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 5

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 5

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in Perry township at the age of sixty years; Jonathan, who died in Portage township. Wood county, at the age of seventy-one; Philip, who died in Bloom township at the age of sixty; William, who died in February, 1894, in the some township, at the age of seventy-four; Isaac, -

who was a wealthy farmer of Perry township, where he died in 1886, at the age of sixty-six years; Tena, who became the wife of William Burk, and died in Freedom township, Wood county, at the age of fifty years; Mary, who was the wife of Henry Hays, and with her husband was poisoned in Perry township; and James, a farmer of that township. The father passed away in January, 1867, at the age of eighty years, and the mother died in the fall of 1865. The former was a shrewd, far-sighted Pennsyl- vania-German, who made the best of his oppor- tunities, and became a successful agriculturist. In early life he was a Whig, but later joined the Republican party, with which his sons also affiliated.

The educational advantages of our subject were such as the subscription schools of those early days afforded, and he remained upon the home farm until his marriage, which was cele- brated in Freedom township, Wood county, in September, 1850, Miss Catherine Miller becom- ing his wife. She was born in Schuylkill county, Penn., September 2, 1828, and is the daughter of David and Susan (Ketrie) Miller, who became residents of Bloom township, in 1842. At the time of her marriage she was working as a do- mestic, and out of her meager wages paid part of the funeral expenses of her father. Mr. and Mrs. Brandeberry became the parents of eight children, namely: Mary A., who was born April 21, 1851, and died when young: Albert, who was born August 2, 1852, and now operates the home farm; an infant daughter, who was born Novem- ber 26, 1853, and died unnamed: David, who was born December 6, 1854, and, besides con- ducting his farm, also engages in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Lorina, who was born January 24, 1859. and is now the wife of William Rider, of Bloom township: T. J., who was born March 3, 1861, and died at the age of three months; Alice C., who was born March 6, 1864, and is now the wife of James E. Long, of Bloom township; and Charles, who was born November 27. 1866, and is a farmer of the same township.

Mr. Brandeberry was given eighty actes of land, by his father, in Freedom township, but this he traded with his brother Jonathan for a like amount in Section 27. Bloom township,

where he still makes his home. His first dwell- ing was of logs, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof weighted down, stick chimney and large fire- place; but it was a happy home, where sociability and good cheer abounded.

The farming operations of Mr. Brandeberry were interrupted by his service in the Union army during the Civil war. On May 2, 1864. he be- came a member of the Home Guards, entering the United States service as a member of Com- pany E, 144th O. V. I., for one hundred days, and was stationed at Relay House, between Wash- ington and Baltimore, where he was detailed for post duty under the quartermaster. While hand- ling heavy bags of grain for horses' feed he strained himself, from which he has never recov- ered. On the expiration of his term of service, he returned home, resuming agricultural pursuits, which he followed until 1880, when, on account of his physical condition, he was obliged to lay aside the more arduous duties of farin life, and for several years engaged in buying and selling stock. He has a wide acquaintance throughout the county, and by his friends is familiarly known as " Uncle Tommie." He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, but has refused all offices except that of school director of District No. S. Bloom township, and he and his family are faith- ful members of the Methodist Church.

JAMES J. SMITH. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest pioneers of the county, and perhaps the oldest in Perrysburg township. He was born in Johnstown, N. Y., November 18, 1817, and was in his seventeenth year when his parents came to Ohio. He has, therefore, grown up with the country, and the wonderful changes which have occurred during its growth and de- velopment, have taken place under his observa- tion. At that day many parts of this section were mere swamps overgrown with grass and weeds, the forests, dense with thick underbrush and teeming with wild animals, the home of set - tlers, made in a little patch of clearing were " like angels' visits," few and far between.

It is to such brave pioneers as this man and his father, that this great State owes her present high standing in the commonwealth. They are the men who literally "blazed" the path for those less daring, who sought, in the fertile lands of the West, that return for their labors denied them in the more circumscribed and less easily cultivated domains of the East. The debt of gratitude, which the people of to-day owe to these hardy and industrious early settlers, can never be repaid, but no occasion should be lost in which

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to give them the credit due their toils and sac- rifices.

