History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 140

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 140

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WILLIAM PETTIT, milling, Leonardsburg ; is a son of William and Mary A. (Rhineer) Pet- tit ; his father was born in Ohio ; he was thrown out on his own efforts by his father's early death ; his first labors were at rural life, at $10 per month ; a part of the time he was making rails ; he has cut the timber and split 250 rails per day ; at the age of 26, he began working at carpenter- ing with Moses Kale, of Salem, Columbiana Co. Was married, in 1861, to Mary J., daughter of George and Catharine Richmond ; her parents were from New Jersey ; they have seven children -Florilla, Elizabeth J., Dora, Hattie, Martin, Charlie, Stella. He worked for a man by the name of Martin for some time, and then worked over one year for R. Doty, at Eaton Station, in the saw-mill business ; he then built a house, and afterward sold the same to Jeremiah Woods for $800; he then farmed in Troy Township for some time, after which he bought twenty acres, which he traded in 1878 to L. M. Cackler, for his present mill property, which he now has in good running order ; he and wife manage the mill, and last year cleared over $800; they sawed, from Oct. 1, 1878, to Oct. 1, 1879, 331,442 feet of lumber, netting them, for sawing, $1,325.76. Mra. Pettit's parents had twelve children- Martin, Peter, Henry, Mary J., Cyrus, Amy, Augusta, Elvira, Albert, Letta, Nettie, Lester ; she was born Dec. 12, 1844. Mr. Pettit's first tax, receipt was 10 cents.

SOLOMON ROSEVELT, retired ; P. O. Ash- ley ; was born April 27, 1807, in Clinton Co. N. Y .; he was the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Rosevelt, natives of New York State; he received his early education at a district school ; when he was 18, he bound himself out for three years

to Webb, Allen & Eckford, the most extensive ship-builders of New York at that time; after serving his time, he filled the position of foreman of the ship-yard for several years, and, when Brown & Bell, in the same business, contracted to build the steamers Baltic and Pacific, Mr. Rosevelt con- tracted with them to do the work'; thus, by sub- contract, he was the builder of the first two steamers that crossed the Atlantic; he also built a line of sailing vessels for William H. Platt to go to San Francisco ; Brown & Bell dying, he formed a partnership with Joice & Waterberry about 1850, and leased the yard formerly owned by his old employers ; they built the ships " David Brown" and " Jacob Bell," also seven vessels for A. A. Lowe to go to China and Japan, and the two steam propellers, "George Cromwell " and " George Washington " to go to New Orleans; the last four vessels built by him were the Star Line for James Raner ; he then sold his ship-yard and came to Ashley, where he bought two farms containing 500 acres, and built a residence on the one in Oxford Township, near Ashley; he built two large brick store-rooms with office rooms above, in Ashley, afterward " Rosevelt Hall" in 1874; he sold his town property and went to Columbus, and engaged with his step-son in the manufacture of society emblems ; he was married Dec. 7, 1828, to Elizabeth Morris, of New York; they raised a family of five children-Maria, William, George, Margaret and Charley, all now living; his first wife died March 6, 1859; Nov. 2, 1859, he was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Stratton, widow of Joseph Stratton ; Mrs. S. had four children when married to Mr. Rosevelt-Elizabeth, William, Mary and Samuel, all now living : Mr. Stratton was a ship carver at his death in 1847; she con- tinued his extensive business alone, doing the greater part of the work of the City of New York ; he carved the figure of Justice on the City Hall of New York.

GEORGE SHOEMAKER, farmer; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of Adam and Jane (Baker) Shoemaker; his parents emigrated from Pennsyl- vania to. Ohio at an early day, and settled at Zanesville, for some time, and in 1820, they came to Delaware Co. (now Morrow Co.). They are both dead, and had eleven children-John, Jacob, Daniel, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Joseph, George, Sam- uel, Sarah, William and Solomon. Mr. Shoe- maker was born in Pennsylvania in 1813, and em- igrated with his parents, by team, to Ohio; he remained with his parents until 1836, when he

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was married to Margaret, a daughter of William and Catharine (Wyon) Fleming ; she was born in 1819, and was one of thirteen children-Lovica, Mary N., Keziah, Margaret, Drusilla, Louisa, Anthony, Catharine, William, David, Martha, Elizabeth ; Maria died when small. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have had eight children-Leander (de- ceased), Solomon, William, Lovica, Catharine, Ke- ziah, Lilly, Jasper(deceased). They bought twenty- five acres, a part of the present farm, of his brother Daniel, paying $5,700 for the lot; he kept on adding, and now has seventy-eight acres of well- improved land, attained entirely by their own la- bors and management ; they built a small cabin, and began their future in the dense forests. He has been willing to serve in some of those town- ship offices where it is all work and no pay. They have been members of the M. E. Church. He has bound wheat at fifty cents per day. His in- dustrious wife has spun for seventy-five cents per week. He had no advantages for education, there being no schools at his time of settlement, and, as years advanced, he had to labor for the necessities of life; but he now possesses a handsome little fortune, the fruits of their early days' labors.

