History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 121

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 121

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C. W. WEBSTER, merchant, Berkshire; is a son of C. R. and Mila (Fowler) Webster; his father was born in New York, and moved to Knox Co. with his people when 6 years old ; his mother was a daughter of Elijah Fowler; she was born in Massachusetts ; C. W. Webster was born, Feb. 27, 1843, in Knox Co., Ohio. Sept. 11, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 121st O. V. I., and was in the service three years. He suffers from the effects of a sickness with typhoid fever; he receives a pension. Mr. Webster engaged as clerk for J. W. Foot, of Berkshire, and also farming until 1869, when he bought Foot out, and now continues the

business of dry goods, and general notions. In 1874, he took charge of the post office, and still remains the Postmaster. He is now in partner- ship with Gibson & Finch. He is at present Justice of the Peace and Township Clerk, and is administrator of the John Longshore estate, and guardian of the Leonard Hough heirs. Was mar- ried, Oct. 4, 1866, to Libbie Smith, daughter of John R. Smith, one of the pioneers of this county ; she was born Aug. 18, 1846 ; they have had five children, four living- Lula, Loren, Gertrude and Edna ; one deceased, Holly, who died Oct. 4, 1868. They are members of the M. E. Church, of which he is class-leader and Sunday-School Superintendent.

DAVID WEYANT, farmer; P. O. Sunbury ; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Baker) Weyant ; his father was born on the banks of the Hudson River in New York, and came to Ohio early ; his mother was also born in New York ; they had seven children, five of whom survive. Mr. Weyant, the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 9, 1825, on a farm on Licking Co., where he remained until 1869; in his younger days, he and his brothers would take turns in going to school and working on the farm ; his father was in moderate circum- stances, having but $80 and one horse when he came to Ohio; in 1849, Mr. Weyant began run- ning a thrashing machine, which he continued for five years ; he was engaged for seven years in a saw and grist mill in Licking Co., and is at pres- ent running a thrashing machine and making it a success. Mr. Weyant was married in 1846, to Martha Denty, a daughter of John Denty; she was born April 22, 1831, and died March 5, 1880; they had two children-Laura A., born Oct. 14, 1850; Florence, born June 10, 1854. Laura Weyant, a niece, is living with them. Mr. Wey- ant moved to Delaware Co. in 1869, settling where he now lives on a farm of 166 acres, which he bought of George Grist, and for which he paid $17,000, cash ; this is one of the finest and best improved farms in the county, and is well adapted to stock-raising, which he makes a specialty; on this farm now stands a barn which was the first frame barn built in the township. Mr. Weyant has been no office-seeker. He hired a substitute for $750 during the civil war. His wife was a member of the M. E. Church at Sunbury.

G. W. WELLS, farmer ; P. O. Galena; was born'Sept. 14, 1811, in Luzerne Co., Penn., and came with his parents by ox team to Ohio, in 1818, settling in what is now Morrow Co. for two years ; they then moved to Genoa Township. His

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father, Abraham, was born in Luzerne Co. Penn., and died at the age of 73; his mother was a daughter of a Mr. Dixon, of Pennsylvania ; they had nine children. The son, G. W., remained with his parents until married ; he helped to build the first schoolhouse in Genoa Township ; was put up without nails ; he can well remember the slab seats and greased-paper windows; his sister taught in an early day at 75 cents per week. Mr. Wells married, Feb. 2, 1833, Margaret, a daughter of John Williams, of Virginia; she was born in September, 1809; they lived on the old home- stead until 1868, at which time they bought prop- erty in Delaware City, where they moved for the purpose of educating their younger son ; they re- turned to Galena in 1869; he has been engaged in the stock business for thirty years; also in grain and flax seed ; he shipped during one fall thirty- six car loads of flax-seed from Lewis Center; in Angust, 1878, he entered a partnership with Dr. Utley in the general drug business, at Galena, which he still continues ; the business is managed by Dr. Utley and Charles, the son of Mr. Wells ; he has had seven children, four living-Clark (now in Missouri, and is a farmer ; was in the war), James (living at home with his father, and mar- ried Lucy, a daughter of W. H. Allen, deceased), Nathaniel (is in Columbus, Ohio, and is engaged in the organ and sewing-machine business), Mary (married Dr. Utley, she died June 1, 1878). Mr. Wells has served as Justice of the Peace in Genoa Township eighteen years, and of Berk- shire three years; and has held the offices of Treasurer and Trustee of Township for years ; has also been Notary Public and followed auctioneering for twenty-five years. He and his wife have been connected with the M. E. Church for thirty years ;

