History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 98

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

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EPHRAIM SLOCUM was born in Stillwater, Livingston county, New York, March 19, 2818, and was brought to Ohio by his parents the year of his birth. They settled a nile and a half east of Achland, where Mr. Slocum new lives. His education was limited to the subscrip. tion schools of the day. and two winters in the district

schools of New York. When twelve years of age he went to the mouth of Black river and there clerked two years, when he returned to his home. Soon after he went to Onondaga county, New York, where he also re- mained two years. On his return fron; Buffalo to Cleve- land the vessel on which he sailed narrowly escaped wrecking, and was obliged to return to port. Another start was made, and after rough sailing for a day and a half they arrived at Cleveland. From that point he walked the entire distance to Ashland, through an almost unbroken forest. In 1837 he went with a team to Illinois, and down the river from Peoria to Danville, Kentucky, in a boat, from which point he walked to his home. May 14, 1840, he was married to Eliza Freer, by whom he had nine children-E. W., Harriet, Melissa, Annice, Albert, Ida, Emma, Alfred and Fred. Mrs. Slocum died November 4, 1855. August 20, 1856, he was again married to Martha P. Carter. Mr. Slocum: and his brother Eli bought the homestead several years before the death of their father. Ephraim still retains his purchase, but Eli sold his some years since.

CAPTAIN EMANUEL FINGER was born in Orange town- ship, Ashland county, November 6, 1834. He has served as auditor of the county two terms, in addition to six months to which he was appointed by the county commissioners. At the present time he is the com- manding officer of company C, in the Seventeenth regi- ment of Ohio National Guards, of Ashland, which, under the drill of himself and the junior officers of the com- pany, has reached a high degree of proficiency. The following is a list of the officers and members of com- pany C: captain, Emanuel Finger; first lieutenant, John Vantilburg; second lieutenant, William Drumheller; ser geants, William H. Ambrose, Peter Bechtel, Allen Thomas, J. P. Kosht, M. I. Wiest; corporals, Frank Whitmore, John McCombs, Reuben Davis, Ralph Smith, J. W. Brown, George Uric, Martin Grindle; privates, George Brown, Edward Campbell, Daniel Buchler, Co !- lins Bushnell, Charles Cook, George Downs, Lewis Drum, Henry Edy, William Fullington, William Gribbins, E. J. Hard, George Horn, Parvin Kosht, Charles Knapp, W. A. Lockart. Wesley Miller, Milton Miller, Lyman Mari- etta, D. A. Phillips, J. M. Pry, Hiram Sloan. C. C. Sanei, Charles Smalley, Lewis Satler, Willian Whitmore, Mat- thew Williams, Ed. Widgeon, Elmer Woods, Eli Stark, D. S. Youngblood.

JAMES FERGUSON was born in Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, June 31, 1830. In 1867 he removed to Ashland county, where he now resides. He bas three children -. Ruth, James, and William P. His fist wife, and the mother of his children, died and he has been a second time married.

JESSE: WERTMAN was born in Columbia county, Penn. sylvania, May 18, ISto, and there lived until 1838. when he came to this county. He was married Decem- bei 19. 1835. 10 Ana Pursell, who was a native of the samne county. where she was born June 30, '810. To them have been born twelve children. two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Charks N, Wilham F .. Mary E., Marin C., Daniel, Harriet, Jacob, Qual M.,

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

john and Simon. Mr. Wertman has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits.

WILLIAM WERTMAN was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1815. In 1537 he came to Ohio and remained in Stark county one year, after which he removed te this county, there be Las since resided. By trade he is.a saddle and harness maker, which business he followed for many years, but of late has devoted his time to his farm in Charcreek township. He was mar- ried in October, 1845, to Susannah Stort, by whom he had four children . Jackson S., Zacharay T., Eugene T. and Sarah V. Mrs. Wertman died in iS6o, aged about forty-five years. Ile was a second time married, No- vember 24, 1862, to Keziah Culbertson, who has borne two children: Ida J. and Arthur J. The latter died March 20, 1865.

