History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 133

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 133

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).

trade in the summer and teaches school in the winter months.

DR. HARVEY S. BEVINGTON, physician and druggist, Sulphur Springs ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1830. To give a short and comprehensive sketch of the Bev- ington family, it is necessary to go back to the advent, to this country, of one Henry Beving- ton, who, with his wife, emigrated from Lon- don, Eng., immediately after the close of the Revolution, and settled in New York. In re- ligious belief he was a Quaker, and a tailor by trade ; early in life he sustained the loss of one leg, which no doubt had something to do in determining his profession. They reared five children who grew up to maturity, and those of that name in this country can trace back their ancestry to this family. John was one of the oldest of the family ; he moved from his native place in New York, to Beaver Co .. Penn., when a young man ; there he married Frances Scott, whose early history is somewhat roman- tic, considering that she, when 2 years old, with her parents and four older children, emi- grated from Ireland about the year 1789. and while on the ocean both parents died, leaving their helpless children to the mercy of strangers, the oldest about 15 years, the youngest only 2 years. They made their way to Beaver Co., Penn., and there a family by the name of Blackman took and reared the youngest, who afterward grew up to beautiful womanhood and became the wife of John Bevington. They remained in Pennsylvania several years after their marriage, but moved to Wayne Co .. Ohio, where they settled in the wilderness ; shortly after their settlement in Wayne Co., Mr. Bev- ington responded to a call for troops to defend the country and its interests against the invasion of the British in 1812. Leaving his wife and two babes in the woods, he proceeded with the army and was with Gen. Harrison at the front, until peace was restored. At the close of the war he returned to Wayne Co., and assumed the task of carving for himself and family a home in the woods ; this he successfully ac- complished, and there reared an interesting fam- ily of nine children, three girls and six boys, viz .: Rachel, Henry, Charles. Alexander, Re- becca, Samuel. John, Hannah and Harvey S. The latter and youngest one of the family, be- ing fond of books and general lore. spent his early life at school, and when he had acquired

908

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

a good common-school education he spent two years at the Academy in Edinburg, Ohio, when about sixteen years old ; then resumed his studies in the Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, Ashland Co., where he remained two years, at the same time pursuing the study of medicine along with the regular work of the institution, having begun to read in the office of his preceptors, Drs. Buckmaster and West- cott, of Fredericksburg. At the age of 21, he entered the Medical Department of the Ann Arbor University, Ann Arbor, Mich., where he graduated March, 1852. Thence moved to and began the practice of his profession in Hicks- ville, Defiance Co., Ohio, and two years later, in 1854, his parents and the entire family moved to Defiance Co., where his father closed the varied scenes of life the same year ; but most of the family reside there still. There the Doctor practiced until 1856, when he moved to De Kalb, Crawford Co., and practiced there until 1862, when he went into the army as 1st Lieu- tenant of Co. H, 123d O. V. I. On June 13, 1863, during Gen. Milroy's retreat from Win- chester, he was taken prisoner and sent to Lil)-

by Prison ten months and a half; he was paroled May 1, 1864, and on the 7th of the same month, was exchanged, when he imme- diately joined his old regiment and company, rather serving with his old comrades than ac- cepting the office of Captain, to which he had been promoted while in prison. His regiment was then in the "Army of the Shenandoah," under Gen. Sheridan ; after his return to the ranks he participated in the conflict at Winches- ter, on Sept. 19, 1864, and on 22d of same month in the general engagement at Fisher's Hill, and

Oct. 19 (the day of Sheridan's famous ride), in

the battle of Cedar Creek. During that winter he was transferred to the Army of the Potomac,

and in February, 1865, he was discharged on account of physical disability. He then re- turned to Crawford Co., located at Annapolis, and resumed the practice of the healing art, in which he has been remarkably successful. In 1876, he purchased the drug store in which he does an extensive business for an inland vil- lage ; the reasons are obvious, his stock is of the best and complete for country demand, and

his patrons are sure to be honorably dealt with. The Doctor has been married three

times : first, to Martha A. Mccullough April 20, 1854 ; she was born in this county and died

here July 11, 1860, leaving one child-Mary F., now Mrs. E. A. Squier ; his second marriage was with Elizabeth A. Barclay April 23, 1862. She was a native of Pennsylvania, but came here when young; she died Feb. 21, 1876, leaving three children, viz .: Martha V., Jay W. and Carrie L. His third marriage was cele- brated Dec. 12, 1876, with Mrs. Millic Ensmin- ger-widow of the late Geo. Ensminger-she is a daughter of Dr. Phillip Ebert, of North Rob- inson, formerly of Pennsylvania ; by this union

there is one child, viz .: Ellwood Ebert. Be-

sides the property in town, he owns a good farm of 57 acres, about one mile southeast of

Annapolis ; be it said to his credit, all of which has been accumulated by his own tact and in- dustry, as he was not worth any property when he started out on his own responsibility.

