History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 19

Author: Miller, Charles Christian, 1856- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co
Number of Pages: 874

USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 19

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Jacob +Wagner, son of Andrew and Elizabeth · (Alt) Wagner, was born near Bal- timore in Walnut Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, October 23, 1840. He was the oldest of a family of thirteen children, his father having been twice married .; „Ten of these chil- dren, six sons, and four daughters are still living. His grandparents, Andrew Wagner, Sr., and Joseph "Alt, "Sr., emigrated from Switzerland'to America more than one hun- dred years ago. Andrew Wagner, Sr., settled in Walnut Township and Joseph. Alt, Sr., in Liberty Township, Fairfield County, Ohio.

When he was about two years old he was stricken by paralysis in his right lower limb, an, ailment from which he not only never, re- covered, but which necessitated his learning to walk as a child a second time. On account of this affliction his early education was greatly retarded. About 1850 he in company with his next oldest brother, Isaiah, commenced to at- tend the home district school, Jacob C. Weaver as teacher.

The text books then in use were "The Ele- mentary Spelling Book," McGuffey's Readers, Ray's Arithmetics, Pinneo's Grammars and Mitchel's Geography and Atlas, of the World, In the winter of 1857 his mother died, and the following spring found him as teacher, in his home school, at a compensation of four- teen' dollars and twenty-five cents' ($14.25) per month; time, three months of twenty-four,

days, each, school to commence at eight o'clock in the morning and close at four o'clock in the evening, allowing the customary inter- missions. Boarding around in the district had been discontinued for several years prior to this time. He early decided on teaching as his life's mission, and for at least half of a cen- tury, in connection with his attendance at schools for more complete equipment, he was engaged in school work most of which was in Fairfield County, Ohio.

In his native county he taught in some of the common or district schools in both Wal- nut and Liberty Townships and as principal and superintendent in the schools of Balti- more, O., Lithopolis, O., Thurston, O., and Basil, O. He also taught in Fairfield Union Academy at Pleasantville, O., and later at Ostrander. O. He entered Otterbein Univer- sity as a student in 1859. In 1860, Fairfield Union Academy, under the excellent manage- ment of Prof. George Fleming, a man of ripe scholarship and a graduate from one of our eastern colleges, became a prominent educa- tional factor in Central Ohio. Here there was a rare opportunity for intellectul culture, near his own home, and for more than two years it was studiously improved by him. Later he attended for a short time the Southwestern Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. Lastly he reentered Otterbein University and gradu- ated therefrom June the 11th, 1867. Otter- bein conferred the degree A. M. on him later in years, He has all liis life been a close stu- dent and his library contains many gems of richest value.

;Religiously he has been a member of the United Brethren Church for a number of years. i.He still delights much in Sabbath School work and the Bible is to him the noblest guidance that man can adopt.

: Politically he has always been a democrat

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of the firmest and truest type, and ever deemed it a pleasure to serve his party when needed. He served ten years as school examiner in Fairfield County, Ohio, and five years as clerk of Liberty Township in the same county. He was also for several terms a member of the Board of Education of the Public Schools of Basil, Ohio.

He was married to Miss Esther A. Smith of Delaware County, Ohio, March 31, 1868. She is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are the parents of one child-a daughter-now Mrs. Lillie Berry of Marion, O.

The Leonard Family

The following interesting article was, pre- pared and read by Thurman Leonard at the centennial celebration of ,the settlement of Boston Leonard in the State of Ohio. .. This anniversary.[wascelebrated att.the, home,. of Thomas E. Leonard near Basil. This farm has been in the Leonard name from the : 1 5th day, of | April, [ 1811, when . the first deed was made to: Boston Leonard by , the President; James Madison.1190009 90 1 din 6 : 11 26 -sl"Daniel Leonard, the ancestor off the Leont ards; family, was born incar small village near Basil, Switzerland, during the year of :17.57. He emigrated to America, in 1809. InThe voy- age occupied sixteen weeks !! Helwas a wid- ower with three children, one son. and two daughtersit As rDanieli was; already fifty-two years ;he did not: care to farm, but to continue liis trade as a stone mason:y; They remained at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, two years, where his son Boston? (which is the, German word for Sebastian ) attended school. AGerman school book treatingvon mathematics is stillCin our possession. }During the year 18III they moved to Ohio/onia tractof land which Boston pur- chased from the government.IfThe deed shows the signature lof : the | President, James |Madi-

son, and the Secretary, James Monroe. In the same year Boston was married to Barbara Goss, with whom he became acquainted on his voyage to America. Thus it is that we are celebrating the centennial of the settlement of our ancestors in the State of Ohio.

