History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 127

Author: H. J. Eckley, William T. Perry
Publication date: 1921
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 678

USA > Ohio > Harrison County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 127
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 127

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George Thompson grew up in a pioneer dis- trict, acquired his education in Loudon Town- ship, walking two miles between home and school. In 1856 he married Hannah Rutan, who was born in Loudon Township in July. 1832. and died in March, 1903, after nearly half a century of married companionship. She was a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Carr) Rutan, the former a native of France and of Huguenot ancestry, while her mother was a native of Ireland. After his marriage George Thompson moved to an eighty acre farm given him by his father in Loudon Township. Four years later he sold that and bought a place in Harrison County. After living there twelve years he sold and bought 248 acres of improved land in sec- tion 10 of Loudon Township. Not until 1920 did the infirmities of age cause Mr. Thompson to give up his active supervision of his farming interests, though since 1911 he has rented out most of the land. For years he made a spe- cialty of raising Delaine sheep. Mr. Thompson is an independent in politics and has been a lifelong member of the United Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the local church of that denomination until it was disorganized in May. 1919.

Of his children the eldest is John, a resident of Stark County, Ohio. The second, Margaret. died at the age of sixteen. Andrew. also de- ceased, left two children, Agnes, a school teacher, and Andrew, who died at the age of twenty-one. Elizabeth, the fourth of Mr. Thomp- son's children. died at the age of twenty-seven. Miss Sarah is his housekeeper. Robert is a minister of the United Presbyterian Church. pastor of the First Church at Des Moines, Iowa. and has three children named Samuel. George and Dorothy. The next child. Clarence, died in infancy.

DAVID McBURNEY came with his young wife to Carroll County, Ohio, from their native county in Pennsylvania, and they established their home in a primitive log house in Center Township. where Mr. McBurney became the owner of a partially reclaimed farm that rep-

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resented land previously secured from the Gov- ernment, by a man named Pugh. It was in the year 1832 that this sterling young couple thus made the overland journey from Washington County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, in the year of their marriage, Mrs. McBurney riding the entire distance on horseback and her husband driving a team that transported the covered wagon containing their meager outfit of household goods. In their log cabin Mr. and Mrs. McBur- ney installed one of the first cook-stoves brought into Center Township, and the neighbors in the pioneer community came for miles to view the new device. The young couple bravely faced the vicissitudes and manifold labors of pioneer life, and the domestic economies of the cheery little home included Mrs. McBurney's applica- tion to the spinning of flax and wool to be used in making clothing for the family, while in 1844 Mr. McBurney erected on his farm a sub- stantial brick house, the third to be erected in all of Carroll County. In this comfortable dwelling the fine family of children were reared to maturity, and the old house still stands, as one of the landmarks of Center Township. Mr. McBurney brought his farm under effective cul- tivation and in the passing years his earnest labors were rewarded with a generous measure of prosperity. He was a man of vigorous men- tality, well fortified in his opinions, true and loyal in all of the relations of life, and his course was guided and governed by lofty in- tegrity and a fine sense of personal stewardship. Without ostentation, he alded those who were in affliction or distress, and he was a staunch supporter of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general well being of the com- munity. He was a vigorous abolitionist in the period leading up to the Civil war, and was one of only six to vote the abolition ticket in Carroll County. He was thereafter affiliated with the whig party until the organization of the repub- lican party, when he transferred himself to the ranks of the latter, of whose principles he con- tinued a loyal supporter until his death. He and his wife were loved and influential members of the Scroggsfield United Presbyterian Church, in which he served many years as ruling elder. His death occurred October 27, 1878, and his widow, surviving him by nearly a quarter of a century, remained on the old home farm until her death, March 27, 1901, at the venerable age of nearly eighty-nine years, her birth having occurred in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1812.

