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 66
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
317
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
bore him six children, three of whom are living, viz., William L., David and Nancy J. The deceased are Mary L., Hervey J., Jr., and Hannah E. Mrs. Hill died January 27, 1852. His son William was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; and did duty during the war, and was wounded in the left hand at Winchester, Va. Hervey J., Jr., was a member of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he died soon after enlistment in 1864, at Rome, Ga. Mr. Hill was married the second time to Matilda A. Smith, their nuptials being celebrated January 6, 1853. She has borne him two children, both deceased, viz., Clara A. and Hattie F.
Abraham Povenmire, son of John and Sarah (Wag- ner) Povenmire, was born and reared in Cumberland County, Penn., and was the father of eight children, viz .: Mary, Samuel, Susanna, Abraham, Nancy, Sarah, John and Michacl. Abraham Povenmire, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Sep- tember 18, 1818, and at the age of seventeen removed with his parents to Hancock County. At twenty-five he
was married to Mary A., daughter of George and Jane (Davis) Craig, who then resided in Wood County, and was born in Tuscarawas County October 15, 1821. After marriage, they lived on the farm with his parents for five years, and in the spring of 1848 moved to De- fiance Township, where he entered 160 acres of land on Scetion 31, residing there thirteen years, and improving forty acres. He then bought a 120-acre farm in High- land Township, on which he now resides. Their family consisted of seven children-Luther, married Lydia Baringer, of Richland, in 1868 ; Minerva, married W. S. Snodgrass, of Richland, in 1862 ; Charity, married John W. Baring, of Richland, in 1868; C. Amanda, married John W. Remagen, of Lima, Ohio; Edson, married Frances A. Smith, of Ayersville, in 1883 ; Em- ma H., married Wilson H. Henne, of Reading, Penn., in 1882 ; and Hattie A., still at home with her parents. Mr. P. is a worthy and respected citizen, and after en- during pioneer toils and hardships, although somewhat broken down by reason of these, lie still enjoys the fruits of his labor, with his children happily settled around him.
CHAPTER XXVI.
MARK TOWNSHIP-SCHOOLS-MARK CENTER-PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
M
ARK TOWNSHIP is located in the southwest : Smith, Jacob Fisher, George Porter and John Gar-
part of Defiance County, being Town 4 north, Range 2 east. Hicksville Township is on the west, Far mer on the north, Delaware on the east and Paulding County on the south. The surface is mostly low and wet, though in the northwest aud southeast portions some fine farms are located. The soil is good, and when systematically drained the large unclaimed tract will become excellent for agricultural purposes.
The township was erected by the County Commis- sioners in 1850, on petition presented by Mr Will- iam C. Hutchinson. It was proposed to name the new township Kenton, in honor of Mark Kenton, who made the first improvement, having settled on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 5, and there engaged in hunting and trapping. This name was objected to for the reason that there was a post office by this name in the State and the title Mark was agreed upon.
The organization was completed by the election of township officers in April, 1851. At this election seventeen votes were cast. The voters were Samuel Smith. H. G. Luce, Samuel Fisher, Thomas Pope, W. C. Hutchinson, Jobn L. Ginter, M. C. D. Campbell, John Kiser, Harrison Jenkins, Samuel Onstatt, Peter Frederick, George Hobbs, John Shafer, Martin
ible.
The officers elected were W. C. Hutchinson, As- sessor; Peter Frederick, Clerk; W. C. Hutchinson, Treasurer; Harrison Jenkins, Samuel Onstatt and H. G. Luce, Trustees; John Kiser and M. C. D. Campbell, Constables; Samuel Smith, Supervisor. This elec- tion was held at the cabin of a Mr. Bunnell who had taken a contract to build a bridge. At the next elec. tion, held June 17, 1851, Samuel Fisher and Samuel Onstatt were elected Justices of the Peace. The latter declined to serve, and William C. Hutchinson was elected the same year to fill the vacancy, and filled the office twelve years.
SCHOOLS.
In April, 1851, the trustees divided the township into three districts, and two years later into five dis - tricts. The first teachers in these districts were: No. 1, William A. Slough; No. 2, Mary J. Powell; No. 3, Oren L. Bulbert; No. 4, Oscar Works; No. 5 Jacob Bruner. Other early teachers were Isrea] Baum, William Mann and James Evans. In 1853. it was decided to erect three hewed log schoolhouses, each 20x24 feet, with a porch over the door; one in No. 3, at a cost of $75; one in No. 4 and one in No.
