History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 152

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 152

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School Board, and the good schoolhouse and schools show the hand of a master. He owns a good and well-improved farm of 289 acres of land, is a leading Democrat, and his motto is, " What is worth doing is worth doing well." He is one of the board of officers of the Crawford County Agricultural Society.

MRS. MARY J. JOHNSON, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Jan. 18, 1830, and was a daughter of David White- sel, of Pennsylvania, and Rebecca Emmerson, of Virginia. She was united in marriage to Samuel T. Johnson Dec. 30, 1853. Mr. John- son was born Sept. 4, 1827, in this county, and was a son of Mr. M. Johnson, a sketch of whose life appears in Bucyrus Township. They had nine children-Herschel, Belle S., Jennie, William, David W., Thomas F., Otoe A., Henry and Ellis. Mr. Johnson died March 13, 1871, leaving Mrs. Johnson with a large family of little children to care for, which she has done well. She owns 240 acres of fine land in Dallas Township. Her father, David Whitesel, moved to Indiana several years ago, and died in 1878. There were fourteen of the Emmersons, who all lived to maturity.

JOHNSTON FAMILY. Prominent among the early pioneers of Crawford Co., who were instrumental in opening a wild and unbroken tract of valuable country, and through whose industry, settlers were induced to seek homes within the boundaries of what is now one among the richest agricultural districts of the Western Reserve, were Mr. Thomas F. Johnston and his wife, whose portraits, with other of the old pioneers, were selected to embellish the pages of this book.

The name of this branch of the Johnston family is of Irish origin, as the father of Thomas F. emigrated from Ireland to the United States, and settled in Lycoming Co., Penn., where Thomas F., his only child, was born, on Feb. 3, 1800. But little of the surroundings of his early life are known. However, as he grew to man- hood, he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, which trade he learned, and had worked at it for about two years previous to his marriage to Miss Martha L. Walton, which event occurred on Sept. 20, 1823. Mrs. Johnston is the daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth (Rogers) Walton, and was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., May 11, 1803. Her grandfather Walton was one of three brothers who emigrated from England.

Her parents were farmers, and at that early day but few opportunities were afforded for attain- ing an education. After their marriage, they remained residents of Lycoming Co. until the fall of 1825, when, in company with a brother- in-law of Mrs. Johnston, a Mr. Benjamin Warner, they set out by team over the old Pennsylvania wagon road for the West. They had journeyed as far on their way as the little town of New Gardon, Ohio, when they were stopped by a heavy snow-storm, where, the very next day after their halt, Mr. Johnston was taken sick with fever, and did not recover till the following spring. On April 1, 1826, they again started, and this time succeeded in completing their journey without further mishap. It was the. intention of Mr. Johnston to begin work at his trade upon his arrival in Bucyrus. A very short time, however, served to convince him that such means of support for himself and family must not be thought of, as the city of Bucyrus at that time comprised eight log cabins and two little frame buildings, and a dry board, from which to make an article of furniture, could not be found in the place. Mr. Johnston's principal property consisted of a set of tools, and, when he found these of but little use, he turned his attention to farming, and settled first on 40 acres located in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., that he purchased by the help of Mr. Warner, where he resided until 1829, when, becoming dissatisfied on account of the scarcity of timber, he removed to Findlay, Hancock Co., Ohio, where he resided during the years 1829-30-31, and then returned to his old home, and settled in Dallas Township, Crawford Co., about four miles from his former residence. While he was a resident of Hancock Co., the citizens nominated him the Republican candi- date for County Auditor, to which office he was elected, and discharged the duties pertaining to it to the entire satisfaction of all interested. While Mr. Johnston's duties, as an officer of the county, called him from his home much of the time, Mrs. Johnston was left to protect herself against the Indians and wild animals, both of which were very plenty, and, among the latter, was the large gray timber wolf, which some- times became very ferocious, and would gather in quite large numbers around the cabin. Their cabin was but a rudely constructed affair, and in its then unfinished condition, was lacking a door, to supply which, Mrs. Johnston had hung

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a bed-quilt to protect herself and her small children from the night air, Indians, wolves and other wild animals. Those were truly pioneer days, of which but few of the present generation comprehend the hardships and privations.

