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 7
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Methodist Episcopal Church. He supported the first Republican presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, and was ever afterward a stanch advo- cate of the party. His death occurred in Bowl- ing Green, December 11, 1881. His widow still makes her home there, and is now in her seventy-ninth year.
John H. Callin, subject of this sketch, and the eldest son of the family, removed with his father from Ashland to Peru, Ohio, in 1849, and aided in the farm work during the summer months, while in the winter he attended the district school. At the age of eighteen he became a stu- dent in the Western Reserve Normal School at Milan, Ohio, and in the spring of 1861 removed with the family to Wood county, where, in the succeeding autumn, he taught his first district school. Dismissing his pupils, however, in the middle of the term, he enlisted in the Twenty- first Battery of the Ohio Light Artillery, Capt. Patterson commanding, and went to Camp Den-
nison. The battery was ordered to West Vir- ginia to operate against Gen. Williams, and Mr. Callin was placed in command of detachment B of the battery, which, however, was soon recalled to Ohio, to oppose Gen. Morgan, who was raid- ing through the southern portion of the State. The battery was effectual in checking this raid, and in the capture of Morgan's army at Pomeroy, Ohio; 1,600 prisoners were escorted to Cincin- nati under the Federal guns, and Mr. Callin par- ticipated in the final capture of Morgan. The battery was afterward sent to join Gen. Burn- side in Tennessee, and, having participated in the battles of Walker's Ford, Bean Station, Strawberry Plains and the siege of Knoxville, it built, and mounted its guns on, Fort Dickinson. At the close of the war the guns were removed to the State House yards, at Columbus, Ohio, where they still remain.
Mr. Callin received an honorable discharge from the army at Louisville, Ky., May 27, 1865. and immediately returned home. He then en- tered Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, Mich., and, on completing the course there, resumed school teaching, which he successfully followed for twenty-two years, being an educator of excellent ability.
In the spring of 1874 Mr. Callin married Miss Amanda L., the eldest daughter of William Walk- er, a prosperous farmer. Her father is now liv- ng at Scotch Ridge, Ohio, where her mother died October 13, 1879. To our subject and his wife were born seven children-Leota, who died n infancy; Byron H .; John V. D .; Emma B .; George Prentice; Wells M .; and Ray.
After residing for a number of years in Bowl- ing Green, Mr. Callin, in 1887, removed to Middle- ton township, where he and his wife have im- proved and beautified their pleasant home and farin. He here owns eighty acres of valuable land, which is now under a high state of cultiva- tion. In 1895 he further added to its value and attractive appearance by erecting a handsome residence at a cost of $2,000. Through industry, progressiveness and strict application to business, he has one of the best cultivated farms in Mid- dleton township. He is also secretary and stock- holder of the Dunbridge Elevator Co., and in business circles has a most enviable reputation. He and .his family adhere to the faith of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has held the office of trustee for a number of years, and has also been superintendent of various Sunday- schools. He is a charter member of Robert Stewart Post, G. A. R., in which he has filled with ability all the offices, and is its present com- mander. His wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican, having been identified with that party since casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Genial in manner, he is a popular cit- izen; his well-spent life and genuine worth having gained him high regard. Always cheerful and ready to surmount the common struggles of life: rising above all barriers and bridging all chasins. he feels sure to arrive at the summit. With un- tiring zeal to accomplish the grand purpose of life, and all things that are right, he is led by an eye of faith to Christian reward, that it might be said of him - " Blessed are they who strive to enter in at the straight gate."
J. C. Lov, a prosperous farmer of Perry town- ship, was born December 25, 1840, in Big Spring township, Seneca Co., Ohio, and is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Elarton) Loy.
His grandfather was born in Germany, and at eighteen years of age carne to the United States. He taught school in Virginia, where he was mar- red and reared a family of six boys. Abraham was born in Virginia, where he was obliged to go five miles to school. When he first came to Ohio he located in Franklin county, going from there to Wyandot county, where he worked in a sawmill owned by Judge Carey. Later he moved to Big Spring township, Seneca county, which was then in a primitive condition, and here bought 173 acres of land for $470. Here he married Miss Elizabeth Elarton. He built a cabin on his land, and lived there until the spring of 1869, when he passed away at the age of
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WOOD COUNTY, OIIIO.
way-seven years. His wife died six years later in Big Lick township, Hancock county. Their children were eight in number, three of whom are now living, viz .: James, in Putnam county, Ohio; F. Marion, in Hancock county, and our subject. Mrs. Loy was a Methodist in her re- hgious belief, and Mr. Loy belonged to the Evan- gelical Church, in which faith he died.
