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 76
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Indiana, where they remained one year. At that time the market was dull, labor cheap, and prices high. They again located in Jackson County, where they remained until 1867, when they re- turned to their old home in Meigs County, and stayed two years. During the intervening time, his grandfather's estate had been in court fourteen years. It was quite valuable, but finally realized the three heirs but one hundred dollars each.
He next worked on a farm in Jackson County, until 1863; spent one year in Pickaway County, near New Holland, and in the years 1864-'66, worked for William McGee, at the Iron Valley Furnace, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his employer while there.
He was married, March 14, 1867, to Almed L., daughter of George W. Phillips, who still resides in Jackson County. The union has been blessed with six children: Ida, born June 27, 1868; Haley R., November 17, 1859; Clarence A., March 13, 1872; Jesse G., November 2, 1875; John B., July 28, 1878, and Charlie Law- rence, October 3, 1879. After his marriage, he moved to Vinton County, Ohio, and engaged in burning charcoal. He remained one season, then returned to his former employer (McGee), whose fur- nace had been idle during the interval, and remained until 1871, when he removed to the farm he now occupies.
He is a member of Fayette Lodge, No. 187, F. and A. M., and was made Master Mason, in Mineral Lodge, Vinton County. He went out from Pickaway County, to assist in capturing Morgan, and was gone eighteen days.
He occupies the John Boyd tract, which contains one thousand acres, divided by the Bogus road, and Ohio Southern Railroad. It is well improved. He has cleared about three hundred and fifty acres, constructed over twenty-five miles of fence, which required one hundred and seventeen thousand new rails. The land is well drained, and contains five thousand two hundred and seventy-five rods of tile, and seven hundred and seventy rods of open ditch. He opened the first coal mine on the Ohio Southern Railroad, and is still interested in its management. He farms largely to grain, and ships by the Ohio Southern Railroad.
IRA YEOMAN.
Ira Yeoman, son of James Yeoman, whose history appears else- where, was born in the state of New York, May 5, 1808, and
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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
remained there until the spring of 1815; then came down the Al- leghany River, on a raft. The river was high, and, at Pittsburg, they landed on a large elm tree. They took the raft on the Ohio, and landed at Columbia, near Cincinnati. In the fall they re- moved to this township, and settled above Rock Mills. IIe spent his youth at home, and after his father's death, took charge of the family. His education, to use his own words, " was in the clear- ing," for in those days, there were few opportunities to attend school. He was married, April 8, 1830, to Oce, daughter of Rob- ert McElwain, who bore him one child, Robert, who lives on the farm adjoining. He and wife are exemplary Christians, and mem- bers of the Old School Baptist Church.
In 1859, he started a store at Rock Mills, and remained three years, and then resumed farming. In March, 1874, he removed to Rattlesnake Creek, remained two years, and then came to his pres- ent farm, which is located on the old Miami trace, one mile from Good Hope, and contains one hundred and ninety-four acres, well improved. He farms to grain and stock.
Mr. Yeoman held the office of township treasurer, fifteen years, township clerk, two years, and county commissioner three years, a sufficient guarantee as to his integrity. He is a Republican, though a Democrat prior to the candidacy of Fremont.
ROBERT J. YEOMAN.
Robert Yeoman, son of Ira and Oce (McElwain) Yeoman, was born on the old homestead, one and one-half miles west of his present home, April 13, 1831. He spent his youth on the farm, and enjoyed few educational advantages.
In January 6, 1853, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of John A. Hill, who bore him five children : Osco, Sarah J., Ella E., Emma F., and William Ira; the latter deceased. Mrs. Yeoman died, October 11, 1863, and on the 23d of March, 1865, he married Caroline H., daughter of Joseph Parker, of Warren County, the result being nine children : Mary O., Joseph W., Effie J., Mattie E., Robert S., Madora C., Arthur Earl, Lula, and Bertha Ellen; all living. Mrs. Yeoman is a member of the Paint Baptist Church.
Since 1856, Mr. Yeoman has been a Republican, having been a Democrat prior to that time. In the fall of 1874, he was elected
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
justice of the peace, and served six years. He was a member of Company I, 168th O. V. N. G .; he was called out, May 1864, and served four months, and participated in the battle of Cynthiana. He purchased his present farm, located about one mile from Good Hope, on the old Miami trace (the oldest road laid off in the county, being opened from Frankfort, or Oldtown, to the Miami River), March, 1865. It contains one hundred and thirty-eight and one- half acres, richly improved, and is one of the most desirable farms in the township.
