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 42
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The opportunities of Joshua H. Dicken for se- curing an education were limited, and hardly hadi the echoes of Fort Sumter's guns died away when, on the first call for 75,000 volunteers, he enlisted in Company I, 21st O. V. I., for three months service. He re-enlisted. this time becoming a member of Company K, 49th O. V. I. After fourteen months of active service he was dis- charged, November 17. 1862, on account of this. ability. In September, 1864, however, he again joined the Union forces as a member of the tour regiment, and served until the close of the wu Although never wounded, he contracted a disca" from which he never recovered.
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land Valley, Bedford county. The mother was a daughter of William Cessna, who died in Bed- ford county in 1828. In 1854 the parents moved from Pennsylvania to Mahoning county, Ohio, where the father died April 29, 1855; the mother later became the wife of Emanuel Ash, of Seneca county, whither she had removed in 1859. Since Mr. Ash's death she has made her home with
Mrs. Dicken, in Bloomdale. On his return from the war, Mr. Dicken bought a farm in Jackson township, Seneca county, and there made his home until 1870, when he brought his wife to Bloom township, Wood county, locating in Sec- tion 13. There he passed away November 5, 1874, and was laid to rest at the old homestead with his parents in Liberty township, Seneca county. At his death he left a good farm of eighty acres, on which his widow resided until the spring of 1893, when she came to Bloomdale, and she now has a pleasant home on Harrison street, where she delights to entertain her many friends. She still owns the farm, which is rented. She is an earnest Christian woman, holding membership with the Disciples Church. Mr. Dicken was known by all as one of the most social men in his neighborhood, his hearty laugh being often heard, and he was held in the highest regard by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. In politics he affiliated with the Repub- lican party, and his loyalty to this country was manifested in times of peace as well as when he followed the old flag on Southern battlefields.
GEORGE TYRRELL, a well-known resident of Bowling Green, was born in Berkshire, England, June 16, 1847. His father, John Tyrrell, was born in the same place, and is still living, at the age of ninety. He married Ann Andrews, a na- tive of Oxfordshire, England, who died May 20, 1891, aged eighty-three. They were members of the Church of England, in which the father was for many years clerk of his parish. He was a butcher by occupation. They had ten children: John, born in 1832, died at Steventon, Berkshire, January 29, 1880. . Catherine went to Africa as a missionary, and married there (our subject has never seen her, as she left home before his birth). Elizabeth (deceased), married Charles Day, of London, England. Henry, Sarah, and Anna (now Mrs. Isaac Gedding), all live in England. Char- lotte married Edwin Farmer, superintendent of the Wood County Infirmary. Joseph T. is a resident of Sterling, Rice Co., Kans. George, our subject, comes next. James resides in Eng- land.
Our subject worked at various occupations in
England during his youth. On April 17, 1869. he left his native land, arriving at New York thirteen days later, came on to Wood county, and has remained here since, working as a laborer in woods and elsewhere. He was married Decem- ber 23, 1875, to Miss Mary Catherine Bailey, who was born in Devonshire, England, March 7. 1849. the daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Becke! Bailey, both natives of the same county. Her father was born in 1819, and died August 3. 1889: her mother was born January 26, 1820, and died April 11, 1881. They were married in England, and came to America, landing at New York Sep- tember 29, 1853, having spent two months on the voyage. They bought a farm in Lake township. Wood county, in the same year, and resided there the rest of their lives. In England they had been connected with the Established Church, but after coming here they joined the Evangelical Church. Their family comprised children as follows: Will- iam, born December 8, 1843, was postmaster at Millbury; John, March 28, 1846, lives in Michi- gan; Richard, August 28, 1847, died at the age of eighteen: Mary C. (Mrs. Tyrrell), comes next : Philippa Ann, November 5, 1850 (now deceased . was the wife of James Pinegar, of Millbury; Al- bert, April 25, 1853. lives in Bowling Green; Elizabeth Jane. January 4, 1861, married Albert Heyinon; Edward Edwin, August 7, 1857. is a drayman at Bowling Green: Ellen, October IS. 1862, married William Durant, of Monroeville: and Sherman T., February 28, 1865, is a veter- inary surgeon at Bowling Green. Mr. and Mrs Tyrrell have five children, whose names with dates of birth, are as follows: John Clay, August 31, 1877: Catherine Ann, June 28, 1879; Grace Bernice, August 31, 1881: Ernest Albert, May 24. 1883: Elizabeth Frances, August 6, 1884, de- ceased in infancy; and Lloyd Edwin, born June 29, 1886.
