USA > Ohio > Defiance County > History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, etc.; military record; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; farm views, personal reminiscences, etc > Part 63
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kettles, while Sarah, a little girl of three years, was shaking with the ague. When night came, they had the logs up and half of the roof on, and lighting their torches of hickory bark, the men started home-
ward through the woods. No doors or windows had been cut out, and the logs were closely fitted, but find- ing a hollow in the ground under the logs, Mr. Bun -- nell put in some boards for a floor, and by lying down flat, crawled in, spread down a blanket and drew the beds in. Mrs. Bunnell and children crawled in through the same opening. Spreading their beds on the boards, they retired for the night, amid the howling of wolves and hooting of owls. Being tired, they slept soundly. On awaking in the morning, they were astonished to find their beds covered with snow four inches deep. This was the 4th day of October, 1836. In the morning, Mr. Bunnell sawed out a place for a door, the men re- turned and finished the house, leaving a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape. They laid up some stores to protect the logs from the fire and this served their purpose for heating and cooking. In sickness, they had to depend upon house remedies, except quinine and the like, which could be secured at Fort Wayne, the nearest trading place and the nearest grist mills. In severe sickness, they had to send to Denmark for Dr. Chandler, who was often short of supplies. Mrs. Baunell states an instance to illustrate. On being called to see her husband, Dr. Chandler gave him all the tartar emetic he had, deluged him with warm water, and as a last resort, tickled his throat with a feather, which had the de- sired effect. The country at that time was inhabited mostly by Indians. They were the most frequent visitors the white settlers had, but were seldom troub- lesome, unless intoxicated or they found you were afraid of them. One day, two Indians came to their house, one being sober, the other intoxicated and ugly. He demanded whisky and tobacco, which he failed to receive. He raised his gun and pointed it at Sarah Bunnell, a child playing on the floor. The sober Indian snatched the gun from him, exclaiming, "Bad Indian. kill white pappoose." He then drew his knife, telling him " March wigwam." Hicksville having improved, a grist and saw mill having been built, Mr. Edgerton engaged Mr. Bunnell for miller, and they moved to Hicksville in the spring of 1839. That year Mr. Bunnell built the Hicksville House, which was 'the only hotel in town, and occupied it
until June 25, 1855, when it was burned. Mary Lounsberry: a little niece of ten years, was burned to death; the other occupants escaped only with their
lives. In 1853, Mr. Bunnell was elected Sheriff of Defiance County, and in 1855 was re-elected and was a faithful and energetic officer to the time of his death, which occurred on the evening of the 19th of
August, 1856, in his fifty-fifth year. He was a man much esteemed by all who knew him, and we here- with append to this brief sketch the proceedings of
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
the Defiance County Bar, as published at the time in the Defiance County Democrat. "At a meeting of the Detiance County Bar, on the 21st inst., immediately preceding the funeral of Byron Bunnell, Esq., late Sheriff of Defiance County, Woolsey Wells, Esq., was called to the chair, and Edward H. Phelps, Esq., appointed Secretary. On motion, it was resolved that the members of the bar will this day attend the funeral of Byron Bunnell, late Sheriff of Defiance County, and immediately thereafter will re-assemble for the purpose of adopting appropriate resolutions. Immediately after the funeral, the bar again assem- bled, and on motion, E. H. Leland, William Sheffield and J. W. McKim, Esq., were appointed a committee to draft resolutions, who reported the following, which were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the members of the Defiance Bar have heard with feelings of profound regret of the death of Byron Bunnell, Esq., late Sheriff of Defiance County, and that we sympathize with the widow and relatives of the deceased in this their bereavement.
Resolved, That the fidelity, integrity and courtesy of the deceased have secured for him our respect and confidence as an officer, and our esteem as a inan.
Resolred, That in his death the public has lost an upright and faithful officer; and society has lost a high-minded, in- telligent and useful citizen.
Resolved, That these resolutions be reported to the Court of Common Pleas at its next session with the request that they he spread upon its records.
Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the De- fiance Democrat, and a copy of them, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of this meeting, be sent to the family of the de- ceased.
WOOLSEY WELLS, Chairman. Secretary."
E. H. PHELPS,
Mrs. Bunnell, who is in her eightieth year, is still living at Hicksville, and relates interesting stories of pioneer life to her grand children and great grand-children, having seen the vast wilderness of 1836, then the home of the red man, give way be- neath the ax and strong arm of the white man, and in their place broad acres and beautiful homes of many American people.
