USA > Ohio > Harrison County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 121
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 121
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Brought up on the home farm, John Young acquired his early education in Stock Town- ship, attending the Posy Hill School very regu- larly. Having obtained a practical knowledge of the agricultural arts while working with his father, he migrated, in 1889, to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farm- ing for nearly four years. Returning then to Stock Township, Mr. Young bought the an- cestral homestead, and in its management has since taken great pleasure, as a general farmer and stock raiser having met with far more than average success. On his finely cultivated farm of 2571% acres, he has made improvements of value, his attractive home having steam heat, and running hot and cold water, the whole estate having an air of neatness and prosperity that never fails to attract the attention of the passer-by.
On June 11, 1888, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Anna Baker, who was born in Washington Township, Harrison County, Ohio, a daughter of the late Henry Baker. A native of Archer Township, Harrison County, Ohio. Mr. Baker bought land in Washington Township as a young man, and was there prosperously en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, January 9, 1892. He married Esther Woods, who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Baker had a family of twelve children, as follows: Margaret Anna, who lived but a few years; Thomas; Mary; Eli died in infancy; Sarah; Oscar died in in- fancy ; Ezirah; Arminda Jane; Emmett; Anna, who became the wife of Mr. Young; Lemrick and Ida.
Five children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Young, namely : Bessie D., wife of Russell E. Blackwell. who served in the World war for twenty-two months, going over- seas with his command; Robert H., engaged in farming with his father, married Bessie Maler- nee, and they have one child, Anna Maxine; Mary Elizabeth lived but five months; Ida F. married Ray R. Walker, a soldier in the World war for ten months, served in France, and on three occasions went over the top; and Grace Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Young are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church at Deers- ville, and generous contributors towards its support.
HORACE A. PENNOCK was a native of Carroll County and a representative of the third genera- tion of the Pennock family in this county, with whose civic and industrial development and progress the family name has been worthily
and prominently linked. He was born in Au- gusta Township, April 9, 1848, and is a son of Joel and Charlotte (Van Horn) Pennock, both of whom passed their entire lives in Carroll County. Joel Pennock was a son of Enoch and Rebecca (Pennock) Pennock, who were born in the state of Pennsylvania. In 1816 Enoch Pennock and his brothers George and Nathaniel came from Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, to what is now Carroll County, where they took up a large tract of land in the pres- ent Augusta Township, the greater part of this land being still in possession of the Pennock family, by representatives of which it was re- claimed from the virgin forest and developed into the fine farm property of the present day. Enoch Pennock here remained until his death, in 1865; George Pennock died at the age of forty-eight years; and Nathaniel, who remained a bachelor, survived his brother George by three years. In Chester County, Pennsylvania. the ancestor of Horace A. Pennock was granted a tract of land in recognition of his service as a soldier in the War of the Revolution. and the same lofty patriotism has characterized the Pennock family in all succeeding generations.
Joel Pennock was reared on the old pioneer homestead which was the place of his birth, made good use of the advantages afforded in the common schools of the period, and as a youth he learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed in connection with his farm enterprise for a number of years. He was one of the hon- ored and influential citizens of Augusta Town- ship, was a republican in politics from the time of the organization of the party until his death, served twenty-four years as justice of the peace. and both he and his wife were birthright mem- bers of the Society of Friends, to the faith of which they ever adhered with consistent devo- tion. They became the parents of seven chil- dren-Mary, Horace A., Isaac N., Willard, Martha, Sarah Rebecca and Almira, and the lat- ter died at the age of four years; Roy Joel Pennock died when about sixty years of age and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-two years.
Horace A. Pennock passed the period of his childhood and early youth on the old home farm and in addition to attending the rural schools of Augusta Township he was for two terms a student in Harlem College, at Har- lem Springs. In company with his brothers Isaac N. and Willard he became a successful contractor in the building of cars for differ- ent railroad corporations, and with this line of industrial enterprise he continued his active association for a quarter of a century. There- after he was engaged in the erection of houses and other buildings, as a representative con- tractor in his native county, but he gained special prominence as a railroad mechanic and contractor, his paternal grandfather having followed this line of work to a considerable de- gree in the early days of railroad operations. He formerly owned about eighty acres of land in and adjacent to the village of Minerva. and he retained a tract of eight acres in the village. where, as a contractor, he erected many of the. houses that add to the attractions of the place ..
