History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 54

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 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mrs. Sheets desires that. her thanks be. publicly ex- pressed to her friends and neighbors for their kindness and thoughtfulness in remembering her in the loneliness of age, and that her blessings will follow them in their journey of life, and that it will be long remembered as an cpoch in her life.

Rev. Persons introduced Rev. Dr. Robinson, who closed the services with prayer.

Thus has passed another of our profitable and inter- esting pic-nic sociables, and it is hoped they will continue to be held from time to time, as long as a single pioneer is left.

REV. THOMAS BEER

was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1807. His father removed to Allegheny county the same year, and settled on a farm on the north side of the Ohio river, on which the flourishing town of Sewickley now stands, twelve miles below the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until his twenty-third year. He enjoyed the advantages of a common school education, such as it was, In 1823 he commenced a classical course of study at an academy in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania In 1825 he entered the Western university of Pennsyla- nia, gradmiing in 15-7, with a chiss composed of seven. all of whom afterward became ministers of the gospel. In the fidl of the same year he, with three other young

men, entered the Western Theological seminary of the Presbyterian church, located in Allegheny City. M. Beer's name stands at the head of the roll, and he is the only survivor of the class. Leaving the seminary in the fall of 1830, under the auspices of the Home Missionary society of the Presbyterian church, he took charge of four small churches in the northwestern portion of Wayne county, Ohio. A few years later his labors were given to the two churches, Congress and Mt. Hope. From the spring of 1834 until 1859 he resided at Mt. Hope, Wayne county, now Ashland county. In the fall of IS59 he located on a farm three iniles southwest of Ashland, where he still resides. In 1861 he took charge of the Presbyterian church in Jeromeville, where he labored until near the close of :871, since which time, on ac- count of the infirmities of age, he has had no parochia! charge.

His family consisted of thirteen children, two of whom died -in infancy -- eleven lived to maturity. Dr. John Cameron, deceased 1865; Rev. Robert, of Valparaiso, Indiana; Judge Thomas, of Bucyrus, Ohio; Adeline, an in- valid; Asbbel G. who lost a leg in the battle of Stone River, and for several years post-master at Ashland, and at this writing engaged as hardware merchant in Ashland; Hemy M., lieutenant, and now physician at Valparaiso, Indi- ana; James A. died at Cumberland Gap; Willam N., captain, attorney at law, lowa deceased in 1874 ; Charles E., deceased 1864; Richard C. and Mary L.

Feeling that his own education had been deferred tou long, Mr. Beer has been assiduous in educating his fami- ly. The result is very gratifying. His children, apon arriving at the age of maturity, have entered upon the business of life with energy, and have attracted the good opinion of the public because of their integrity, efficiency and manhood.

JOHN ROBISON

was born june 16, 1791, in what was then Chester county, Pennsylvania, and upon arriving at the age of manhood married Miss Mary Hawk, who died in Pennsylvania about 1831. Mr. Robison came to Montgomery township about 1834, with his children, and stopped at the resi- dence of David Robison, sr., his father. Soon after his arrival, July 4, 1836, Michael Ritter got up and prepared a dinner in Carter's grove, east of Ashland some two miles, where the youthful Lorin Andre's was the orator of the day. Mr. Ritter kept a hotel at that time where Fadey's now stands. Mr. Robison was a carpenter by trade, and made paterns, etc., for the Penn foundry, in Northumber- land, now Union county, Pennsylvania, where he was em- ployed for many years. David Robison his father, came to Montgomery township in isz1, and died in 1843, ayed about eighty years, and his wife about 1847, aged about eighty four years. David Robison, jr., who served as justice of Montgomery township, removed to Indiana white he died many years ago. His family consisted of Wallace, Wilson, Willard, Fernandez, Hamman, Lucia, Autilla and Rebecca.

222

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

His death resulted from a fall at the hardware store of Messrs. Stull & Charles, of Ashland, about the third of May 18So. The old gentleman was desirous of being weighed and passed into the store room with Mr. Charles to learn his weight, stating that he felt unusually well that morning, and on reaching the stairway stumbled and fell heavily upon the floor, striking his shoulder and frac- curing it. He was rendered immediate assistance, and the injury dressed, when he was taken home, where he remained in a feeble condition until his death. He did not seem to rally from his wound, but did not appear to suffer much from it, and died on the evening of June 10, 1880.

At the time of his death Mr. Robison's surviving chil- dren were Percifer and Hannah.

