History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 117

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 117

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LAFAYETTE TONE, farmer ; P. O. Delaware. Mr. Tone is a self-made man, born in one of the New England States-New Hampshire, June 21, 1824 ; son of Christopher Tone, whose father was in the Revolutionary war. Lafayette came with his father, in 1842, to Franklin Co., where he lo- cated, living until 1852, when he was stricken down a victim to the disease which prevailed at that time-cholera. Lafayette began for himself at the bottom of the ladder, and first worked out by the month, which he continued for fourteen years, getting at first $6 per month, and never ex- ceeded $10; but he made the best use of his time and saved his means; in 1852, he caught the gold fever, and went to California, where he remained two years, and then returned to Franklin Co .; in 1855, came to this county, and in 1856, was united in marriage to Sarah M. Cellar, daughter of James Cellar ; as a result of this union, seven children have been born them-Elizabeth, Adah, Julia, Martha, Clara, James, Harry. Mr. Tone is a member of Powell Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 465, and is among the thrifty and hard-working men in the township; has by his own exertions secured for himself a good farm, which he has under good improvements, and located on the west bank of the Olentangy in the northeastern part of Liberty Township.

JAMES THOMAS, farmer; P. O. Powell; was born in a log cabin in Liberty Township, on the west side of the Olentangy River, upon the land now owned by Daniel Thomas, Jan. 6, 1813 ; his father, David Thomas, was a 'native of Connecti- cut and made a trip to this country to purchase land in 1801, and walked the entire distance, and with gun in hand killed game, upon which he

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subsisted; on his arrival here, bought 100 acres on what was known as Col. Kilborne's section, and while here assisted in building the first mill that was erected in Franklin Co .; he returned to Con- necticut as he came-on foot. Shortly after mar- ried Mary Holcomb, now living and one of the oldest persons in this part of the, county, she being in her 93d year, and resides with her daughter. After their marriage, he returned to this county in 1806 and built him a log cabin on the land he had purchased ; Columbus and Delaware were then un- known ; hunting at that time was their principal pastime and by it they furnished their 'tables with quantities of the best of meat ; James ex- celled in this sport and was almost a dead shot; he at one time molded thirteen bullets for his rifle and killed twelve deer with the number; he re- members his brother killing sixty-five deer in less than six weeks. Mr. Thomas was married, Jan. 7, 1834, to Polly Simmons, born in New Jersey in 1805 ; have eight children, but four are living- Cynthia, David, Laura and Lucy ; after their mar- riage, they moved into a log cabin and lived in the same until 1854, when he built a substantial stone building, in which he expects to spend the remain- der of his days.

CHARLES WILCOX, farmer ; P. O. Powell. Among the worthy citizens that are located on the banks of the Olentangy is Mr. Wilcox who is a native of Franklin Co., where he was born Jan. 8, 1828 ; he is a son of Warren and Almira (Vining) Wilcox, natives of Connecticut, who came to Ohio in the year 1806, locating first in Franklin Co. and in 1849 moved to this township, locating one mile south of Powell, where the father died Jan. 21, 1876, having been a prominent member of the Methodist Church and a zealous advocate of temperance. He also served in the war of 1812; his wife still survives and lives on the old homestead. Charles had the usual school advantages ; his father, being poor, had no legacy to bestow on him, except his good example and wholesome advice ; he assisted his father in the maintenance of the family, and, Feb. 12, 1852, he married Electa A. Case, born March 30, 1831, in this township; one child was born to them, but died when 18 months old. After their marriage, they located in Sharon Township, Franklin Co., and in the spring of 1857, they moved to the place they now occupy. He is a member of Powell Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 465.