CALVIN SMITH, farmer; Sec. 2; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of David and Catharine (Willey) Smith ; his father was born in Connecticut, and emigrated to Ohio when 16 years old, settling in Fairfield Co., and there married, and soon after moved to Delaware Co. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio with her parents, making their settlement in what is now Marlborough Township, and afterward in Morrow Co. where her father died in 1871, and her mother still lives on the farm. She was one of eleven children-Chloe N., Samuel, James, Henry, Calvin, William, Margaret, Elizabeth, David, Al- mira, Caroline. Mr. Smith was born Dec. 9, 1827 ; at the age of 21, he attended three months of school at Waldo, Morrow Co .; afterward, at- tended six months at Marion, Ohio, and then be- ! gan teaching, which he continued for the winters of eight years, and farmed during the sum- mers. He was married in 1852, to Elizabeth, a daughter of John W. Daily; she was born in 1830 ; her parents are natives of Virginia, and had . nine children-William, Phoebe, Almeda, Sarah, Jane (was killed by a well-sweep), Isabel, Leander, Ellen, Rebecca. Mr. Smith was blessed with five children-Napoleon B., Sarah J., Eva B., Ida W., Cassins. They settled, after marriage, on thirty acres, which he had bought of Benjamin

Clayman. In 1858, he sold the same to George Peak, and bought seventy-seven acres of Jesse Shaw, W. N. Clark and B. N. Martin, and in 1877, he sold the same to John Leidheart, and bought his present farm of ninety acres, in Sec. 2, of A. A. Wood, which had been owned prior by James Clark. Mr. Smith has held his share of school offices, as Director. He and wife are men- bers of the M. E. Church. They formerly be- longed to the U. B. Church. He was a local minister of the U. 'B. Church, for ten years. He has also held office in the same. His grandfathers, Smith and Willey, were in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Smith takes great interest in educating his children, and now devotes his special time to his farm, having one of the finest in this part of the county.

SETH SLACK, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of Ralph and Margaret (Riley) Slack ; his father was born Feb. 17, 1777, in Pennsyl- vania, and emigrated to Ohio about 1795, settling in Franklin Co. and some time afterward emigrat- ed to Delaware Co., settling in Berkshire Town- ship ; he settled in Oxford Township about 1815, and died in 1855; his mother was born in Vir- ginia in 1783, and emigrated to Ohio about 1800, she died Sept. 1, 1846 ; they had four children- Ralph, Jacob, Seth, Margaret; there were seven children by the father's marriage with Nancy Still prior to his marriage with Seth's mother- Henry, Annie, William, John, Lewis, Ezekiel, Catharine; Seth was born June 6, 1819, in this township, where he has always lived. Was mar- ried in 1841 to Sarah J., a daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Lane) Dodd ; her parents were born in the State of Delaware; she was born Aug. 7, 1822, and emigrated with her parents to Dela- ware Co. in 1835 : she was one of seven children -Mary, Rachel, Sarah J., Nancy, Susan, Jacob, Elizabeth ; Mr. and Mrs. Slack have eight chil- dren-Albert, married Miss P. Marsh ; Thomas, married Minerva Barton ; Margaret, married Lewis Hyatte ; Charles, married Marcella Freshwater ; Nancy, married Monroe Marsh; Wellington ; Elizabeth, married Thomas Lea; Eunice. They settled on his father's farm for some years before they bought, and then purchased 180 acres of. H. G. Andrews, and have since bought 41 acres of John Dodds, and 40 acres of Henry Foust, making in all about 261 acres, attained entirely by their own labors; they began life in the woods in a cabin ; he has been Township Trustee some four years, and has held his share of small offices. He

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cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, and has since voted the Republican ticket. His father once made a hand-mill to grind corn in; it was constructed with two stones fastened so as to circle upon one another, and was turned by hand; it served the people for many years; he has had many a joyous sport, with the neighbors' boys, kill- ing squirrels and raccoons that were devouring the grain.