He lived in a log house from the year 181.I to 1818. In this log house Henry, John and Sebastian were born. L imt Irl

·I

It was about this time that the town of Basil was laid out and the settlers (were, equally di- vided as to the name of the village --- Geneva or Basil-and they left it for Boston, Leonard to decide.

001

During the years 1818 and 1819, Boston built a large brick house of eight rooms.upon his farm. He made all the bricks , for this house and built it after his own, taste. Along the east and part of the south side of the house there was, a; brick pavement about eight feet wide. There was only one outside door to the house; (This was the first brick house in the county and people) would travel miles to see it. The bricks from this building were used in constructing the foundations and, chimneys of the present house. Even , the well was walled with these, bricks and some of, the walks were laid with themis bus ste Ain

Boston, with his father Daniel, helped build the first brick house in Lancaster, Ohio! botolq .,On Feb. 21,: 1823, Daniel , Leonard died, aged sixty-six years. His remains were laid in St. Michaels cemetery threel land .one-half miles northwest of Basil, The monument wa's carved . from sandstone, and ris still in a good state of preservation. The following epitaph is inscribed thereon : ,1

Mint Remember "friends as you pass byoft, -mul As you are now, so once was I; ) or TO , AsI am now, so you must be, nogen ol bnuPrepare for death and follow me. [su1"

omHenry Leonard I was born in 18r2012 The

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same year his father was drafted in the war. He began his mercantile career on the six- teenth day of April, 1828, in the town of Basil when only sixteen years old. This was the first store in Basil, Ohio. This old log cabin store was built by Jacob Goss in the year 1809. Jacob Goss was also a native of Switzerland, and laid out the town of Basil, and this old log cabin was his first dwelling-place in Amer- ica.

Henry's first purchase was made on the fif- teenth day of April, 1828, when he and his father went to Lancaster and bought of Sam- uel F. Maccraken $100 worth of dry goods including a few groceries. The sales of the first year, all told, were only $500. One year afterwards Henry's father built a new hewed log house, and here Henry kept store seven years. In the year 1836, while Jacob Springy was engaged in tearing down the old log cabin, Henry had a sketch of the cabin taken. This old building was on exhibition at the Centennial at Columbus, Ohio, being repre- sented by an oil painting 24x28 inches, which was afterwards placed in the library room at Heildelberg College. At the same time the log cabin was being torn away, he built the brick store and also a dwelling-house under the same roof. When this home was com- pleted he married Anne Kerns. Here he lived until 1844, when he built a large brick house where he made his home for the remainder of his life. Henry conducted a store until the death of his wife in 1856, when he began his agency on January 22, 1857, for Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio.

He actively engaged in the duties of this office about thirty years, during which time he traveled by rail, on horseback, stage, lum- ber wagon and on foot over 100,000 miles, or equal to over four times the distance around the globe. Henry Leonard (who at this time

was known as "The Fisherman") was the author of a book entitled "The Fisherman's Allegories." The Allegories were originally published in the "Western Missionary" during 1858 and 1859. The book, although not writ- ten by one who had enjoyed the advantage of a college training, is not for this reason devoid of interest or merit, for no one can, in fact, read it without seeing that the author had been a close observer of men and things and while he was deficient in book knowledge he was intimately acquainted with human nature, and tells things as they are in practical, every- day life. The style of the book is plain, fa- miliar, humorous, quaint and homespun.

Henry spent a useful and prosperous life. For twenty-eight years he was engaged in the mercantile business, and the last thirty years he was financial agent of Heidelberg. As financial agent he was actuated by no selfish or ambitious motives ; his only desire was to do good, and if possible benefit Heidelberg College in whose interests he had spent the best energies of his life, long and useful as it was with little remuneration. The latter period of his life was one of joy and consola- tion, dotted with many thrilling stories as a fisherman of money. In 1888 he was stricken with paralysis and during the next year died from the effects thereof.

