USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 77
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WILLIAM AYRES is the son of Daniel and Parmelia Ayres. His father was born in Pennsylvania, January 18, 1771, and was a son of Samuel Ayres, a native of New Jersey, and his mother was born in New York State, August 23, 1776, and was the daughter of A. Buck ; they were married in Pennsylvania, August 7, 1791, and in 1807 moved to Knox County, Ohio ; six years later, they removed to Richland County, where the father died in 1839; in 1847, his mother came to this county. where she died in 1849; they were the parents of eight children. Will- iam Ayres was next to the youngest of this family, and was born in Lu- zerne County, Penn., January 5, 1807. He was brought by his parents to Knox.County, and thence to Richland, where he married, February 28, 1830, Miss Nancy Rice, who was born in Pennsylvania December 25, 1811. In 1840, he moved to Fulton County. Here Mrs. Ayres died, May 24, 1855, and November 13, 1856, he married Sarah C. Jones, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, February 1, 1828. In 1864, he came to this township, and located on the farm of 136 acres he still lives upon. He has had seven children born to him-Hector, Marion and
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Oscar, all by his first wife and all now dead; and George W., William J., Samuel D. and Francis S. by his second wife. Mr. Ayres is recognized as one of the substantial men of the township, and is regarded with respect wherever known.
J. E. BAILEY is a son of Alexander and Ann Bailey, who were natives of Pennsylvania; the former was born in 1810, the latter in 1807; they were married in Pennsylvania in 1833, where they resided until 1835, when they moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and after one year's residence moved to Williams County, Ohio; here they remained until 1865, when they removed to Missouri, where he died in 1872; she is still living there; their family comprised eight children. J. E. Bailey was born in Williams County, Ohio, March 15, 1843, where he has ever since resided. On August 27, 1863, he was married to Adaline Marri- man, of Portage County, Ohio, where she was born, March 19, 1846. In 1865, he moved to Missouri and purchased property, remaining until 1875, when he returned to Williams County, Ohio, where he bought a farm, moved thereon, and remained until 1879; he then sold this prop- erty, removed to Melbern and engaged in mercantile business, continuing one year, when he purchased and occupied the farm he now has in Section 29. He has a family of three children-Effie R., Eva and Merritt H. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bailey was a soldier in the late war, in Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served one year.
DANIEL BENDER. Previous to the Revolutionary war, George Bender, the grandfather of Daniel Bender, emigrated from Germany to America, settled in Lancaster County, Penn., afterward moving to Frank- lin County, Penn., where he purchased a large tract of land and spent his days. His eldest son, John, was born and married in Lancaster County, Penn., and shortly after his marriage settled in Franklin County, Penn., near Chambersburg, which was their life-long home. Mrs. John Bender was Miss Mary Harmand, and was the mother of eight children, seven growing to maturity. Daniel Bender, the youngest (son of John and Mary), was born in Franklin County, Penn., March 8, 1813. Here he remained until of age, having acquired the trade of carpenter and builder, where he was employed as foreman in the construction of the hotel of Mr. John Yantz, at Navarre, Stark County, Ohio. Here he purchased a home, to which he removed after his marriage with Miss Nancy Fisher in Wilmot May 30, 1837. She is the daughter of Adam and Sarah Fisher, and a native of Stark County. Mr. Bender bought a farm in the vicinity of Navarre in 1842, where the family resided until 1847, when he sold out and transferred his interests to Williams County, which has since been his home. Here he has a fine farm of forty acres,
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which he cultivates, devoting some time to the practice of his former pro- fession. Mr. Bender is an energetic, industrious man, highly esteemed by all. The family consists of ten children.
AMOS BETTS, the son of Luther and Hannah Betts, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., November 24, 1818. His father was a native of Connecticut, and settled in New York at an early day, and the mother was a native of Vermont. The father died in his native State, and the mother soon after moved with her family of fourteen children to Marion County, Ohio, and then came to Williams County, Ohio, where she ended her days. Amos accompanied his mother to Marion County, and there remained until 1888, when he went to Huron County, where, September 12, 1841, he married Mary M. Darling, a native of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and born April 17, 1824. In 1847, he removed from Huron to Williams County, and purchased some land which he afterward sold. Here his wife died, March 27, 1874. April 19, 1877, he married Lou- isa Lockhart, who was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 14, 1889. He now bought back his old farm, and still resides upon it. He has a family of ten children-Margaret M., Charles R., Luther, Rosina A., Benjamin P., Henry A., Cornelis L., Theodore D., David D., and J. A.
