History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 121

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034


USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 121


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).


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HON. CHAPMAN D. WARD, Justice of the Peace, Bucyrus. This representative of an old and honored family traces his ancestry through a genealogical account, published in 1851 by Andrew Henshaw Ward. The first representa- tive in this country was William Ward, who settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1639. His pro- genitors were Normans, who came over to En- gland with William the Conqueror in 1066, as one of his noble Captains was named Ward, and the name of William de la Ward appears in English history as a resident of Chester in 1175. William Ward, of Sudbury, Mass., was made a freeman in 1643, and the next year rep- resented Sudbury in the General Court, and


was for several years Chairman of the Select- men. He, in common with many others, en- dured great hardships during the Indian hostil- ities, especially during King Philip's war, in 1675-76, when his buildings were fired, his cat- tle destroyed, and one of his sons slain by the enemy. Through several generations, the Wards continued to take an active part in govern- mental affairs, and we again take up the thread of family history. William, of Sudbury, had fourteen children, of whom his son William was the seventh child, born Jan. 22, 1640. He mar- ried Hannah Eames, at Marlboro, in 1679. Their oldest son, William, born March 27, 1680, was Colonel of the militia, and married proba- bly Jane Cleveland, of Boston. Fourteen chil- dren were born to them, of whom Charles was the youngest son, born Oct. 27, 1722. He is the great-grandfather of our subject, and mar- ried Abigail Pike, Aug. 25, 1742. He enlisted in the expedition against Cape Breton, and died at the siege of Louisburg, in 1745, leaving three children, of whom William, born Sept. 12, 1743, was the oldest. He married Lucy Church, Dec. 11, 1763, and removed to Poultney, Vt., in 1775, becoming one of the first settlers of the town, and was one of that sturdy band who brave- ly resisted Burgoyne's army and participated in its capture. In the meantime, his wife, with her helpless children, was exposed to the rav- ages of the British soldiery and their savage allies, then within a few miles of her dwelling. She fled to Bennington, forty miles through the wilderness, on foot, with her children, carrying the youngest in her arms, without a man to protect or guide her, finding her way by the blazed trees. They reached there in safety, and quickly the battle of Bennington and the sur- render of Burgoyne followed. The Hon. Will- iam Ward returned to Poultney, Vt., where he resided until his death. Aug. 3, 1819, in his 76th year. He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the State, and was for six years one of the Judges of the County Court of Rutland, and Judge of the Probate for the District of Fairhaven twenty- two years. He was a Justice of the Peace forty years, and Representative in the Legisla- ture eighteen years. He was a much-esteemed citizen and a devoted Christian gentleman, hav- ing a family of twelve children, who all grew to manhood and womanhood except one. His fourth son, Elisha, born July 30, 1780; is the


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father of our subject. He married Miss Zelina Denslow, of Kent, Conn., Nov. 14, 1803. Ten children were the fruits of this happy union- Lucy M., Eliza, Polly D., William C., Clark Kendrick, Zelima, Publius G., Rosetta, John W. and Chapman Denslow. The latter, whose name heads this sketch, was born June 22, 1823, in Reading, Steuben Co., N. Y., and, in 1835, came to Huron Co. (now Erie Co.), where the family settled on the prairie. He remained there until 1847, working on the farm until he was 21 years old, when he went to buy stock, and passed through this section in 1845. In the spring of 1847, he removed to the village of Bucyrus and began buying and selling stock, and, in 1850, in order to have better facilities, went on to a farm about two miles from town, where he remained five years. In 1848, he bought cattle, horses and sheep, and drove them through to Milwaukee, Wis., where he sold them to emigrants. He was married, Sept. 19, 1850, to Mary A. J. Harper, a daughter of John Har- per. Two children were the fruits of this union-Harper J. and Blanche E. He came back to Bucyrus in 1855, and, in 1857, was ap- pointed Postmaster by President Buchanan, which office he held until 1861, when he was elected Justice of the Peace-the first Demo- crat ever elected Justice of the Peace in Bucy- rus-serving one year, when he resigned. He at once began buying horses, and, in the spring of 1863, in partnership with Rowse and Thomas, he, with a number of hands, drove ninety-eight horses to California, the journey taking over. 100 days. The venture was successful, and, re- turning the same year, he took a second lot in 1864, drove from Omaha, completing the jour- ney in fifty-six days, and without losing a single horse. He returned in the fall of 1864. and, in the spring of 1865, he was elected Mayor of Bucyrus, serving some two years with satisfac- tion. In 1867, he began shipping horses to Lake City, Minn., which he kept up for two years. He also shipped stock to the East. In the fall of 1875, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and Mayor in 1876, serving until 1880 ; was re-elected Justice of the Peace in 1878, in which capacity he is still serving. He has served in Council for many years ; has always been a Democrat, and first voted for Polk and Dallas.


