History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 133

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

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JOHN A. JONES, retired farmer and shoe- maker ; P. O. Prospect. There is probably not a single one of the old settlers of Radnor Township more deserving of notice than the subject of this sketch ; he was among its earliest pioneers. Mr. Jones was born in South Wales in April, 1796; he was the son of Thomas and Gwen ( Byner ) Jones; the father's second wife, Miss Humphreys, was grandmother of Morris Humphreys, whose biog- raphy appears in this work ; they had ten chil- dren, three of whom are yet living ; they emi- grated to this then almost unbroken wilder- ness in the year 1818; they located in Radnor Township, where our subject has remained ever since. The marriage ceremony of John A. Jones and Lettie Ludwig was celebrated in the spring of 1825; the young wife was a native of North Wales, coming to this country at a very early day ; the result of this union was four children, two of whom are living-Gwen B. and Lettic L ; both are now married, the former to William Gast, deceased, the latter to Isaac Rob- erts ; from the eldest's marriage to Mr. Gast, there were five sons and one daughter-John A., Albert, Lafayette, James M., Alies D. and Lettice M .; all are married excepting the youngest son, Alies. Mr. Jones' second daughter's marriage bore the fruit of three children-John J. Isaac M. and /

Levi V. Mrs. Jones, wife of our subject, departed this life at her residence Aug. 11, 1878; her mar- riage with Mr. Jones was one of unalloyed happi- ness, spending fifty-three years of her life assist- ing her husband in the toils and hardships of their new home. She and her hushand were con- sistent and devoted members of the Baptist Church ; Mrs. Jones was an exemplary Christian and a devoted mother ; her death leaves an aged husband and many friends to mourn her loss. Mr. Jones lives with his daughter, Gwen B .; in former days, he was shoemaker for the whole neighbor- hood, a business he followed for a number of years. Is a stanch Republican and an honest, upright man in his dealings with men. He is 84 years old, and the oldest voter in Radnor Town- ship; he has four great-grandchildren living, and is a man respected and loved by all his friends and acquaintances.

GEORGE W. JONES, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. O. Radnor ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1839. His father, David L. Jones, and mother, Elizabeth (Evans) Jones, were both na- tives of South Wales, the former being born in the year 1808, and the latter in 1807; there were eleven children in this family, six of whom are yet living-three sons and three daughters ; the father and mother were married in South Wales, and came to New York in 1836, where they made their home for two years, Mr. Jones following his trade of blacksmith for a livelihood; after two years, they came to Licking Co., Ohio, where our subject was born ; in 1849, they came to Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, where they have ever since made their home. Feb. 25, 1869, the marriage ceremony of George W. Jones and Eliza- beth Humphreys was solemnized; the wife's father's name was Humphrey Humphreys, that of the mother, Margaret (Griffiths) Humphreys; in this family there were five children, one son and four daughters ; there are no children in the sub- ject's family. Mr. Jones owns fifty acres of land in Radnor Township, and 226 acres in Prospect Township, Marion Co., Ohio. Politically, he is a Democrat, firmly adhering to the principles advo- cated by the National Democratic party. Mr. Jones and wife are members of the Congregational Church, at Radnor. He was a soldier in the war of the rebellion ; enlisted in Co. E, 66th O. V. I .; was mustered out on the 14th of March, 1865; was first in the Army of the Potomac, but was transferred to the Southwestern Army, then under Gen. Hooker, in the fall of 1863; was at the

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battles of Chancellorsville, Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain and a number of others; was wounded three times, first at Cedar Mountain, Va .; second, at Antietam ; third, at Gettysburg. Mr. Jones is a man of good school education ; takes an active part in any matter that will prove to he a benefit to the community.

EVIN T. JONES, farming and stock-raising ; P. O. Radnor; was born in South Wales July 23, 1818 ; son of Thomas and Mary (Jenkins) Jones. Mrs. Jones, the mother of our subject, died in 1825 ; the father, together with his family, came to this country about 1838, and followed farming as a business ; our subject was then in his 19th ycar. In 1843, he was united in marriage to a widow lady, by name, Eleanor T. Jones, daughter of David O. and Eleanor (Haskins) Jones; she was first married to T. T. Jones in 1832; by her first husband, there were two sons-Wm. F. and David T .; both enlisted in Co. G, 121st O. V. I .; the youngest was promoted to the office of cor- poral for his bravery and meritorious conduct ; after three years in his country's service, he came home and died from the effect of disease contracted while serving his country. Wm. F. was mustered out at the conclusion of the war; their father died in 1840 ; the mother's marriage with our subject resulted in seven children, four of whom are yet liv- ing-Elizabeth, Thomas, Timothy and Mary E .; Benjamin, John and Eleanor, deceased ; those living are now married. Mr. Jones is a Democrat; is a member of the Congregational Church ; owns 240 acres of nicely improved land, on which he has been living for about forty-two years ; takes little part in politics, and has the esteem and well-wishes of his neighbors.

