History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2, Part 52

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2 > Part 52

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JAMES KENYON, farmer; P. O. Lewis Cen- ter ; is the second son of Samuel Kenyon, one of the early settlers in this township, and was born on the homestead April 17, 1827, and has been a constant resident of this township. remaining with his father until he went to do for himself, which was in bis 27th year. Was married, Jan. 25, 1854, to Anna Havens, born in New Jersey, Sus- sex Co., Jan. 15, 1836, daughter of Andrew and Susan ( Balis ) Havens; after marriage, they located a short time on the place now occupied by L.

Phinney, and two years after, about the year 1857, moved to their present place, where he had built the house he now occupies; has 274 acres of land, also an undivided interest in the homestead, and has always been engaged in farming : has five chil- dren-Douglass, Franklin, Mary E., Katie and Burton. The Kenyons are all identified with the Republican party, but are not disposed to dabble in political matters ; attend strictly to their own business, and are among the successful farmers in the county.

FRANK KENYON, farmer; P. O. Lewis Center ; is the youngest of the Kenyon brothers ; born of Samuel and Olive Kenyon, who were in their time one of the prominent families in the township ; Frank was born Sept. 15, 1830, on the old homestead, just south of the land he owns, which comprised a part of the old farm ; he re- mained with the home family until he was 23 years of age ; he improved his advantages and ac- quired an education sufficient to enable him to teach, which avocation he followed several terms ; when 23, he went to Wisconsin, where he spent about seven years, most of the time farming ; re- turned in 1861, and lived on the homestead until June 19, 1872. Was married to Alice J. Labourty, born in Vermont ; she was an orphan, her parents having been dead many years. After marriage, they located on the farm he now owns, situated on the State road, near the town house ; has 202 acres of land ; has two children living --- Samuel C. and James C .; Frank Clifford, the old- est, is deceased. Mr. Kenyon and wife are both members of the M. E. Church, and have always taken a decided stand against the vice of intem- perance, and votes the Prohibition ticket.

JOHN KANE, section foreman ; P. O. Lewis Center ; was born in County Kildare, Province of Leinster, Oct. 10, 1830; born of Edward and Elizabeth ( Lawler) Kane ; there were three chil. dren in the family, he being the eldest ; in the spring of 1853, John, having entertained a very favorable opinion of America, bade good-bye to the land of his birth, and sailed for this country : landing in New York, he was not long in making his way to this county ; Mr. Kane, since his ar- rival here, has been an employe of the C., C., C. & I. R. R. Co .; began work first as a common laborer, and afterward. on account of his honesty and fidelity to the Company, was promoted, first to foreman, and since has had a section placed in his charge, which position he has filled for seven years past, with credit to himself and satisfaction

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to his employers. His first five years' residence in the county was at Ashley, and, while there, Feb. 26, 1857, was united in marriage to Mary Crawley, who was born in the same province as her husband ; they have nine children living, eight boys and one girl-Edward, James and Elizabeth (twins), John, Samuel, Henry, Joseph, William T. and Robert. Mr. Kane owns good property.

DANIEL KELLY, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Center; was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb- ruary, 1818; son of Michael and Betsy (Stahl) Kelly ; Michael emigrated to this State when 18 years of age ; there were nine children, five boys and four girls ; his parents died before he attained his majority, and he lived with his brother until 21, clerked for them two years. Feb. 18, 1846, he was married to Mrs. Rachel Post, whose maiden name was Stevens, daughter of Benjamin and Phoebe (Babcock) Stevens, natives of Connecticut ; spring of 1855, Mr. Kelly and wife came West ; stayed one year at Kirkersville, and same length of time at Granville; in 1857, came to Orange Township, and has since been engaged in farming; early in life, at the age of 13, he chose the " better part," and since has been a member of the M. E. Church, having filled important official stations in the same, as layman. Since the Washingtonian movement, has been a strong and leading exponent in the cause of temperance ; he has thrown all his influence in this direction, having fought the demon to the bitter end. He has always been identified with the Republican party ; has filled several posts of trust, Township Clerk, Trustee and Treasurer, and is one of the stanch and fear- less men of the township.