THOMAS BLAIR was born in Lycoming County, Penn, April 22, 1815, the second eldest child of Asron and Margaret Blair. The former was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, and the latter in New Jersey in 1787, and were married in Lycoming County in 1808. They had a family of seven children, vis., Ann, Thomas, Elisabeth, Ruth, Peter, John and Aaron K. August 11, 1842, Thomas Blair married Sarah J. Hahaffey, also a native of Lycoming County, Penn., and born October 15, 1824. Just after marriage he came to this township and settled on eighty acres of fine land, on which he has since made his home. At his house his father, who was on a visit to him from his home in Pennsylvania; was taken ill, and died in October, 1846. His mother expired at the old homestead in Lycoming, in October, 1658. Mr. Blair is an old and re- spected citizen of Centre Township, and has had born to him a family of ten children, viz., Susan E., Margaret A., Sarah J., Esther M., Zelma L. (deceased), Emma A., William A., Rhoda I., Della R. S. T. and a son who died in infancy.
ALVA BOISE, son of Nathan and Deborah Boise, was born in Port- age County, Ohio, May 1, 1820. His father, Nathan, was born in Mas- sschusetts about the year 1779, and was a son of John and Sarah Boise. This family is of French origin, and their ancestors belonged to the noted Du Bois family, who were very prominent in France during the reign of Louis XIV, and were driven from that country to the northern part of Ireland during the Huguenot persecutions. Here the name was changed
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to Boies, and in about 1825 to the present mode. In the early part of the last century David, a descendent of the family, emigrated from Ire- land to America and located in the town of Hopkinton, Mass., but subse- quently removed to Blandford, Mass., about 1735 or 1737. But a few people, at that early period, had turned their attention toward the settle- ment of the backwoods of the State, as the country was mountainous and heavily timbered, and permanent settling was attended with much more danger and labor there than in the valleys. David was a man of deep religious thought and principles. He had a large family of children, of whom three were sons, viz., John, William and Samuel. John, arriving at manhood, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He reared a family of children, and his two sons were named John and Samuel, the former being the grandfather of the subject of our sketch. He was born in Blandford November 22, 1744, and was one of the first white male children to see the light in that town ; he was celebrated as a schoolmas- ter, and was a prominent member of the Baptist Church ; he was married to Sarah Freeland, by whom he had a family of six children, who all lived to a mature age; three of them were sons-James, Enos and Nathan. He died September 9, 1830 ; his son Nathen was born in Blandford, Mass., in 1779, and there he lived until 1802, when he came to Portage County, this State, where he shortly after married Deborah, the daughter of Thompson and Mary Pegg. Nathan and wife died in Portage County in the years 1826 and 1863, leaving a family of eight children, viz., Enos, Sarah, Joel, Elijah, Alva, Mary, Lydia and Philo. Alva Boise was mar- ried, in Portage, October 18, 1847, to Catherine, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Calvin, and until October, 1850, he remained there following his trade of wagon-making; he then came to this township and purchased and moved upon the farm he still occupies. This contains 120 acres of very fine land, and is well improved in all respects. Mr. Boise is the father of one son, Watson, who was born May 29, 1857, and was married, September 15, 1877, to Miss Rebecca Brannan; he resides on the old homestead, and superintends the cultivation of the farm. The family are all people of superior intelligence, and are among the most respectable in the township.
F. P. BRAKEMAN, saw-mill proprietor and lumber dealer, is a son of Peter and Clarissa Brakeman ; was born in Oakland County, Mich., February 22, 1844, and came with his parents to Williams County in 1854. At the beginning of the late war, he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served three months, and at the expiration of his term re-enlisted in Company K, Sixty-eighth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war, in all serving four years, four months and twenty-seven days, mostly under Gen. Sherman.
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On his return, he married, December 20, 1865, Anna E. Cummins, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 6, 1844. He then made his residence on his father-in-law's farm in St. Joseph's Township, until the fall of 1870, when he came to this township and purchased a saw- mill, which he has been running ever since, in connection with a trade in lumber. He has had born to him a family of five children-Ida, James G., Zadie B., an infant son who died unnamed and Herbert. He is an enterprising young business man and an upright, public spirited citizen.