David McBurney was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. September 25, 1813, the seventh in order of birth of five sons and four daughters of John McBurney, who was born in Ireland and who was a young man when he came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. David McBurney was reared under the pioneer conditions in Pennsylvania, where he received the advantages of the common schools of his native county; where also be gained his initial experience in the basic in- dustry of agriculture. On the 5th of January, 1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Lyle, and in the following March they set forth

on the long and tedious journey to Ohio, as noted in the preceding paragraph. Mrs. McBur- ney was a daughter of James and Mary (Camp- bell) Lyle, the Lyle family, of Scotch-Irish line- age, having been founded in Pennsylvania prior to the War of the Revolution, and having there become one of prominence and influence. Aaron Lyle, grandfather of Mrs. McBurney, represented his district in the United States Congress for a number of terms.

Mr. and Mrs. McBurney became the parents of nine children, concerning whom brief record is given in conclusion of this memoir: Mary Ann married George Barry and she remained in Carroll County until her death, July 7, 1908. John married Miss Martha Burson, of Colum- biana County, and has been for many years a resident of that county. Sarah Jane hever married and she remained on the old homestead until her death, October 12. 1899. Elizabeth Ellen died, unmarried, December 2, 1916. Mar- garet. wife of Andrew J. Russell, died October 26, 1884. Esther, in company with her sister, Martha, removed from the old home to Carroll- ton in the year 1908. and here her death oc- curred in 1913. Kate remained with her sisters on the old homestead until her death, July 2, 1908. Louella, the youngest of the children. be- came the wife of a Mr. Harvey, and her death in 1855 was the first break in the family circle. Martha remained with her sisters at the fine old home in Center Township until after the death of her sister, Kate, in 1908, and she and her sister Esther then removed to Carrollton, as previously stated. Here she has since main- tained her home, and she is now the only sur- viving member of this honored pioneer family remaining in Carroll County. Miss McBurney not only owns her attractive residence, on South Lisbon Street, but also the valuable old home- stend form on which she was born, the place comprising 196 acres and being one of the fine landed properties of Center Township. She has witnessed the various stages of development and progress in her native county and her memory links the pioneer days with the present period of opulent prosperity. the while she is favored in being surrounded by a goodly company of friends who are tried and true. She is a zeal- ous member of the Presbyterian Church of Car- rollton and is active in its work.

THOMAS E. EPERSOLE has been a resident of Carroll County from the time of his birth, is a representative of a well known pioneer family of the county and is now a progressive and suc- cessful exponent of farm enterprise in Brown Township. He was born on the 1st of Decem- ber, 1871, and is a son of John E. Ebersole, of whom individual mention is made on other pages of this volume, by reason of which fact it is unnecessary here to offer further data concerning the family history.

Thomas Edgar Ebersole early learned the les- sons of practical industry, in connection with the activities of the home farm, and in the meanwhile made good use of the advantages offered by the public schools, including the high school at Carrollton. His independent career has been marked by close and effective identifi-

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cation with agricultural and live-stock Industry and his well improved farm comprises 146 acres, upon which, in 1912, he erected his present modern and commodious residence. For a num- ber of years Mr. Ebersole gave special attention to the raising of the best type of Berkshire swine, but after about fourteen years of special- izing in this line of stock-breeding he gradually reduced his operations. He still raises a due quota of live stock on his farm and has attained marked success also in the raising of pure-bred Minorca poultry. His political support is given to the republican party and he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church.

On the 7th of September, 1892, Mr. Ebersole married Miss Ella Miller, who was born in Washington Township, this county, April 13, 1870, a daughter of Henry W. and Sarah (Strayer) Miller, both likewise natives of Car- roll County, where the former was born, in Harrison Township, July 4, 1842. and the latter on the 14th of May, 1845. Levi Miller, grand- father of Mrs. Ebersole, was a young man when he came to Carroll County, where he became a pioneer farmer. and who later conducted a grocery business at Carrollton. His first wife, whose maiden name was Julia A. Riley, died when about thirty years of age, and both he and his second wife, whose maiden name was Mary Houck and the name of whose first hus- band was Buck, were residents of Carrollton at the time of their deaths, both having been communicants of the Lutheran Church. Levi Miller was born in what is now Monroe Town- ship, Carroll County. November 11, 1808, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Reader) Miller, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Washington County, Pennsylvania, where their marriage was solemnized, and whence they came to Ohio and settled in what is now Carroll County in or somewhat prior to the year 1807. They lived up to the full ten- sion of frontier life and Mr. Miller served as a soldier of the War of 1812. He and his wife here passed the remainder of their lives and of their six children Levi was the eldest.