DANIEL WOLLAM, farmer; P. O. Powell ; born in Fairfield Co. April 26, 1815, and is the

fifth child of a family of seven children (all of whom are now living), born of Benjamin and Hannah (Ollar) Wollam, who came to this State before the present century ; he first entered land, and, after living on it for some time and making improvements, forfeited it, and had to pay for it the second time; he was a soldier of the war of 1812, and lived and died an honored citizen. Daniel is of German and Swiss descent, and ob- tained a fair education ; remained on the home- stead until his 28th year. He was married in his 24th year to Leah Light, who was born in Fair- field Co .; she died in 1847, leaving one child, Sarah Jane, now the wife of Hampton Bishop. In 1846, he moved to this county, locating in Concord Township, where he remained four years, and worked with his brother at the carpen- ter trade. Aug. 29, 1850, he was united in mar- riage to Rebecca Jane Evans, born in Frederick Co., Va .; she is a daughter of William Evans, and came to this State with her parents ; they have had ten children, eight of whom are living- William, Levi, Christina, John, Franklin, Mary, Missouri and Charles; in 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Wollam moved to Liberty Township, and, with his brother, Mr. Wollam bought 150 acres of land; his health failing afterward, and being unable to farm it successfully, he sold it, and, in 1876, moved to the place on which they now reside.

W. H. WILCOX, farmer; P. O. Powell; is a native of Licking Co., Ohio, born March 15, 1841, and is the first child of a family of two children by a second marriage of Joseph Wilcox and Mary Atwood-the latter a native of. Vir- ginia and the former of New Jersey ; they came to Licking Co. and entered land, and were among the earliest settlers in that county ; he was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, and died about the year 1849, being then at the advanced age of 70 years. At this time, William H. was about 7 years of age; when about 16, he set out to work by the month, and continued until Oct. 23, 1864, when he married Mary E. Rogers, born in 1843, in Licking Co .; she is a daughter of Michael W. Rogers ; in 1865, they moved to this county, and returned the next year to Licking Co., and re- mained until 1873, when he again returned to this county, and located in Liberty Township; he now has 241 acres of choice land. In May, 1864, he was among the number who enlisted in the Ohio National Guards; was out in Co. B, 135th O. V. I., and remained until August of the same

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year ; he had a brother, Benjamin F., who was out in the same regiment, and died in hospital from wounds received in an engagement.

JOHN M. WILLIAMS, farmer ; P. O. Powell ; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 22, 1823, and is the youngest boy of a family of thirteen children of Anson and Hannah (Phillips) Will- iams, the former a native of New York, and his wife of Pennsylvania ; they came to this country by team, and settled in Orange Township, where they remained until their death ; at the age of 18, John was married to Annias Holcomb Feb. 14, 1841 ; she was born in Connecticut ; they remained on the homestead until about the year 1859, and then moved to this township, where he bought 103 acres of land, where he still lives. Mr. Will- iams has been identified with the interests of the county for forty-four years ; they have twelve children, all living-Henry A., Nancy E., Re- becca A., Cherry M., Mary P., Alvira D., James H., John, Solomon S., Jennette, George and- Mark, eight of whom are married; the other four-Solomon, John, George and Mark are at home ; within a few years, Mr. Williams has built him a commodious brick house that compares favorably with the best in his neigborhood.

EDWARD WALZ, merchant, Hyattsville. Edward Walz is among the young business men of this county who is well worthy of com- mendation and patronage of the people in the surrounding country ; he was born in Germany, Oct. 13, 1850, son of Joseph Walz; mother's maiden name was Mary Bailer; Edward is the eldest of a family of nine children; in 1867, when he was at the age of 17, he bade good-bye to the land of his fathers, and emigrated to America, and came to Ross Co., where he hired out to work in a nursery two years ; then ran a fruit store about the same time. On Feb. 19, 1873, he was united in marriage to Matilda England, born Feb. 29, 1857; she is a daughter of William England ; in October, 1876, he came to this county and set up in the mercantile business at Hyattsville, where he has since remained in busi- ness ; keeps dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, notions, etc. Mr. Walz came to this country a poor boy, without money or friends, and began for himself, and has pursued a course that has won for him a good reputation and friends, and since his advent to this place, has, by his good nature and kind and obliging manner and attention to his business, secured a large number of friends, and is doing a good business and is bound to succeed.

