County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 65

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 65

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T. CLARKSON CHANDLER, son of Joshua and Patience (Wance) Chandler, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 9, 1820, and remained on the home farm till twenty-five years of age. His father came from Fayette County, Penn., was of Quaker ancestry, and died in Columbiana County in 1861, aged about eighty-two years; his mother died in the same county in 1855; his grandfather, Enoch Chandler, is also buried in the same county .. March 26, 1846, Mr. Chandler married Miss Mary Ann Richardson, daughter of Richard G. and Ann Richard- son, and born in Columbiana County October 22, 1826. She bore her husband three children-Mary Acenath, who died September 13, 1849; Alvin W., who died near West Unity, August 23, 1861, and Marion R. Mr. Chandler came to this township in 1852, and settled on his present farm about half a mile north of West Unity. Being now a widower, he married, November 8, 1855, Catherine Bushong, who was born in the

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Shenandoah Valley of Virginia September 22, 1830. She bore him one child, Alice E., April 12, 1858, and died August 8, 1880. His son, Marion R., was married to Miss Alice Cavnah, March 10, 1880. She is the daughter of Samuel and Mariah (Pecher) Cavnah, of Bourbon, Ind., and was born October 5, 1858, and to this union Mary L. was born Sep- tember 22, 1881. Mr. Chandler's farm is in a fine state of cultivation, and is improved with a superior building, barns, sheds, etc. In politics, he is strongly Republican, and he is a moral, temperate and straightforward man, and a valuable citizen.

JACOB V. COLLAMER, the youngest of the six children of Elisha and Mary Collamer, is a native of Rochester, N. Y., and was born July 5, 1832. His father was a ship-carpenter, which trade he followed until his death by drowning, near Petersboro, Canada, in 1846. Jacob V., at the age of eighteen, entered a foundry and thoroughly studied the art of melting and mixing metals and the construction of machinery, and has followed the business up to the present time-a period of thirty-two years. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and served until December, 1864, taking part in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, the seven days' fight, Malvern Hill, Second Bull's Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and in all the engagements of the forty days' advance on Petersburg. On being mustered out, he returned to his old situation as foreman of a foundry at Greenville, Penn., which position he had held for seven years previous to the opening of the war, and which he re- tained for three years after its close. In 1867, he was elected Constable, and appointed Policeman and Deputy Sheriff of Greenville, and re-elected in 1870, but declined serving. The same spring, he went to Fort Collins, Colo., and to Wyoming Territory, where he and sons engaged in farming and engineering. In 1878, he returned to Pennsylvania, and soon after came to West Unity, where he has ever since been employed as engineer in an oar factory, saw and planing mill. He was married in Trumbull County, Ohio, August 18, 1856, and has had left to him five children. He is a member of Royer Post, No. 109, G. A. R .; West Unity Lodge, No. 638, I. O. O. F .; Brady Lodge, No. 1786, K. of H., and of Superior Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. M.

WILLARD W. COMBS was born, January 9, 1842, in Richland County, Ohio, the son of Benjamin F. and Amelia (Smith) Combs, who came to Brady Township in 1845, and located on 160 acres of unim- proved land. Here the father died, February 18, 1875, his wife sur- viving him, and still residing on the old homestead. Willard W. worked on the farm until 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till September, 1863, when he was

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discharged on account of failing health. In October of the same year, he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. Of the three of his brothers who served in the army-George W., Reason C. and Benjamin C .- the first was killed at the battle of Stone River, and the last was wounded in the same engage- ment, but recovered. On his return, Willard resumed farming on the old homestead, and still resides there. He was married, July 25, 1865, to Miss Mary M. Beaty, a native of Williams County, and daughter of George and Jane (Wiser) Beaty, and their union has been blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. Mr. Combs is a member of West Unity Lodge, No. 638, I. O. O. F., and of Superior Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Republican, and Mrs. Combs is a member of the Disciples' Church.