Levi and Julia A. (Riley) Miller became the parents of five children. and of the number Henry W. was the only one who attained to venerable years, he having come into possession of his father's old homestead farm, in Washing- ton Township and having developed the same into one of the valuable properties of the county. He married Miss Sarah Strayer, a daughter of John and Ruth ( Johnson) Strayer, who were pioneers of Carroll County and here remained until their death.

Mrs. Ebersole was afforded the advantages of the Liberty Hall School, in Washington Township, and has a wide circle of friends in her native county. so that her pleasant home has become known as a center of gracious hos- pitality. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole became the parents of two children: John William. who was born May 18. 1894, died at the age of nine weeks. Henry Miller Ebersole was born No- vember 7. 1896. and his early educational ad- vantages included those of the Carrollton High School and a course in a business college in the City of Canton. He now holds a responsible

clerical position in the office of the Otis Com- pany, an important investment-banking concern in the City of Cleveland. In May, 1918, he en- tered the nation's military service in connection with the World war, and his service, of about seven months, was at Camp Joseph E. Johnston. Jacksonville, Florida. The maiden name of his wife was Minnie Shaffer.

JAMES TARBERT. Noteworthy among the ac- tive and thriving agriculturists of Moorefield Township, Harrison County, is James Tarbert, a son of the late Albert Tarbert, who, since the death of his father, has managed the parental homestead with the same vigorous ability and skill that characterized his father. He was born, September 18, 1885, in Freeport Township. this county.

His paternal grandfather, Andrew Tarbert, a son of James Tarbert, a pioneer of Nottingham Township, Harrison County. spent his entire life in that township. during his years of activity having been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret Wilson, a native of Bel- mont County. Ohio, and to them four children were born. George. Albert, Nancy and Mary. They were both of a deeply religious nature, and were prominent members of the Notting- ham Presbyterian Church.

Albert Tarbert, the second son in succession of birth of the parental household, was born on the old homestead in Nottingham Township, September 17. 1852. Engaging in agricultural pursuits when young, he was first a tiller of the soil in his native township. from there com- ing to Moorefield Township, where he continued in his chosen work for quite a while. He sub- sequently followed railroading for fifteen or twenty years, and on retiring from that employ- ment again settled in Moorefield Township. where he resided until his death, June 27, 1904. He was held in high respect as a man and a citizen, and was a worthy member of the Pres- byterian Church. He married Mary Elizabeth Parmer. who was born in Nottingham Township, April 28, 1855, a daughter of John Parmer.

John Parmer was born, November 23, 1828. in Ohio, near Coshocton, of thrifty Scotch an- cestry. A pioneer of Harrison County. he be- came widely known as a farmer and stock drover. operating first in Nottingham Township, and later in Freeport Township, residing in the latter place until his death. November 1S. 1905. He married Rachel Tool, a daughter of Thomas Tool. who located in Nottingham Township in early pioneer days, and there entered Govern- ment land. from which he reclaimed a home- stead. She was born December 22. 1836. and died September 29, 1919, at an advanced age. Of the union of John and Rachel (Tool) Parmer the following children were born. namely-Mary Elizabeth and Martha J., married Slemens Rowland.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Tarbert reared four children. namely : John Elmer: James: Bessie A .. wife of W. S. Kildow. has two children. James Albert and Lester Wayne: and Blanche M. James Tarbert was educated in the schools of Nottingham and Moorefield Townships, and since arriving at man's estate has devoted his

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time and energies to general farming. He has never married, but is living on the Clendening farm with his widowed mother, while his sister, Blanche, married E. D. Clay, of Piedmont. Possessing a practical knowledge of the various branches of his chosen occupation, James Tar- bert is carrying on general farming in a highly satisfactory manner, his labors being amply re- warded by the abundant crops he harvests each year.