JOHN JAMES, stock-raiser and farmer ; P. O. Radnor. Was born in Montgomeryshiro, Wales, Feb. 14, 1821 ; is the son of John and Jane (Roberts) James ; our subject was the only child in the family ; when but a small lad he was left an orphan by the death of his parents; after their death he was installed in the family of his uncle, Thomas Roberts, with whom he lived for sixteen years, and learned the trade of milling; it was about this time that Mr. James cmigrated to America, locating at Utica, N. Y., where he pur- sued his chosen occupation for two years ; at the expiration of that time, he removed to Rochester, N. Y., working at the same trade; he lived here one year and was married to Jemima Evans, daughter of Owen and Ann (Jones) Evans ; from Rochester our subject moved to Columbus, Ohio,

where he engaged in the milling business for two years ; at the end of that time, he discontinued the business and followed mercantile business for four years ; in 1850, he purchased 100 acres of land in Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, and the year following moved his family to the home he had selected for them, where he has remained ever since, pursuing the occupation of farming; he is the father of eight children, three of whom are yet living-Mary J., born Aug. 14, 1852; Samuel E., born Oct. 8, 1855 ; William, born March 20, 1862. The names of those deceased are John T., Ann, Lucy A., and Owen T. Mr. James is a Republican; his wife is a member of the Methodist Church, and the husband a member of the Congregational Church; has held various township and district offices; is a man who wishes all landable works success, and is an honest and enterprising man.

DAVID H. KYLE, stock-raiser and farmer ; P. O. Radnor. James and Elizabeth (Boyd) Kyle, the parents of our subject, were natives of Ohio; the father was born Dec. 26, 1806, being the second white male child horn in the township; Elizabeth Boyd, to whom he was married in 1827, was born Sept. 28, 1809 ; Hugh Kyle, the grand- father of David, purchased the farm on which he resides in March, 1815, but had lived in the town- ship much longer, having emigrated here some time during the eighteenth century, making them among the very earliest settlers in the county or township. David H. Kyle was born in Radnor Nov. 17, 1844 ; during his youth and early man- hood, which were spent in going to school and assisting his father on the farm, not much can be said of interest but what could be said of the average boy and young man; when 21 years of age he commenced doing business for himself as a farmer; he was united in marriage, March 21, 1871, to Elizabeth Griffiths, daughter of David R. Griffiths, whose biography accompanies this work. From this union there is one child, David J., born Jan. 26, 1878 ; in our subject's father's family there were twelve children, of whom ten are yet living ; in connection with his brother John A. he owns the old homestead that has been in the family since 1815, a farm of 161 acres ; Mr. Kyle is a member of the Baptist Church ; a Republican in politics, and a man of influence in the neighborhood ; tracing the family history back, we find the Kyle family among the earliest pioneers in the township; the grandmother was the first to be buried in the Radnor Cemetery.

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WILLIAM LAWRENCE, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. O. Delaware; was born in Breconshire, Wales, Oct. 29, 1829; is son of David and Ann (Penry) Lawrence, both of whom were natives of Wales. In 1823, they emigrated to the United States arriving in Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, in October of the same year; on the 17th of Nov- ember, 1829, the father sickened and died; at the time of his death, there were five children in the family three sons and two daughters; the mother died Sept. 29, 1838. Our subject's early life was spent upon a farm ; when 15 years of age, went to Delaware to learn the cabinet-maker's trade; he remained two years, then went to Worthington, Franklin Co., where he worked two years; at the expiration of that time he, in company with others went to the Choctaw Nation, Indian Ter., and there assisted in the building of the "Spencer Academy ; " he remained in the " Nation " and Texas about six years, when he returned to his home in Ohio; here he remained until the spring of 1849, when he started for the then newly discov- ered gold fields of California, arriving there in Sep- tember of the same year; while in California, he was engaged in mining and mercantile pursuits, in all of which he was very successful. In the spring of 1855, he returned to Delaware Co., and pur- chased a large farm, in Radnor Township, upon which he has since resided. He was united in mar- riage with Harriet Griswold Feb. 20, 1856 ; she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, May 4, 1825 ; her parents, George H. and Mila (Thompson) Griswold, were descendants of two of the first families that settled in Worthington, Franklin Co., Ohio. The Griswolds as well as the Thompsons held a great many positions, civil and military, and their descendants are among the best-known and most- respected citizens of Central Ohio. Mr. Lawrence began life as a poor boy, and what he now possesscs he attained by close attention to busi- ness, combined with honesty and industry; he owns 214 acres of nicely improved land in Radnor Township, and a well-improved and. nicely situated property in the city of Delaware. Mr. Lawrence is a man of extended information and correct busi- ness habits; he is a stanch Republican. From his union with Miss Griswold there were three child- ren, two of whom are now living-Wirt, born Oct: 24, 1856, and Mila, July 16, 1861 ; the one deceased was named Jamcs, born Oct. 20, 1858, died July 27, 1867.

