History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 53

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 53

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" The good man lays his hand upon the skies And bids the world roll on, nor heeds Its idle way."

Mi. Moody was married February 17, 18.je, and bad five children, thece sons and two daughters, all of whom survive. Mis. Moody, his widow, and most of her family. reside in the village of Savannah, Ashland county.

HISTORY OF ASBLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

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REV. JOHN ROBINSON, D. D.,

was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Harkness) Robin- son, of Westinoreland county, Pennsylvania. His grand- parents-James Robinson and his wife, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and William Harkness and his wife, of Westmorelind county, Pennsylvania-all immi- grated to this country from the north of Ireland, about the year 1765. He is, therefore, of Scotch-Irish descent. He was born January 27, 1814, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. When about two years of age his parents removed to Stark county, Ohio, settling about seven miles south of where Massillon now stands. Thus, when he was eight years old his father died, and four years afterward, his mother, with her three sons, of whom he was the oldest, one having died meantinie, returned to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. During the five following years he labored as a hired farm hand, to help in the maintenance of the family in the summer time, and attended school each winter. When he was seven- teen years of age he went to Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio, as an apprentice to the tin plate business. His employers were Presbyterians, and as his carly training had been in the Associate Reformed church, he readily formed the habit of attending the Presbyterian church, joined the Sabbath school, and, under the labors of the pastor, Rev. John Mc Arthur, soon united with the church. When about half of his time as an apprentice had ex- pired, his employers ceased business and gave him his in- denture. He at once obtained employment at his trade for so much of his time as was needful to earn his food and clothing, spending the rest of his time in study, under the instruction of his pastor. His studies were directed with a view to the gospel ministry. This he continued until he completed the ordinary college curriculum as far as the close of the junior year. Then he entered Frank- lin college, located at New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio, and graduated there in October, 1837. He im- mediately went to the Western Theological seminary at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Here be remained three terms, not attending the fourth terin, which was the pre- scribed course, because of his suffering from a slight bronchial affection.

He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presby- tery of Steubenville, April 8, 1845. ile was at once engaged to supply the pulpits of the adjacent churches of Corinth aud Monroeville, the forr.er in the eastern edge of Carroll county, the latter in the northwestern corner of Jefferson county, Chio. From these churches he received a call for permanent settienient as pastor in the fall of that year, and on the second day of March, iStr, he was ordained to the full work of the ministry and installed as pastor of those churches by the Presby- tery. On the twenty-second day of October, 184to, he married Miss Mary W. Willson, daughter of William Willson, Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had a prosperous pastorate of nearly three years in this field. In the autman of 1843 he was invited to take charge of the Presbyterian church of Ashland. He removed to Ashland and commenced labor there on the Great Sab- bath of February, 1844. In April following he received

a formal call to the pastorate of that church, and in June was installed as pastor by the presbytery of Rich- land. In that charge he still remains near the close of the thirty-second year of his labor. The membership of the First Presbyterian chuich has been greatly in- creased under his pastorship, and now numbers nearly three hundred. The exemplary life of the pastor, added to his care for his flock, has aided in bringing about so desirable a result. He is a pleasant speaker, and well versed on theological topics. As a scholar, his attain- ments are of a high order. In June, 1871, the honorary degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by Washington and Jefferson college, Pennsylvania. By long service in the ministry, accomplished scholarship, and a profound knowledge of theology, he had fairly won his promotion. He is now in fair health, and may survive many years to carry out the great mission upon which he entered in early life.

His family consists of his wife and eight children. One is not. Five are sons and three were daughters. John F., the oldest, resides in Mankato ; William W., the second, James A., the fifth, and Etta B., the sixth, reside in Cleveland ; Henry M., the third, at home ; Samuel N., the fourth, in Dakota ; Mary E. in Van Wert, Ohio ; all of whom have had good educational advantages and training.

