History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 123

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 123

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ELIZA A. BAKER, farmer ; P. O. Wester- ville ; was born in Trenton Towoship, Delaware Co., Ohio, July 14, 1825. There were six chil- dren in the family, she being the third, born of Peter Cockerell and Hannah Linnaberry, his wife; the Cockerells are from Virginia, and the Linna- berry family from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Baker came with her parents to this township, her father settling on the place now owned by A. M. Fuller. In her 21st year, she was married to George Baker ; born in Guernsey Co .; came to this county when he was a mere lad. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Baker, they moved to the place where she now lives-west side of Alum Creek. Mr. Baker died Oct. 27, 1878. She still carries on the farm. Has four children-George, Mary A., Julia and Louisa.

D. H. BARD, farmer; P. O. Westerville; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Dec. 15, 1848 ; is the third child of a family of four children ; his father's name was Isaac; his mother's name, prior to her marriage, was Rhuana Humphrey, both of them natives of Franklin Co., Penn. David came to this county with his parents, when he was about 4 years old; the family subsequently lo- cated on the State road, south of the town house. At the age of 9, David went to live with his uncle, A. M. Fuller, one of the prominent men in this township, living in the southern part; lived with him until he attained his majority. Dec. 25, 1878, was united in wedlock to Sadie E. Mc- Dowell, of Franklin Co., Penn., and the place of marriage ; she was born March 16, 1856; she is a daughter of William E. McDowell. Since his marriage, he has worked his uncle's farm. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

RALPH BENNETT, farmer; P. O. Flint ; was born in this township March 1, 1840 ; is the second child of a family of eleven children, born of Sylvester and Elizabeth (Butt) Bennett, both of them natives of Virginia ; first located on Dun- can's Plain ; Ralph remained with his parents until he was 23 years of age. In 1862, Aug. 11, he

enlisted in the 95th O. V. I., Co. D, and was shot in the leg while in his first battle, and was dis- charged on account of disability, being in service about eight months. Upon his return home, was united in marriage with Cynthia Hall, born in Delaware Co .; have had six children-Alice, Flora E., Verna, William H., Alvin C. and Mary E .; since his marriage, he has lived in several dif- ferent places in the county ; April 1, 1879, he moved to his present place of abode, where he has bought property, and is permanently located.

WILLIAM BOCKOVEN, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. O. Constantia ; was born in Berlin Township March 13, 1826; is the eldest of a family of twelve children ; his father's name is Jacob, who came to this county in the year 1820, he being then a lad of 18; his parents settled in Berlin. Jacob married Eliza Dalrymple, a native of New Jersey ; they are still living. William, at the age of 18, went to learn the blacksmith's trade, and afterward followed it eight years in Cheshire ; while there, was married (April 26, 1849) to Jane Barrows, born Oct. 3, 1826; daughter of Nathaniel W. Barrows, a native of Tolland Co., Conn .; he settled in this township in 1819, on the east side of Alum Creek, where Mrs. B. was born. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Bockoven moved to Orange, locating in the north part, east of Alum Creek, where he bought 200 acres of land, a portion of which belonged formerly to the Barrow farm, which Mrs. Bockoven's father bought and settled. Mr. Bockoven for several years afterward followed his trade, in connection with his farm, but has recently abandoned the an- vil and forge, and confined himself strictly to farming pursuits. He has been a successful man ; has accumulated a competence for himself and wife, and they are living in the enjoyment of their means ; he is among the best farmers on Alum Creek ; has contributed liberally to the support of the Gospel, and to all demands of an eleemosynary character ; he is a liberal patron of the publio journals ; was for many years identified with the Democratic party, but is now a Prohibitionist.

CYRUS CHAMBERS, farmer ; P. O. Wester- ville ; is one of the oldest settlers in this township ; was born in Vermont, town of Tunbridge, Orange Co., Nov. 5, 1795 ; he was a son of Robert and Martha (Smith) Chambers, who were natives of the same State. Cyrus was left an orphan at an early age, his father having been drowned; he was then thrown upon his own resources, and lived several years with David Campbell, and came West

