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 75
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JACKSON RODGERS.
Benjamin Rodgers was born in Virginia, January 4, 1772, and at about twenty-two years of age removed to Kentucky; remained ยท there two years, then came to Chillicothe, being one of eleven men who were the first to raise grain in Ross County. He purchased
4
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land about three miles from Chillicothe, but found the water facili- ties insufficient, and removed to Fayette County, prior to the organ- ization of the same, finding it in a wild and chaotic state. He set- tled on a one thousand acre tract, a portion of which is now owned by our subject. Two hundred acres of the original tract were pur- chased by a brother of the elder Rodgers (Hamilton).
Some time after coming to this county, he was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of Peter Jackson, who lived on Deer Creek, in Ross County. She was born August 26, 1780. The union resulted in eight children : Joseph, John, Jackson, Mary P., Hamilton, Eliza, Maria, and William; the deceased being John, Eliza, Mary, and Maria. Joseph resides in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Mr. Rodgers, sen., held some of the township offices, was in the war of 1812, in the company commanded by Robert McElwaine, and did his whole duty. He died February 12, 1849.
Jackson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ross County, January 29, 1804, and when but a child, came to Fayette with his parents. He well remembers seeing Indians on the banks of Paint and Indian creeks, but they were generally peaceable.
November 7, 1837, he married Nancy, daughter of Amos Jones, of Vermont, and a niece of Norman F. Jones, first auditor of the county. Their union was blessed with four children : Harvey, Sina (now Mrs. L. C. Coffman), Almira (late wife of Judson McCoy), and Amos J., who is married to Mary J., daughter of John Simmi- son, and has three children. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Rodgers died October 26, 1853, and November 1, 1855, he married Rebecca, daughter of John Dunlap, who was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, coming to this state with his family, in 1817, and settled in Ross County, near Greenfield. Mr. Dunlap married Rebecca Donnelly, who bore him nine children. He died in 1841. She was a life member of the United Presbyte- rian Church, and died in that faith in 1843.
Mrs. Rebecca Rodgers was born in 1808, married Robert Rodgers August 13, 1828, and had three children: William A., living near Jamestown ; John H., who resides near Kearney, Nebraska ; Joseph, deceased. Robert Rodgers died June 29, 1844, and his widow re- married on the day above given. She has been a member of the regular Baptist Church since 1831, and is an exemplary member of Good Hope congregation.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
During the late war, Harvey, oldest son of our subject, was mus- tered a member of Company A, 54th O. V. Z., September 5, 1861. He served from private to orderly sergeant, in the line of promo- tion, and was instantly killed before Atlanta, July 22, 1864. He was a member of the Baptist Church, a brave soldier, and though he has long been sleeping under the cold sod, his heroic devotion to his country will never be forgotten. He engaged in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg, Raymond, Champion Hills, Big Black, Siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kene- saw Mountain, and Atlanta. He had nearly finished the term of his enlistment, when death called him to a brighter land, where the scenes of bloody conflict will never be mentioned. One who saw him fall, says he could have saved his life by surrendering, but the gallant soldier preferred death to imprisonment.
Mr. Rodgers owns three hundred and thirty-six acres of land, nicely improved, and adorned by handsome buildings, which is lo- cated on Paint Creek and the Ohio Southern Railroad, and farms to grain and stock. He and his family enjoy a wide and favorable acquaintance.
HAMILTON RODGERS.
Hamilton Rodgers, farmer, is a son of Benjamin Rodgers, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and was born in this township, June 8, 1808, on the farm now owned by William B. Rodgers. His education was limited. When a subscription sufficient to hire a teacher could be made, a log cabin was erected in the woods, which they attended. However, the pioneers were so over-burdened with work, that they were compelled to deny their children even an or- dinary education.
Mr. Rodgers attended strictly to home duties most of his life. He was married, December 31, 1835, to Martha A., daughter of William Vance, who was born February 4, 1815. They had five children : Mary E., Angeline, Harrison V., Lucy C., and Martha J. Angeline married Jesse Heagler, and died six years ago; Mary E. is the wife of William Rodgers, at Jamestown; Harrison owns land, which adjoins that of his father; Lucy C. is the wife of Marion Gibson ; Martha J. is married to Harry J. Walker, and lives in Ne- braska. Mrs. Rodgers is dead, and is buried in the old Rodgers cemetery. Mr. Rodgers married Hannah Gibson, nee Shobe, relict
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of John Gibson. Both are members of the Fairview German Bap- tist Church, and are good Christians.