WILLIAM A. G. EMERSON

was born near Alexandria, Virginia, July 12, 1816. He grew to marhood in Fairfax county, Virginin. In IS36 he came to Ohio, having married Miss Catharine Atkins in 1835, when he was but nineteen years of age. His father, Rev. Richard Dumont Emerson, had preceded him to Ohio, and exercised great influence over him. In the meantime his father had connected as a minister with the Lutheran church. William, although from boy- hood a member of the Methodist church, and recently licensed as a local preacher, was urged also to unite with the Lutheran church, which he finally did in 1845. He evinced a talent that at once attracted attention, and was soon employed to preach at Bridgeport, Wayne county. and from thence, about 1547, came to Ashiand, Ohio, and was employed to preach at the Lutheran church, a littie frame, on the corner of Third and Orange streets. He was then thirty-one years okl, and possessed all the enthusiasm of youth, and an imagination and zeal that glowed with fervid eloquence. We remember, right well. his appearance in the pulpit. He attracted a great deal of attention, and exerted a wonderful power as a young bur gifted minister in the Lutheran church. It will be remembered that inany of the leading young lawyers --- General John S. Fulton, Professor John Rankia, james Sloan, and many of the brightest students from the old academy, were accustomed to crowd into the little frame church on the comer. on Sunday evenings, to hear the eloquent young preacher. This little church had been purchased from the Universalists about iste, and the membership was quite feeble. In a few years such bad

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

been its increase in members under the preaching of this remarkable young man, that the place of meeting had to be changed, and resulted in the erection of the present church on Third street, which was built in :852. Mr. Emerson laid aside his tobes, and toiled like a day laborer to secure the completion of the church. His salary was small, yet he contributed, in toil and money, as much as many wealthy members toward the work. Often have we seen him with one horse and wagon, clothed like a laborer, engaged in hauling bricks and mortar for the work. It went rapidly forward, and in due time was ded- icated.

Soon after, for some unknown reason, he was permit- ted to engage his ministerial services to the congregation at Wooster, where he remained until 1854. In 1855 he removed to Hayesville, where he preached about one year, and was then employed by the congregation at Mt. Zion, Richland county, where he remained until 1859, and then preached one year at Newville. From thence he went to Independence and Bellville until 1861, when he returned to Ashland, where he was appointed chap- lain of the One Hundred and Twentieth regiment of Ohio independent militia, and was at Vicksburgh, Missis- sippi, during the winter of 1862-3, and in consequence of enfeebled health, returned to Ashland, and in the fall of 1863, was elected probate judge of Ashland county. His election was contested, and early in 1864 the court awarded the office to the contestant. The contestor and contestant have now removed the case to that court where neither judge nor jury err, and where equal and exact justice will be awarded all men.

In 1855-56 he remained in Ashland, frequently preaching to his friends in various parts of the county. In 1866 he was employed by the Lutheran congregation at Brookville, near Dayton, as their pastor, and remained there about two years. In 1868 he removed to Flor- ence, Kentucky, and connected with the Methodist con- ference of that part of the State, and was assigned to a circuit, where he preached two years. In 1869-70 he prcached upon a circuit at Germantown. In IS70 he was assigned a circuit at Bryantsville for one year, and, at the expiration of that time, removed to Mercer, where he remained until 1872, and, in 1873, was sent to a sta- tion at Augusta, where he labored two years, and, in 1875, worn down with hard work, enfeebled in health, and much discouraged, he returned to Ashland, where he made his home at the residence of his favorite daughter, Irene, and son-in-law, Mr. Daniel Folk, where he died on Tuesday, November 11, 1879, of acute pneumonia, aged sixty-three years and five months. Mrs. Folk and her husband did all they could to render his situation comfortable, peaceful, and pleasant. He passed away without a struggle, so calnily, sitting upon a chair and resting his head upon the back of another, that it was some moments before it was noticed that he had departed. He looked so natural that it was difficult to realize that he slept not. In his last conversations, he expressed a readiness for the change. The case was indeed a sad one. His whole life had been full of turmoil, disap- pointments and hardships. The storm is now over, and

he has gone home, where critics and censorious people can no longer add a pang to his grief. God is just and will reward.

Mr. Emerson was not well adapted to the accumula- tion and retention of wealth. The science of finance was no part of his study. He had not a venal breath in his whole nature. He was genial, and moved by the warmest impulses. In his address he was carnest and amiable. He loved his friends and treated all men kindly and courteously. . He spoke truly to the poor, and never shunned them in their distress. In his last days his wardrobe was greatly neglected. Naturally fastidious and tidy in his dress, he felt this apparent neglect most keenly, and had nearly disappeared from a curious pub- lic. He was unable to toil as a common laborer, and too much prostrated physically and mentally, to labor in the pulpit ; in his extreme sensitiveness and humiliation, he