T. F. LONG, saddler and harness-maker, Rad- nor. The subject of this sketch was born in

Hagerstown, Penn., July 23, 1848; is son of John and Margaret (Overshiner) Long, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and the parents of thirteen children, five of whom are now living; the father was a saddler by trade and the inventor and manufacturer of the celebrated "London Wagon Whip," much used by teamsters years ago; he came with his family to Waldo, Marion Co., Ohio, in 1849 ; he died in 1856. Our subject served an apprenticeship with his father at the saddler's trade ; he received a common-school edu- cation ; on the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. C, 54th Ohio Zouaves; while with this regiment, he participated in the battles of Forts Henry, Donelson and Shiloh ; at the expir- ation of two years, he was. discharged on account of disease, and returned to his home in Ohio ; after remaining at home some time, he re-enlisted in Co. 'C, 174th O. V. I., and served with distinc- tion until the close of the war. He was united in marriage with Clara Browning Feb. 4, 1868; from this union there were two children - Frank and Mattie; Mrs. Long died April 6, 1873. Mr. Long was married to his present wife Aug. 4, 1874; her name at time of marriage was Mrs. William Penry; her husband (the late William 'Penry) was son of David Penry, Esq., the well- known pioneer of Radnor Township. From this second marriage of Mr. Long's there were four children ; three are now living-John A., Eva and Arthur ; the deceased died in infancy. Mrs. Long was born in the city of Columbus, Ohio, March 24, 1850. Mr. Long is a Democrat, but quite liberal in his views respecting politics and religion. He owos a well-improved farm of 108 acres, all under a good state of cultivation.

SAMUEL LEWIS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Radnor ; is the son of John and Sarah (Hughs) Lewis, natives of South Wales ; when 3 years of age, our subject, together with his parents, emigrated to America, first locating in Licking Co., Ohio, making that their home for fifteen years ; when 17 years of age, Samuel apprenticed himself to a man in Columbus, Ohio, to learn the art of plaster- ing; after serving his time-four years-he and a Mr. Williams formed a partnership in this indus- try that continued for three years; at the end of his partnership, he carried the business on himself for nine years longer; at the conclusion of that time, he removed to Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, purchasing a farm near the banks of the Scioto, and directly west of the village of Radnor (then Delhi). Mr. Lewis' father died in 1865 ; the

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mother came to her death by an accident during the summer of 1873. Our subject was united in marriage, Dec. 25, 1856, to Miss Mary J. Gallant, daughter of Elisha and Eleanor (Moore) Gallant ; the wife's father, Deacon Gallant, was killed by a colt kicking him in the head; he remained un- conscious for one week before his death, which occurred Nov. 26, 1871. From our subject's union with Miss Gallant, there are five children- S. Ella, born Nov. 28, 1857 ; E. Judson, Dec. 25, 1859; E. Minnie, April 5, 1863; M. Adel, Jan. 19, 1869; Lizzie, Feb. 17, 1873. The oldest, Ella, was married to E. E. Jones Nov. 5, 1878. Mr. Lewis owns 367 acres of well-improved land. Himself and family are members of the Baptist Church. Has held the office of Justice of the Peace, etc. In youth, Mr. Lewis received a good common-school education and since then has im- proved his time, and at present is among the best- informed men in the township.

JOHN M. McILVAIN, farmer; P. O. Dela- ware; was born in Delaware Co , Ohio, June 3, 1843, and is the son of Moses and Mercy (Walling) McIlvain ; his father was one of the early settlers, coming to Radnor Township, Ohio, at an early day ; was a hard-working man and died April 19, 1855. His mother was born in Concord (now Scioto) Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1819, her people, the Wallings, being early settlers. Six children were born to his parents, four of whom are yet living-John M., James D., Keziah B. and Moses, all being single; since the father's death, the three sons have remained with the mother, engaged in farming. They have a nicely improved farm of 104 acres. All are Democrats and members of the Presbyterian Church. All are enthusiastic in public enterprises, and' con- tribute liberally to their support. One of the de- ceased children was Robert A., who served in the late war, in Co. G, 45th O. V. I .; was in many fierce engagements and was at last wounded in the fore- head by a saber cut and taken prisoner; he was taken from one prison to another, and finally landed in Belle Isle, where he died in December, 1863, a victim to Southern cruelty. James D., as agent, has, for the last four years, been selling agricultural implements. The family is well known and highly respected.