BENJAMIN STAMAs came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, in about 1827. In :830 he was married to Anna Kauffman, who came with her parents from the same county at about the same time. She was the daughter of Dr. John Kauffman, who was a physi- cian of good reputation, both in Pennsylvania and after his settlement in this State. To Mi. and Mrs. Staman were born five children, two of whom died in infancy and childhood. and one, Jacob B., died when twenty years of age. The two now hving are John K. and Christian C. Mr. Staman built a saw-mill on his pro- perty, which has since been several times repaired and added to, and is yet in use. His wife died in ($77, and be now lives with his son John K. After he had been here some time he bought a portion of the Zimmer or Seymour place, which he still retains. John K. Staman, his son, was born March 8, 1833, and was married Feb- ruary 25, 1869, to Elizabeth A. Grabill. They have had five children: Anna E., Clara B., Cyrus B. (who died when seven months of age), Willard and Frank Chris- tian C. Staman was born June ?5, 1838, and was inar- ried in 1863 to Elizabeth Croninger. They have had two children, Nettie and Halde ?. The latter died in infancy. Both John K. and C. C. Staiman have fine collections of Indian antiquities and geological speci- mens.

JACOB WESTMAN, of Clearcreek township, died on November 26, 1873, aged seventy-six. Mary Wertman, his wife, died July vr, 1865, aged about sixty-five. Their sous, Jesse and Williom, live on the old home- stend, and Enoch in Milton township. They are all farmers by occupation, and influential men in the county.

GEORGE FAST was born in Fayette county. Pennsyl- vania, Jane 4, 150 ;. He removed with his parents, Christian and Barbara Fast, to Orange township, then Richland, but now in Ashland county, in the spring of A815, and has remained upon the homestead then en- terei and purchased for his father ever since, and has always been a hard working farmer. Upon reaching manhood. be married Miss sarah Brink, who was born December 12, 19og, and deceased in 1875. aged about sixty-eight years. By this union there were ten children, of whom Nancy .A., Jonathan M., Hannah J, Delia,

George W. and William survive. In October, 1877, he married Hannah Rubenau. Mr. Fast has resided on the homestead about sixty-five years, and is one of the oldest pioneers in the township. He has always been a plain fariner, and possess a valuable property. Ile is yet vigorous in mind and body. He was the eleventh child of the late Christian Fast, the old captive, who forinerly lived with the Delaware Indians, and of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

SUSANNAH C. HOFFMAN was born on the thirteenth of March, 1815, in Jefferson county, Ohio, and died August 24, 18So, in Ashland, Ohio. At the time of her birth her father was clearing up the farm now occupied by Edward Wallace in Clearcreek township, whither the fanily soon moved. She spent her entire life of over sixty-five years in this immediate vicinity. When about twenty years of age she united with the Methodist Epis- cojel church, which then worshipped in the old stone house on Court square. Her life has been one of quiet, intelligent, consistent piety. Infirmity, resulting from disease more than age, has kept her closely at home for some years. But she has been cheerful, though. much alone and often afflicted.

MRS. NANCY SHEETS, whose name before marriage was Nancy Harper, was born in Fairfax county, Vir- gioia, June 12, 1796. Her parents emigrated to Jeffer- son county, Ohio, in the summer of 1812. While re- siding there in November, iSig, she married Mr. Joseph Sheets, and removed to Uniontown, now Ashlard, in November, 1317, where she has resided almost contin- noush ever since. It was then a mere village, and ha ? but three families residing in it. These were the juni- lies of William Montgomery, David Markley and John Croft. Mr. Markley owned a small stock of goods, Mr. Montgomery had a small tavern, and Mr. Croft a sua !! tannery where Whiting & Shearer's manufactory now stands. Its population did not exceed one doren. Since that time great changes have taken place, as this was sixty-three years ago. The human mind can hardly comprehend it. Yesterday, a wilderness full of will ani- mals and red men. now the Indian has gone, and luvu- riant fields occupy his place in the forest. Mrs. Shorts lived through the administration of seventeen presidents, from Washington to Hayes. At her bath we had thir- teen States in the Union, and a population of three and a half millions; now we have thirty-seven States and a population of fifty millions in this great republic. Hs internal inmovements : canals, railroads, pikea, "teke- graphs, and the like, Gli the land. The red mon that often visited our village then, now finds a home in the far west; well cultivated fields are now found where the native forest then was. Ashland, with slight vorlubo, is what the pioneers have made ir, and will continue through the generations to come, natil, by some cates trophe, chaos and the wilderness shill return again. These things are cted the Piertu ? o. Mas. Sheets dur clear way. sie often doch then the times of the ; in. nous and that hardships, and seemed to this ale interest in the welfare of their posterity.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

She possessed a clear mind to the last. On the after- noon of June 12, 1880, her eighty-fourth birthday, many of her old neighbors assembled at the residence of Mr. Samuel Sheets and congratulated her upon her great age and fine health. Fears were expressed that it would be the last meeting of many of her aged. friends. The party proved to be a very cheerful assemblage, and was very gratifying to the old lady. She again met the pio- neers at their meeting August 19th, and was in her usually cheerful temper. It was not then supposed that she would never meet with the society again, but in less than a week she was borne to her grave. She died after a brief illness at the residence of her son, Mr. Samuel Sheets, in Ashland, August 26, 1880, aged eighty-four years, two months and fourteen days.