MARION TOWNSHIP.
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Marion Township was originally a part of Madison, from which it was taken July 18, 1840. Its settlement, however, ante-dates its organization thirty-six years.
John Uriah Blue was among the earliest inhabitants of Marion, coming from Virginia in 1804, and settling on the north fork of Paint Creek, on land now occupied by Charles McRea, where he resided till his death in 1820.
About 1804 or 1805, William Curry, the celebrated counterfeiter, mentioned elsewhere, came from Virginia, and squatted on land now owned by Smith Chaffin and his son Jonathan, the present dwelling of the latter occupying the site of Curry's cabin. Curry belonged to an organized band of counterfeiters and horse thieves, of which the Funk family were members, who operated in this and surrounding counties, and also in Kentucky, and whose head- quarters for some time were at Curry's house. Curry was finally arrested and sent to the Ohio Penitentiary for a term of fifteen years.
John McCarty came from near Frankfort, Ross County, perhaps as early as 1808, and settled on land bought of General McArthur, on which he resided till his death, November 21, 1844.
Edward Wilcox settled in Marion, prior to 1810, on land pur- chased of Duncan McArthur, which is now in the possession of Smith Chaffin. Mr. Wilcox was a man of deserved prominence, and the township suffered the loss of one of its most useful citizens in his removal to Illinois in 1832.
Nathaniel and William Newman, emigrated from Virginia in 1810, perhaps a little earlier, and settled on land now owned by Smith Chaffin.
Peter Blue was a native of Virginia, and emigrated from that state in 1810, locating on land now owned by Smith Chaffin. He was an excellent citizen, and his death, which occured in 1848, was deeply deplored by the entire community.
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HÍSTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Jonathan Shepherd was born in Hardy County, Virginia, June 30, 1787, and emigrated at the age of fifteen with his father's fan- ily to Ross County, one-half mile from Frankfort. At the age of twenty, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of William and Frances Dailey, of Ross County, by whom he had one child: Susan, the estimable wife of Smith Chaffin, who at pre- sent resides at New Holland, Pickaway County, and to whom we are indebted for much of the pioneer history of Marion.
Mr. Shepherd came to Marion in the spring of 1810, and bought a four years lease of John Dixon; at the expiration of which, he rented the same land for one year from Adam Turner, who in the meantime had purchased this farm. In 1815, he purchased three hundred acres of land, in Quarrels's survey, No. 607, of Cadwal- lader Wallace, agent for Quarrels, on which he at once settled, and remained till his death, April 1, 1862, at the advanced age of seventy-five. He was one of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Salem Chapel, and lived a consist- ent Christian life.
Daniel Grubs was a native Virginia, and emigrated from that state, first to Kentucky, thence to Marion Township, in 1812, and located on land now owned by the heirs of Gideon Gamble, in G. Renich's survey, No. 6,522.
He devoted much time to sport, and many were the panthers, bears, wolves, and deer he killed in his hunting expeditions. His death occurred in 1838.
Adam Turner, by birth a native of Pennsylvania, came to Mar- ion from Ross County, in 1814, and settled on military survey, No. 628, consisting of one thousand acres purchased of John Johnson, a revolutionary soldier, a part of which is in Wayne Township, owned by Cornelius Smith, the remainder being in the possession of Barnell Mooney. He remained till 1835, when he sold to a Mr. White, of Philadelphia, and removed to Kosciusko County, Indiana. He was a public spirited, enterprising man, and did much to devel- op Marion and Wayne townships.
George Bohrer was born at Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1776, and in youth accompanied his father's family to Berkeley County, Virginia, where, July 23, 1796, he married Mary Tallman, and remained till December, 1799, when the young couple settled near Steubenville, Ohio, remaining there till 1814, then removed to Marion, and located on land bought of Uriah Blue, now in the
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
possession of the widow of Gibson Britton, in J. Watt's survey, No. 6,941.
