History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 96

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 96

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).

THE FIRST MILL.

John Greenlee is of the opinion that the first mill, known as Odell's, was erected in the spring of 1813, and not in 1812, as stated by Mr. Knapp, the nearest mills at that period being those of Shrimplin, on Owl creek, Knox county, and Stibbs, east of Wooster, where the settlers obtained their grists and grain the first and sec- ond years after they arrived. These mills were poor concerns -- made of hewed logs, with one run of stones. That of Odell was also of hewed logs, an undershot wheel, one run of stones, and was a mere corn cracker. Nearly all the settlers used hominy blocks, and perfo- rated deer skins for sieves. In this way their meal and hominy were separated. About the year 1820, Jabez Smith erected a saw- and grist-mill about half a mile south of Mohicanville. He continued to own and use those mills for a number of years, and then sold to Rob- ert F. Chandler, who occupied the premises until the spring of 1875, when the mills accidentally took fire and were wholly consumed. The Rochester mill, so-called, was erected at a point some three miles southeast of Mohicanville, on the Mohican, where William Green had a saw-mill, in 1836. The site was purchased by Hanvey & Smith, from Rochester, New York, and the present large mill erected. These parties carried on the mill for some time, when it passed into new hands, It was called the "Rochester mill," from the locality from which they came in New York.

FIRST JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

Mr. Greenlee states that the first justice of the peace clected in Lake township was James Loudon Priest, who was chosen in 1812, for three years. He was succeeded in iS15 by John Weatherbec, father of the late Justus S. Weatherbec, and he, in 1818, by John Newkirk. The records of the township have been lost or destroyed,

and the statement of Mr. Greenlee is presumed to be correct on that subject .*

FIRST SCHOOL.

The first school-house was built on the lands of Mr. Greenlee, in 1817, and the first teacher was John New- kirk, afterward justice of the peace. The second school-house was erected on the lands of John Weath- erbee, near the old fort, a year or two later.

FIRST CHURCH.

The Presbyterians put up a small church on section sixteen, in 1826, at which there was occasional_preach- ing. Prior to that, meetings were held in the cabins of the pioneers. The Revs. Graham and Warner, were the earliest Methodist preachers in Lake.

DOCTORS.

For many years there was no physician in Lake. In cases demanding skilful medical treatinent, physicians from Mansfield or Wooster were called. The principal diseases were fever and ague, and bilious disturbances, and rarely fatal. A good constitution, a little dieting, a decoction of bitter herbs, cherry bark and whiskey, con- stituted the principal home remedies. Mrs. James I .. Priest and Mrs. Nathan Odelt possessed a great deal of fame as doctors and nurses among the pioneers. Their system of practice is now called the Eclectic among anti-mineral practitioners.

BOATING ON THE LAKE FORK.

About the year 1823 Robert Crawford, a rugged pio- neer from Orange township, conceived the idea of boikdl- ing a long fiat boat on the Lake fork, to be loaded with cherry and walnut lumber for New Orleans. He pos- sessed a fine team, and a strong Maryland wagon, with which he gathered logs to the various mills between Ashland and the Lake fork, to be cut into lumber. Hle constructed a flat-boat about one hundred and twenty- five feet long, and launched it near what is now the Rochester mill, and collecting his lumber, placed it on board. All being ready, he passed down the Lake fork into the Walhonding, the Muskingum, the Ohio, and the Mississippi to New Orleans, where he made sale of his lumber and returned. It is believed that the Wachtei brothers accompanied nim on his voyage. This is the only instance in which a flat-boat descended the Lake fork from that region. Many of the early pioneers, however, ascended the stream in small boats or pirogues as high as what is now known as Tylertown or Finley's. [For a further account of the pioneers of Lake, see chapter on the erection of block-houses and stockades. 1 *The impression is created by Mr. Knapp that Joshua Ouna, of that part of Lake now in Clinton township, Wayne county, was a jus- tice of the peace in 18i4, and consequently the first justice, Mr. Greenlee says Joshtrt Oran was never a justice i Like, nor elsewhere so far as he knows. William Wieoft who is a relative of Mr Ora a confirmat he foregoing statement.

ADDITIONAL TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.

