History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 55

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

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Samuel married Miss Margaret Dally, of Mohicanville, November 16, 1843. The result of said marriage was nine children, three boys and six girls.

Michael, jr., married Miss Catharine Hatfield, of Doylestown, Ohio, February 1, 1849. Result of mar- riage, six children, two boys and four girls.

Mary Ann was married to James A. Hazlett, and had seven children, three boys and four girls; Willie, dead; John, Ellie, Ettie, Lucy, Phoenic, and James Franklin.

William Patterson married Kate D. Stents, December 10, 1861, and has three children --- Orwell, Einina, and Norman. Two of his sons, Samuel and Michael, turned their attention somewhat to the subject of education, and attended the Ashland academy, under the superin- tendence of the Fultons and Lorin Andrews. After teaching school each several terms, the former turned his attention to the sindy and practice of medicine; the latter, to the ministry of the Gospel. The other mem- bers of the family are farmers, and live on and near the old homestead.

Mr. Riddle was noted for his habits of industry, econ- omy, and self reliance. He was an excellent farmer, and experimented largely in choice varieties of fruits, and is believed to have manufactured the first wine in Montgomery township, from the catawba grape. In his emher years he was an active member of the Baptist church; he and his wife were baptized by Elder John Rigdon, who was then a pioneer preacher, living in Clearcreek township, Richland county; but when Alex- ander Campbell began to publish his views of church doctrine and government, in what was called the Chris- tian Baptist, first published in 1823, Mr. Riddle em- braced the doctrine of the Disciples, and assisted Mr. Rigdon and others in organizing a church in Ashiand. Many years, however, before the little church-house was built which stands on Orange street, of which he was one of the original trustees, he opened his own house for public worship; he made it the home of all the old pioneer preachers, as they passed through from place to to place; and not unfrequently they held protracted meetings at his house. He entertained on many occa- sions from forty to fifty people at a time, giving largely of his means to support the ministers, besides. He was for a long time the only elder of the church, but in after years, others were appointed to assist him.

He unfortunately received a mortal injury in a fall from an apple tree, October 28, 1857, from which he expired in a few hours, aged sixty-four years two months and twenty seven days. His wife died June 15, 188c, aged sixty-seven years ave months and seven days.

He was a life-long Democrat, of the Jeffersonian and Andrew Jackson school, and was never known to vary his vote in any case.

PETER VAN NORDSTRAND, SR.,

was born in New Jersey, and, after the close of the ke- volutionary war, emigrated to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His ancestors were from Holland. In

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

1816 he came to Clearcreek township, Richland (now Ashland) county, and located on section thirty-five, where he deceased, in 1817, aged about fifty years. He had been a neighbor to the Baileys and Brytes in Westmore- land county, and was induced to settle in the wilds of Clearcreek because of their emigration to that region. A brother-in-law, Archibald Gardner, located in Mifflin, on the present site of Windsor, in the spring of ISII, and forted at Ream's in 1812.

Mr. Van Nordstrand's sons were: John, who subse- quently removed to, and deceased, in Iowa; Isaac, who also located in Iowa, and Peter, who continues to reside in Clearcreek township. The daughters were: Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Bebout; Anna, wife of William An- drews; Rachel, wife of David Urie; Effie, wife of Alex- ander McCready; Eleanor, wife of James McCool; Margaret, wife of Michael Shoup; Mary, wife of David Bryte, and Sarah, wife of John Mykrants.

Peter married Nancy Shaw, and is now about seventy- two years of age. He states that when his father landed in Clearcreek, there were but eight or ten families in the township. The first school-house in his port of the township was a little cabin of round logs, erected on the farm of the late Abraham Huffman, in 1817. The children of the following householders attended, Mr. Robert Nelson being the first teacher: Abraham Huffman, John Brown, Andrew Stevison, Robert Rals- ton, Widow Trickle, David McKinny, Rev. William Matthews, Levi and Thomas Brink, Widow Mary Van Nordstrand, and the children of Robert Nelson. The country was in its primitive condition, game was plenty, and the Indians from Sandusky hunted annually in the forests of Clearcreek for a number of years after the ar- rival of the first settlers. They were harmless, and rarely visited the cabins of the pioneers, except when they were driven to do so from pinching hunger.