said to the writer, a short time before his decease: " I am very poor-have always been poor. I never had money to give the rich. I always labored for the poor, and when my work is done, I hope, like the poor man mentioned in Sacred Writ, I may find a place of rest in the paradise of God." He was naturally hopeful and buoy- ant in spirit, and every expression of cheerfulness and genialty was criticised and turned to his injury. This was all wrong. True, a minister should be careful and guarded in his intercourse and conversation, but we are too apt to be severe in our criticisms. A preacher is but a man, and often has to govern his own frailties. It is certainly proper that a minister cultivate a cheerful, hopeful, and sprightly habit, casting aside the gloomy de- portment of the hermit. His usefulness largely depends upon his friendliness, sympathy, and his cheerfulness. The Saviour did not hesitate to dine and associate with sinners. He did so because he could the better impress his character and teachings upon his hearers. Many re- markable teachers have been crushed or pushed into ob- scurity by a fault-finding and captious public.

Mr. Emerson had none of the early advantages of collegiate training, neither was hc permitted to spend years of study in some theological seminary. Nature had done all for him. He was endowed with fine abili- ty, and an uncommon versatility in the use of words. He never hesitated, even during the glowing flights of imagination, for words to fitly, fully, and elegantly ex- press his ideas. When addressing an audience, the spirit of genius awakened his whole countenance. Tall in person, spare in form, with a voice musical and impressive, and great earnestness and energy in the de- livery of his discourses, he always spoke with the utmost effect. He threw such a force and power into his ser- mons, that the magic of his address seemed to chestrify the hearer as if touched by sacred fire. His clear, strong voice and energetic manner carried an audience along, and moved it to pity or thoughtfulness. He was sympa thetic in manner, and clothed his words in beautiful images, and painted to the mind and bet the wonder ful majesty and goodness of the Supreme Father of all. Large audiences crowded to hear him in the South, and the presence of so many faces seemed to electrify bit,

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and call forth his wonderful powers as a pulpit orator. He is gone, and we shall never hear his eloquent voice again. He has gone home until the summing up of all things. It will be a long time before the impress of his preaching will fail to be remembered in this and other communities.

Mr. Emerson was of French descent, and possessed many of the genial traits of that most polite and remark- able people. He had eight children, four boys and four girls, all grown and married.

His friends secured him a nice metallic case, in which his body now reposes, in the Lutheran cemetery let. A funeral discourse was delivered at the church by Re :. Wilhelm, and brief addresses made by Revs. John Rob- inson, Miller and Moody, after which he was conducted by Captain Finger and company to the cemetery, and buried with military honors, Thursday afternoon, No- vember 13, 1879.

MR. ENOCH TAYLOR

was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, May 21, 1793. In his youth he served an apprenticeship at the trade of ? shoemaker .* He married in his native county, in April, 1814, and removed to Ruggles township, Huron county, Ohio, in 1828. He erected a cabin north of the corners. in the midst of a dense forest. He cut away the trees in the vicinity of the cabin, and made a garden for veg- etables. When he entered the township there were but about a dozen families in it. Wild game was quite plenty, so much so, that he often shot deer in the vicini- ty of his cabin. Wild turkeys were uncommonly numer- ous, and fed upon beach-nuts and acorns. Wild hogy often approached the cabin. He obtained his meal and flour from a mill in the vicinity of Savannah, often carry- ing a few pecks of corn along the paths on his shoulders. Like his pioneer neighbors, he underwent, for many years, all the hardships incident to the early settlement of this county. When he erected his first cabin there were few to aid him. The settlement of the township at that time was greatly embarrassed by eastern speculators, who owned and refused to part with the lands at a fair price. Mr. Taylor, in his lifetime, expressed the opinion that he had made the fust pair of boots in the center of the township. He followed his trade for many years, in connection with the cultivation of a small farm, and by the joint result of both occupations raised and educated his family. In person he was of medium size, pale, nervous and full of genuine Yankee vivacity. He could not resist the perpetration of a joke even to the last. He was a man of excellent habits. He had been a member of the Congregational church for a long series of years, and adhered with tauch firmness to its doctrines. In 18;5 he lost the wife of his youth, with whom he had lived over half a century in great happiness. In September, 1875, he attended and became a member of the Pioneer and Historical society of Ashland county, and expressted

inach gratification over the organization af such a socie. ty. He was then in feeble health, and expressed the opinion that he would never meet the pioneers again. lie died of general debility, February 15, 18;6. His family consisted of two sons, Clark Taylor, of Iowa, and George Taylor, of Ruggles, who resides on the old home- stead, and two girls, Sarah, wife of James Grinold, of Kuggles, and Mary, wife of Argalious Peck, now deceased.