In the latter part of 1831, as before stated, Mr. Johnston removed from Hancock Co., and again settled on his farm. He was induced to return to Crawford Co., on account of a num- ber of his own and Mrs. Johnston's relatives, who had followed them westward. On return- ing to the farm, it was the custom of Mr. John- ston to work at his trade in the winter and follow farming in the summer. He also gave much attention to stock-raising, and particular- ly to sheep, of which he would have at times as many as 6,000. As he acquired more capital he increased his stock business and bought more land. He was a good financier, and in all his undertakings he was successful. At the date of his death, which occurred very sud- denly on Nov. 1, 1862, he owned 1,300 acres of choice land. He was one of the noble old pioneers of the county, whose death was mourned by many tried and true friends of pioneer days. He was a member of the order of A., F. & A. M., and for many years he held the office of Justice of the Peace in Scott Township. In 1865, Mrs. Johnston removed to Bucyrus, where she still resides. She is now in her 78th year, and is one of the hon- ored and respected old ladies of the city. In her old age her life is being spent in the com- pany of her daughter and youngest child, Miss Agnes, who is the only one living of the nine children born to them. In this sketch of the Johnston family, it is our purpose to give a brief sketch also of each of these nine children, the oldest of whom was H. D. E. JOHNSTON, who was born on Aug. 8, 1825, in Lycoming Co., Penn., and was about two months old when his parents emigrated to Crawford Co. His early life was spent on his father's farm, where he was engaged in farming and attend- ing to stock, a business in which he subse- quently became engaged on his own account. Though he had few opportunities of acquiring an education, he grew, through experience in the stock trade, to be a shrewd, careful and successful business man. He and his younger brother, S. G., were instrumental in helping their father to his earlier success, as the former did not leave home until he was about 28 years

old, and the latter 26. They remained this long to help their father pay for a second 600 acres of land. They then engaged in the stock trade on their own account, and for a number of years were associated together in this busi- ness, the elder doing most of the buying, sell- ing and shipping, while S. G. looked closely after the interests of the business at home. On May 6, 1857, H. D. E. was married to Miss Jane Ludwig, youngest child of Mr. Samuel Ludwig, who was one of the old pioneers of Crawford Co., and whose portrait and biogra- phy appear in this book. For two years after their marriage, Mr. Johnston was engaged in farming and stock-dealing. He then removed to Bucyrus and engaged exclusively in the stock trade for three years. He then returned to the farm where he was engaged in the stock busi- ness and at farming until his death, which was caused by consumption and occurred on April 19, 1870. Mr. Johnston was an active mein- ber of the community, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the war of the rebellion, though he was not subject to the draft. he was in raising the funds, and con- tributed to buy substitutes for those citizens of Dallas Township who might be drafted. He left, at his death, a fine property of 515 acres to his wife and their three children, all of whom were daughters.

S. G. JOHNSTON, the second son, was born Sept. 4, 1827. His advantages during early life were about the same as those of his older brother. Their interests were much the same, and he also remained with his parents till he was 26 years old. As before stated, he became associated with his brother in business. Their first purchase of land together, was the old Isaac Monnett farm of 500 acres. This farm afterward became the property of S. G., and is still owned by his widow and heirs. During the war of the rebellion, he also contributed largely to the substitute fund of Dallas Town- ship. He was an active, energetic business man, and, at his death, which was also caused by consumption and occurred on April 19, 1870, he left to his wife and children 900 acres of valuable land. Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Mary J. Whetzel, and there were born to them nine children, six of whom are now living, five sons and one daughter.

HENRIETTA JOHNSTON was the eldest daugh- ter and the third child born to Mr. and Mrs.

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Johnston. She was possessed of a quick and intelligent mind, and, though the opportunities were few in their country home, she learned very readily, and, with the few advantages of her surroundings, she acquired a fair educa- tion, after which she attended the Marion schools. She had advanced so far at the age of 14 years as to be able to teach, and, for a short time prior. to her marriage, she was en- gaged in this work. On Oct. 19, 1847, she was married to Mr. Thomas J. Monnett, who was a minister of the M. E. Church, and has since become a distinguished member of one of the most prominent families of Crawford Co. Her disposition and nature were all that a minister could desire, as, at the early age of 10 years, she had united with the M. E. Church, and re- mained until her death a consistent member and a hard worker in the Sabbath school. She aided Mr. Monnett much in his ministerial duties, and frequently, by her quick perception and long study of the Scriptures, made many valuable suggestions that added much to the power and eloquence of his sermons. There were six children born to them, four only of whom are living, three sons and one daughter. Her death, which was caused by consumption -a disease hereditary in the family-occurred on Nov. 20, 1871.

