History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 116

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 116

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Nov. 13, 1799 ; at the age of 17, he went to learn the trade of brickmason, and in 1822 emigrated to this State and came to Delaware when it was but a small place, and spent about fifty years of his life in that town, during which time was en- gaged in the prosecution of his occupation ; has built nearly all the prominent buildings in that place, among which are the college buildings. Was married, Dec. 25, 1830, to Sarah Stewart, who was born in New York State, and came to this State about the year 1816; she died Sep- tember, 1869, leaving no issue; was married a second time, June 8, 1873, to Mrs. Eliza B. Cruik- shank, a native of this county, in Orange Town- ship, born May 3, 1816 ; she was a daughter of Stephen L. Eaton, born 1784, in Boston, Mass., her mother's name was Olive Davis, born in Ver- mont in 1788. Mrs. Rheem is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Rheem has been a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church over fifty-three years, and has always been an advocate of temperance, and is a strong Prohibitionist in the strictest sense of the word; since his marriage to Mrs. Cruikshank, they have been living in the northeast part of Liberty; Mrs. Rheem's father came to this State in 1811, and was in the war of 1812 as trumpeter ; was drafted twice.

G. S. ROLOSON, farmer ; P. O. Hyattsville; was born in Berlin Township Dec. 4, 1824 ; is the fourth of a family of eleven children born to Nathaniel Roloson, who was a native of New Jersey, and emigrated to this State in 1817, and subsequently located in Berlin Township, where G. S. was born ; Nathaniel was born in the year 1792, and his wife's name, previous to her mar- riage, was Phoebe Rosecranz; she, like her husband, was a native of New Jersey, true representatives of the Anglo-Saxon race; after his arrival to this county, he was identified with it during his life, and, after living here sixty years, he died Aug. 15, 1877. G. S. Roloson was raised up under the care of his parents, and received a fair education, such as one could obtain in the common schools ; he assisted his father in the duties of the farm, remaining with bim until he was 25 years of age, when he was mar- ried to Susan Swartz; born in Pennsylvania in 1827 ; after their marriage, they moved to Liberty Township, and located on land he had previously bought, situated in the northern part of the township, north of Hyattsville one mile and a quarter ; he has 100 acres upon which he has since remained ; they have five children-Lusina,

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Hannah L., Nathaniel B., Susan Emily, Henry W. -all grown and doing for themselves, except Henry. The Roloson family are of Republican sentiments, and have always been stanch and true to whatever principles they maintained, either politically or religiously. Mr. Roloson has filled several offices of trust in the township, and is among its best men.

PETER SHARP, merchant and Postmaster, Powell ; was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 1834, and is a son of Daniel T. Sharp, who was born near Pittsburgh, Penn., and whose wife's name before marriage was Abilene K. Long, born in Jefferson Co., Ohio; the senior Sharp was a merchant, and brought his son up in the same business, giving him common school advantages. At the age of 22, Peter was married to Elizabeth J. Wiseman, born in Gallia Co .; they had ten children, but seven .living-Anna M., David A., Henry E., Charles A., Robert P., Julia E. and George E. After their marriage, they located in Patriot, Gallia Co., where he sold goods for his father three years; then moved to Minnesota, re- maining one year ; then moved to Lawrence Co., Ohio, where they lived three years; then removed to Gallia Co., remaining two years; thence to Franklin Co., and, in the fall of 1865, located in Powell, since which time he has filled the office of Postmaster, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people ; also carries on a store and keeps a general stock, consisting of groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, etc. His wife died in November, 1862; was again married, Aug. 5, 1879, to Miss R. Anna Gregg, born in Delaware Co. Jan. 28, 1845 ; she has taught thirty-six terms of school, and is one of the county's best teachers; she is a daughter of John Gregg; her mother's maiden name was Rachel Long, both natives of Pennsyl- vania.

ALVIN SMITH, plasterer, Powell. Among the efficient mechanics in the town of Powell, we find Alvin Smith, who was born in Franklin Co. Nov. 7, 1847 ; he is a son of John M. and Naomi (Carver) Smith, the former a native of Caledonia, Vt., and the latter of New York State ; they were married in Genesee Co., N. Y., and came West at an early time, locating east of Columbus, in Franklin Co .; remaining here a short time, they went to Worthington; he was a member of the 2d Vermont Regiment in the war of 1812; his discharge and land-warrant he always retained as a treasured souvenir, and it was with delight and satisfaction that he afterward referred to his army

experiences and would sometimes get a gun and give the "boys " a course in the " manual of arms" and an exhibition of the tactics then in use ; he followed farming during his lifetime, and was, for over forty years, a member of the Masonic Order, and died at Worthington in his 67th year. His widow still survives him, and lives with her son Alvin in Powell; he remained in Franklin Co. until his 10th year, then went to Erie Co., N. Y., where he remained five years, and came West in 1861, and for three years was at work on a farm ; then learned the plasterers' trade, and since fol- lowed the same in Delaware, and in the surround- ing country ; is an excellent workman and his serv- ices are always in demand.