He retained a fine memory to the last, and knew his friends at each visit. He was an honest, upright man, and always noted for punctuality and prompt dealing among bis neighbors. We believe that he was respected by all, and had no enemies in the world. May he rest in peace.

HUGH DAVIS

was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1802, and died in Ashland, Ohio, June 13, 1876, aged seventy-four years.

Martha S. Davis was born in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, December 12, 1803, and died at Ashland, Ohio, April 8, 1870, aged sixty six years, three months, and twenty-four days.

Hugh Davis came to Knox county, Ohio, about 1820, and returned to Pennsylvanin in 1821, where he com- pleted the trade of tanner, after which he married Martha S. Morrow, in 1829, and returned to Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, and lived some months, working for James Loverage and Samuel Trimble, at the tanning business, and about 1829, located in Ashland upon the property now owned by Justus W. Davis, his son. He erected and carried on a tan house upon this lot, commencing business about 1830. Himself and the late George Swineford were the only tanners in the vil- lage. Mr. Swineford had purchased the property of George Croft, where the machine works of D. Whiting are now located, and carried on business, while Mr. Davis, as a rival, erected property on the east end of Main street.

The family of Mr. Davis consisted of Morrow H., Lester Finley, Justus Wilson, Sylvester Curtis, Josephine Agnes, Ilgar Vanleer, and Martha Estelle. The two girls are dead. The boys are all living and married.

Justas W. was born April 13, 1833, in Ashland county, and married Miss Catharine Jane Trimble, of Carlisk;, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas Trimble, November 11, 1857, at Mount Vernon, Ohio. Their children are : Horace Urie, Thomas Trimble, and Mary Ellen.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis were originally members of the old Hopewell Presbyterian church, and, upon its sale and transfer to the Catholics, never united with the First church.

JOHN SWINEFORD

was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1795. His father, Peter Swineford, located with his family in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1807, and remained there until 1819, when he removed to Mont- gomery township, then in Richland, but now in Ashland county, and settled one mile and a half southeast of Ashland, then Uniontown. In February, 1823, Mr. Swineford married May, daughter of the late Jacob Young, and having erected a cabin, commenced to im- prove his farm. He remained on the homestead until 1$57, when he moved into Ashland, where he now resides. Mr. Swineford gives the following statistics :

The first grist-mill in Montgomery township, one mile north of Ash- land, by Thomas Oram, in spring of 1816.

First saw-mill, two miles from Ashland, in SHilton township, by Al- len Lockhart.

First church, Methodist Episcopal, at Eckley's, now Smith's mills, in Vermillion township, 1819, and Old Hopewell, in Milton, 1817.

First dry goods store in Uniontowa. Joseph Sheets, succeeded by Franc's Graham.

First blacksmith, Ludwick Cline, on Wooster road, two miles east of Ashland.

First cabinet-maker and undertaker, the late Alexander Miller.

First carding-machine, stood where Smiths' mill now is in Vermil- lion township. built by Andrew Newman; the next by the late Andrew and Uriah Drenub, in Ashland.

The first tannery stood where Whitingsagricultural works now stand. buik by John Croft, and subsequently owned by the late George Swineford.

The first wagon-shop, where Barkholder's saw-mill now stands, and was owned by Henry Wachtell.

The first blacksmith in Ashland was the late Samuel Urie.

The second cabinet-maker in Ashland, the late Jacob Grubb.

The family of Peter Swineford, father of John, con- sisted of George, John, Anthony, Samuel, and A. C. Swineford. They are all deceased, except John and Abram C., who reside in Ashland. Peter Swinetord, sr., died January 30, 1849, aged seventy-eight years, and Samuel died January 13, 1862, aged sixty-two years. The family of John Swineford consisted of Abraham (dead), Lib (dead), Hannah, Mary, Nancy, and Austin. The family of Samuel Swineford consisted of Luther, Alfred P., James, Curtis, Sarah, Elsa, Jane and Emily.

HULBERT LUTHER.

He was born in Lancsborough, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 14, 18og, and attended the com- mon schools of the neighborhood until he was fifteen years of age. In 1825, he emigrated to Lewis county, New York, and remained there until the spring of 1830, when he emigrated to Ashland, Ohio, where an older brother (Dr. Joel Luther) had located and entered upon the practice of medicine, some fourteen years before.