he is a member of the Sparrow Lodge, No. 400, A., F. & A. M., and Chapter of Delaware; also of the Galena Lodge, No. 404, I. O. O. F. Mr. Wells has made rails at $5 per 1,000; cut three-foot wood at 25 cents per cord, mowed grass at 50 cents per day, cradled wheat for $1 per day ; he has watched deer-licks at night and killed many of the animals; has built pens to keep the wolves away from their stock; when he settled with his father in Genoa Township, their first night was spent in a roofless cabin, and when they awoke in the morning they found three inches of snow on their beds ; his father made a loom for a man and received in pay a fatted hog.

MRS. SARAH WIGTON, farmer ; P. O. Berkshire ; is a daughter of James and Catharine (Slack) Chadwick ; her father was born in Lon- don, Eng., and emigrated to America when a young man. Mrs. Wigton is one of ten children, and was born Aug. 27, 1832, in Oxford Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, where she remained until 1857. She was married, June 23, 1852, to Will- iam A. Wigton ; he was born March 4, 1828; they farmed in Oxford Township until 1857, when they bought 156 acres in partnership with his father, one of the old pioneers of Delaware Co., who died Aug. 1, 1879, at the ripe old age of 99. Mrs. Wigton's husband died April 18, 1873 ; they had seven children, five of whom are living -Charles D., married Nov. 4, 1879, to Rose E. Loren, a daughter of J. Loren ; Ella E., Emma A., William Perry, Frankie A., Eugene (deceased in 1855) and Mary I. (deceased in 1861). She is a member of the M. E. Church, at Berkshire Corners ; Charles is also of the same denomina- tion, at Sunbury. They now own 176 acres of well-improved land in Berkshire Township.

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WILLIAM BEARDSLEE, farmer; P. O. Constantia ; born in Bradford Co., Penn., April 1, 1827 ; the son of Tolman and Mahala (Knapp) Beardslee. The mother was born in Bradford Co., Penn., and her husband in Connecticut. William is the seventh of a family of thirteen children, all of whom lived to maturity. The family emigrated in 1839, locatiog at first in Dub- lin, Franklin Co .; after one year, they moved to

Orange Township, this county, where they lived three years; then to Genoa, and after a sojourn of two years, removed to Orange Township ; after one year's residence there, they went to Berlin, residing eight years ; thence to Orange again, re- siding six years ; then returning to Berlin, where they have since remained. When Mr. Beardslee was 19 years old his father died ; he lived with his mother until she married. At the age of 22,

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he bought forty-eight acres of land in the south- ern part of Berlin, for which he was to pay $8 per acre; he ran in debt for the entire amount ; cleared up part of the land and soon paid for it. In his 26th year, he was married to Mary E. Thompson ; born in 1831 in Trumbull Co .; daugh- ter of John and Lucy (Leonard) Thompson, na- tives of Massachusetts. In March, 1864, they located on the farm where they now live, east side of Berlin Township ; he has 144 acres of land ; when he began in life, he was without a dollar, but owed $10, instead, for a suit of clothes ; yet, from this beginning, is to-day one of the well- to-do farmers and self-made men. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church ; they have had nine children-Andrew (deceased), Isadore, now wife of A. H. Osborne, of Berlin Station, Darwin, Riley, Walter, Lucy, Alleward, Emma and Ancil.

