History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 130

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 130

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September, 1868, Mr. Freshwater married Mary J. Cunningham ; they have four children -- Lou- ella, George, Malinda and Frances. For twenty- eight years, he has lived on his present farm of 86 acres, being recognized as a kind and friendly neighbor. For fifteen years from the time he was 19 years old, he was a member of the United Brethren Church ; he then joined the Christian faith, and so remains to this time. The gun brought to this county by his father in 1812, and by which it is reputed over four hundred deer have been killed, is still in his possession.

THOMAS S. HALL, superintendent of gas and water works, Girl's Industrial Home; was born Sept. 10, 1842, in Liberty Township, where the village of Powell now stands. Thomas S. remained at home till 19 years old, when he en- tered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, where he attended only three months ; from this institution he went into the army; he had pre- viously made an attempt to enlist, but could not pass muster, ou account of a broken limb; his first term expired in September, 1862, and in May, 1864, he enlisted a second time, in Co. K, 145th O. V. I .; shortly after, was promoted to the office of Sergeant, and from that office to Second Lieu- tenant, which position he held till he was dis- charged, at the close of the rebellion ; there were six brothers in the army, two of whom sleep under Southern soil. After coming home, Thomas S. worked one year at the Powell mill; he then went to Orange Station, where he was railroad agent ; he at the same time had charge of J. Peunel's store, and was Assistant Postmaster; remained there one year, when he, in company with his brother E. J., bought an interest in the Powell mill, where they manufactured laths, shingles and broom handles; he remained there five years, till 1871, at which time he accepted the position of night watchman at the Girls' Industrial Home ; also had charge of the mail and passenger travel, to and from Delaware, till the water and gas works were put up, since which time he has had charge of them; he is the oldest employe at the home, and has gained quite a reputation for cap- turing and bringing back escaped inmates of the home; has been in the employ of the State eight years, and has in that time been off duty only twenty days, ten days of which were given him by Dr. Nichols and the same by Dr. Hills, as a re- ward for his close attention to business. Nov. 12, 1863, he was married to Miss Frances A. Topliff ; she was born Jan. 1, 1843, in Franklin Co , Ohio,

They have six children, all living-William F.' Lettie A., Ernest E., Harrie I., Mabel D. and Ollia A. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the M. E. Church ; he is a prominent Sunday school man ; for four years he was Superintendent of the Powell Sunday School, keeping it alive through the year, something never done in that place before ; for the last two years, has been conducting a Sun- day school in Concord Township.

WILLIAM H. HEATH, blacksmith and wagon-maker ; P. O. Delaware ; lives in Concord Township; he was born Dec. 18, 1844, in New Jersey. His parents, Benjamin and Pamelia Heath, came to Ohio when William was but a child, and located on the present family home- stead ; here the father lived with his family until his death in October, 1879, at the age of 84 years ; he had been a leading member of the Baptist Church for forty years, and was, at the time of his demise, a member of the Concord Baptist Church ; his widow and a son, Othia J., are living with Mr. Heath in the old homestead. Although never having served as an apprentice, Mr. Heath is a good mechanic and has a shop ou his place. Oct. 4, 1864, he was married to Susan Jones ; they have had eight children, of whom Isaac, born Oct. 2, 1865; Sarah E., May 12, 1869 ; William H., Aug. 15, 1871, and George, March 2, 1874, are still living; Abraham and three infants are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Heath are active members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Heath has a brother, Richard R., living in Red Oak, Iowa, a brother, George G., and sister Mary, deceased. Mrs. Heath's parents, Abraham and Sarah Jones, came to Ohio at an early day and purchased 300 acres of land. Mr. Jones became a member of the Baptist Church in early life, and so remained until his death in February, 1866, having served as a Deacon for forty years. Mrs. Heath lived with her parents until her marriage.