Joseph S. Bunnell was born at Binghamton, Broome Co., N. Y., April 5, 1830. Moving with his parents to Indiana in 1836 and to Hicksville in 1839. He was married November 25, 1852, to Miss Nancy Wort, who was born January 23, 1833. They have a family of two children -- Isabella and Annette H. Mr. Bunnell purchased the farm consisting of 120 acres June 25, 1860, at that time mostly in woods, but the work of improvement went on. The town having improved, the B. & O. R. R. crossing the farm, there was a demand for more town lots, there- fore, March 18, 1873, Mr. Bunnell laid out his first addition to Hicksville. In the spring of 1874, there being still a great demand, he laid out his second addition May 1, 1874. But Hicksville being a live,
wide-awake place, demanded more, hence, April 21, 1875, he laid out a third addition. The house he now occupies was built in 1870. Mr. Bunnell has spent the greater part of his life in Hicksville, having resided here since 1839, seeing the town of one log cabin grow to the prosperous village it now is. When a lad of ten years, he and his dog were out at play when at a distance he saw a deer coming toward them. The obedient dog stood by his young inas- ter's side until told to go, when he seized the deer, and Joseph cut its throat with his jack-knife. The place where this occurred is now the home of Anthony Robertson, in Smith Township.
Michael Hoffman, a native of Germany, emigrat- ed to America in an early day, and to Southern Ohio in September 17 1857. He was born November 14, 1809, and died August 29, 1875. Mrs. Catherine Hoffman was born January 1, 1817, and still resides on the old farm on which she toiled so hard. By the enterprise of the Hoffman family, the farm came into an excellent state of cultivation. The family consisted of Uriah, Annie L., G. W., J. A., Peter, Catharine, Mary, Adam, Clara, Franklin and Samnel, of whom eight are living, all residing within an hour's drive of the old farm.
John A. Hoffman enlisted August 13, 1862, and was discharged June 27, 1865, having passed through many hard battles, including Knoxville siege, Buz- zard's Roost, Atlanta, Frankfort and Nashville. A few years after the war, he entered the ministry of the United Baptist Church, and is still in the itinerancy. In 1881 and 1882, he was pastor of the Georgetown Mission, and during that time had charge of the erection of two fine churches a brick (colored) chapel at Prairie Creek, in Washington Township, and that at Oak Grove, in Delaware Township. The first class was organized November 10, 1880; the second June 11, 1881, by J. A. Hoffman, pastor. He was married July 3, 1866, to Mary Callista, daughter of Ptolemy and S. Y. Edson, and has the following children: Ernestus S., Andrew P., Lillian Lenora, and an infant unnamed.
The mother of Mrs. J. A. Hoffinan was full cousin to Mr. Poe, who distinguished himself by kill- ing Bigfoot, the Indian, on the banks of the Ohio
G. W Hoffman was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, and is a son of Michael Hoffman. He was mar- ried to Sarah A. Wirt in 1865, and their family con- sists of Franklin M., Reuben C., Hattie B., Vernon L., Burchard and Estella. Their fine farin of eighty- threc acres has been cleared up from a dense forest by their untiring exertions.
Amos Warner was born in Hardin County, Ohio, October 19, 1826, and removed with his parents to Crawford County in 1832. His father, Charles War-
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
ner. died November 17, 1873, and his mother, Cath- arine, died in 1874 aged sevonty-four years. Amo; Warner came to Hicksville Township in 1857, taking up eighty acres of timbered land, which are now well improved, with good house and barn. He married Mary Kunkle, November 22, 1855, and their family consists of Alfrod C., Frank G., John G., Etta B., Anna A., Carrie W., Charles R. and Mary.
George Norick came to Hicksville, April 3, 1852, and cleared up a 100-acre farm which is now in a good state of cultivation, and Mr. Norick is both a good farmer and a good citizen. His sons are Jacob, George and Stephen H. The former enlisted, Feb- ruary 25, 1863. in Company E., Twenty-first regi- ment, and perished by sickness in the South, like so many other defendors of our country.