SAMUEL S. BLOWERS, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; son of John O. and Sylvinia Chad- sey Blowers, who settled upon the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, in the spring of 1822. (These pioneers of liberty have received an extended notice in the town- ship history.) Samuel S. was born April 11,

1825, and is the oldest native male inhabitant

of the township, who never lost his residence in Liberty. He attended the schools taught in the Blowers Schoolhouse until about 18 years of age, and then, in 1843, he visited Missouri,

where he remained several months. When

he returned to Crawford Co., he labored at various occupations until April, 1853. He then rented the Blowers farm, and, in 1858, having purchased the interests of the other heirs, became sole proprietor of the home- stead. which at the present time comprises 174

acres. Blowers was married, April 17, 1853, to

Margaretta C. Nave, who died in 1858, leaving two children-Arthur Lloyd Blowers, born July 5, 1855, and Martha May . Blowers, born June 21, 1857. The latter is now the wife of J. N. Tustison. Samuel Blowers was married, Sept. 29, 1859, to Miss Diana Parcher, and they were the parents of the following eight children : Samuel Lincoln, born Aug. 25, 1860 ; Jesse D., born Nov. 3, 1861 ; Sallie Serena, born March 9, 1863 ; Idelia Vannessa, born Oct. 30, 1864; George William, born Aug. 9, 1867, deceased ; Isa Birdella, born May 14, 1870 ; Mary, born March 4, 1873, and Clara, born July 22, 1875, deceased. Aug. 9, 1862, Mr. Blowers enlisted as a private in the com-

911

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

pany raised by Capt. Wm. Parsons. Several days afterward, Judge Josiah Plants, a member at that time of the Military Board for Crawford Co., expostulated with Blowers for having en- listed as a private, stating that, if he had known Blowers desired to enter the service, he would have secured for him a commission. Blowers replied that he had enlisted from a sense of duty and wished his children to feel in after years that their father had entered the service from patriotism and not for the sake of obtain- ing a commission. But they refused to per- mit him to serve as a private very long, and he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on Feb. 26, 1863, and assigned to the 101st O. V. I. on March 20, 1863, which regiment was a portion of the Army of the Cumberland. The exposure and hardships of an active military life resulted in inflicting upon him several seri- ous ailments ; he was ordered into the hospital, but his health did not improve, and, as the dis- ease appeared chronic, he was finally released from duty Jan. 9, 1864, and returned home, having been reduced in weight from 163 to 95 pounds during the term of his military service. During the past twenty years, Mr. Blowers has held many positions of honor and trust in Lib- erty Township.

DEXTER BACON, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; is the son of Ralph Bacon, the second settler of Liberty Township ; born May 6, 1822, and was the first native white child of Liberty. The subject of this sketch was, when about 10 years of age, bound by his father to Martin Bacon, an older brother, who received the farm for pro- viding for the family until each member became of age. By the agreement, Dexter was to re- ceive $100, if he remained with Martin between the ages of 16 and 21. Dexter attended school at the Maxfield and Blowers Schoolhouses, but most of his education was acquired in the later years of his life. When Bacon became of age, his brother paid him the $100, and he started for Wisconsin, traveling on foot nearly the en- tire distance, carrying the money, some $80 in silver, and $20 in gold, upon his back in a knap- sack, and expending only $6.50 during the journey. Bacon purchased 80 acres of land some thirty miles from Milwaukee, and in a short time returned to Crawford Co., where he was married, April 25, 1844, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Henry Bonebrake. In May, 1844, Bacon again left Crawford Co. for Wisconsin,