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The most of the houses which he thus built are situated on Valley Street, and on this thorough- fare his own attractive home was situated.
Mr. Pennock was unwavering in his allegiance to the republican party and for twenty-three years he held the office of justice of the peace, besides which he served several terms as mayor of Minerva. He has lived for many years on the last farm which his father owned, in and contiguous to Minerva, and much of the land is now platted into village lots. He was con- tinuously in his native county save for an inter- val of ten years passed in the oil districts of Pennsylvania, in Butler County.
On the 26th of September, 1868, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Pennock to Miss Me- linda Harriett Long, who was born in Carroll County, in 1849, and whose death occurred in August. 1899, she having been a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of this union were born three children: Percy L., who was born January 26, 1872, is now in the gro- cery business in Minerva, the maiden name of his wife having been Mary Hotchkiss, and their one child being a son, Percy L., Jr. Lundy L., who was born May 28, 1877, and who is a traveling salesman, resides in Chicago, the maiden name of his wife having been Florence Bider. Hattie E., who was born March 7, 1888, received, like her brothers, the advantages of the public schools of Minerva and later was graduated in a high school in Pennsylvania, where the family home was at that time estab- lished. She was for six years a popular teacher In the schools of Carroll County and in 1910 she became the wife of Orrin C. Gotschall, their home being maintained at Minerva, Ohio.
On the 14th of February, 1902, Horace A. . Pennock was united in marriage to Miss An- geline DeFord, a daughter of Alonzo L. and Mary A. (Pennock) DeFord, the latter a daugh- ter of George Pennock, one of the three brothers who, as previously noted in this article, settled in Carroll County more than a century ago. John and Matilda (Littell) DeFord, grandpar- ents of Mrs. Pennock, likewise were pioneers of this county. Mr. Pennock died March 17. 1921, and was buried in the old cemetery at Minerva. Mrs. Pennock will make her future home at Alliance, Ohio.
It should be stated that Mr. Pennock became widely known in former years as a breeder of fine draft and road horses, a line of enterprise to which he gave special attention for many years, within which he owned at times from six to eight of the best stallions he could purchase. He was one of the loyal and public-spirited men of his native county and a popular representa- tive of one of its honored pioneer familles.
HAMILTON R. BLAZER. Since its establish- ment in Carroll County many years ago, the Blazer family has unfailingly sustained the most intelligent and practical interests of the com- munity in agriculture and in citizenship. Its men have demonstrated the worth of industry and integrity, and its women have kept their houses in order and taught their children to be fair. honest and considerate in their dealings with their fellow-men. It was in such an at-
mosphere of encouragement that Hamilton R. Blazer, for many years an agriculturist of Washington Township, but since 1910 superin- tendent of the Carroll County Infirmary, was reared by his parents, Philip Burget and Mary (Bothwell) Blazer.
Mr. Blazer was born in Center Township, Carroll County, in April, 1855. His grandpar- ents, Basil and Jane (Burget) Blazer, were na- tives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, at an early date and there rounded out their careers in the pursuits of the soll. Philip Burget Blazer was born in Jeffer- son County, and in young manhood removed to Lee Township, Carroll County, where he met and married Mary Bothwell, who was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a daughter of George and Jane (Armstrong) Bothwell, natives of Ire- land who after a stay in Pennsylvania came to Carroll County and here passed the declining years of their lives. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Philip B. Blazer settled in Lee Town- ship, but later moved to Center Township, where Mr. Blazer carried on farming until his death, May 10, 1889. By his first marriage, to Mary Allman, he had five children: William. James. Basil, Silas and Anna Mary, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Basil, who is a resident of Dellroy, Ohio. Philip B. and Mary ( Bothwell) Blazer became the parents of eight children, namely : Hamilton R .; Thomas, of Center Township; David, of Carrollton; Jo- seph, deceased ; Howard, of Stark County, Ohio; Morris B., of Washington Township; John. of Center Township; and George W., deceased.