Marion Gibson is the son of John H. Gibson, who was born in Virginia, removed to this state at an early day, and settled in Ross County, where he married Hannah, daughter of Daniel Shobe, who bore him four children : Marion, Lucinda (wife of Elijah Hopkins), Mary Ann (widow of Isaac J. Vance, lately deceased), and James, deceased.
Mr. Gibson was instantly killed by the upsetting of a wagon loaded with wheat, when Marion was a small boy. He was born November 30, 1843, and spent his youth in Ross County; worked for several farmers, and assisted in maintaining the family ; hence his opportunities for an education were not very good. He was a ser- geant in the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and remained in the service two years and two months.
In 1868, he married Luey C., daughter of Hamilton Rodgers, and removed to this farm. They had five children : Orville, John, Mat- tie, Hamilton, and one who died in infancy. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are good and consistent Christians. He assisted in the erection of the new church at Good Hope, and furnished all the brick work.
Messrs. Rodgers and Gibson own about eight hundred acres of land, well tilled and stocked, in good cultivation, and located just north of Good Hope. They engage in general farming.
SANFORD SAYRE.
Sanford Sayre, blacksmith, Good Hope, is a son of Seth and Clarissa (Ravenscroft) Sayre, and was born in Paint Township, Ross County, Ohio, January 1, 1831. His youth was spent in his native county, where he obtained a common school education. At seven- teen years of age he began the trade of blacksmith with his father; then went to Indiana, remained two years, and returned to Ohio. He next attended the Salen Academy, where he remained two terms, and in August, 1856, came to this village, opened a black- sinith shop, and has continued at this business ever since.
November 2, 1856, he was married to Sarah E., daughter of Joshua and Mary (Shockey) Benner. To them one child was born, Austin, November 1, 1857, now attending the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Our subject went out with the Fayette County forces during the invasion of Morgan's forces. He owns a handsome residence in Good Hope; has accumulated a good sum of money, but invested little in real estate, and does an extensive business in blacksmithing, a sufficient guarantee of his superior workmanship. He has held the offices of township clerk and trustee. Himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have grown up with the village in which they reside, witnessed its changes, and are beloved and honored by all who have the pleasure of their ac- quaintance.
JAMES H. SMALLEY.
James H. Smalley, farmer, is a son of Thomas Smalley, who was born in Loudon County, Virginia, March 16, 1792, and came to this state in about 1800, with his family, who settled in High- land County. He was married March 23, 1823, to Mary Ann, daughter of Phillip Wagner, of Georgia. She bore him six chil- dren : Phillip W., George, Elizabeth, John, Hiram B., and James H .; the deceased are Phillip, George and Elizabeth. They were members of the Baptist Church, of Greenfield, and died in that faith.
Our subject was born December 4, 1837, in Buckskin Township, Ross County, and was reared on his father's farm till twenty years of age, then took a trip west, returning at the expiration of a year, and June 21, 1860, married Martha E., daughter of James McCon- nel, who was born near Wheling, Virginia, removed to Ross County, thence to this, where he died July 3, 1869. His wife still survives him, and resides with our subject. Mr. Smalley has nine children, of whom Nancy A. has passed beyond the river. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of Greenfield, and endeavor to fulfill the Master's commands. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, but no office seeker. During the rebellion he went out with the many others from this county, who were called out during the invasion by Morgan ; went to St. Marys, Vir- ginia, where he remained until after the capture of Morgan.
In 1863, he purchased his present farm, which consists of seventy- one acres, is well improved, and located three miles from Green- field, on the Good Hope and Greenfield pike, and has lived here since, and farms to both grain and stock.
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JOHN SOLLARS.
John Sollars, farmer, is a son of Samuel Sollars, an early settler, who was born February 9, 1806, in Alleghany County. In the fall of 1808, he removed with his parents to this state, and landed in this county, one mile southeast of Good Hope. He was the oldest child and reared by his parents, remaining on the farm till twenty- four years of age. IIe began attending school in 1813, in an old cabin south of the present residence of Judson MeCoy, taking a blazed road which his father cut from the house to the school. His teacher was William Records, who is remembered as a good scribe and mathematician, and somewhat of a poet; was tall in stature and somewhat eccentrie. The cabin in which the school was held, was built by John Davis, a squatter, and occupied as a school after his death. This cabin, and another built some years later, were the only institutions of learning attended by him. His teacher, in 1814, was Bazzle Musset. September 20, 1832, he mar- ried Nancy, daughter of John Mc Williams, of Clermont County, who was an old pioneer and surveyed land near Cincinnati, in 1796.
