History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 73

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 73

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DANIEL GEISELMAN was born in Stark county, Ohio. in 1846; came to Loudonville in 1868, and in 1876 mar- ried Alice Webster, of Mohican township, Ashland county, Ohio. By trade he is a harness-maker, and car- ries on the largest line of that busines in Loudonville. He is also proprietor of the most extensive livery stable in Londonville. In politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM H. WIRT was born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1841, attended college in Hillsdale, Michigan, two years, and then began the study of medicine with Drs. Fuller and Scott, in Loudonville, Ohio, where he re mained three years. In the spring of 1869 he graduated at Rush's Medical college, Chicago, Illinois, and the same year began the practice of medicine in Dundee. Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he remained one year. when he returned to Loadonville and formed a partner- ship with Dr. A B. Fuller, with whom he remained in partnership five years. In 1875 he dissolved partnership. and continued in business alone usail the fall of : 8; 6, when he took Ur. O. W. Schwan into partnership, and is now practicing medicine under the firm name of Dis. Wirt & Schwan. He is a physician of the regular sche s. and has built up a large practice. In iSze he was elected member of the school board, and has been te elected

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HISTORY OF . ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

every term since, and has held the offices of president and clerk of the board; was also chief of the fire de- partment for one year. In 1879 he received the nomi- nation of representative on the Republican ticket, but, owing to the large majority on the other side, was de- feated, but greatly reduced that majority. He is a mem. ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contributes largely to its support. Mr. Wirt is a man who has gained the esteem and confidence of the community, and is honored and respected by all who know him. In 1869 he married Clementine L. Smith, of Londonville, and is the father of two children-William G .; and Rush, who died when about four months old.

GEORGE H. STEWART, was born in Alexandria, Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1809. When a boy in his teens he went to Amagh, Pennsylvania, and . clerked in a store two years, during the time of making the Pennsylvania canal and Portage railroad over the Alleghany mountain. From there he went to clerk at Junction Forge, and got a contract on the canal on the Juniatta, but gave up canaling and went to Pittsburgh, where he got a position as book-keeper in a wholesale store at a salary of five hundred dollars per year, then considered a large salary. In 1832 his salary was raised to six hundred dollars per year, then among the highest in the city. In the summer of 1833 he bought a stock of goods and started west to find a location to sell them; tried to get a house to put the goods in, but there was none to be had, except Stuart's bar-room at the Phoenix hotel, then considered too far out of the business part of town, so he hired a horse of Stuart at twenty-five cents per day to come to Loudonville, then in Richiland county, a small village with about one hundred inhabit- ants. He commenced the mercantile business in August, 1833, at a time when the people were talking about building a canal up the White-woman and Mo- bican. Stewart, having had experience in canaling, took an active part in procuring a law for a State canal to Loudonville, and the law was passed while General William MeLaughlin, of Mansfield, was our State sena- tor, and it was through his untiring labor in the legisla- ture that the bill was passed and the canal was located to Loudonville, and advertised for letting, but before it was commenced the legislature abolished all State works not commenced, and they failed to get a canal. In 1835-36, when the question of organizing Ashland county was agitated, he took an active part in bringing it about, and was sent to Columbus several times to lobby for the undertaking, spending his time and paying his own expenses. In 1845-6 his efforts were rewarded, and in 18.45 he was appointed associate judge for Ash- land county, which office he held seven years. From 1846 to 1856 he took an active part in the construction of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, for which he secured the right of way through Holmes, Ashland, and a part of Wayne and Richland counties, and in i85; purchased a tract of land of David Foltz in Wayne county, and laid out what is now called Shreve, a station on the railroad above mentioned. He was employed by the railroad company as station-agent

for ten years. He has been township trustee and treasurer of Hanover township at various times, and has also held the office of councilman in Loudonville. In politics he is a Republican. In 1837 he married Eme- line Cappels, of Loudonville, and is the father of eight children, viz: Charlotte A., who lives in Loudonville : Eliza T., wife of Amos Culver, in Dacotah Territory; Mary E., wife of Dr. Fuller, of Loudonville; Satira and James, deceased; George, who married Katie Cassel, and lives in Zanesville; Xenophon C., who lives in New York city; and Margaret H., wife of Dr. Buckwalter, of Loudonville.