Mr. Smith was the thirteenthi in a large fam- ily of children born to John and Caroline (Gris- wold) Smith, both ineinbers of old New England families. The father was born in Woodstock, Mass., August 23, 1764, and his wife, February 7, 1774. They were married September 21, 1790, and came to Ohio, September 15, 1835, locating on the banks of the Maumee river in Perrysburg, where he died March 1, 1842. his wife surviving him until August 14, 1848. Their farm comprised what is now the site of Lime City. Of their family the following record is given: Mary, born August 14, 1791; Almira P., August 7, 1793: Caroline, May 31. 1795; John P., December 12, 1797; Lucius J., November 21, [ Soo; Solomon, April 14, 1802; Harriet, October 1. 1804; William, November 23, 1807; Sidney, October 2, ISog; Henry G., and Benjamin, twins, March 26, 1812; and James Jay, November IS, 1817, our subject. The parents at one time lived in Rutland, Vermont.

James J. Smith received his education in New York, spending his boyhood days on a farm, and then learned the cooper's trade. This he followed for twenty years, and also carried on farming at the same time. He made the first barrel that ever went into Pearl Mills, at Mau- mee. He did much hard work on the farm, the ground being swampy and at times covered with water; but years of patient industry brought him his reward in rich harvests from fertile fields, and a pleasant home where once stood the virgin for- ests. He recalls many events of interest of those early days, and remembers when the Mau- mee pike was built. Mr. Smith is an interest. ing. talker, and, did space permit, many of his stories of pioneer times would be of interest to our readers, presenting, as they do, such vivid contrasts to the history of to-day.

Our subject was married in Syracuse, N. Y., December 23, 1840, to Miss Marana J. Barker, who was born in Livingston county, N. Y .. De- cember 6, 1820. Her parents moved to Svra- cuse when she was six years old, and both died there, the mother when forty years old, the inther when ninety. Of this union there were four children: (1) Sidney, born September 23, 1841, died when ten years old. (2) Gustavas, a tonte contractor, and a member of the Michigan Stone Supply Co., of which he is also superin- radent, making his home in Detroit; he served at the war from August, 1862, to May. 1865. as .ivate, sergeant-major, second lieutenant. and rot lieutenant, respectively, Companies D and E, .

ILIth O. V. I .; he married Miss Frances Wool- son, of Syracuse, N. Y., and they had one child, Herbert, born June 17, 1874, died in infancy. (3) Charles died when four years old. (4) Kittie M. is teaching school; she was educated in Per- rysburg, was principal of schools at Upper San- dusky for five years, and held the same position at Defiance for three years, and in Marion for four years, and now is principal of the high school at Warsaw, Indiana.

Mr. Smith is a Jacksonian Democrat, and has been trustee of his township; in the fall of 1895, he was nominated by his party for repre- sentative, but declined on account of his age. At one time he was an active member of the old Fort Meigs Lodge, I. O. O. F. He has been so long a resident of the community, and so promi- nent in its affairs, that he is considered almost an oracle by its citizens. A man of superior character, public spirited, and ever ready to as- sist in all worthy enterprises, he is one of the most highly respected residents of Perrysburg township.

M. D. CHILCOTE is numbered among the prominent and progressive farmers of Montgomery township, now making his home in Section 33, where he has a fine farm of 120 acres of highly cultivated and productive land. He is a native of Wood county, born in Section 26, Perry town- ship, April 11, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Jones) Chilcote, who were worthy representatives of the honored pioneers of the county.

The father was born November 12. 1802, in Maryland, where he was reared, but was not married until after his arrival in Wood county. The mother's birth occurred in Gallia county, Ohio, April 2, 1812. She was a daughter of James Jones. one of the oldest pioneers of Perry township, who was present at the time of its organization. In his youth Mr. Chilcote had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in this county, and also helped to build some of the first houses erected at Fostoria, Ohio, where he located at the time of his marriage. He later went to Jackson township. Seneca county. from there came to Perry township, and at West Mill- . grove his last days were passed, dying there January 21, 1889, at the age of eighty-seven years. The death of the mother also occurred at that place. July 10. 1884. and they were there laid to rest. In 1945 the father was mit. iby runaway house, from which he never bentirely recovered. He was naturally quite robust, of powerful bnill, being six feet two inches in