ALBERT NEWTON PETTEYS. Among the prom- inent farmers of Washington township, few names are better known than that of the subject of this sketch, who was born on his father's farm. in Weston township, this county, on the 25th of September, 1857. Until the age of eighteen years he attended the district schools of the neigh- borhood, where he acquired a practical education. and then removed to Tontogany. He was er'p- pled by an elder snag penetrating his foot, where it remained for over thirteen years. Atter it- tending school in Tontogany he could have s- cured a teacher's certificate, but he preferre lt follow agricultural pursuits rather than teaching
On the 220 of September, 1880, Mr. Peters
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was united in marriage withi Miss Margaret Bur- ditt, a daughter of Greenbury and a sister of An- drew Burditt. Four children have come to bless. this union: Albert Lee, who was born August 20, 1888. and died June 9, 1889; David Newton, who was born July 8, 1890; Charles Edward, who was born November 28, 1892; and Margaret Belle, who was born May 9, 1895.
In 1887 Mr. Petteys purchased his present farm of forty acres of partially-improved land, which he has since further developed, adding greatly to its value by tiling and ditching, and now has a highly cultivated tract, which yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he expends upon it. His religious belief is in accordance with the United Brethren Church, and he now belongs to Washington Chapel.
WILLIAM MARTIN, one of the most promi- nent agriculturists in Wood county, whose fine farm is situated in Weston township, is a native of that township, his birth having taken place March 24, 1847.
The Martin family is of Irish and German ancestry, and the predominating traits of these nations are to be seen in the thrift, perseverance and enterprise of the descendants. The great- grandfather of our subject, William Martin, was born in Ireland, in 1754, and was married Au- gust 12, 1782, to Hannah Chapman, who was born June 30, 1765. Nine children were born of this union, namely: William, Nathan, Janette, David, Agnes, Samuel, John C., James T., and Matthew. The father of this family was a furniture manufacturer, and came at a very early day to the United States, settling first in Penn- sylvania. His eldest son, William, the grand- father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, August S, 1783. On September 26, 1805, lie was married to Jane Taylor, and to them were born two children-James T., and Loucindia. In 1814 he came to Fairfield county, Ohio, and there followed his trade of cabinet maker until 1832, when he removed to Wood county, and took up 160 acres of land, the same comprising a portion of the farin on which our subject now resides. On the death of his wife, which occur- red two years after his arrival in Wood county, he returned to Fairfield county, and remained there for six years; then again came to Wood county, where he lived with his son until his death in 1861, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Martin was justice of the peace in Weston township for sixteen years, and married most of the pioneers in that section-in all, over one hun- dred and sixty couples.
James T. Martin, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, March 17, 1808. He came to Ohio in 1814, with his parents, settling in Fairfield county, where he learned the cabi- nct-maker's trade. After the removal of the family to Weston township he tood up eighty acres of land and improved it, at the same time working on the 160 acres owned by his father. He was also the principal undertaker in his sec- tion of the country. He was marricd January I, 1834, to Miss Matilda Smith, by whom he had the following children: Elinor, born Au- gust 2, 1836, died while young; Robert S., born February S, IS38, died in infancy; Jane, born January 9, 1840, died September 22, 1868; Elizabeth, born October 14, 1841, married E. C. Whitney, a farmer, and lives in Nebraska; Harriet, born April 22, 1844, is the wife of L. S. Pugh, of Henry county, Ohio; William, born March 24, 1847, is the subject of this sketch; James T., born March 28, 1849, died in child- hood; and John L., born September 19, 1854. also died in youth. The mother died Septen- ber 21, 1868, the father and Jane on the next day, all of typhus fever, and on September 25, 1868, they were all buried in the Beaver Creek cemetery.
William Martin obtained a fair education in the district school of his locality, which he at- tended three months in the year; the remainder of the time being given to farm duties. When he arrived at manhood he took up farming on his father's farm, and has been very successful in his enterprises. He owns 225 acres of some of the finest land in Wood county, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and on which he has placed some twenty miles of tiling. In 1883 he erected a handsome brick dwelling, one of the best in the township, at a cost of $3.000, and in 1 895 he built a commodious barn which cost him $2,000, and in which he has four silo bins. In addition to general farming he is quite an exten- sive stockraiser, breeding fine registered Aber- deen and Jersey cattle, and some good draft horses. He is also interested in the Weston creamery. As may be inferred from the above facts Mr. Martin is a progressive, wide-awake farmer, a man who undertakes his business, and gives it the time and attention necessary to suc- cess. He stands well in his community and is deserving of the esteem and respect which is ac- corded him. In politics lie is a Republican, and is a school director and also clerk of the board Mrs. Martin is a member of the Home and Foreign Missionary Society, the Aid Society and the Daughters of Rebekah, Lodge No. 303. Mr.
