USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 66
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John Stuckey, our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, Summer- sett County, September 2, 1801, and came with his parents to this state, in 1804. He married Mary Jane Kiner, of Ross County, in the fall of 1831. They soon moved to this county. They were bless- ed with two children: Eliza J., married Milton Irons, and lives near Staunton; Jacob C., married in the State of Indiana and lives there. Mis. Stuckey died. Mr. Stuckey married for his second wife Margaret Jameson, daughter of Judge Jameson, in the year - 1837 ; by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters Mary E., died in infancy ; Samuel W., whose history will more fully appear in the history of the rebellion; John D., married to Emma Millikan, daughter of Curran Millikan, deceased, and they reside in the suberbs of Washington; Isabell, remained single and teaches school; Mathew F., married Eliza E. Rowe, daughter of Martin and Sophia Rowe, whose biography appears on another page, Jan- nary 8, 1868. They have five children, all daughters : Margaret E., Sophia M., Minnie B. and Etta M. Mathew F. was born Au-
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gust 16, 1845, and lives in the old homestead, his aged father living with him.
Our subject's second wife died, September 3, 1863. In October, 1866, he married Miss Mary Middleton, of Ross County, with whom he lived most happily until December, 1872, when she died. Mr. Stuckey is one of the oldest settlers of the county, a man of untarnished reputation, honest and upright. He has been a Chris- tian gentleman for nearly half of a century, and has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ELI RUSSELL VAN PELT.
Eli Russell Van Pelt, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Adams County, Ohio, August 25, 1827. He is a son of Peter and Mary Vau Pelt, natives of Tennessee, who came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Adams County, at an early day. In 1831 they removed to this county, and settled on a farm but a short distance south of the village of Staunton. Here the father resided until his death. His widow is still living on the farmn with her son Simon and family. She is now in her eighty-second year, and shows marked evidences of her old age. For more than seventy years she has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of twelve children: Charles, farmer, living in Highland County ; Sarah, married to William Craig, and lives in Iowa; Mary, married to William Johnson, and lives in Kokomo, Indiana; Susan, married to Andrew Post, both deceased ; Peggy A., deceased ; Andrew, married, and lives in this county; Elizabeth, married to George Rowe, and resides in this county; William S., died in California, in 1856; Simon P., mar- ried, and lives on the farm with his mother; Malinda Jane, de- ceased; Oliver P., killed at the battle of Shiloh, in 1862.
Our subject, Eli R., went to California in 1851, and remained five years in the mines, which proved a financial success. Soon after his return home he married Malinda Jane Rowe, daughter of Martin Rowe. They are without children. . They own and live on a most excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres, adjoining the village of Staunton.
On Mr. Van Pelt's return home from California, they encounter- ed a most terrible storm of four days' duration, when in the Gulf of Mexico, expecting every moment the vessel and all on board to
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be lost. This vessel was considered unsafe, and was condemned on her arrival at port, but was repainted and given the name of " Central America." On her first trip, when returning, she was met in the same gulf, and went down, losing some four hundred lives, and two millions in gold dust.
Mr. Van Pelt in politics is a staunch Republican. He is also a sound temperance man. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM WADDLE.
William Waddle, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Ireland, May 10, 1827. He is the son of Francis W. and Anna Waddle, who were natives of Ireland. Coming to America in 1840, they located in Chillicothe, Ohio. They were the parents of three daughters and two sons: Elizabeth married, and lives in Ross County, Ohio. Margaret and Ellen were twins; both are dead. Francis is married, and owns and lives on a farm joining our sub- ject's. William married Miss Dorcas Murry, daughter of George Murry, who lived near Kingston, Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1852. They lived six years in Ross County, when he purchased a portion of what was known as the Trustin Adams farm, in this township, situated on the Snow Hill pike, about one mile west from Rattle- snake Creek. In 1858 they removed to this farm, where they still remain.