318
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
5 at a cost of $150 each. The enumeration of youths. returned in 1854 was 49 males, 34 females, total, 83; in 1864, it was males, 107, females, 107; total, 214. There are now nine schoolhouses in the town- ship, seven frame and two brick.
MARK CENTER.
The only village in the township is Mark Center, an enterprising little place of 210 people. At the exact geographical center of the township, one-half mile north of the present village a little town sprang into existence, grew, and in 1874 contained a store, a grocery, a saloon, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop and a number of dwellings. In May, 1875, after the B. & O. Railroad was constructed through the township, Frederick Harmening laid out the present village just north of the railroad. The portion south of the railroad was laid out by Josiah Kyle and A. M. Anderson. The Van Wert Stave Company, under the supervision of Mr. George Holton, is the most extensive industrial concern in the place. The company located here several years ago, and have ever since been extensively engaged in the manufact- ure of hoops and staves. During the first year, it turned out 7,000 hoops and 20,000 staves daily, and at present this amount is more than doubled. Fifty hands are employed in the factory. The foreman is Mr. Z. T. Hilligas. There are also at the village two hrop pole shaving shops, one steam saw mill, a blacksmith shop, one shoe shop, one hotel, two stores, a post office. millinery store, saloon, express office, a two-story brick schoolhouse and a church. The stores do a thriving business and keep in stock full supplies Josiah Kyle is the owner of general merchandise
of one, and R. F. Hecht of the other. The latter is also Postmaster and express agent. Ludwig Klein is the village blacksmith and Joseph Kibler the shoe- maker. The saw mill is owned and operated by G. W. Spealman. The church building is a neat frame edifice, recently erected. It is the property of a small but flourishing Methodist society. Other de- nominations also hold occasional services here. The only other church building in the township is a Unit- ed Brethren Church, located on Section 25. It was built in 1878, at a cost of about $550.
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
E. H. Devore was born in Hampshire County, Va., November 10, 1820. He removed when a child with his parents to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and from there he came to Mark Township in June, 1851, settling on Section 25. He built his cabin in the wilderness and cleared the farm upon which he still resides. He was married in 1843 to Rebecca White, by whom he had four sons and three daugh-
ters. Mrs. Devore died January 26, 1880, and Mr. Devore was again married, December 15, 1881, to Mrs. Elizabeth Traxler.
Samuel Onstott was born September 4, 1823, in Washington County, Penn. His father was a Penn- sylvanian by birth. His mother a native of New Jer- sey. His father died in Wayne County, Ohio, to which place he had moved from Washington County, Penn., when Samuel was a small boy. Here the latter grew up to the age of sixteen, when he came to Richland County, Ohio, where he married Miss Sarah Reed, by whom he had thirteen children, viz., John J., Will- iam Wallace, Amanda M., Elizabeth A., Jacob B., Nancy E., Francis J., Susan E., Sarah M., Adoniram J., Lewis M., Harriet M. and Saretta M. Three of this number are dead-John J., Susan E. and Lewis M. His mother died in Indiana in 1881, aged about ninety-seven years. Mr. Onstott moved into Mark Township and settled on Section 33, where he has lived ever since June 6, 1850. He came from Craw- ford County, Ohio, with Mr. Thomas Pope, and they had to cut the road from the river road, a distance of three-fourths of a mile, to their several places of abode. He was one of the number who organized the township, and was elected Justice of the Peace and also Trustee at said organization. His wife, died 'September 18, 1881, aged about fifty-eight years.
Robert Haver was born in Greene County, Penn., February 20, 1814. Came to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when he was about fourteen years of age. Moved into Mark Township, Defiance County, in November, 1851. The township was organized prior to his arrival. His neighbors were Joseph Smith, Martin and Samuel Smith, Moses Johnson, Philip Oaks, E. H. Devore, John Kentner, Andy Kentner, Samuel Fisher, James Gribben, Mrs. Jane Young, Charles Koontz, Thomas Pope, Samuel Onstott, Christopher Thompson, Robert Allen, Joseph Breese, Samuel Oliver Harris, W. C. Hutchinson, was there acting as Justice of the Peace when Mr. Haver came into the township Robert Haver married Miss Mary Crea October 1. 1839. Their family consists of Thomas W., Moses M., James H., John, Godfrey E., George W., Isaac A., Levi C., Sarah C., Matilda J. and Robert A. Two of these are dead. John died a soldier at Ringgold, Ga, March 7, 1863; George W. died young. Had three other sons in the war of 1865-Moses M., James and Thomas.