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Martin belongs to the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. OSr, and also to Columbian Encampment.
The marriage of our subject took place March 19, 1872, when he was united to Miss Lucretia J., daughter of John Pugh, a prominent farmer of Weston township, now deceased. Four chil- dren have blessed this union, namely Guy T., born March 17, 1878, is assisting his father upon the farm; Glen J., born December 13, 1885; Ruby C., born April 13, 1890; and Ruth E., born March 18, 1894. A curious coincidence in connection with these births is the fact that all occurred on the Sabbath day, and that the eldest occurred on his grandfather's birthday.
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VINCENT FISHER, engaged in the clover-seed and wool businesses in Bloomdale, is one of the prominent and representative business men of Wood county. He was born in Cass township, Hancock Co., Ohio, July 19, 1845, and is a son of John and Catherine (Dunlap) Fisher. The father was a native of Allegheny county, Penn., and, as he was but three years old at the time of his father's death, he was reared by others. He Was married in his native State, and, on coming to Ohio, located first in Ashland county, where he remained a couple of years, and then went to Washington township, Hancock county. There he remained a short time, when he went to Cass township. The land was all new, Indians still visited the neighborhood, and his first home was a rude log cabin. The children of the family were as follows: Samuel, born in Pennsylvania, died in Cass township, Hancock county; Mary Ann, also born in the Keystone State. married David Manning; and died in. Washington town- ship, Hancock county; Catherine, who became the wife of Joseph Smart, died in Fostoria, Ohio; Abraham broke his leg in a threshing machine, after which he took typhoid fever, and passed away in Cass township, Hancock county; Eliza- beth, deceased, was the wife of Edson Foster, a florist, of Findlay, Ohio; James resides in Allen township, Hancock county; Vincent, our subject, is next in order of birth; Joseph lives in Putnam county, Ohio; Jackson makes his home in Find- lay; and Alice died from injuries sustained by being thrown from a buggy. The father's death occurred in Cass township, in May, 1865, at the age of fifty-six years, while at the same place his wife died five years later, and both were laid to rest in Fostoria cemetery.
Being the oldest son at home at the time of his father's death, Vincent Fisher assumed charge of the farm, though but eighteen years of age, and operated the same for two years. In Bloom
township, Wood county, on Christmas Day of 1866, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Prudence Loman, a daughter of Thomas Loman. He then rented a house in Cass town- ship, while he worked as a laboring man; but, in 1868, he leased his father-in-law's farm, which he conducted for two years, when he purchased eighty acres of timber land in Bloom township. there erecting a log house, 18 x 28 feet, and began the improvement of his place. In 1874, how- ever, he returned to Hancock county, where he rented land for a year, and then, in partnership with his brother James, embarked in the clothing business in Columbus Grove; but, at the end of a year, removed the business to Arcadia, Ohio. Later he conducted that enterprise alone for two years, after which he sold out at a great loss.
On first coming to Bloomdale, in 1878, Mr. Fisher worked in the lumber yard of Bryant & Linhart-first as fireman, then head sawyer, and later as foreman; but, at the end of two years, he purchased eighty acres of land in Section 26, Bloom township, forty-five of which had been improved. His means were such, however, that he had to go in debt $2,200 for his place. He continued the improvement and cultivation of his place until the spring of 1891, when he again came to Bloomdale, and now rents his land. For two years he engaged in the sale of farm imple- ments, but is now extensively interested in buying and selling clover seed and wool, at the Bloom- dale elevators, in which he has been very success- ful. For about fifteen years, in connection with his agricultural pursuits, he also operated a thresh- ing machine, his first experience in that line dat- ing back to the days of crude machinery, while his father was first to introduce a separator into the northern part of Hancock county, and the southern part of Wood county.