Mr. Waddle and wife, by economy and industry, have been able to purchase other lands, so that the farm, or farms, contains eight hundred and fifty acres, in a good state of cultivation. They are out of debt. They are the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters: Rebecca, the eldest, married John W. Hoppis, with whom she lived some ten years, when she died with consumption, leaving three children. On the 25th of November, 1880, Mr. Hop- pis married for his second wife, Anna, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Waddle. George is a promising son, twenty-six years of age, single, and at home with his parents. He has recently been ordained a minister of the gospel in the Old School Baptist Church, and is said to be a most excellent young man. The son-in-law, Mr. Hoppis, occupies the same relation to the Baptist Church. William is married, and lives on the home farm. Lucy, John, Mary, Oliver, Ida, Dora, and Joseph, are at home with their parents.
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Mr. and Mrs. Waddle feel that they have been highly favored by the Divine Being. Out of a family of eleven children, they have had but one death, and that daughter died in the triumphs of the Christian religion. Except at the birth of their children, they never but once had occasion to call a physician to their aid. In politics, Mr. Waddle is a Democrat. In religion, the family are Old School Baptists, much attached to the church of their choice, and devoted to the service of the Saviour.
THOMAS S. WORTHINGTON.
Thomas S. Worthington, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Jo- seph and Harriet Worthington, whose biography appears elsewhere in this book. He was born in Fairfield Township, Highland Coun- ty, Ohio, August 18, 1829. At the age of seventeen, he was placed by his father in charge of his large farm, on the waters of Rattle- snake Creek, in this township. Here he remained, and continued to work for his father, until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he married Sarilda Parey, daughter of Samuel Parey, of Highland County. She died in one year and six months after her marriage. Mr. Worthington married for his second wife, Mrs. Margaret Spen- cer (formerly Margaret Persinger), by whom he had two children : Joseph Burnell, now married, and living on his father's farm, and Harriet, also married, and living on the home farm.
Mr. Worthington's farm contains some fifteen hundred acres of as rich, fertile land as can be found in the county, all in one body, being on the east side of Rattlesnake Creek, reaching up to the Snow Hill pike, and situated on both sides of the Charleston road. The entire farm is under fence, and in a good state of cultivation. Much of it is used for meadow and grazing purposes. Our subject confines himself strictly to his business, giving personal attention to the varied interests of this large farm.
ROBERT WORTHINGTON.
Robert Worthington, farmer and stock raiser, was born Septem- ber 28, 1831. His father, Joseph Worthington, was born in Ross County, this state, February 8, 1804. In the year 1827, he married Hannah Shields, and the following year moved to Fairfield Town- ship, Highland County, this state, and settled on a farm where he
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has continuously resided until the present time. He has been one of the most widely and well known men of this county; although taking no very active part in politics or other affairs. His occupa- tion has been farming, and he has been remarkably successful, ac- cumulating a large property. This aged couple has been blessed with four children : Thomas, born in 1829; Joseph, born in 1833; William D., born in 1837, died June 4, 1854.
Our subject married Catharine Cox, March 17, 1853, by whom he had one son, who was left motherless by the death of the mother, which occurred in one year after her marriage. Mr. Worthington's mother took charge of the infant babe, and has seen him grow up to manhood. He still remains with his grandparents, though twenty-seven years of age. Robert remained single for eight years, living a lonely life on his large farm. Sometimes having a family with him in his house, and sometimes all alone.
In July, 1863, he was called to Chillicothe, this state, in defence of his country, and especially in opposition to John Morgan and his raiders. By a seemingly strange coincidence of circumstances, he was led in the midst of that most wonderful excitement, on that · memorable occasion, to the house of Andrew McDonald for food and shelter, where he formed the acquaintance of his present wife, Miss Jennie McDonald, daughter of Mr. McDonald. Miss Jennie, was a bright, intelligent, and cultivated young lady, teaching school in the city and residing with her parents. December 10th, of the same year, they were married; soon after, she came with her hus- band to his log cabin, on his magnificent farm, on the waters of Rattlesnake Creek, on the road leading from Staunton to Lees- burgh.
This is quite a change for Mrs. Worthington, from the city, the school room and a nice city home, to the log cabin on a thousand acre farm; but she was equal to the task, and most grandly has she succeeded in this new order of things. Mr. Worthington thinks that the Morgan raid was not so disasterous after all, at least so far as he is concerned. They have two children: Maggie, born De- cember 29, 1866; William, born April 19, 1870. They have also, an adopted daughter, Rhoda Tobin, adopted when but four years of age, now a young lady of nineteen, much loved by the family. Indeed, she is regarded as one of the family.