PROFESSOR S. Z. SHARP, A. M., first president of Ashland college, Ohio, was born in Airy Dale, Hunt- ingdon county, State of Pennsylvania, where his father, Solomon Sharp, also was born. He began teaching school in the year 1855, and afterwards attended the Pennsylvania State Normal school at Millersville, where he graduated in 1860. He became principal of Kisha- coquillas seminary in 1861, assistant professor of lan- guages in the Pennsylvania State Normal school in 1866, and in 1868 took charge of New Providence Normal school in the State of Tennessee. In 1875 he accepted a professorship in Maryville college, Tennessee, and in 1878 was elected president of Ashland college. His wife, Salome Z. Sharp; was the daughter of Shem Zook, a citizen of note and an extensive contributor to the ag- ricultural department at Washington. She was born March 31, 1839, at Reedsville, Mifflin county, Pennsyl- vania. The children of the above are: Annie I .. , born April 9, 1865; Theodore S., born August 15, 1869; and Maurice, born March 17, 1874.

GEORGE B. SMITH was born in Ashland, Ohio, De- cember 5, 18.44. He received his education at the Ash- land union schools, and at Kenyon college, Gambier, Ohic. He was admitted to the bar ot Ashland in 1367, after reading the required time and course in the office of his father, J. W. Smith, and soon after was taken into his father's business as partner, which partnership still exists. He was also admitted to the circuit court of the United States for the Northern district of Ohio, at Cleveland, in 1874. In 1879 he was married, at St. Louis, to Miss Jessie Sutherland, of that city, daughter of Hon. J. W. Sutherland, a former well known Ashland county boy. In 1878 he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of his county, being elected thereto by the Democratic party, of which he is an active work- ing meraber. At the end of his first term he was again renominated for the same position.

. HENRY J. PILE emigrated to the United States in 1853, when but fourteen years old. His parents, Werner H. H. and Margaretta Pille resided in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburgh, Germany, where they both died at the advanced age of seventy-four years. The family con- sisted of nine children, six boys and three girls. The latter died when young. The boys are still living. of whom four are in the United States. One, Francis H., is in Cincinnati; Herman Il. is in Massillon, Ohio ; Henry J. is in Ashland, and his twin brother, John H., in Dayton, Kentucky. Henry J. Pille came direct from Germany to Massillon Chio, where he resided for six years, and while there learned the trade of a tinner. He worked in several large cities in the United States,

and in 1859 went to Illinois, where he resided for nearly six years, working at his trade. During the late Rebel- lion he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment, Illinois volunteer infantry, and while in the service contracted disease, and was sent home on sick furlough, but did not join his regiment again, on account of his disease. The regiment was discharged from service at Chicago, Illinois. From this disease he has suffered more or less since that time. In 1866 he came to Ashland, Ohio, where he has resided ever since, working at his trade occasionally, as his health would allow. In the spring of 1867 he went into business with F. Knoth, and carried on the stove and tin trade for nearly four years, when he sold out, and in 1877 went into business again with Mr. F. Knoth, in which they are still engaged. In 1868 he married Fredericka Wendling, a native of the Rhine Province of Bavaria, Germany. They have three children, one boy and two girls. The oldest, Henry E., is eleven years of age; Josephine F., ten, and Carrie K., five. In religion, He is a member of the Catholic church, and in politics is an adherent to the Democratic principles,

WILLIAM HUNTER, born in Franklin county. Peansy !- vania, in 1780, died in Ashland county, Ohio, Septem- ber S, 1363. In ISos he was married io a Miss . Ray, by whom he had four children: Eleanor, Elizabeth, William R. and Martha. His wife aring in 1824, he married Jane McCrelia in 1826, and b; her had seven children: Mary, Isabelle, Anna, Rachel, Thomas S., Rose and Jennie, all of whom are living but Jennie, who died February 27, 1874. Before the war of iste, he moved from Franklin county to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and from there entered the army in that war, in Captain Jack's company of Pennsylvania militia. In 1834 be removed with his family to Vermillion town. ship, Ashland county, Ohio, where he resided to the day of his death, and was buried in Ashland cemetery. His widow resided in Vermillion township entil April, 18So, when she moved to Milton township, one mile west of Ashland. She was born April 2, 1Soo, and is at this time in the enjoyment of tolerable health. Two unmarried daughters are still living with her -- Isabelle and Ann. Eleanor married Eli Keslar and reared a large family, and at present lives in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where she has always resided. William R. also resides in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, where he married a Miss Wissing, of that county. They have had eleven children, of whom ten are still living: Elizabeth, married jesse Wedde. by whom she had one son. Mr. Weddle dicd, and she afterward married William Man, and raised six children

39;