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with him in a wagon ; six of them left Rutland Aug. 8, 1815, and soon after their arrival, Mr. Campbell bought land in Genoa Township; Mr. Chambers lived with him about one year, and at the age of 20, he began to do for himself, and made his home with Campbell ; he worked out for several years, taking jobs of clearing up land, until he had accumulated means to buy 100 acres for him- self in Genoa Township; at the time he came here there were no settlements on the west side of Alum Creek; Mr. Chambers soon after sold his land in Genoa and came to this township, and bought where he now lives. May 6, 1824, he married Susanna Jaynes, a native of Grand Isle, Vt .; their first experience in housekeeping was in a log cabin, with one room, clapboard roof and stick chimney ; his uncle, John Jaynes, loaned him some chairs, a neighbor a dinner-pot, another some soap, and thus they began ; wages were low-he offered at one time to work for 25 cents per day, for Samuel Ferson ; about the year 1822, he sold 200 bushels of corn, which he summered over, at 12} cents per bushel. Mr. Chambers' wife died Nov. 5, 1844, leaving him ten children, seven of them now living; of these, William and Mary are in Orange, Cyrus in Liberty, and Seymour in the northern part of the county; of the last wife's, Horatio and George are on the homestead, Horace is at Worthington, Octavia (now Mrs. Carter) at Westerville, and Sarah (now Mrs. Jaycox) in this township. Mr. Chambers has probably cleared more timber land than any other man in the county ; has been a member of the M. E. Church for upward of 72 years, and in early times served as Constable, Trustee, and Township Clerk, also taught school several terms, and is sup- posed to have been the first to teach in the town- ship ; he is of Republican principles, and is one of the oldest living pioneers in the country.

homestead, where they lived until October, 1879, when he moved to Lewis Center ; have eight chil- dren-Franklin L., Delphina, Josephine, Byron, Edwin S., Charles, George and Tilla, four of whom are married; two living in Westerville. Mr. Case has been engaged in farming nearly ; all his life ; is now engaged in running a saw-mill lo- cated at Orange Station, which he owns ; has also good property in the town. He is a very zealous and earnest temperance man.

STEPHEN L. CRUIKSHANK, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Center ; is the son of David Cruik- shank, who was born in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., and emigrated to this State about the year 1814, and located in the northeast part of Liberty Township, on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Rheem, which he cleared up, remaining there un- til his death June 8, 1869. Stephen was born on the homestead April 26, 1836 ; is the eldest son of the third generation of the Crnikshank family ; his mother's name was Eliza Eaton, born in this county. The Cruikshanks are of Scotch descent, and of numerous kindred. It is a noteworthy fact that not one of the name is addicted to the use of liquor, or was ever drunk, and they are mem- bers of the Prohibition party. Nearly all are members of the same orthodox church, and none are profane. Stephen remained at home until of age. Dec. 4, 1856, was married to Mary Wood- land, born in 1834 in the city of London ; daugh- ter of Jesse Woodland. She came to this country in her 3d year; was six weeks on the ocean. After the marriage of Mr. Cruikshank, they rented about two years ; then bought the land he now owns. He has for many years been engaged in bee culture, and has quite a reputation in this di- rection; has 155 acres of land, and good im- provements thereon. They had eleven children ; but nine living-Frank L., John A., Jennie L., Thomas E., Rosa V., Oliver P., Jesse L., Harry S. and Stephen L.

C. L. CASE, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Center ; was born in this township Nov. 8, 1828; is a son of Truman Case, who was born in the State of Con- WILLIAM S. CLYMER; P. O. Westerville ; is a prominent agriculturist and stock-raiser of this township, who was born in Franklin Co., July 18, 1818; son of John Clymer, a native of Maryland, who married Mary Harris, a native of Delaware, who came to this State when she was about 10 years of age; the senior Clymer came to this State about 1815, and entered land in Plain Township, Franklin Co .; was a participant in the war of 1812. The Clymer family are near relatives of Senator Clymer, of Pennsylvania, also necticut ; his mother's name, prior to her mar- rlage, was Phoebe Eaton, a native of Vermont, and came to this county and located in Liberty Town- ship ; moved to Orange, and located on the State road, where they lived until their death-the father in December, 1861, and Mrs. Case in Jan- uary, 1872. Luther remained with his parents until he was 22 years of age, when he married (Feb. 18, 1850) Hannah Case, born in 1832, in New York State; she was a daughter of Riley Case. After their marriage, they located on the | descendants of George Clymer, whose signature