The farm consists of twelve hundred and twenty-two acres, all in a high state of cultivation, mostly used for grazing purposes.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Some three hundred head of cattle are fed and grazed by Mr. Worthington each year on this farm.
In 1871, he built a magnificient residence, which is one of the finest in the county, at a cost of more than nine thousand dollars, which he occupies. This family are devout Christians, all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The writer of this sketch has been in the ministry for more than thirty years : In all that time, seldom, if ever, has he met a family of so much wealth and business, so fully devoted to God and his cause as this family.
ANTHONY WAYNE WRIGHT.
Anthony Wayne Wright, farmer and stock raiser, was born in March, 1812. He is the son of John Wright, whose biography, or family history appears in the sketch of Concord Township. Our subject married Sarah Wright (no relationship existing) in 1833, by whom he had three children, one son and two daughters: Mar- garet, Samantha Jane, and Jasper W. Mrs. Wright died October 19,1840.
In 1843, Mr. Wright married Margaret Caylor, by whom he had one son, John A., who lives on a farm near Jeffersonville, in. this county. Jasper W. owns and lives on the portion of his father's home farm lying on the east side of Sugar Creek, in Union Town- ship. The two daughters are living at home with their parents. Samantha Jane has been married twice; both husbands are dead. She has an interesting son, ten years of age, James L. Cannon, liv- ing with her and his grandparents.
Mr. Wright is the owner of a most excellent farm on Sugar Creek, where he resides, and is quite active and enterprising for a man of his years. His wife is his senior by several years, and shows signs of advancing age.
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GREEN TOWNSHIP.
As will be seen by reference to the chapter in which are men- tioned the original boundaries of the various townships, Green for- merly embraced all of Concord, and a part of Jasper and Perry townships.
In compiling a historical sketch of this township, the writer has confined himself strictly to its present limits. It is bounded on the north and east by Concord and Perry townships, on the south by Highland, and on the west by Clinton County, thus forming the southeast corner of Fayette. Rattlesnake Creek enters survey 5348, flows southeastwardly to survey 3986, thence south to the county line, constituting a part of the eastern border. Lee's Creek has its source in Concord Township, thence flows southeast, enter- ing Green in survey 5349; thence south, crossing the entire town- ship, and entering Highland County. These are the only import- ant streams flowing through the limits of Green.
The soil in general is a black loam, which has been drained quite extensively, and is highly productive of corn and wheat.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The unrelenting hand of death has been laid on many of the pioneers of Green Township. Indeed, of the first settlers none re- main; and with them has passed away much valuable information, without which the compilation of this work is certainly a difficult task. The following has been gleaned from the most authentic sources now accessible.
Aside from the stragglers, hunters, and trappers, who visted this locality in the early days of this century, Jesse Rowe, it is generally conceded, was the first white inhabitant within the present limits of Green Township.
He immigrated from Virginia to Ross County, Ohio, in 1803, with
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
his family of nine children : John, Jesse, jr., William, James, Eliz- abeth, Mary, Jane, Susan, and Sarah.
In 1807, the family removed to Fayette County, and located on Little Wabash, the old homestead. Shortly after the county organ- ization (1810) he was elected justice of the peace, and served four terms; also served as trustee, and in other township offices.
He was a class-leader and exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church to the close of his life, the first class-meeting in the locality having been held in his cabin. In his will he left a liberal legacy to the church, the interest to be paid annually, and was truly called the father of Methodism in Fayette County.
He died in 1845, at a ripe old age, respected and regretted by all who knew him. During the Revolutionary War he served as a private.
John Rowe, the oldest son, settled on land given him by his father, near the old home, and was the father of eleven children, several of whom are still living. He was an active participant in the war of 1812, and held several important offices. His death took place in 1863.
Jesse Rowe, jr., settled in Green, but removed to Concord Town- ship at the expiration of five years. He was trustee; and after the surrender of Hull, volunteered to defend his country, under Gen- eral Batteal Harrison.