Peter Van Nordstrand, jr., occupied the old home- stead until about 1872, when his wife deceased. He is now residing with a son-in-law. He has been an exem- plary member of the Christian church for over thirty years. His wife was also a devoted member of the same church. It is rarely that men, in a single community, witness the changes that have taken place within this county in the last sixty years. From an alincat unbroken forest, the hills and valleys of this county have been re- duced to cultivation, and every township teamis with abundance. Schools, villages, and towns have sprung into being, as if by magic. From a few hundred the inhabitants of the county have multiplied until our pop- ulation reaches over twenty-three thousand The In- dian that roarned over the hills and along the fertile valleys of this county, has long since removed to the far west, and his race will, cre long, become extinct.

THE MERCERS.

Abner E. Mercer was born in Virginia, January 19, Sto. Ile emigrated with bis family to Jackson county. ; Ohio, in 1812. From that county his father, Levi Mer- ' girls, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth and Hannah J. The

cer, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, in the north- west. In 1824 he removed with his family to Milton township, Richland, now Ashland, county, where he en- tered a half section of land in section six. He deceased in 1850, and his wife in 1853; he at the age of seventy years, and she at seventy-three. They left a numerous family -- thirteen children -- Sabra, Elizabeth, Levi, Maria, Hale, Abner, Sarah, Mary, Jackson, Franklin, Mohnda, Washington, and Caroline, and about one hundred grandchildren.

Ebner E. was the sixth member of the family, and has resided on a part of the home farm since arriving at man- hood. He attended the common schools of the town- ship, and learned the trade of a plasterer. He married Miss Thankful Crahbs, daughter of Jolin Crabbs, near Olivesburg, Richland county, February 17, 1834. In 1835 he became a member of the Disciple church, and adorned his faith by an upright walk. In 1844 he be- came the elder of Bryte's church, and was devoted to his faith.

Mr. Mercer was also a farmer of industrious habits and admitted integrity and uprightness. When he en- tered the township, in 1824, it was largely in its primi- tive condition. The native forest had been compara- tively undisturbed by the woodman's axe. At that period cabin-raising, log-rolling, and wood-cutting were the prin- cipal occupations of the pioneers, who cheerfully volun- teered then aid to assist those who sought a home amid the forests. Great have been the changes since tl:c Mercers entered the township. Mr. Mercer, for the last six or seven years, had been greatly enfeebled by that fell destroyer, consumption. The immediate occasion of his last illness was pneumonia, of which he deceased February 23, 1877, and was interred at Bryte's church on the 24th.

He was the father of fourteen children --- Jefferson, John, Levi, Polly, Madison, Abner, Sarah, Darius, Ben- jamin, William, Silas, Jacob, Nancy, and one unnamed. His Smeral was attended by a large number of his neigh- bors, the members of his family, and fourteen giardchil- dren. Mr. Mercer still survives and is aged about sixty years.

Thus, one by one, the pioneers are being gathered home by the great reaper, and soon the funeral chime will have tolled the knell of the last carly settler.

SOLOMON MARKEL

was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, De- cember, 1813, and came with his parents to Congress township, Wayne county, in 1837. The name of his father was Solomon Markle, sr., who died in 1852, at the age of fifty-two years; his mother died in isso, aged seventy two years, Solomon located on section sixteen, Orange township, in 1937. He had married Miss Han tal: Howman of Congress, Wayne county, prior to lo. chung in Orange. Their family consists of five boys. Jacob, Israel, Aaron, Franklin and Lewis C. and four

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

children are all married but Lewis C. They are much scattered, living in the new States. Mr. Market pos- sesses a fine homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land, on section sixteen, Orange town- ship.

Israel Markel was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1819, and came with his father's family to Congress township, Wayne county, in April, 1835, where he remained until 1839, and married shortly after settling on section sixteen, in Orange town- ship, Miss Mariah Ricket, in 1839. Mr. Markel has been a justice of the peace two terms, a constable two terms, and a coroner of the county one term, in 1846. He now resides in Ashland, but retains ene hundred and seventy acres of his homestead in Orange township, on sections sixteen and nine. His family consists of six boys : Jacob W., George A., Samuel D., Israel C., a physician, Isaiah F. and Henry A., lawyer, and four daughters, Eliza, Rachel, Lucia A. and Artha M. Like the family of Solomon, they are much scattered in the west and in this State.