Our subject attended the common schools of his time, and although his opportunities were few he learned rapidly. Had his early education been better he would not have been a farmer. As it was he remained on his father's farm until his enlistment, September 4, 1861, in Company D, 49th O. V. I., Col. W. H. Gibson. He re- mained with the regiment, and participated in all the battles until December 31, 1862, when he was wounded at the battle of Stone River and taken to hospital, where he remained three months; this hospital was taken by Rebels within three minutes after our subject arrived. His in- jury consisted of a gunshot wound in the right elbow, and he was discharged from service March 27, 1863, for disability. Returning home, he spent one summer at school which was taught by the lady who afterward became his wife-Miss Sarah A. Copley, who was born in Wyandot county, and who is the daughter of Benjamin Copley. The marriage took place in Wyandot county, October 12, 1864, the young couple go- ing to house-keeping on a rented farm, near Adrian, Seneca county. In October, 1868, they moved to Andrew county, Mo., which was then a pioneer section, and Mr. Loy bought 170 acres of land. Seven years they lived there, four of which was during the season of grasshoppers, when those insects caused such great destruction throughout the State. That venture cost our subject $3,000 in all. For six weeks at a time he did not have the price of a postage stamp, which condition was general in his section. In the winter of 1876 he returned to Seneca county, Ohio, and was for five years a resident on Judge Carey's farm of 1, 240 acres, at Center, Big Liok township, Hancock county. Here it was that Mr. Loy "got on his feet," and when he left the farm he came to Perry township, Wood county. and bought eighty acres of land in Sections 12 and 13 in the spring of 1882, where he has re- maiued ever since, improving the farm in many ways from time to time. To Mr. and Mrs. Loy have been born six children, namely: Ulysses E., who lives at home; Benjamin B., a farmer of Seneca county; Marian O., who died when twenty-two months old; Edward W., at home; Effie U., a dressmaker, at home; and Clara, who 1
was married July 29, 1896, to H. E. Corfinan, an estimable gentleman of Wyandot county, Ohio, and they are now living near Mccutchenville, that county.
Politically, Mr. Loy is from principle a Pro- hibitionist, although until 1888 he affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the County Central Committee, and is representative for Perry township. He has been director for District No. 5, and is a great advocate of better education. With his wife he is a member of the Evangelical Church, with which he has been con- nected thirty-five years, holding, during that time, various offices. He is a member of the Quarterly Conference, and has served as a dele- gate to several important conventions of the Church. He also belongs to the P. of I., and was at one time agent of the Phoenix Insurance Co. for several years. He is a well-informed man, being an extensive reader, is a good con- versationalist, and a popular citizen.
HENRY GOODENOUGH is a native of England, having been born in Wiltshire, September 20, 1842, where his parents, Robert and Ruth Lim- erick) Goodenough, were also born. His father was a stone cutter by trade, and came to Ameri- ca in the spring of 1849, locating in Greenfield, Huron county, where he died when our subject was twelve years old. His wife died in Bowling Green at the age of sixty-four years. She was a Baptist, and he was a member of the Church of England. They had five children who grew to maturity: Henry, our subject; Harriet, the wife of William Buvinger, of Bowling Green: Thomas. living in Weston township, Wood county; Liza Ann, wife of James Carr, of Plain township: Esther, who died when about sixteen years old.
Henry Goodenough came, with his mother, to America in the fall of 1849, landing in New York. He was but a boy, and his first employ- ment, in England, was keeping birds off wheat- fields with a rattle-box. He lived with his par- ents in Huron county until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company C. 123d O. V. I., and served in the army of the Po- tomac for three years, lacking one month. He entered on August 19, 1862, and was in the fol- lowing battles: Romney Station, Winchester. Snicker's Gap, Cross Keys, below Stanton: Lynchburg, Va. ; Cedar Creek, under Phil Sheri- den; Strasburg, under Sigel; and Winchester, under Gen. Crook; he was in the grand charge of Grant on the assault round the rear of Peters- burg, and was in the last battle of High Ridge, where he went on a scouting expedition, reaching
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
there at daylight, when the enemy charged, and he was taken prisoner with the rest. This was just four days before Lee's surrender, during which tinie he was a prisoner, and was then let . go on parole at the same time as was Lee's army. He was a private all through the war, and was at one time detailed for blacksmith service -- which trade he had learned when young. After the close of the war, he went bact to Huron county, but found that his parents had moved to Wood county, where he also went.