William Rowe removed to Ross County.
James Rowe removed to the South at an early day. By profes- sion he was a preacher. He located at Huntsville, Alabama, mar- ried, and attended a select school till the death of his wife. At the division of the church on the slavery question, he sided with the South, preaching up to the outbreaking of the rebellion, when he came North, where he remained till the close of the war, then went to Georgia, where he died.
The other children of Jesse Rowe, sr., filled honorable stations in life, and their descendants are living in the neighborhood.
Another pioneer deserving prominent mention was Thomas Moon, sr., who came to Ohio from Virginia, in 1810, with his fam- ily, consisting of John, Jacob, Christine, Jane, David, William, James, Margaret, and Thomas, jr., and settled on Rattlesnake Creek. He was a Quaker in religion, conscientiously opposed to the war, which accounts for his not being a soldier in the Revolu- tionary and Indian wars. He purchased a tract of land in this
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township, called the dividing ridge, on which he erected the first flour and saw-mill and distillery in the township, and, so far as is known, the first in the county. The place soon became a favorite resort for customers. His flour gave good satisfaction, and there- fore was patronized extensively. The mill still stands, and until re- cently was run by Thomas Moon, jr.
Mr. Moon's land purchases amounted to eleven hundred acres, five hundred of which were in Highland County. His Fayette County land was in woods. The cabin was built with a puncheon floor, clapboard roof, fire-place made of split timber, and a stick chimney. In one week he cleared four acres, and in the fall follow- ing cleared six additional acres, which he sowed in wheat. Wolves and game abounded. The squirrels came in droves, and were so numerous that he was compelled to feed them outside of. the fences, to prevent his crops from being devoured. He departed this life in 1828, aged seventy-one years, having in his lifetime held the office of trustee, and many other offices of public trust.
John D. Moon was a good school teacher, and served under Gen- eral Andrew Jackson, at New Orleans.
Jacob Moon settled on Rattlesnake; was a farmer by occupation, and went out during the general call in 1812.
Captain Thomas Moon lived on the old homestead, running the mills, and farming. He served five years as captain of the militia, and died at the age of seventy-five years. .
The other members of the family perpetuated the good name of the parents.
David Davis was born in Pennsylvania, in 1785, and in 1817 im- migrated to Ohio, settling near Centerfield, Highland County, where he raised one crop of corn, then moving to Green, locating on the farm of John Garrett, in a cabin afterward used for school pur- poses. He rented one year here, and then bought fifty acres of land from Mr. Garrett, on which he shortly afterward erected a log cabin.
He married Hannah Gelvin in Pennsylvania, by whom he had eight children, whose names, in the order of their birth, were as follows : Mary, Branson, Nancy, William, David, Catharine, Han- nah, and Melissa. At his death, which occurred in 1855, he owned one hundred and six acres of land, where his son Branson now re- sides. His wife survived him till 1856.
The following personal sketches are taken from the County Atlas :
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
The aged grandsire loved to tell of early privation, hunting, ad- venture, and perilous and distant journey for necessary food and raiment, and Fayette history is full of incidents of daring and en- durance.
Edward Smith, sr., entered lands on the banks of Paint Creek, known as the East Fork, in the year 1810. He found his entry covered with trees. A wigwam served for a couch by night and shelter from storm and beast. He began the accustomed work of the border, to make an opening and clear up lands for a starting crop. The news of war declared, caused him to lay aside the ax, and with his rifle go forth to protect the frontier and repel the in- vader. Peace came, and again his ax rang amid the sea-like soli- tude, and trees came toppling down. One night, returning from the county seat, he found the creek well up, but rode in fearlessly, and was thrown from his horse and drowned.
A story told of Alexander Cupper, and dating back to 1783, is to the effect that he and the well-known Daniel Boone, of Ken- tucky, were taken prisoners at the Three Islands by the Indians. When within seven miles of Oldtown, Boone contrived to es- cape, but Cupper was all the more closely guarded, taken to the town, tried by Indian council, and condemned to the stake. Confined in a secure structure and guarded by two powerful sav- ages, no opportunity was afforded to secure his freedom. The night before the intended burning having arrived, he was ordered to run the gauntlet down the rows of savages. Cupper sped down the line a short distance, broke through, left his pursuers far be- hind, and, burying himself in the deep forest of the present Con- cord Township, took refuge on the banks of the Little Wabash, whence he safely made his way to Three Islands ou the Ohio.