ELI W. WALLACK

was born September 3, 1828, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, from whence, at the age of twenty years, he re- moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio, and remained until IS4S, when he located in Ashland. At first he formed a partnership with J. W. Harman in the provision business, which lasted about two years, when he formed a partner- ship with R. and J. Freer in the same business. About this time he married Miss Anne Faws, who deceased in 1873 aged thirty nine years. He afterward married Mrs. Caroline Campbell in 1876. Mr. Wallack has been an active business man in Ashland for thirty-two years, and is one of the oldest business men of the town. He has met many business reverses. The failure of the Citizens' Bank in 1877, greatly shook his confidence in men. The destuction of his store rooms, by fire, in June, 1880, was a sad disaster and a great loss. He is now in com- pany with W. C. Frazee in a furniture establishment on Main street, Ashland. Mr. Wallack has often been called to fill the office of treasurer for Montgomery township, and has many friends who respect him for his undoubted integrity and honor.

WILLIAM C. FRAZEE

was born December to, 1841, in Alleghany county, Mary- land, and came to Ashland county, Ohio, in 1863, and taught school two winters and labored one summer on a farmu, after which he formed a partnership with John Reb- man in the provision business about one year, and then entered the same business with Joseph Stoffer, during which time he was elected clerk of the court of common pleas for AAshland county from isto to 1876. Since his time es elerk has expired he formed a partnership with E. W. Wallack in the bed spring business, and subac- quently in the furniture and undertaking business in Ash-

land. He married Miss Nancy Swineford, daughter of John Swineford, December 26, 1864, by whom he had two children, one of whom yet survives.

THE RALSTONS,

originally Scotch, fled from Scotland to the north of Treland during the persecution of the Presbyterians, and from that branch of the family descended the American Ralstons, who emigrated to Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, about the year 1760. From Lancaster they removed to Washington county in 1786.

Robert Ralston, sr., served in the war of 1812, in a regiment from western Pennsylvania. On the way to the Maumee, he passed over the territory now constitut- ing Ashland county ; and being pleased with the appear- ance of the country, sold his farm in Washington county on his return from the army, and came to Montgomery township, Richland (now Ashland) county, in 1814. and settled two miles north of Ashland, where he resided until 1830. He became one of the justices of the peace at the first election, after the organization of Mont- gomery township, his commission being in the possession of his son James.

He married Jane Woodburn; he died October 26, 1854, aged eighty-six years. Jane, his wife, died Sep- tember 3, 1862, aged eighty-six years, five months.

Their children were: Robert, jr., who died November 17, 1871, in Clinton county, Iowa, aged seventy four years; James, of Plymouth, Richland county, Ohio, aged seventy-seven years; Jane Hall, oldest daughter, resides in Nevada, Wyandot county, Chio; Margaret Hal! resides in Orange township, Ashland county; Nancy Gribben, in Plymouth, Richland county; Alexander, in Franklin county, Tennessee; Samuel W., in Auburn, Indiana; Maria Dickson, in Crawford county, Ohio; David, in Clinton county, Iowa; and Julia Bodiey, in Whitley county, Indiana. Robert was the father of the late W. C. Ralston. of San Francisco, California.

James, the second son of Robert, sr., the oldest living member of the family at this time (1876), was the mill- boy during the first few years of their residence in Ash- land county. With a horse and pack-saddle, with a sack of corn or wheat, he often traveled by new-cut roads and Indian trails to Shrimplin's mill, in Knox county, the journey occupying three or four days, to obtain a grist. In these trips, lie often forded swollen streams, and encountered many dangers and difficulties.

Robert, jr., was a house carpenter, and constructed many of the first buildings in Ashland and Montgomery township. He removed from his farm, north of Ash- land, to Plymouth, Richland county, in 1829; and from there to Brooke county, Virginia, in 1832; and from there to Wellsville, Ohio, in 1836; and to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1853, where he died.

Alexander represented Richland county in the Ohio legislature two termis, and served as justice of the peace a number of years, prior to his removal to Tennessee ; he was also a carpenter by trade.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

The Ralstons, like their Scotch-Irish ancestors, are warily attached to the Presbyterian faith, and have all been noted for their intelligence, frugality, industry, and moral integrity.