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appears under the Declaration of Independence. There were twelve children in the family, William being the third ; but two now living besides Will- iam-Rev. Francis Clymer, of Galion, and Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, of Hancock Co .; when William was about 14 years of age, his father died, and he was thrown upon his own resources ; his mother was feeble and he remained with her until he was 24 years of age, when he married Eliza McComb, born in Pennsylvania April 10, 1817; she was a daughter of Jonathan and Lucretia (Beter) Mc- Comb, the latter a native of Virginia, and Mr. McComb, of Pennsylvania; they came to this State in 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Clymer were mar- ried in Truo Township, Franklin Co., Dec. 20, 1842; they then settled in Plain Township, where Mr. Clymer was engaged in farming and stock-raising ; in 1859, he sold out and moved to this township, where he purchased about two hun- dred and fifty acres of land, and, to-day, owns over seven hundred acres situated on Alum Creek ; this land will compare favorably with any in the county ; this he has improved and built a steam mill ; his health has of late been very much im- paired in consequence of injuries received in a smash-up while shipping, years ago .. Mr. Clymer began for himself at the age of 20; shipped stock to the East and made money, but has had some losses and reverses that would have dis- heartened a less energetic and persevering man ; he learned the grafting business of his brother, which he followed three years with a set of men ; in this enterprise was successful; subsequently, he traveled and handled horses on the Rarey sys- tem, instructed others and was the inventor of the "third line; " afterward turned his attention to farming and stock-trading, at which he was quite successful ; few men have more pluck and energy than he; has always been a man of temperate habits, using neither whisky nor tobacco, liberal and warm-hearted ; has donated freely to church and school. Mr. Clymer was for many years a member of the church, but withdrew some years since ; they had eight children, seven living- Mark A., Jonathan O., Roxie A., Jane, Davis, Frank and Ophelia.

JOSEPH CLARK, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Cen- ter; came to this State from Orange Co., N. Y., in 1811, with his father, Elihu Clark, when he was but 15 years of age ; Joseph was born Sept. 28, 1796 ; his father settled in this county, eight miles north of Delaware ; early in life, Joseph learned the carpenter's trade, working at it more

or less until 1861 ; lived in Franklin Co. until March 5, 1846, when he moved to Wyandot Co., and stayed four years ; in April, 1850, he moved to Morrow Co., and lived there until April, 1863, when he moved to Orange Township, where he has since lived. In the spring of 1833, he was united in marriage to Hannah Perdue, sister of John Perdue, who was noted for his great wealth and benevolent donations to schools, societies and churches; she was born in the year 1815, in Pennsylvania; she is a daughter of Charles Perdue ; Mr. and Mrs. Clark were mar- ried in Franklin Co .; they have had five children -but two of whom are living-William, Henry, Helen, Harrison and Cora ; William is now in business in Indiana, and Harrison is at home. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Presbyterian Church ; her father died about the year 1823; her mother about the year 1854.

C. A. DE WITT, boot and shoe maker, Lewis Centre; born in Pickaway Co. Jan. 9, 1842; is the eldest of ten children, born to Francis and Sarah (McLean) De Witt, the former a native of Richland, and the latter of Pickaway Co. Charles came to this county with his parents when he was 10 years of age, and was raised on a farm until his entry into the United States service, Aug. 20, 1862, in Co. K, 121st O. V. I., as a musician; he served until the close of the war; was in the battles of Perryville and Chickamauga ; his health becoming impaired, he was placed on detached duty ; upon his return home, he carried on a store some time. Dec. 31, 1865, he was married to Emily B. Goodrich, born in Liberty in 1844, and a daughter of Clark Goodrich; he subse- quently moved to Paulding Co., where he lived until 1869, then returned to this county and set up in business ; they have one child-Lester C., born Jan. 24, 1869. He and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church ; he is also a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F .; Mr. De Witt is of a me- chanical turn ; does stone and brick work, also plastering, and carries on his boot and shoe busi- ness and general repair work to order, and in a satisfactory manner.