Hamilton R. Blazer acquired his educational training at the Possum Hollow district school in Center Township and remained on the home farm until his marriage, following which he rented land. At the time of his father's death. in the division of the elder man's estate, he received an inheritance of 130 acres in Washington Town- ship, on which he carried on successful opera- tions until 1910. In that year, when appointed superintendent of the Carroll County Infirmary, he sold his farm, and for eleven years has de- voted himself uninterruptedly to the care of the county wards placed in his charge. Mr. Blazer has acquitted himself in an able manner in dis- charging the duties and responsibilities of his office and his record is that of a capable, con- scientious and thorough public official. For- merly he was for many years a member of the agricultural board of Carroll County. When still in his infancy he was taken to the County Fair by his parents, and since then has not failed to attend every event of this kind held in Carroll County. In politics Mr. Blazer is an adherent of republican principles. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On December 6, 1877, Mr. Blazer was united in marriage with Miss Anna Moorhead, who was born in Lee Township, Carroll County, daughter of Abraham and Martha (Ralston) Moorhead, the former a native also of Lee Township and the latter of the state of West Virginia. To this union there have been born three children: Martha, the wife of Charles Moorhead of Los Angeles, California ; Zink W.,
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of Carrollton; and Grace, who died at the age of twenty-eight years, as the wife of Paul George.
HENBY BRACHIN Was one of the prosperous farmers of Union Township during many years of his useful life, and through his industry, thrift and good management accumulated a competency which left his family in comfortable circumstances when he died. He was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, a son of Cornelius and Rebecca ( Brooks) Brachin, natives of Ireland. who came to the United States about 1816, and located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, but soon thereafter moved to Salem, Oblo, and later to Carroll County where they bought a farm in Union Township. Subsequently Cor- nelius Brachin went to Iowa to enter land from the Government, but died on the way to that state. His widow passed away on the home- stead. Of their nine children, one survives, namely : Rebecca, who is the wife of Dr. Jas- per Tope of Petersburg, Ohio.
Growing up in Union Township, Henry Brachin attended its country schools, and re- mained on the home farm until his marriage, when he bought 160 acres of land in Union Township, but had to pay for it by installments, and at the same time he was doing this he looked after his mother as long as she lived. The farm had an old house on it, which Mr. Brachin later rebuilt, and he erected all of the other buildings now standing. At the time he secured it the land was nearly all covered with timber, which he cleared off, he erected the fences and made many other improvements, so that when he died in July, 1886, he left a valu- able property. He was an upright, Christian man and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he long served as a trustee. In politics a republican, he was active in his party. and served at one time as township assessor.
On October 18, 1860, Henry Brachin was mar- ried to Sarah Jane Lindsey of Monroe Town- ship, a daughter of John and Mary ( Rutledge) Lindsey, natives of Ireland, and William and Jane (Crosier) Rutledge, who were among the earliest settlers of Carroll County. Mr. and Mrs. Brachin became the parents of the follow- ing children : Richard, who died at the age of eighteen years; Margaret, who died in infancy ; James W. and Cornelius W., both of whom have been assisting their mother to operate the homestead since the death of their father; Re- becca, who is the widow of Elmer Tripp of Orange Township; and Martha E., who is Mrs. John Swinchart of Perry Township. All the members of the Brachin family are held in high esteem, and Mrs. Brachin has every reason to be proud of her children, for they are a credit to her and her husband.
JOSHUA DAVIS. Although the well-directed labor of Joshua Davis belongs to the past rather than the present of Union Township, innumer- able evidences abound of his sojourn within its boundaries, and particularly of his diligence in developing the farm now owned by his sons. Alpha and Newton Davis. Mr. Davis had a
keen and practical business mind and probably understood as well how to get the most out of his land and general opportunities as any resi- dent of the township. Moreover, he was a man of sterling integrity and high ideals of citizen- ship, an individual who could not fail to have an influence for good in the community in which his home was made for so many years.