accompanied by his wife, her father and his family. They removed in wagons, reaching Mil- waukee July 3, 1844. Their goods were shipped from Sandusky City to Milwaukee by water. Bacon settled some ten miles from the latter city, in the same county, on a claim of 80 acres belonging to Ralph Bacon. For some months, the family suffered many hardships. The sub- ject of this sketch relates : " I had to borrow $20 of Joseph Bonebrake to defray the expenses of moving, and when that ran out I had nothing left but my hands. I cut wagon hubs from the timber on my farm, and sold them for one-half cash and one-half trade. With the first money obtained, I purchased my first barrel of flour for $3.38, and never felt better in my life when hauling it home. A tree blew over on my only steer and killed it. I purchased another four- year-old steer for $18, and had to borrow money at 12 per cent interest to pay for the animal. It was six months before I made enough to pay this debt." But hard work improved the con- dition of Bacon's finances. He engaged in lum- bering for several years, and in four years cleared 40 acres of the farm he occupied, which he finally purchased of his father, trading for it his own farm and $400 in money. Bacon left Wisconsin with his family in the spring of 1850, and after stopping six months near South Bend, Ind., reached Crawford Co., Nov. 12, 1850, and settled on his present farm, which he pur- chased of his father-in-law, who bought it of John Maxfield. Bacon has resided on this farm during the past thirty years, which at the pres- ent time contains 1193 acres. At the first, the land was so poor that Bacon could not raise wheat upon it for two years, now it yields twenty-five bushels to the acre. Since 1860, Bacon has paid some attention to raising thoroughbred cattle. His first purchases were of the Durham grades. He has frequently paid several hundred dollars for a single head. He introduced into Crawford Co., in March, 1876, the first Ayrshire cows ever brought to the county, and for several years he has been breed- ing pure-blooded Berkshire pigs. About 1862, Bacon engaged in the rearing of bees, and is possibly the largest bee-keeper in the county, having, at the present time, eighty-six hives. Most of these are Italian bees. Bacon joined the M. E. Church when about 16 years of age, under the preaching of Rev. Adam Poe, a son of the famons Indian fighter. He was a mem-

912

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ber of this religious denomination until he re- turned from Wisconsin, when he united with the Christian Advent Church. Bacon was an original stockholder in the First National Bank of Bucyrus, organized in 1863, and never sold his interest. He served as a Director in this corporation for a short time during the year 1879. During the war, he subscribed some $500 at different times to assist in clearing Liberty Township from the draft. The subject of this sketch is the father of the following six children, and five of these reside with their parents : Samantha, born Jan. 21, 1846 ; Wash- ington, born Jan. 1, 1849 (deceased) ; Gilbert G., born Jan. 7, 1851 ; Charles W., born Oct. 4, 1852 ; Martha Ellen, born Jan. 14, 1857, and Elsie, born Jan. 12, 1866.

CHARLES C. COBB, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born in this township May 2, 1847 ; he is the son of Elam and Nancy (Brown) Cobb. He (Charles C.) was married in December, 1877, to Hannah Heckard, who was born in Williams Co., Ohio, Nov. 27, 1856, and came to Crawford Co. with her parents in 1872. Her father died in March, 1872, but her mother still survives, although she has been blind for about ten years. Mr. Cobb has a fine farm of 200 acres, which belonged to his father's estate, two-thirds of which was left to him. They have one child, Ora E. (See sketch of Asa Cobb's family.)

ASA COBB (deceased), was born in New York, and went to Pennsylvania, where his fam- ily was partially reared, but subsequently moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, and settled in Liberty Township, in 1823. He raised twelve children to maturity, viz .: Asa, Henry, Elipha- let, Dudley, Elam, Jedediah, John, William, Cyperion, Alfred, Sally and Mary ; three of these-Eliphalet, Elam and Jedediah-went as sailors on the lakes. The former was drowned many years ago in Lake Erie, when their craft was blown ashore in a severe storm. Elam went on the lakes when a mere youth, and sailed fifteen years, during which time his ex- perience was much varied. He was captain for fully ten years of his sea-faring life and bore the hardships as well as enjoyed the pleasures in- cident to his calling. Among the perilous in- cidents which he was compelled to undergo, was that of running through ice in the Straits of Mackinaw, which became too heavy, and forced them to remain, and they were frozen in, and there they had to remain all winter. Jede-