394

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

with him. At present they live in Wooster, Ohio. Mar- tha married Michael Bourses, and resides in Butler, Indiana. Mary married Moses Moore, and has five children living; they reside in Ashland, Ohio. Rachel married Henry Hurmichouser, September 30, 185-, and immediately afterwards moved to Plymouth, Indiana, where they have resided ever since, having had two sons: Willie, who died August 3, 1879, aged twenty years; and Harry, who is still living, aged thirteen years. Thomas S. was born December 12, 1839, at the old home in Vermillion township, and attended the common school until the age of fifteen, when he went to Vermil- lion institute, then under the care of Dr. Diefendorf, for whom he has great reverence. At the age of sixteen he commenced teaching, and continued attending school and teaching until 1861. In the spring of 1861, he went to Indiana, and worked there till autumn, when he came home with the noted "Indiana shakes," which lasted nearly eighteen months. In the summer of 1863 he read medicine in Wooster, Ohio, with Dr. Rob- ison and his partner, where he continued untill May, 1864, when he went out as hospital steward in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, but soon acted as assistant surgeon. In the fall of 1864 he returned, and went to attend medical lectures at Jefferson Medical college, where he graduated in March, 1866. He came home and was married April 3, 1866, to Kate Blocher, of Wayne county, Ohio, daughter of John Blocher, deceased, of Canaan town- ship, Wayne county. He then located in Ashland for the practice of medicine and surgery, where he has remained ever since. They have a son, born June 3, 1867, and a dargliter, born January 2, 1877, comprising all their children. His wife, Kate Blocher, was born December 23, 1839, in Canaan township, Wayne county, Ohio.

OWEN TOMPKINS was born in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, February 7, 1839. His parents were Jobn Tompkins, who was also born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, and Mary, his wife, who was a native of Mon- treal, Canada. They had a family of eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, Emily, Mary, Margaret, Peter, John, Naomi and Owen. Soon after the birth of the latter his mother died. He remained with his father and the other members of the family until he became of age. In 186! he enlisted as a soldier in the war of the Re- bellion for the term of three months, and at the end of that time was appointed as second lieutenant in the Eighty second Pennsylvania volunteers for the three years service. During that time he was promoted from second to first lieutenant, and became adjutant of the regiment. In 1864 he was commissioned as captain of the company he first entered as lieutenant. After the close of the war, in 1867, he was conunissioned by the Secretary of War as a second lieutenant in the regular army, but from force of circumstances did not serve. Hle held a civil position under the State government of Pennsylvania five years, and in 1872 went to Columbus, Ohio, and in 1876 came to Ashland, where he has since been engaged in business. In 1863 he was married to

Prudence A. Russel, by whom he has one child, Will- iam M., born in August, 1866.

WILLIAM H. H. POTTER, the subject of this sketch, was born in Columbia township, Lorain county, Ohio, May 7, 1816. When an infant his parents removed to Medina county, Ohio, where he resided until eight years of age, when his father died, and he went to live with: Franklin Wells, where he remained until the age of twenty-one years. Until he was fifteen years old he fol- lowed farming as his vocation, but from that time until he was of age he worked in a store, and at the trade of cabinet making. From that time until the year 1849 or '50 he carried on the cabinet making business himself in Lorain and Ashland counties. After that date he en- gaged in the book and drug business at this place, Ash- land, until 1867, since which time he has carried on and owned the gas works and has furnished Ashland with gas. He. was married October 27, 1847, to Miss Catha- rine Peabody, who was born in New York State, July 21, 1819. By this union have been born nine children, five of whom are still living and named respectively, Emma F., who was born July 11, 1844; William H., born Jonu- ary 20, 1851; Charles W. H., born July 13, 1853; George E., born September 1, 1855; and Edgar A., born June 20, 1858. The ones deceased were Nancy Alice, born August 11, 1842, and died November 12, 1873; Mary Florence, born June 9, 1847, and died June 21, 1849; William C., born July 29, 1849, and died March 20, 1851; Frank Irwin, born July 2, 1861, and died October 8, 1862. William H. was married Sep- tember 16, 1878, to Miss Julia Young. Samuel Y. Potter, our subject's father, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, about the year 1795, and he together with his brother, came to this State at an early day, and lo- cated in Lorain county. From thence he removed to Medina county, where he died. At the time of his death he was sheriff of the county. He was married to Miss Sallie Pritchard, who died in 1849. She was also born in Connecticut, and removed with her parents to Ohio at an early day. Mr. Potter used to hear his parents recall the many hardships and privations that they together with their pioneer associates had to contend with, incident to pioneer life, that the present as well as the future generations will never know nor ex- perience. Mr. Potter has, by industry and good man- agement, made for himself and family a good home. He and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of all in the community where they reside or where they are known.