At that time, Dr. Luther and Jolin P. Rezner were in company in the mercantile business, and Mr. Lother entered their employ as clerk. In 1831, he formet a partnership with John P. Rezner, and continued the same some six of eight years; and dissolved the arrange. nient, and formed a new fim with Jacob Crail, known , Luther & Crall, which continued until r$5 ;. In 1849, the firm established a hardware store, under the

223

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

management of George H. Topping, and the new firm was known as that of H. Luther & Co. In 1851, Luther, Crail & Co. established a bank of deposit and exchange in Ashland, which continued until 1864, when the same stockholders, under a law of Congress, estab- Ished the First National Bank of Ashland, and Mr. Luther became its president, and Jacob O. Jennings, cashier; and retained the position until 1870, when he withdrew his stock, and Jacob O. Jennings became president. At that time, Mr. Luther purchased a farm in Milton township, in this county, and for about five years gave his attention to agriculture. Some time prior he owned and conducted the steam flouring mills of South Ashland, and was one of the principal propri- etors of the woollen factory connected with it. In 187.4. he engaged in the sale of ready-made furniture, and con- tinved to carry on the business until his decease.

For a period of forty-nine years he has been actively engaged as a business man in Ashland. When he arrived it was a mere village. His business career, and his bearing as a citizen, have been influential and honorable. He has done as much as any other citizen to promote the growth and prosperity of the place. He was for a long time postmaster of the town, and was very influen- tial in securing the location of the county-seat at this point. At a period when the markets were distant, and the transportation of the surplus products of the coun try exceedingly expensive, be paid the farmers and pro. ducers liberally for their products. In this respect, the interests of the farming portion of the community were promoted, and those of the merchant enhanced. In habits, Mr. Luther was retired, and, though reserved in manner, in conversation he was fluent and agreeable.

Though chronically dyspeptic, he was regarded as a well preserved man of his age, and his prospects of long life were thought to be fair. His sudden demise, unex- pected, enables us to realize that in the midst of life we are in death, and what shadows we are and what shad- ows we pursue.

Mr. Luther was an exemplary member of the Disciple or Christian church for a number of years.

Mr. Luther married Miss Lydia E. Wicoff, of Ashland, February 17, 1835. His family consisted of his wife and three children --- Joel H., and two daughters . - Helen, wife of John Holland, of Cleveland; and Emily, wife of Andrew J. Burns, of Ashland.

Mı. Luther died Saturday evening, March 15, 1879, aged seventy years and one day, after a brief illness. The remains of Mr. Luther were deposited in the ceme- tery of Ashland, on Tuesday, March 18, 1879. May he rest in peace.

The circumstances attending the last illness, and de- cease of Mr. Luther, though generally known in this community, may be repeated in this connection. On Saturday, March ist, he had gone into the garden for some purpose, when he found his strength boiling him, and at once attempted a return to the house. Finding he could not succeed in this be called to his daughter, Mrs. Burns, who sat by a window near by. Before that lady could reach bim, however, he had fallen to the

ground, and lapsed into unconsciousness. By the time aid had been summoned, and . his removal to the house had been effected, sensibility returned, and towards evening the heart had resumed its normal condition. From this time until the middle of the following week he gradually tallied, and hopes were entertained of his recovery. But on Thursday he grew rapidly worse, to rally slightly the day following, and to relapse again and pass peacefully away Saturday afternoon. With the ex- ception of one short moment of unconsciousness when he was first stricken, he retained his senses until the last moment, conversing easily with his family and friends until death took him.

THOMAS COLE, SR.,

was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, March 20, 1796." His grandfather, Agailla Cole, came from Eng- land and settled near Baltimore about 1760. After the close of the Revolutionary war, when the lands of Ken- tucky came into market, he started on a journey to that region with the intention of purchasing a large tract of land and fally locating there. On his way through Chio, while traveling along "Zane's trace," from Whee :- ing to the present site of Zanesville, in crossing the main stream of Wills creek, his horse became entangled in driftwood, the stream being full and deep, and he was drowned. His traveling comrades all escaped, and re- covered and buried his remains near where he met his melancholy death. His estate, under the old English law, fell to his oldest son. His sons were Thomas, Eli- jah, Aquilla, Salathiel, Mycagy, and Stephen. They al removed to Kentucky but Thomas and Stephen. Thomas Ginally located in Washington county, Pennsylvania, while Stephen removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, about the year 18og. Stephen was twice married in Marylandi. prier to his removal. He died in Fairfield county, leav- ing the following family: Stephen, Salathiel, Thomas, Charles, who died in infancy, Abraham, Mycagy, John, Eleanor, Mary, Richard, Charles, Wesley, Elijah, and Eliza. Stephen and Thomas came to Jackson township, Wayne county, now Ashland county, in August, 1819. Thomas had married in 1816, and had one child at the time of his removal. On His route from Fairfield he came by Newark, Mount Vernon, Bellville, Creentown. Jeromeville, and over the east port of Montgomery town- ship to the forest home of William Bryan, south of the present site of Polk, where he remained until he and his brother cut a path to section eight, southeast and south- west quarters. When they selected a site for a cabin their wives stitched a number of linen sheets together and a tent was created, in which they lived until the cabia coukl be erected and prepared for occupation. The third day was Sunday, and with the night came a heavy rain. Bis child was sick, and the rain beat through the tent The bed byone wet, and Mr. Co! sat upright with the quilt over his head to jeotert 1's sick child. Fortunately the new morning his child was better. Fie retains a vivid recollection of the fatto

