and the improvement of a farm of 160 acres near Luckey. He married Miss Lavina E. Fox, who was born August 23, 1846, the daughter of John A. Fox, of Scotch Ridge. She died July 29. 1887, leaving four children: Rufus E., born July 9, 1874; Bertel A., December 14, 1875: Alvin W., January 6, 1880, and Cecil Ray, Sep- tember 10, 1884.

Mr. Austin has been school director, and member of the board of education in his town- ship, and is a leading worker in the M. E. Church at Luckey, having been a trustee for twenty years, a steward aud recording secretary for twenty-eight years, and superintendent of the Sunday-school for several years. He was one of the chief organizers of the Prohibition Society in his county. Since the split in the party at Pitts- burg, he has identified himself with the Broad Gauge, or National. party, believing its platform better represents the principles for which he has been contending.

R. C. MINEAR, of Bowling Green, was for- merly a successful farmer and stock raiser in Plain township, and is at present the fortunate owner of seven oi! wells which have been deve !- oped upon his farmn. A desire for wider culture for his two children than country life affords, in- duced him to remove a few years ago to the county seat. He was born in Hancock county. Ohio, March 27, 1853.

On his father's side, Mr. Minear is descended from an old Virginia family. His grandfather,

1050

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

Isaac Minear, Sr., a native of that State, re- moved in early life to Indiana, where he died at the age of seventy. His father, Isaac Minear, was born April 20, 1814, in West Virginia, and in 1851 was married in Ohio to Mrs. Mary Harned, whose maiden name was Mc Harry. She was born in Ireland, November 2, 1817, and in 1823 came to New York with her parents. After their mar- riage they located first in Hancock county, later in Wood county, where he still resides; the mother died May 3, 1884. Our subject is the eldest of three children: Mary married Frank Lamb, of Center township; Maggie is the wife of J. G. Starn, of Bowling Green. Mr. Minear spent the first eighteen years of his life in Han- cock county, where he attended the district school, but after that he was engaged in farming. In 1880 he married Miss Emma Teatsorth, who was born in Hancock county, August 21, 1860. For some years they lived upon the farin in Plain township, where Mr. Minear raised stock and cul- tivated his land, until the development of the oil industry suggested more profitable employment. The leisure, which his present ample income gives, is well spent, his natural inclination for reading and hearty interest in all the issues of the day, affording him constant enjoyment. The education of his children-Mearl, born .May 5, 1884, and Maud, born April 28, 1886-is now his chief care. In politics Mr. Minear is a Re- publican, and he takes an active part in the work of the organization in this county, although he has never sought office for himself. Since 1887 he has been a member of the I. O. O. F., affilia- ting with Centennial Lodge No. 626, and Bowling Green Encampment No. 210. He and his wife are prominent among the supporters of the M. E. Church.

Mrs. Minear's grandfather, Jaines Teatsorth, was born in Pennsylvania, and was one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Findlay, Ohio. By occupation he was a miller, and he built the first gristmill at Findlay. He was among the " For- ty-niners " who went to California. Two of his sons, James and Abraham, served in the Civil war. Isaac, Mrs. Minear's father, was born May 1, 1830, in Hancock county, Ohio, and, like his father, is a miller, owning his own mill at Find- lay. On May 31, 1856, he married Mary Folk, who was born April 3, 1835, in Perry county, Ohio, and they became the parents of seven chil- dren - four sons and three daughters - viz. : Elida, wife of Charles Phillips, who is engaged in the oil business in Hancock county; Charles, born August 30, 1858, deceased in infancy: Emma (Mrs. Minear); Sopha, born November 9, 1862,

wife of Luther Worden, a farmer of Hancock county; Henry, born July 4. 1865, deceased Au- gust 2, 1880; George W., born August 27, 1873; and Clyde R., born, February 14, 1875, deceased January 21, 1891.

WILLIAM ELDER. As a representative of the agricultural class, and one who has met with good success in his independent calling, we take pleas- ure in giving a brief sketch of the gentleman whose name appears at the beginning of this notice. He is pleasantly located on a farm in Section 4, Troy township, where his birth oc- curred February 6, 1839, and has, therefore, witnessed almost the entire development of the county.