Mrs. Sheets was a Christian lady. She had many friends among the pioneers. She had been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1816, and lived an ex- emplaty life. Her funeral was preached by Rev. John Robinson, D. D., assisted by Rev. Mr. Persons. The members of her family were: Elizabeth, Joseph, Will- iam, Maria, Martha, Alfred, Samuel, Mary and Sarah; all living but Joseph and Alfred, who died young.

Peace to her ashes.

D. B. GRAY was born in Columbia county, Pennsylva- nia, July 9, 1813. In 1847 he came to Ohio and settled in Ashland, fiom which point he run a stage line to Mansfield, Wooster, Oberlin, New London, and Shelby, for some twenty years, during the same time conducting a livery business at Ashland, at which he is still engaged. He was married in 1849 to Catharine Stentz, of Ashland county, and has raised a family of seven children, all of whom are living. They are Mary, Hattie, Nellie, Jennie, Will, Burr, and Addison. Two are married -- Hattie, who lives in Texas, and Mary, who lives in Illinois. Will is a telegraph operator.

MICHAEL MILLER was born in Alsace, France, Sep- teinber 18, 1818, and came to this country in 1840, locating at Wooster, where he remained until 1846, when he came to Ashland. For several years he followed the bakery and confectionery business, and in 1853 built the hotel known as the "Miller House" in Ashland, over which he has since presided, with the exception of one year. In 1875 he was elected treasurer of Ashland county, and held that office two termins. March 20, 1845, he was married. His wife, Mrs. Susan Miller, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, August to, 1825. They have raised a family of four children, Hulbert, Charles, Snyder, and Della. Hulbert was a soldier in the reg- ular army three years, and during that time contracted rheumatism and was discharged. He never recovered his health, and died from this disease. Charles is also deceased.

Dos F. TAYLOR, son of Judge John Taylor, was born july 6, 1849. in Green township, Ashland courty. He obtained an education at Greentown academy. and read lay in 1893 with Andrew Stevenson of Mansfield, com- plating his studies with R. M. Campbell, of Ashland. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar in fhenry county, and soon after formed a partnership with Mh. Campbell,

which continued about one year. . At the time he was admitted to the bar he was a candidate before the county convention for the office of prosecuting attorney, but did not secure the nomination. At the termination of his partnership with Mr. Campbell he went to Perrys- ville, where he had an office for a short time, but his father being elected probate judge of the county, he returned to Ashland and became probate clerk, which position he now fills. He was married to Normanda F. Robinson, and has a family of three children-May Belle, Don R., and an infant.

ROBERT W. SMITH was born near Sudbury, Vermont, December 1, 1799, and went with his parents, Elisha and Amy Smith, first to the State of New York, and afterward moved to Ohio about 1817 or 1818, first settling on the farm of Major Tyler in what is now Plain township. Wayne county, Ohio.

Elisha and Amy Smith were natives of the State of Massachusetts, and Asa Smith, father of Elisha, was in the French war and Revolution, at the battle of Bunker Hill, etc.

Robert W. was the oldest son of a family of eleven children, and the first winter, on coming to Ohio, his father being sick, and unable to do anything, the care of the family and all the heavy labor fell upon him. During the first fall and winter he and bis brother, Asa, a lad of fourteen, cut off, cleared and fenced twenty acres of heavily timbered land, and also with a few neighbors' help, built and covered a double log barn. About this time Elisha, his father, entered a quarter sec- tion in Mohican township, Ashland county. Ohio, some three miles from their home, and all extra time was hin- proved to first build a hut where the men could cook and sleep while clearing, and building a cabin for the family to move into a few years later. This was the homestead to which the family moved, and where Elisha and Amy Smith lived and died ; the first in January, in 1851, and the second in August, 1856.