WILLIAM F. CARNS, farmer ; P. O. Berk- shire ; was born April 13, 1844, in what is now Morrow Co .; the son of William Carns, a native of York Co., Penn., who emigrated to this State with his parents when he was 3 years of age ; his minority was spent in Guernsey and Bel- mont Counties; in the spring of 1845, he moved to this county, settled in Porter Township, and died in 1876. William's mother's name was Jane Harris before marriage; she was born in Virginia, and came to this State when she was 15 years of age, and was married to Mr. Carns in Morrow Co. Mr. Carns' grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was one of three of his company who survived. His father was a participant in the war of 1812. Aug. 6, 1862, Mr. Carns volunteered his services in the war of the rebellion, in Co. G, 96th O. V. I., and served until the close ; he was in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Grand Coteau, Sabine X Roads and Fort Morgan. March 4, 1869, he married Nancy Hopkins, born in 1848 in Porter Township, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth Hopkins, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Carns moved to this township in 1872. He has 119 acres of land ; both are members of the M. E. Church ; he is a member of Sunbury Lodge, A., F. & A. M., No. 400.

C. RIPLEY CAULKINS, farmer ; P. O. Constantia; born Dee. 25, 1822; the sixth child of a family of eight, of Lovell and Jerusha (Smith) Caulkins, who were among the prominent families

of Connecticut. The elder Caulkins came out in 1809, returned to Connecticut on foot, and came out afterward with several families, and located permanently ; he was in the war of 1812 ; a carpenter by occupation, and assisted in building the residence of Bishop Chase, the uncle of Salmon P. Ripley is a cousin of the noted Gen. Ripley, of Confederate fame. In the early part of Mr. Caulkins' life he was engaged in teaching ; he has quite a reputation as teacher of penmanship, hav- ing at one time 500 scholars under his care; was for several years in the (fine) stock business with parties in Kentucky; traded also in mules; was two years in business at Lewis Center, in the gro- cery and grain trade; since that time has been engaged in farming and stock-raising; in 1848 was united in marriage to Catharine Thompson, born in Franklin Co .; she died in 1865, leaving six children-Henry E., Edwin C., Abein, Mary G., Charles L. and Orril; he was married a second time to Mrs. Sarah Standish (maiden name was Preston) ; they have one child, Josie. Mr. Caulk- ins, during the war, was appointed as enrolling and recruiting officer ; was out in the three-months service as 2d Lieutenant Co. H, 145th O. N. G. ; his grandfather was in the battles of Bunker Hill and Monmouth, and had two of his comrades shot down at either side. Mr. Caulkins has a set of stone bullet-molds used by his grandfather at that battle. They have 132} acres of land.

JONATHAN DUNHAM, Alum Creek ; is a representative of one of the early settlers, and has been a resident of the county since his birth, 65 years ; was born in Berkshire Township Nov. 4, 1815, and is a descendent of Puritan stock. His father, Jonathan Dunham, was born in 1783, in Northampton, Conn., and married Lydia Butler and moved to this county in 1807, subsequently to Berkshire, where he died in September, 1858 ; his mother April 13, 1869. Jonathan remained at home until he was 25 years of age, when he married Elizabeth Hardin, born in Pennsylvania in 1823 ; came here with her parents when a child ; after their marriage, they lived several years on the homestead, and, about the year 1855, came to this township and located on the pike, where they have since lived on his farm; they have had ten children, all living-Avis, now Mrs. Davenport ; Linn M. and Laurens R. (twins) ; Ampudia A., Hamer, Silas P., Err H., Ernestine, Elizabeth and Alice. Mr. Dunham is now serving his third term as Justice of the Peace ; was recently elected Land Appraiser. He is a man that is well read

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in history, and is a liberal patron of good litera- ture.