His father, Henry J. Elder, was born in Fred- erick county, Md., on February 6, 1795, and was a son of Arnold Elder, a native of Baltimore, who spent his entire life in Maryland. He served with distinction in the war of 1812. The father re- mained in his native State until about nineteen years of age, when he came to this State on foot. making the journey from Frederick county to Bucyrus, Ohio, a distance of over five hundred miles, in eleven days. He joined a surveying party, which was employed in Ottawa, Seneca and Sandusky counties, and became well posted on much of the land in this State. He made his headquarters in Tiffin, and remained with that surveying corps for some years. However, in 1835, he left them and began blacksmithing at Sandusky. In the same year, June 13, Mr. Elder was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Harp- ster, who was born in Pennsylvania, on April 24. 1813, and their wedding was celebrated at San- dusky, now Fremont, Ohio. Her parents, Chris- tian and Delilah (Markle) Harpster, were also natives of the Keystone State, and became early residents in Franklin county, Ohio. Later they removed to Sandusky county, and at Fremont their deaths occurred.

From Sandusky, Mr. Elder removed to To- ledo, Ohio, in 1836; but the same year arrived in this county, where he bought a timbered tract of 139 acres, of John Bates, and there erected a tavern, which he conducted many years. He at once began to clear and improve his place, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred September IS, 1883. He took a prominent part in promoting the interests of Troy township, aide 1 largely in its development, and assisted in advan- cing its educational facilities, being school director for some time. His first vote was cast for the Whig party, but he later became a stalwart Democrat.

1051

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

Mrs. Elder still survives her husband, and, of their fourteen children, six are now living. They were as follows: Ephraim, who died in childhood; Mrs. Henrietta White, who died in 1865; Mrs. Mary Buxton, who makes her home in Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Gould, who died in Toledo, Ohio. in April, 1895; William, of this review; Richard, who enlisted in Troy township, in the fall of 1861, becoming a member of Company E, 72nd O. V. I., and was killed at Pittsburg Landing the follow- ing year; John, a resident of Perrysburg township, Wood county; Jesse, who died in Troy township, in 1866; Isabel and Arabel, who also died in the same year; George, who makes his home in Per- rysburg township; Lucy, who died several years ago; Martha, wife of Fred Gould, of Toledo; and Harriet, who lives in the same city. The inother now finds a pleasant home with our sub- ject.

William Elder has ever devoted himself to agricultural pursuits since large enough to reach the plow-handles and aid in the cultivation of the old homestead. His education was obtained in the district schools of Troy township, and, on lay- ing aside his text books, gave his whole time to clearing and improving the home farm of 129 acres; he owns also a tract of land in Perrysburg township. Politically, he is independent in his views, voting for those measures which he con- siders will be the most beneficial to the commu- nity, without regard to the party favoring them, and he has served his fellow citizens as trustee of Troy township.

LEWIS BOWERS owns a snug farm of forty acres, pleasantly located in Perry township, where he has been operating successfully since 1866. He has brought his land to a high state of culti- vation, largely by the labor of his own hands, and is in possession of a comfortable set of farm buildings, to which, each year, he adds somne- thing to enhance the beauty and value of his property. A native of Ohio, he was born in Chester township, Knox county, April 10, 1824.

His father, Jesse Bowers, who came from Frederick county, Va., to Knox county, in 1802, was educated for the ministry, and for over twenty years preached for the Methodist Church, travel- mig on horseback over a large circuit during the pioneer days. In Wheeling, W. Va., he wedded Lydia Grindstaff, a native of Washington county, Penn., and they became the parents of cleven children, five sous and six daughters, namely: Rosanna, who first married Daniel Stone, and'is now the widow of Joseph Drake, of Tiffin, Ohio: Abigail, wife of William Rigley, of Kansas; Aman-

da, who married Moses Grindstaff, and died in Licking county, Ohio; Elias, who died in Knox county, Ohio; Martha, who makes her home in Illinois; Jeremiah, of Licking county; Lewis, of this sketch; Mary, who resides in Kansas; Wes- ley, of Illinois; John N., of Texas; and Philena, wife of Jackson Davis, of Iowa. The parents both died, and were buried in Hartford township, Licking county, the father at the age of seventy- seven, and the mother when sixty-five years. During the latter part of his life, the former had mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and. while he was engaged in preaching, his children oper- ated the farm. Previously to the organization of the Republican party, he was a Whig, but after- ward affiliated with the former.