C. P. ELSBREE, farmer; was among the first to find a home in Orange Township; is a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., born April 17, 1800, and, while quite young, his father died; not many years subsequently, his moth- er (whose maiden name was also Elsbree) mar- ried Jeremiah Macomber, who, in 1811, emi- grated with his family to this locality, settling

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on what is known as the Gooding property; at this time there were but four other families living in the township; everything was in its primitive condition, and the difficulties to be surmounted were enough to try the nerve of the sturdiest pioneer ; the opportunities for schooling were of the most limited character, and, as a result, Mr. Elsbree obtained but a meager education in com- mon with others thus situated; in 1820, he re- turned to his native State, remaining three years, the last winter of which he spent in the pineries of the north, working in the logging camps, and, in the spring, assisted in rafting the logs down. Ma- tilda Norton, a native of Connecticut, and who came West with her father when she was about a year old, became the wife of Mr. Elsbree Feb. 17, 1825 ; her father commanded a company of rifle- men in the war of 1812, and was prominently mentioned in the history of the township; Mr. and Mrs. Elsbree have had born to them eight children, but three of whom are now living-Au- gustus, George and Cicero ; the latter is at the old home with his parents, and the other two are farming in the immediate neighborhood. Mr. Elsbree and wife are members of the Christian Church; he has followed the predilections of the old Whig party, of which he was one, and is now a Republican.

Since writing the above, Mr. Elsbree has met with a most tragic death by being gored and trampled upon until he was horribly mangled by an infuriated bull, in the stall where the animal was confined, the old gentleman having gone in by the side of him for some purpose; thus, in the most soul-depressing manner, is put out the light of that most honorable and worthy citizen, who has contributed so much to the well-being of the community of which he has so long been a member.

MRS. PARTHENIA A. ELSBREE; P. O. Lewis Center; was born in the Empire State, Putnam Co., Aug. 26, 1827; daughter of James Fowler and Polly (Clawson) Fowler ; there were nine children in the family, Parthenia being the youngest. On the mother's side of the family, they trace their ancestry to the British Isles, be- ing of Scotch-Irish descent. The parents of Par- thenia moved to this county when she was but 6 years of age, and located in Orange Township, where they remained until their death-the mother in 1866, and father in 1869. Parthenia was united in matrimony to Gustavus Elsbree. In 1827, he was born in this township, a son of C.

P. Elsbree, one of the oldest of the resident settlers in the township; her marriage was celebrated in December, 1852, after which they located on the place where she now , lives. Mr. Elsbre died in June, 1877, having been previously received into the church ; since his demise she has remained on the farm; she has two children-Mary M. and Elmer E., and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, at Liberty.

MRS. PHEBE R. EVARTS ; P. O. Wester- ville ; was born in Sullivan Co., N. H., April 21, 1819 ; she is a daughter of John George ; her mother's name before marriage was Fannie Bro- ton ; Mrs. Evarts' grandfather was a participant in the war of 1812 ; she came to this State with her parents when she was but 3 years of age; they first settled in Noble Co., where they lived seven years, and, in the year 1829, moved to Orange Township, on the east side of Alum Creek, where they purchased land, and remained until their death-her father in 1865, and her mother in 1867; Mrs. Evarts remained with her parents (having taught school some) until her 19th year. She was then married, April 26, 1838, to Elijah Sackett, a native of Pennsylvania ; they moved to Brown Township, where he died soon after. She returned home to her father's; remained until her marriage with Philo P. Evarts ; he was born in New York ; after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Evarts they moved to her former place of ahode in Brown Township, where they lived six years ; then moved to Berlin ; lived there until March 21, 1860, when her husband met with his death ; she subsequently moved to the old homestead, where she now lives ; she has but one child, Edgar, born in 1845; he is married, and resides in Berlin, on the land belonging to the estate. Mrs. Evarts was for many years a member of the Baptist Church, having made a profession when she was but 16 years of age. She has 125 acres of land on the homestead, where she lives.

MATTHEW GOODING belongs to a family of prominent agriculturists of Orange Township. His father, George Gooding, was born in Massachusetts and came out to this country in 1818, with a drove of sheep, and remained two years, during which time he worked out by the month; returning to the East, he married Phoebe T. Williams, and then by wagon made his second trip to this section in six weeks; on his arrival he had $2.064 ; he rent- ed a farm, of De Wolf for nine years, during which time he combined farming and dairying; subsequent to this, he bought and moved on to a

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small piece of land, where Frank now lives ; to this he added until his death in January, 1856, when he was the possessor of about 1,300 acres ; he kept public house for several years, at which the stage lines made one of their stopping-places, and many a weary traveler has refreshed the inner man with toothsome edibles furnished by the hand of the hospitable landlady, Mrs. Gooding; she is still living and in her 82d year. Matthew was married, Oct. 23, 1855, to Mary E. Matoon, who was born Feb. 13, 1836, in Blendon Town- ship, Franklin Co.,' and the daughter of Edwin Matoon, one of the pioneers of that county. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gooding located where they now live; he has a first-class farm with ex- cellent improvements, and has for several years given his attention to sheep-raising and wool-grow- ing. They have one son and six daughters-Ed- win M., in the mercantile business in Lewis Center ; Mary E., Jessie, Lillie, Annie, Cora D. and Grace. Mr. and Mrs. Gooding are members of the 'M. E. Church; in politics, the Goodings are Republican.