HON. CLARK K. WARD, banker, Bucy- rus ; is the second son of Col. Elisha and Ze-


lina (Denslow) Ward, and was born in Reading, Steuben Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1812 ; his boyhood and youth were spent on the farm of his father ; at the age of 19, he began the struggle of life, with little capital except stout hands and good purposes ; he at once found employ- ment as teacher in the public schools for three winter terms ; in 1833, he became clerk in a store in Yates Co., N. Y .; here he remained until 1841, in the meantime becoming proprie- tor ; in April, 1844, he removed to Erie Co., Ohio, near Sandusky City, and, in June, 1845, he united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Por- ter, of Erie Co .; one daughter, Sarah A., wife of George C. Gormly. is the only child of this marriage. On coming to Ohio, Mr. Ward be- gan dealing in stock. until 1847, in Erie Co., Ohio ; in April of that year, he came to Buey- rus, where he became one of the leading stock- dealers of this vicinity, being among the first to pay cash for corn. In the fall of 1850, Mr. Ward was elected to the Ohio Legislature from the counties of Richland and Crawford for one year ; he was re-elected for two years in 1851. He continued in the stock trade until 1878, in the meantime dealing quite extensively in real estate. In 1866. he was elected a Director in the First National Bank of Bucyrus, and, in January, 1879, its Vice President, a position which he now holds.


MAJ. J. H. WILLISTON, editor of Forum, Bucyrus ; was born in Fayetteville, N. C., June 15, 1833 ; his parents, William K. and Annis C. (Chapman) Williston, removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, when he was 1 year old, and located on a farm ; he is of Scotch-English de- scent ; his father was born in Connecticut and his mother in Massachusetts ; his maternal an- cestors came over in the Mayflower. In 1845, his father was elected Auditor of Geauga Co., and the family removed to Chardon, the county seat, where the subject remained until 1850, when, at the age of 17 years, he went to Cleve- land and entered a job printing office as an ap. prentice ; he served in this capacity for four years, closing his apprenticeship in the office of the Leader ; he worked in Cleveland as a jour- neyman and proprietor until March, 1861, when he purchased the Ottawa County Demo- crat, at Port Clinton. which he published for four months. During the summer of 1861, he raised a company of troops, which was as- signed to the 41st O. V. I., and of which he


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was elected First Lieutenant; in about one month, he was promoted to Captain, and, in the spring of 1863, was promoted to Major of the regiment ; he was wounded in a skir- mish before Atlanta, July 15, 1864, and from which canse he was mustered out of the serv- ice on the 31st of October, 1864. He at once returned to Cleveland, and engaged in the printing business until 1872 ; in 1873, he pur- chased an interest in the Marion Mirror, be- coming the partner of James K. Newcomer, a partnership which continued until August, 1876 ; on the 15th of April following, he came to Bucyrus and purchased the Crawford Coun- ty Forum, which he has ever since managed with success ; he, in connection with his paper. conducts a job office, and employs in it an effi- cient corps of workmen ; his paper is the organ of the Democratic party of Crawford Co., and of which party he has always been an able supporter. He was married, Nov. 27, 1854, to Miss Helen M. Newcomb, of Cleve- land ; three children is the result of this union. Maj. Williston was Superintendent of Police in Cleveland in 1869.