On January 15, 1873, he was married to Miss Mary Coen, who was born in Plain township, October 20, 1847. Five children have been born to thein: Hattie May (wife of Edwin Russell, of Bowling Green), Ruth, Sarah. Harry and Walter. The eldest daughter attended school at Findlay, and another daughter is now attending school at Bowling Green. After his marriage, Mr. Good- enough settled in his present home, where he is occupied in general farming. He has 143 acres of land, on which are located five oil wells, and he has also a one-half interest in five other wells on leased land. He has not leased his land and oil interests, as most of the farmers in the town- ship do, but has drilled and developed all his own wells, and is now one of the successful operators in his section of the county. His first well flowed for three months.
Socially, Mr. Goodenough is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. In religious con- nection, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and though he is not what might be termed a politi- cian, he has held many offices of trust; he was trustee three ternis, and school director for fifteen years, always taking great interest in local edu- cational affairs.
NATHANIEL FIFE. The name of this gentle- man is both widely and favorably known through- out Wood county, and he has been an honored resident of Bloom township since pioneer days. He is of Scotch extraction, and was born in Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn., on July 5, 1827. to John and Anna (Hill) Fife. Accompa- nied by his brother, John, the paternal grandfa- ther, William Fife, came from Scotland- to the New World before the Revolutionary war, in which struggle they aided the Colonies in secur- ing their independence. Both the grandfather and the father of our subject died in Washington county. In the family of the latter were eight children who grew to adult age, namely: Will- iam, John, James, Thomas, Robert. Nathaniel, Margaret and Andrew.
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Our subject received his education at the sub- scription schools, held in rude log buildings, with puncheon floors and furnished with primitive wooden benches. As a farmer he was reared to manhood, and on reaching maturity was married September 7, 1848, to Miss Letitia Harsha, of Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of John Harsha. For one year the young couple lived with his father, after which Mr. Fife rented land in his native county until 1854, when in November of that year he came to Wood county, where he and his brother William had bought 160 acres of land in Section 31. Bloom township. Our subject became sole owner of 100 acres of the amount, on which he still makes his home. Only ten acres had ever been cleared. but it was then as badly covered with brush and timber as the remainder. The land was then dry, but in the spring it was mostly covered with water, and where now is one of his best and most productive fields, at one time was good fishing ground, catfish being caught there a foot long. On April 1, 1855. he brought his family, which then consisted of his wife and three children, to Bloom township, and they made their temporary home with Andrew Campbell, a neighbor and relative, who had once lived in Washington coun- ty, Penn. Clearing away the trees, Mr. Fife erected his first dwelling, 18 x20 feet, of hewed logs, and in the fall it was ready for occupancy.
By his first marriage he became the father ot six children, namely: John B., of Bairdstown; William H., who died in Bloom township; James T., of North Baltimore; Mary E., a native of Wood county, who married John M. Wright. and died in McComb, Ohio; Esther A. , now Mrs. Thomas Patterson, of McComb, and Andrew T .. who is sergeant-major in the ad United States Cavalry, stationed at Fort Wingate, N. M. The mother of these children died Angust 29. 1865, and was buried in Van Buren cemetery, Hancock county. On September 26, 1867, Mr. Fife was married in Van Buren, to Frances J. Presler. widow of Samuel Presler. The lady was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 25, 1830. and is a daughter of Richard and Nancy { Bovard Bayless, who became pioneers of Big Lick town- ship, Hancock county, in 1838. Three children grace this union: Robert H., at home: Cassan- dra E., now Mrs. Oscar Marvin, of Findlay, Ohio: and Emma L .. now Mrs. J. F. Luden. of Toledo.
On buying his land, Mr. Fife was obliged to go in debt for it but, being young and robust, he went to work with a resolute will and soon had it free from encumbrance. By clearing, draining.