John Leonard was born on October 3, 1814. After acquiring an education as the schools of his youth afforded, he engaged with his brothers in the grocery business in Basil. During 1839 he was married to Miss Hannah Reese. In 1857 he purchased a farm of 178 acres on which he lived the remainder of his life. During 1870 he purchased a farm from Henry Harner which consisted of sixty acres now owned by John Emch and G. W. Kum- ler, together with ninety-five acres at present owned by his son, Jesse Leonard. John Leon-

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ard also owned his father's farm. These four years. In January, 1863, he was placed in farms contained four hundred and thirty charge of the church at Basil where he was acres. He was very successful as a farmer, pastor until 1893, when he retired from active and a very active man in church work, willing ministry. He died in August, 1909." to help the poor in every way he could.

Sebastian Leonard, who was commonly known as "Bosh," was a son of "Boston" and a brother of John, (who was my father). Henry and Barbara Musser, familiarly known as "Aunt Barbara."

Where my son mentions Sebastian, Jr., he has reference to the one known as "Bosh" and the senior was the one known as "Bos- ton" which is the German name for Sebastian.

Sebastian Leonard, Jr., was born in 1816. He actively engaged in the mercantile business his entire life. He was very charitable to the poor, loved and esteemed by all. He made his home with his sister, Barbara.

Barbara Musser, the only daughter of Bos- ton and Barbara Leonard, was born in the brick house during the year 1826. She was married to William Musser in 1854. They were the parents of two children : William and Emma, both of whom died in infancy. By her relatives as well as her friends she was known as Aunt Barbara. She lived a very quiet life and at the same time she lived a life that will be remembered and cherished by her many friends. She died May 12, 1902.

Rev. George H. Leonard was born in the town of Basil, September 20, 1837, the eldest son of Henry and Anna Leonard. George received a liberal education, entering Heidel- berg College in 1855, and graduating from the literary department of the institution in 1859, subsequently entering the theological seminary connected with the same college. He was ordained to the ministry September 15, 1861, at Danville, Ohio, serving the Highland charge near Hillsboro, three and one-half

The township officers of Liberty Township are: Trustees-T. G. Bright, president, Mar- tin S. Sims and Samuel F. Snider; clerk- William L. Macklin; treasurer-Benjamin I. Roshon; justices of the peace-John V. Tuss- ing and James W. Buchanan. The members of the Board of Education of the township are : Levi H. Fritz, president ; Lewis W. Foltz, vice president ; George W. Giesy, D. S. Miller and Charles Wilkens. The assessors are as follows: Baltimore Precinct-Chalmer L. Wooster; Basil Precinct-Jacob S. Eversole ; constable-George Rader.

List of churches of Liberty Township, out- side of the villages :

I. Trinity Reformed. German Reformed denomination, situated in northwestern part of the township.

2. St. Michaels. German Reformed de- nomination, situated near center of township (geographically).

3. Fletcher Chapel. M. E. denomination. situated in northeastern part of township on Black Lick Road.

4. New Zion, New Evangelical. Situated one mile north of center of township on Sni- der Road.

5. Zion, Evangelical association, situated opposite to New Zion Church.

6. Mt. Carmel, United Brethren associa- tion, situated in southwestern part of town- ship on Winchester pike.

The tax duplicate for Liberty Township for the year 1912 follows :

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Township valuation $3.791.570

Basil corporation 420,450

Baltimore

418,130

Entire township, grand total .$4.630,150 The mayor of Basil corporation is John F. Finkbone.

MADISON TOWNSHIP

Madison Township in the southern tier of Fairfield County is bounded on the north by Hocking Township, on the east by Berne Township and Hocking County, on the west by Clear Creek Township, and on the south by Hocking County. It consists of 30 sec- tions, six from east to west and five from north to south.

The first families in the township were the Shaeffer family, Martin Landis and Abram Ream, who came in 179S and landed at Hunt- er's Crossing a few weeks after Hocking H. Hunter's father arrived. They came to look over the ground and soon returned home, but later in the year they came to remain. Isaac Shaeffer settled near the Defenbaugh mill. which he built in 1804. These three families entered large tracts of land and industriously improved it, building mills, shops. school- houses and churches. Each of these three first settlers built mills. The most noted was the Shaeffer, afterwards known as the Defen- baugh mill. It was built in 1804; in 1807 it was sold to Adam Defenbaugh, who kept it twenty years. It was afterward owned by Boden, Crooks, Stoneburner, Dr. George Boerstler of Lancaster and his brother Daniel, Joseph Dunn, Daniel Defenbaugh, Samuel Campbell and Isaac Marshall .··· Isaac Marshall tore it down in 1873. Just below this, at Written Rock, was the old Ring and Rice Mill. Augustus Bodeni had a distillery at Defen- baugh Mill. Still houses'were very numerous

in this township in an early day; there was one in almost every section. There were also several powder mills in this locality-one built by Sebastian Carpenter, another by Jacob Bix- ler. They manufactured a very good quality of rifle powder. The charcoal was made of sumac wood; the saltpeter was obtained in quantities under the rocks in the hills, but the sulphur was brought from the east. A large mortar was filled with these ingredients and mixed by pestles run by water power. The powder was grained by taking a quantity on a board and combing it down with an ordinary brush. A little water would be sprinkled on the mass occasionally to prevent the friction from igniting it. It was dried in ovens, under which hot air was made to pass.