MRS. JULIA A. WALTER, Bucyrus. The above-named lady is a daughter of Abram Hahn, one of the pioneers of Crawford Co. He was born in Frederick Co., Md., in the year 1796, and moved to Ohio in 1822. He first settled in Stark Co., but, in 1828, removed to Bucyrus. He built the Sims House in 1829 and continued as its landlord until 1843, when he removed to Mt. Gilead, where he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1867. In August, 1838, while digging a mill-race near Bucyrus, he uncovered the bones of a mammoth, which were sold at Columbus, Ohio, and then passed into one of the Eastern museums. Mr. Hahn was a man of great energy, unwavering integrity and a devout and earnest Christian. In early manhood, he united in marriage with Julia Ernst, and the union resulted in ten children, only four of whom are living, as follows : Dr. Charles Hahn, Auditor of Marion Co., Ohio; Mrs. Walter (subject) ; Alexander, undertaker at Mt. Gilead ; and Mrs. Mary Cooper, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio; six are dead-Maria, Melvina, William, Henry, James and Henrietta. Julia A. Walter was born in Bucyrus August 29, 1828. She spent her girlhood here until 15, when the family removed to Mt. Gilead, Ohio, where the subject of these lines lived until Nov.


11, 1847, which was the occasion of her mar- riage with George Walter, of Bucyrus. He was born in the town of Ophingen, Baden, April 3, 1824. When but 9 years old he left Germany with his widowed mother and came to Bucyrus. He was a good scholar and fine penman, and was made Deputy Clerk under Zalmon Rowse when but a mere boy, as he talked German flu- ently. This proved a necessity with the large German-speaking population of those early times. After serving one year as Deputy Clerk, he was employed as clerk by Potter & Quinby for five years. He was next employed by Henry Converse to conduct a mercantile busi- ness for him at different times for about four years, which brings us to the time of his mar- riage. He continued in mercantile pursuits about seven years, and came to New Washing- ton, this county, in August, 1854. The village was then in its infancy, and he opened a store and post office there, which he kept for three years. He came to Bucyrus in April, 1867, and opened a paint-shop and employed a num- ber of hands. He was a successful and skill- ful painter, and, during the last years of his life, produced some fine specimens of oil paint- ings. He died Sept. 10, 1861, leaving the fol- lowing family : Scott is a member of the United States Signal Service ; Clara and Lora at home; Lunette, wife of W. L. Penfield, Esq., lawyer at Auburn, Ind. ; Edgar and Harry still reside at home. Under the trying circumstances of be- reavement, our subject has reared and educated her family by intelligent forethought and force of character.


DAVID B. WOODSIDE, carriage manufact- urer, Bucyrus. The subject of these lines was born in Chester Co., Penn., Nov. 23, 1847, a son of William S. and Caroline (Crosby) Woodside, who were residents of the village of Woodside's Corners, where young David lived until the late war ensued. Being a mere boy, he enlisted in 7th Penn. V. C., in February, 1864, and served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain and all the engagements of the Kilpatrick raid. Ile was mustered out at Macon, Ga., Ang. 23, 1865, and returned home, where he attended school for some time ; then went to Wilmington, Del., and there served an apprenticeship of three years at carriage-smithing. He worked at his trade at different points in Delaware and Penn- sylvania until 1870. He then traveled through