John M. Ainsworth, a merchant of the firm of Ainsworth, Bow & Bevington, is one of the most suc- cessful and respected citizens of Hicksville. He was born at West Jefferson, Madison Co., Ohio, Septem- ber 10, 1835, and is the son of William and Susan Milton Ainsworth. He lived at West Jefferson till thirteen years of ago, and in 1848, went with his pa- rents to Van Wert County, Ohio, where he remained working on a farm till 1853, when he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and became a clerk in a mercantile firm in that city, N. B. Freeman & Co., by whom in 1857 he was sent to Hicksville to open and conduct a store of general merchandise. He remained with this firm till it closed out its business in Hicksville, when he established the firm of J. M. Ainsworth & Co., his partner being Hon. A. P. Edgerton. This firm, under the exclusive management of Mr. Ainsworth, did a successful business, and after two years he purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business on his own account. Mr. Ainsworth remained in Hicksville during its darkest business period, but by lis energy, fidelity and foresight he kept the business of the country around at Hicksville which otherwise would have slipped away to competing points then having railroad advantages, while Hicksville had none till 1874. In addition to Mr. Ainsworth's bus- iness at Hicksville he formed the partnership of Payne, Ainsworth & Co., at Fort Wayne, which built a mill and was extensively engaged in the manufact- ure of staves. The firm continued in operation sev- eral years, and on its dissolution Mr. Ainsworth es- tablished the present firm of Ainsworth, Bow & Beving- ton. Mr. Ainsworth has always enjoyed the highest reputation for business integrity and capacity. In his business and social intercourse he is always the con- siderate gentleman, whose moral and Christian char- acter could be followed to great advantage by the young men of the country. He is one of the men who make towns, and give them success and character. On the 29th day of December, 1859, Mr. Ains-
worth married Sarah Parker, daughter of Allen Parker and Esther Osborn, whose marriage twenty years before was the first in Hicksville Township. They have four children- Carrie (Mrs Bassett), Net- tio. Alda and Susie.
Simon W. Fish has especial pride in his military record in the late war, where he rallied "with the brave boys in blue " in defense of his beloved coun- try. Ho was a resident of Hicksville at the time of his enlistment in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Veteran Volunteers for three years or the war. He was mustered into the United States Army at Toledo, January 18, 1864, but having become exposed to measles he was allowed ten days' furlough, and a few days after was taken ill, and having to rejoin his reg- iment before he was well, he suffered severely in con sequence, the cold settling in his head and breast. However, he went with the boys when Sherman started on his great Atlanta campaign, and was in the battles from Ringgold, Ga., to New Hope Church, but on the first of June, he was sent back to Chatta- nooga Hospital, Tenn. ; thence to Cumberland Field Hospital, Tenn. ; thence to Totten Hospital, Ky .; then to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he got better, in Sep- tember. He was then sent to Louisville, Ky .; where he was one of Gen. Palmer's headquarter guards, re- maining until his regiment returned, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Columbus, July 25, 1865, arriving home on the 29th of the same month.
L. R. Putnam is also especially proud of his pat- riotic record during the war. He enlisted at Lock- port, N. Y., a private in the Twenty-third New York Independent Battery on February 7, 1864, for three years or during the war. He was discharged at Washington, D. C., June 28, 1865, by reason of com- pliance with telegram A. G. O., May 3, 1865.
Ephraim Butter, private, Company D, One Hun- dredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted August 14, 1862; discharged by reason of expiration of term, June 20, 1865.
Dr. B. M. Rakestraw was born at Goshen, Colum- biana County, Ohio, December 19, 1818, of Quaker par- ents, Levi and Rebecca Rakestraw. He was raised on a farm; what schooling he received being at the Quaker school at Goshen. In his twentieth year, he studied dentistry with Dr. Thompson, but did not long pursue this avocation, entering in his twenty. third year, upon the study of medicine with Dr. B. D. Williams, of Reedtown, Seneca Co., Ohio. In 1846, he removed to Hicksville in his twenty-seventh year. He has remained there ever since, chiefly en- gaged in the practice of medicine, at which he ob- tained a good reputation. Of late, his specialty has been the subject of cancer and its cure.
Politically, he commenced acting with the Demo-
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crats in 1841, but in 1852 transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, with which he has acted ever since. The platform that nominated Pierce in 1852 at Baltimore, aroused his antagonism to the Democrats by coming in contact with his abolition instincts. The Doctor united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1861, to which he still belongs.
Dr. Rakestraw's habits are exceedingly regular, he being strictly temperate, never having drank a glass of beer in his life, or offered or received from anyone anything that intoxicates.
