USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 81
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command, and was discharged in July, 1865. Mr. Waterston received a good common-school education in his youth, and his wife was a school- teacher at the age of sixteen. They became the parents of five children -George T., an infant, deceased, Anna C., Frank L. and Jennie A. Mr. W. is a stanch Republican, having been one of the twenty-six who organized that party in Williams County.
THOMAS F. WATERSTON was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in March, 1834, and is the second of the six surviving children born to Alexander and Janet (Forrest) Waterston. Thomas received a fair com- mon-school education while residing in Belmont and Richland Counties with his parents. He came with them to this township in September, 1858, and this has been his home ever since. When about twenty-two, Thomas began working for himself, and, at the age of twenty-seven, married Lucinda Knapp, a native of Ohio. He then settled on his pres- ent farm, which comprises 200 acres of as fine land as there is in the township, and which is improved with good buildings, wind pump, etc. His residence is a fine, large, tasteful frame, and was built in 1877. He is a thoroughgoing farmer, energetic and enterprising, and a worthy and reliable citizen. In politics, he is a Republican, and his religions faith is that of the United Brethren. He is the father of two children-Ida M. and Edwin-and he is rearing two whom he has adopted-Frank Goodrich and Berton Dorn.
THOMAS E. WHITNEY was born in New York City December 25, 1844, and is the eldest son of Mervin N. and Esther (Underhill) Whitney, respectively natives of Connecticut and New York, and of English descent. The Pell and Underhill families are quite numerous on the line between New York and Connecticut, and our subject derives his descent from their founders, Lord Pell and Lord Underhill, the latter having been his great-grandfather. Mervin N. Whitney was engaged in ship and house building in New York, and, a few years before the late war, came to Akron, Ohio, and erected the only steam flouring mills in the place, and they are still standing. Here he died within a few years; the family became separated, and Thomas E. came to this township. Having received a very fair common-school education, and possessing a good share of energy, he pushed his way along through the world, and, April 13, 1863, married Lila M. Ames, a native of Erie County, Ohio, and daughter of Calvin and Chrisan (Garrison) Ames, who were both born in New York. During the war, Mr. Whitney enlisted in Hoff- man's Battalion, doing garrison duty on Johnson's Island, and received his discharge July 18, 1865. Two or three years later, he bought thirty acres of land, lying partly in this township and partly on the other side of the Michigan line, and farmed until 1869, when he engaged in gen-
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eral merchandising. In 1882, he joined Mr. Steadman in the lumber business, at which he is still profitably engaged. His children are three in number, and bear the names of Waldo, Hattie L. and Eddie.
JOHN W. WISMAN, merchant and Postmaster at Ainger, was born August 8, 1833, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is one of the eleven children of George and Susanna (Brannon) Wisman, natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio, who came to Williams County in the fall of 1836, and settled in Superior Township on 320 acres of entered land, where the father still resides. October 16, 1862, John W. married Mary E. Bech- tol, a native of this county, and settled on 120 acres in Madison Town- ship. In 1864, he moved to this township and bought and cleared up 160 acres, on which he made his home. In 1873, he went to Northwest Township and remained till April, 1875, when he went in partnership with George Covell at Ainger. Nine months later Mr. Covell withdrew, and Mr. Wisman has continued the business since on his own account, and now has a first-class country store, carrying a stock of goods valued at about 85,000. He was appointed Postmaster at the time of the estab- lishment of the office at Ainger in 1880. He served in the late war, and was stationed most of the time at Bermuda Hundred, Va. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are the parents of three children-George W., Libbie and Leroy. He is a Republican in politics, and has been elected to several township offices, but has invaria- bly declined serving; he is gentlemanly, enterprising, and a thorough- going business man.
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NATHAN A. ALVORD, the fifth child of Justus and Hannah Alvord, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., August 17, 1834. At the age of seventeen, he emigrated to Illinois, and the next fifteen years were spent working in various parts of that State, in Minnesota and in Iowa. Octo- ber 7, 1856, he married Melinda Landon, and to their union were born seven children, as follows : Hiram L., Harriet, Mary R., Clara E. (all deceased) Luella M., Charles H. and Florence B. In 1857, he moved to Camden, Mich., where he owns a good farm of 160 acres, on which he now resides. The same year, he established a store in Camden, which be conducted until 1869, when he returned to farming. He received a good common-school education in his youth, and was well qualified for any position. In politics, he is a Republican, and in 1880 was elected to the State Legislature from the Second District of Hillsdale County, Mich. He is a member of Camden Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 245, and also of
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Camden Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 312, and is a substantial member of the community in which he lives.