They had three children-Mary, born April 24, 1875; George W., June 3, 1876 ; Edward, died June 19, 1879.

R. K. WILLIS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Lewis Center. Prominent among the leading stock- raisers and agriculturists in this township and county is the party whose name heads this sketch, who was born in Concord Township Sept. 26, 1843, and is the seventh child of a family of ten children (eight boys and two girls), born of Buck- ley H. Willis, a native of Massachusetts, and came to this State about the year 1840; he came to Delaware Co. and located in Concord Township, where he still remains; he has been successful in his business relations, and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor, in peace and quietness; is now 72 years of age; Rollin remained at home until he attained his majority, and soon after volunteered his services in defense of his country, and en- listed in Co. K, and was out in the 100-day service, and upon his return re-enlisted in the 48th O. V. I., Co. B, and remained until the close of the war, doing duty in the Gulf Department. His brother, P. A. Willis, went ont as Assistant Surgeon in the same regiment, and served as Medical Director. Upon his return home, he went to school that winter, and, in the spring, made a trip to Kansas, and subsequently was united in marriage to Alice E. Tone, born Oct. 15, 1849, daughter of Miner P. Tone, a native of New Hampshire, who came to this State and located in Franklin Co., and afterward bought the farm now owned by Rollin.

JACOB ZIMMERMAN, farmer ; P. O. Hy- attsville. The Zimmermans are of German des- cent, and the younger portion of the family are natives of Pennsylvania, where Jacob's father, Henry, was born. Jacob was born in Ross Co., Dec. 16, 1809, and moved to this county with his father in the year 1823, and settled in this town- ship, north of Hyattsville, where the senior Zim- merman died in the fall of 1865 ; he was a par- ticipant in the war of 1812; Jacob had limited school advantages ; he remained with his parents until he was of age, and, in his 22d year, was married to Mary Clark, born in the township; after their marriage, they settled in this township, where he bought fifty acres and engaged in farm- ing ; she died fifteen years afterward, leaving two children-Israel and Amanda. He was married a second time, to Eliza Lewis, April 22, 1848 ; she was born in Berlin Township ; they have seven children-William C., Lavina (died in February,

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1880), Hattie S., Jay, Ida May, Harry and Lee. In 1862, he sold out his place, and moved where he now lives, where he bought sixty acres ; Mr. Zimmerman, at the age of 20, went to learn the

shoemaker's trade, in Pickaway Co., and worked .at the same about twelve years, during which he attended to his farming. He and wife are mem- I bers of the M. E. Church.

BERKSHIRE TOWNSHIP.

J. ARNOLD, merchant, Galena; the only son of Ira and Sarah M. (Ingham) Arnold; is a native of Galena, this county, and born Aug. 17, 1845; he received the advantages of the common school of his day, and entered upon the duties of a clerk in Galena, at the age of 20 ; his attention was next directed to building and farming ; in 1873, he engaged to G. B. Carpenter in the lumber business. Aug. 8, 1874, he married Emma, the daughter of Mr. Carpenter, and to them, May 25, 1877, was born their child-Mamie. Mr. Arnold subsequently became the owner of the lumber business, which he continues ; under his administration it has been prosperous, and has grown in volume ; in addition to a stock of lumber and house-building material, he keeps salt, lime, coal and drain tile ; also buys grain and wool; he will soon have completed a new business building, two stories high, dimensions, 40x25 feet ; he owns a fine residence in Galena, with twenty-five acres adjoining, also forty five acres well improved in Berkshire Township; he is a member of Galena Lodge, No. 404, I. O. O. F. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been an active member, also served as Super- intendent of Sunday school of the same denomin- ation. Mr. Arnold's father was born in Vermont in 1794, and came to Ohio about 1810-11, experi- encing the hardships incident to pioneer life ; he- died about 1839. He was married twice, his second wife-the mother of the subject of this sketch-was born Dec. 31, 1799, the daughter of Abraham Ingham, and came to Ohio by team in 1810; previous to her marriage with Mr. Arnold, she had been married to Mr. David Berge; she is still living with her son in Galena, and is lively and interesting. Has been a church member the most of her life.