MAJ. HENRY C. OLDS, agent C. & T. Ry. and dealer in coal and lumber, Radnor ; was born in St. Joseph Co., Mich., July 13, 1831; he is the sou Ezra and Mary (Siple) Olds; the father was a native of Vermont, and his mother of the Old

Dominion ; the father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and the grandfather, John Olds, served his country well in the struggle for liberty in 1776 ; Henry's father removed with his parents to Gene- see Co .; N. Y., when he was 15 years of age. It was there that he enlisted in the service of his country in the year 1812; he was in a number of battles, and well and faithfully served his country. He was married when about 32 years of age ; from this union six children were born, three of whom are living. In 1833, he came to Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1870; he was a well-educated man, sober and industrious, and was a man of much more than ordinary ability ; he never aspired to any political prominence, although very decided in his views. He was at first an Old Line Whig, but followed the rulings of the Republican party after its organization. The mother died in 1876; her father came from Virginia to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1808, and was one of Fairfield Co.'s earliest pioneers ; she was a woman in every way calcu- lated to occupy the position she did in the then new country. The subject of this sketch passed his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, receiving as good an education as the common schools of that early day afforded. When 16 years of age, he enlisted in Co. H, O. V. I., and served with distinction during the Mexican war, under Gen. Scott ; after his return home, he engaged in the carpenter's trade, a business he followed with success until about 1877 ; his services were engaged by the C. & T. Ry. Co., in the capacity of ticket agent at Radnor, Delaware Co., Ohio ; he came to Delaware Co. in 1849. He was in his country's service in the late war, having enlisted in Co. E, 66th O. V. I .; went out as a non-commissioned officer; he was in the battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., where he received a gun-shot wound which so disabled him that he was discharged from the service; he then returned to his home in Ohio ; after remaining at home for some time, he again entered the service as Major of the 145th O. N. G. Was united in marriage with Effie C. Dildine, Dec. 23, 1852 ; she was born in Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1823; one child was the result of this union, Clara, who died Sept. 29, 1858. Mr. Olds has held many positions of honor and trust, among which is that of Infirmary Direc- tor. Is a Republican, and a member of the M. E. Church. Owns nicely improved property near the C. & T. depot. Mr. Olds is a man of con- siderable literary ability, some of his productions

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showing that if he was so inclined he might yet rank high as an author.

SAMUEL PERRY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Delaware; was born in the city of Cincin- nati, May 15, 1825; is the son of Samuel and Mary (Thew) Perry. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of New York; they were the parents of two sons and four daughters. The father was at different periods of his life steamboat captain, merchant and brewer ; he pur- chased a large tract of land in Thompson Town- ship, Delaware Co., Ohio, but always lived in Cin- cinnati; his death occurred in 1855. The mother survived him 24 years 11 months and 1 day. Our subject resided in Cincinnati until he was 13 years old, then went to Franklin Co., Ind., where he remained until he was 19 years of age ; then returned to his old home in Ohio; here his marriage ceremony with Eliza Cunningham was celebrated March 9, 1848. From this union there were two children, by name, respectively, Mary and Joseph. The wife's death occurred April 1, 1854. Mr. Perry's second wife is Margaret Thomas, to whom he was married March 27, 1855. The result of this union was four chil- dren, three of whom are yet living-Caroline, Elizabeth D. and Samuel. He owns 184 acres of well-improved land ; is a Republican in politics. Mr. Perry takes great interest in introducing a better class of stock than has heretofore been in Radnor Township; the stock he prides himself most on being Alderney cattle and Norman and Clydesdale horses.