ORLO SMITH, druggist, Powell; is a son of John M. and Naomi (Carver) Smith, and born in Erie Co., Penn., Feb. 5, 1837; he is the second of a family of seven children, and at 12 years of age came to this country with his parents ; when about 19 years of age, he made a trip South, where he worked one year and a half in a mill in Arkansas; then went to Little Rock, where he was engaged as teamster in a Government supply train, and went across the Plains ; returning home he learned the use of the trowel as an operative mason, and worked at this until the commence- ment of the war. June, 1861, he hired to the Government as wagonmaster, worked nine months, and, in 1862, got a situation in the U. S. military telegraph corps, remaining with them until Octo- ber, 1867, when he received his discharge at Col- umbia, S. C .; during his term of service, he was through all the Southern States 'in which that branch of the service was employed. Upon his re- turn to peaceful pursuits, resumed his trade, and continued at the same until 1877 ; during this time was at work in this county, and had built the greater part of the brick buildings and structures in Liberty Township up to the time he abandoned the business. Dec. 9, 1868, he married Mary Thomas, born in 1847 in this township; they have had one child-Minnie G., born Dec. 14, 1871. Since 1877, has been engaged in the drug busi- ness in Powell, in which he is prospering.

DAVID SHAW, shoemaker, Powell; was born in Delaware April 13, 1846; is a son of William and Mary (Wilson) Shaw ; his mother was born in Delaware Co., and is now living in Delaware ; his father was a native of Scotland, and died in this county in 1854. David began to learn his trade in Liberty Township in his 16th year, but the following year, June 1, ,1864,

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enlisted in Battery B, 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was mustered in at Mansfield, encamped a short time in Kentucky, then went to Chattanooga for garrison duty, thence to Cleveland, Tenn., from there to Loudon on the Tennessee River ; their next move was on the Stoneman raid, then to Strawberry Plains and to Knoxville, Tenn., and from this point te Greenville where they remained until the close of the war; was mustered eut at Nashville, and discharged at Camp Chase. Upen his return home, he completed his trade in Dela- ware ; March 12, 1867, came to Powell and began business on his own account. September 2, same year, married Alma Youel, born in this township; she died Dec. 26, 1869. Was married a second time to Addie Hays, born in Franklin Co .; their mar- riage took place June 15, 1870; she is a daugh- ter of H. and Hannah (Robeson) Hays ; they have three children-Frank H., born Aug. 31, 1871; Nela, June 30, 1873; Jennie, Sept. 11, 1877. Mr. Shaw is an excellent werkman, and merits the patronage he receives ; keeps ready- made work on hand ; is a member of Powell Ledge, Ne. 465, I. O. O. F.

CHARLES STANBERRY, retired farmer. The Stanberrys are of English descent, and are sup- posed to be of the same stock who came ever with the Pilgrims in the Mayflower. Charles Stanberry, whose name heads this sketch, was born in New York City Aug. 10, 1809, and is the fifth child (by a second marriage) of Jonas and Ann Lucy (McCreadey) Stanberry; Jonas Stanberry was born in New Jersey about the year 1760, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a brother was a Majer in that long and doubtful struggle, and was wounded in one of the many battles in which he participated ; Jenas was also in the war of 1812; afterward lecated a large amount of land (principally through laud-warrants) in several different counties; about 20,000 acres in this county, and 6,000 acres in this township ; he died Feb. 22, 1840, in Zanesville, Muskingum Ce. The McCready's are ef Scotch descent ; the father was an Earl in bennie Scotland, and was forced, through persecution, to leave his native country. Charles Stanberry, the subject of these netes, came te the State of Ohio in 1814 with his parents- they locating in Zanesville ; he remained there until after the death of his father, when he went to Del- aware where he remained one year. He was mar- ried, May 28, 1832, to Mary Smith, a native of New York City, bern July 10, 1810, and a daugh- ter of Hon. Theophilus W. and Clarissa (Rath-

bone) Smith ; he was for twenty-five years one of the Supreme Judges of the Southern District of Illinois ; later, was in Northern District, located at Chicago ; he was among the early settlers, was a prominent landholder, and died in Chicago May 6, 1845. Subsequent to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stanberry, they resided about fifteen years in Columbus, and in 1857 located in Liberty Town- ship ; six children have been born to them, four of whom are living, viz .: Clara, now wife of Gen. Neff, of Cincinnati; John, near the homestead; Charles at home, and Edward at Cincinnati, in the insurance business. Mr. Stanberry is a brother of the Hon. Henry Stanberry, who was a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State, a prominent jurist of the West, and was ence At- torney General of Ohio, a position he resigned to defend Andrew Johnsen in the grand impeach- ment trial.