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height, and built in proportion. Previous to the war he had been a Democrat, but at that time became a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and served in several township offices dur- ing pioneer days. He came to Wood county from Ashland county, Ohio, as early as 1833. Both himself and wife held membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The family of which our subject is a member comprised the following children: James F .; born August 8, 1835, served as lieutenant of Company I, rith O. V. I. during the Civil war, and died at Bradner, Ohio, December 10, 1869. He was elected justice of the peace when a young man, and became a well-to-do citizen of Wood county. Sarah A., born May 1, 1837, became the wife of George Turner, and died at West Millgrove, March 1, !878. M. D. is next in order of birth. Perry C. is a prominent citizen of this county. John W., born January 10, 1843, belonged to Company H. 49th O. V. I., during the Rebel- lion, and now makes his home at Saginaw, Mich. Priscilla V .. born July 7, 1845, lives at West Millgrove. Surviah H., born October 21, 1847, married Stewart Fralick, who lives in Toledo, Ohio, and died in November, 1873. G. Sylvester, born March 24, 1851, died April 4, 1852.

Mr. Chilcote, of this notice, attended the dis- trict schools of Seneca county, Ohio, where his parents lived during his boyhood, and early be- carne familiar with the life of a farmer. He remained under the parental roof until his mar- riage, which important event in his life was cele- brated January 1. 1874, in Montgomery town- ship, Miss Helen Adams becoming his wife. On Section 33 of that township, she was born May 16, 1844, and is a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (McCormick) Adams, the latter a cousin of Cyrus McCoriniek, the well-known in- ventor of the reaper. The father was born in Beaver county, Penn., November 12, 1817, and was the son of Asa and Elizabeth (Adams) Adams, who were the first of the name to locate in Mont- gomery township, having come from Beaver county, Penn., in the early '3os, and located in Section 29, where he lived to an advanced age. Alexander Adams was the seventh child in a family of ten children, and was brought by his parents to Wood county in 1833. By his first wife he had two children-Mrs. Chilcote; and Maurice, who died in Montgomery township. leaving two children, Charles and Mary E., the latter now deceased. After the death of his first wife, in April, 1872, Mr. Adams was again mar- ried, and he departed this life June 27, 1886, being laid to rest in the West Millgrove ceme-

tery. He was a conscientious Christian, having united with the Presbyterian Church of that place in 1841, and always faithfully followed its teachings.

After his marriage, Mr. Chilcote located at West Millgrove, where he engaged in shingle- making with his brother Perry C., until April, 1876, when he removed to Hatton, Ohio, there engaging in agricultural pursuits. In March, 1883, however, he located upon the old Adams homestead in Section 33, Montgomery township, where he and his family still reside. Four children came to gladden the household-Bessie E .. Jes- sie I., Maurice A. and Leander J., all at home. Mr. Chilcote was one of the boys in blue during the Civil war, having enlisted May 2, 1864, in Company E, 144th O. V. I., at Eagleville, Ohio, and was on guard duty most of the time at Wilmington, Del., until August 24, following. Before entering the United States service he had been a member of Company E, 64th O. N. G. He now belongs to Conley Post, G. A. R., at West Millgrove, of which he is a charter mem- ber. He takes quite an active interest in polit- ical affairs, supporting the principles of the Re- publican party, and he and his estimable wife are faithful members of the Congregational Church. They hold an enviable position in the esteem and confidence of their fellow-citizens. and have contributed greatly to the happiness and comfort of those less fortunate than them- selves.

ALBERT W. SPINK is a worthy representative of the farming interests of Montgomery township, where he has always made his home, his birth having occurred in Section 21. June 14, 1862. He is a son of Solon and Martha (Burns) Spink, who were worthy and prominent citizens of that locality. His early life was spent in the usual manner of farmer boys, aiding in the labors of the fields and attending the district schools of the neighborhood. At the age of fourteen years, his father having died, he and his elder brother. J. L., went to work to pay off the debt left by the sudden death of their father.