HENRY D. ALVORD, born in Allegany County, N. Y., July 31, 1838, is the son of Justus and Hannah (Thorp) Alvord, natives of Massa- chusetts, of English descent, and parents of eight children, five of whom are still living-Hiram B., David H., Edward E., Nathan A. and Henry D. In 1841, the parents came to this State, bringing Henry D. with them, and stopped in Fulton County until the spring of 1848, when they removed to this township, where the father ended his days. Henry D. worked on the home farm till nineteen years old, went to Bureau County. Ill., for a year, returned and passed the next four years in attending school and again assisting on the farm. September 18, 1860, he wedded Mary E. Skiles, a native of Holmes County, Ohio. In 1864, he began business at Primrose, carrying on a dry goods store, an ashery, and filling the position of Postmaster. In 1866, he moved to Camden, Mich., and the next year found him in Iowa. In 1870, he returned to the old home- stead, of which he bought 100 acres. Mr. Alvord is an enterprising and public-spirited man; is a Republican, and has held many public offices. He served as Justice of the Peace from 1873 to 1879; was appointed Notary Public in 1879, and still retains the appointment, and in 1881 was appointed Postmaster at Alvordton. In the spring of 1881, with the advent of the railroad, he purchased an additional farm and laid out the town of Alvordton, and procured the location of the station at the place, which is now growing rapidly. In 1882, he erected a fine brick hotel, which has added to the importance of the promising village. He is the father of two children-Florence M., now a successful teacher, and Jus- tus E.
JOHN T. BORTON is a native of Ohio, and was born in Williams County, February 9, 1845, being the third of a family of ten children of his parents, John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Borton. They were farmers, and John remained at home, employed on his father's farm, until grown to man's estate. He was married, October 2, 1864, to Miss Melvina J. Jacoby, and to this union have been added four children, viz., Marion E. B., Ellen D., Minnie M. and John. Mr. and Mrs. Borton are members of the M. E. Church and of Mill Creek Grange. Mr. Borton is a strong Republican, and his patriotism showed itself in the late war. He enlisted in 1862, in Company H, Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and served for eight months, when failing health obliged him to leave the service. In 1867, he moved with his family to a farm of eighty acres in Fulton County, and in 1870 they settled on their farm of 117 acres in this township, which has since been their home, and is in a fine state of cultivation, being plentifully stocked with a great variety of fruits.
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WILLIAM H. CLAY, one of the four children of John and Mar- garet Clay, was born in York County, Penn .. September 16, 1824. The family moved to Richland County, Ohio, when William H. was but four years of age, and on the farm there located by them he worked until twenty-five years of age. April 2, 1849, he married Miss Nancy Keith, of Richland County, who bore him three children-Mrs. Margaret Clark, Mrs. Elizabeth Clifton, of Michigan, and Sebastian A., and died April 14, 1865. In 1851, Mr. Clay took up his residence in this township, and now owns a finely cultivated farm of 120 acres. June 1, 1867, he married Lea Netz, a member of. the German Baptist Church, by whom he became the father of one child-John H. Mr. Clay is one of the leading citizens of his township, has held the office of Township Trustee for several years, and is a sagacious and prosperous farmer.
GEORGE S. COPELAND was born in Richland County, Ohio, March 24, 1831, the son of John and Sarah (Sharp) Copeland, who came from Lincolnshire, England, and are the parents of seven children. George.S. passed two years of his youth in Canada in the lumber busi- ness, and subsequently employed himself at various occupations in the States until he was thirty years of age. January 1, 1861, he wedded Barbara Moyer, of Wayne County, Ohio, who became the mother of four children, three of whom are still living-Mrs. Sarah N. Gifford, Mary E. and Esther M. In 1862, he settled in this township on a rich and well-improved farm of 120 acres, and still resides thereon. He is a member of the Church of God, of which he is a licensed preacher and a leading member, and is fully recognized by his neighbors as an upright and temperate man. In politics, he is independent, and casts his vote for the candidate who will, in his opinion, best perform the duties of the office sought.