William C. Hutchinson was born in Licking County, Ohio, May 20, 1817, and grew up and re- ceived his early education there. At the age of about twenty-one years, he moved to Knox County with his mother, and was married there to Maria Hobbs, Au- gust 15, 1839, by whom he had ten children -Lean-
319
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
der R., Martha L., Maria E., James O., Louisa J., Mary E., Francis I., Narcissa J., Laura E. and Will- iam H. Of this number three are dead-Leander R., James O., and Maria E. who died in infancy. The two boys-Leander R. and James O., enlisted in the late war. Leander was promoted to First Lieutenant May 2, 1864, and was killed May 14, 1864, aged about twenty four years. James O. died in hospital at Knoxville, Tenn., April 9, 1864, aged about twenty years. Mr. Hutchinson moved to this county into what is now Mark Township, in October, 1849. One Thomas Pope, from Crawford County, made a purchase of a lot the same time, but got onto it abont three weeks ahead of him and got up his cabin, so that when Mr. Hutchinson, Samuel Harris and George Porter, with their families, arrived (all arriving on the same day), they found a stopping place with Mr. Pope until they could erect their cabins. In the lat. ter part of November Mr. Hutchinson got his cabin roof on and floor laid, and moved in without being chinked or mudded, with no windows or doors except a quilt or blanket hung up. After getting his little family to their new home, he returned to Mr. Pope's for their little supply of household goods, and owing to the bad state of the road through the woods, Mr. Hutchinson was unable to get back to his cabin until quite late in the evening, when he found it sur- rounded by wolves, serenading Mrs. Hutchinson and the children with their melodious notes. Mrs. Hutch- inson says she couldn't say she was particularly afraid of them, but did feel that a more substantial door would have been desirable. Mrs. Hutchinson's parents, James and Elizabeth (Congdon) Hobbs, were English people. To them was born seven chil- dren. five boys and two girls-Thomas J., John, Isabella, Maria, William, George C. and Oscar R. Mrs. Hobbs died in Devonshire County, England, A. D. 1833, from which place Mr. Hobbs emigrated with his children to Knox County, Ohio. in 1835, and died in Defiance County in 1853. Thomas J. was drowned in the St. Lawrence River on their passage. Mr. Hutchinson was Justice for twelve years and School Director most of the time during his stay in the town- ship. Was Township Treasurer for several years, and was appointed by the Commissioners as first Assessor of the township. The first school was taught by Jacob Bruner in Mr. Hutchinson's district. In the fall of 1865, Mr. Hutchinson came to Defiance. In July, 1873, bought one-third interest in the William Lewis farm and proceeded to lay it out into village lots, calling the town East Defiance. He is now en- gaged in the grocery business with his son at Defi- ante, Ohio.
Henry Martin was born November 28, 1832, and came with his parents, Daniel and Mary
(Caster) Martin, from Surrey, Engand, to Summit County, Ohio, in 1832, and to Defiance County in 1834. The children of Daniel were Eliza A., Henry, James G., Mary A., Amelia and Frances V., Mr. Martin (Daniel) died in Mark Township, April 24, 1866, aged sixty-four years. Mary, his wife, died in Mark Township, May 16, 1863, aged fifty- eight years. Henry Martin was married June 1, 1855, to Miss Eliza Dysinger, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Long) Dysinger, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., September 29, 1835. The children of Henry and Eliza Martin are Angeline and Emeline, twins, Adelaide, Melinda, Harriet A. and Leonard. Mr. Martin lives in Crane Township, Paulding Coun- ty, Ohio, but purchased eighty acres of land in Mark Township in Section 35, being the old homestead of his father.
John P. Frederick, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Jacob Frederick, who was a native of Penn- sylvania, where he married Esther Kingle, and immigrated to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he lived fourteen years, when he removed to Knox County, Ohio. Here, in 1835, John P. was born, and grew up to manhood, assisting his father in carrying on the farm and taught vocal music in the different districts. In the year 1864, he was elected Captain of the militia. He was married, October 11, 1866, to Miss Bell Heiple, the daughter of a pious widow lady, and settled on his father's farm, where he was born, and where he lived up to the time of his father's death in 1872. He then moved with his wife and little daughter to Williams County, Ohio, where he remained six months, and then purchased the farm on which he now resides in Mark Township. He was elected Infirmary Director in the fall of 1878 by a majority of 1070, and re-elected in 1881. He is the youngest of a family of twelve children -- seven now survive. His family consists of four chil- dren, as follows: Lora Mary, Charley Heiple, Ona Alfred and Earnest Lamont.