M. G. STAGGERS, farmer ; P. O. Powell; was born in Greene Co., Penn., Feb 11, 1827; is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Snell) Staggers. Her grandfather came from France, and fought under Gen. La Fayette in Revolutionary times .. Mark's parents came to this State in 1839, where they lived until their death, after which Mark lived with an older brother until he was of age, and then he started out in the world for himself; he worked out at $10 per month, first fer Law- son Bull, in Franklin Ce., also fer Solomon Beers ; has dene many a hard day's work on the ground where Nerth Columbus new stands ; plowed, cradled and mowed over the ground that to-day is a city. Sept. 7, 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Phipps, bern in Franklin Co. Oct. 7, 1829, daughter of Jehn Phipps, born May 25, 1800. After their marriage, they moved north of Columbus, where he farmed twe years; then went one-half mile west and lived there ene year ; in the spring of 1851, he moved to this county and bought fifty acres of land ene mile and a half west of Pewell, and remained there until Novem- ber, 1877, when he moved to the west side of Pow- ell Statien, where he made his present improve- ments. His sen, Joseph F., bern Dec. 16, 1851, now occupies the farm, which consists of 155 acres, which Mr. Staggers and wife have made by their own exertions and geod management. Mark, like his father, is true to the principles of Democ- racy, and is a member of Powell Lodge, No. 465, I. O. O. F.

P. P. SLACK, farmer ; P. O. Powell. Pierson Parker Slack was born in Hampshire Co., Va.,

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March 27, 1820; is the son of Henry and Eliza- beth (Brown) Slack ; came to this country with his parents when he was about 7 years of age and located in Licking Co .; his father, being a poor man, could not give him any pecuniary aid, and, at the age of 16, he started out for himself, and began to work by the month at low wages ; he and his brother took a job of cutting 500 cords of wood at 25 cents a cord, and boarded themselves. In his 23d year, Dec. 29, 1842, he married Mary Geach; she is a danghter of Peter and Rebecca (Benjamin) Geach. The Geaches and Slacks are of Irish descent and were among the number who fought in the Revolution. After their marriage, he bought sixty acres of land which he farmed for seven years; then sold out and moved to Or- ange Township, where he purchased ninety-five acres of land and remained there twelve years, and finally sold out and moved to the place where he now lives; has now about one hundred and sixty acres of land. In 1864, in May, he enlisted in Co. G, 144th O. N. G., and was out in the 100-days service, and was mustered out at Camp Chase in August, same year. Mr. and Mrs. Slack have had ten children, but six of whom are living-George, Gilbert, Henry, Alice, Emma and Clara. Mr. Slack is among the self-made men, and, with the assistance of his wife, who has been an efficient helpmeet, has acquired a good home and a reasonable competence for their de- clining years.

JOHN STEITZ, farmer ; P. O. Hyattsville. John is a brother of Jacob and Michael, and born in Baden March 4, 1836, and son of Jacob Steitz, and in common with others, emigrated to America, to better his condition ; he had heard glowing accounts of this country, and he resolved in his mind, if the half were true that was said of it, he would be willing to cast his lot in such a land; he arrived in New York the 20th of Sep- tember, 1854, and was $32 in debt, having to bor- row of his friends to enable him to pay his way over. He began to work near Albany, at garden- ing, at $6 per month ; the next season he received $8 a month ; that year he worked on a farm; the winter following, he worked for his board, and went to school. The next three years, he received $10 per month, and in 1859 and 1860, received $150 per year. In 1857, he married Elizabeth Ost ; she had one child ; they both died before leaving New York. In 1862, he came to this State, and stopped at Delaware, where he first worked at driving team ; the next summer,

worked in the brewery, also some time in the still- house, and subsequently in the wholesale house of R. E. Hill & Son, and after this turned bis at- tention to farming. In 1865, was married to Mary Brownmiller, born in Germany, daughter of Reuben Brownmiller and Lydia Snyder, his wife ; they have had six children-Reuben, William, Lorin, Edward and Annie; John, deceased, died at the age of 7. John is now located about one mile west of Hyattsville, where he bought fifty acres in the woods, and has since cleared the same up, and built the brick house, barn and all the improvements about the place. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he, like his brothers, is loyal to the principles of Democ- racy.