224

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

ductory storin, and his altitude as "center-pole." Sala- thiel, with a team, accompanied them to their wilderness home, and returned to Fairfield by the path he came. When the cabin was raised, Mr. Cole states that most of the hands were from the present vicinity of the village of Orange. He squared his house to the meridian by observing the section line, setting up and plumbing a stake and watching when the sun shadow pointed due north.

Upon his arrival he found the following families in the north half of the township: Rev. John Hazzard, John Mason, Mr. Morton, Thomas Green, Jesiah Lee, Jesse Matthews, Laffer, and James Durfee, and in the south half, Noah Long, Jonas H. Gierhart, James A. Dinsmore, John Jackson, Michael and Matthias Rickel, William Bryan, Charles Hoy, and John Davault. A number of other families arrived during the fall of 1819. Stephen and Thomas Cole brought a number of milch cows and young cattle, and two or three head of horses. A favor- ite mare escaped and attempted to return to Fairfield, but was pursued and captured, after a lively chase of several hours in the south part of the township. Wild grass was abundant in the forest, and cattle thrived upon it. Mr. Cole, by industry, and the assistance of his pioneer neighbors, soon prepared fields for culture. There were no schools or churches at his arrival in the township. Rev. Mr. Hazzard was a gentleman of good English education, and soon volunteered to instruct the children of the pioneers. He resided in the northeast part of the township, on section eleven. In 1822-3 Mr. Hazzard also established the first class of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was leader and teacher. He became a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. The class was established in what has since be- come the village of Perrysburgh-known sometinies as Albion, the name of its post-office. The first class con- tained about ten members; Josiah Lee was at one time a leader. Mr. Cole became a member in 1825, and about 1830, a leader and exhorter, and in i84o was licensed a local preacher and still retains his license. The Rev. Mr. Hazzard died in 1870 and was buried on his homestead. Mr. Cole, and we believe, Mr. Hazzard also, was licensed by that venerable and mia h loved pio- neer minister, Rev. Elmer Yocum. Mr. Cole is now (1876) deprived of his vision, having been afflicted some years with opacity of the crystalline lens, or cataract. His general health is good, and his disposition quite cheerful. Mrs. Cole, his excellent wife, who shared his pioneer toils, deceased May 8, 1870, aged seventy-four. His children are: Thomas Cole, jr .; Elizabeth, wife of Chester C. Matthews; Rebecca, wife of Joseph C. Bolles; Mary, wife of Jacob Plice; Rachel, wife of Isaac Gor- don, deceased, and Ruthie, wife of James Campbell, of Iowa. Mr. Cole has forty-six grandchildren, and twenty- five great-grandchildren. Most of his children reside in Ashland county.

Rev. Thomas Cole died of paralysis, May 1;, 1880, aged eighty-four years, one month, and twenty-seven days.

'This sketch was written in 1876, when Mr Cole was in

fair health. His infirmities of vision gradually grew worse, until his decease on the 17th.

HENRY BROTHERS

was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1804. When a babe, his parents removed to Stark county, this State, where he resided until the year 1827, when he removed to this county. where he resided until his death, making him a resident of Ashland county for over fifty years.

On May 20, 1825, he was married to Miss Mary Duffy. The fruits of this union are eleven children, seven of whom are still living: Nathanici, Mary, Kuth, John, Elizabeth Ann, Ursula. and Franklin. The ones deceased were: Catharine, Hannah, Nancy, and Jonas. They were all born in this county but Nathaniel; and all'that are living are inarried but one, Franklin C.