diah also arose to the position of captain, but finally gave up sailing and removed to Illinois, where he died long since. Elam married Nancy Brown, March, 1842, in Huron Co., Ohio ; the following season, Mr. Cobb left the lakes and turned his attention to farming, and came to his farm in Liberty Township, and began " keeping house" in a small log cabin, and prospered well. They reared two children- Premilla and Charles C .; the former is now the wife of Edwin McDonald. Mr. Cobb died here in May, 1864, bequeathing the bulk of his property to Charles C. Mrs. Cobb was born in Cleveland, Jan. 27, 1820, and moved with her parents to New York, but she returned to Ohio in 1834, and lived near Norwalk when she was married. Her parents both died in New York. Mrs. Cobb lived here in her widowhood until March 16, 1876, when she was married to Solomon Benson. He (Mr. Benson) was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Jan. 6, 1821 ; his father, Rufus Benson, and family, came from the State of New York and settled in this county in 1834. They reared a family of twelve children, two of whom survive-Solo- mon and Oris. The latter resides in Iroquois Co., Ill., with whom their mother lives. in the 80th year of her age. Three of the Benson family did good service in the war of the late rebellion ; Mason, the youngest one, served three years, and was in the rebel prison at Dan- ville, Va., about eight months. He returned home without a scratch, and, subsequently, moved to Missouri, where he met a tragic end, by accidentally shooting himself while handling his gun carelessly. Another brother, Martin, met with a similar fate in Hardin Co., this State ; while leaning on the muzzle of his gun, the stock, resting on the joist of a building, slipped off, the hammer, striking against the timber, discharged the gun with fatal result. Mr. Solomon Benson enlisted October, 1862, in the 10th O. V. C., and served until May, 1865, when he returned home without the least in- jury, except having his shoulder dislocated by his horse falling with him. He was first mar- ried to Sarah Sell, July, 1845 ; they settled in Holmes Township, where they had a farm of 80 acres. They reared seven children to maturity, viz .: Ellen (deceased), Byron, Harriet (wife of John Markley, of Henry Co.), Ruth (wife of Josiah Keplinger), Laura (wife of Frank Mark- ley), Eugene (deceased) and Oscar. In 1875,

913

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

Mr. Benson and his first wife mutually agreed to separate, and to that end were legally di- vorced. Although Mr. Benson had limited op- portunity for procuring an education, he has read considerable, and was gifted with a good memory, which enables him to refer to dates and incidents with almost remarkable pre- cision.

E. W. COOPER, farmer ; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; is the only child of Elijah and Eliza- beth (Fry) Cooper, and was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, April 10, 1853. His mother was a daugh- ter of John H. Fry, and was a native of this township. His father was born in one of the more eastern counties of this State. He was of English and Irish descent, several genera- tions back. His principal business was farm- ing, although he learned and worked some at the tanner's trade when young. In August of 1853, he met with a fatal accident. While hitching up his team on his own premises, they became frightened, ran away, dragging him along considerable distance, and he sustained such injury that he expired the same day. At that time, E. W. was a mere baby of a few months old, so the bereaved widow imme- diately returned with her babe to her father, where she ever afterward made her home, and reared her child. As soon as he could, he began to assist his grandfather on the farm, and has applied himself diligently to farm- ing ever since. From the time he was 16 years of age, he farmed the place until he was 21, at which time he rented the farm ; and, when he began farming on his own account, he gave immediate and due attention to the im- provement of his stock, which is so frequently overlooked by the beginner, but which is no in- considerable adjunct to success, when judi- ciously, and not extravagantly, attended to. He has a herd of nine short-horn cattle of an excel- lent breed, which compare favorably with any of their class in the county, which is fully at- tested by the fact that two of them took first prizes and two second prizes, at the late Crawford County Fair. Subsequent to his grandfather's death (June, 1877), he purchased the farm- the old "Fry homestead "-of 160 acres, which is well improved, and one of the best-watered in the township. He owns also 80 acres which belonged to his mother, his farm now consist- ing of 240 acres. He united his fortunes with Norah V. Urich on Dec. 5, 1878. She was born

in Richland Co., this State. April 15, 1858, and came to Crawford Co. with her parents in the spring of 1866. They have one child-Ralph E .- and are members of the Lutheran Church.

JOHN CHARLTON (deceased) ; was a na- tive of Maryland, and came to Columbiana Co., Ohio, with his parents when he was young. There he married Elizabeth Hoops, who had come from Pennsylvania with her parents. Mr. Charlton worked at whatever odd jobs he could obtain for several years after he was married, and then concluded to move to this county on 80 acres of Government land which his father had entered, and which he pro- posed to give to John. Accordingly, he, wife and two children started with an ox team in the spring of 1829, and came to Liberty Town- ship. They had hard times to get along, as Mr. Charlton had only 25 cents left when he got here, and provisions hard to get even for money. And the only source of revenue open to them was to make potash of the wood ashes and take it with their ox team to Mansfield or Sandusky City. When they had some corn, it was hard work to get it prepared, as mills were at a great distance then and their product was poor. He has waited his turn at one of those horse-power mills two days and a night at a time, to have two or three bushels of eorn ground. They would raise some flax, and while he was doing the farm work, his wife would manufacture the flax into cloth and sell it to get what little gro- ceries they needed. besides making whatever the family wore. They had ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity-L. W., Thomas, John E., Calvin, Sarah, Oliver and Ellis. Mr. Charlton died in advanced years, Jane. 1853, and his wife laid down her well-finished task on earth in June, 1866. L. W. worked at farming until about 23 years old, then learned the car- penter's trade which he followed about fifteen years. He was twice married, first to Rebecca Hocker ; she died, leaving four children, three of whom are living-Jonas. Susanna and Eliza A. His second marriage was with Sarah Nickler, by whom there are six children. viz., Alice M., Charles, David M., Rebecca, John W. and Minnie J. Oliver was in the army ; was shot through the right heel, necessitating amputation of the foot, from the effects of which he died. Thomas, Calvin and Eli are in Mich- igan. John E. was born after his parents came here Dec. 18. 1830. His youth was spent on