CALEB CAPPELS was born in Vermont, and came to Ashland county in ISr4, and settled near Loudonville, on the farm now owned by Thomas Whitney, where he built the first frame barn that was erected in Green township. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but after he came to Ohio he engaged in farming. In poli- tics he was an old-line Whig. In 1834 he died. He was the father of six children, all now deceased except Emeline, wife of George H. Stewart of Loudonville.

DANIEL HONEBARGER was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1793, and married Catharine Baum, of Bavaria, and in 1836 came to America and settled in Stark county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and died in 1839. In 1871 his wife died in Indiana, at the age of seventy- nine years. He was the father of six childien, four of whom are still living: Elizabeth, who married George Wiselogal, of Michigan; Harriett, who married Adam Kremick, and lives in Michigan; Catharine, who married George Gache and lives in Fulton county, Ohio, and George, who married Ann Goodman.

GEORGE HONEBARGER was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1828, and came to America with his father and set- tled in Stark county, Ohio, where he remained two years, and then went to Wooster, where he remained one year, and in the spring of i841 came to Ashland county, and settled in Loudonville. By trade he is a painter, but, owing to ill health, he was obliged to give up his trade. Then he clerked in a dry goods store for Adam Kunrick six years, after which he engaged as clerk in a grocery store for John Sheet. In TS52 he married Aun Goodman, of Loudonville. He has been treasurer of Hanover township thirteen years, and also treasurer of Loudonville village for several years; township assessor four years; also councilman four years, and member of the school board. He is a member of the German Reformed church, and in polities is a Democrat. He is the father of seven children: Emeline, wife of Lyman Parish, of Loudonville; Charles, living in Michigan; Harvey, who married Lillie Marietta, of Loadonville ; Martha, wife of George Hess, of Londonville; Franklin, Luella and Joseph.

MICHAEL CROWNER was born in Bucks county, Vir- ginia, in 1798: came to Ohio in iSto and settled in Belmont county; but in 1828 moved to Richland county, Ohio. He was a farmer; and held the ofice of tritatee of his township for many years. In establishing the schools he took an active part, and was deeply inter.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

ested in all educational matters. He was a member of the Catholic church, and died in 1861. In 1821 he manied Nancy Nesbit, of Pennsylvania, who still sur- vives him; he was the father of eight children, viz: Margaret, who became the wife of James MeNoll ; Wil- liama, who married Catharine Vance, and afterwards married Elizabeth Baum; John, who married Elizabeth Whistler, and lives in Kansas; Rachel, wife of Jacob Lax, and afterwards wife of Mr. Ross; David, who mar- ried Elizabeth Hoover; Sarah, wife of Clemons Osfelt; Jackson, who lives in Kansas ; and Thomas, who mar- ried Nancy Vance, and lives in Kansas.

WILLIAM M. CROWNER was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1826, and in 1853 married Catharine Vance, who died in 1873. In 1875 he married Elizabeth Baum. in his younger days he taught school in the winter and superintended his farm in the summer; he is now wholly engaged in farming. He first settled in Ashland county in 1853, and has held the office of assessor for at least twelve years ; was superintendent of the infirmary one year, when he resigned ; was elected county commis- sioner in 1871, and served six years; was elected land appraiser in 1869; and also in 1879; in 1877 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he now holds. In politics he is a Democrat ; he is the father of four children: Agnes, wife of Edward Baum; Madison, Jennie and Cora.

VERMILLION TOWNSHIP.

HARRISON MCCRARY was born in Vermillion township, Ashiand county, Ohio, July 3, 1840. His grandfather, john McCrary, was among the pioneers of this section of Ohio, having removed from Jefferson county. Penn- sylvania about 1812, and settled on the Black fork, and soon after sold his farm there and came to Vermillion township, and purchased the tract of land where the subject of this sketch now lives, and where he was born. His father, David McCrary, was a young unmarried man at that time; and engaged in the hardships of those early times, and assisted in clearing the land. When Harrison was a small boy his father died, and his mother built the house in which he now lives; she died Septem- ber 30, 1876. In October, 1863, Mr. McCrary was mar- tied to Miss Elizabeth Sackett of Montgomery township, Ashland county. They have had nine children, one of whom is dead: the eight living are at home with their parents. Mr. MeCrary gives his farin his whole time. It is one out of many of the farms that has been held by members of the same family for over sixty years. In politics he is a Republican, but his ticket is cast in every case, for the man who, in his judgment, is best fitted to. All the office to which he is chosen, regardless of poli- tient naire. Mr. and Mrs. McCray are members of the Presbyterian church at Hayesville, Ohio.