Thomas Crawford was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., April 18. 1805. His parents were born in Maryland, were married in the same State and soon after removed to Pennsylvania as above stated, where they raised a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, all of whom are dead so far as known, except the subject of this sketch. He re- ceived a common school education and grew np in Westmoreland, where he married Miss Eliza Bird, March 1. 1827, by whom he had ten children- William, Polly, Matthias, Phebe, Samuel, Huldah, Sarah Jane, Lavina, Alice, and Johnnie, died at the age of three years eight months and twenty-two days. All the rest are married and doing for them- selves. Mr. Crawford moved from Pennsylvania to
320
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
Wooster, Wayne County, where he remained eight years, then moved to Williams County, and from there to Mark Township in February, 1864, on to Section 26, where he now resides with his son Sam- nel at the age of seventy-nine years, enjoying as good health as ever, except crippled with rheumatism. His wife died November 23, 1880, aged about seventy- seven years, having lived with her husband over half a century.
Samuel Kleckner was born March 18, 1814, in Jefferson County, Ohio, remained in the county un- til seven years of age, and then moved with his par- ents to Carroll County, Ohio. His father entered a farm of Government land there, and Samuel remained helping to clear up the farm until twenty years of age, receiving but a limited education in the log- cabin school. At the age of twenty, he went to Har- rison, Ohio, learned the plastering 'trade, remaining there about two years. He was there married to Miss Mary Ann Hilbert October 8, 1835: from there re- moved to Stark County, Ohio, where he took up his trade, remaining abont four years. From there to Tuscarawas County, and from there to Defiance Coun- ty in the summer of 1845 or 1846, living here some time before the organization of the township, and has been a resident of Mark Township ever since that time, residing with his family, who were small, on his farm in Section 6, which was then a dense forest, but by hard labor Mr. Kelckner has succeeded in making a fine farm, with good comfortable build- ings. Mr. Kleckner's family consists of ten children, the first a boy, not named, Franklin, Daniel, David, William, James, Addison, Rebecca, Samantha Jane, Benjamin Burton and Mary Matilda. Six are living, five boys and one girl, who married Joseph Conley. They live in Hicksville Township. The first school for his children to attend was in Farmer Township at a place called Lost Creek. Mr. Kleckner's trade has been a source of benefit in his pioneer struggle.
Dr. Levi Colby was born June 15, 1817, in Hen- niker, Merrimack County, N. H., where he grew up. He had the advantage of district school education and then entered the academy in his native town, taking his first course of lectures at Dartmouth College in 1838. He removed to Defiance in 1839, and prose- cuted his studies with his brother, Dr. Jonas Colby, and in the winter of 1840 and 1841, attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He commenced the practice of medicine in the spring of 1841 at De- fiance, as partner with his brother Jonas. He was married at Defiance, June 7, 1843, to Miss Harriet R. Phelps, who was born in Richville, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and daughter of James and Dorotha (Snow) Phelps. Their children are Edwin B., born October 24, 1850, at Montpelier, Williams
County, Ohio, dead; George C., born at Independ- ence, Defiance County, July 29, 1853, dead; Frances J., born September 17, 1856, on farm, and married Loren S. Durfey and resides on a portion of the farm; Hattie M., born on farm, May 27, 1860, mar- ried Franklin Bernard and living with the old folks Colby at home; and Willis, born December, 1862. dead. Levi Colby, Sr., and Betsey, (Clark) Colby, parents of Dr. Colby, were the parents of nine chil. dren-Sally, Jonas, Barak, Mary, Catharine, Benja- min and Levi, Jr., twins, Lucinda and Abigail. Four boys and four girls grew up and married. The old- est, Sally, died at the age of about fifteen. Joseph, Mary and Catherine have since died. The grand- father of Dr. Colby was in the Revolutionary war, and the father of our subject, Levi, Sr., was sent a substitute in the war of 1812. Mrs. Colby's father, James Phelps, was in the war of 1812 also. Mr. Colby has been a prominent and active man since he came to this county, having lived in this county (ex- cept with brief intervals spent in the adjoining coun- ties of Williams and Paulding) ever since he came in 1839. At an early day, and soon after his arrival, we find him associated with the School Board as Clerk also Corporation Clerk, etc., and he has generally been in township offices all through his life. He is now serving this county as County Commissioner, hav- ing been elected in 1879 and re-elected in 1882. He was the first clerk pro tem. of Williams County as it now stands, having received his appointment by President Judge Patrick G. Good and his associates. He was also Deputy under Edwin Phelps, in Williams prior to organization of Defiance County in 1845, and Representative of Paulding and Defiance Coun- ties in the Legislature, being elected in the fall of 1869 and re-elected in 1871, receiving the nomina- tion by acclamation.