JOHN P. FALKNER was born in Baden, Germany, August 18, 1816, and was one of eight children born to John and Ann Falkner. The father was a shoemaker, and this trade was also followed by John P. a great part of his life. June 17, 1847, he was married, in his native country, to Margaret Loutenmilth, and to their union were born seven children, two of whom are dead. The five living are Mrs. Phoebe Fackler, Mrs. Margaret Whipple, Alexander, Charles and Mary. In 1849, he emigrated to this country and settled in Richland County, Ohio, where he followed his trade till 1861, when he came to this township and bought the farm of 120 acres on which he now lives, and which is well cultivated and improved with good buildings. Mr. Falkner is a self- made man, is a leading member in the United Brethren Church, of which his wife is also a member, and in politics sympathizes with the Democratic party.
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RICHARD GAMBLE is a native of England and was born January 25, 1840. His parents, Edward and Sarah (Dickinson) Gamble were both natives of England, and emigrated to this country with their four children when Richard was but two years of age. They came first to Sandusky County, Ohio, removing the year following to Richland County, and three years after to Fulton (then Williams) County, where the father still lives. Richard received a good common school education, and re- mained at home working his father's farm until the age of thirty, when he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Hillsdale County, Mich., where he lived two years, after which he embarked in the grocery business at Fay- ette, Ohio, remaining three years; he then spent a year on the home farm, when he decided to locate in Primrose; here he purchased property and put in a stock of dry goods and groceries ; but, needing more room, the year following he erected a large and commodious building . where he carries a fine stock of goods, valued at $5,500, and has a prosperous trade. Mr. Gamble was united in marriage in Fulton County, December 25, 1874, to Miss Ellen Stahl, a native of New York, and they have three children-Bertha E., Alcie B. and Norman A.
GEORGE KELLER is a native of Lebanon County, Penn., and was born December 3, 1816. He was the fourth of the six children of Will- iam and Sarah (Saltzaber) Keller, also natives of Pennsylvania. When fourteen years of age he accompanied his parents to Richland County, this State, where they settled and where he was reared to manhood. April 17, 1844, he married Eliza Miller, of York County, Penn. In 1846, he moved to Lucas County, Ohio, and in 1849 removed to Fulton County. In the spring of 1870, he again changed his residence, coming to this township and locating on the farm of ninety-five acres where he yet resides. His farm is rich in soil, is wel! cultivated, and is improved with excellent buildings. In politics, Mr. Keller is independent, support- ing only such men and issues as meet with the approval of his judgment. In religion, both he and wife are Lutheran and belong to the church con- ducted under the auspices of that denomination.
WILLIAM KNOFF, M. D., was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, February 11, 1834, and is the second of nine children born to John and Mary (Reid) Knoff, who were natives respectively of New York and Vir- ginia. His father was a farmer, and gave his children good educational advantages. William Knoff attended school in Richland County, Ohio, and afterward studied medicine for three years under the tuition of Dr. Krall, practicing part of the time. In 1863 and 1864, he attended the Homoeopathic Hospital College at Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1864 located at Primrose, and in 1873 removed to Montpelier ; but after an eight years' stay at the latter place, decided to return to Primrose, where he is now
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located with a highly successful practice. He formed a matrimonial alli- ance with Miss Elizabeth Alleman, of Richland County, Ohio, October 27, 1884, and their children are six in number-Effie R., Della M., Willis L., Almeda G., Nora B. and Bertha (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Knoff are members of the Disciples' Church. In politics, Dr. Knoff votes independently of any party-for the best men and measures, ac- cording to his convictions.
THERON LANDON, the first settler in Mill Creek Township, was born in Litchfield County, Conn., May 21, 1814, and was of English descent. His father died when Theron was seven years of age, and for some time thereafter he drifted about in various parts of the East. Finally, in the fall of 1835, he settled on a farm of 160 acres in this township. His mother came with him, and here died April 20, 1836. This was the first case of mortality in the township. June 7, 1836, he married Harriet Bates, of, New York. He laid out the now defunct town of Hamer, and was the first Postmaster in this part of the county. He was also the first Justice of the Peace in the township, and held the office for several years. In politics, he was originally a Whig; but after the disintegration of that once powerful party, he became an ardent Republican, and has never since changed his fealty to this organization.