MRS. LOUISA PENRY ; P. O. Radnor. But few men in Radnor Township were better known or more respected than Mr. Walter Penry ; he was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, April 16, 1812. His parents, David and Mary (Peugh) Penry, came from Wales to Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, about 1805. He began life as a poor boy, and although never enjoying the best of health, he succeeded by hard work and economy in securing to himself and family a goodly share of this world's goods. For some years pre- vious to his death, he was a confirmed invalid, but bore his pain and confinement with Christian patience; he died in 1878. His marriage with Miss Louisa Evans (our subject) was celebrated June 14, 1854; she was born in Breconshire, Wales, April 25, 1834; her parents, Evan and Eliza Evans, came from Wales to the United States in 1851. Our subject's marriage with Mr. Penry bore the fruit of eight children-William

B., Thomas G. and Margaret, living; David S., Mary, Walter, Eliza and Evan, deceased. Since Mr. Penry's death, his wife has had sole charge- of the large farm (270 acres) she had helped him to obtain; she is a consistent Christian, a kind and loving mother, and a lady of much culture and refinement.

WILLIAM W. PENRY, stock-raiser and farmer ; P. O. Radnor. The subject of this biog- raphy was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, March 28, 1851 ; is a son of William R. and Elizabeth (Owens) Penry, both natives of Wales, and among the early settlers of Radnor Township ; they were the parents of four children, two of whom are now living. The parents were frugal, industrious people, and succeeded in securing con- siderable property. The father went to his reward in 1858. His wife survives him, and is at present a resident of the city of Delaware. Our subject's youth and early manhood were spent assisting his mother on the farm. He received a good com- mon-school education, and, at the age of 17, began for himself. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Adolphus and Mary (Curren) Miller, March 9, 1875 ; she was born in Marion Co., Ohio, July 1, 1855. From this union there are two children-Mary E. and Emma A. Mr. Penry owns 125 acres of nicely improved land. He is a Republican, though liberal in his views. He is a young man of much ability, and enjoys the reputation of being a public-spirited, and highly respected citizen.

GEORGE PUGH, stock-raiser and farmer ; P. O. Radnor; was born in South Wales Jan. 1, 1818; is the son of James and Grace (Owens) Pugh. The mother died shortly after the birth of our subject. When 19 years of age, young Pugh apprenticed himself to a blacksmith for a period of four years. At the end of that time, having mastered his trade, he emigrated to Amer- ica, locating in Delaware, Ohio; here, for the first time, Mr. Pugh followed his trade on his own responsibility. He was married, Nov. 14, 1842, to Miss Jane Thomas, daughter of William and Margaret Thomas ; by this union there were three children-Elizabeth J., born Feb. 16, 1844 ; William T., April 16, 1846; David J., June, 1849, died March 5, 1850; in 1850, Mr. Pugh emigrated to California to seek his fortune in the gold fields of that State; not succeeding in the mining business, he opened a blacksmith-shop; and carried on his trade for three years. It was while in California, that Mr. Pugh received the in-

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telligence of his wife's death, which occurred Aug. 20,1851. Having made a nice fortune in California, he returned home in 1853, and again engaged in blacksmithing in Delaware. For six years, he was in partnership with J. J. Davis, and, at the conclusion of their partnership, he continued the business for a number of years. He was married to his second wife, Ellen (Williams) Jones, March 13, 1857. By her first husband, Mr. Pugh's present wife has one child-Mary A. Jones ; by her present husband has one child living, and four dead, the one living being named John E., born Feb. 21, 1861; her parents, David and Ann (Thomas) Williams, emigrated from Wales to America in 1840. Mr. Pugh has lived in Radnor Township since 1868; has seventy-five acres of well-improved land, and valuable town property in Delaware. He and wife are members of the Congregational Church; he is a Republican and an honest and earnest worker for right, whether it be for the interest of his party or of the opposite party.

DAVID PENRY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Prospect. Among the prominent men and early pioneers of Radnor Township is the subject of this biography ; his parents, David and Mary (Peugh) Penry, were natives of South Wales, and were married in 1804 ; from Wales, Mr. and Mrs. Penry emigrated to America during the month of July, 1806; after a short stay at Baltimore, they emigrated to the then new Welsh settlement in Radnor Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, via moun- tains, their conveyance being a two-horse wagon. Here the beautiful valley of the Scioto suited his fancy, and purchasing 125 acres of land in the north part of the township, he engaged in the business that David now follows. On their ar- rival, the country we might say was an unbroken wilderness, full of wild beasts and savages, who would not hesitate in destroying these early land- marks of civilization. It was here, Nov. 4, 1806, the subject of this sketch was born, he being the first white male child born in Radnor Township. In his father's family there were thirteen children, seven of whom are yet living. Our subject passed his youthful days on his father's farm, assisting him in clearing and improving the place ; he was educated as well as the common schools of that early day afforded. His father departed this life in 1840, his wife following him in 1854. Our subject was united in marriage with Joanna Jones when in his 29th year, Nov. 14, 1833; the wife is the daughter of John P. Jones, a native of

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 133

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