WILLIAM C. COSLET, Mayor of West Unity, and dealer in boots, shoes and leather, is the sixth of a family of nine children, and was born in Fayette County, Penn., September 10, 1832. His father, James Cos- let, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his mother, Maria (Linn) Coslet, of German extraction. His paternal grandfather, Coslet, was a Revolution- ary soldier, and his maternal grandfather, Linn, was killed in that strug- gle. William C., when but eight years of age, came with his parents to Stark County, this State, and received his early instruction in the com- mon schools of Bethlehem. At the age of fourteen, he began to help sup- port himself, and at seventeen shipped as cook on board the schooner " Star of the West," on Lake Erie, which vessel was sunk in a collision four months later, six miles from Cleveland. In this disaster he lost all his worldly goods, and barely escaped with his life. He then acted as steersman on the Erie Canal one season, and in 1855 engaged as fireman on the Air Line Railroad, at which he continued until 1858. July 25, 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth Stanley, of Pulaski Township, this county, but native of Richland County, Ohio. At the breaking-out of the late war, he enlisted for three months in Company C, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of his term enlisted in the Third Ohic Cavalry. He took part in the siege of Corinth and in other engagements, up to July, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability. In the fall of 1864, he recruited Company F, One Hundred and Eighty-sec- ond Ohio Volunteers, and went out as its Captain. It took part in the Hood campaign and the battle of Nashville, and was mustered out July 11, 1865. On his return, he entered the shoe and leather trade at West Unity, in which he is still engaged. He has held the offices of Constable and Marshal, and is now Mayor of West Unity. He has a family of eight children, five girls and three boys, all living. His daughter,

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Rosella, is married to the only son of R. P. Hallington. Maria is the wife of John W. Hamilton, of West Unity.

EPHRAIM DAWSON, son of William and Hannah (Acus) Dawson, natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively, was born in London, Mad- ison Co., Ohio, March 7, 1825. His parents came to Northwestern Ohio about the year 1830 and settled in Defiance. Soon after, William Dawson was elected County Treasurer, but declined a second nomination. He engaged in milling for a number of years, and then turned to farm- ing, which he followed as long as he was able to work, when he retired, and died in 1881, aged eighty-four years. His wife had preceded him in 1867. Ephraim Dawson learned the miller's trade when quite young, having commenced to work with his father at the age of sixteen ; he is now head miller in the Unity Mills at West Unity. He was married, June 1, 1848, to Margaret Rodabaugh, daughter of Samuel and Rhoda Rodabaugh, and to this union was born a son-John W .- May 7, 1850. The mother died the same day, and her remains now rest in the cemetery at Brunersburgh. February 15, 1852, Mr. Dawson married Adelia Wol- verton, daughter of John A. and Maria Wolverton, and born May 1, 1836. By this marriage, he became father of six children-Clara A., born July 23, 1853; Frances M., January 10, 1855, and Lulu M., May 14, 1874, all deceased; the living are Ellen Jane, born May 31, 1857 ; Mary Alma, December 6, 1859, and Emma Belle, April 23, 1864.

LORENZO J. DEGROFF, son of William and Margaret (Myers) Degroff, was born in Richland County, Ohio, August 22, 1842, and came with his parents to this county in 1848. They first settled in Brady, but afterward moved to Jefferson Township, where the father died in May, 1872; the mother died in November, 1880. Lorenzo passed his early days on the farm, receiving his education at the common schools. He married Miss Mary Ann Rittennour, daughter of George and Sarah Rittennour, of Jefferson Township, and to their union seven children have been born-Eva Arabell, December 6, 1864; Sadie Margaret, January 5, 1866; Minnie Caroline, May 26, 1869; Mary Ettie, December 14, 1872; William Burtie, May 4, 1875; George Franklin, December 4, 1878, and Louessa Dell, November 14, 1880. September 3, 1864, Mr. Degroff enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Eighty-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Army of the Cumberland. While in the service, he lost the hearing of one ear, and contracted other dis- orders, which annoy him to this day. Mr. Degroff is a member of Brady Lodge, No. 1786, Knights of Honor, and of Royer Post, No. 109, G. A. R. In politics, he is a Republican. He had two brothers, Ezekiel and Samuel, in the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ezekiel died in hospital, after having undergone the amputation of his left leg, necessi-

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tated by a wound received in front of Atlanta. Samuel was slightly wounded in his left hand a few days prior to the expiration of his service.