Mr. Brothers settled in Rowsburg, at a time when there were but one or two houses in the place, as well as in Ashland. At that time Ashland was called Union- town. He used to often recall the many hardships and privations that he, together with others, had to contend with, that the present as well as future generations will never know or experience.

He never professed religion, but always tried to live an upright life. Although he had his faults as well as virtues, and which the human family are all beir to, his friends have the satisfaction to know he enjoyed the re- spect and esteem of those in the community where he resided, and have their sympathy in their sad bereave- ment.

Mr. Brothers died at his late residence, May 14, 18So. We commend his spirit to Him who gave it, and trust his ashes may rest in peace.

WILLIAM RAMSEY

was born in Maryland and removed to Jackson town- ship, Wayne county, in 1823, and has resided in Jackson township about forty seven years. When he located the original settlers were Charles Hoy, John Baker, John Russell, Noah Long, John Jackson, Williva Bryan, Elisha Chilcote, John Tucker, John Davault, John Swaney and Robert Crawford, who owned a horse-mill, and finally went to Missouri. He owns a good farm and has it under fine cultivation, with fine buildings. Mr. Ramsey is now about eighty two years of age.

MICHAEL RIDDLE, SR.,

son of George and Mary Riddle, was born August 21, 1793, in Maryland. His father was of Scotch- frish descent, and his mother was a netive of Maryland, and of Weish descent. His father died and was buried on Crows' Island, when the subject of this sketch was but ten years old; and at the age of sixteen he came into Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and engaged to serve an

225

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

apprenticeship at blacksmithing, with a Mr. Peter Herd- sack, for a term of five years. But a short time before the expiration of said term, and in the fall of 1812, the Ruffner, Zimmer, and Copus assassination on the Black fork of Mohican took place, by the Indians.

Volunteers from western Pennsylvania were called out to defend the border settlers in Ohio. He entered the service as one of the volunteers, for a term of six months, under General Robert Crooks, and passed over the terri- tory now constituting AAshland and Richland counties, en route for Upper Sandusky; was at all the principal points along the rivers and lakes, from Fort Meigs, on the Maumee, to Toledo, Detroit and Cleveland, under General Harrison. He became acquainted with Col. Rich- ard M. Johnston, of Kentucky: and was finally detailed to take charge of the sick on Put-in Bay and South Bass islands, where he remained most of the time for which he had enlisted.

He stood by and saw James Bird shot for deserting Perry's fleet : and in the spring of 1813 he returned to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, worked at his trade, and in the fall, September 11, 1814, married Miss Barbara Ann Franks, daughter of George and Abigail Franks, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. The result of said mar- riage was cleven children, nine sons and two daughters. George W., was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1815; Aaron, born in same county, February 10, 1817. . And in the spring of 1818, be removed with his little family to Applecreek, Wayne county, Ohio, at which place his daughter Abigail was born, December 31, 1818. And in the spring of 1820, he located on eighty acres of military school land, four miles northeast of Ashland, then Uniontown, on the Cleveland road, it being then in Richland county, and there he erected his little log cabin in which to live, surrounded by a dense forest of tall oak and hickory, as well as beech and ma- ple. And in the fall of the same year, November 23, 1820, his son, Samuel was born. Then Michael, jr., born October 28, 1822; Jolin R., born April 12, 1824; Jacob, born January 12, 1826; Cornelius, born Decen- ber 8, 1827; Jesse, born August 3, 1830; Mary Ann, born January 9, 1832; and William Patterson, born October 31, 18344; of these, Jacob, Jesse, Cornelius, Aaron, and Mary Ann are dead.

Aaron married Miss Delia Ann Alexander, February 15, 1838, who died August 17, of the same year. George W., married Miss Huth Alexander, October 23, 1838, who also died, May 31, 1839; George's second marriage, to Miss Jane Scott, March 31, 1842, by whoni he has eleven children -- John S., dead; Sarah, Cornelius F., Ira A., Jane Irene, dead, Samantha Ann, Sophia S., Eliza E., Rebecca A., Flora and Dora, twins. Of these Samantha Ann, Sophia S., and Eliza E., are school teachers. Aaron's second marriage was with Miss Eliz- abeth McCammor, November 1, 1843. They have had four children -- three boys and one girl: Marshall W., dead; Almon C., dead: judson B., in the far west; and Uney Jane, school teacher, wife of Joseph Welch, a farmer. Aaron died November 17, 1851, aged thirty four years nine months and seven days. Abigail remains single.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 54

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