JAMES B. SMITH was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, November 18, 18:5. When a little more than one year old. his parents moved to Ashland county and located in Vermillion township, about three miles south of Hayesville, on land entered by Mr. Smith's grandfather. This section of the country was unimproved, and they had to endure the hardships that only these hardy pio- neers could. James, the subject of this sketch, grew up among these scenes, in which he took part, until he reached manhood. March 3, 1840, he married Lydia Workman, and at once emigrated to the State of Illinois, where he expected to remain ; but in the fall of the same year his father's death decided him to return to the scenes of his childhood, and. after closing up the affairs of his father, he settled down where he now resides, and determined to remain here. From that time to the present, Mr. Smith has seen the many changes that have taken place. Where the old forest trees swayed to and fro, waving fields of grain and grass now fill the heart of the owner and passer-by with thankfalness to Him who ruleth the destinies of mankind. The old log cabins, with their spacious fire-places, have gone, and in their place are beheld beautiful and convenient houses, brick and frame, and large barns filled with the abundant har- vest. The ox team, and the ungainly cart with its wood- en wheels, we see no more, but, in its stead, the prancing steed, in light, but durable harness, moves rapidh over a smooth road, with a four-wheel vehicle that would have been a thing of wonder to our venerable forefathers. Mrs. Smith died February 3, 1845. They had four children. One child, a daughter, and the first of the family, died at the age of two years. The others are: Lydia Amanda, who was the wife of john Van Deren, and died in March, 1874, in Kansas; Ruth Ann, wife of Dr. Cole, of Crestline, Ohio; and Stephen S., who is married and lives in Jasper county, Missouri. April 15, 1847, Mr. Smith married Martha Jane McClure. To them have been born five children, two sons and three daugh- ters. Wilber F. died May 29, 1854. Of the remaining four, one son is married and the three daughters remain with their parents. Mr. Smith has served as justice of the peace for six years, and although a Republican since the existence of that party. He was elected to the office in a township which was strongly Democratic. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ilayesville.

LAFAYETTE PAXTON was born in Vermillion township, February 21, 1849. His father, Hugh Paxton, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1819, and located in Wayne county. In 1833 he moved to Vermillion township, and purchased a tract of land, one mile west of the village of Hayesville, Ohio. Here he remained the balance of his hife. He was a very industrious and energetic man. To the breaking out of the Rebellion he was a Democrat, but he at that time changed to a strong Republican, which principles he adhered to until his death, which occured january -3. 1878. Lafayette, the subject of this sketch, is the only heir. and has charge of his invalid mother, who is a great care. September 28, 1873, he married Miss Llen

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

Hime:, of Richland county, Ohio. They have one child, Hugh, born May 19, 1876. Mr. Paxton is a Dem- oerat in politics.

JACOB FACHELBERGER was born in Vermillion town- ship March 21, 1831. On September 4, 1851, he mar- ried Susannah, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Conn. early settlers of Ashland county, both of whom are dead. They have had children as follows: Louisa, born July 22, 1852; Elizabeth, born November 29, 1854: Mary, born November 6, 1856; Rosanna and Barbara, born May 25, 1858; Samuel, born November 12, 1861; Clara, born April 9, 1863; Elmer E., born May 4, 1866; Benjamin, born May 22, 1871. Of these, two are dead -- Elizabeth, who died February 17, 1864, and Benjamin, who died November 5, 1872. Louisa is the wife of Cyrus Miller, and lives in Mifflin township. They were married in IS;o, and have three children. Rosanna is the wife of Henry Daubenspeck, and lives in Vermillion township. They have three children. The other four are at home assisting the father on the farm, and the mother in the household duties. In politics Mr. Eichelberger is a Democrat, but in home elections casts his vote for the man he considers most worthy of the confidence of the public, and best fitted to take care of their interests, re- gardless of political views. He is not connected with any church, but recognizes the importance of churches and schools as a public benefit, and the contents of his purse are used to their benefit many times.