MICHAEL STEITZ, farmer ; P. O. Hyatts- ville. The Steitz family, who have become iden- tified with the interests of the county, and are among the energetic and prosperous business men, are deserving of much credit, and especial men- tion for the zeal and the success which has at- tended their efforts, beginning as they did. Com- ing to this country on borrowed capital, to defray their passage and expenses, had this to liquidate before they had anything for themselves. Michael Steitz was born, April 2, 1834, in Baden, same place as his brother Jacob, and emigrated to this country in 1854, and worked in Albany Co., N. Y., at gardening, and at such work as he could obtain. He was married, in 1855, to Maggie Knapp. In 1865, he came to this State and set- tled in this township, and soon after, his wife died, leaving three children-Coonie, Kittie and Mar- garet. Subsequently, he married Frederica Kersh- ner, born in Wurtemberg, May 24, 1841 ; they have three children-Frederica, Charles and Liz- zie. Soon after he came out here, he had what might be termed hard luck, his crops failed, yet he never lost courage, but kept pushing vigorously on, and bought some land where he now lives, and afterward bought a half-interest in a saw-mill, which he ran for eight years, and bought timber land and cut off the timber, and sawed it up and sold it; cut, one season, 700,000 feet of lumber of their own, which they sold, besides doing a large amount at custom saw- ing ; finally sold the mill and turned his attention exclusively to farming, and has been very success- ful in the same ; has now 215 acres of land ; when he made his first purchase, it was all timber, which he has cleared and got under cultivation ; has put all the improvements on his land that are now on

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it, and is still pushing ahead and is determined, at some future time, to stand among the most affluent farmers in the township. Is a member of Powell Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 465.

JACOB STEITZ, farmer ; P. O. Hyattsville. Among the representatives of this township who hail from the " Faderland," who have worked their way up in the world, and are now among the highly respected citizens in the county, is Mr. Steitz, who was born in Rhine Bavaria, Rocksen- hansen, Sept. 14, 1831, son of Jacob Steitz and. Catharine (Amos) Steitz ; in his 21st year, he bade adieu to the land of his fathers and set sail for America in 1852; landed in New York Sept. 1; he borrowed the money to pay his passage, and having arrived, began work on a farm in Albany Co. remaining nearly three years ; then turned his steps to the State of Ohio, and arriving at Delaware he worked seven years in the oil-mills there. While here, was married, March, 1859, to Catharine Snyder. In 1863, he moved to this township, where he bought 100 acres of land and located on the same and began farming, and has since re- mained. He has eight children-Jacob W., Sarah E., Amelia B., Charles J., Elizabeth, Anna R., Mary and Frank F. Mr. Steitz has made all the improvements on the place, it being all timber when he came, and has, by hard work and rigid economy, accumulated his present possessions, working first for $5 per month, and by saving his money and making the best use of his time, he has earned for himself and family a good home. Mrs. Steitz is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Steitz has a family of children that are very intelligent, and will no doubt profit by the example set them by their parents, and become in time like them-active business men and women. Mr. Steitz is a member of Powell Lodge, I. O. O, F., No. 465.

PHILO THOMAS, farmer; P. O. Lewis Center. Philo Thomas was born May 23, 1820, son of David Thomas; his mother's name before marriage was Mary Holcomb, and she is now in her 92d year; she and her husband were natives of Connecticut, and came here at an early period, being among the pioneers of the country. Philo was born in this township, and at the age of 25, married Ann Lowry, sister of John and Andrew J. Lowry ; she was born May 24, 1824 ; the rec- ord of their marriage is April 10, 1845 ; five chil- dren living-Mary, Cynthia, James, Charles, John. After marriage, they located on the land he now owns, there being 315 acres, all of good