Mr. Davis was born on a farm in Union Township, in 1857, and was a small child when his parents died and he was placed among strangers. His educational advantages were confined to intermittent attendance at the dis- trict schools, and his status until his marriage was that of an employe on the farms of others. After his marriage he gathered together bis modest resources and engaged in renting, which he followed for some years, but after the death of his wife's parents he bought the old Faw- cett homestead in Union Township, a tract of 163 acres, on which he began at once to make improvements. The old house was destroyed by fire, and in 1891 Mr. Davis erected the present frame residence, after which he erected other structures and installed modern equipment, mak- ing the property an attractive and valuable one. He was an earnest, hard-working man, who con- cerned himself chiefly with the interests of his farm, although he was at all times public-spir- ited and when he died, July 6, 1910, his com- munity lost a man who had done much to fur- ther its welfare. He was a republican in poll- tics, although not a politician, and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On February 17, 1870, Mr. Davis married Miss Sarah J. Fawcett, who was born in Union Township, daughter of Henry Fawcett, an early settler of that township. She died April 2. 1916, leaving three sons: Henry, of Perry Township; and Alpha and Newton, of Union Township, the former born August 23. 1878, and the latter born June 20, 1890. Neither Alpha nor Newton are married. They are re- publicans and members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and Alpha belongs to the Peters- burg Grange. The sons are operating the home farm jointly and successfully, have developed many of the substantial traits of their honored father, and have won the regard and esteem of their fellow-citizens because of their industry and integrity.
THOMAS G. DONALDSON. No better gauge of a man's character can be afforded than the fact that he is chosen by his close associates to act as guardian of their children, assignee and ad- ministrator of their estate, and their representa- tive in other trusts. It is not until a man has fully proven his dependability and uprightness that he is so selected, and were there no other distinguishing features of the busy life of Thomas G. Donaldson, one of the substantial farmers of Fox Township, and for some years a notary public. he would have the right to claim the respect of his fellow citizens How- ever, he has accomplished other things, and has been connected with much of the constructive work of his section of Ohio.
Thomas G. Donaldson was born in Fox Town- ship, September 18, 1840, a son of Rer. John
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and Jane (Hamill) Donaldson, natives of Scot- land and Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and grandson of William and Janet Donaldson, na- tives of Scotland. In 1816 they came to the United States, and settled in New York State. Rev. John Donaldson was an associate Presby- terian minister, and came as a missionary to Ohio, at an early day. About 1823 or 1824 he bought a tract of land containing 130 acres on section 32, Fox Township, which was partly improved, a portion of it from Robert George. and the remainder from the latter's brother. Although he owned the farm, it was conducted by his sons, as he continued his ministerial duties, and had charge of three congregations. The maternal grandparents were John and Su- san (Sloan) Hamill, who were born in Penn- sylvania, east of the Allegheny mountains, in Bedford County. Later they moved to Mercer County, that state, where he was elected sheriff, and he maintained his residence in the vicinity of Xenia, Ohio, for some time prior to his death.
On December 31, 1871, Rev. John Donaldson died, but his wife survived him until June, 1884, when she, too, passed away. Their children were as follows: Thomas G., who was the eldest ; Frances, who live in Lyons, Kansas, is the widow of Hamilton Walker. By a former marriage with Mildred Goodwillic, Rev. Mr. Donaldson had the following children : Bea- trice, who is deceased; Richard B., David, John and William, all of whom are also deceased.
Thomas G. Donaldson has always resided on the homestead, with the exception of about two years spent attending private schools, and one term when he was in school at Westminster, Ohio. In 1861 he bought this homestead. which was improved, but since then has put up all of the present buildings. In addition to the 130 acres in the home place he also owns forty acres on section 31 which he uses as pasture land. He has always carried on general farm- ing, and raised Merino sheep, horses, cattle and hogs.
Mr. Donaldson has many interests, however, outside his farm, and for thirty-six years was a justice of the peace. Since 1908 he has been a notary public, and for two terms was town- ship clerk, and has always been active in the republican party. He has discharged in all fifty-one fiduciary trusts as guardian, assignee, administrator and executor of estates in Carroll and Jefferson counties, and has written more than sixty wills. During the war between the two sections of the country, he served as cap- tain of the state militia. For eight terms he taught school in Fox Township, and two terms in Washington Township, and was considered a capable educator. Mr. Donaldson was ap- pointed by Governor Bushnell of Ohio, as a member of The Ohio Centennial Commission to represent the 16th District In the preparation required for holding an Ohio Centennial Exposi- tion at Toledo, Ohio, in 1903. He made a re- port to the governor on the forestry in the state and he served as one of the directors of the Car- roll County Fair Board for six years.