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and otherwise improving his land, he has made it one of the best farins in the township, on which are seen substantial buildings and all the acces- sories of a model farm. On May 2, 1864, he joined the Home Guards, and was mustered into the United States service as a member of Com- pany E, 144th O. V. I. From Camp Chase the troops were sent to Wilmington, Del., where they did guard duty until discharged at Colum- bus, Ohio, at the expiration of the one hundred days for which they had enlisted. Mr. Fife now holds membership with Urie Post No. 110, G. A. R., of Bloomdale. His political support is given to the Republican party, and religiously he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church of Van Buren, Hancock Co., Ohio.
JOSEPH X. DURLIAT was born near Niagara Falls, on the Canada side, May 28, 1858, and is of French lineage. The founder of the family in America was Xavier Durliat, a native of Alsace, France, who with his family crossed the Atlantic to Canada, where he and his wife spent their re- maining days. The father of our subject. Joseph Durliat, Sr., was born in Alsace, in 1830, and when fifteen years of age came with his parents to America. He was married in Canada to Magdalena Trendall, who was born in that coun- try in 1837, and there he followed farming for many years. In 1865 he brought his family to Ohio, taking up his residence on a tract of wild land in Jackson township, Wood county, where he made his home until his death. In his busi- ness undertakings, principally sawmilling, he was quite successful, and accumulated 520 acres of valuable land. He passed away in 1889, but his widow is still living in Custar. The following named constituted their family- Joseph \. ; Mary Ann, wife of Joseph Metzger, of Custar; Eliza- beth, wife of Peter Louy, of Toledo, Ohio; Regina, wife of Henry Wentzink, of Henry coun- ty, Ohio; Frank N., of Custar: John M., a farm- er, of Milton township: Henry, of Custar; Charles, who is living on the old homestead; and Martin and Louis, who are also residents of Custar.
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Mr. Durliat, of this review, spent the first seven years of his life in his native land, and then came with his parents to Wood county. He acquired his education in Jackson township, and as soon as old enough to handle the plow his training at farm labor began. Hle also worked in his father's sawmill in Jackson township.
In 1880 Mr. Durliat 'was united in marriage th Custar with Miss Emma Metzger, who was born in Dunreath, Iowa, April 4, 1861. Their union has been blessed with seven children, name-
ly: Joseph B., William H., Fred M., Magda- lena J., Mary E., Lawrence M. and Agnes L. Mr. and Mrs. Durliat, after their marriage, lived for one year in Jackson township, and then lo- cated on their present farm, comprising seventy- six acres, which is a part of the estate left by his father. In 1881 he erected his present residence, and now his entire time and attention is devoted to his business interests, which he is capably and successfully managing. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and has served for two years as supervisor. He belongs to St. Louis Catholic Church of Custar, and takes quite an active interest in its work.
T. J. MEARING, who is one of the most es- teeined residents of Plain township, where he is recognized as a man of integrity, good judgment, and also honored as a brave veteran of the Civil war, is one of the inany citizens of foreign birth who have contributed in no small degree to the growth and prosperity of Wood county. Mr. Mearing is a native of Cheltenham, England. where he was born January 30, 1838. His par- ents, James and Isabella (Wiley) Mearing, were natives of the same country, the former born in 1808, and the latter in 1807. Their family com- prised six children, namely: Sarah, who mar- ried Thomas Sessor, and died at Newark, Ohio; Martha, the widow of James Drake, is living in Bloomington, Ill .; T. J., the subject of this sketch; Emma, who married Charles Hartkorn, and died at Wabash, Ind. ; Mary Ann became the wife of William Hahn, and died in Peoria, Ind. ; Charles lives in Miami county, Ind.
The mother of these children died when our subject was about eight years old, in 1846, the family having come to America in 1843. The father had been a coachman in the old country, and followed the same occupation after locating in Newark. Licking Co., Ohio, being in the serv- ice of Nathaniel B. Hogg. In 1854, some years after the death of his wife, he removed to Ini- diana, and purchased a farm in Miami county, on which he spent the remainder of his life. Both were consistent members of the Episcopal Church and were estimable people. On the death of his mother, our subject and his sister Martha were bound out to a man living at Utica, Ohio, with whom they were to remain until of age .. The death of the latter's wife set them free. but his sister was induced to remain with the family. The gentleman married again, and our subject re- turned to him, remaining there some yo. 15 this home the two children were always treated as if they were children of the family, their pro-
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tector, a wealthy stockman, being a genial, kindly man, able to provide abundantly for them. Two years after his second marriage he died, and thus what had been more a home to our subject and his sister than their own father's house, was broken up.