SOLOMON HILL is a farmer, living in Con- cord Township, where his grandfather came as one of the earliest settlers, who purchased 1,300 acres of land, which he divided among his children, seven sons and three daughters, 115 acres of which was given to Mr. Hill's father, whose name was Stephen, the mother's name being Susan; on this farm they lived until the father's death, passing the later years with his son Solomon, who still resides on the farm, and where he was born, May 28, 1825. Mr. Hill received his education in schools held in two different schoolhouses, built upon the old homestead ; some of the lumber that entered

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into the construction of the first house built upon the farm is still upon the place. Mr. Hill is the only grandson of Stephen Hill, Sr., now living in Delaware Co. At the age of 26, he was married to Miss Rachel Kilbery. They have had two children-Asa and Melvina, both deceased. Soon after the death of the last child, Mr. Hill was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. From the time of her death until Dec. 15, 1859, Mr. Hill lived at his father's. On that date, he was married to his present wife, who was Miss Mary J., daughter of William and Catharine Jack- son ; she was born Sept. 28, 1836, in Concord, Township ; they have had three children, of whom Ruth and Murtlo arc still living-Susan having died. Ruth is now Mrs. Kilbery ; her husband is a brother of her father's first wife. Mr. Hill is proprietor of the Hill pleasure grounds, on which he has given a Fourth of July picnic din- ner each year, for sixteen years, and during that time he has given from six to ten public parties, each year. The grounds are nicely arranged and highly ornamental ; an excavation for a lake in the grounds has been commenced, but is not yet completed. Aside from his other duties, Mr. Hill has been for years, and is still, engaged in the manufacture of brick, having furnished all that has entered into the construction of the Girls' In- dustrial Home, excepting for one story of one of the buildings.

WILLIAM JACKSON, farmer; P. O. Jerome, Union Co .; was born Jan. 27, 1813, in Stark Co., Ohio, and, at the age of 11 years, his parents, . Francis and Elizabeth Jackson, moved to Licking Co. Mr. Jackson's great-great-grand- father on his father's side was one of a number of men who drew their wives by lot out of a ship load of women that came to the New World as help- mates for the brave men who had preceded them ; this ancestor drew a "little fat Dutch girl" who proved to be a helpmate indeed, making him a true wife and their children a loving mother ; when our subject was 15 years of age his father died; he remained at home about one year thereafter, after which time he was employed on public works until he reached the age of 22. He was then married to Miss Kittie McKitrick ; they have had twelve children, eight of whom are living -- Mary A., Elizabeth L., Susan M., James A., Arthur F., Marcella A., Emma O. and Harvey D .; those deceased being Emily, William H., Francis L. and Smith A .; two of their sons were in the army during the late war; William H. died in

Missouri; his body was brought home and buried. In Mr. Jackson's family, there is a little girl who was born on his farm ; her father and mother's name was Hamlin ; the mother died soon after the child's birth ; her maiden name was Jackson; she claimed to have come from Texas; the where- abouts of the father is not known. Mr. Jackson has a good farm of 236 acres adjoining the State farm on the south, the Scioto River forming its eastern boundary.

DANIEL L. KELLY lives in Concord Town- ship on a farm which he owns and operates; it consists of 124 acres ; besides this, he is the pos- sessor of property in Delaware City ; he was born Jan. 12, 1823, in Champaign Co., Ohio; lived with his parents until 5 years of age, when Will- iam Shockley, his grandfather, took him to Flem- ing Co., Ky., with whom he lived about nine years ; he then came to Brown Co., Ohio, and lived with his brother, John Kelly, two years ; the following seven years, excepting a year and a half spent in Kentucky, he made his home with an uncle in this county. Sept: 26, 1847, he married Miss Annic C. Kooken, who was born in this town- ship May 15, 1820 ; her father died when she was quite young; she lived with her mother until her marriage with Mr. Kelly ; the latter's father, Thomas Kelly, came to Ohio from Hot Springs, Va., in 1809, when a young man; for about twenty years, he made his home in this section of the country, and then went West ; the next thirty years he lived in Iowa and Missouri ; in 1860, at the age of 75, he returned to this county, where, at the home of his son, Daniel L., he shortly after- ward died. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are the parents of nine children ; those living are Margaret K., Mary S., George E., William A. and James. Mrs. Kelly died Sept. 17, 1863, three of her children having died before her. The first year after his first marriage, Mr. Kelly lived in Belle Point, moving on to a farm in 1848 ; in 1851, he bought and moved on to what is known as the Sugar Grove farm, remaining until his second marriage, April 21, 1867, to Mrs. Louisa Freshwater; she had one child-Mary F. E., born June 24, 1864 ; by this wife, Mr. Kelly is the father of two chil. dren-Charles W., born Aug. 5, 1868, and Jessie I., Nov. 5, 1879 ; shortly after his second mar- riage, he sold his old place and purchased and moved on to the farm where he now lives. In his younger days, Mr. Kelly helped cut out and open up for travel the present pike from Belle Point to Delaware, and, when living with his uncle, often

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went with wagon-loads of grain to Sandusky City, a distance of 125 miles. He has filled most of the public offices of his township, and figures prom- inently in his locality ; in 1859, be accepted the position of Land Appraiser, and again in 1879.