WILLIAM MONAULL was born in what is now Mont- goinery township, Ashland county, Ohio, about four miles cast of Ashland, November 18, 1816. His par- ents came to Ashland county in 1815, and may well be classed among Ashland county's pioneers. They teamed from the State of Maryland, and entered land in what was at that day a wilderness. Here they went to .work in good old fashioned pioncer style. They raised a family of six children, all of whom lived to maturity. William, the subject of this sketch, remained with his parents until he was about twenty-three or four years of age, when his disposition led him to investigate distant countries, States, and territories, which he continued to do for several years, occasionally returning to the scenes of his childhood, and in March, 1865, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Adams of Vermillion township. They have po children. The place where they now live has been their home since their marriage. The farm was cleared almost entirely by Mr. MeNaull or under his directions. He has a good farm and it is well improved. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a good neighbor, highly esteemed as a literary man, far superior to many who have had equal privileges. Mrs. McNau !! is a member of the Presbyterian church at Hayesville, Ohio.

WILLIAM TANGEMAN was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, December 31, 1831. la 1831 he left Germany with the determination of trying the new world, and upon his landing here went directly to Cin- cinanti, Ohio, and remained engaged in the wholesale tobacco trade, untli 1855, when he moved to Mansfeld, Ohio I April he married Miss Margaret & Medt. In Mansfield he remained two years in the tobacco business,

when he disposed of his business in Mansfield and re- turned to Cincinnati, where he remained eight years, and in 1865 be purchased a farm near Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio, and in 1867 sold this farm and bought and removed to where he now resides, about one mile west of Hayesville, Ohio. They have eight children- three sons and five daughters, all except the oldest son being at home and single. Mr. Tangeman has served his township as trustee, and his school district as director. In politics he is a Democrat, but is a man with many friends in both parties. Mr. Tangeman and wife are members of the Ger- man Evangelical church in Vermillion township. The oldest son, Charles W., is in Mansfield, Ohio, practicing medicine.

SOLOMON ARNOLD, proprietor of the Vermillion hotel . at Hayesville, Ohio, was born February 18, 1841, in Ver- million township. He remained and worked on the farmi until he was twenty-seven years of age, and mar- ried Miss Harriet Vangilder, of Vermillion township, November 9, 1859. His father died May 31, 1874, and his mother died May 16, 1860. In 1870 Mr. Arnold moved from the old farm home to Hayesville, Ohio, and kept a livery stable, and in 1872 be took possession of the Vermillion house, and has managed it for the past eight years in connection with the livery business.

JOHN M. RITCHIE was born where he now resides, Janvary 28, 1840. His parents emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1835. They purchased a farmi that has been their only home in this State for a period of forty- five years. The parents names are Samuel and Eliza- beth. Mi. Ritchie died February 13, 1844, at the age of thirty-one years and nineteen days. Mrs. Ritchie is still living, at the advanced age of about seventy-five years. The exact age cannot be given, on account of the family record having been destroyed by fire when she was a child. She is quite smart, and says she is young, or at least feels as young as she did years ago. She, with her daughter, Miss Martha Jane Richie. cceupy the home with John and his family. The old home is now owned by Miss Martha and her brother John, the subject of this sketch. In addition to his share of the old home, John owns a tract of land of forty acres which he purchased some years ago of Philip Smith. On September 2, 1375, Mr. Ritchie was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Robinson, of Richland county, Ohio. They have two sons- Samael N., born October 7, 1876, and Charles E., born October IS, IS;7. Mr. Ritchie is a farmer. He has served the people of Ash- land county as director of the infirmary. In politics he is a Democrat. He makes no profession of religion, but recognizes churches and schools as very necessary to the well being of any community, and supports them liberally. His aged mother is a member of the Presby. terian church at Hayesville Ohio.