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several of the Western States, tarrying at Lin- coln, Ill., and Fond du Lac, Wis., becoming foreman of a carriage-shop at the latter place. In 1874, he returned to his native State, and worked at the city of Pittsburgh for about six months, when he came to Bellefontaine, Ohio, in the fall of 1874, and from there to Findlay, where he worked until 1875. He came to Bu- cyrus in April of that year, and worked for one year in the carriage manufactory of Philip Os- man. In 1876, Mr. Woodside, in company with Lewis P. Osman purchased the carriage fact- ory of Philip Osman, and conducted the business one year under the firm name of Osman & Wood- side. June 25, 1877, the firm was enlarged by the accession of P. Osman, G. W. Teel and George Welsh, and the business was conducted one year under the firm name of Philip Osman & Co. In September, 1878, Mr. Woodside pur- chased the entire establishment, and has since carried on the business with good success. He employs about eight hands, and turns out from 75 to 100 carriages and buggies per year. His work comprises the most attractive and stylish patterns, and has gained an enviable reputation for durability and cheapness.


SAMUEL D. WELSH, painter, Bucyrus ; is the son of Benjamin S. and Rebecca A. (Drake) Welsh, the former a native of Jefferson Co., Va., from whence he moved to Ross Co., Ohio, in 1807. He lived there until 1823, and then moved to Wyandot Co. The mother is a native of Marion Co., Ohio, and the daughter of Judge William S. Drake, who was a Captain in the war of 1812, and the hero of the cele- brated Drake's defeat. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 4, 1830, near the Wyan- dot Reservation, in what is now Wyandot Co., Ohio. His youth, until 17, was spent on the farm, with only the advantages afforded by the common schools. He attended an academy then located at Wyandot one year, by hard study laying the foundation for future useful- ness. In 1849, he went to Springfield, Ohio, where he learned the trade of painting, with a man named John Black, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship he became a journeyman painter in the true sense of the word. During this period, he visited several cities, and at each point sought the best instructions that could be obtained. He continued to work in this way until 1855. Oct. 4, 1855, he united his fortunes with Miss Mary White, of Dallas Township,


of this county. Of this marriage there was one daughter, named Nellie, who died in in- fancy. After marriage, Mr. Welsh followed farming and house-painting in Dallas Township until the war broke out, when he enlisted, in September, 1861, in the regimental band of the 15th O. V. I., as member of the first class. He was at the same time special field artist for Harper Brothers, of New York, and in that ca- pacity furnished sketches of battle-scenes and historical locations. He was taken sick in Jan- uary, 1862, and taken to the hospital at Lonis- ville, Ky., and afterward came home. In 1863, he sold his farm and removed to Newark, Ohio, where he kept a music store one year. He then came to Bucyrus, in 1864, and resumed his trade, which he has since followed with good success. He has taken several large contracts, employing as high as twenty-six hands at one time. He is Superintendent of painting for the Ohio Central Coal Co., at Corning. Since 1869, Mr. Welsh has gained an enviable repu- tation as a decorative and fresco artist. His specimens of oil painting have for several years taken diplomas wherever exhibited, and have attracted considerable attention among lovers of art. The first wife of Mr. Welsh died March 3, 1869, and he was a second time married, Oct. 4, 1871, to Miss Minnie E. Brown, of Ly- kens Township. There is one child born of this union, Rebecca E. Mr. Welsh was for eighteen years a member of the Presbyterian Church, when he united with the Advent Chris- tian Church, at Nevada, Ohio. In October, 1877, he was ordained an Elder in that body, and has for some years preached to his brethi- ren. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the State Conference of the the Advent Church. He served eight years as Justice of the Peace, and filled acceptably other offices of trust.


GEORGE H. WELSH, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. O. Bucyrus. Perhaps there is no family in all Crawford Co. that has a more in- teresting history than that of the family of George Welsh. Zachariah Welsh was of En- glish-German descent, and a native of the State of Maryland ; he came to Fairfield Co., Ohio, from Virginia, at an early day, and shortly after the war of 1812 removed to Marion Co., Ohio, near the Wyandot Reservation. He and wife, Hannah S. (Steen) Welsh, remained here a number of years, and to them were born four- teen children, only the ten following being alive