GEORGE ARMSTRONG, farmer ; P. O. Sunbury ; is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Slo- cum) Armstrong ; his father was born in Berk- shire Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1809,

where he always lived, except a short residence in California ; in 1850, he made a trip to that State, and spent eight and one-half months in gold min- ing, in which he cleared about $4,000; he died in 1869; has served as County Treasurer, Internal Revenue Assessor, and has held his share of the minor offices ; his mother was a daughter of Lem- uel Slocum, of Pennsylvania, born in 1813 ; they have had six children, two of whom now survive. Edson lives in Colorado. The subject of this sketch was born May 26, 1843, in Sunbury. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 4th O. V. I., under the first call, and was Sergeant Major ; he was in many battles, among which were Rich Mountain, Win- chester, Port Royal, Port Republic, Bristow Station, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Williams- port, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Martinsford, Malvern Hill, Spottsylvania, and many others; he was in the war three years and three months ; on his return, he again engaged in farming. In 1867, he married Emily Kimball, a daughter of Elias Kimball, of New Hampshire, who came to Ohio in 1835; Mr. Armstrong's first wife died April 27, 1875; May 24, 1876, he again mar- ried, his spouse being Mrs. Irene Sedgwick, a sister of his first wife; by his first wife he had four children, two living, Burt and Mabel, and two deceased-Arthur F., died Nov. 28, 1868, and Edson M., July 27, 1871 ; by his second wife he had one child-Charles Otis. The following ex- tract is from one of the county papers on the death of Mrs. Armstrong: " Her death was occa- sioned by her clothes taking fire the day previous, from which she suffered intensely for twenty-five hours, during which she remained as calm and composed as her sufferings would possibly admit ; she expressed no fear of death, having professed a hope in Christ while in youth, and has been a valid member of the Sunbury Baptist Church for most of her life." Mr. Armstrong was engaged in merchandising for four years, in partnership with Kimball; he now lives on the old homestead

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of his father, and has 195 acres of land, among the finest in the county ; a part of this farm is the present site of Sunbury. Mr. Armstrong's grand- father was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., and mar- ried Sallie Draper ; moved to Ohio by team in 1807, settling on the farm now owned by George Peck, entering it at $1.25 per acre; he had $9 when he arrived, which he invested in a cow, and which soon died; he moved to Morrow County, where he remained until the death of his wife in 1860; he then removed to Sunbury, where he died.

B. W. BELL, farmer ; P. O. Sunbury ; is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (McClellan) Bell; ·his father was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1812, settling in Knox Co., where he died in 1853. Mr. Bell's father was one of eight children ; John married Miss Knox, now in Penn- sylvania ; James married Miss Hayes ; Isaac mar- ried E. Herod ; Hannah married B. Woodruff, of Pennsylvania ; Polly married N. Woodruff, of Pennsylvania ; Sarah married J. Hayes, connec- tion of President Hayes ; David married Katie Canady, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Bell's mother was a daughter of Cary McClellan, who, together with a brother John, were Revolutionary soldiers ; the latter was the father of Gen. McClellan, prominent in the civil war ; now Governor of New Jersey ; she died in Kansas in about 1869. B. W. Bell was born Oct. 4, 1829, in Knox Co., Ohio, where he remained until 21, attending school at Martinsburg, and farming and stock- raising. He was married, May 1], 1850, to Louisa Warren, daughter of David Warren ; she was born April 8, 1830 ; this marriage was cele- brated by Rev. Sanders, of the Disciples ' denomi- nation ; they were blessed with eight children, five of whom are living-Emma L., Willie J., Ida M., Frank B. and Henrietta ; three deceased- Elizabeth, Aug. 23, 1852; an infant, Oct. 4, 1852 ; and Nancy, Oct. 23, 1864. After marriage, they settled in Licking Co. until 1857, when they moved to the present farm of 375 acres, which is well improved with living springs, and well adapted to stock-raising, which he gives consider- able attention to, making a specialty of fine Span- ish merino sheep. Mr. Bell hired a substitute in the war, and was out opposing the Morgan raiders in Ohio ; was Township Clerk in Knox Co., and has been connected with school offices. He and wife are members of the Christian Church in Trenton Township, of which denomination he has been Superintendent of Sunday school. Mr. Bell