WILLIAM M. DENMAN, M. D., was born in Knox County, Ohio, September 16, 1846, and is the eldest of the four sons of Elisha G. and Elmira (Morrison) Denman, both natives of Ohio. In the fall of 1852, the elder Denman settled on eighty acres of unimproved land in Mill Creek Township, this county, and from time to time added to it until he became the owner of between three hundred and four hundred acres in this and the adjoining county of Fulton. a great portion of which he subse- quently deeded to his sons. Here he died March 21, 1877. Although a Democrat, he was elected in this, a Republican county, to the office of County Treasurer, and as Representative for four years of Williams, Defiance and Paulding Counties in the General Assembly, and besides held several other offices of trust and honor. William M. Denman in early life went through a select course of studies at Adrian College, and for several terms taught school in this county and in Fulton. In 1867, he began the study of medicine with his uncle, W. C. Morrison, of West Unity, and graduated from Starling Medical College of Columbus in 1870. He then practiced a year at Bridgewater Centre, in company with Dr. Lamson ; then one year at Lyons, Fulton County, with Dr. Mann, and in September, 1872, came to West Unity and purchased a drug store, which he has since conducted in connection with his practice. In 1881, he took a half-interest in a dry goods store, in partnership with his brother, Leroy Denman, at Montpelier, which interest he still retains. September 30, 1875, he married Miss Mary Skiles, daughter of John Skiles, of Huntington. Mr. Denman is a member of Superior Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. M., of North West Chapter, No. 45, R. A. M., and of Defi- ance Commandery, No. 30, K. T.

ADAM DRUM was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 10, 1827, and is next to the youngest child in a family of ten born to Frederick C. and Catharine E. (Bower) Drum, both also natives of Germany, where Frederick was accidentally drowned in a river on his own farm, when Adam was about seventeen years of age. Adam, who had received a fair education in his native land, emigrated to America in 1845, and settled in Lycoming County, Penn., where he worked at farming and lumbering for two years. On his way to Lycoming, he took a canal-boat at Harris- burg for Williamsport, but had a misunderstanding with the Captain about the fare, when a German passenger happened to mention the name of a contractor at Williamsport whom Mr. Drum supposed he knew. He at once offered to pay the man to find this contractor, then in Harris- burg, who, when found, proved to be an old friend from Germany. The question of fare was soon settled by him, and all arrangements made for

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the comfort of Mr. Drum and other German passengers on their trip to Williamsport. In 1847, Mr. Drum, with his mother and sister, came to Brady Township, where he worked at Johnson's Mill for three months ; he then returned to Lycoming County, Penn., where he bought a farm, and resided there until 1863, when he sold out and came back to Brady Township with his wife and family, and bought a farm of eighty acres, upon which he has ever since resided. He was married, June 21, 1852, to Mary Beech, a native of Lycoming County, Penn., and daughter of Baltes and Rosanna (Metzger) Beech, both natives of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Drum have been born twelve children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. Drum was a member of the Lutheran Church when he came from Germany, but became convinced of the necessity of a change of heart, and for two years strove to this end by the abandonment of sundry bad habits, but to no avail. Finally, however, he was converted to and became a member of the Evangelical Church, a course which the lady who afterward became his wife had long urged him to take, declining to marry him otherwise. After he came to Williams County, both he and wife united with the German Methodist Church, of which they are still members. Mr. Drum was a Democrat until the breaking-out of the late war, when he became a Republican. His neighbors in Lycoming at this time were strong Democrats, and frequently threatened, and once attempted, to mob him on this account, and this is one reason why he came back to Brady Township. In 1874, Mr. Drum, with four others, organized the "Brady Insurance Company," which now does an extensive business in all the counties of the Maumee Valley, Mr. Drum having been the originator of the scheme.

JOHN DRUM was born in Lycoming County, Penn., May 14, 1841, one of the five children now living of Peter and Catharine (Fisher) Drum, natives of Germany. Peter Drum was a farmer and weaver, and came to this country in 1837, and for five years worked in a saw-mill in Lycoming County, then bought and cleared up a farm of 100 acres. In 1853, he sold out and bought another, on which he resided until the fall of 1866, when he came to this township with his family, bought the Ridenhour farm of 145 acres, and prospered until July 23, 1880, when he died from the effects of a fall from a cherry-tree. He was a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, and in all his long life never had a lawsuit. John Drum worked for his father until twenty-five years old. He then bought a small, partially improved place in Lycoming County, on which he built a house and resided one year. In the spring of 1867, he came to Springfield Township, this county, where he farmed on shares one year ; then came to Brady Township, and farmed on shares for two years ; then went to Mill Creek, and farmed on shares one year. He