quality and beautifully situated. Mr. Thomas has always been engaged in farming pursuits.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, farmer; P. O. Powell; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, July 27, 1845, and is the youngest of a family of six children, whose parents were Jeffers J. and Re- becca (Cook) Thompson ; the former was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Pickaway Co. in 1834, being an early settler there. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and resides in St. Paul's, of that county. When but an infant, William was placed under the care of Samuel Schineck, with whom he remained until his death, when he went to Shelbyville, Ill., and began learning the wagon-maker's trade; in about a year, he returned to Ohio and completed his trade with his father. In December, 1865, he enlisted in Co. E, 18th U. S. I., and went to Jefferson Barracks, Mo .; was there six months ; then went to Fort Sedgwick, Colo .; at the end of one year, went to Echo Can- on, and did guard duty in protecting the work- men engaged in constructing the Union Pacific Railroad ; then to Fort Saunders, in Dakota; thence to Fort Bridger, where he received his dis- charge Dec. 19, 1868. During this service, Mr. Thompson was engaged in several conflicts with the Indians, and now bears upon his leg the scar of a wound, inflicted by an arrow. In returning, he stopped in Shelbyville, Ill., about a year ; then came to Columbus, where he was overseer of the repair work of the "Short Line" Railroad ; then worked in the rolling-mills, after which he worked at brickmaking, then resumed his trade. Aug. 13, 1875, Mr. Thompson married Jennie Bennett, who was born in Delaware Co. Sept. 18, 1850. They have two children-Charles, born May 30, 1876; Harry, Nov. 10, 1877. Mr. Thompson came to Powell and worked for Mr. Thomas two years; in August, 1879, he began business for himself. He is a member of the M. E. Church.

DAVID S. THOMAS, mechanic, Powell; was born in this township Dec. 19, 1839; is a son of James Thomas, one of the early residents in the county ; David was raised a farmer, but early in life he manifested an aptitude for mechanical pur- suits ; so at the age of 15, he left home, and up to the time he located in Powell, has made a good many changes and removes; spent six years in Michigan, where he was engaged iu the carriage business, running a shop of his own at Grand Rapids; in 1867, returned to this State and farmed two years in this township; subsequently built the shops now run by Barringer & Gardner,

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and carried on wagon-making about six years, and afterward sold out to the parties now occupying them ; he is now patentee and proprietor of the National Bee-hive, which is the most economical, convenient, and the tightest when exposed to the weather of any hive in the market; they are double-storied, and have advantages for extracting honey and prevention from moth, with side en- trance for removing frames at any time. July 4, 1864, Mr. Thomas was married to Sarah Mc- Cutcheon, born in Orange Township in 1841; have six children - Belle, Clara, George, Sylvia, Charles and Ray. Since 1871, he has been a resident of the town of Powell.

MRS. CORDELIA THOMAS, Hyattsville, was born in Connecticut March 12, 1830; daugh- ter of Salmon Holcomb ; her mother's maiden name was Tuller, both natives of Connecticut; they emigrated to this State when the subject. of this sketch was but 6 years of age ; they located in Liberty, where they lived until their death. Cordelia was married in her 20th year to John Thomas, a son of David and Mary (Holcomb) Thomas, the latter was one of the earliest settlers in this county ; is now 93 years of age; after the marriage of Mrs. Thomas they located on the Whetstone River, adjoining the homestead ; lived there until his death which occurred June 14, 1858 ; they had five children, three living - Lavina (now the wife of Thomas Case), James and John. Mrs. Thomas now resides one mile south of Hyattsville, where she had 100} acres of land which she has since divided among the children, reserving forty aeres in her own right ; John lives with his mother; was born Feb. 12, 1856.

URAL THOMAS, farmer ; P. O. Hyattsville. Among the representatives of this county who have emigrated from across the sea and are self- made, is Mr. Thomas, who was born in South Wales Dec. 25, 1830 ; there were ten children in the family, he being the fifth ; his father's name was Griffith Thomas, and his mother's maiden name Sarah Thomas ; the family moved to this country July 1, 1842, and located in Oxford Township, near Eden Station; Ural remained at home until of age ; after he was of age, he had a desire to become a railroad man, and, with this view, en- tered into the employ of the C., C., C. & I. R. R., where he learned to run as brakeman for awhile, and subsequently went in the machine-shop, where he learned to run an engine, and was then placed in charge of one, which he ran for about seven years, and during this time had many narrow es-

capes from sudden death ; subsequently ran sta- tionary engine, and did repairing on the same ; this he continued for some time. In 1859, he was married to Susan Macomber, born in this county Feb. 20, 1838 ; after taking a trip to Kansas, he returned, and located on a tract of land north of his present farm, which he partially cleared, and remained on the same about six years; then sold out to A. Macomber, and came where he now lives; in May, 1864, went out in the 100-day service, Co. K, 145th O. V. I., and was out about four months; since his return, he has been en- gaged in farming pursuits. Mr. Thomas has ac- quired his present possessions by good manage- ment and by patient industry ; he has four chil- dren living-Jennie A.,, Clara G., Phoebe A., Alva V .; Minnie and Mary, deceased.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 116

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818