In December, 1827, he removed to Washington, and entered into a partnership in the dry goods and millinery business with James Woods, in which he continued till the 3d of May, 1829, when he removed to New Holland, Pickaway County, and again embarked in the mercantile business, which he followed till his death, Octo- ber 11, 1832. He was the father of eleven children : Rosana, Mary, Zilpha, Josiah, Eli, Joel, Rebecca, Lurana, Zenas, Phineas, and Martha; all of whom are dead except the latter, Mrs. Martha Long, who resides on Court Street, Washington.
Mr. Bohrer was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and donated a lot on which the Salem Church was built.
The following incident in connection with the life of Mrs. Bohrer, the wife of George Bohrer, whose biography appears elsewhere, we deem worthy of a place in this work.
Mrs. Bohrer, whose maiden name was Mary Tallman, was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, March 19, 1780. Early on the morn- ing of the 7th of January, 1800, she left home to cross the Capin Mountains, on horseback, to visit her aged parents, who resided in the vicinity of Sleepy Creek, carrying her infant daughter, seven months old, with her. The weather was exceedingly cold, and the . snow in the mountains was three feet deep. For defense and com- pany, she took with her. the house-dog, a large and powerful span- iel. Having gained the summit of the mountain range, she con- cluded to abandon the regular road, and follow a short cut, hoping thereby to reach her father's house the same evening. She had not proceeded far however, before she found herself bewildered, and in consequence became frightened. In her perplexity she wandered about through the mountains until the deep silence of de- scending night had enveloped the world in gloom, when she dis- mounted, fastened her horse to a sapling, and as well as circum- stances would permit, prepared a place to spend the night. Fortunately she had some extra clothing with her, in the shape of a shawl and cloak, and removing, as well as she could, the snow from beneath a large tree, she made the best disposition possible of her apparel, commended herself to God and with her babe in her arms, and her faithful dog by her side, she composed herself for the night.
For a week previous to undertaking this journey, she had been
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
unusually exercised concerning her spiritual welfare, and had spent much time in perusing an old prayer-book; and now, in her deso- late condition, far from home and earthly friends, surrounded by every danger, the cold blasts of winter sweeping over her, she fully realized her utter dependence upon God; and the prayers she had read came vividly to her mind, and she poured forth afresh petitions for protection and deliverance for herself and child.
To add to her misfortunes, her horse, shortly after he had been fastened, broke his bridle, and started off at full speed, leaving her helpless. During that long and sleepless night she struggled with the freezing elements. Day dawned at last, and though she and her infant were prevented from perishing by the extra clothing and the heat from the dog's body, yet on account of the benumbed and stiffened condition of her limbs, she could scarcely move or lift her child. In desperation, however, she made an effort to return to the road, well knowing that unless she reached some set- tlement she must perish with the cold; but alas ! she was unable to find it. Disappointed, weary, and freezing, she retraced her feeble steps to the spot she had occupied on the previous night. In the faint hope that some passing hunter might see and recog- nize her signs of distress, which might lead him to her relief, she first hung her apron on a bush ; then tied her handkerchiefto an over- hanging limb; broke off a branch here, and bent down the bushes there, as she passed along, until late in the afternoon of Saturday, hungry and fainting, she reached her former lodging place. But feeling now the dread of passing another night in this desolate place, and seeing the sun fast declining in the west, she summoned that indomitable spirit of courage peculiar to her sex when in difficulty and danger, she determined to make one more desper- ate effort to reach a settlement; and in order to be less incumber- ed, she discarded a part of her apparel, and began anew to contend with the snow, rocks, and caverns of the mountains. At length she came to a deep, narrow canyon, down whose percipitous sides descent was impossible with the child in her arms. In this dilem- ma, she threw her babe across the gulch, then made the rugged passage herself by seizing hold of the laurel bushes in her danger- ous descent and ascent. To her joy, on reaching the opposite side she found her child uninjured, save a slight scratch made by the crust of the snow, and clasping it in her arms she resumed her desolate journey, along a hog path leading to a cleft of shelving
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
rocks, in which these animals were accustomed to sleep. Here she determined at first to spend the night; but her subsequent fears that she and her child might become a prey to the hogs on their return, overcame this resolution, and again she dragged her- self about three hundred yards distance to the side of the moun- tain, where the branches of a friendly pine offered a sort of protection, which she accepted for the night. By this time her stockings were entirely cut off by the crust of the snow, and her limbs and ankles were profusely bleeding. Carefully wrapping her clothing around her feet and body, and folding her babe to her warm bosom, she again implored Divine protection, and committed herself to Him who she felt must be her great deliverer. Her faithful dog had not deserted her, and this night would lie down just where she bade him; sometimes on her feet and limbs, and then at her back, as she desired, seeming to realize that this was necessary to keep her from freezing. During the night ten inches of snow fell, and the wind howled fiercely through the leaf- less branches. From sheer exhaustion she at last fell asleep. When she awoke in the morning she heard chickens crowing and dogs barking at the foot of the mountain, so near was she to a house. She thought also, that she heard the people feeding their cattle, and called loud and long for relief; but none came, the wind, which was from that direction, preventing her voice from reaching them. This morning she found that her limbs were greatly swollen, and the skin in many places broken.