He has been married four times. His first wife, Esther T. Hughes, of Berks County, Penn., to whom he was married July 4, 1840, died June 24, 1841. His next marriage was on May 14, 1846, to Carolina G. Taylor, of Seneca County, with whom he lived eleven years, when, like his first wife, she died of that terrible disease, pulmonary consumption, leaving four children -Berton W., Ann Viola, who both died in infancy, Eliza J. and Rebecca, both liv- ing. For his third wife he married Clarissa W. Ensign, of Lake County, on January 28, 1858, but March 6, 1859, she died leaving a little girl, four days old, now living at Clinton Junction, Wis. His present wife is Miss C. A. Alberton.
As a professional man, the Doctor has always been ready to give his time and skill to the care of the afflicted, and not being at all of a grasping disposi- tion he has often failed to receive his proper reward. On January 9, 1879, he delivered the address before the District Medical Association at Hicksville, which is replete with noble and eloquently expressed thoughts.
Conrad Thoman was born June 5, 1838, in Germany. When nine years of age, he immigrated to America with his father, Conrad, Sr., his mother having died in Germany. His brothers and sisters were named Mary, Catharine, Laura and Henry, who are all liv- ing. His father came to Crawford County, Ohio, where he died in his seventy sixth year. When twelve years old, our subject struck out for himself, and when fifteen he commenced to learn harness mak- ing at Liberty Corners, Crawford County. In 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Third Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, on September 26, 1861. He was at Pittsburg Landing. Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chatta- nooga, Atlanta and Lovejoy, and was with the Fourth Michigan and Third Ohio when Jeff Davis was cap- tured. He was honorably discharged August 4, 1865, having escaped without a scratch, his horse be- ing shot down from under him at Stone River. He then returned to Crawford County and January, 1866, came to Hicksville, taking up his trade for a time, since which he has driven team and now a dray. He mar. ried, in 1866 Melissa J., daughter of Finlay and Mar-
garet (Gardner) Britton, by whom he has two chil- dren-Effa Bell, born in 1867, and Charles Levi born in 1870.
John Lawson, farmer, was born in York County, Penn., in 1807, and is a son of Joseph and Magdalen (Baughman) Lawson, natives of Pennsylvania and of English and German descent Joseph, father of our subject, died in Pennsylvania when John was seven years of age. His mother also died in Pennsylvania. Our subject was reared on the farm by his grand- father, Francis Baughman, with whom he remained till he was eighteen years old, at which time he be- gan learning the shoe-maker's trade, until he came to Ohio, in 1834, and the twenty years following he lived in Richland County, Ohio, and followed his trade. In 1854, he came to his present place, having bought 160 acres three years previous to his settle- ment. He then proceeded to clear up his land, on which he yet resides. He has been identified with some of the minor offices of the township, but has cared little for the honors of office. He was married in 1828 to Margaret, daughter of George and Lizzie (Gilnix) Snyder of Pennsylvania, by whom he has had fourteen children, of whom nine are living, viz., Amos, Emanuel, Leah, Henry, George, Julia A., Mary, Sylvester and William F. The deceased are Peggy, Elizabeth, John, Joseph and Lydia. Joseph, John, George and Emanuel were in the service dur- ing the late war, and did active service and were all honorably discharged. John was a member of Com- pany F, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry; enlisted August, 1862, died at Knoxville, Tenn., March, 1864. Joseph was a member of an Illinois cavalry regiment; enlisted in the beginning of the war; passed through seventeen battles and died at Angola, Ill., July 8, 1865. George enlisted in an Illinois regiment near the close of the war. Emanuel served in the Squirrel Hunters' Brigade, enlisted in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are members of the Lutheran Church. George W. Batchelor, a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, resides with his grandparents and is a bright, intelligent boy.
Lucius Gale was born December 31, 1812, at Bridgeport, Vt., and received a common school education in his native town and also attended in 1829 the Academy of Shoreham, in the adjoining town. His preceptor was the Rev. Amzi Jones, Jr. In 1837, he immigrated to St. Lawrence Coun- ty, N. Y., where he remained five years and then came to Milford Township, Defiance County, in 1842. He was married Dec. 31, 1839, to Mary E., daughter of Abner and Cynthia (Hall) Parmalee, of St. Law- rence County, N. Y. Three children were born to them, viz., Phineas A., Spaulding (died in infancy) and Sarah D. Mrs. Gale died March 20, 1853, and
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
Mr. Gale married for his second wife Mercy L., daughter of James and Sebrand Provines, of Hunt- ington County, Ind., April 13, 1854. They have no children. Mr. Gale taught school three months in the winter of 1842, in the Chapman District, now known as District No. 2, Milford Township. His wife, Mary E., taught the same school in the winter of 1843 and again taught school in the same township in the winter of 1844. After this, school was taught in the cabin of Mr. Pierce, mostly for the benefit of Mr. Pierce and a neighbor. Mr. Gale says the first Pres- byterian he recollects of being in Farmer Township was the Rev. Mr. Winters, but does not recollect the name of the Methodist Episcopal preacher who preached in Farmer Center. The pioneers who pre- ceded him to the township were George W. Chapman, W. G. Pierce, J. Henry, J. Hulbert, E. Crary, D. Boyles and others. Mr. Gale kept an account of ex- penses for living when he came to the township in 1842, and for the year following the date of his set- tlement, the grand total of the cost of living for his family was $80. This amount was all that was nec- essary to furnish the necessaries for a family of three persons, which, when compared to the present rates for living, gives the reader an idea of the strict economy practiced by the early settlers. Ordinarily, thr-e to four shillings per day was paid for hired help, but during the busy season of the year as much as $1.50 to $2 per day was paid, which always included board.