Throughout the township there were shops. carding-machines. spinning-bowl factories and sickle factories. Mr. Akers had a sickle factory at Defenbaugh Mill as early as 1824.

On Kuntz's Run, a stream that empties into Clear Creek at this mill, a little above the wolf den, where the water poured over a rock, Mr. Graham had a spinning-bowl shop. The lathe was turned by water and the stream was strong enough to turn it constantly. He would, however, turn out a wagon-load and then peddle his product. This hollow, from this circumstance, was called Spinning Bowl Hollow. In this same neighborhood was a woolen mill. So in an early day Madison Township carried on considerable manufac- turing. The names of Emanuel Carpenter, Valentine and William Wolfe, the Martins, Hedges, Macks, Abbots,-Van Weys and Tooles were familiar names among the older resi- derits.

Churches

.There are now five churches in the town- ship and eight schoolhouses. In 1826 St.

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John's Lutheran Church was erected. Rev. came from Pennsylvania in 1801. He built Steck and John Wagenhall were the first two the first gristmill in Pleasant Township on Fetters Run. Up to this time the settlers were obliged to go to Zanesville and Chilicothe for their meal and flour. ministers. In 1877 the building was torn down and a new church built in Hocking township.

The second church was built by the Meth- odists in 1834 and a new building erected in 1844. It is called Hopewell, and Leonard Mitchell is the pastor.

The German Reformed Church was built in 1842 and is called Mt. Carmel.

Mt. Zion is a United Brethren Church in the southwest part of the county.

The Lutherans built a church in the north- east part of the township in 1852.

Pine Grove Church was built in 1858 by the United Brethren.

There are no large villages in this township, as neither railroads nor traction roads traverse it. Clearport in the north, Revenge in the cen- tral portion, and Drinkle in the southwestern part are the only villages in the township.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP

Pleasant is north of Berne and very nearly in the center of the county. It was named be- cause of the large amount of fertile land within its borders.

Pleasant Township was settled as early as 1798, and probably the first settler was Wil- liam Green. He died in 1799. As there was no possibility of getting a coffin, one was im- provised by peeling the bark from a hickory tree (it being the month of May when the sap was up) and this hardy pioneer was buried in this pleasant township, among the fair fields he had hoped to claim.

The Ewings were among the first to settle in Pleasant Township. David, Thomas and Matthew Ewing located lands near the stream now known as Ewings Run in 1800. They were a prominent family. George Arnold

Abraham Bope came from Virginia in 1803 and settled in the northeast part of the town- ship. Among the early settlers we find the following names: Hoover, Ashbrook, Trim- ble, Berry, Harmon, Hite, Hampson, Cupp, Ruffner, Keller, Ewing, Duncan, Freeman, Foglesong, Radebaugh, Macklin, Arnold, Kemerer, Baldwin, Shisler, McNaughton.

The following are living in Pleasant Town- ship now (1912) and it will be noted that rep- resentatives of the first settlers are still occu- pying that "Pleasant" Township :- Robert Rutter, Charles Freed, Alva Freed, Taylor Huber, Clint Pence, Charles E. Lamb, J. W. Friend, Charles Watson, Jacob Barr, Fred Rufner, Frank Eyman, N. N. Shisler, Ben Paye, Alonzo Miller, James Irick, Thomas Irick, Levi Hampson, Jim Hampson, Jacob Kraner and Dr. Lerch.

The first road in Pleasant Township was one from Wheeling to Maysville, known as Zane's Trace. It crossed the southern part of the township. About 1838 it was changed to a turnpike and was known as the Zanesville and Maysville Turnpike. Another pike now crosses the township, passing from Lancaster through Pleasant Township, north through New Salem, and known as the Salem Pike.

The Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad crosses the extreme northeast corner of the township, with Pleasantville as the station.