In 1885, in Montgomery township, Mr. Spink was united in marriage with Miss Ella Wise, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, August 20, 1865, and is a daughter of George W. and Lor- etta J. (Miller) Wise. The latter having died when the daughter Ella was but a child, she made her home with her parental grandfather, Jolin Wise. Three children have come to bless the union of our subject and his wife. Minerva. born May 2, 1886; Pearlie, born August 16, ISS8:

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and Celia, born October 25, 1889. After his marriage, Mr. Spink took his bride to the old homestead, where they lived until January, 1890, when they removed to their present modern dwelling, which was erected in 1889 on a piece of land, which he had purchased, adjoining the home farm. He has also put up substantial out- buildings, including a good barn, 36 x 64 feet, which was built in 1895. He is an industrious, energetic and progressive man, of more than or- dinary ability, and is held in the highest regard by his fellow citizens, who appreciate his genuine worth. He and his brother still continue to own and manage the old home farm of 159 acres, and are numbered among the well-to-do and prosper- ous farmers of the community. Though not act- ive in political affairs, our subject gives his un- faltering allegiance to the Republican party.

SAMUEL SWOPE, a well-known and popular farmer of Troy township, is a native of the Buck- eye State, born in Fairfield county, in 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Lafever) Swope. His paternal grandfather, David Swope, became one of the earliest pioneers of Fairfield county, locating there on a farm in ISO1, where his death occurred on August 9, 1826. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was reared and married in Fairfield county, where he extensively engaged in farming and stock dealing until his death, in 1884. His wife also died on the old homestead, in 1886. In their family of twelve children, two are now deceased-David, who died at the age of nine years; and Mrs. Emma Peters, the youngest of the family, who died at the age of twenty-two. Those living are Marga- ret, who still resides on the home farm; Jacob, of Wellsville, Mo .; Mrs. Mary Sturgeon, of Middle- town, Mo .; Mrs. Rebecca Wood, of Mt. Sterling, Ohio; Thomas, of Reynoldsburg, Franklin Co., Ohio; Mrs. Jane Ingman, of Barnes, Kans .; Mrs. Lonisa Ashbrook, of Lithopolis, Fairfield county; Abner, of Bloomburg, Fayette Co., Ohio; Sam- uel, of this sketch; and Felix, a stock grower, who resides near the old home farm.

Mr. Swope, of this sketch, began his educa- tion in the schools of his native county. His loyalty to his country was manifested August 9, 1862, at Royalton, Fairfield county, by his en- listment in Company D, 90th O. V. I., for three years, and he was mustered into service at Cir- cleville, Ohio, being assigned to the 21st Corps, afterward 4th Corps, army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of Perrysville, Chickamauga, went on the march to Atlanta, and later returned to Nashville. At Marietta,

Ga., he had received a gunshot wound, and June 21, 1865, at Camp Harker, Tenn., was honorably discharged, after which he returned to his home. For one year he was a student at Athens, Ohio, and then went to Cass county, Mo., where he remained until coming to Wood county in 1870. Here he is successfully engaged in the operation of his good farm of fifty-two acres.

In March, 1870, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Swope and Miss Frances LaFarree, who was born in Lake township, Wood county, in 1844, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Sifford) LaFarree. Her father's birth occurred in Carlisle, Penn., January 9, 1797, and in 1807 he removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, with his father, David Lafarree, who was of French de- scent, and also a native of Pennsylvania, where he was reared and married. His death occurred in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1807, he leaving a widow with five small children. She was a tailoress, and supported her family with her needle until the farm was cleared. Near Carroll, Ohio, she later married Elijah Dove, and passed away in Fairfield county, in 1862, when nearly eighty-four years of age. By her first husband she became the mother of the following children-James, the father of Mrs. Swope; Mary, who became the wife of John Cheney, senator from Fairfield county, and died in that county; John C., who departed this life in Mt. Vernon, Ind .; George, who died in Baton Rouge, La .; and Mrs. Betsy Connor, who also died in Indiana.

The early days of James LaFarree were passed in Fairfield county, where he was educated and learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. In Middletown, Md., March 28, 1819, he married Miss Elizabeth Sifford, a native of that place, and a daughter of Christian and Lizzie (Stottle- mire) Sifford, also natives of Maryland. Her father, who was a well-read man, always occupy- ing some public office of trust, judicial or other- wise, came to Fairfield county, on a visit, and died at Lancaster in 1848. His wife died in Mary- land about 1846. In 1820, Mr. LaFarree came again to Fairfield county, where he resided for three years, during which time his wife made a trip on horseback to her old home. At the end of that time he returned to Maryland, where he lived until 1828, when he removed to Lancaster, Ohio, and became overseer of the poor. In 1831 he located in Perrysburg. Wood county, where he conducted a cabinet shop, and two years later bought 400 acres of land in Troy towaship at $1. 25 per acre. He named the village of Stony Ridge, where he served as postmaster several