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-Benjamin, Betsey, Madison, Lorena, Edmund, Jane A., Munnington, Mary A., George H. and Rebecca. On the breaking-out of the war of 1812, Mr. Welsh offered his services in his country's behalf, and was immediately com- missioned Colonel. He served all through the war, participating in many a hard-fought bat- tle. It was after the war that he moved to Marion Co. George Welsh was born one mile south of Wyandot. then in Marion Co., April 11, 1826. His father being a poor man, and needing his services on the farm, deprived him of school advantages the boys of to-day have. When 18 years of age, his father died, and the burden of supporting the family fell upon him. May 29, 1855, he married Miss Margaret Ag- new, of Lake Co., Ind., and by her had one son -Agnew, now a merchant in Ada, Ohio. Mrs. Welsh departed this life in April, 1856, being a wife only about one year. Mr. Welsh's sec- ond marriage took place Dec. 2, 1867. his wife being Miss Amelia Palmer, of Nevada. Ohio. To this second marriage were born four chil- dren-Effie, Algee, Savenie and Ernest. Mr. Welsh owns 400 acres of valuable land, which is well improved. Besides farming, Mr. Welsh deals quite extensively in fine stock, some of them coming from the famous Bourbon County herds of Kentucky. Mr. Welsh's political record is without blemish. His first vote was cast for Gen. Taylor. He was identified with the Whig party until 1860, and on the break- ing-out of the war between the North and the South. threw his influence with the Republican party, with whom he has ever since remained. The battle of Brandywine was fought on his grandfather's farm, and as such is a matter of local historical importance. Mr. Welsh is a member of the M. E. Church, and although a Republican in a strongly Democratic county, he has held various local political offices.


ABRAHAM YOST, retired, Bucyrus ; is the son of John and Chloe (Freeland) Yost, and was born Jan. 2, 1816, in York Co., Penn. His father was a farmer and also a gunsmith, which trade he learned in Little York, Penn. He was married about 1808, and followed farming, also working somewhat at his trade. In the fall of 1828, he came to Bucyrus in a three-horse wagon, and was almost a month on the road. He bought a lot where Main street now crosses the railroad, and on this he erected a log cabin. Here they moved and Mr. Yost, Sr .. opened a


gunsmith-shop, and did a thriving business, a great portion of it with the Indians. He died in 1861. his wife having died the year previous, leaving four sons-John F., Abraham, Jeremiah and Jacob. When the subject of our sketch first came to Bucyrus, he attended school in a small brick edifice, which stood where the Monnett House now stands. His first teacher here, however, was a Mrs. Hobbs, who taught in her own house. In 1836, he left school and commenced learning to make spinning wheels, serving an apprenticeship of six years under James McCracken. He then followed the business for twenty years. adding to his trade that of chair-making. Since 1859, he has followed turning for different factories of Bucyrus, until in 1879 he retired. Mr. Yost began without capital and is now the owner of 70 acres of well-improved farming land. and a first-class city property on Sandusky avenue. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church. He is a Republican in politics, and was a Whig before the birth of the new party, having cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison. He was at one time a member of the City Council, and has always been a prominent and influential citizen. He was married, Ang. 25, 1842. to Barbara Aurant, of Bucyrus. They have two children-Laura, wife of James Ken- dall, of Bucyrus, and Ophelia, wife of Frederick Shealy, of the same city.


JACOB YEAAGLEY, farmer ; P. O. Bucy- rus ; is the son of George and Elizabeth (Shram) Yeagley. and was born Oct. 29. 1827, in Lebanon Co., Penn .: until the age of 16, he was given the educational advantages afforded by a common school, and divided his time be- tween the school and his labors on the farm ; afterward. he learned the shoemaker's trade with his uncle, Adam Yeagley, serving two and one-half years' apprenticeship ; in June, 1847, he came to Crawford Co. on foot and by canal route, arriving here with but 30 cents ; out of this, he had but a shilling left when he had paid for lodging and breakfast; he then hired out to a farmer, working for a monthly stipend of $11, and continued for two months, when he rented a farm on the shares for two years, after which he again hired for $15 per month ; after the expiration of one year, he rented 160 acres at cash rent, paying John A. Gormley $100 per year, and continuing four years ; dur- ing this time. he made a handsome sum by