Elisha Smith, father of Robert W., was born February 18, 1773, and Amy Smith, his mother, was born April ;, 1778. They had the following children: Mary, born March 4, 1796; Electa, born January 17, 1798; Robert W., born December 1, 1799; Rachel, born October 29, ISo1; Asa, born September 21, 18o3; Hervey, born August 17, 1865; William R., born July 14, 1307; Willard, born May 11, 1809; Daniel P., born May 19, 1811 ; Elisha F., born February 19, 1815, and Daton, born May 31, 1817.

Robert W. Smith was married to Priscilla Hatch about January, 1823. She was a native of New York, bom March 25, 1799, and died March 3, 1837. The family consisted of eight children: Wilbur R., Julia AA., Chsha, Adelia, Lydia, Asa, Edmund P., and Harriet Smith, all deceased, save Edmund P. Robert W. Smith's life was full of the hardships, privations and dangers of pioneer life. At one time returning late to his hut with provi- sions, and night overtaking him, he was chased a long distance by a pack of hungry. wolves, and only escaped by throwing a hom of fresh pork to them as be sprong into the hat which was opened and quickly closed by a

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

comrade inside. He was full of energy, and amongst his first successful enterprises, was buying cattle and oxen, and driving them to Detroit, Michigan, to sell, passing through "Black Swamp" where there were twenty miles without a habitation, and often compelled to return to his starting point at night for accommoda- tions for himself and horse. In later years his son, Edmund P., often accompanied him to Michigan to buy cattle to bring home to graze and fatten on his farms. He bought horses, and travelled them to New York city to sell, and sold dry goods in the town of Mohicanville. The latter business proved very unprof- itable, but he died worth a handsome competence, leaving a name of stainless integrity to community, and a sacred memory of unfailing tenderness and affection for his family and friends. He died july 16, 1862. About 1844 he married a worthy and estimable lady, Mrs. Isabella Cliffe, a native of Scotland, who still sur- vives at the ripe age of eighty years. She passes her de- clining years with her son, Dr. D. B. Cliffe, of Franklin, Tennessee, a very prominent physician, and noted dur- ing the civil war for his unwavering devotion to the Union.

JUDGE TULLY C. BUSHNELL was born in Vermillion township, Ashland county, May 5, 1826. His grand- father, Sterling G. Bushnell, was one of the early pioneers of this county; a sketch of his life will be found in another part of this work. His father, Collins Bush- nell, lived in Vermillion township during his life. In 1832 OF 1833 business called him to New Orleans, where the cholera was raging; he was attacked by the disease, and died at Fort Adams on his return trip. Collins Bushnell left a widow, Eliza Potts Bushnell, who after- ward married Mr. Janette Purdy, and died in IS42. She was the mother of three children by her first husband: Tully C., Sterling G., and Collins W.

Judge Tully C. Bushnell obtained an education at the old Ashland academy, under the instruction of Lorin Andrews, and before reaching his majority in 1846, en- gaged in the mercantile business, which he followed until the breaking out of the war. In August, 1861, he en- tered the service as captain of company C, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, General Garfick 's regiment. He was also largely instrumental in recruiting company Il of the same regiment. He was in the service fifteen months, and in the Cumberland Gap campaign planted the first dag on the enemy's works. He was in several engagements, and was specially mentioned by the com- manding general, George W. Morgan, for gallant conduet in resisting the attack of General Stevenson's division for two hours, with but forty men under his command. On account of disability he was discharged from the service, and returned to his home in Ashland, where he was con- fined to the house for nine months. After his recovery he entered the quartermaster's department at Nashville, as chief cierk, and remained at that post some six month:, In November, 1366, he was appointed by Governor Cox to fill the unexpired term of Judge Ing mand, as probate judge of the county, and was after. wards elected to fill the balance of the short term, and

one full tenn of three years, on the Republican ticket, in a strong Democratic county. Since the expiration of his term in the probate office he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits and the produce business, and at . present, attends to the wool trade. He was married January 4, 18448. to Nancy C. Willson, and has raised a family of five children -one son and four daughters. 1 The eldest, Allie W., married S. D. Willson; Frank T. C. married Miss Ollie Corbus; Garie married Danic! Smith; Emma Grace and Nettie Maud remain at home,