ADAM LINK

was born November 14, 1763, in Washington county, Maryland. His father, Jacob Link, was a native of the same State, while his mother was born in Switzerland. When Adam was about six years old his mother died. His father married again, and moved to the frontier, and located some seven or eight miles from Wheeling, Vir- ginia, where he secured by "tomahawk right," six hun- dred acres of land, four hundred in Virginia and two hun- dred in Washington, then Westmoreland, county, Pennsyl- vania. At the breaking out of Indian hostilities he had already made a good deal of progress in clearing and fit- ting up his farm, and had a number of horses, cattle and hogs, and determined to remain in his cabin and defend his property, taking the precaution, however, of sending his wife and smaller children back to the settlements be- fore the approach of the savage Shawnces and their allies. In August, Mr. Link sent Adam and an older brother, Jonathan, with horses laden with provisions to his fami- ly. After the departure of his sons, the same evening, two strangers hunting strayed horses stopped at the cabin of Mr. Link for the night. A nephew of Mrs. Link by the name of Miller also remained at the cabin. When the strangers arose the next morning Mr. Link cautioned them not to go out, as the dogs had been uneasy all night. Paying no attention to his warning, they opened the door and went out to wash, and were immediately shot by Indians, who were concealed near the cabin. Link and Miller gathered up the guns and retreated to

the second story of the cabin, drawing up the ladder. The Indians rushed into the building, but finding the stairway safely guarded by rifles pointing down, retreated. After exchanging shots for an hour without effect, a painted white man came forward with a flag of truce, and said if they would give up their arms and come down they would not be hurt, otherwise they would set fire to the cabin and burn them out. Finding further resist- ance to be useless, they handed down their guns, de- scended, and their hands were tied. They were marched sonie distance into the woods, where the Indians halted and held a council, there being some thirty in the gang. The consultation related to the fate of the prisoners. At the conclusion, Mr. Link was tomahawked and scalped, and his body left. Mr. Miller was a sad witness of the fate of his friend. The Indians then moved forward, marching, as he observed, in a circle. That night they had a scalp dance, after which Miller was fastened by raw-hide cords to a large Indian to sleep. The Indians being tired, soon slept profoundly. As soon as it was sofe Mr. Miller commenced to gnaw the thongs from his wrists. After much perseverance he finally succeeded Hle then carefully removed the cord that encircled his wrist, arose to his feet, seized a good gun and passed into the forest ; but had made little progress before the In-

dian awakened, and with a yell, aroused his companions. Miller continued his flight, and finally reached the set- tlement. On the morning before the fight took place at the cabin, Adam and Jonathan, who had accompanied their step-mother to a neighboring settlement, were re- quested to remain part of the day to cut wood. Adam remained, but Jonathan returned. There were several families on the route. On his way Jonathan rode up to a cabin where the owner was making a trough, and asked hin if he was not afraid of Indians. He replied-"the d -- d redskins are afraid to come about here." Jona- than had not proceeded over one hundred rods when he found himself in the middle of a large body of savages, who were watching the cabin he had just passed. They ordered him to surrender, but he fled. The Indians pursued -his horse became frightened-the saddle turned; he cut the girth and fled in the direction of his father's cabin. When he came in sight of it he found it and the barn in flames. He returned by a circuitous route to the fort. In a few hours Adam followed his brother, and met a stranger on horseback, who told him to turn back, "for the Indians were as thick as yellow jackets in Hawkin's bottom."

After these adventures, the family of Jacob Link be- came scattered, until the close of the Revolutionary war. Some returned to the vicinity of Baltimore, where the father of Mrs. Link resided. At the conclusion of the war, Adam located adjoining the old homestead in Washington county, Pennsylvania. The old farm passed from the possession of the family, and Adam became a common laborer. He was a young man of great en- durance, and could thresh, with a flail, sixty bushels of wheat per week, and make as many rails as any man of his weight in the border settlements.

At the age of twenty-eight he married Miss Elizabeth Link, a relative, and settled in Washington county. He purchased, improved and sold a number of small farms in that county. He saw no active service in the war of 1812. In 18:8 he walked from his home in Pennsyl- vania to Uniontown, now Ashland, Ohio, and located in the southwest quarters of sections one and eleven in Milton township, built cabins, and in the following spring removed with his family, consisting of four sons and five daughters. He located on section one, and afterward sold it to William Lockhart, and removed to section eleven, which, in his seventy-fourth year, he sold to a son, and then improved a small farm on section fourteen, and then removed to Crawford county, and resided with his son-in-law, Mr. Rashton Markley, unt !! August, 1864, when he deceased, at the age of one hun- dred and one years.