914

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

the farm ; he had poor opportunities for getting an education, consequently it is limited. In July, 1852, he took a stock-horse and started to lowa, remaining there until late in the fall, when he crossed into Illinois and there put up for the winter with a farmer in Rock Island Co., working for his own and his horse's board, but before the winter was over he changed his place, and then got $9 per month and his horse kept. In the spring, he sold the animal and worked for the purchaser of his horse that sum- mer, and, with what he had earned and the price of his horse, he put back into Iowa and entered 160 acres in Warren Co. He then con- cluded to return to Ohio, having secured a good piece of land, all prairie, but the thought struck him that it was not complete without a piece of timber, so he bargained for ten acres of tim- ber-land and went to work to pay for it, and in three years he had it all paid and $80 left, and then concluded to visit his folks in Ohio. Soon after he got here his mother and younger bro- ther (Calvin) sustained serious injury by a run- away team, and they, being hurt, insisted that he (John E.), should stay with them one year and help them with the farm, to which he as- sented. Having an undivided share in the homestead for which he could find no purchaser, he concluded to buy out some of the heirs him- self and stay here and make this his home. So he purchased two shares for $400 each, and some time later two more shares at $2,200 for the two, and afterward two other shares for the sum of $2,400. He now owns a good farm here of 120 acres with good buildings. His Iowa prop- erty he paid no attention to for some years, fur- ther than paying the taxes, etc., and his clothes and little effects which he had at the place he boarded lay there for years. In 1867, he sold his Iowa farm for $2,000, which cost him about $350. He was united in marriage with Laura E. Lones (daughter of Joseph Lones, of Holmes Township) ; she was born June 11, 1834, in this county. They have three children-Ellen J., Joseph and Wilber J. Mr. Charlton can look back with pleasure to the time when he set out to Iowa with almost nothing, and feel that his industry and care has been well rewarded with a bountiful supply of this world's goods. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

AMOS B. CHARLTON. farmer and stock- dealer, was born in this township Sept. 7, 1835.

He is the third child of Michael and Anna (Mason) Charlton. Michael Charlton was born in Hagerstown, Md., March 5, 1808 ; his par- ents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Menser) Charlton, who, with ten children, moved from Maryland to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1822. Of those children now living in this State, are Michael, Henry, Joseph, Daniel, Sarah, Nancy and Elizabeth ; Mary, John and Thomas are dead, but all lived to mature years. Michael got 80 acres from his father in 1829, which he (the father) had entered some time prior to 1829, and which is the same 80 acres where Mr. Charlton has lived ever since. He worked one summer, then returned to his father's, and married Anna Mason, who was born there in 1810. The year after they were married, they came out here and made a per- manent residence. They reared cight children -Mary, Charles, Amos B., Elizabeth, Jonas, Narcissa, Ann and Alexander. Charles en- listed in 1861, in the O. V. I., and served about four months, when he was taken ill with typhoid fever, and died at Grafton, Va. His remains were brought home and interred in the family burying-place. When Amos B. was about 21 years of age, he went three terms to the pri- mary department in Oberlin College. Aug. 12, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army ; was mustered into service as Second Lieutenant in Co. C, 49th O. V. I., and was in the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. Buell, and, when he had served about eight months, he was stricken down with typhoid fever and lay in a hospital at Louisville, Ky., for several weeks, then re- ported for duty, rejoined the regiment and im- mediately took a relapse, and, therefore, was obliged to resign. He returned to his father, and as soon as he regained his health, he turned his attention to farming and stock- dealing. In the spring of 1863, be came to his farm, on which his brother-in-law, J. H. Wert, was living, and made his home with him. April 9, 1869, he was united in marriage with M. E. Hoppel. They have four children, viz., Virgil H., Ary B., Michael Z. and Annie. He owns 171} acres of good land, and much of his time at present is occupied in the stock trade. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, Liberty Lodge, No. 845. Mrs. Charl- ton was born in Northampton Co., Penn., Oct. 23, 1849, and came here with her parents when quite young.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 133

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

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