MRS. SARAH E. LEWIS, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Center ; was born in New York City Jan. 3, 1822 ; she was a daughter of Charles Fowler, a merchant of that city; her mother's name was Catherine Payne, both of them were of English descent. Mrs. Lewis, during her 16th year, was married to William T. Lewis, son of Lawrence Lewis, of Essex Co., N. J .; after their marriage, they remained four years in Hanover, N. J., when they emigrated to this State, and this county. Mr. Lewis had made a visit to this county several years previous, and had made the acquaintance of Mr. George Gooding, and drove stage one year for O. Hinton, proprietor of the line from Columbus to Cleveland ; soon after his advent in this town- ship, he bought 100 acres of George Cummings, on which he settled, adjoining the, present town of |

Lewis Center on the north. At this time, all south of the town was in timber. On the land was a log cabin and a small barn, which he at once occupied. To this purchase, he subsequently added until he owned nearly 200 acres ; afterward sold thirty acres, which was divided up inte lots. Eight years after his arrival here, Mrs. Lewis' health becoming impaired, the family moved to Newark, N. J. In the fall of 1849, he joined a company headed by John S. Darcy, and went the overland route across the Plains to California, where he engaged in hauling on the present site of Marysville, Cal., there being at that time only one house, which was built of adobe material. While there, was offered two lots for $30 apiece. In six weeks' time, they were sold for $18,000. His health failing, he returned the same year to New- ark, and the family returned to this place, where. in 1852, he built the house Mrs. Lewis now occu- pies. His death occurred Dec. 8, 1875, being about 60 years of age. Mr. Lewis was an edu- cated man, and, though never connected with any church, yet he was always favorably disposed to all religious societies, and donated the ground for the M. E. Church and the parsonage at Lewis Center ; also the lot where the schoolhouse stands. Since his death, Mrs. Lewis has carried on the farm ; has eight daughters-Eliza J., Mary P., Amelia W., Sarah F., Augusta N., Anna C .. Catherine F., Josephine R. Five of the oldest are married, the other three are at home. All of the girls are members of the M. E. Church. When the railroad was established through this place, Mr. Lewis gave the right of way through his farm, and graded the road, and furnished the ties for the same, all ready for the reception of the iron. Was identified with the Republican party.

MRS. SARAH LEHMAN; P. O. Flint ; born Jan. 10, 1842, is a daughter of William and Christina (Route) Bickle, who were natives of Germany, and came to the State, locating in Fair- field Co., where Mrs. Lehman was born; she re- mained with her parents until she was about IS years of age, when she was married to Joshua Lehman, born in 1819, Oct. 15, in Fairfield Co .; after their marriage, they located in Hocking Co .. where they lived until they came to this county, which was in the spring of 1875; bought 154 acres of land on the State road, in Orange Town- ship; he was engaged in farming up to the time of his death-Feb. 10, 1879. Was, during his life, a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, always taking an active part in the same,

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having been a member since his 20th year. Since his death, Mrs. Lehman has been conducting the farm ; she had four children-Clara Samantha, Charles D., Christina and Lillie Alice ; children all at home. Mrs. Lehman and two girls are members of the U. B. Church.

WILLIAM McDONALD, farmer; P. O. Flint ; came to this State from Hampshire Co., Va., with his father, John McDonald, who was born in Scotland, and was a prisoner at one time under Gen. Burgoyne, during the Revolution. The McDonald family emigrated West about the year 1813; at this time Gen. Harrison had his troops quartered at Franklinton. . William was born in March, 1810; his mother's name before she married was Elizabeth Denney, who was a native of Virginia; the family located near Wor- thingtou, where the elder McDonald built him a cabin and lived about seven years, and then came upon the Smith and Jenkins survey, just south of where Mr. McDonald now lives, where he bought land, and, in 1825, died. When William was 19 years of age, he learned the brickmason's trade ; in 1830, went to Columbus, where he lived until 1850, when he came to his present place of abode. In 1831, he was married to Catharine Altman, born in Columbus, daughter of William Altman; they have had ten children, all living-Feomina, Elizabeth, Joshua, Mary Ann, William, Cynthia, Cyrus, John, Allamenia, Jose- phine and Euphrates. Mr. McDonald has nearly all his life followed his trade; was a good me- chanie, and his services were always in requisition ; has, since coming to his present place, confined himself principally to farming; he can well re- member seeing lots of Indians, and has known packs of wolves to chase his father's dogs to the very door of their cabin ; deer were in large num- bers, and turkeys were not worth the ammunition used to kill them.