ELDER L. B. SHERWOOD, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Bishop) Sherwood. His father was born in Smiths Co., Va., in 1802, and emigrated to Ohio in 1830; this trip was made by an ox-team. Their first location was made in Troy Township, where he began enlarging on his only treasure (62 cents). His other property was one horse and one-half interest in a wagon. The grandfather of our subject, whose name was Adaiah Sherwood, emigrated here from near New York. The great- grandfather, together with two other brothers, emigrated to America from England. The father of Mr. Sherwood died January, 1872, and the mother died 1876. They were the parents of ten children-L. B., Lewis, James, Catharine, Rachel, Jonathan, Jesse H., David E., Margaret A. H., Sarah E. Mr. Sherwood was born Sept. 16, 1827, in Smiths Co., Va., and was mar- ried in 1849 to Julia A., daughter of Daniel Wornstaff. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812. Her grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and drew for service a portion of land in Ross Co., Ohio. Mrs. Sherwood was born in 1829, in what is now Morrow Co. This union resulted in five children-Joseph, deceased when young ; Rosetta, married H. F. Owen; William, married Rachel, a daughter of Gabriel Walker ; Amanda, deceased ; George L. Mr. Sherwood bought fifty acres of the present farm soon after his marriage, which they have improved from the green woods ; by strict economy and careful management they have added, and now have 134 acres of well-improved land, which is the fruit of their own labors. When 12 years old, Mr. Sher- wood joined the Baptist Church, and has given the most of his time to the cause of the Master ; at the age of 31 he began in the ministry, and in one year was ordained ; he now has four regular appointments ; he preached, during a period of two years, the funerals of six different men's wives, and during the same period married those six men to their second wives. Were we to judge from the amount of marriage reports shown us by

the Elder, we would be compelled to believe that a greater part of his efforts had been on the neon of life. Mr. Sherwood has served in some small township offices. His amiable wife is a member of the same church, and has done her part in its sustenance. Mr. Sherwood's brother John was in Co. C. 26th O. V. I., and was wounded at Stone River, and soon afterward died. The wife of John died soon after, leaving two little girls. By the request of their father, in case he fell in the war, L. B. acted as guardian and settled up the estate without the help of an attorney. He is now guardian for a son of his brotherJames. Our sub- ject's parents were Baptists ; father was a deacon for a long time. Elder Sherwood takes great interest in Christianity, irrespective of denomination ; he never refuses to attend a funeral on account of poverty. Were we to pen here what other people have said to us of the family of L. B. Sherwood, it would partake too much of flattery for these pages, in which we purpose to only record facts. But the result of his labors will only be known in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed.

FRANK SHOEMAKER, farmer; P. O. Leon- ardsburg; is the fourth son of a family of seven children, all of whom are living; he was born Nov. 17, 1833, in this county ; his father, John Shoemaker, was born in Bedford Co., Penn., in 1801, and accompanied his parents to this State during his boyhood ; farming was his chief occupation, and this was attended by all the privations that usually fall to the lot of early pioneers; he was married to Jane Jenkins, who was born in Virginia in 1809, and came to this State in an early day ; while yet in the prime of life, he was killed acci- dentally by a falling tree; his wife, by her own labor and the income of a small farm, reared her family to maturity, and is now living with one of her children ; she has been deprived of sight for many years. After his father's death, Frank being the only son, many cares and duties devolved on him for one so young; he devoted his time and wages to the family support until his mar- riage, Nov. 18, 1855, to Chloe Smith, who was a daughter of Almond and Maria (Rodman) Smith ; she was born Nov. 5, 1836, in this county ; her father died when she was quite small, and her mother, being left alone with a large family to support, had recourse to weaving, which she fol- lowed steadily for many years. By this union five children have been born ; all are yet living -- John A., Orrie E., Della C., Oscar W. and Charley

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Guy ; all have received a good common-school education, the eldest having taught school for several years ; the daughters are married and have homes of their own to preside over. Mr. Shoe- maker commenced for himself after marriage, and for several years supported his family by day labor. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 88th O. V. I., and served for nearly three years ; soon after being discharged, he bought a small farm, about one mile north of Eden Station, and has ever since had a comfortable home of his own. Both he and his wife united with the Wesleyan Method- ist Church a number of years ago. He has always been identified with the Republican party. And thus independently situated, and pleasantly surrounded with a bright and intelligent family, Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker can enjoy the fruits of their industry and devotion to home interests.