JOHN LIPPY, a native of York County, Penn .. was born November 25, 1826, one of eight children of John and Barbara (Rhodes) Lippy, the former of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Richland County, Ohio, and, at the age of nineteen, learned there the shoemaker's trade. In the fall of 1852, he came to reside in Mill Creek Township, and has continued to live here down to the present time. The first sixteen years of his life here, he devoted to working at his trade, in which he met with abundant success. On April 12, 1865, he married Mary Manning, of Hillsdale, Mich., and to their union have been born thre children, of whom two are still living-Barbara L. and William G. In 1866, he located on the farm of 100 acres where he now has his resi- dence, and which is well cultivated and improved with comfortable and substantial buildings, surrounded with everything that tends to make home pleasant and enjoyable. In politics, he affiliates with the Demo- cratic party.
GEORGE W. McFARLAND is a native of Frederick County, Va., and was born January 1, 1803. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and the fourth of twelve children born to Leven and Sarah (Bonecutter) McFarland. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in the war of the Revolution, and his father served in the war of 1812. George W. came to this State in 1831, and for nine years resided in Muskingum County, where for six years he followed his trade as cooper. He subsequently moved to Knox County ;
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and, in 1849, settled in that part of Williams which afterward became Fulton County. In 1854, he came to this township, and located on the farm where he now resides. He was married, July 2, 1831, to Sarah A. Jennings, also a native of Frederick County, Va., and to their union have been born eleven children, seven of whom are still living, viz. : Charles J., John W., Abram F., Elmore, Newton, Mrs. Sarah Eley and Mrs. Elmira Ziggler. Of these, Charles J. and John W. were gallant soldiers during the late war, and took part in a number of desperate engagements. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and are among the most highly respected families of the township.
WILLIAM PAGE was born in Sussex, England, November 27, 1820. His parents William and Martha (Eason) Page,. were English, and their family consisted of nine children. William Page came to Cana- da in 1840, where he purchased a farm of fifty acres. In the fall of 1852, he came to Mill Creek Township, and bought forty acres of land, subsequently adding forty acres more, and now owns a rich and finely im- proved farm of eighty acres, with good buildings, which he has acquired by his own energy and perseverance. The parents emigrated to this country in 1860; came to Williams County, making their home with their children until their death. Mr. William Page was for a long time identi- fied with the Republican party, but subsequently became a Greenbacker. November, 19, 1847, he married Miss Sarah Wilson, a native of Vermont, and their family of five children are all living in this township, viz. : Mrs. Sarah Shaffer, Mrs. Maria Kuney, George O., Mary E. and William. Mr. Page is a member of Hamer Grange, No. 606. He enlisted in 1864, in the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served until the close of the war.
JOSEPH REASONER was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., January 31, 1814, and was the eldest of eight children of Talmond and Desire (Burdick) Reasoner, both of Dutchess County, N. Y. He passed his earlier years in his native State, farming and working on the Erie Canal. In 1837, he came with his parents to this township, and settled on 160 acres, and was, of course, one of the earliest pioneers in this part of the county. January 10, 1839, he married Catherine Welden, of Montgomery County, N. Y., and to their union were born four children, two of whom are still living-Mrs. Catherine Repp, of Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio, and Mrs. Matilda Barber, of Dimondale, Eaton Co., Mich. Mrs. Reasoner died May 3, 1844, and September 16, 1864, Mr. Reas- oner married Leah Lavely, of Holmes County, Ohio. To this union six children have been born, viz. : Frances C., William T. S., George H. T., Albert E., Dora E. and Mercy I. In politics, Mr. Reasoner is a Repub- lican, and he has filled many offices, among which have been those of
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County Commissioner, Justice of the Peace (for twenty-four years), Town- ship Trustee, Assessor, Infirmary Director, etc. In 1875, he removed to and settled on the farm of 120 acres in Fulton County, where he now lives.
JACOB REASONER, son of Talmond and Desire (Burdick) Reason- er, of Dutchess County, N. Y., was born in Yates County, N. Y., Janu- ary 18, 1826. In 1837, his parents came to this township, and with them he lived until 1852, when he became proprietor of the West Unity House, at West Unity, Brady Township, this county. This he soon abandoned, and in 1854 went to Adrian, Mich., where for two years he worked in the machine shops, and then moved to Eaton County, Mich., where he settled on the eighty acre farm he at present occupies. He was married January 2, 1847, to Amelia B. Gerver, of Richland County, Ohio, who bore him one child-William H. His wife died September 9, 1848, and September 9, 1852, he married Jane E. Wilson, of Adrian, Mich. To this union were born four children, of whom three are living -Edgar J., William E. and Cora A. Mr. Reasoner is a Republican in politics, is a member of the United Brethren Church, and a valuable member of the community in which he has cast his lot.