WILLIAM H. DUCKWORTH, Lewis Cen- ter; was born in Harlem Feb. 22, 1840 ; son of James and Rebecca (McClara) Duckworth, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter from Licking Co., Ohio ; they located in Harlem, where they still reside. William received good school advantages, completing the same at Central Col- lege ; began teaching at 16, which he has con- tinued at intervals up to the present time, having taught in all forty-four terms; was two years in Columbus in charge of one of the wards in the insane asylum ; also some time in the employ of one of the prominent publishing houses as general agent, introducing school-books. Nov. 8, 1863, was united by marriage to Miss Vinnie Brighton, born in April, 1846, in Shelby Co., Ill., daughter of James and Rebecca (McClara) Brighton ; natives of New York ; in 1865, Mr. Duckworth moved to Union Co., remained until 1874, where he was engaged in teaching and farming; since that time, he has been a resident of this township ; has 100 acres of land, which is under first-class improvements ; has two children - Minnie R., born July 20, 1866 ; James, Oct. 11, 1870. Mr. Duckworth is Democratic ; has served as Town- ship Trustee, and was a candidate for County Com- missioner and was only beaten by a small majority, the county giving a Republican majority. He and wife are members of the Christian Union ; is a man, generous and social in his nature, a liberal patron of the public journals, and well posted on the issues of the day.

JACOB EKELBERRY, farmer; P. O. Alum Creek ; was born in this county Sept. 13, 1841, the youngest child of Jacob Ekelberry, and a namesake of his father's ; he was raised up under the care of his parents, and in December, 1863, he was united in marriage to Maria E. Red- man, born in Brown Township; since their mar- riage, they have resided in the northern part of Berlin ; he has 255 acres of land-sixty-seven acres in Berlin, and the remainder in Brown. Mr. Ekelberry has served as Township Trustee four terms ; is a member of the Grange, and the Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 95. Has three children -Stephen, Joanna and Bertha.

MRS. MARTHA C. GEARY, Constantia ; was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., March 15, 1807, daughter of John Cochran, who married Martha Thompson, a native of Pennsylvania. The Cochrans are descended from Lord Cochran, of

Scotland. John Cochran was a soldier in the war of 1812; came to this State, locating in Knox Co., afterward bought land and improved the same ; remained there until his death, which occurred in 1846. Mrs. Geary was married to William Geary (cousin of General and afterward Gov. Geary, of Pennsylvania) ; their marriage occurred April 1, 1830; after its consummation, they moved to Brown Township, in this county, remaining there about twenty years ; he died April 14, 1869 ; they had seven children-Mary at home; John and William in Buffalo, stock-dealers; Frances E. (deceased) ; Joseph T. (deceased) was an M. D .; Samuel D., in Mattoon, Ill .; Tina E., clerk in Delaware. Mrs. Geary is a sister of S. D. Cochran, professor of languages, and a prominent minister in Missouri ; has recently written an able work on theology. Mrs. Geary purposes leaving the farm and moving to Delaware.

EDWARD JACOBUS (deceased) ; was one among the prominent and successful farmers in this county, who was born May 22, 1821, in Essex Co., N. J., and emigrated to this State when he was 17 years of age; his parents settled in Trenton Township June 7, 1842. He was married to Mary C. Condit, who was born in Essex Co., N. J., daughter of Joseph and S. Condit, the former a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Jacobus and wife remained in Trenton where he was engaged in farming; in 1864, they moved to Shelby Co., Ill., but the climate not being satisfactory, they remained but one season, and returned to Dela- ware Co., locating in the northern part of Berlin on the pike; his death occurred Dec. 24, 1879; he begun life poor, yet was a very successful farmer ; had accumulated at the time of his death, about 600 acres of land, which was clear of any incum- brance ; they have had nine children, eight liv- ing, all married but one, and doing for themselves. Mr. Jacobus and wife were members of the Pres- byterian Church ; Mrs. Jacobus resides on the homestead with her son Charles.