JACOB HELBERT

was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1794. His parents were of German descent. During his youth he attended a German school in his native county, and became a fair scholar in that language, which he talked fluently. In 1814, in September, he volunteered to serve in the war against Great Britain, He entered a company commanded by Captain George Hartman, and was stationed about twenty-five miles northwest of Philadelphia. He saw no active service. In December, 1814, he was discharged and returned home. He now (1876) draws a pension of ninety-six dollars per annum for his services during the war of 1812. In :312 he married in his native county. His wife was two years his senior, and survived until 1872, when she deceased at the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. Helbert removed to Mohican township, Wayne, now Ashland, county, in 1835, and located adjoining the vil- lage of Mohicanville, where he purchased a farm. In connection with his enterprise as a farmer, he engaged in selling dry goods in the village, for a number of years. He now resides with a daughter -- Mrs. Wachtell --- and is quite frail in body, though his memory of the past is quite perfect. He is an upright citizen; a conscientious and courteous old gentleman, and much respected by all his acquaintances. His family consisted of eight sons, Jacob, Michael, Peter, Henry, Levi, Edmond, John, and one deceased; and five daughters: Mrs. John Newman, Mrs. Charles Cosner, Mrs. Henry Wachtell, and two de- ceased. His children all reside within the liaits of Ashland county, and are noted for their industry and in- telligence.

ABRAHAM DOTY

was born in West Virginia, in 1779, and in 1816, re- moved with his family to Milton township, Richland (now Ashland,) county, where he located a farm, and remained eight years, and then sold and located a larger tract, which he improved and remained upon until his decease, in :843. He was one of the pioneer Presby- terians of Milton township, and assisted in the organiza- tion of "old Hopewell church," of which he became an elder and leading member.

At his decease . his family consisted of James Doty, the first sheriff of Ashland count;, Peer, Elizbeth. John. Joseph, Martha, Jackson, Samuel, Mary, Sarah. and Jane. They are all living but Sarah, who n urnd Joseph Hill, of Hayesville.

"Mr. Taylor served three years in the war of 1012, in Correctas it when about nineteen years of age.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

Joseph Doty was born in West Virginia, Angust 2, 1812, and accompanied his father's family to Milton in 1816. In :835 be purchased his homestead in Mifflin township; and in 1838, married Rachel Lambright, daughter of John Lambright, who had located in Mifflin township prior to the Ruffuer-Zimmer-Copus tragedies in I812.

The family of Joseph Doty consists of six girls and three boys, all of whom survive but one girl, the wife of Joseph Staffer, of Ashland; and are all located in Ash- land county, but two married daughters, who reside in Indiana. The Doty family have long been attached to the Presbyterian faith.

Mr. Doty has creditably filled several township offices, but prefers the plain life of a farmer to the duties and criticisms of a public officer. He has been a life-long Democrat.

REV. WILLIAM HUGHES,

of Green township, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1802. He attended a pri- mary school and academy, at Darlington, and gradu- ated at Jefferson college, Cannonsburgh, Pennsylvania, and studied theology at Princeton, New Jersey, and was licensed to preach June 24, 1829. He came west in August, and, having preached a few trial discourses in September, 1829, it was arranged for him to preach steadily at Perrysville, and in Lake town- ship, now in Ashland county. He occupied the pulpit, in Perrysville, from 1329 to November 17, 1866, a period of over twenty seven years. He retired in conse- quence of failing health. He is now disabled by chronic rheumatism. During his pastorate, at Perrysville, he preached at several places in the south part of this county; some of them statedly, on Sabbath evenings ard week days.

When he settled in Green township, in 1829, there were no church buildings in either Green, Hanover, or Lake townships. The larger part of that territory was then covered with a primitive forest, unbroken, save where were found the scattered cabins of the pioneers. The preachers of that era niet their congregations in the cabins of the new settlers, or in log school- houses. Mr. Hughes has lived to see the forests leveled, and hundreds of farins opened and improved where wild game resorted forty years ago. The sons of the pioneers have productive farms and fine improvements, and com- fortable residences, and are blessed with abundance. Great has been the change. Dozens of school-houses, Heat and comfortably furnished, are now to be seen, where fifty years before the red man had scarcely ceased to hutuit. Then there were no churches. Now we und one Methodist, one Presbyterian, one German Reformed, and two Baptist churches.in Green; and one Methodist, one Baptist, one Presbyterian, one German Reformed, and one Catholic church, in Hanover; and one Lutherar, one Presbyterian, and one German Reformed in Lake; in the aggregate, containing several hundred members.