Our subject's grandfather, Isaac Sollars, came from Maryland to Pennsylvania, prior to the war of the revolution, and his ancestors may truly be called pioneers. The marriage was blessed by eight children : Lucy, John, Samuel, Ann, Frank, William, Nancy, and Elizabeth ; those dead, are Lucy, Samuel, Ann, and Frank.
Samuel enlisted in Company C, 54th O. V. I., June 11, 1864. During the battle at Pittsburg Landing, a branch from a tree struck and disabled him, and he was discharged. He re-enlisted in the one hundred days service, in Company I, 160th O. V. N. G., and received a mortal wound at Cynthiana. Franklin was in Com- pany E, 122d O. V. I., enlisted June 2, 1864, was taken ill with typhoid fever at Washington, and died at Jarvis Hospital, Balti- more. He was engaged in the battles of Monacacy, in front of Petersburg, and Richland (on skirmish line two days). John as- sisted in driving the Morgan raiders from our borders. All three were brave and daring soldiers, and beloved by comrades and officers ; two gave up their lives in the cause, and we gladly pen this small tribune to their memory.
Our subject settled on this farm with his father, in 1816, and
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
took possession in 1832, and has lived here since. He assisted in changing the wild state of the land to one of high cultivation. He owns one hundred acres in this township, one hundred and fifty in Perry Township, and seven hundred and twenty acres of woodland in Illinois. He is a pioneer, successful farmer, retains an excellent memory, and is beloved and esteemed by all who know him.
CORNELIUS SMYTHE.
Cornelius Smythe, farmer, a son of William Smythe, was born in Ireland in 1832. He crossed the Atlantic in 1850, and settled near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he farmed for three years, and then removed to Ironton, and engaged in the same occupation. Here, on the 21st of August, 1866, he was married to Hannah, daughter of D. Trainer, and a native of Ireland. She bore him nine chil- dren : William, John, Belle, Hannah, Cornelius, Daniel, Cecelia, Thomas, and Emma; the latter deceased. They remained at Iron- ton about eight years, and then removed to this county, settling on the B. Mooney farm. Four years later he settled on his present farm, which contains five hundred and sixty-six acres, and is located on Compton Creek, six miles from Washington, on the Circleville Pike. He grazes and feeds stock. He and wife are members of the St. Colemans Catholic Church, at Washington. He was employed by the government three months during the late war. Takes no active interest in politics, but has heretofore been a Democrat. The ceremony at his marriage was performed by Father Gilmore, now bishop at Cleveland.
ANANIAS WARE.
Ananias Ware, farmer, is a son of Jacob Ware, who was born in Virginia, and removed to this state in 1810, settling in Pike County. He then went to Ross County, where he lived till 1853, when he moved to the farm now owned by our subject. He was married to Eliza, daughter of Thomas and Gemima McDonald. The latter is said to have been the first white woman that settled in the Scioto valley. She was a sister of Governor Duncan Mc- Arthur. Her husband was one of the first surveyors in this sec- tion. He died in 1847 or 1848; she in 1875, at the advanced age of ninety-six years.
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Jacob Ware was born in 1802, his wife in 1806. They had eight children, of whom six are living: Thomas Allen, Ananias, Allison M., William, Alice (now Mrs. L. A. Reed), and Jacob E. Ile and wife were exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church from early childhood. He died in 1859; she is still living at Frankfort.
Our subject was born in 1836, in Frankfort, Ross County, where he lived until sixteen years of age, receiving a common school ed- ucation, and then removed to the place he now occupies, where he has since resided. He was married, September 16, 1858, to Me- linda, daughter of Jacob Eyman, of this township, who bore him seven children, of whom six are living: Ida F., Charles A., W. A. Frank S., Laura, and Ella; all at home but the latter, who lives with her Grandma Eyman.
Mr. Ware is a member of the Camp Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, as are all the children who reside at home. His wife be- longs to the Fairview German Baptist Church. He assisted in driving the Morgan raiders from our borders, and had five brothers in the regular service. William was taken prisoner at the battle of the wilderness, and confined in most of the rebel prisons. Is a Republican, politically; owns three hundred and twenty-five acres of land on the Chillicothe pike, five miles from Washington, all in a successful state of cultivation. He farms to grain and stock, and makes a specialty of breeding English Berkshire hogs.