This discovery pierced her to the heart, and having abandoned all further hope of rescue, she laid her babe upon the frozen snow, and made her peace with God, in preparation for the horrible death she felt awaited her; but the thought of leaving her babe was more than her mother's heart could bear, and when it began to weep the mother's love asserted itself, and again folding it to her breast, she resorted to the expedient of pinning the child's bonnet to the dog's neck, and sending him to solicit assistance. The faithful animal, as if perfectly understanding what was wanted, started off at once, and was afterward tracked to the nearest house, thence to a mill; but it being Sabbath-day, and extremely cold, the dwellings were all closed, no one saw him, and in an hour or two he returned to his mistress.
At feeding time in the afternoon, she again began calling, and a man on the top of a stack of hay heard her, and told his wife that
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
he heard a noise at the top of the mountains like a person in dis- tress, and later visited a neighbor, and told him the same, to which the latter replied that " he supposed it was only a panther."
This night was spent in communion with God, and in anxiety for the safety of her child. Her dog, as on the previous night, lay pre- cisely where directed by his mistress, and this, with her covering of snow, prevented her from freezing.
On Monday morning, she commenced calling the third time for help, and a man (who proved to be an acquaintance) feeding his flock, heard her voice, as also did his wife in the house, who re- marked to her husband : "If Polly Bohrer were near, I should say it was her voice."
James Smith and John McIntyre mounted their horses, and, with their guns, started to the relief, but were unfortunately led in the wrong direction, by the echoes of Mrs. Bohrer's voice from a neigh- boring hill, and returned in the afternoon from a fruitless search ; but as they were stabling their horses, Mr. Smith again heard the wail of distress. The sun was about an hour high, and the long, lingering beams from the far horizon upon the snow-clad wilds, in- spired feelings of the deepest gloom and solitude when they started again.
The feeble cry of the perishing woman had ceased. But just as they were about choosing a wrong direction, impressed with a mys- terious feeling that one more effort would bring her assistance, she called again, and her voice led them to her.
But here a new difficulty presented itself. Her clothing was frozen fast to the ground, and in her almost lifeless condition she was powerless to extricate herself, and the dog, for some time, re- fused to let the men approach, but was finally pacified.
Until now she had not shed a tear; but the hope she had aban- doned of again meeting her friends and loved ones in this life, re- kindled within her as she realized that deliverance was at hand, and she poured forth copious tears of joy and thanksgiving. She was speedily conveyed to the nearest house, where she soon became un- conscious, and remained in this condition twenty-four hours. The flesh fell from her limbs in many places, and she. lost some of her toes, which prevented her from walking till the following August. The horse failing to return home, her husband supposed she had reached her destination safely, and her parents were unaware of the intended visit.
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
Horatio Walker, Daniel Beates, Samuel Coover, George Slaugh- ter, Joseph and Jonathan Bryan, were all early settlers in Marion, locating in different portions of the township. Walker came from Virginia, and settled on land now owned by the widow McRea, in G. Reinck's survey, number 6521. Beates, by nativity a New Jer- seyman, came to Marion from Virginia, and settled on land now owned by James Dick, in Dunlap's survey, number 10412. Slaugh- ter emigrated from Delaware to Marion, and settled on land now owned by the heirs of James McRea. Coover was born in Penn- sylvania, and came to Ross County, from Kentucky, in 1812, and and from there to Marion early in the settlement of this territory. He at first engaged in his trade, of tailoring, but subsequently en- tered into land speculations, and being a man of some means, aided many of the pioneers of Marion to obtain homes. He had accu- mulated quite a fortune at his death, which occurred in 1830. Bryan settled on Paint Creek, near the line of Wayne, where he passed a long and useful life, in farming and stock raising.