remembers hearing his father tell of his settle- ment in Knox Co., at which time there were but two log houses where Newark now stands, one of which was used for a whisky cellar; his father would offer 64 cents more on the day for hands who would not drink whisky, in order to encour- age temperance ; his father was instrumental in organizing a church on his farm, and in connec- tion with his brothers built a fort, in an early day, in Pennsylvania, called after them ; his grand- father enlisted in the war of 1812, but hired a substitute for a pair of socks. Mr. Bell was one of eleven children-Cary, born Aug. 19, 1805, died March 11, 1826 ; Jacob L., born Aug. 11, 1807, deceased Oct. 15, 1874; Cephas, born March 15, 1810, deceased July 17, 1812; Hen- 'rietta, born May 2, 1812, deceased Oct. 30, 1879 ; Mary, born June 15, 1814, deceased Aug. 15, 1875 ; James, born April 18, 1819, deceased March, 1879 ; Malinda, born July 26, 1819 ; de- ceased July 19, 1875; Amy, born Aug. 18, 1821, deceased ; Nancy, born 1823, married D. H. Elliott ; Eunice, born Nov. 11, 1826, deceased March 12, 1876.

G. J. BURRER, miller, Sunbury ; is the the son of J. G. and Catharine (Bullinger) Bur- rer. His father was born in Wittenburg, Ger- many, and was a stonecutter and saloon-keeper ; he came to Ohio in 1855, and died in 1874; his wife is still living in Sunbury; they had eight children, all of whom survive and are in Ohio. Mr. Burrer, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1848, in Germany ; when 7 years old, he came with the family on a sail vessel to America; he worked for his father until 21 years of age, when he began business for himself; he laid stone for one year ; he then engaged in milling in Trenton Township, in partnership with Judge F. B. Sprague, where they continued for five years ; they established the present mill at Sunbury in 1875, and are doing a successful business. He was married in 1875, to Anna A. Gammill, daughter of S. S. Gammill, of Delaware Co .; she was born Aug. 15, 1858 ; have two children- Sprague and an infant; he has a house and three lots in Sunbury and an interest in a stone-quarry at Sunbury.

R. C. BRINKERHOFF, stoves and tinware, Sunbury, Ohio ; is a son of P. J. and P. S. Brinkerhoff; his father was born in 1815, in New York, and came to Richland Co. in 1832; his mother was a daughter of Barney Coe; she was born in 1821; they had five children ; three are

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living, two-Alice and Henry-in California, and Mr. Brinkerhoff, who was born on his father's farm, in Richland Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1846, and was reared in a log cabin; he had all the advantages that were afforded by the district schools for an education ; in 1859-62, he attended Willoughby College, at Willoughby, Lake Co., and, in 1863, he went with his parents to Califor- nia ; in 1868, he returned and began learning the tinner's trade with H. C. Breckenridge, at Plym- outh, Lake Co., afterward working with O. C. Will- iams ; in January, 1875, he engaged in the present business, at Galena, which he has since continued. He contracted a happy marriage, October, 1876, with Alice M. Gregory, a daughter of E. G. Gregory, of Huron Co., Ohio; she was born in 1856, and taught school when 14. He takes an active interest in the temperance cause and Sunday schools ; he is at present Superin- tendent of the Presbyterian Sunday School at Sunbury, of which church he and his wife are members.