W. M. SEVRENCE is a native of the Empire State, and was born in Jefferson County December 28, 1815. He was the eldest of the eight children of his parents, David and Esther (Knapp) Sevrence, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. His parents removed to Huron County, Ohio, when W. M. was but four years of age, three years after to Seneca County, and shortly after to Crawford, where he grew to man- hood. In 1835, his parents moved to Fulton County, where W. M. re- mainel employed on his father's farm until twenty-six years of age. In 1842, he located on eighty acres for himself, where he stayed until the spring of 1850, when he purchased and settled on 160 acres in Mill Creek Township, which has since been the home of himself and family. Mr. Sevrence was married February 18, 1839, to Miss Elizabeth For- man, of Delaware County, N. Y., and ten children have been born to this union, viz. : John K., William H., Mrs. Delia C. Persons, Mrs. Annice A. Stahl, Mrs. Phebe E. Bachman, David W., Mrs. Jessie C. Bachman, now living, and George E., Luther E. and Mrs. Sarah E. Johnson, deceased. Mr. Sevrence has always identified himself with the Republicans, and in earlier days held the office of Township Trustee.
ISAAC SHAEFFER is a native of the " Hoosier " State, and was born in Wayne County November 26, 1846, the sixth child of nine of Abraham and Elizabeth (Gerry) Shaeffer, natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Ohio. His parents removed to De Kalb County, Ind., when he was but two years of age; Mr. Shaeffer received a liberal education,
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and was for three years a student at Wolcottville Seminary, and a year at the North western College at Plainfield, Ill., adding to his means by teaching winters. In 1874, Mr. Shaeffer went into the furniture busi- ness at Wolcottville, where he remained four years, when he sold out and spent two years traveling for a Cleveland firm. In 1880, he opened a drug store at Hamilton, Ind., and in September, 1881, removed to Al- vordton, being one of the first merchants to locate in this promising little place. Mr. S. has made a thorough and conscientious study of his pro- fession, and intends to follow the business through life. He joined his fortunes with Miss Alindia Eagley, at La Grange, Ind., December 29, 1872. Mrs. Shaeffer is the mother of two children, viz. : John H. and Ulysses E. She is a native of Erie County, Penn., and a member of the Evangelical Association. Mr. Shaeffer was formerly a member of the Republican party, but since the formation of the Greenback party has been identified with their interests.
JACOB SHANEOUR is the son of David and Lydia Shaneour and was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 10, 1837. In 1857. he ac- companied his parents to Hillsdale County, Mich., where he resided until 1878, when he removed to this township and purchased his present farm, which is rich in soil and improved with substantial buildings. January 27, 1863, he married Elizabeth Hershberger, of Stark County, Ohio, and to this marriage have been born five children, viz. : Martha C., Lydia A., Jesse, Salina and Mina. Several years ago, Mr. Shaneour entered the ministry of the German Baptist Church in which he has ever since been an earnest and prominent worker, and is fully recognized by his fellow-townsmen as an intelligent and upright man.
MORRIS H. SMITH (deceased) was a native of Pennsylvania, born December 26, 1818, and son of John and Jane (Hamilton) Smith. who were the parents of ten children, all born in the State named above. In early youth Morris H. came to this State with his parents, who located in Cuyahoga County at first, but moved thence, in 1835, to Richland County. Here Morris was married, November 25, 1853, to Sarah A. Gault, who was born in Warren County, N. Y., July 15, 1832. Her father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and belonged to Argyle, N. Y .: her mother was born in Rutland County, Vt. They were parents of nine children, and with them moved to Richland County, where Mrs. Smith was chiefly reared. The last named, by her marriage with Mr. Smith, became the mother of five children, viz., H. W., of Colorado; Harry C., of Kansas ; Malcolm G., Ruth M. (deceased), and Frank H. In 1854, the family moved to this township, where Mr. Smith died, November 11, 1864, his widow still surviving him. In youth, both Mr. and Mrs. Smith received a good academic education, and for twenty-two years Mr. Smith
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