LAVINA JOHNSTON was born on the farm of her parents on Jan. 20, 1832, and was the fourth child born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston. Her short life was spent in the home of her parents. At the early age of 15 years, she sickened and died of the same disease which afterward caused the death of her brothers and sisters-consumption. Her death occurred on May 15, 1846.

JOSIAH S. JOHNSTON was born on Feb. 22, 1834. His death occurred in his infancy, and was caused by his falling into a well and drowning on Nov. 1, 1835.

W. H. H. JOHNSTON, the fourth son and sixth child of his parents, was born June 28, 1836. His early life was spent on the farm. He acquired at the district schools a fair edu- cation, and then took a full course at the Co- lumbus Commercial College. Shortly after finishing his college course, he entered as a volunteer the 34th O. V. I., under Col. Shaw. He entered the service for three years, but the exposure and hard marching through which he passed soon brought on spinal disease, on ac-

count of which he was honorably discharged, not, however, until his father had gone to Washington and interested the Secretary of War in his behalf. Shortly after he was brought home, his parents sent him for treatment to the Longview Hospital of Cincinnati. His death occurred there on April 24, 1865. June 22, 1863, he was married to Miss Caroline Car- nahan, whose death occurred about eight months after their marriage.

JAMES Q. JOHNSTON, the fifth son and seventh child, was born Nov. 5, 1838. His life was spent on the farm until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he, too, entered the 34th O. V. I., under Col. Shaw. A short season of army life destroyed his health and soon brought him home to his parents, a victim of that dread disease consumption, from the effects of which he died March 10, 1865.

OREGON JOHNSTON, the youngest of the sons, was born on Feb. 4, 1843. Though much against the wish of his parents, he, too, entered the army for three years. He was also a mem- ber of the 34th O. V. I., and one of the Lieu- tenants of Company A. He was the only one of the three brothers who withstood the hard- ships of army life, and served his full term of enlistment. His duties were of a miscellaneous nature, as much of the time he was on detail duty. He was an excellent sharp-shooter, and did his country very effective service in this peculiar mode of warfare. After returning from the army he spent about one year in Colum- bus, in the employ of the Government. In the winter of 1871, he married Miss Kizzie, daugh- ter of John Hill, who was one of the early pio- neers of Marion Co., Ohio. Though Mr. John- ston had passed unharmed through many hard- fought battles, he was forced at last to give up, and, on Nov. 1, 1876, his death was caused by consumption.

AGNES J. JOHNSTON, the youngest of the nine children, was born Aug. 15, 1845. Her early education was received principally at the Bucyrus schools, which she attended until she was 14; she then completed her education at the Oberlin College. In early childhood she was hurt so badly while at play as to leave her lamed for life. For several years she has spent most of her time in New York and Jersey City, under the care of the best medical skill of those cities.

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E. B. MONNETT, farmer and stock-dealer ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, March 21, 1837 ; is a son of A. Monnett, of Bucyrus. Mr. Mon- nett was raised in Marion and Crawford Coun- ties, and was united in the holy bonds of mat- rimony to Miss Ellen C. Barton of Pennsyl- vania, Nov. 20, 1861. They have been blessed with four children, two of whom are living- Nettie B. and William A. Mr. Monnett owns one of the best stock farms in the county, con- sisting of 553 acres of land in Dallas Township, watered by the Scioto River, running through from north to south, thus always furnishing a bountiful supply of pure, fresh water to his. herds. He is extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock to New York, Pittsburgh and other Eastern cities. He commenced when he was 22 years old, and has kept it up with increased vigor ever since. He makes a ship- ment nearly every week in the year. He also owns a nice little farm near Bucyrus; is a strong friend of education, and has been one of the School Board for a number of years ; is clerk of the township, and is always identified with all progressive movements in the county ; is a stalwart Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Mon- nett are both members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

OLIVER MONNETT, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1840, the son of A. Mon- nett, Esq., whose life appears in this work. He was raised in Marion and Crawford Cos., Ohio, and was married to Miss Etta, daughter of Charles Reamer, Esq., of this county, and for- merly of Pennsylvania. To them have been born two sons and three daughters-Lorain H., Dimma, Milla, Charles A. and Emma. He owns 954 acres of land, all well improved, on which is built one of the best houses in the county. Mr. Monnett is extensively engaged in stock-raising, often having over 1,000 head on his farm. He is favorably disposed toward all Christian denominations, but is himself a member of the M. E. Church.