William J. Henry, farmer, was born in Marion County, Ohio. July 25, 1832, and is a son of Levi and Sarah (McWhirter) Henry. The McWhirters were natives of Virginia who settled in Pennsylvania- and afterward in Marion County, Ohio. The Henrys came from Pennsylvania, and first settled in Marion County, Ohio, in about 1813, and a year later in Han- cock County, Ohio, for a year or so, and then back to Marion County, where they made a permanent, home. She died in 1866 in this county. He resides in Hicks- ville. The early life of our subject was passed in Craw . ford County, Ohio, after his sixth year. In the common schools he received a district .school educa- tion. He was married in 1857, to Amanda, the daughter of Isaac Wartenbee, a pioneer of Defiance County, Ohio. He located in this township in 1852, and first purchased, northeast of Hicksville three miles, eighty acres, at $2.50 per acre. Here he lived until the war broke out, and August 29, 1861, enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Was immediately after transferred to the front in Eastern Kentucky. Under Gen. Nelson, the fall and winter of 1861, the regiment was engaged in Eastern Kentucky, and in the spring of 1862 the regiment was rendezvoused at Bacon Creek, where they re-
mained, fighting the battle of Green River, when they became annexed to Gen. Mitchell's command, and participated in the capture of Huntsville, Ala., the summer of 1862. The regiment in Gen. Negle's division remained on garrison duty at Nashville. Tenn., until December of the same year, when they participated in the battle of Stone River; lay in camp till May of 1863, and then entered the Chickamauga Camp, at Mission Ridge fight and in all the fights that took place in and around that great stronghold, after which followed on in the Atlanta campaign, and he was
in all the incessant fighting for five months, and fol- lowed Sherman to the sea. Was at Jonesboro, and present at the surrender of Savannah to Gen. Sher- man's army, Christmas, 1864. Followed the fortunes of the army until Johnston's surrender, when the reg- iment was stationed on the Cape Fear River. It was m: ved to Richmond; then to Washington and partic- ipated in the grand review of the army. Was mus- tered out at Lonisville, Ky., July 28, 1865. He then returned to his home and located on the old farm, and two years after went to Milford Township, in which he resided seven years; then located where he now lives. He now owns 140 acres of well-improved land. He was Justice of the Peace during the time he lived in Milford one term. To Mr. and Mrs . Henry have been born two children, viz .. Sarah A., born February 10, 1859, and William E., born March 13, 1861.
John A. Miller was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, October 14, 1814. His parents were natives of Wash- ington County, Penn., who married in Jefferson County, Ohio, and removed from there in 1815 to Holmes County. Mr. Miller remained with his par- enty until of age, having little or no educational ad- vantages. He married, May 31, 1836, Margaret, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Davison) Boon, and they have a family of five sons and two daughters, viz. : James M., who died from the effects of disease contracted while in the army; Samuel B .; Martha; Newton, who died in the army; Dorotha. William A. and John C. They moved to Section 5, this town- ship, October, 1845, taking up at first eighty acres of wild land, then eighty more. In 1856. he sold his farm and went in with Byron Works for two years, in the dry goods business; then he ran the tannery on the corner of Fort Wayne and Antwerp pike for six years. He bought the business of Ross & Boon. He then started the saw mill and shingle manufactory, and from December, 1873, till 1880, he was in the bakery business. He is now retired, enjoying the fruits of his labor and energy.
Ptolemy Edson was born in Genesee County. N. Y., December 19, 1818, and removed with his par- ents to Portage County Ohio, and settled in the town
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