Charles Beatty, came from Hampshire County, Virginia, proba- bly as early as 1818, and settled on land bought of Samuel Dew, Dew's survey, number 4729, which is now in possession of Wil- liam Clark.
James Manary, was born in Pennsylvania, in about the year 1775, and when two years of age, removed with his parents to Ken- tucky. At the age of twelve, he removed to Ross County, Ohio. His father, James H., settled on the North Fork of Paint, four miles west of what is now known as Chillicothe. He helped to lay out the village, and was the first representative of Ross. .
During the war of 1812, he served as general, and the subject of this sketch as major, of the militia, which guarded the frontier. The elder Manary died in Ross County.
In 1813, he married Catharine Elliott, whose parents were early settlers of Ross, and lived near Bourneville. Immediately after their marriage, they settled on the farm in this township, now owned by their son, James H., in a large double log house. The bride's parents settled on the adjoining farm, now owned by their grandson, B. Elliott.
Mr. Manary made farming and stock raising his life business. He was elected associate judge, and served his term to the full satisfaction of the people. His wife bore him six children, of which Joseph H., is the only one living. She was a devoted mem-
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
ber of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church, and departed this life in about 1830.
Some years later, he was married to Mrs. Rebecca Gibson, nee Beatty, daughter of Charles Beatty, of this county, who lived on the farm now occupied by William Clark. She bore him three children. He was one of the original members of the Blooming- burg Presbyterian Church, and elder from the organization of the same to his death, always an indefatigable worker in the Lord's vineyard.
Thomas Cook, sen., was born and married in Delaware, and came to this state in 1807 or 1808, settling in Frankfort, Ross County. He next removed to this township, and located on a tract of land now owned by Hezekiah Brown, then removed to Indiana, where he died. It is quite probable that he participated in the war of 1812.
His son, George B., was born in Delaware, in about 1806, and accompanied his parents to this state. He was married, to Hester Ann, daughter of Daniel Bates, who emigrated from Virginia, in about 1808, and who served in the war of 1812. They had three children : Daniel, Jane, and Thomas J., all living. The mother died when the latter was quite young. The father still resides in Iowa.
Moses Thompson emigrated from England to Delaware, in 1720, where he purchased a large tract of land. He served in the Revo- lutionary war, under 'General Washington. His sons, John, Mo- ses, Jesse, Thomas, and Joshua, emigrated to Ohio, in 1805. Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was born in Delaware, Sep- tember 21, 1771, where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Ann Sawyer, and who was born in England, May 28, 1768. They had one child, Thomas jr., born June 7, 1804. Mrs. Thomp- son died. January 27, 1820. She had been previously married to a Mr. Wells, by whom she had two children. Mr. Thompson was twice married afterwards, his wives names being respectively : Mrs. King, and Mrs. VanDyke.
Mr. Thompson came to Fayette County, and settled in Marion Township, on Compton's Creek, on land now owned by W. Coke Thompson. Being a local preacher, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, his house was the stopping place for all the ministers who chanced to pass that way. He resided on this farm until his death, which occurred March 19, 1847.
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
His son, Thomas, came with the family to this township, and married Ann Hawkins, daughter of David and Jane (Clevenger) Hawkins. David Hawkins died, December 14, 1838, aged fifty-two years, five months, and twenty-nine days, and his wife was born, October 12, 1789, and died in her forty-first year. She was the daughter of Aden Clevenger, who was born in Tennessee, and took an active part in the Revolutionary war, then removing to this township, and died here, June 13, 1829.
The mother of David Hawkins came from Virginia, a widow with a family, and settled in Ross County, near Dry Run, then re- moving to this township, located on the North Fork of Paint.
The marriage of David Hawkins, with Miss Clevenger, resulted in ten children : Sarah, Mary, Amanda, Ann, Elizabeth, Susan, La- vina, David, Jane, and Aden. Mary, Susan, Lavina, and Jane, are yet living; the first three in Iowa, and the latter here. Elizabeth went to California by overland route, and died after her arrival.
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