ELIJAH KENT was born Jan. 14, 1824, in Madison Co., Ohio; he is the son of Silas and Olive Kent; they moved to Union Co. when Elijah was but a child ; Ang. 12, 1831, the father died ; Elijah remained with his mother until he was 24 years old, when, Aug. 23, 1848, he mar- ried Miss Charlotte Norris, who was born in Har- rison Co. March 23, 1828 ; her parents took up their abode in Union Co. when Charlotte was about 12 years of age, she living with her parents until her marriage with Mr. Kent ; from this union there have been horn to them eleven children ; of these, Ellen, Dudley and two infants are deceased ; Emily J., horn Sept. 23, 1849 ; George, Sept. 9, 1853; Edward, Nov. 2, 1856; Andrew D., Oct. 12, 1858; John, Nov. 12, 1860 ; Silas, Dec. 27, 1862, and Benjamin F., Aug. 14, 1865, are still living; Emily and George are married, the others live at home. In 1865, Mr. Kent purchased and moved on to his present farm ; it contains 338 acres; in addition to this, he owns a fifteen-acre lot in this township and 349 in Liberty. As a stock-raiser and shipper, Mr. Kent has been recog- nized for some years as one of the most extensive in the county ; he has also dealt considerably in real estate, and in a general way is prominently identified with the business interests of the town- ship.

D. W. C. LUGENBEEL, teacher, Belle Point ; was born Feb. 7, 1831, and is a son of John and Pamelia Lugenbeel, who moved to Ohio when our subject was a child; they located in Delaware Township, where they remained until the subject was about 20 years old, when they moved away ; he, however, remained in Delaware, attending the university, and was one of the four first students in that institution. Mr. Lugenbeel attended the university three years, and then spent some time with his parents ; returned to the university, where he remained one year, being in the class with Mrs. Hayes and her brothers; in 1850, he left the school, and connected himself with the Delaware Democratic Standard, on which he worked till 1862 ; in May, he enlisted in Co. C, 86th O. V. I., and remained with the company until the expiration of his term, about eighteen months ; after returning home, he worked on the paper he had formerly been connected with ;

while in the army, he corresponded for seven dif- ferent papers, of which two were in Cincinnati, two in Delaware, one in Marysville, one in Spring- field, Ohio, and one in Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. Lugenbeel has a large newspaper experience, hav- ing been sole propietor of four, and partner in two other, papers, and for several years has been correspondent for all the Delaware papers from the townships of Concord, Liberty and Scioto; he has been in thirty-three of the thirty-eight States, having spent several years in traveling; and in that time he gave considerable attention to collect- ing curiosities, and now has quite a museum ; about 1864, Mr. Lugenbeel commenced teaching, to which he has since devoted his time and atten- tion ; he has taught fifty-five terms of school in Delaware Co., has filled the office of Township Clerk one year, and Township Constable three years ; is a member of the Reform Church, and is now prominently identified with the Sunday- school interests of Concord Township. As a poet, Mr. Lugenbeel has gained quite a reputation, writing poetry on any subject he may choose.

REV. JOHN C. MERCHANT, farmer ; P. O. Jerome, Union Co .; a son of Yammer and Edith Merchant; born July 10, 1838, in Columbus, Ohio, where he remained with his father until he was 7 years old ; the family then moved on to a farm ; the father, who was a devout Christian, died Aug. 13, 1875. At the age of 17, John C. entered the Union Seminary in Franklin Co., where he attended two years ; when he arrived at the age of 36, Mr. Merchant was ordained for the minis- try, having become a Christian when only 13 years old, at which time he joined the African Methodist Church, of which he has been an active and earnest member. At the age of 23, he was married to Miss Sarah Jackson, and to them were. born three children-Sandy E., John W. and Su- san F., all of whom are still living. The mother died in 1866, leaving the care of the children to the father and his people. In 1874, Mr. Mer- chant came to Delaware Co., settling in this town- ship. Since his citizenship here, he has married Keziah Depp, who lived but a little over a year, leaving an infant child, Ida E. R. Mr. Merchant owns a nice little farm one and a half miles south from the Girls' Industrial Home. He is a promi- nent man among the colored people.