Mr. Link was a peculiar man. His habits are worth notice. In height he was five feet ten inches. Ilis weight was about one hundred and sixty pounds. Ile was compact in muscle, and possessed great strength and endurance. He was never sick, and never suffer ! pain. He retained his soundness of constitution vatel he had nearly tea hed the age of ninety years. As his limbs began to grow stiff and unwieldly, he was asous- tomed to say "the machinery is wearing out." From

JOHN H. MCCOMBS

was born June 14, 1813, in Washington county, Penn- sylvania. He had two brothers, one, James A. McCombs, died at the age of four years. Andrew M. McCombs was a member of Captain Barber's company, and died in the service on the thirtieth of April, 1862, at Ashland, aged forty-seven years and five months. His mother, Ann McClean, was married to his father, Matthew Mc- Combs, on the twenty-third day of April, 1812. His father served six months in the war of 1812, under Gen- eral Harrison, and died, from the effects of the service, in the year 1822. His mother died at Ashland February (8, 1867, in the eighty-second year of. her age.

Mr. McCombs' grandfather, on the father's side, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to, and bought a farm in, Washington county, Pennsylvania, and lived to about the age of eighty years, and his wife to near the same age. Mr. McCombs' grandfather, on the mother's side, An- drew McClean, died on his farm in Washington county. Pennsylvania, Smith township, at the age of eighty-five years, and his wife at the age of sixty-seven years. Grandfather MeClean was born near Fort Deposit. Mary- land, was a Revolutionary soldier, who died at a ripe age, full of years and full of faith, being an elder in the Pres- byterian church of Raccoon. He performed an impor- tant part in procuring the liberties we now enjoy. He was in the battles of Brandywine, Long Island, Gorman- town, Monmouth, Stony Point, etc, serving five years,

and enlisted at the age of seventeen. He saw and par- ticipated in the mighty event which, under Providence, ended in the permanent independence of this country, and died enjoying the confidence and esteem of all his neighbors. Mr. McCombs was left to the care of bis mother, who brought him up and early taught him self- independence. He taught school in his neighborhood at the early age of sixteen. Ile commenced to acquire a liberal education at Florence academy, Washington county, Pennsylvania, then attended Washington college, and after a course of over five years was graduated at Franklin college, in Harrison county, Ohio, in the class of 1839. He then read law with the Hon. T. M. T. Mc- Kennan, who was Secretary of the Interior under Gen- eral Taylor, and his son, William McKennan, now United States district judge for northwestern Pennsylvania, and be was admitted to the bar in Washington, Pennsylvania; when he came to Ohio and resided in Richland county one year; came to Ashland, Ashland county, Ohio, before the county was erected, and assisted in procuring the county-seat, where he has ever since resided and en- gaged in the practice of the law. He was married to Sarah A. Wright, a native of the State of New York, De- cember 29. 1846. They had three children - S. Anna. Marv B., and John. The youngest, John, remains with the parents: Arna is married to S. W. Andrews, and Mary to Jantes Whyte.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

early life he attended the Presbyterian church, but al- ways contended that "all men would be saved after being beaten with few and many stripes, according as they had sinned in this life. That having paid the pen- alty of sin, they would eventually be saved with the just." Although nearly all his life a border settler, he was well versed in the history of the times. He was an interesting conversationalist, and in narrating the adven- tures of the border settlements of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, he was accurate in incident, and often eloquent in description. In politics he was a Jefferson- ian Democrat. He had a strong preference for military presidents, and is believed to have supported General W. H. Harrison, General Zachariah Taylor and General Scott, for president. As a farmer, he was peculiar. For a period of nearly sixty years he never used or owned a wagon. He always attended market with a sled, and packed his wheat to mill on a horse. He was equally singular in his diet. His standard living was bread, meat, eggs, potatoes, butter, sugar and coffee. No fruit or milk. He was a hearty meat eater. He regarded two goose eggs as a medium breakfast, combined with a little bread and meat. When he was eighty-seven years old, having used whiskey freely all his Ife, he became convinced that the modern modes of its manufacture were pernicious, by reason of the deleterious drugs en- tering into the new compound, and abandoned its use. Here, then, are two problems for solution : 1. Did his diet contribute to the preservation of his health to so advanced an age? 2. Is it true that the use of pure spirituous liquors, as a common beverage, shortens life by enfeebling the physical and vital powers ?*

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History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 55

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