M. T. JANES, farmer; P. O. Constantia ; started West in the spring of 1833, a lad of 19 years of age, with his earthly possessions encased in a pocket-handkerchief; wended his way on foot from Franklin Co., Vt., to Pittsfield, Mass., where he took the stage to Albany; then by canal, he came to Buffalo, and by lake to Cleveland, and by stage again to Sunbury ; he was born March 15, 1814, in the county and State from which he made his start West, the son of Elijah and Anna (Baker) Janes, Nov. 14, 1833; same year of his

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arrival in Sunbury, he was married to Marcia Caulkins, who was born in Berlin Oct. 9, 1812, the fourth child of Lovel Caulkins; after their marriage, they located on Alum Creek, in Berlin. In 1837, they made a visit to Vermont, where they remained until 1840; while there, Mr. Janes was drafted in the Canada rebellion, and afterward, at the hands of Abraham Lincoln, received a land. warrant in consideration for his services; after their return to this county in 1840, they located on the place Mr. Janes now owns, which he bought for $4 per acre-built him a cabin and began work in earnest. They have had seven children, but five of whom are now living-Elbert, now of Knox Co .; Charles M., of Delaware; Alfred T., now practicing medicine at Pettis Co., Mo .; George L. and Willie, in Delaware. Mr. Janes did his part in furnishing men to put down the rebellion-sent three sons, Elbert, Alfred and Lester, the two first were in the 43d O. V. I., and served three years or more; Lester was in the 100-day service. All of his boys have left him and are doing for themselves. Mr. Janes has 107 acres of land, and is a well-to- do farmer. He is a stanch Republican, and one of Berlin's substantial citizens.

DANIEL B. JANES, farmer; P. O. Con- stantia; was born Nov. 30, 1837, on the farm where he now lives, located in the southeast part of Berlin, east of Alum Creek ; the son of Harry Janes, who was born on Grand Isle, Vt., in 1799; he started West with his parents in 1812, got as far as Massachusetts, and anticipating trouble with the Indians, they remained there three years, and arrived here in 1815 and settled on the west side of Alum Creek in Berlin Township ; Daniel's father was engaged in his early manhood in the manu- facture of potash, and acquired enough means to enable him to enter 100 acres of land ; he built him a cabin. He married Alma Dickerman, sister of Benoni Dickerman, and came with the family in 1815; he remained on the place where he set- tled until his death, Feb. 14, 1865 ; his wife died the year following. Daniel was raised at the old homestead, and was married, Oct. 25, 1860, to Sarah Adams, born March 1, 1839, in Berkshire Township; she was the daughter of Rev. Bar- tholomew and Helen (Van Nostrand) Adams, both natives of New York ; since the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Janes, they have remained on the farm where they now live; they have two children- Lurie A., born in November, 1864 ; Harry, May 17, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Janes are members of the Presbyterian Church ; he has 207 acres of land ;

Mr. Janes' great-grandmother was a convert under the preaching of George Whitefield (of John Wesley's time) ; she lived to the age of 103 years.

WILLIAM H. McWILLIAMS ; P. O. Tank- town; was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Dec. 29, 1839 ; son of Marshall and Clarissa (Smith) McWilliams, both natives of New Jersey ; they moved to this State when William was but 5 months old, and remained a short time in Genoa ; in March, 1841, came to Berlin, and located on the land now occupied by William, which, at the time, was unimproved, where the father died in 1876, after his return from the Centennial. He was a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. His widow still survives him. William enlisted . Aug. 12, 1862, in Co G, 45th O. V. I., and served until the close of the war ; fourteen months of the time, was in Confederate prisons at different points. March 26, 1868, was united by marriage to Prudence McIntosh, born July 16, 1848, in Champaign Co .; they have three children-John S., born Feb. 13, 1869 ; William E., born May 2, 1871, and Emma G., born Nov. 23, 1878. Since remained on the homestead.