JOHN W. SHOEMAKER, local preacher, Ashley ; was born March 12, 1842, in Morrow Co., Ohio ; he was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Shoemaker, who came with their parents from Pennsylvania about. 1813, and settled in this. county ; he bought a farm in Morrow Co., where he now lives ; he has raised a family of ten chil- dren. Mr. John W. Shoemaker remained with his father until June, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. C, 26th O. V. I., and served three years ; he was in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga ; his regiment marched through the States of Ten- nessee, Kentucky, Alabama and West Virginia, generally in pursuit of rebel cavalry ; he was wounded at Chickamauga, losing two fingers off his left hand ; Mr. Shoemaker was then transferred to the Invalid Corps, and remained at Nashville until his time expired, when he came home. He was married to Miss Patience Inskip, daughter of J. J. Inskip, of Troy Township, Ohio, July 23, 1865. He bought a farm near Ashley of 100 acres, on which he lived until March, 1879, when he sold it and bought a residence in Ashley, and also a share in the Ashley Flouring Mills. He has been a member of the M. E. Church about nine years ; for the past two years he has been preparing himself for the ministry; in 1878, he attended school at Oberlin, and has taken a great part in the temperance work. Mr. and Mrs. Shoe- maker have had eight children-James, Harry, Ethel, Edward, Jerry, Roland, Jesse and William,

BENJAMIN SHULTS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Leonardsburg; is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Shaffer) Shults; his father was born in Pennsyl- vania, and emigrated to Ohio in 1809, settling in

Knox Co., on a farm in the green woods, having scarcely any neighbors save a number of red men of the north; his death occurred in 1859, and moth- er's in September, 1843. They had eleven chil- dren-Manuel, Rosan, Simon, Marianne, Benjamin, Joseph, Jacob, Eliza, Zachariah, Catharine, John. His father was married a second time, by which union he had the following children-Phoebe A., George, Sarah A., Solomon and Rebecca. Mr. Shults was born in 1819, in Knox Co., this State; at the age of 24, began business for himself on a farm in Concord Township; he rented for over one year, and then. went to Millville and farmed near there for one year ; he farmed a while on his father-in-law's farm, and then moved to what is now the Watts farm ; in 1858, he moved to his present abode, buying, at that time, 100 acres, and has added and now owns 200 acres of well-improved land, which he has cleared; was married Jan. 20, 1843, to Malinda, a daughter of Christopher Freshwaters, who is mentioned else- where in this work; she has labored with him through life, and has blessed him with nine chil- dren -Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas, Rosanna, Christopher, Sarah, Clara and Joshua. Mr. Shults has been connected with township offices ; his educational advantages were very poor; his wife never went one day to school until 15 years old ; of the hardships of the pioneers he has had his share ; he split 610 rails in one day. In 1858, he cut the timber and split 2,160 rails in eight days. His amiable wife has assisted him in the farm duties. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Leonardsburg.

MRS. H. L. UTTER, dry goods; P. O. Ash- ley ; was born at Limaville, Stark Co., Ohio, Sept. 18, 1835 ; the daughter of Robert and Rosetta Morrison ; her father came from Hartford, Conn., and her mother from Portage Co., Ohio; when Mrs. Utter was about 9 years of age, her parents moved to Delaware Co. She was married March 12, 1851, to Adam Sherman, by whom she had two children-one of whom died in infancy ; her son, Robert M. Sherman, engaged in business with his mother now, was born Jan. 31, 1854, in Dela- ware Co. Mr. Sherman died in Ashley the 10th day of May, 1876, having been engaged in farm- ing and the dry-goods business ; his wife has since carried on the store in her own name. She re- mained a widow until Nov. 22, 1879, then married Joseph J. Utter, of Morrow Co .; Adam Sherman was born Feb. 27, 1823, at Zanesville, O .; his par- ents, John and Martha, came to that part of Del-

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aware which has since become Morrow Co .; he was one of thirteen children ; in 1850, he went with Josephus McLeod overland to California, ar- riving there in July ; in October, he started for Central America ; in January, 1851, he crossed the Isthmus, and canie to New Orleans, and took passage to Vicksburg on the steamer John Adams ; she was overloaded and sunk near Vicksburg; Mr. Sherman was twelve hours in the water, clinging to parts of the vessel; he lost all of his clothing and the greater part of his gold, saving only about $2,000, which he carried in a belt, reaching home in February, 1851. The village of Ashley owes much to him for its present state of improvements. The ground on which it stands was his father's sugar- camp ; he raised the second, fourth and fifth build- ings in the town, and built thirty-five in all. Rob- ert M. Sherman was married to Miss Rosa Leeds, of Ashley, Dec. 24, 1874 ; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Sherman were members of the M. E. Church ; he was honest in his dealings- a kind husband and a friend to the homeless.