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hard work and economy ; he next bought and fed hogs for one season, but, by a reverse of fortune. he lost all his hard-earned property, and was involved to the extent of $1,100 be- sides ; he cleared himself of debt, however. and commenced in the same line of business, and again lost, this time to the extent of $600 ; he then resumed farming, and rented for some ten years; in 1864, he purchased his present farm of 160 acres of good farming land, and here he has since made his home ; in 1872, he erected a fine frame residence of nine rooms, finished handsomely. Of late years, Mr. Yeag- ley has turned his attention to raising sheep, and is also a noted corn-raiser, often cultivat- ing 150 acres a year ; his first crop of corn on 60 acres of his present farm realized for him the snug sum of $2,800. Mr. Yeagley is a member of the United Brethren Church of Bu- cyrus ; he was formerly connected with the M. E. Church for eighteen years, during which time he was Class-leader and Trustee; in poli- tics, he has been a Republican since the forma- tion of the party, and was previously a Whig. He was married, Nov. 2, 1854, to Catharine Miller, of Whetstone Township ; there are two sons of this marriage-La Fayette, born April 7, 1856, and Alfred C., July 11, 1858. His wife died Feb. 23. 1859, and, March 22, 1860, he married Elizabeth Starner, of Dallas Town- ship ; there is one child of this marriage-Ed- win, born Dec. 2, 1861 ; Mrs. Yeagley was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Jan. 4, 1838, and came with her father's family to Bucyrus Township in 1843 ; here she grew to womanhood, receiving a common-school education ; she united with the M. E. Church when 12, and has ever taken a great interest in Sunday-school work, having been for many years a teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Yeagley's father was born in Penn- sylvania in 1801, and his mother in the same State in about 1804 ; they were married in 1822, and farmed during the summer following, weaving in the winter; besides Mr. Yeagley, there were six children in his father's family-Rebecca, Henry, Catharine, Mary, John and Samuel ; the mother died in 1871, and the father in 1873.


G. K. ZEIGLER, Main Street Mills, Bucy- rus ; son of Abraham and Rachel (Krouz) Zeigler, was born Dec. 4, 1834, in Montgomery Co., Penn., where he lived on a farm until he was 19 years of age, attending school less than one winter, all told. In his 19th year, he entered a mill on Perkioming, in Pennsylvania, as an apprentice, remaining one year, and became foreman ; in two years he ground over 42,000 bushels of grain. He remained in this mill abont two and a half years, and in summer of 1855, he came to Ohio. and settled at Bloom- ville, where he worked for Simon Koller six months. He then returned to his native State and remained one year ; was a partner in dry goods for about a year, with John Hunsicker, when he sold out and lost all he had invested. He removed to New Washington about 1858- 59, and was engaged in a mill for some fifteen months, when he came to Bucyrus and worked for McClain over two years, after which he took charge of Honey Creek Mills for two years more, when he returned to his former employers here, for about three years ; he then, in partnership with Martin Koller, bought the Osceola Mills, which were successful ; they owned them about five years, making repairs and improvements ; he and Koller next bought Honey Creek Mills and ran them for two years. From there he went to Napoleon, Ohio, and with Koller Brothers ran mills there for two years, and built an elevator, costing $10,000. In April, 1876, he came to Bucyrus, where he became proprietor of the Main Street Mills, which he has since successfully operated. Mr. Zeigler has had about twenty-seven years' ex- perience in milling and understands the busi- ness. His present mills are written up else- where in this work. He is and has always been a Democrat. Twenty-two years ago, he lost all and was left in debt ; now, he is one of the solid men of the town. He was married, Oct. 24, 1857, to Miss Ann M. Koller, of Sene- ca Co., Ohio, and has two children living-An- na Mary and Josiah Martin; one daughter (Jennie) died in her 4th year.




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