MRS. MARTHA MCILVAIN ; P. O. Flint ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Aug. 20, 1813, and was the youngest of a family of six children born to Samuel and Nancy ( Bannon ) Brown, who were natives of Ireland. She was married to Greer Mellvain March 6, 1831, and the same month, they started West in a one-horse wagon, with Licking Co. as their destination ; here they purchased 80 acres of land upon which they lived seven years ; this land was low and wet, therefore unprofitable ; Mr. Mellvain sold it out . and they moved to Union Co., where they lived on rented lands for some years ; the spring of 1848

found them preparing a home in the southern part of this township, where Mr. McIlvain died Nov. 16, 1871, in full faith with the United Brethren Church. They had ten children, but five now living-John, Samuel, Joseph, Margaret and Em- ma ; the latter, now Mrs. Whitney, and John, are living in this township ; Margaret, now Mrs. Pace, and Joseph, in Franklin Co., and Samuel in In- diana. Three sons were in the late war-George was a member of the 3d O. V. I. who fell at the battle of Stone River ; David was in the 95th O. V. I., who also lost his life in the service ; John went out in the 46th O. V. I., and lived to return to his home; too much praise cannot be bestowed upon a family that has made such sacrifices for their country's good. When Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Ilvain first came West, they brought with them a chest, which they used as a table for some time ; their first bedstead was constructed of poles, and the wash-tub in which the weekly cleansing of the scanty linen took place was a log, dug out after the fashion of a trough, and wild game furnished the table with meat. To-day Mrs. McIlvain has 100 acres of well-improved land, the cultivation of which she superintends. Her name is enrolled with the United Brethren Church, of which she is a worthy member.

JOHN F. McILVAIN, farmer ; P. O. Flint. Mr. McIlvain was born in Union Co. March 5, 1839; is of a family of ten children, born to Greer and Martha (Brown) Mellvain; both of them were natives of Pennsylvania. John's parents moved to this township when he was about 8 years of age; he lived at home until his 23d year, when he enlisted, Sept. 27, 1861, in Co. E, 46th O. V. I., for three years, served his time out, and re-enlisted in same company and regi- ment, and remained until the close of the war ; during this time, he was in all the battles in which the regiment participated, among which were Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain (July 22d and 28th), Jonesboro, and, in fact, all the battles of the Atlanta campaign ; received his dis- charge July 27, 1865. Upon his return home, was married, November 14, same year, to Eliza Titus, born in 1844, in this county, daughter of Timothy Titus; after marriage, they located on the Bennett farm, and has since been engaged in farming; for about ten years past, has been engaged in running a thrashing machine, and is the most successful in this line of any in the country ; during the present year, run two thrashers

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and one clover huller ; with one of his machines, he thrashed over 25.000 bushels of grain ; has fifty-two acres of land. They have four chil- dreu-Ida May, born Feb. 25, 1867 ; Thur .. man A., Sept. 22, 1874; Katie Bell, Dec. 2, 1877; J. Greer, Nov. 18, 1879. Mr. Mellvain is a member of Rainbow Lodge, No. 327, I. O. O. F. J. C. NEWKIRK, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Cen- ter. Mr. Newkirk was born in Fairfield Co., March 23, 1818 ; is the ninth child of a family of ten chil- dren born to Reuben Newkirk, a native of Penn- sylvania ; his wife was Mary Kemp, born in Maryland; they were married in the East, and came to Fairfield Co. at an early time, and were associated with the early settlers of that county. John C. had but medium school advantages ; re- mained with his parents (he being the youngest son) until they died. In January, 1837, he was married to Sarah Walters, born in Fairfield Co. in September, 1817. After their marriage, they located on the homestead, remaining there until the year 1847, when he moved to this township and located on the land he now occupies, and has since remained ; has 153 acres of land ; has cleared about two-thirds of the land and put on all the improvements, and is an enterprising farmer ; have four living children-Missouri, Cyrus, Alice and Clara. Cyrus was a soldier in the late civil war ; enlisted in 1862 in the 96th O. V. I., and participated in many of the sanguinary engage- ments in which the regiment was engaged ; he re- turned home without a scratch. Mr. Newkirk has now been a resident of the county for about thirty-two years, and none are more highly es- teemed than he. He has always attended to his own affairs, and deported himself as becomes a worthy, upright man and respected citizen. In April last had a paralytic stroke.