SAMUEL GATES WIEST was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1850. His parents are Jacob Wiest, his father, born November 24, 1825, and his mother, Margaret Wiest, born March 22, 182S. They still live in Pennsylvania, where they have raised a fam- ily of seven children, as follows: Samuel G., M. I., Em- ma S., Ellen B., Charles E., Ada Kate, and Anna I., of whom all but two live in the county of their birth. M. L. is in Ashland, and is a member of the firm of Bahn. ley & Co., marble cutters. Samuel G., the subject of this sketch, came to Ashland in June, 1875, and innde- diately engaged in the drug business with J. P. Harky ..

----------

-------

395

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

Hie afterwards took the old stand of W. K. Foltz, one door east of the Miller house, where he continued in business by himself until 1880, when he associated with himself E. W. Reaser, and still continues in the drug business. S. G. Wiest was married September 4, 1876, to Belle Mansfield, daughter of M. H. Mansfield, of Ashland, and has one child, John M., born February 4, 1379.

P. H. CLARK, M. D., was born August 3, 1816. His grandparents and parents were among the early settlers of Ohio, arriving in this State in 1817. Dr. H. M. Clark, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and was born in 178; he served as surgeon in the navy during the war of 1812-15. His mother was Imura Downs Clark, who was born in Connecticut in 1798. Their children were: P. H., Leander, Hannah M., and Theo. F. Both Lean- der and Theo. are in Tama county, Iowa; Hannah is the wife of Professor J. C. Bryant, of Bryant's Mercan- tile college, Buffalo. All of the above named children were born in Wakeman, Huron county, Ohio, whence the parents moved from Connecticut. The grandparents settled in Medina, where they lived and died. Dr. P. H. Clark, the subject of this sketch, studied at Oberlin college, and attended his first course of lectures at Willoughby Medical college, in the winter of 1839-40. He then moved to New Haven, Indiana, where he prac- ticed medicine six years. December 12, 1845, he was married to Sarah Jane MicDougall, of that place. She died December 6, 1846, and after her death he removed to Ozaukee, Wisconsin, where he practiced his profession four years. He was again married May 18, 1847, to Elizabeth Clark, daughter of B. B. Clark, M. D., of Ashland; she was his frst cousin, In June, 1850, they came to Ashland, where he has since been engaged in the practice of medicine, with the exception of two years, when he served as assistant surgeon in the war of the Rebellion. In the winter of 1861-2 he attended his second course of lectures at the Buffalo Medical college, from which he graduated in March, 1862. He was elected secretary of the Ashland County Pioneer Historical society, September 10, 1875, and still retains the office. He has been president of the Ashland Ceme- tery association several years; and has been a member of the Ohio State Medical association since june, 1862, and has been United States pension examining surgeon since December, 1862

M. R. Gorrany was born in Huron county, Ohio, August 3, 1842. His father, William A. Godirey, was born in New York State; his mother was also a native of the same State. They raised three children: Zera, who lives in Michigan; Elizabeth, who lives in Huron county; and Michael R., the subject of this sketch. The latter enlisted in the Sixteenth Ohio volunteer in- fantry for the three months' service. In October, 1864, he was married to Miss Deloras Everet, and the day following his marriage he enlisted in the Twenty ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served until the dose of the war. To them have been born five chil- dren, as follows: Cora E., Ida May, William A., Charles and Mabel.

AIMER R. CAMPBELL was born May 19, 1853. His grandparents were of Scotch and Irish ancestry, and came from Pennsylvania to Ashiland ,county, where his father, James Campbell, was born, May 19, 1828. His mother, Isabel Can bell, was born in the same county, and is now living in Bowling Green, Wood county, Ohio, his father having died February 9, 1875. They had five children, three of whom died in childhood. Laura E. i. the wife of Titus Beck, of Bowling Green. Almer R., the subject of this sketch, received his education at Baldwin university, Berca, Ohio, after which he taught school until 1875, when he commenced reading law with his uncle, R. M. Campbell, esq., of Ashland, with whom he was a partner one year. In 1877 he was elected jus- tice of the peace for Montgomery township, which office he held for three years.