HENRY BROWN is & son of Daniel and Elizabeth Brown, who were natives of Bedford County, Penn. The former was born January 1, 1785, the latter January 12, 1789. They were married in Bedford County, Penn., in the year 1806, remaining there until 1810, when they re- moved to Stark County, Ohio, where Mr. Brown died November 16, 1882. His widow came to Williams County about the year 1842, where she died in 1862. They had a family of twenty children, fourteen of whom they reared to maturity. The subject of our sketch was the third of this family, and was born in Stark County December 7, 1810. He was married in the same county, March 8, 1882, to Catherine Keller, and in the follow- ing October moved to Hancock County, Ohio, and purchased land. There Mrs. Brown died January 27, 1858. To this marriage twelve children were born-Susan, John, Eli, Sarah, Lucinda, Rebecca, Aaron, Samuel, Henry, Jacob, Mary and Isaac. He was married a second time June 22, 1856, to Leah Myers, by whom he had four children-Anna (deceased), Jennie, Amelia and Viola (deceased). In the spring of 1866, Mr. Brown removed to Williams County, Ohio, purchasing and occupying his present farm and residence. He is a member of the German Roformed Church.
JOHN BROWN is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Brown, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Stark County, Ohio, February 12, 1812, and was there married, March 80, 1884, to Lucinda Briggs, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, August 22, 1815. About the year 1885, Mr. Brown moved to Hancock County, Ohio, where he re- mained till 1848, when he moved to Williams County, on the farm where he now resides, on Section 18. There has been born to him a family of nine children, as follows: Samuel, Joseph, Mahlon, John (all deceased), Lydia, Sanford, Leander and Harriet (decessed) and Manuel. His wife died February 7, 1881, and he again married December 29, 1881. He is a minister of the German Baptist Church, and is highly respected in his community as a man of piety and strict integrity. He has been a successful farmer, and has devoted his life more to the quiet of social pursuits than to the excitement of politics.
EMMANUEL BROWN, the son of Abraham and Hannah Brown, natives of Pennsylvania, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 8, 1827,
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and was there married, November 9, 1848, to Juliann Stauffer, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., September 19, 1829. In the fall of 1861, he came from Wayne to Williams County and settled on Section No. 9, this township, on the same farm where he now resides, which com- prises eighty acres of excellent land. In 1871, he moved to Bryan and did business there till 1881, when he returned to his farm. He has had born to him two children-Abraham (deceased) and Clarissa. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has taken .the fifth degree. He is a useful and enterprising citizen and is highly respected as a man.
JACOB BROWN is a native of- Stark County, Ohio, where he was born October 9, 1815. His parents, David and Barbara Brown, were natives of Lancaster County, Penn., where Mr. Brown was born in 1788, and the mother in 1786. They were married and remained in this State until 1814, when they moved to Stark County, Ohio, where Mr. Brown was called home in March, 1885. Mrs. Brown lived on the old home- stead until 1854, when she decided to come to Williams County, Ohio, and spend the remainder of her days in the home of her son, Jacob Brown. Here her death occurred the January following. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were parents of nine children. Mr. Jacob Brown remained in his native place until 1888, when he bought a farm in Hancock County, Ohio, upon which himself and family lived until July, 1848, when he disposed of this property and purchased land in Williams County, which has since been his home. Here he has a fine farm of 805 acres, acquired and brought to its present state of cultivation by habits of industry and perseverance. Mr. Brown commands the respect and esteem of his neighbors for upright- ness and integrity; besides tilling the soil, he administers in spiritual things, being a preacher of the German Baptist faith. Mr. Brown was married, September 10, 1887, to Miss Catherine Brenner, a native of Germany, who came to Stark County with her parents in 1880: Mr. and Mrs. Brown are parents of nine children, eight still living-Abner K., Barbara, Lydia, Jacob, Catherine, Nancy, Isabella and Charles F. One son, Reuben, was offered as a sacrifice on the altar of his country.