J. I. WHITE, farmer ; P. O. Leonardsburg ; is a son of Nehemiah and Sarah A. (Fleming) White; his father was born in the State of New York about 1798, and emigrated to Ohio when 15 years old, settling in Cardington ; his mother was born in 1818. in Morrow Co .; she died in 1848, when the subject of our sketch was 9 months old ; he was one of three children-Elizabeth, William and James I. His father was married prior to his marriage with his mother, and had two children- Abigail and Margaret; his second marriage was to James I.'s mother ; later to Sarah Van Sickle, by whom he had two children-Horace and Hannah. The subject of our sketch was born Nov. 4, 1848, in Delaware City, and was raised by Isaac Fleming, of Delaware; at the age of 21, he began working for Israel Potter. On Oct. 8, 1868, he was mar- ried to Malinda, a daughter of Edmond and Mary Scott ; her parents had five children-Charles, Amy A., Omar, Malinda and Gela; his wife was born March 14, 1851 ; they have three children -. Stella, Nora and Amy. June 10, 1868, he bought seventy-four acres of land of John Potter, and twenty acres of John McCurdy, which he now owns, and has improved by building a fine brick house worth $1,500. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

JOHN WALLACE, farmer ; Sec. 3; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of Robert and Esther (Waken- shaw) Wallace ; his father and mother were born and raised in Ireland, and emigrated to Pennsyl-

vania before the war of 1812; the subject of whom we write was born in 1808 in Pennsylvania ; he moved with his parents to Virginia in 1818 ; in 1832, he came to Licking Co., Ohio, where he married, the same year, Eliza Barnes, by whom he has five children-Mary J., George W., John and two that died while small; he settled in Dela- ware Co. in 1864; in 1868, they bought his pres- ent farm of eighteen acres, obtained by their own labors. When Mr. Wallace was 16, he began learning the blacksmith's trade, which he followed at intervals for seven years. He has been School Director, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the M. E. Church. He has generally been healthy, having lost but four weeks by sickness. He assisted the engineers in laying off the road from Zanesville, Ohio, to In- dianapolis, Ind .; was over three years on the road. When he came to this county from Virginia, he brought some race horses through for his cousin.

A. E. WESTBROOK, physician and surgeon, Ashley ; was born in South Woodbury, Morrow Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1840 ; he was the son of Solomon and Mathena Westbrook, who came to Ohio in 1816; he received his early education at Mt. Hesper Seminary ; afterward attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio ; he read medicine with Dr. I. H. Pennock, of Mor- row Co., and completed the medical course at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, Feb- ruary, 1863; he began practicing medicine at Ashley in 1865. In August, 1863, he entered the 106th O. V. I., as Surgeon, in which position he served until 1865; during the war, he was on detached duty at Gallatin, Tenn ; he had charge of the Post Hospital, and was Medical Director on the staff of Brig. Gen. E. A. Payne, at Gal- latin, Tenn .; he had charge of Forts Negly, Hus- ton, and Morton, at Nashville, and was on duty at the hospital in Stevenson, Ala .; for a time was Surgeon in the 68th N. Y. V. I. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Society, and the Delaware County Medical Association, of which he was Vice Presi- dent in 1876, and was elected President in 1878. Dr. W. has always taken a great interest in the public schools of his town, which, through his efforts mainly, was changed from a district to a union or graded school, in 1879 ; he is at present a member of the School Board. He was married, in 1866, to Amanda E., daughter of Judge Cunard, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and has three children

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-Edward Cunard, Blanche Alberta and Grace Sumner.

DANIEL WORNSTAFF, farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Ashley; was born, in 1840, in Morrow Co., Ohio; his father, Daniel, was born about 1794, in Virginia ; his mother, Rhoda (Sperry), was born about 1798; they emigrated to what is now Morrow Co. about 1826, and were the parents of ten children. Mr. Wornstaff was married, in 1860, to Melissa, a daughter of Almon and Maria Smith, both of English descent ; she was born in 1843, in the same county her husband was, and has given him six children-Allie, married E. Martin ; Newton,

Essie, Martha, Noah (deceased), Wesley. He bought and settled the present farm in 1862, .ob- taining it of John Stephenson ; it now contains fifty acres, well, improved by his labors. Mr. Wornstaff has held some township offices. He is now in the poultry business, buying and ship- ping. He voted first for Vallandigham, and has always voted the Democratic ticket. He followed thrashing wheat six years ; he caught a wildcat in 1869, perhaps the last of this species ever capt- ured in this county ; he has hunted a great many "'coons," having followed that business for twenty years.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 140

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