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and a brother then bought a farm in Fulton County, and worked it two years, and then, in the spring of 1873, he returned to this township, where he bought a partially improved farm of eighty acres, on which he now lives, having replaced the log cabin with a comfortable dwelling, and thoroughly cleared and improved the farm. He married, in November, 1865, Rachel Dunlap, a native of Centre County, Penn., and to their union have been born six children, of whom five are living, viz., Allen E., Catharine E., Leuellen, Peter and Cora M. Mr. Drumn is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

AARON C. EATON was born in Belmont County, Ohio, November 19, 1838. His paternal grandfather was born in Loudoun County, Va., and his maternal grandfather, Combs, in New Jersey. His father, Jesse Eaton, is a retired farmer and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His mother, Mrs. Deborah (Combs) Eaton, died in February, 1873. Aaron Eaton, in his youth, began a preparatory course of study for a professional life under the tutorage of Robert S. Hogue, in Belmont County, Ohio, but his failing health admonished him to avoid sedentary pursuits, and he chose the more healthful occupation of farmer. In January, 1863, he married Miss Caroline Jackson, daughter of James Jackson, of Monroe County, Ohio, and born in 1837. To this marriage were born three boys and two girls-one boy, Willie L., dying in infancy. In the fall of 1866, Mr. Eaton came to this township, and bought the land on which he now resides. His farm is well cultivated and improved with good buildings, and he is surrounded with everything that tends to make life enjoyable. He is a member of the School Board, District No. 4, and his daughter Hattie is a successful teacher.

THOMAS G. ELLIOTT was born in York County, Penn., Septem- ber 1, 1816, and is the eldest of six children born to William and Ann (Un- derwood) Elliott. William Elliott was a militia Captain during the war of 1812, but was not in active service. He was afterward Colonel of militia both in Pennsylvania and in Ohio. He brought his family to Stark County, Ohio, in 1817, and located on 163 acres of wild land, which, by hard toil, he converted into a productive farm. Here he died, on his eightieth birthday, February 15, 1860. Thomas G. Elliott re- reived a very good education in the district schools and seminaries of Stark County, and at the age of nineteen began clerking in a dry goods store, at which he continued for three years. He then passed a year at Norwalk Seminary, after which he was engaged as book-keeper in a for- warding and commission house, at Huron, Ohio, and on the lake steamers "Sheldon Thompson," " Columbus " and "Great Western," and was thus employed when the last-named vessel was burned in 1840. He then returned to Stark County and entered the dry goods trade, and served

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there as book-keeper about six years; then went to Massillon for three years ; then returned to Stark and adjusted the accounts of his old em- ployers, who had become insolvent. This task he performed to the satis- faction of all concerned. In 1851, he went to Cleveland as book-keeper for Gardner, McMillan & Co., wholesale grocers, whom he served nine years. In 1860, he joined Dr. Morrison in the dry goods business at West Unity ; sold out in 1864 to R. P. Hollington, and then, in 1866, joined that gentleman in the trade, under the firm name of Hollington & Elliott. In 1881, they sold out to Ely & Smith. Mr. Elliott was mar- ried, in 1842, to Narcissa Pearce, a native of Norwalk, Ohio, and daugh- ter of Dr. Pearce,. of Angola, Ind. For the past eleven years, Mr. Elli- ott has been both Town and Township Treasurer, and also Treasurer of the American Bible Society. He has had three children born to him- Madison H. (deceased) George P. and William G.

GEORGE ELY traces his descent from Joshua Ely, who came from England in 1685, and purchased a large tract of land in the Province of Western New Jersey, including the site of the present city of Trenton. Joshua Ely had born to him six children by his first wife, one of whom, George, was the grandfather of the grandfather of George, the subject of this sketch. George, the grandfather of this subject, was an officer under Washington in the Revolution, and died at Shamokin, Penn., in 1820. His youngest son, Asher, was born in New Jersey, in 1787, and was the father of our subject, who was born in Shamokin, Penn., March 1. 1812. He came to Knox County, Ohio, in 1826, George coming with him. March 5, 1833, George Ely married Elizabeth Folck ; November 1, 1835,

he moved to the farm he now occupies in this township, then quite a wil- derness, with but 85 in cash. Here he has reared a family of seven chil- dren, all yet living except one, George W., who was killed in the battle in front of Atlanta, Ga., in 1864. Mr. Ely was elected Trustee at the first election held in this township ; was afterward twice elected Justice of the Peace. He has also served one term as County Auditor, and for twenty years, about, has held the office of Trustee. Mr. Ely's maternal grand- father, Robert Campbell, was of Scotch birth. He was wounded at the battle of Long Island, and carried a musket ball in his thigh till his death, in 1833.