Two children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, namely: Cora, now Mrs. William W. Wineland, of Bloom township; and Addie, now Mrs. Ned Rosendale, of the same township. The father has ever taken a prominent part in the promotion of every enterprise for the welfare of his town and county, and was one of the party of citizens who helped to secure the station of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, by contribution of labor, in putting in the railroad switch. He is an earnest worker in the Democratic party, though no office-seeker. and was five years Democratk township committeeman. He served ap ho A. pired term both as marshal and aldermin 4. Bloomdale, being chairman of the gas committee when the Northwestern Gas Company undertook
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to charge exorbitant prices for gas, and other companies were secured to start a competing line, which would save Bloomdale citizens inany thou- sands of dollars. He is a stockholder in the Building & Loan Association of Bloomdale; di- rector of the Northwestern Fair Association of Fostoria, Ohio, and director in the Bloomdale Citizens Gas Company; socially, he is a mem- ber of Bloomdale Lodge No. 406, I. O. O. F., while his wife has held membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church since the age of fourteen years. They have many friends through- out the community, and justly deserve the high regard in which they are held. Although start- ing out with meager advantages, Mr. Fisher has, by his own labor and good management, as well as by skillful, but fair, manipulation, gathered a comfortable competence.
DANIEL STOCKER, deceased. The subject of this sketch, formerly a prominent real-estate holder in Wood and Holmes counties, Ohio, was born February 1, 1819, in Oxford township, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, the son of John and Elizabeth Stocker. He attended school in his native place until the death of his father, when he engaged in agriculture in Holmes county, renting a farm for a time. In 1883 he came to Wood county and bought a tract of land lying on the boundary between Weston and Grand Rapids townships, being the W. 3 of the S. W. }of Sec. 21, Weston township, upon which he made some improvements. He returned to Holmes county, however, and carried on his business there until his death, which occurred March 28, 1889. A man of sound judgment and fine abil- ities, he enjoyed the esteem and friendship of all who knew him well. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Disciples Church, and took an interest in all religious movements. Politically he was a Democrat, but held broad views on all leading questions of the day.
On December 31, 1854, he was married to Miss Elmira Willhouer, who was born October 9, 1835, at Port Washington, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, the daughter of Johannes Willhouer. To this union were born nine children, as follows: (1) Christian F., born December 7, 1855, was married on December 10, 1887, to Miss Lettie Watson, and has two children-Bessie and Hazel. (2) James W., born May 30, 1857, was married on March 14, 1882, to Miss Laura E. Wheaton (who was born Aprit 6, 1864), and has six chil- dren -Daniel, born October 8, 1882; Elmira, born September 15, 1884; Mitte, born January 11, 1887; George W., born March 15, 1890; Ollie,
born August 29, 1894; and Ellen, born June IS, 1896. (3) Hiram J., born April 1, 1859. (4 Elizabeth L., born January 15, 1861, was mar- ried October 5. 1882, to Nelson Sharp, of Holmes county, and has two children-Mabel, born August 1, 1888, and Walter, born July 11. 1890. (5) Daniel B., born February 4, 1863, is an oil operator in Indiana. (6) John S., born October 1, 1865, was married March 11, 1891. to Miss Bell Fenderick (who was born Novem- ber 30, 1871), and has one son, Roy, born Feb- ruary 12, 1892. (7) Joseph, born February 18, 1867, died February 22, 1875. (8) Mary E., born May 28, 1870, was married June 11, 1895, to Frank Nafus, and has one child-Harvey. (9) Mitte, born March 15, 1873, died February 28, 1875.
Mrs. Stocker came with her family to Wood county shortly after the death of her husband, and settled upon the property here, improving and developing it into a fine farm. She now re- sides there with her second son, sustained by the love and affection of her children, and the esteem of a large circle of friends.
SAMUEL J. HARPER is a native of Holmes county, Ohio, where he was born September 22, 1829. His parents were Thomas and Mary (White) Harper, the former of whom was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1816, and the latter in Washington county, Penn. They were married in Jefferson county, and moved to DeKalb coun- ty. Ind., in 1852, and Mrs. Harper died there in 1855. Mr. Harper returned to Ohio in 1858 and settled in Wood county, where he married Mrs. Nancy (Barton) Jamison. He died at the home of our subject in 1880. He was the father of the following children: William is a farmer in Wes- ton; Jane married George McKeg, and died in Cincinnati; Samuel J. is our subject: George P. resides in DeKalb county, Ind., on a farm; Eliza- beth died unmarried; James H. is a railroad man of Bellevue.
William Harper, grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, where he married a Miss Johnston, a native of the same country. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was accident- ally drowned in the Ohio river.