GEORGE A. GOODING, farmer and trader ; P. O. Lewis Center. One of the most thrifty and well- to-do farmers in this township is George Gooding, who was born in the southwest corner of the town- ship, on the place once known as the De Wolf tract, where his father first located, on his coming to this county. George moved to the homestead where Frank Gooding now lives when he was but 6 months old, where the elder Gooding kept a tav- ern in the days of staging, which was one of the principal stopping-places along the route. George stayed with his father until he was 22 years of age, at which time he began to do for himself. At. the age of 25, formed a matrimonial union with Elizabeth Carpenter, born in Liberty in 1828; she is a daughter of James Carpenter, one of the pio- neers in the county; their marriage was celebrated Nov. 13, 1851 ; the first year they lived in a log house, just north of Frank Gooding's, and, the fol- lowing year, he moved to his present residence, where he has since lived ; he has built all the buildings which are now in sight. Mr. Gooding ranks among the most successful farmers in the county ; is a man that attends strictly to his own business, giving it his own personal attention. They have five children-George, Lizzie (now the wife of J. C. McClenahan, of Columbus), J. Stan- ley, Arthur and Frederick. His wife is a member of the Liberty Church. Mr. Gooding has 605 acres of choice land ; 240 acres in pasture and the remainder is under cultivation.

ALDEN B. GOODING, farmer; P. O. Lewis Center ; is a, native of Bristol Co., Mass .; born Dec. 17, 1830 ; is the third of a family of five children, born of Ebenezer and Betsey (Baker) Gooding; the Goodings are of English descent. Alden spent his youth and early manhood on a farm, having but the advantages that were afforded in the common school, and at the age of 18, he went to learn the carpenter's trade, serving the customary time, following the same about two years. His father, having had a favorable opinion of this country, suggested to Alden the idea of a removal, which proposition he acceeded to, and in the fall of 1855, they moved to Marion Co., where they remained a short time ; then came to this county, and bought of his cousin, George Good- ing, Sr., 120 acres of land, and settled on the same. Ebenezer died in January, 1862. Alden was mar- ried, November, 1855, to Missouri Newkirk, born in Fairfield Co. in 1837, daughter of John and Sarah Newkirk, a citizen of this county and town- ship ; they have remained on the farm since their marriage, and have three children-William, Sarah and Johnnie. Mr. Gooding and wife are members of the M. E. Church. He is a man of very temperate habits, none of the family having cver even used tobacco. Has always taken an in- terest in the Sunday-school cause, of which he is a teacher.

ISAAC HARDEN. farmer ; P. O. Lewis Cen- ter; is one of the old-time residents of Liberty Township ; was born in this State, and came to this county with his parents, who located in Lib- erty Township, on the place where Beiber's mill now stands ; he was born May 25, 1806, and was but 3 years of age when his parents came to the county ; he remembers very distinctly events which took place during the war of 1812, of two soldiers who were sick, and were quartered at his father's house, until they recovered ; he, with his father's family, were among the number who, af- ter hearing of the threatened invasion of the In- dians, at the time of the " Drake scare," fled to Worthington and sought protection in the Kilbourn house there. His father's name was James, and that of his mother was Mary ; sup- posed to be natives of Maryland, and came down the Ohio River on a raft, in company with eleven families, all relatives. Isaac remained with bis father until he was 26 years of age. Was then married to Lydia Bolliner, native of Virginia ; they were married in Seneca Co., where they re- mained about ten years ; returned to Liberty, and

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stayed seven years on the old place ; then he moved to Franklin Co., where he lived 18 years, and, be- fore the close of the late war, moved to Orange Station. During all his life, he has been engaged in farming pursuits. They have had twelve children, ten of them living-Sarah, Mary J., John, Eliza A., William, Shadrach, Rachel, Martha E., Mar- garet and James. Mr. Harden's wife died Dec. 31, 1876. He has been a member of the M. E. Church over fifty-five years, and was among the first members, in Liberty Township, of that body.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 123

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