CHARLES HOY, sp., was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Stark county, Ohio, some time prior to the war of 1812, in which he served as a soldier three months. In May, 1817, he came to Jack- son township, then in Wayne county, in company with John Mason, and located on section two, in the forest. His family consisted of his wife and son Joseph, then a child, now of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first set tleis in the township who had preceded him were: Isaac Lyons, John Jackson, Daniel and John Davault, and Noah Long, with their families Of these, Noah Long is believed to have located as early as 1816. These pio- neers are all deceased. In 1819 Mr. Hoy purchased a quarter in section twenty-seven, upon which he raised a cabin. It was built in the winter and had at first a ground floor, and was not daubed with clay. A tent was put ap within the building to protect Mrs. Hoy and the children from the cold. Mr. Hoy felled a large tree out of which he split and prepared puncheons for a floor. Mrs. Hoy assisted him in conveying them to their place in the cabin. These were hard times, yet Mr. Hoy often stated that they were the most agreeable of his life. The settlers for many miles around willingly assisted each other in raising cabins, rolling logs, and clearing fields for culture. At this time the forests abounded in game of every kind, and the Delaware and Wyandot Indians often camped and hunted all around him. They were, at that time, a harmless people, and never disturbed him er his property; in fact were honest and trusty as neigh- bors. Mr. Hoy was a full cousin of Adam and Andrew Poe, and was a stout, vigorous man. His weight was about two hundred pounds, and his height about six feet; hence, he feared no man, red or white, in a personal contest, though always noted as a man of peace. In ISei he was elected a justice of the peace, but declined to serve, not desiring to fill any office, though eminently qualified. He was ambitious only to be a successful! farmer. He cleared and improved his fine homestead and engaged largely in improving and rising fine stock, at which he was very successfid. His home farm was valuable and handsomely located, and the toil thus spent on it rendered him comfortable and independent as old age approached. In the fall of is6; he visited friends in the State of illinois, and while there he became sud- denly ill, and deceased aged seventy eight years. His remains were brought to Asklar land deposted in the cemetery, where they now repose. His family consisted of Joseph, of New Orleans: Charles, of Coshocton: Dawson, of Jackson township: Mrs. E. V. South, of Ashland, and Mrs. Rachel, wife of Rev. Lyons Mrs.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

Mary Hoy survived until August, 1871, when she died aged seventy-seven years, and was buried in the com- etery at Ashland, beside her esteemed husband.

DANIEL FOLK, the subject of this sketch, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, March 6, 1845. When about ten years old, his parents removed to this (Ashland) county, where he has since resided. He was mar- ried February 20, 1866; to Miss Virginia I., daughter of Captain W. A. G. Emerson, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Folk's occupation is that of saildle and harness making, having been engaged at that business for the past fourteen or fifteen years, and he is considered by all to be a very proficient workman in all the different branches pertaining to the trade. For the past few years he has been foreman for the firm of J. W. Davis, at Ashland.

JACOB P. COWAN, M. D., was born of Scotch-Irish parents, in the village of Florence, Washington county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1823. He attended the schools of that place until thirteen years of age, when he re- moved with his parents to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1835, and was engaged in manufacturing until 1843, when he com- -------

menced the study of medicine and removed to Jerome- ville, Ashland county, Ohio, in 1846, and engaged in the practice of his profession ; attended lectures and graduated at Starling Medical college, in Columbus; was elected a member of the State legislature in 1855, and re-clected in 1857. At the expiration of his term in 1859, he removed to Ashland and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1874 he was nominated and elected to Congress from the Fourteenth district, composed of the counties of Ashland, Holmes, Richland, Wyandot, and Crawford. While a member, he served on several standing commit- tces and was chairman of the committee on militia. The doctor was married in June, 1846, to Miss Mary J. Hooker, of West Virginia. He has had, by this union, nine children: Randolph and Darwin S .; Dr. Frank, of Jeromeville; Samantha (Mrs. Dr. Benjamin Myers), William F .; Lucy and Edgar; Harry and Emma. Of these, Mrs. Myers, Harry and Emma, Randolph and Darwin Stanton, are deceased. In political opinion the doctor is a Democrat. At present he is the senior inem- ber of the medical firm of Cowan & Myers, of Ashland, Ohio.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS FOR DR. HILL'S HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

51.

B. F. Nelson, 127.

C. and J. Vantilburg,

1. J. O. Jennings, 71. John Shapperd,

52.

L. Wertman, 122.

Michael Myers,

Joseph Patterson, 72.

N. M. Swearingen,

53.

H. Ames, 123.

54. Simon Brindle, 12.4.

55. Isaac Roseberry,

56. J. W. Davis,

126.

Frank S. Jamison,

6. John Taylor,

76. J. P. Devor,

5S. James Gibson,

128.

Tobias Crone,

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History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 98

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