Peter Frederick was born September 11, 1821, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. At seven years of age, he removed with his parents to Knox County, Ohio, where he lived till the fall of 1845. He then took a trip through the Western States, fetching up at Washington County, Iowa, where he enlisted in the Mexican war, February 21, 1848, and served till June 27 of the same year, when he returned to Iowa and from thence to his home in Knox County. In De- cember, 1849, came to Defiance County, and in Feb- ruary, 1850, located his land warrant for 160 acres in Mark Township, where he now resides. Mr. Frederick was present at the organization of the township, and was elected Clerk. Remained till the fall of 1853, then returned to Knox County. Was married, November 30, 1855, to Miss Catharine Bolyas and has four children, viz. : Sarah J., Nancy E., Mary and M. H., who died at about four years of age.
321
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
G. W Spoalman was born in West Brookfield, Stark County, Ohio, September 10, 1835. His father was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1805, and is now living in Stark County with his third wife. His mother was born in Holmes County, Ohio, A. D. 1809, and died February 7, 1851. Mr. Speal- man was. married November 15, 1857, to Miss Blanche S. Kirk, at Massillon, Ohio. Her ancestors were Scotch. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Spealman moved to La Salle County, Ill., and in the fall of 1863, came back to Stark County to take charge of a steam mill which he had left in 1858. While in Illinois, three children were born to him, viz. : Charles B., the eldest, born August 19, 1858; Alice Mary, February 16, 1861; Estella Tabitha, August 10, 1863, died November 18 of the same year; and Ella, born at Massillon, Ohio, May 30, 1866. In September, 1875, he moved to Holmes County and entered into saw mill pursuits. While there, his son James Alex- ander was born, August 3, 1876. On the 1st of May, 1880, accompanied by his son, he started for Defiance County for the purpose of manufacturing lumber (having shipped their portable mill previously), and located and erected their mill on H. and B. Horzer's farm, about one mile north of the village of Mark Center. November 3, 1861, his daughter, Eva Blanche, was born. He moved his mill the same fall to the village of Mark Center. where he continues to do business. November 15, 1882, his daughter Allie M. was married to the Rev. M. T. Ayres on the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Spealman.
George N. Rice was born February 26, 1829, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, ten miles above Cincinnati. In 1830, his parents, Payne and Mar- garet Rice, moved to Woodstock, Champaign Co., Ohio, and the next year moved to Logan County, into the woods, where they had to meet the hardships of pioneer life, going thirty miles for milling. They romained but a few years in this locality, and in 1835 moved to Union County, Ohio, and located in Lib- erty Township, where they remained till 1844, when they again returned to Logan County, and after get- ting settled, were burned out and the children had to go to school in winter barefoot. Mr. Rice was mar- ried, April 30, 1849, to Miss Sarah Ann Beighler, of Union County, Ohio, and located in said county for a time. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Sarah M. (dead), Jonathan D., Eliza J. (dead), Mary A., Celia R., George C., Ida Pearl, Hattie (dead) and Netta. He removed from Union to Logan County, and ran a cabinet shop there from 1855 to 1861. At the breaking-out of the war, Mr. Rice en- listed on the first call for three-months' men, and next on November 22, 1861, for three years' service as a
Sergeant of Company H, Eighty second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Camp Simon Kenton, in Hardin County, Ohio. Next January they were forwarded to Grafton, W. Va., and from that time Mr. Rice was in many bloody engagements, among which were McDowell, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run and Antietam. In De- cember, 1862, he was one of a squad left at Fairfax Station to guard supplies, and while on their way to Fredericksburg, he was captured at Occoqua Ferry by Wade Hampton, and was obliged to march four days and nights without food on their way to Libby Prison, where 227 were put in one room. They were paroled out two months thereafter and were exchanged June 1, 1863. He was in the Gettysburg fight of July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. He was transferred to Hooker's brigade. Was at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. Was with Gen. Sherman at Knoxville, who raised siege in front of Burnside in 1864. He was in all of the battles under Sherman from there to Savan- nah, at which place he was disharged, January, 1865. and returned home to Union County and came to De- fiance County in 1868 and located in Hicksville Township. In 1878, he moved to Mark Township and located on Section 29, and engaged in lumbering, carrying on his farm in Hicksville Township.
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.