W. M. BROWN, of the firm of Brown & Brenner, merchants at Melbern, in this township, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, October 14, 1846, and is the eldest of the four children of Nicholas and Sarah Brown, who were respectively born in Fayette County, Penn., August 11, 1821, and Crawford County, Ohio, December 29, 1825, and married in Crawford January 28, 1844, and who moved to this county in 1846, where they still reside. October 21, 1866, W. M. Brown married, at Williams Centre, this county, Caroline Jaques, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 80, 1848, and was the daughter of David L. and Mary Jaques, natives of France. After his marriage, Mr. Brown moved
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upon one of his father's farms in this township, remained there two years, then bought the estate of his wife's parents in the same township, moved upon it and there remained till 1877, sold it, moved to Melbern, and in October of the same year entered into the business at which he is now engaged, and at which he is finely prospering. He has a family of four children-Laura B., Sadie, Charlie N. and William G. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the M. E. Church, and he is one of the enter- prising business men of Melbern.
MYRON CALTRIDER is the only son of John W. and Emeline Caltrider, and was born in this township. The parents settled here at an early day, and here, in June, 1872, the father died, and the widow went to Bryan, where she remained two years, then returned to the farm, where she sojourned till May, 1882, when she again went to Bryan, and there expects to remain until the end of life. Myron Caltrider, in 1876, made a trip to Philadelphia, and October 22, of that year, there married Miss Alice Wyatt, whom he brought to the old homestead, the place of his birth, and there settled down for life: His farm comprises 114 acres of choice land, and is well improved and tilled, and its owner is recog- nized as a skillful and promising young farmer. He and Mrs. C. are members of the Baptist Church, and are quiet, orderly and conservative young people.
SMITH CALVIN was born in Portage County, Ohio, Dece mber 21, 1829, the son of Horatio and Hannah Calvin, natives of Virginia, born respectively November 1, 1803, and February 12, 1807, and married in Portage County, Ohio, in March, 1827. They became the parents of two children-David and Smith, and in 1850 changed their residence to this county, where the father died in April, 1854. Smith Calvin learned shoemaking in Portage, and in 1848, visited this county. He remained a short time working at his trade, then he returned to Portage, and two years later came back to Williams and worked at shoemaking for ten years. August 26, 1852, he married Mary M. Miller. In 1863, he bought and moved upon the eighty-acre farm where he still resides. His wife died October 12, 1868, the mother of two children. September 19, 1869, he married Elizabeth Bush, who died August 29, 1880, hav- ing borne three children ; and June 2, 1882, he married Jane Bush. Mr. Calvin has always been a kind and affectionate husband and father, and has proved himself to be a thrifty farmer and excellent neighbor.
O. E. ENSIGN comes from good old Puritan stock. His father, Owen Ensign, was born in Massachusetts in 1784, and Nancy Ensign, his mother, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1794. They were married in Lake County, Ohio, in 1814, which was their home until 1836, when they moved to Farmer Township, Defiance County, where they purchased
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property and remained until the death of Mr. Ensign, which took place in 1857. Mrs. Ensign soon afterward went to Wisconsin, where her death occurred in 1869. Their family consisted of six children, but four now living, one son and one daughter deceased. The son, W. O., filled at one time the office of Judge of Defiance County. Of those remain- ing, H. A. Ensign, M. D., resides in Kansas ; D. T. Ensign follows farming in Defiance County ; F. E., is attorney at law in Boise City, Idaho, and O. E. is engaged in farming and stock-raising in Centre Township, Williams Co., Ohio, where he has a fine farm of 160 acres under cultivation. O. E. Ensign was born at Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio, November 29, 1881, coming with his parents to Defiance County, and remaining with them until twenty years of age, attending school during the winter and assisting on the farm in the summer months ; he also was a student at Painesville Academy, and availed himself of collegiate in- struction. He was afterward engaged in teaching during the winter months until his marriage, which occurred April 8, 1857. Mrs. Ensign was Miss Clarissa L. Dunkle, a native of New York State, where she was born June 18, 1889. She is the mother of four children, but two of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Ensign are members of the United Brethren Church.
DANIEL FETTERS, son of Jacob and Eve Fetters, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, October 18, 1818, and came to this county with his parents. He was married in April, 1841, to Elisabeth Miser, s native of Ohio, and born in 1817. Mr. Fetters, shortly after his mar- riage, purchased the farm of eighty sores on Section 28, in this town- ship, on which he still resides. At the time of his first location here, the country was one dense forest, but by industry Mr. Fetters has succeeded in clearing off sixty-five acres, which are now under a fine state of culti- vation. His children were seven in number, and named as follows- Elisa, Sarah A., Frederick, Mary A., Catherine M. (deceased) and two infant daughters deceased. Mr. F. is a Granger, is an excellent farmer and an upright citisen.