BENJAMIN GROSSCUP, son of Paul and Rebecca Grosscup, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, September 15, 1818. Benjamin's father was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1784, and his mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Shearer, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1786, and died in 1859. They were married in 1810. Paul Grosscup it- moved to Milion township, Ashland county, Ohio, in 1830, with his family, consisting of five sons and two daughters, of whom two are now living-Benjamin and Daniel. Benjamin owned the farm in Milton township, which he helped to clear, until 1872, when he removed to Ashland. He was married in 1843 to Susannah Bowermaster, who was born October 14, 1821, and came to Milton township with her parents in :842. Frederick Bowermaster, her father, was born in Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, in 1782, and was manied to Catharine Mohler, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, who was born in 178z and died in 1857. They raised a family of four children, one son and three daughius. Mr. Benjamin Grosscup has had four children: Lehman, who died; Peter S., born February 15, 1852; Frederick P., born April 5, 1854; Benjamin S., born October 1.4, 1858.

JACKSON S. WERTMAN was born March 13, 18.45. His grandparents were from Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, where his father, William Wortman, was born about 1817. In 1937 the family came to Ohio and set- tied in the present county of Ashiland. His father came to Ashland about 1840, where he married Susannah Stahl, in 1844. She was a native of Harrisburgh, Penn- sylvania, and was born about 1821. She died in 1859. after raising a family of four children: J. S., Z. T., E P .; and Virginia. The father was again married about 1862, to Keziah Cvibertson, by whom he had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The surviving one, Ida L., is now living in Ashiand county. J. S. Wertman, the subject of this sketen, completed his education in Wit. tenberg college in 180g. After leaving college he occu- pied himself with teaching for a time, and then engaged in surveying and engineering. in 187; he conaneneed reading law at Indianapolis, Indiana, in the office of B I. Davis. From thence he came to Ashland county, in 1877, where he has since practiced his profession. lie

-------------

------- 1

396

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

was married to Sara Kilgore, of Indianapolis, June 16, 1875, and by her has had two children, of whom one died in infancy. The other, Shields K .. was born May 9, 1877. The grandfather of J. S. Wertman, settled on the farm new owned by William Wertman, where our subject and his brothers and sisters were born.

JOHN DAMP was born in England, May 15, 1834. His father, James Damp, died in England; his mother died at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. They raised a family of six children, of whom Samuel lives at Olmsted Falls; Wil- Ham at Akron; Elizabeth at Olathe, Kansas; Edward at Olmsted Falls; and Joseph at Randolph, California. John Damp learned the trade of milling in England, where he served four years, and afterwards worked one year at the business. When twenty years of age be canie to this country, and remained at Cuyahoga Falls from 1856 to 1865, when he removed to Ashland, where he has since resided, with the exception of three years, when he was engaged in milling at Mansfield. His mill at that place was destroyed by fire, and in the fall of 1869 he returned to Ashland. Since that time he has been engaged in milling at this place, with different partners, and has been associated with E. T. Drayton since 1877, under the firm name of Damp & Drayton. He was married February 20, 18GI, to Fannie Palmer, of Cuyahoga Falls, by whom he has had five children. Three of the children died in infancy. Those now liv- ing are Albert Grant, born December 31, 1863, and Anna Bell, boin October 6, 1874.

NELSON THOMAS was born. June 6, 1831. His father was a native of Wales, where he was born about 1786; he died nesu Jeromeville, Ohio, in 1853. His mother, Anna. Thomas, was born in New Jersey, about 1806. They had a family of five children, of whom Jane died in Kosciusko county, Indiana; Elizabeth, who married J. M. Hess, and lives in Cass county, Missouri; Amanda, who married Thomas Norris, and lives in Ful- ton county, Indiana: Sarah M., who married Joseph H. Page, and lives in Cass county, Missouri. Nelson Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was married when twenty-one years of age, to Sarah Keister, of Hayes- ville, Ohio. They have had six children, five of whom are living. One son, Franklin, died October 30, 1877, at the age of nineteen.

B. K. MYERS was born in Carroll county, Maryland, December 21, 1834. His father, John Myers, was a native of the same county, as was his mother, Hannah Myers, both of whom died in Ashland county, after raising a family of eight children, as follows: Eliza, David, Mary A., Israel, Sarah A., Lydia, Henry K. and Julia A. Henry K. Myers, the subject of this sketch, came to Ohio in the fall of 1839, with his parents and their family, and settled in Orange township, Ashland county. He remained at his father's for some years, working a part of the time in the saw-mill owned by his father. While there he was married to Anna Shoe- maker, of Chester township, Wayne county, Ohio, by whom he has had five children, one of whom, Allen Gilbert, died in infancy. The others are John W., Mary E., David N. and Bertha B. Mr. Myers re-

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 96

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