M. J. MONNETT, farmer and stock-dealer ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Aug. 24, 1847, son of A. Monnett, of Bucyrus ; was raised in Marion and Crawford Cos., and was married to Miss Alice A., daughter of G. W. Hull, Esq., of Bucyrus (a sketch of whose life appears in this work), Jan. 5, 1869. They have had one son born to them-Orra Eugene. He is en-

gaged in raising stock on his fine farm of 560 acres of land, which is in excellent condition, and well watered, the Scioto running through it from north to south. Mr. and Mrs. Monnett are members of the M. E. Church, having their membership at the Scioto Chapel. Mr. Mon- nett is a Republican in politics, of the stalwart stripe.

MRS. MARY MASON, farmer; P. O. Cale- donia, Ohio ; was born in Dallas Township, Craw- ford Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1823 ; daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Smith) Line, formerly of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Line moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware Co., Ohio, and from there, in 1820, to Crawford Co., where the subject of this sketch was raised. She was married, April 12, 1846, to John Mason, who came from England in 1820, and, after he married, settled on the place now occupied by Mrs. Mason. They had born to them Nancy A., wife of Charles L. Sayler, of Harvey Co., Kan .; Fannie, wife of Z. W. Hip- sher, of Marion Co., Ohio ; Ellen M., wife of Otis Brooks, of this county ; Rosa, wife of J. Hord, of this county ; William, now living at home; Robert, who died, at the age of 20 years, March 20, 1871 ; Ada, who died Feb. 15, 1855 ; and Charlotta, who died Dec. 3, 1872. Mr. John Mason died July 13, 1876. Mrs. Mason owns 270 acres of good land, and has been a member of the M. E. Church for thirty years.

CALEB MCHENRY, farmer ; P. O. Bucy- rus. This gentleman was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1829, and was a son of Mal- comb and Elizabeth (Wickart) McHenry, who moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1812, and settled in Columbiana Co., and afterward moved to Richland Co., Ohio, where they lived until 1838, when Mr. McHenry went West to hunt a new home, and has never been heard of since. It is supposed that the Indians killed him. Mrs. McHenry went to Indiana, where she died on Feb. 6, 1878. The subject of our sketch was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, April 15, 1852, to Louana, daughter of Dennis Palmer, Esq., of Bucyrus Township. They were blessed with six children-Christiana L., wife of R. L. Hudson, Esq., of Delaware, Ohio ; Millard C .; Easter, wife of Jacob Shupp, Esq., of Todd Township; Joseph C. and Mary C. Mrs. Mc- Henry died Dec. 1. 1863. Mr. McHenry was again married to Miss Adeline M. Rex, of Dallas Township. They had four children- Martha M., Orpha M., Milan C. and William C.

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Mr. McHenry has been elected Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and has been often elected one of the Township Trustees, and has also been for many years connected with the School Board, as Clerk of the Chairman. He owns 149 acres of good, well-improved land ; is a Republican in politics, and has made Dallas Township his home since 1840, with the excep- tion of a period from 1852 to 1860, during which he lived in Lake Co., Ind., and at its ex- piration returned to Dallas Township, where he has been ever since.

LINUS H. ROSS, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born Ang. 21, 1854, in Bucyrus Township, and is a son of John Ross. He attended the common schools until he was 18 years of age, when he entered the Bucyrus Union Schools, remaining for one year ; in 1875. he attended Mt. Union College, and in 1876, Ada Normal School, thus laying the foundation for future usefulness. He was married Oct. 17, 1877, to Miss Kate Monnett, youngest daughter of Abraham Monnett, who was born Jan. 8, 1858, in Scott Township, Marion Co., Ohio. They have one child-Grace A., born Feb. 12, 1879. Mr. Ross has always worked on a farm, and for a number of years has been dealing in stock, as partner of his father until 1876, when he embarked in the business alone, dealing in sheep, hogs and cattle, and has a farm of 560 acres of fine land. He has lived on this place since March, 1880, and has a fine frame resi- dence of ten rooms. He and his wife are con- sistent members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican in politics. He is a thorough stu- dent, is well informed, and spends his leisure hours in reading and study.