WILLIAM GOTSCHALL, as a citizen of sterling character and as a successful exponent of farm industry, left a benignant impress in the county which represented his home during his entire life and in which he was a scion of an honored pioneer family whose name has been most worthily linked with the civic and material de- velopment and upbuilding of Carroll County. He was born in this county in the year 1822, a date that clearly denotes that his parents, John and Mary (Polen) Gotschall, were numbered among the very early settlers of the county, where the mother remained until her death, the father, when venerable in years, having gone to California, where his death occurred. They became the parents of a fine family of ten sons and three daughters. William Gotschall was reared under the conditions and influences that marked the pioneer era in Carroll County. where he gave a due part of his youth to pur- suing his studies in the primitive log school- house. As a youth he had ample experience in connection with the work of clearing and re- claiming new land, and it was his portion to have split many fence rails, at the rate of one dollar a hundred. Eventually he became the owner of a farm of forty acres, in Lee Town- ship, and he passed the closing days of his life in the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. Sadie Gantz, in Center Township, where he died No- vember 30, 1907. at the venerable age of eighty- five years. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Drake and she was born in Lee Town- ship, this county, in 1843, a daughter of Simeon and Annie (Scarlett ) Drake, pioneers of that township. where they remained during the rest of their lives. their children having been six in number-John. William, Oliver, Anna, Rebecca and Catherine.

William Gotschall was always ready to sup- port measures and enterprises tending to ad- vance the welfare of his home community and native county, was a staunch democrat in poli- ties and was an earnest member of the United Brethren Church, as was also his wife, whom he survived by more than thirty years, her death having occurred in 1873. They became the par- ents of seven children: Alvina is the wife of Elmer Dickerhoof, of Canton, and they have no children. Anna Mary became the wife of John W. Gotschall. Harry Sherman, who was born in Lee Township, March 18, 1865, will be more definitely mentioned in a subjoining paragraph. Margaret Belle and Sarah Elizabeth, twins, were born July 21, 1868. the former being the wife of Frank Lotz, and their four children be- ing Foster, Raymond, Mary and Martha. Sarah Elizabeth was united in marriage on. the 25th of January, 1895, to Maurice Gantz, who was

born in Union Township, Carroll County, May 21, 1866, a son of John and Mary Ann ( Moody) Gantz, who were pioneer citizens of this county at the time of their death. Maurice Gantz was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Carroll County, and as a youth he was for some time employed at the butcher's trade in the City of Cleveland. Later he conducted a meat market at Carrollton for several years, and here his death occurred on the 11th of November, 1915. He was a republican, was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and he held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, as does also his widow. They became the parents of three children: Paul W., who was born in the City of Cleveland, June 17, 1896, and who completed his studies in the Carrollton High School, is a tire-builder by voca- tion and resides at Carrollton, he having entered the nation's military service September 6, 1918, at Camp Sherman, and having their remained until the signing of the armistice brought the war to a close, his honorable discharge having been received in December; Ariel Margaret, born April 26, 1900, has been given the advantages of the public schools of Carrollton, where she remains with her widowed mother; and Mary Ann, born November 23, 1902, is a member of the class of 1923 in the Carrollton High School.

Harry Sherman Gotschall received his youth- ful education in the public schools and after learning the trade of blacksmith he continued to follow the same, in Lee Township, until 1916, since which time he has lived retired in the home of his sister, Mrs. Sadie Gantz, at Carroll- ton. The maiden name of his first wife was Margaret .Palmer, and they became the parents of three children, Roy, Z. Ralph, and Archie Mckinley, of whom only the second is living. As his second wife Mr. Gotschall married Miss Lura Harolet, and no children were born of this union. The political allegiance of Mr. Gotschall is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE W. MANFULL has not found it neces- sary to pass from the borders of his native county to find a stage for his successful work in connection with agricultural and live-stock industry, but is numbered among the substantial farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Augusta Township, Carroll County, where he is the owner of an excellent farm. He was born in Washington Township, this county, on the 16th of January, 1865, and is a son of William E. and Martha (Crawford) Manfull, the former a native of Washington Township and the latter of Augusta Township, this county, where the respective families were founded in the pioneer days. James and Jane (Earp) Manfull, grand- parents, were venerable citizens of Augusta Township at the time of their deaths, Mr. Man- full having been born in Nottinghamshire, Eng- land, and having been a boy when his parents came to the United States and established their home in Carroll County.