MR. J. H. Borp was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 26. ISTO; came to Ohio with his wife and three children in 1350. Mr. Boyd's father andeu- parted him, and located near when Mr. Thomas Stat- ford now lives, his mother having died May 26, 1827, at the age of thirty eight years. The subject of this shitch

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

located on a tract of land a short distance from where he now lives, where he remained about twenty five years. In connection with his farin Mr. Boyd has owned and operated a flouring mill, which he kept in operation about twenty-three years. His father died in the spring of 1869, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and even at that age was quite active, showing very little the weight of so many winters. They seem to be a long-lived pro- ple, as an uncle of Mi. J. H. Boyd is still living in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, at the wonderful age of one hundred years. Mr. Boyd has given his time entirely to farming, with the exception of the mill just mentioned. January 31, 1839, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Burns, of Ohio county, Virginia. She died February 18, 186r. By this union there were three children -Re- becca Mary, born April 3, 1840; James T., born Sep- teniber 9, 1843: Emeline, born July 6, 1845, all of whom are living, married, and have families of their own. Re- becca, the wife of Alva Ingman, a farmer of Mohican township, has two children. James lives on the old home farm, and has three children; and Emeline is the wife of Porter Craig, and lives in Lawrence county, Illi- nois, and has two children. February 26, 1863, Mr. Boyd married Miss Kesiah Nailor, of Mohican township. They have one child, Edward E., born May 24, 1864. He is at home with his parents. Mr. Boyd is a Repub- lican in politics: and is a member of the Presbyterian church at Hayesville, Ohio. He has been connected with the Presbyterian church for over forty five years. Mrs. Boyd is a member of the same church.

MICHAEL. SHEMBERGER was born in York county. Pennsylvania, january 28, 1823. In 1828 he came to Ohio with his parents, who located in Vermillion town- ship. They bought a farin, a short time after they landed in the township, adjoining the place where thea son Michael, the subject of the sketch, now lives. The old home also belongs to him. The parents remained here until their death. His father died December 17, 1870, and his mother March 15, 1879. On January 22, 1850, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Rowanah Bennett, daughter of Peter and Sophia Bennett. who came from Maryland at an early day and settled on the Black fork, in Mifflin township. They remmined here but a short time, when they bought a farm in Vermillion township and moved there, and about 1857 sold then property, and moved to De Witt county, Illinois, where they died a few year, later. The family of Michael Shem- berger and wife consists of five boys and one daugh- ter, all of whom are living except Mary Ann, the sixth child who died at the age of five years, four months and twenty-two days. Those now living are all single, and are at home with their parents. In politics he is a Democrat, as also are his three sons. He and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church at Peters- burgh, Ohio. Mr. Shemberger is not an office-secher, though he has served his neighbors as supervisor, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. The public welfare of the county gets his share of encouragement at all times.

JAMES M. ECHI BARGER was born in Vermillion town-

ship, October 17, 1846, and was married January 12, 18:1, 30 Arminda Kyle, daughter of Samuel and Eliza- beth Kyle, of Vermillion township. They have four children : Nellie Jane, bom November 19, 1871; Cora Almina, born September 17, 1874, died October 23. 1876; Hiram Martin, born April 22, 1876; Ralph, born April 14, 1880. Mr. Echelbarger is a farmer; he has sixteen acres of his own, and farms about forty acres on shares for Martin Kramer. In politics, he is a Demo- crat.

ROBERT WILSON was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1816, and came to Ashland county with his parents in 1820, his father having purchased eighty acres of land where Robert now lives. At the time they came to this place there was an abundance of game, turkey and deer principally. Indians were nu- merous, but peaceably inclined toward their white breth- ren. They were true pioneers, and as such are quite well remembered by the old settlers in the community at the present time. They began the improvement of their land, and by perseverance and hard knocks, such as our grand old forefathers and mothers could endure, the old forests gave way and the waving fields of grain took their place. Robert, the subject of this sketch, remem- bers quite well the privations and hardships of those early days. In 1839, November sith, Mr. Wilson mar- ried Martha Jeannette Roison, who came from West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, with her parents when she was about three or four years of age. They hod seven sons and one daughter. Two sons died in infancy: one son, James, the oldest of the family, died in the army; he was a private in the One Hundred and Twen- ticth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served as such from the date of his enlistment to the time of his death, which took place at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, February ir, 1863. Three sons and one daughter are married, and doing for themselves. The youngest child, Robert, jr., remains with his father. Mrs. Wiison having died Mr. Wilson afterwards married Anna E. Greenwood, widow of Charles Greenwood, of Holmes county, Ohio. To them have been born one child. Mr. Wilson is one of the best known men in this section of the county. In politics he is a Republican. Both himself and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church at Hayesville, Ohio.

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History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 73

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