JOSIAH MARSH, farmer; P. O. Jerome, Union Co. Mr. Marsh was born May 12, 1841, within a mile of where he now lives ; he is the son of Joel and Rachel Marsh ; the father came

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to Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1813; in 1821, he married Miss Hill, daughter of Stephen Hill, of Concord Township, this being the first marriage in that township; after living awhile in Franklin Co., they settled near her father's ; here they lived something over fifty years, when she died ; he sur- vived her but a short time, dying Jan. 3, 1874, both having been faithful Christians. Joel Marsh was a man of influence in his locality, having been a Justice of the Peace for twelve consecutive years, then declined further honors tendered him in that line ; however, some years subsequently, he was persuaded to assume the mantle of that office again, performing the duties for three years more ; he has filled other positions, among which may be mentioned that of Township Trustee, which he held for several years. Josiah Marsh and his sis- ter, Mrs. Layman, are living at the old homestead; Mrs. Layman and her husband moved to her fa- ther's home in September, 1867, and on Oct. 8 of the same year, Mr. Layman died from the effects of an injury received a short time pre- viously. The homestead farm contains 117 acres, and is situated just north and adjoining the State farm of the Girls' Industrial Home, on the Belle Point pike. On account of ill health, Mr. Marsh has traveled considerably ; in 1863, he took a tour around the lakes; in 1876, he took in the Centen- nial at Philadelphia, and during this trip visited other Eastern cities.

H. W. NEWELL, contractor and builder ; is a native of Delaware, in this connty, where he was born Feb. 14, 1846, the son of John and Eliza Newell; at the age of 13, he took a posi- tion as clerk in a confectionery store in Delaware. In April, 1861, at the age of 15, he ran away and enlisted in the 4th O. V. I .; his mother caused his return. but in a few days he joined his com- pany in Cincinnati, remaining at Camp Dennison until the expiration of his three months' enlistment; the September following, he enlisted in the 20th O. V. I .; Feb. 14, 1862, his 16th birthday, was in the battle of Fort Donelson, subsequently took part in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Jackson, Raymond, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill and the siege of Vicksburg; then re-enlisted and served through with Sherman to the sea, and dis- charged in August, 1865, at Columbus; the last two years he was Sergeant Major. May 11, 1867, Mr. Newell married Miss Hattie McCowly ; they had three children-Harris H. and Nettie M., liv- ing ; Freddie W., deceased; Mrs. Newell died May 31, 1876; Jan. 31, 1878, Mr. Newell mar-

ried Miss Annie McCowly, a sister of his first wife ; she died Jan. 31, 1879, just one year from marriage; he, with his sister and two children, are living in Columbus. In 1867, he took a trip to California and Colorado ; has studied medicine, and attended lectures; has been Superintendent of Hospital at State Penitentiary, and is now con- tracting and building, and constructing two build- ings at the Girls' Industrial Home.

O. PEASLEE, boarding-house; Girls' Industrial Home; was born Jan. 5, 1828; is a son of Jop- tha and Barbara Peaslee, of Union Co., Ohio; the father died about three months before the sub- ject was born; he remained with his mother till 17 years old, when he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked three years; he then went to Morrow Co. and entered a Quaker school, which he attended three years ; he then taught school one year, when he went to Eden and opened a shoe-shop, remaining there eight years. Here he married Ruth Gardner ; they had one child-Marcus G., who graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University, only living a few months thereafter; in 1859, Mr. Peaslee moved to Delaware and ran a boarding-house for eight years at the female college; then opened what is now the Central Hotel ; after the death of his son, he, with his wife, went South, to Post Christian, Miss., where he opened a large hotel, and remained there uutil Mrs. P.'s death, Dec. 26, 1878, when he closed his house and brought her remains back to Delaware. Mr. Peaslee is now running a boarding-house at the Girls' Home in Concord Township.

JOHN F. PENROD is a Constable of Concord Township, where he was born Dec. 13, 1850 ; he is a son of Henry and Sarah J. Penrod ; previous to 1860, they lived in the county on one of sev- eral farms which they owned ; in the year 1860, having sold their property, they emigrated to Lyon Co., Kan., where they purchased a farm, which, in 1869, they exchanged for property in Emporia, Kan., whither they moved, and where they still reside. John F. remained with his par- ents until 16 years old, when he returned to Ohio, and for the three subsequent years, worked on a farm during the cropping season and attended school in winter; the following three years he worked in a saw-mill, acting most of the time as engineer. Oct. 3, 1872, he was married to Ro- setta Hinkle, daughter of William and. Matilda Hinkle; she was born in Morrow Co. Oct. 3, 1851. Most of the time since bis marriage, Mr.