A. A. Graham says, "The religious inter- ests of Pleasant Township have been well provided for. The Pleasant Run Baptist Church was probably the first regular church organization in the county, having been or- ganized as early as 1806. In 1809 this was

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

one of the foremost country Baptist churches in the village. The population, as given by in Ohio.

"The Pleasant United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1807 and was located in the southwest corner of the township.

"The German Reformed Church of Pleas- ant Township was organized about 1847 as a German Reformed Church; in 1853 the mem- bership petitioned to be changed to a Presby- terian Church. It remained a Presbyterian Church till 1878, when it again became a Ger- man Reformed Church." There are now eight churches outside of Pleasantville.

COUNTY INFIRMARY

The County Infirmary is located in Pleas- ant Township, about two miles north of Lan- caster. "About 1827 the necessity for a county infirmary was felt. Previous to that time such persons as became county charges were cared for in their respective townships by officers called 'Overseers of the Poor,' who let out the contract for the keeping of each pauper to the lowest bidder, such contract running one year. The conditions were that the mendicant should receive adequate food, comfortable clothing, and competent medical attendance. In 1827 it was realized that this plan might not care for the paupers properly and it was decided to build an infirmary," The infirmary farm consists of 170 acres of land and it furnishes a considerable part of the support of the inmates. The first build- ings were of frame, but in 1840 they were sup- planted by a brick building.

PLEASANTVILLE

Pleasantville is a flourishing village situ- ated on the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad, lying partly in Pleasant and partly in Walnut Township. It was laid out in 1828 by John Boston, who built the first house or residence

the census of 1910 is about six hundred. But since the village lies in a rich farming country, it has a flourishing gristmill, one newspaper, a planing-mill, one hotel, a drug store, a canning factory, two hardware stores, a furniture store, one bakery, a glass factory, a butcher shop, two garages, two barber shops, six gro- ceries and general stores, besides a live huck- ster, who runs several wagons.

There are three churches within the town: the Methodist Episcopal, the Methodist Prot- estant, and the Lutheran. Besides these, sev- eral churches lying near town have a follow- ing in the neighborhood. The lodges are well represented and are very strong. They are the Masonic and Eastern Star, the Odd Fel- lows and Daughters of Rebecca, the Knights of Pythias and the Rathbone Sisters. The Patrons of Husbandry also have their hall in the town.

Schools

From the earliest times Pleasantville has been known for her interest in public educa- tion. Founded in 1828, the church and school have risen together. The first building erected for school purposes was a log structure situ- ated east of town on the farm now owned by Elam Baker. School was next held in a build- ing a little southwest of town on the James Hampson farm. This site was soon changed for a knoll inside the corporate limits. Part of the building is still standing and it is used as a dwelling house by Bert Hoon. Years afterward another building was placed on the present school ground, on that part of the lot now used as a ball ground. But it was soon outgrown and the present fine brick structure was built in 1900.

On account of its proximity to the Fair- field Union Academy, no high school was or-

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ganized until the fall of 1904, when Prof. B. T. Jinkins was placed at the head of the schools. He remained three years, after which he retired from the profession on ac- count of ill health. He was followed by Su- perintendent E. L. Porter, now of West Jef- ferson, Ohio, who remained one year. The present incumbent is Superintendent J. M. Gordon.

The school now enrolls over 200 pupils, 60 of whom are in the high school. This high school is of first grade rank and it is recog- nized by the Ohio State University. The present board of education consists of E. L. Troup, president; D. E. Sites, secretary ; M. Corbitt, James Hampson and F. D. Phipps. The high school, in the short time it has been organized, has graduated six classes contain- ing a total of 57 pupils.

The teachers in the schools of Pleasant- ville are : Superintendent, J. M. Gordon ; prin- cipal, L. A. Webb; assistant, F. L. Schisler ; Eva Pullar, Maude Hamilton, Rhea Hempy and Anna Miller.

A history of Fairfield Union Academy once a famous institution may be found in Chap- ter XIV.

There are two ministers preaching in Pleas- antville: Rev. W. Howard McDaniel, Meth- odist Episcopal, who resides at Rushville, Ohio; and Rev. C. P. Allar, Methodist Prot- estant, Pleasantville, O.

The "Times" is the only newspaper. It is edited by I. H. De Rolph.

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History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 19

Author: Miller, Charles Christian, 1856- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co Number of Pages: 874

Author: Miller, Charles Christian, 1856- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co
Number of Pages: 874