GEORGE FETTERS was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 10, 1829, and was the son of Jacob and Eve Fetters, who were born in Pennsylvania June 22, 1792, and August, 1791, and in that State mar- ried in about 1812. Jacob Fetters was a soldier in the war of 1812 for some time, and, shortly after his return, moved with his young wife tu Montgomery County, Ohio, and thence, in 1886, to this county ; set- tled with his family on Section 87, this township, on the farm where George Fetters now resides, and there departed this life respectively December 19, 1886, and March 18, 1874, the parents of twelve chil- dren, viz., Catherine, Mary, Lydia, Moses, Daniel, Esther, Jacob, Eve,
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John, George, Eliza and Solomon (the last deceased). George Fetters was married, August 12, 1852, to Hester Fetters, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 8, 1834. Her parents, Daniel and Sarah Fetters, natives of Pennsylvania, were born respectively in 1806 and 1809. Soon after his marriage, George bought the old homestead, and now owns 160 acres of good land. He is the father of eleven children, viz., Eve J., Polly A., William H., Charles L., Thomas A., Johnnie C., Frank F., Della D., Oliver V., Nolia B. and L. J. Mr. Fetters is one of the leading citizens of Centre, and has held the office of Assessor for nine years.
DAVID FLIGHTNER was born in Defiance County, Ohio, Janu- ary 20, 1854. Son of Adam and Catharine Flightner, and came with his parents to Williams County, which has since been his home. He remained with his father until nearly twenty-one years of age, when he assumed the duties and cares of life for himself. His marriage with Miss Clara H. Lane took place at Bryan, Ohio, March 16, 1878. She is a daughter of Jacob and Kerten Lane, and was born in Williams County, Ohio, September 27, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Flightner removed to Defiance County, Ohio, shortly after their marriage, where they remained one year, when he purchased the farm of eighty acres in Cen- tre Township, Williams County, which has since been their home. Mr. Flightner is a worthy citizen of the township, and highly respected and esteemed by all who enjoy the pleasure of his acquaintance. A son and daughter cheer their home, viz., Arthur H. and Alma Flightner.
SAMUEL FLIGHTNER is an American-born citizen of German descent. His parents and grandparents emigrated from Germany to " the land of the free and the home of the brave " at an early day. The marriage of his parents took place in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1841, where Samuel, the eldest of a family of eight children, was born in March, 1842. The family removed to Williams County, Ohio, in 1860, having been located some time previously in Defiance County. Mrs. Flightner died at her home in Williams County in May, 1874. Mr. Flightner was remarried the year following, removed to Bryan in 1876, where the second Mrs. Flightner died shortly afterward. Mr. Flightner entered the married state again in 1880, and one child is the result of this union. Mr. Samuel Flightner was married, October 15, 1864, in Edgerton, to Miss Lucinda H. Stevens, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, where she was born December 18, 1844. Their family numbers eight children-Mary L., Charlie W., Edward J., Elnora A., Franklin E., Jennie B., Myrta M. and an unnamed infant daughter. Mr. Flight- ner's vocation has always been that of a farmer. Their home, until 1875, was in Defiance County, on a farm purchased of Mr. Flightner
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Sr., when they disposed of this and purchased the old family home- stead in Williams County, which is their present home. This consists of 160 acres of land, and is a valuable piece of property.
ALEXANDER GAVIN is a son of Robert and Isabel Gavin, natives of Scotland. He was born in Scotland September 10, 1848, and came with his parents from the old country to Fort Wayne, Ind., and thence to Williams County, where he was married, December 29, 1870, to Christine Burgist, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 28, 1850. Shortly after his marriage, he came to this township, and settled on the farm where he now resides, purchasing it from his brother in 1874, and since greatly improving it. It comprises eighty acres of fine land, and is kept in a state of thorough cultivation. He has a family of four chil- dren-Byron D., William R., Jennie O. and Orpha B. He is a steady- going, prudent young man, in a thorough farmer, and is looked upon as a valuable accession to the community.
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