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Penrod has lived on a farm ; during this time, however, he has done some clerking in' a store. He was elected Constable of his township in the spring of 1879, and still holds that honorable position.

.JOHN ROBINSON is a farmer living in Con- cord Township, with post office at Belle Point ; he was born near London, England, and is a son of William D. and Rebecca Robinson. The father was a carver and gilder of picture frames, at which he worked until his marriage, after which he opened a tobacco and cigar store, which he conducted until 1833, when he came to America, landing in New York City on the memorable night of the falling stars; he remained in New York about one year, removing to Ohio with his family in 1834, locating in this township, on the farm where his wife still lives, he having died Aug. 24, 1871; John remained at home until he was 21 years of age; he then commenced business for himself by traveling through the country with a wagon con- taining a general stock of goods; this he followed for seven years; he then bought in interest in a store in California, Union Co., where he remained for two years, when he moved on to the farm where he now lives. He was married in 1852, to Sarah Hill; they had three children-John A., Rebecca and Mary, all living. Mrs. Robin- son died in January, 1862. In November, 1862, he married Nancy Goodin; they have four chil- dren-Sarah B., Thomas G., Flora J. and Will- iam D. Mr. Robinson has been Road Super- visor for nineteen years, and School Director for twenty years ; the farm on which he lives belongs to his son, John A., and consists of 317 acres, upon which there is a greenhouse.

JAMES E. ROBINSON, farmer ; P. O. Hoyt- ville, Wood Co .; was born May 5, 1834, in Virginia, and is the son of James and Annie M. Robinson. Mr. Robinson's father was born on the ocean while his parents were on their way from London, England, to New York ; he came from this State from Vir- ginia, locating in Delaware County, when Mr. Robinson was but a child ; the latter remained at home until of age, receiving a liberal education, spending two and a half years at the normal school in Delaware; he then went into the machine-shops at Springfield, where he remained about three years; he then accepted a position on the railroad, with which he was identified for about seven years, dividing his time between the. positions of roadmaster, conductor and contrac- tor. At the age of 22, he married Miss Julia

A. Ross, daughter of Rev. John Ross, of Dela- ware, who was prominently identified with the building of the William Street M. E. Church, of that place. Mr. Robinson is a descendant of Mary, Queen of Scots, and his wife of Martin Luther; they have seven children, of whom Arlington A., John C., Ralph W., U. S. and Mary H., are still living ; those deceased are New- ton E. and Weldon E. In 1864, Mr. R. enlisted in the U. S. naval service, and for two years thus served his country, since which time he has devoted himself to farming and the manufacture of brick ; in 1875, he moved to Wood Co., where he owns 135 acres of land; he also owns 22 acres in Henry Co., at the junction of the D. & M. and B. & O. R. R's. ; Mr. Robinson is now engaged in the brick business in this county.

JAMES ROSS, farmer ; P. O. Belle Point ; was born in 1847, in the State of Tennessee, at which time his mother was owned by one Myers ; at the age of 15, he was sold to a man named Ross, and assumed his name ; in 1862, he ran away from his master and entered the Union army as team- ster ; after a little over two years' service, he came to Ohio and located in Berkshire Township, Dela- ware Co .; here he remained for about six years, after which he purchased an outfit and traveled through the country with a huckster wagon for about a year; the following year he worked for a Mr. Armstrong, who lived near Delaware City. Nov. 23, 1871, Mr. Ross took unto himself a wife, Adelaide, whose maiden name was Whyte; she is the daughter of Dr. Samuel Whyte, of Concord Township ; for a time previous to her alliance with Mr. Ross, she had followed the very creditable calling of school- teaching ; they farmed, after their marriage, the first two years near Delaware, and then in Scioto Township for the next two succeeding years ; in April, 1876, having rented the farm where they now reside, they moved on to it, and in 1878 pur- chased it. Two children-Gertrude A. and Clentie A .- live to bless their home, and one -- Casley- died in April, 1879. The father and mother are both members of the M. E. Church of Delaware, and he a member of the White Sulphur Lodge, No. 10, A. F. and A. M.

WILLIAM T. ROPP, M. D .; was born Dec. 9, 1833, in West Virginia, where he remained until about 1858, when he came West and located in Delaware City; after attending the Ohio Wes- leyan University for three terms, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. C. Welch,

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 130

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