A. JENKS BOCKOVER, farmer; P. O. Constantia ; was born in Berkshire Township Aug. 23, 1829; son of Jacob and Eliza Bock- over ; lived a bachelor until he was about 40 years of age, when he wooed and won the hand of Miss Lovisa Henion, a native of Putnam Co, N. Y. She came out West with her parents in 1868, and settled in Berkshire; the house Mr. Bock- over now owns was the one that her parents lived in, and here he met and courted his wife, and since their marriage have been constant residents; they have had four children-Jacob, John, Jennie (deceased), and Bettie; his farm, consisting of eighty acres, is located on the west side of the township. He is Democratic, yet is very liberal in his views, and prefers to vote for good men rather than party.

E. T. CULVER, farmer ; P. O. Sunbury ; son of Sydney and Jane (Carpenter) Culver ; his father was born in Ohio, and was a half-brother of Judge Stark, and was born about 1822; his mother was a daughter of Samuel Carpenter, of Delaware Co .; she was born about 1827; had three children, all of whom are living; Henry is Prosecuting Attorney for Delaware Co. The sub- ject of this sketch was born Fcb. 22, 1848, on his father's farm in Kingston Township, and resided there until 10 years old, when he came to Berk- shire Township, where he has since remained; in 1872, he began dealing in live stock, continuing four years. Was married, Oct. 15, 1874, to Han-

nah Moore, a daughter of Burton Moore ; they have one child, Bertha, born May 17, 1875 ; after marriage, they settled on Mr. Moore's farm of 287 acres, which he manages and controls; he deals extensively in stock and grain ; has served in the capacity of school teacher.

CHARLES CASE, retired farmer; P. O. Berkshire ; is a son of Lewis Case, of New York, and was born in 1805 in Luzerne Co., N. Y., where he remained until 17 years old, and then came to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in coal mining and teaming, working by the month at $13 to $15; he married Catharine, a daughter of Frederick and Kate (Rider) Carney ; they have eight children, five of whom are now living-Car -. oline (married to Andrew Garvin, now deceased); she lives at Olive Green ; Mary A. (married Henry Fisher, living in Berkshire Township ; Sophronia (married Edwin Buel, living in Licking Co) .; Eliza (married John Brees, living in Wyandot Co., Ohio); Delia (married Erastus Loop, who is dead, and she is now living with her parents); Adda (deceased when young); two boys, George and Henry, died in the war by disease.

THOMAS F. CARPENTER, farmer, P. O. Berkshire ; is a son of Robert and Nellie Lewis ; his father, born in Luzerne Co., Penn., in 1784, came to Ohio in 1807, and died in 1852; his mother was a daughter of Robert Lewis ; she was born in 1807, and died May 18, 1839; his father married for his second wife Philena Walker; she was born Feb. 14, 1814, and died May 10, 1877; Mr. Carpenter's grandfather was once Judge of the Circuit Court, and was at the Wyoming Massacre ; Thomas F. was born Sept. 19, 1836, on a farm in Berkshire Township where he remained until 1878, when he moved to his present place. He was married in 1866 to Louisa Grist, daughter of George Grist. They had one child, which died when 8 months old; his wife died Oct. 17, 1872; Mr. Carpenter served in Co. D, 20th O. V. I., under Capt. McElroy, as Sergeant ; he lost his health while in the army, and has since lived mostly a retired life ; he now lives with his sister, Mary A., wife of J. C. Farrier, who died in 1875 ; she was born in 1834 ; he is now canvassing for the " History of Andersonville Prison "; his father was in the war of 1812, and marched to the relief of Ft. Stephenson.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 117

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