George Kneedler came to the township in 1810, and settled in the dense forests, near the waters of Rattlesnake. His father was a soldier under General Washington, in the revolutionary war, and he, true to the precedent set by his noble sire, was an active par- ticipant in the war of 1812. He was twice married; had twelve children by his first wife, and. one son by his second.
William Johnson left Virginia, the place of his nativity, in 1810, and removed to Ross County, in company with Judge McCracken. He settled in Hellard's Bottom, on Paint Creek, where he remain- ed until 1816, at which time his family was composed of five chil- dren: Anna, Thomas, George, Sarah, and William Henry. He
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purchased one hundred acres (now known as the Levi Bryant farm) of Jesse Rowe, on which he located, and began improving at once. By careful industry he had accumulated about five hundred acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1833.
The nearest neighbors of the Johnsons were John Rowe, John Draper, and another John Draper who lived on Rattlesnake. As an illustration of the scarcity of neighbors, we state, upon the authority of Thomas G. Johnson, that children were in the habit of going five miles to play with each other.
The southwest corner of Green Township was settled by Vir- ginians and North Carolinians, members of the denomination known as the Society of Friends. The first were James Smith, who located in the extreme corner on a portion of survey number 1082, and Enos Haines, a portion of whose lands adjoined the Clinton County line.
Z. Morris, in about 1820, came to this state to look at the coun- try, and select a tract of suitable land. He was born in Grayson County, Virginia, about fourteen miles from the North Carolina border. His lands were hilly and barren, and upon satisfying him- self as to the productiveness of the new state, he determined to leave his native state to return no more; a step which, to use his own words, " he has never regretted." He was accompanied by his brother, Isaac, and located on a one hundred acre tract, sur- veyed for Abram Hight, but which he purchased of Daniel Bur- ess. The settlement was made in 1823, and he has resided there ever since, having added land to the original purchase, from time to time, and now owns three hundred and twenty-eight acres, all in a high state of cultivation.
The neighborhood was settled up by William Bankson, Joshua Haines, Philip Barger, one of the first settlers; Enos Reeder, Ed- mund and James McVey, all Quakers, and good citizens. They and their descendants still reside on the old homesteads.
SCHOOLS.
It was a matter of profound regret that the opportunities for educating the youth of "ye olden time " were very meager. The pioneer and every member of this household, were obliged to earn
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
a living " by the sweat of their brows." Money was scarce, it being difficult at times to pay taxes; hence our forefathers were sorely troubled as to what course should be taken, properly, to educate their children. Some of the ladies began teaching in their own cabins, and had scholars who walked four or five miles to attend. Steps were also taken to organize subscription schools. Twenty- five scholars were sufficient to constitute a school; the subscription price being $1.50 each. If the subscribers were unable to pay the tuition of their children, their wealthier and more fortunate neigh- bors supplied the deficiency. The first school house, a primitive structure, was composed of round logs for walls, a clapboard roof fastened on by poles, a puncheon floor, a mud chimney, seats of poles split into two equal parts, and windows made by greasing paper, and fastening it over the cracks where the scholars found light the most convenient. It was built on the Little Wabash, in 1819, where the heirs of Squire Cay reside at present. This pion- eer cabin was attended by scholars who resided in the subscription district, which was six miles square, and in the winter of 1819, was in charge of Ebenezer Christy, a great teacher-when he was sober. One Bradshaw, was an early teacher. The school houses of the township, at present, are good substantial brick or frame buildings, with good furniture and all needful apparatus, and are well supported.
CHURCHES.
In the preceding chapters of this work, the reader has ascer- tained the manner in which the pioneer conducted his private and public affairs, and under what circumstances religion was first in- troduced. A repetition is unnecessary, and we simply state that the first preacher as given us was Robert Dobbins, and the date 1815, and proceed to the histories of the various religious organi- zations :
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