Mr. Hughes now resides on bis farm in the vicinity of what is known as Meanor's mill, on the Loudonville road, in the east part of Green township, where, when not engaged in the active service of his congregation, he performed, for many years, a good deal of manual labor in the improvement of his farm. He is very comfortably situated.

He was married in 1830, and has had seven children, six boys, and one girl. Of the sons, one is a farmer, the other a physician, three are ministers; and an only daughter, the wife of a minister. The others are de- ceased.

It will be seen, therefore, that Mr. Hughes can be congratulated upon his effort to educate and prepare his children for usefulness. Few men have accomplished as much. He died in July, 1880.

JOSEPH SHEETS

was born in New Jersey, about thirty miles below Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1792, and came to Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, about 1806, where he worked at his trade as tailor for seven or eight years. He came to Uniontown, now Ashland, in 1817, and was among the earliest tailors in the place. About the time of his location, he married Miss Nancy Harper, daughter of William Harper, who removed from Steu- benville in 1815, and settled in Vermillion township, then of Richland, but now of Ashiand county, where he remained with his family until 1832, when he was unfortunately killed by his team, while hauling wheat to Milton, near Plymouth, aged sixty-eight years. Mr. Sheets survived until March 6, 1866, when he died,aged about seventy-four years. At his decease, he had the following family: Elizabeth, Joseph (dead), Willians, Mariah, Martha, Samuel, Alfred (deed), Mary and Sa- rah. Mrs. Sheets still survives. She was born in Fait- fax county, Virginia, Tune is, 1796, and is over eighty- four years old, and yet possesses a clear intellect, and is quite active for one of her age. Mr. Sheets originally owned the eighty acres of land upon which South Ash- land was laid out.

Mrs Sheets lives on the south margin of town, where a large number of the old settlers of Ashland and vicin- ity assembled, to celebrate her eighty-fourth birthday. The old lady had been kindly invited by Mrs. Judge Kenny, to spend the afternoon with her, tea included; and while the time was passing, ladies assembled in multitudes, took possession of her house, and like busy bees went to work preparing supper. Ere Mother Sheets was aware of what was being done, all was ready, and the good old lady invited back to her own house, to be entertained there. The attendance was large, num- bering, perhaps, nearly one hundred. Besides a large number of her friends and neighbors of the long ago, in the pioneer age, many of ber present neighbors were there to share in the festivities, as well as to do her benot by their presence and encouragement. Mother Sheets came to this county in IS17, and wais, of course, one of

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

the earliest settlers of Montgomery township. The ta- bles were furnished abundantly with all the good things that the market supplied, and the ladies maintained their well deserved reputation, which has become pro- verbial for excelling the world in the getting up of choice viands.

Mr. John Harper, of Vermillion, one of the oldest settlers of that township, and brother of Birs. Sheets, was present, and although he bears the burden of ninety years, still appears hale and hearty. He came to Ver- million in 1816. Mrs. Polly Strickland, widow of Jo- seph Strickland, was also present ; a fine appearing lady who bears the weight of seventy-five years well. Francis Graham, esq., ex-president of the Pioneer association, of Ashland county, was present, and although somewhat feeble, and carrying cighty-eight years, was still able to do justice to a well-filled table, and without doubt hopes to live many years, and enjoy many another agreeable meeting with old friends. Many others were there also, old and venerable, their gray hans and wrinkled visages showed them to be toilers of years; and though aged they still had not forgotten how to enjoy themselves. Among the ladies a list was obtained of names and ages, but some, being so much older than any one dared to dream, while others were so much younger than hope ever whispered, it is deemed best not to publish the list without unanimous consent. It may not be best to individualize when al' did so well, or tel! tales out of school, still it was a warm day, and Mr. McNulty's ice- cream tasted so good that it cannot well be avoided in this instance.

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History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 53

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros Publication date: 1880 Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams Number of Pages: 896

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams
Number of Pages: 896