GEORGE NEILSON, farmer; P. O. Del- aware; was born in Fairfield Co. Sept. 12, 1824; the fourth child of a family of ten children ; his father, John, was a native of Luzerne Co., Penn., and came to this State in 1818, locating in Fair- field Co .; his father was a British soldier in the Revolutionary war; deserting, he was pursued by hounds, and escaped to the American side. George's mother's name was Elizabeth Raudbaugh, from Berks Co., Penn .; came to this State in. 1805. George remained in Fairfield Co. until 1826 ; his father moved to' Berkshire Township, and located ; he was a millwright by trade; lived there until his death, in 1854 ; the family are of Scotch de- scent ; George was raised on the farm until his 16th year, when he went to learn the trade of a brickmason. Oct. 26, 1847, he was married to Sarah Sharer, born May, 1829, in Maryland ; daughter of George and Caroline (Sykes) Sharer, who were of Yankee descent; they came to this State when she was 3 years of age; after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Neilson settled in Delaware City, where he engaged at his trade up to 1854; then moved to the northern part of Berlin Township, on the pike, in which place has since remained ; he has 118 acres of excellent land, which has been brought to a high state of cultivation through his own efforts ; when he came here, it was entirely unimproved-"all woods ;" his land is now

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underdrained, and, for the size, is one of the best farms in the county ; they have had five children, four living-Caroline, now the wife of H. Miller, of Troy Township, Wilmer G., Edward J. and Car- per W., at home. Mr. Neilson was out in the late war; served in Co. H, 145th O. V. I. Has served the county in several official capacities ; was a member of the Agricultural Board for twenty years ; now a member of the Central Ohio Board ; also as Infirmary Director for nine years ; is also a zealous advocate of the Masonic Fraternity, be- ing a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 18, and Del- aware Chapter, No. 52. His father was a Jackson Democrat, but he has been identified with the Republican party, and is a strong temperance man.

ANDREW H. OSBURN, tile manufactory, Tanktown; was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Dec. 8, 1851; the son of Henry and Mary Osburn, whose maiden name was Havens; came to this county when he was about 1 year old, and lo- cated in this township, where he has since lived. Jan. 15, 1874, Mr. Osborn was married to Isa- dore Beardslee, eldest daughter of William Beardslee, of this township. Since he married, he had been engaged in farming, until March 24, 1879, when he associated with J. T. Cartnell, in the tile business, since dissolved. They have one one child-Anna Mary. He and wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He is now as- sociated with Ancyl Stanforth, in the tile manu- factory-the firm name of Osburn & Stanforth ; they are now prepared to make all sizes of tiles, from 2} inches to 14, of superior quality, which they furnish at bottom prices to those who pat- ronize them; those who are in need of tile will find it to their advantage to call on this firm.

W. S. PIATT, farmer; P.O. Tanktown; born in Augusta Co., Va., Nov. 3, 1818 ; the seventh son of James and Mary (Donahue) Piatt; on his father's side, his ancestry hail from France, and his moth- er's, from Ireland ; William emigrated to this State when he was 10 years of age ; his parents located in Marlborough. William left home at the age of 15, and began for himself; commenced driving stage, which he followed for about ten years, in the employ of Othel .Hinton (stage agent) ; during the latter part of the time he was engaged in this business, he ran an opposition line against Neal, Moore & Co., and after a lively competition they were glad to buy him off. After a successful career in staging, he railroaded, as baggage-master, for three years, on the Mad

River & Lake Erie Road. In 1840, he bought fifty acres of land, in Berlin Township, at $4 per acre ; moved on it in 1850, and began improve- ments; built a cabin, deer and turkey often visit- ing their primitive dwelling. Nov. 3, 1839, was married to Betsey Fowler, born March 12, 1820, in Winsor, N. Y., daughter of James B. and Polly (Clauson) Fowler; they came to this State in 1833; were twenty-six days upon the road. They have had five children-Phoebe L., George A., Francisco and Frank {twins), and Charles W., all living in this township but George, who is in McHenry Co., Ill. Mr. Piatt has been successful in life ; began poor and has accumulated a good deal of property, and ranks among the most affluent in this part of the township. Mrs. Piatt's father first settled in Orange, and had a truly pioneer experience.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 121

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