Mr. Mearing then worked on a farm during . the summers and attended school in the winter time until the latter part of 1859, when he went to Miami county to visit his father. He was not pleased with the country, and went on to Illinois and stopped at Monticello, Piatt county, where he worked at various occupations until July 27, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, 107th Illinois Infantry, to defend the stars and stripes against the Rebels of the Confederacy. He en- listed as a private, but was made duty sergeant before any active service was seen. Soon after- ward he became orderly sergeant, and filled this position throughout his three-years' service, re- ceiving his honorary commission of second lieu- tenant at the time of his discharge. Among the important engagements in which he participated were those of Franklin, Tenn .; Nashville; siege and battle of Knoxville; and skirmishes all the way from Strawberry Plains to Nashville.
After his return to Illinois, Mr. Mearing worked by the month on a farm for a short time, and then went to Indiana, where he was married, Novem- ber 2, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Cook, who was born in Wood county, Ohio, March 3, 1847. Of this union three children have been born: Ber- tha, wife of Frank Hughes, of Plain township; Pearl and Frank, both of whom are at home.
Mr. Mearing lived in Indiana until 1882, when he removed to Wood county. In his earlier years he was a Democrat in principle, but cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has voted the Republican ticket ever since. It is one of his most gratifying remembrances that he once met the martyred President at his home, and had the pleasure of shaking hands with him. Mr. Mearing is a member of the G. A. R., and is justly proud of his war record. He is highly respected and esteeined in the community, and is a public-spirited and loyal citizen.
LORIN THOMPSON is a retired farmer, who, after a well-spent life, is now resting from busi- ness cares in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in the State of New York, Marchi 30, 1821, and is a son of William and Sarah (Cook) Thompson, the former a na- tive of Rhode Island, the latter of Connecticut. Their marriage was celebrated in Rhode Island,
and to them were born twelve children, namely: Reuben, Sally, Hannah, Washington, William, Rial, Lewis, Wealthy, Luinan, Johial, Phoebe and Lorin. The father died in Michigan, and the mother's death occurred in Wisconsin.
Our subject attended school and worked on the home farm in Pennsylvania during his boy- hood days, continuing under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age. He then learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until 1864, when he came to Wood county, and located on forty acres of land covered with timber and water. This he cleared and im- proved, and extended the boundaries of his farm by the additional purchase of 100 acres. The wild land was transformed into a rich and valu- able tract, and by his energetic efforts and good business ability he acquired a handsome com- petence, which now enables him to lay aside all business cares.
In Erie county, Penn., in 1843, Mr. Thomp- son was united in marriage with Alvia Wright, a native of the State of New York, and a daughter of Nirum and Polly (Allen) Wright, and to them were born seven children, as follows: Rosina, Rus- sel, Roxana. Laura, Alvah, Alvira, and Henry. Mr. Thompson has the high esteem of his fellow townsmen, for he is a man of sterling worth and strict integrity.
Nirum Wright, the father of Mrs. Thomp- son, died at Jerry City, this county, and the death of his wife Polly, occurred at North East, Erie Co., Pennsylvania.
JACOB HUFFMAN. Among the representative citizens of Washington township, none stands higher than the subject of this review, who is now engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Dauphin county, August 3, 1834, a son of John and Nancy Huffinan, both born in Pennsylvania, the father in 1808, the mother in 1813.
Our subject received his education at the public schools of Pennsylvania, and then con- menced to learn the trade of a tailor, which he followed some four years. In 1850, when six- teen years old, he came with his parents to Ohio. locating in Weston township, on a partially-im- proved farm, which he assisted in clearing and improving. After his marriage, which event will be spoken of presently, he bought eighty acre- of wild land, and at once set to work to improve it. In 1862 he built a log house, into which he and his wife moved, and he has since added to his property until his farm now consists of the acres, all well-improved, besides land in Lucas
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