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years, and was one of the prominent early set- tlers of the locality. He was an earnest Chris- tian, and an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He continued the improvement and cultivation of his farm until his death on August 4, 1852. His faithful wife was called from this life September 10, 1888. Of their ten children, seven grew to maturity, namely: John S., who died in 1888, leaving a family of nine children; Augustus, who died in 1865, leaving a wife with two children; Cornelia, wife of M. B. Richmond, of Crawfordsville, Ind .; Samuel, a boat builder, who went to Washington Territory in 1864, where he was killed two years later, and buried at Umatilla, Ore .; James, a resident of Bowl- ng Green, Ohio; George, who is married, and resides at Perrysburg, Ohio; and Frances, wife of our subject.

To Mr. and Mrs. Swope have been born five children -- Thomas; Edna and Grace, twins, who for the past three years have engaged in teaching in Wood county; Percy and Frances. The family made a trip to California in 1888, spend- ing two years on the Pacific slope, during that time going as far north as Seattle, Wash. The family are sincere members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Swope in politics is an ardent silver Republican. In manner he is pleasant and genial, in disposition is kindly, and the high regard in which he is universally held is well deserved.

WILLIAN U. BAKER is one of the most genial and whole-souled men of this county, and a brave defender of the Union during the Civil war. He is a native son of Ohio, born in Portage county, March 7, 1837, and is a son of Michael and Susan (Ryiner) Baker, the former born in Pennsylvania, March 31, 1812, of German parent- age, and the latter born in the same State, Sep- tember 18, 1818. The parents were married in Portage county, Ohio, and to them two sons were born-Willian U., and John M., a prom- inent farmer of Washington township. The father was reared and educated in Portage county, Ohio, from whence he removed to Ottawa county, where he engaged in farming, though by trade he was a carpenter, and there he remained until 1863, when he came to Wood county, buy- ing a farm of forty acres of partially improved land in Washington township. With the aid of his sons he cleared and cultivated this, and thereon made his home until his death, March 23, 1884. His widow still resides upon that place. A Republican in politics, he was recog- nized as an honest man and a good citizen, and

the encourager of religious works, being a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

On reaching a sufficient age, our subject en- tered the common schools of Ottawa county, where he pursued his studies until eighteen years of age. On leaving the school room he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until his enlistment, September 16, 1861, at Port Clinton, for service in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, and was made first corporal of Company I, 4Ist O. V. I., under Capt. J. H. Williston and Col. Hazen. The regiment was made up at Camp Wood, in Cleveland, whence it proceeded to Louisville, Ky. In that State the winter was spent, during which time Mr. Baker was confined in a hospital for three months on account of illness, and on March 1, 1862, he went to Nashville, thence marching on St. Patrick's Day to Pittsburg Landing in time to participate in the battle at that place. On the second day of the fight our subject was wounded, a ball pass- ing near the spinal cord, so that for nine months he was unable for further service. He returned to Ottawa county, having been discharged at Camp Chase, and there remained until the fall of 1863, when he came to Tontogany, Wood county, where he worked at his trade for a year. On the expiration of that time he again enlisted. this time becoming a member of the 179th Battalion, under Lieut. T. J. Wonnel, with whom he went to Point Lookout, and later guarded Blakiston Island, being at that time first sergeant, and having charge of nineteen men. He received his final discharge at Camp Denni- son, Cincinnati, after having valiantly served his country in her hour of peril.

On his return home, Mr. Baker purchased twenty acres of fine land where he now resides. and erected thereon a comfortable house, good barns and other outbuildings, which are surround- ed by well tilled fields and a productive orchard of his own planting. He also owns a half inter- est in the old homestead. On February 8, 1870, our subject was joined in wedlock with Cynthia Hannah, a daughter of William P. Hannah, a leading farmer of Grand Rapids township, Wood county, and three children graced their union- one who died in infancy; Clara Belle, born April 6, 1873; and Rolla M., born August 19, 1875. The last named received his elementary educa- tion in District School No. 3, which he supple- mented by a three-years' course in the schools of Tontogany. He is now engaged in teaching in District No. 2, and intends to fit himself, by a thorough education, for a professional or com- mercial career.

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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 5

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