J. A. PEASLEY, farmer and teacher ; P. O. Flint ; stands prominent among the educators in this county ; he was born in Morrow Co., April 22, 1836. His father, C. Peasley, is a native of Addison Co., Vt., and in 1823 came to Morrow Co. with his father Joseph, who entered the land that has since remained in possession of the fami- ly. His mother's maiden name was Margaret Ashton, born in Columbiana Co., this State. The family are noted for their longevity. J. A. Peasley left home at the age of 16, and began his career as a teacher, which has been attended with signal success ; he received his classical edu- cation at Oberlin, and his scientific course was taken at the Ohio Wesleyan University, graduat-

ing June, 1862 ; in 1861, was out in the three- months service in Co. C, 7th O. V. I., and upon his return home resumed teaching ; traveled one vear for A. S. Barnes, and three for Woolworth & Ainsworth (a Boston firm), publishing houses. Prof. Peasley has been employed as teacher in New London, Galena, Medina, Crestline, Logans- port, St. Mary's and Columbus, where he lived eleven years. Aug. 16, 1862, he was married to Jennie A. Paul, born in Greenock, Scotland, 1839 ; she is a daughter of James and Marion (Anderson) Paul. They have five children --- Hattie, Frederick, Frank, Andrew and James. March 25, 1878, he moved to his present place, located in the southwest corner of Orange, on the pike, where he has 120 acres of land ; has also valuable property in Columbus. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and his wife of the Con- gregational ; he is also a member of the Mystic Tie, Arcana Lodge, No. 272, A., F. & A. M. Mr. Peasley carries on his farm, though at present he is teaching.

SAMUEL PATTERSON, P. O. Westerville; is a retired farmer, and was among the early set- tlers of the county; he was born April 4, 1803 ; a son of Thomas Patterson ; his mother's maiden name was Prentice. They emigrated to this State when Samuel was but 4 years old. In 1813, they settled at Worthington, in Franklin Co., where they remained about twelve years, and in 1825 moved to Orange Township, east side of Alum Creek, where Samuel now lives. The land was unimproved, and the first years of their life were spent in a log cabin. Their principal market was at Zanesville, where they procured salt and such other articles as were not available cearer home; the original purchase of land was made at $2.06 per acre. Mr. Patterson's father died in 1835, and his mother ten years later. At the age of 27, he married Hannah Nettleton, who was born in New Hampshire in December, 1804, and was a daughter of Nathan and Hannah ( Wheeler) Nettleton ; six children have been born to them, but three of whom are living, viz., Milo, Morrel and Angeline, all residing in the township. Mr. Patterson possesses 285 acres of land : farming has been his principal pursuit, although, in con- nection therewith, for several years, he was en- gaged in the manufacture of potash and brick ; although the most of his life has been one of toil, Mr. Patterson can look back upon his career with satisfaction, and note the great transformation that has taken place under his observation, and to no

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no small extent under his direction, in subjecting the wilds of the frontier to the demands of ad- vancing civilization, and turning it into homes of peace and comfort. In his religious connection, Mr. Patterson belongs to the M. E. Church.

MARTIN RYAN, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Cen- ter ; was born in Ireland Nov. 11, 1829; is the youngest of a family of three children, of John and Mary (Conwall) Ryan ; at the age of 19, he emigrated to America, landing at New York in the spring of 1848 ; remained there one summer and winter, and came to this county and township in 1851 ; was in the employ of the C., C., C. & I. R. R. eight years, as section foreman, serving the company faithfully. Was married to Margaret Butler ; their children are William J., operator on the C., C., C. & I. R. R., at Galion, since Sept. 5, 1874,; Charles A., a fireman on the " Short Line; " Ella M., teacher, and ranks among the first ; Nora L., but 14, yet has passed examination and received a certificate to teach ; Agnes A. and Mary, at home. After Mr. Ryan severed his con- nection with the road, he located on land that he had previously purchased; it was unimproved, though a log cabin had been erected on the place, which he moved into; he has since cleared up this land, consisting of 100 acres, for some of which he has paid as high as $110 per acre; he has been successful in his farming pursuits, and ranks among the snug and enterprising farmers of the town- ship. Mr. Ryan has been a resident of the county about twenty-eight years, always moral and temperate, not having drank a glass of malt liquor or whisky since he has been in the country, and always throws his influence on the side of right.

PATRICK SHANAHAN, farmer; P. O. Flint ; was born in Parish of Bally Donahoe, County Kerry, Ireland, March, 1824 ; is the third child of a family of fourteen children of Patrick Shanahan, who married Margaret Neil ; Patrick remained at home until he was 25 years of age, when he bade good-by to the land of his fathers and, in the spring of 1849, emigrated to America and landed in New Orleans; came to Morrow County, where he stayed one fall and winter ; then to Delaware, where he worked on the railroad about ten years. While here, was married to Ellen Scandlin, born in the same county as her husband. After leaving Delaware, in 1862, moved to Berlin Township, north of Lewis Center, where he bought 25 acres of land; lived there until about the year 1374, when he sold out and bought bis present farm of 125 acres. to which he

moved and has since farmed. Has six children -Robert E., Patrick, John, Mary, Richard and Thomas. He and family are members of the Catholic Church. He came to this country with but 5 shillings, but resolved to make something of himself, and has acquired what he possesses by hard work and by economy.