ADAM T. WHITE.
Adam T. White, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Jesse White, whose ancestors were natives of Kentucky, and removed to this state in an early day, and here Jesse was born February 11, 1813. The White family originally settled near Chillicothe, when the vicinity was inhabited by Indians ; after residing there, they re- moved to this county. The grandfather of Jesse was a tanner, and accumulated quite a sum of money while at Chillicothe, with which he purchased a large tract of land in this township, then purchased nearly all the lands of an entire township, in Kosciusko County, Indiana, soon after which he died.
Our subject was born November 12, 1838, on the farm now owned by Aaron Johnson, lived there a few years, then removed with the family to the vicinity of Washington, and then to the
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Jesse White homestead, where he was reared, educated and devot- ed himself to farming. He has always been interested in stock, and raised some fine horses. He was married, in 1863, to Minerva Ellen, daughter of Henry Stuckey, of Ross County; the result being one boy : Jesse, who was born September 28, 1864, and still lives with his parents. He is overseer in Union Live Grange ; politically, a Democrat, though his ancestors were Whigs.
He owns a farm containing one hundred and fifty-two acres, well improved, which is located on the Springfield and Chillicothe road, and farms largely to grain.
WILLIAM H. WHITESEL.
William H. Whitesel, farmer, is a son of George Whitesel, a native of Berkeley County, Virginia. His grandfather was brought from Germany by the British (was not a Hessian) to fight Amer- icans, and instead of returning to his native country, he remained here. He was born in February, 1755, and married Elizabeth West, a native of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1787. He departed this life October 31, 1825, his wife July 13, 1836. George Whitesel, father of our subject, was born March 2, 1790, and married January 10, 1822, Mary Sidener, who bore him twelve children, of whom ten survive : Nancy, Nicholas, Elizabeth, George, Allen, Mary, Jacob, Samuel, William H., and Sarah M. The deceased are Anna E. and Catherine M.
At the age of nineteen, he came to this state with his father, who settled in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway County; he and all his brothers were in the war of 1812, serving during the surrender of Hull, for a period of three months. For their noble efforts in pre- serving the country, they were the recipients of both bounty lands and money. He died in Pickaway County, December 4, 1866, and his wife preceded him to the grave August 12, 1866. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and lived true and noble lives.
Our subject was born October 1, 1863, in Pickaway County, this state, where he lived twenty-five years. He was located some dis- tance from any college of learning, and obtained his education in the log cabin where the rod reigned supreme. June 20, 1861, he was married to Martha J., daughter of Isaac Thomas, a native of Pennsylvania, who dying, he married Jane Coldern, who was born
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on the farm they now occupy. Mr. and Mrs. Whitesel have been blessed by three children : Arthur A., Mary Mertie, and Forest Ethel ; all living. They have adopted their niece, Mary Jane Dav- idson, and have an interesting family.
While not an active participant in the late war, he was ever ready and willing to assist when it lay in his power. His brother, Sam- uel, went from Missouri, was wounded in the limb, and still carries the ball .. Five brothers of Mrs. Whitesel showed their patriotism by going to the front, and fortunately escaped unhurt. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Green- field, and are known as exemplary Christians.
March 15, 1866, he removed to his present farm; it is located on the Frankfort and Martinsburg road, four and one-half miles fron Greenfield, and contains one hundred acres; is adorned by a hand- some residence, is well fenced and tilled, and makes one of the most desirable residences in the locality. He has an extensive or- chard, and has been blessed with good crops each year. The yield in 1880, was five hundred bushels of apples and divers other fruits. Is a Republican, but no office seeker.
REV. HENRY H. WITTER.
In 1640, William Witter crossed the Atlantic, a fugitive from England, his native country, because of his religious belief. He was a Baptist, and settled in Lynn, Massachusetts.
June 15, 1651, Obadiah Holmes, Robert Crandall, and John Clark, held a religious meeting at the house of William Witter, and were arrested by the authorities from Boston, who were prose- cuting the Baptists when opportunity offered. Crandall and Clark were released, but Holmes was whipped, receiving thirty-nine lashes, and fastened to a cow, which was driven through the Boston Com- mons. Witter was not arrested; but being advanced in years, died soon after.