WESLEY ROBERTS, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born in Lo- gan Co. Jan. 25, 1829; was a son of John Roberts and Louvina (Walton) Roberts, form- erly of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Elsa A. Mon- nett, which union has been blest with two sons-Isaac, living in Maryland, and Madi- son, living in Marion Co., Ohio. Mrs. Roberts died October, 1852. Mr. Roberts was married the second time, to Miss Elizabeth Newsom, of this county, in March, 1858. They have born to them-Frank, Joseph, Charley, Willis, Mar- cellus, Ida M. and Belle, who died from the ef- fects of a burn. At the commencement of the war, in 1861, Mr. Roberts was comparatively a

poor man, but by untiring perseverance and care, has been able to accumulate a large fortune. He has one among the best farmhouses in the county, and owns 1,500 acres of good land, and raises more corn and wheat than any farmer in Crawford Co .; is also engaged in buying, feed- ing and shipping stock. He feeds all his corn on the farm to cattle, hogs and sheep. Last year he sold a lot of 400 of the latter. He believes in attending to his own business, has often been solicited to accept office, but always de- clines, believing that it pays to take care of his own interests ; is Republican in politics.

BARNHART SAYLER, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. O. Bucyrus. Among the many en- terprising men of Crawford Co., there is no one more active and wide awake than Mr. Sayler, who was born in Richland Township, Marion Co., Ohio, Dec. 9. 1828. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth -(Kefner) Sayler, formerly of Berks Co., Penn., who came to Ohio in 1799. Mr Sayler rode on horseback 300 miles, carry- ing his pack-saddle and trusty rifle, to Picka- way Co., Ohio, and moved to Marion Co. about 1820, where the subject of our sketch was born and raised, and where he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss C. J. Owens, of Marion Co., on Sept. 21, 1854. They moved to Dallas Township in 1874, and bought the 360 acres of land they now own. They have twelve children-Ira F., now in Kansas ; Charles L., John B., A. Lincoln, Eugene B., Clara E., Ida M., Willie O., H. Perry, Mirtie E., Thomas E. and Minnie Pearl. They also have an adopted child Mary Petrie. Mr. Sayler is a breeder of fine Norman horses, and his success at the fairs in getting the red ribbons shows that he under- stands the business. He is also engaged with his son Ira F., in the cattle business in Kansas. They own quite a herd of blooded stock in that growing State. Mr. and Mrs. Sayler are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are known and beloved for their Christian bearing ; they are also identified with the Sun- day schools of the county. Mr. Sayler has been three times elected Justice of the Peace, unanimously, by his neighbors. He believes in temperance in all things, and is an advocate of prohibition.

WILLARD T. WHITE, farmer ; P. O. Wy- andot ; is the son of Charles W. and Hannah Hoover White ; born Aug. S, 1845. Charles White, grandfather of the subject of this

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sketch, was born and raised in Virginia. When the Revolutionary war broke out, he was about 16 years of age. He was placed on the muster roll of the militia, and was in active military service several years during the struggle of the colonies for American independence, and a portion of this period under the immediate command of Gen. Washington. White also served for several years in that branch of the service styled " minute men." When his fa- ther died, a portion of the estate inherited by the son consisted of slaves. Charles, having been reared under the teachings of slavery, was not at first opposed to the system. He made several additional purchases of this spe- cies of property, and, in a few years, removed to Kentucky, where he lived for some time in Fayette Co. But, having fought for liberty in his younger days, he could not reconcile the right to hold his fellow-men in bondage with the principles of eternal justice ; and, becom- ing disgusted with the iniquitous system, he liberated his negroes, some thirteen in number, and shortly afterward removed to Ross Co., Ohio. Previous to this, he had enjoyed a com- petency, but his devotion to the cause of free- dom and practical abolition caused a great re- duction in his available assets, and, for some years, he was in straitened circumstances. When he removed to Ross Co., about 1812, he had barely enough to purchase the farm of 145 acres of land upon which he settled ; but, by industry and hard labor, he soon became in better financial condition. He resided in Ross Co. for some forty years, and died about the year 1856, at the advanced age of 96 years 6 months and 14 days. He was the father of three sons-Samuel, George and C. W. White. The two elder were soldiers in the American army during the war of 1812. The youngest son, who was born in Fayette Co., Ky., within a mile and a half of Lexington, July 18, 1802, was too young to engage in the second struggle for American independence. When about 18

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 152

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