September 2, 1865, Mr. Donaldson was mar- ried to Sarah George, who was born in Fox Township, a daughter of Andrew S. George,
who was born in Fox Township, and Ann ( Rob- bins) George, who was born in Leee Township, and a granddaughter of Robert and Sarah (Ramsey) George, natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania, who came to Carroll County, and entered a tract of land from the government in Fox Township, in 1809. The maternal grandparents were John and Sarah (Crabb) Robbins, who were born in Jefferson County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson be- came the parents of the following children : John Goodwillie, who was born April 18, 1867, died in July, 1915; Anna, who died at the age of six years; Eliza Jane, who was born in Janu- ary, 1871, is Mrs. Frank S. Robbins of Fox Township; Frances F., who was born February 21. 1873, died at the age of six years; Andrews George, who was born March 16, 1875, is a dental surgeon of Cleveland, Ohio; Sarah Bell, who was born April 14, 1877, is the wife of Rev. W. J. Engle of New Sheffield, Beaver County, Pennsylvania ; Minnie Dunn, who was born February 23, 1879, lives at Denver, Colorado; Walter Mitchell, who was born June 20, 1881. lives at New Franklin, Ohio: Ida Estella, who was born September 21, 1883, is Mrs. Clarence D. Barr, of Birmingham, Alabama; Ralph Thomas, who was born May 17, 1886, conducts the home farm; and Bertha Nelson, who was born August 28, 1889, is at home. Mrs. Donald- son attended the district school of Fox Town- ship. Mr. Donaldson is a member and elder of the United Presbyterian Church, and is very active in forwarding its good work. His mani. fold duties have brought him into contact with many people and his name is a well-known one all over this part of the state. and stands for good citizenship, upright moral character and a high order of administrative ability.
STEWART HESS. Since acquiring his first tract of land in Carroll County, Stewart Hess has secured excellent financial results and has evi- denced a broad knowledge of agricultural sci- ence. Many years of practical experience con- tribute to his agricultural equipment, and his entire life has been spent in the free and independent atmosphere of the country. At the present time he is the owner of a splendid property consisting of 151 acres, all in Union Township, where Mr. Hess is well known for his public-spirit and modern tendencies.
Mr. Hess was born on a farm in Perry Town- ship, Carroll County. Ohio. September 21, 1862, a son of Moses and Susan (Dayhuff) Hess, the latter a native of Loudon Township, and a grandson of Daniel Hess. Moses Hess was born on the line between Harrison and Carroll coun- ties, Ohio, and during the Civil war left his farm in Carroll County and enlisted in a volun- teer infantry regiment from Ohio. He met a soldier's death in battle. and was not survived long by his young widow. who passed away in 1900. Stewart Hess was only seven years of age when he was put out among strangers. and his educational advantages were somewhat meager, although he attended the district schools and made the most of his opportunities. He was reared on the farm and in the home of the Smith brothers, in Union Township, with
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whom he lived until his marriage, in August, 1887, to Margaret A. Tope, of that township, daughter of Hiram and Eliza ( Bracken) Tope, natives of Carroll County.
Following his marriage, Mr. Hess purchased a farm of eighty-five acres, located in Union Township, on which he erected all the present buildings with the exception of the bar. These are modern in architecture and material and substantial in character as well as pleasing in appearance and add much to the attractiveness of the place, as do the various other modern im- provements made by Mr. Hess in the way of equipment. machinery. etc. From time to time. as his finances have permitted, Mr. Hess has added to his holdings, and now has 151 acres, all in one body with the exception of twenty- five acres, this small tract lying in another part of Union Township. While Mr. Hess is a gen- eral farmer. he bas also found profit and en- joyment in specializing along certain lines. As a raiser of Jersey cattle and a good grade of horses, sheep and hogs. he has produced a product that meets with a ready and immediate market, and in his extensive poultry yard he has large flocks of Buff Orpington and White Leghorn chickens. He is an industrious and level-headed landsman, honorable in all of his dealings, and has the unqualified respect and es- teem of all with whom he has come into contact in a business or social way.
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