Our subject is a lineal descendant of the Witter above men- tioned. His father, Elijah, was born in the State of New York, in 1807, and his mother, Amy Ann Ballou, in Rhode Island, in 1811. Her parents were fugitives from France, because of their political proclivities. There were ten children of this family, seven sons and three daughters, of which seven are living. The parents and children are members of the Baptist Church.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Mr. Witter was born December 31, 1836, in Madison County, Ohio; lived there till fourteen years of age, then removed with his parents to Union County, this state. At the age of nineteen, he entered Granville College, and began preaching at the age of twenty-one. His license to preach was issued when in his twenty- second year. With the exception of four years, spent on the farm after leaving school, he has been a minister in the Baptist Church ever since. His ministerial career opened at Milford Center, where he remained two years, then removed to Prospect, Marion County, and after laboring four years, removed to New Vienna, Clinton County, and at the close of five years (in 1878) came here. His la- bors have been crowned with success.
He is a radical temperance advocate, and has been a faithful worker in the cause. He has held two public religious discussions; . one with Rev. R. G. Galbraith, Presbyterian minister at Frankfort, Ohio, the other with Armanus Hixon, German Baptist, at Fairview, in this township. He has also discussed, through the secular press.
March 4, 1862, he was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Wilson Reed, of Milford Center, the union being blessed by five children : Otis Lincoln, Minnie, an infant, Elijah, and DeGrace; one died in infancy, and Elijah when about eleven years of age. His son Otis is attending Granville College, and his daughter is a student in the Female Seminary at the same place.
SILAS WOLF.
Silas Wolf, farmer, was born in August, 1834, near Waltkirch, Baden, Germany. His father, Joseph, was a native of the same place, and was there married to Maria Traenkle, who was born near the same locality. She bore him seven children : Joseph, Anton, Maria, Silas, Caroline, Kawiesentz, George, and Charles, the latter deceased. Mr. Wolf died about 1870, his wife preceding him to the grave in 1842. He was in the war during the years 1814 and 1815; was wounded, and received a pension for his gallant service.
Silas Wolf came to this country in 1854; was on the ocean forty- three days, during which time he encountered many storms, which threatened the destruction of the ship. He arrived at Greenfield on the 19th of May, and began working for the farmers of the vicinity, continuing nine years, and then purchased land below Greenfield, where he lived several years; next removed to Minne-
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sota, where he remained three months, then returned to Greenfield about February 1, 1867, and in the fall of the same year purchased his present farm.
In 1871, he married Rosa Gangel, of Wittenberg, Germany, who bore him one child, Emil, who is living. She was a member of the Catholic Church, lived a devoted life, and died in 1874. He was again married, December 25, 1876, to Margaret Galbert, of Penn- sylvania, which resulted in two children, Rosa and Elizabeth, both living. Himself and wife attend the Catholic Church at Greenfield. He has never aspired to office, and is a Democrat in politics. He owns ninety acres on the Good Hope and Greenfield pike, three miles from the latter place, well improved, and on which he has erected a handsome residence.
NEWELL B. WOOD.
The ancestors of Mr. Wood came from Normandy to Ireland, in the eleventh century. One family came to America in 1740; the head of this family was the father of William Wood, born in Mary- land. His son, Isaac, removed to this state from Kings County, Pennsylvania, December, 1810. A few years after the Woods' came to America, they were followed by James Savage, who located near Augusta, Maine. Amos Brailey was born in Maine, in 1776. Al- ice Savage is a daughter of Joseph, a son of Isaac, who came froni Ireland. Alice was united in marriage to Amos Brailey. Their daughter, Rebecca, came to Meigs County, Ohio, April, 1817. Jan- uary 12, 1838, she was united in marriage to John Wood, the union being blessed by three children: Annas, born August 26, 1839; Newell B., July 16, 1843, and Ruel B., October 26, 1845. Mr. Wood departed this life, October 11, 1845. His wife died, April 1850.
Our subject was born, July 16, 1843, in Rutland Township, Meigs County, Ohio. His father having died one year previous, at three years of age, removed, with his mother, to Milton Township, Jack- son County, locating on a farm, which has recently been purchased by the managers of the railroad running through it, and abounds in coal. While attending school in the rude log cabin, a well was dug, those doing the work came upon a vein of coal, but did not use it for fuel, owing to the absence of proper facilities for burning it. He remained on this farm until 1855, when they took a trip to
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