Our subject remained in Holmes county, Ohio. uitil he was sixteen years of age, at which time he went to DeKalb county, Ind., where he stayed until 1856, when he came to Wood county. He was married in Perrysburg October 23. 1850, 10 Miss Mary J. Barton, who was born in Holmes connty, April 11, 1835. They have one child. Thomas, a railroad conductor residing at Leipsic
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Function, Putnam Co., Ohio. He was born Feb- ruary 27, 1858, and married Miss Addie Boggs, who was born in Weston township. Three chil- dren have been born to them: Harry, Harvey, und Bessie. After his marriage our subject lived in DeKalb county for a year, then came to Wood county, and from here went to Tontogany, where he accepted an appointment on the C. H. & D. railroad as brakeman, and in two years was pro- moted to the position of conductor. From 1860 10 1865 he ran an accommodation train from To- ledo to Lima, after which time he entered the mercantile business at Milton Center. In 1871 he sold out and entered the railway mail service, running between Toledo and Cincinnati for two years, when he was transferred to the fast mail on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., and ran from Cleve- land to Syracuse for fifteen and a half years. He then quit the mail service to enter the egg and poultry business in Weston, where he remained for three and a half years. Becoming tired of that, he moved to the farm on which he now lives. He is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He cast his first vote for Winfield Scott. Mrs. Har- per was in the millinery and dress-making busi- ness in Weston for nine years, while he was en- gaged in the mail service.
Mrs. Harper is the daughter of James and Charlotte (Johnson) Barton, the former of whom was born in Mifflin county, Penn., February 27, 1807, and the latter in Jefferson county, Ohio, December 17, ISII. They were married De- cember 18, 1826. She died April 23, 1896, but Mr. Harper is still in the enjoyment of good health. The following children blessed their union: Ann, the wife of George Bell, of Holmes county, Ohio, died in Wood county in 1855: John died at the age of two and a half years; Mary Jane is wife of our subject; Henry J. died December 7, 1894; Samuel J. lives in Weston township; Harriet E. married Ellis Williams; Stephen Taylor lives in Weston township; one other died in infancy. Mrs. Harper grew to womanhood in Holmes county, and came with her parents to Wood county in 1852, and they later settled in Grand Rapids township, from where they went to Weston township. Mr. and Mrs. Barton were both members of the Disciples Church, and he is a Democrat in politics.
SAMUEL BROWN, a prominent manufacturer vid stock breeder, of Grand Rapids township. and a son of one of the earliest settlers of this county, was born at Beaver Creek, April 18, 1841.
Alexander Brown, his father, was born in
Perry county, Ohio, November 34. 1802. and settled in Wood county about 1828; he followed the occupation of fariner and veterinary surgeon, and was one of the first settlers to go back from the Maumee. In Perry county, he was married to Miss Anna North, who was born in Philadel- phia, Penn., September 30, 1804. Twelve chil- dren were born to this worthy pioneer couple, namely: Caroline, born in Perry county, March 10, 1823, became the wife of John McKee, and died December 26, 1856; James, born in Fair- field county, October 26, 1824, died September 11, 1860; Mary, born January 11, 1827, died January 6, 1842; Morgan, born March 10, 1829. the first white child born on the Maumee, south of Perrysburg, died June 20, 1888; Sarah, born January 15, 1833, is the wife of S. Condit, a farmer of Oregon; William, born September 17, 1834, a prominent stock raiser and veterinary surgeon of Weston; Isaac Newton, born August 15, 1836, died May 31, 1896: Eliza Jane, born November 25, 1838, became the wife of John McLain, and died January 17, 1884; Samuel, our subject; Margaret E., born November 17, 1843, became the wife of Elliot Warner, No- vember 29, 1871; Joseph. born May 31, 1846, died October 4. 1847: and Anna, born Septemn- ber 15, 1848, became the wife of W. L. Row- land. and died April 27, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were noted for their hospitality, and the weary stranger ever found "their latch-string out." He passed to his final rest September 15. 1870, and his estimable wife survived until June 30, ISSI.
Samuel Brown, our subject. attended the dis- trict school near his birthplace, and assisted his father upon the farmn, until the breaking out of war, when he enlisted in Company H. 68th O. V. I., with Col. Steedman and Capt. Voris. He took part in most of the important battles of the war, including those of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Bolivar, Metamora, Iuka, the siege of Vicksburg, and the engagements of the famous Atlanta campaign, his regiment being among the host that went "marching through Georgia " with Sherman. At the battle of Metamora. the 12th Mich. V. I., the 68th O. V. I. and the 40th Ill. V. I., fought with unusual determination, the 68th taking the lead in the desperate charge on the Rebels, compelling the surrender of 555 men. Three companies of the 68th. of which Company II was one, acted as guard for these prisoners as far as Bolivar. Fenn., where they were turned over to the United States Government. Dating the march to Bolivar, the Union soldiers were often amused by the stories of the Confederates.
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