The schools which Lewis Bowers attended were mostly taught by teachers hired at fifty cents per week, the parents each agreeing to send so many scholars. He is a warm friend of the public-school system, and does all in his power for the advancement of the cause of education. At the age of seventeen he began learning the shoemaker's trade; but, not liking that occupa- tion, he took up carpentering, which he followed for fifteen years, when he was injured by a saw- log falling upon him. After his marriage he lo- cated in Hartford township, Licking Co., Ohio. working on a farm during the summer months. while in the winter he engaged in shoemaking at his own home. Two years later he went to Har- lem township, Delaware Co., Ohio, where he leased twenty-five acres. For clearing the land he was to have the use of it for five years. Sub- sequently he purchased a house and an acre of land in Hartford township, Licking county, where he resided until November 10, 1863, when he arrived in Perry township, Wood county, locat - ing on ten acres of timber land in Section 2 1. which he cultivated until 1866. In that year he came to his present farm of forty acres, on which he erected his comfortable home, in 1886.

In Delaware county, Ohio, December 22, 1852, Mr. Bowers was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Bailey, who was born in Licking county, February 26, 1831, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (McCartney Bailey, the 1 former a native of New York, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father followed farming, and was also a local preacher of the Methodist Church. To our subject and his wife have been born the following children: Victorine, now Mrs. Calvin Brenaman. of Perry township; Lydia, wife of Rev. David Brandeberry, a Methodist minister of Hoytville, Ohio; Anna M., who died at the 1 age of four years; George H., of Plain township,

WOOD COUNTY, OHIC.

1052

Wood county; Elizabeth (twin sister of George), who died in infancy: Amanda, now Mrs. Wil- son Stearns, of Plain township; and Emma, at home.

The family are all members of the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Bowers has served as super- intendent of Sunday-school, and they are promi- nent in the social circles of the locality. For fifteen years he ably served as supervisor of Perry township, and is deeply interested in the success of the Republican party, of whose past history he is justly proud. He is a man well and favor- ably known, having the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

FRANCIS BRENOT, proprietor of twenty-one acres of improved land in Section 34, Ross town- ship, is numbered among the most interprising citizens of Wood county, and is one of its most substantial farmers. He located here in 1864, and from the uncultivated soil built up a valuable homestead, which will remain as a monument to his industry and enterprise for generations to come. He has been particularly wise in his in- vestments, and possesses excellent business capac- ity, making the most of his opportunities, and all through the changes of a busy life, and while laboring for his own interests, has in nowise set aside the interests and well-being of the commu- nity around him.

France, who has given so many of her sons to the building up of this country, was the early tramping ground of our subject, and where he was born February 3, 1834. His parents, Frank and Jeanne Claude (Roussy) Brenot, were also na- tives of France, where the father spent his entire life engaged in farming, but the mother came to America and died in East Toledo, Ohio, in July, 1871. Four of their children also became res- idents of the United States: Mrs. Mary Martin. who died in Lake township, Wood county; Francis, of this sketch: John, of Blissfield, Mich. ; and Philomaine, who died in Wood county. In his native land Francis Brenot was reared and educated, and crossed the Atlantic at the age of nineteen years. He first located in Pennsylvania, where he worked in a sawmill, and in the woods, and later was similarly employed in Wisconsin. In 1861, at East Saginaw, Mich., he enlisted in Company H, and Mich. V. I., for three months, and, on the expiration of that term, re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, for three years. He was mustered into service at Detroit, Mich., as a member of the army of the Potomac, and participated in the following engagements: Black- burn's Ford; siege of Yorktown; Williamsburg;

Fair Oaks; Richmond; Glendale; Malvern Hill; second battle of Bull Run; Chantilly; Frederick- burg; Vicksburg; Knoxville, where he received a gunshot wound; Jackson; Blue Springs; Camp- bell's station; siege of Knoxville, the battle of the Wilderness, and others. At the close of his enlistment he was honorably discharged in July, 1864, at Detroit, Mich., and was mustered out with an army record of which he may be justly proud. From Detroit, soon after his discharge, Mr. Brenot came to Wood county, and has since made his home here. In addition to the farm on which he is now located, he owns another in the same township, comprising 120 acres, 100 of which he has placed under the plow. For about twelve years also, he engaged in the grocery and saloon business in Ross township.