ROBERT W. L. ELY was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., July 2. 1844, and is the fourth of six children born to Ralph and Elizabeth (Wolverton) Ely, natives of the same State and county. In 1848, the elder Mr. Ely brought his family to Brady Township; bought 120 acres of land altogether in a state of nature ; moved into a shed and began clearing up. He soon built himself a fine frame dwelling, which was the first erected in the county. In 1866, he traded this farm for another. a

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mile and a quarter southwest of West Unity, where he now resides ; he has carried on, in addition to farming, wagon and carriage making, un- dertaking, and for forty years has been an auctioneer, and has also served two years as Township Trustee for Brady. Robert W. L. Ely worked with his father on the farm and in the factories till the age of sixteen. February 14, 1861, he was thrown from a horse and sustained injuries that afflicted him over two years. In June, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under the six months' call, and was mustered out in February, 1864, wearing a Corporal's chevron. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Eighty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a Sergeant, and with which he served till the close of the war. On his return, he engaged in the drug business at West Unity, in partnership with his brother, George W. They sold out at the end of six months, and Mr. Ely engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of Hamlin & Wilson ; then clerked for Yesbera & Rolland, and then for Hollington & Elliott. In April, 1881, he and George Smith bought the firm out, and are now conducting the business under the firm name of Ely & Smith, and carry a stock of dry goods, etc., valued at $12,000 to $13,000. November 22, 1868, Mr. Ely married Miss Mellie J. Dowe, of Illinois, the daughter of John E. and Bellinda (Rice) Dowe. He is a member of Superior Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. M., and of Northwest Chapter, No. 45, R. A. M., and is a self-made man, having acquired all of his property without hav- ing received a dollar in assistance.

ARMSTRONG ERVIN was born in Stark County, Ohio, April 25, 1814, the son of William and Elizabeth (McDowell) Ervin, natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish extraction. At the age of sixteen, he moved with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, where, October 18, 1836, he married Miss Mary Ann Mowry, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Dampman) Mowry, natives of the Keystone State. Soon after marriage, he moved to Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, and, with only an ax as a farming implement, commenced to hew out of the woods a farm, which he finally cleared up. On this land he remained about nine- teen years, and moved to Brady Township in November, 1855, and cleared up another farm, on which he is now residing, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his labor, and surrounded with every comfort. He has reared a family of nine children, of whom five only are now living, and none of these are left at home. Mr. Ervin is an elder in the Presbyte- rian Church, of which he has been a member since 1832. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has served as Township Trustee. He is one of Will- iams County's substantial men, whose word is as good as his signature. He is a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and deals only in the best

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breeds of live stock. His eldest son, William, served two years during the rebellion, in the One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F, took part in the battle of Nashville and other fights, and returned home unscathed.

JONATHAN FIDLER is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born October 25, 1830. His earlier days were passed in his native State and in Richland County, Ohio. In April, 1852, he came to Williams County, and March 31, 1853, he married Miss Nancy Lister, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 1, 1832. This lady's father was born in Delaware April 4, 1792, and her mother in Maryland, December 9, 1798, and they were married, May 11, 1815. In 1848, they came to Williams County, where they ended their days. Mr. and Mrs. Fidler began their married life in the village of Pulaski, where their eldest son, William, was born February 16, 1854. The next year they moved to Bryan, where two sons and one daughter were born-Milton, September 18, 1856; Joseph, September 16, 1857; Ella, August 14, 1860. In 1861, they came to West Unity, and here there have been born to them six children-Susie, November 11, 1862; Samuel, March 31, 1864; Walter, May 5, 1867; Effie and Ettie, September 1, 1869; and Laura, February 4, 1874. These children have all been spared to their parents, with the exception of Ettie, who died in October, 1871. William Fidler was married to Miss Samantha Schooley, December 24, 1879, and has his residence in West Unity ; Joseph Fidler married Miss Callie Swisher in 1880, and resides in Defiance.

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County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 65

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885