HORACE F. SMITH, farmer; P. O. Lewis Center ; was born in this township Dec. 10, 1838; is the second child of a family of six children born of Benjamin F. Smith, who was a native of Gen- esee Co., N. Y., where he married Amanda Gib- son, a native of same county, and removed and located in this county, in Orange Township, on the pike, about two miles from the Franklin Co. line. Here Horace was born and raised. His father was a carpenter ; Horace remained, with his parents until he became of age, at which time he was married to Maria Elliott, born in this county; their marriage was celebrated Nov. 13, 1860 ; after their marriage, they located on the place he now owns, where he has since remained with the exception of two years, when he went out in the service in the 96th O. V. I., Co. G, and partici- pated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff and Arkan- sas Post ; he was discharged at the Marine Hos- pital, in New Orleans, on account of disability. Upon his return home, he resumed farming. They have three children-Frank E., born in Decem- ber, 1861; Lew, born in July, 1864; Bell, born in November, 1865. Mr. Smith has seventy-five acres of land. Is a member of New England Lodge No. 4, A., F. & A. M. His father died in 1860; his mother is still living. Mr. Smith is among the enterprising men of this township; is upright, and well deserving of the esteem with which he is held in the community in which he resides.

L. C. STRONG, retired farmer; P. O. Lewis Center. Prominently among the early settlers of this county stands the name of Daniel Strong, father of L. C. Strong, who emigrated from Ver- mont to this county late in the year 1803 or early in 1804, and settled in what is now Liberty Township, then in Franklin, about one mile west of the Beiber mill; there Lucius C. Strong, the subject of this sketch, was born May 21, 1804, and is now one of the oldest native inhabitants of this county. Subsequent to this, his father re- moved to Radnor Township, on a farm five miles northwest of Delaware. He served in the war of 1812, and participated with others in "running away from the Indians." At the first stampede,

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he loaded his family into a wagon and started for Chillicothe, but stopped at a brother's in Liberty Township, returning home in a few days. The next scare, they went to Delaware, and drove up in front of Capt. Welch's hotel, on the south side of the old square. In a few days, they returned

home again, to remain without molestation. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Strong, after enduring the hard- ships incident to pioneer life, died in the summer of 1816, leaving a family of six children orphans. .Lucius was then 12 years of age, and was given a home by his uncle, Maj. Aaron Strong, then keep- ing a hotel in Delaware. The following year, young Strong attended a school taught by Russel E. Post, in a brick building on East William street. In this building, our present President, R. B. Hayes, was subsequently born. It was here that Lucius wrote an essay on slavery, a subject of his own choosing, and from this he grew in anti- slavery principles, until he became an uncompro- mising Abolitionist, and lived to see slavery, that "twin relic of barbarism," wiped out from the

nation's disgrace. Young Strong commenced his education in the old Dilworth spelling-book, be- ginning with, "No man may put off the law of God; my joy is in His law all the day," and ending with, "The thrifty and the unthrifty farmer." Leaving his uncle, he "drifted with the tide," working out at $6 per month ; when he had reached his majority, he had saved some money. At the age of 23, Mr. Strong married Mahala Andrus, in Worthington, where they lived three years. In 1838, he located on what is called the State road, in the northern part of this township, on a farm of forty acres, and subsequently added fifty acres more. In 1869, he sold out. His present home is in Lewis Center, with his youngest daughter, Mrs. C. M. Stout. Mr. Strong's wife died twelve years after their marriage, leaving five children, the youngest but 6 months and the eldest 10 years of age. These Mr. Strong raised to maturity without the aid of a stepmother, as he did not again marry. In business transactions he has had more than ordinary success, having ac- cumulated a competency for his maintenance with- out other aid ; and for these blessings, Mr. Strong extends all praise to Him who controls our des- tinies. The township honored him with its clerk- ship for seventeen successive years, and as Justice of the Peace six years. For forty-five years he has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church ; is an uncompromising temperance man, and his entire career has been characterized as

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History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2, Part 52

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 836

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 836