There Mr. Brenot was married, in 1872, to Miss Pauline Ruget, a native of France, born March 20, 1850, and a daughter of Charley and Rosella (Doubet) Ruget, who were also born in France, but at an early day became residents of Michigan. Her father is now deceased, but her mother resides in Blissfield, Mich. Five children have been born to our subject and his wife, name- ly: Mary, Frank, Charles, Amelia, and Rosy. Mr. Brenot is a solid Democrat, politically, and has served as a member of the school board. while socially he is prominently identified with George Douglas Post, G. A. R. No., 183, of Mill- bury, Wood county. He is a wide-awake, ener- getic man, who has the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

DELASCUS MERCER, who for forty-five years has witnessed the development and upbuilding of Wood county, was born October 11, 1849, in Portage township, and is one of the family of ten children born to Daniel and Susan (Roberts Mercer. He was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools of Portage and Liberty townships. During his boyhood days he assisted in the cultivation of the old home place, and con- tinued under the parental roof until after he had attained his majority.

On March 21, 1870, in Liberty township, Mr. Mercer married Miss Louisa Dongey, the Rev. Wilcot, pastor of the Disciples Church officiating. She was born in Wood county, Oc- tober IS, 1849, and is a daughter of Peter FF. and Catherine (Doran) Dongey, natives of France, who were married on board the vessel which brought them to America. They located in' Liberty township. Wood county, where the father died in September, 1889. The mother is now a resident of Bowling Green. They had a

Delasaus Merch

1053

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

funily of eight children: Fred, who died at the age of twenty-two; Julia, wife of H. W. Sterling, of Bowling Green ; Mrs. Mercer; Henry, of Bowl- ing Green; Susan, wife of William M. Mercer, of Liberty township; Charles, who died in infancy; George, of Bowling Green, and Charles, of Wes- ton.

Our subject and his wife began housekeeping on a twenty-acre farm in Liberty township which constitutes a part of their present homestead. Mr. Mercer now owns 329 acres of valuable land, all under a high state of cultivation, and in 1890 he replaced the old log cabin home with a large substantial frame residence. There are numer- ous oil wells on his land, on some of which he receives a one-sixth royalty. Eight children have blessed the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Lewis Henry, who died in infancy; Lucy C., wife of T. J. White, of Mercer county, Penn., who is now preparing for the ministry in Bethany College, West Virginia; Edward H., a pupil in the Angola (Ind.) Academy; Clarence Elmer, Matilda J. and Abraham Garfield, at home; Alda Edith, who died at the age of eight months; and Daniel Floyd, at home. In politics Mr. Mercer is a stalwart Prohibitionist. He has never been an office-seeker, but has, how- ever, served as school director for a number of years. Socially he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at Rudolph. He and his wife are earnest supporters of the Disciples Church, and faithfully devoted to the cause of the Master.

GEORGE W. BROWN located in Troy town- ship in 1882, and the following year he removed to his present farm, where he is successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a native of Wood county, born in Plain township in 1855, and is a son of James and Ann (Brim) Brown, both natives of England. On coming to the New World the father first located in Sandusky county, Ohio, whence he removed to Plain town- ship, where he was numbered among the hon- ored pioneers. He there opened up a farm, but later went to Center township, this county. His death occurred in Henry county, Ohio, and at Liberty Center, that county, his wife still makes her home. Their family consisted of three chil- dren-George W., of this review; M. L., of Lib- erty Center; and Hattie A., now Mrs. W. H. Burke, of Cleveland, Ohio.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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. 3, Part 32

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1140