George W. Manfull acquired his early edu- cation in the schools of his native township and his entire active career has been one of

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close and effective association with farm enter- prise. He has remained on the old home farm which became his place of residence after his first marriage, and he has shown the energy and good judgment that make for maximum success in the important industries of agricul- ture and stock-raising. His political support is given to the republican party and he is an elder and a trustee in the United Presbyterian Church at Mechanicstown.

June 14, 1888, recorded the marriage of Mr. Manfull to Miss Martha Marsh, who was born in East Township, this county, a daughter of Reuben and Mary Marsh. One child was born of this union. Mrs. Manfull died about a year after her marriage and in April, 1895. Mr. Man- full wedded Miss Cora Crawford, who was born in Washington Township, this county, a daugh- ter of William S. and Mary (Maple) Crawford. There are two children : Pearl, the wife of Earl Cameron, of Augusta Township, and Emmett. Mrs. Cora Crawford Manfull died May 1, 1891, and Mr. Manfull was married to Etta Lomiller in 1900. Emmett Manfull is a student at Union College and his sister, Pearl, studied music at the same place. The father studied the violin at Union College and taught it for a number of years as a side line, but farming is his regular vocation.

EMERSON R. RAINSBERG. Every man who is engaged in farming is not making a success of his work, but there is a reason back of his failure, and it is generally a lack of efficiency. There is no excuse in these days of progress and access to sources of information for the man who cannot make his land yield him a sufficient income to justify his remaining on it. Fortunately these cases of failure are few, espe- cially in an agricultural region like Harrison County, which excels in the number of its finely cultivated and improved rural properties. One of the modern farmers of today is Emerson R. Rainsberg, who, with his brother, T. Herman Rainsberg, is engaged in agricultural activities on an extended scale and according to the latest approved methods, with a success that must be gratifying and is certainly an incentive to others to do likewise, and their fine farm of 207 acres of land is one of the show places of Franklin Township.

Emerson R. Rainsberg was born in Union Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, July 9, 1885, a son of Isaac T. Rainsberg. Emerson R. Rainsberg attended the public schools of his native township, and those of Franklin Town- ship, Harrison County, and lived at home until his marriage, after which he was engaged in farming for himself in Franklin and Monroe townships, Harrison County. In 1919 he moved to his present farm, where he and his brother are carrying on general farming and stockrais- ing in partnership. Their land is fertile. well cultivated, and they have a full equipment for doing their work expeditiously and thoroughly. Their buildings are modern, convenient and thoroughly sanitary, and the entire premises are kept in such good order that anyone can easily see that expert farmers own the place. Their farm is conveniently located on the Ocean to

Ocean Highway and the passing motors keep them in close touch with the whole Country.

In August, 1915, Emerson R. Rainsberg was married to Lenora Cummings, a daughter of W. L. Cummings. Mr. and Mrs. Rainsberg are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Plum Run. Mr. Rainsberg belongs to Tuscara- was Lodge No. 15, Knights of Pythias. Al- though they have not lived in this locality for very long, the Rainsbergs have already made their influence felt, and are recognized as very valuable additions to the neighborhood, and have gained the friendship of a circle of con- genial people.

JOHN VICKERS. Many years ago when Frank- lin Township was still in an undeveloped state, a young Englishman, John Vickers by name. came to Harrison County, and finding here conditions to suit him, entered land from the Government, his grant to the land bearing the signature of President Andrew Jackson. This parchment is among the most cherished posses- sions of John Vickers, his son, now one of the dependable men and successful farmers of Franklin Township.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 127

Author: H. J. Eckley, William T. Perry Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Number of Pages: 678

Author: H. J. Eckley, William T. Perry
Publication date: 1921
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 678