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 79

Author: Dills, R. S
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Dayton, Ohio : Odell & Mayer
Number of Pages: 1070


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 79


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He owns twenty-eight acres of land on the Waterloo and Hol- land road, mostly in a good state of cultivation. Is a Republican,


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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


and has held the office of constable for several years. Is a re- spectable farmer, and good citizen.


JOHN W. STOOKEY.


John W. Stookey, farmer, son of Aaron Stookey, was born July 28, 1844, in Ross County, where he was reared. Removed to Pick- away County, in 1865, and to his present farm in 1869.


Was married to Letitia, daughter of Joseph Britton, December, 1868, the union resulting in three children : Alpheus, Almer, and Adie, deceased.


He went out during the war, in 1862, being a private in the 89th O. V. I., and served till June, 1865. Was wounded at Chicka- mauga, being shot above the left knee. Upon recovering, he re- joined his command; while the railroad in the rear of Atlanta was destroyed, was again wounded, this time in the right hip. Since 1876, he has suffered constantly from the effects of his last wound. He was a brave soldier, and engaged in some of the most import- ant battles, such as Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Charleston, Peachtree Creek, and Atlanta. After receiving his second wound, he was compelled to lie in the hospital nearly a year, and suffered untold agonies for some time after.


He owns eighty-six acres near the Circleville pike, in a good state of cultivation, and farms chiefly to grain.


MARION STROPE.


Marion Strope, farmer, son of William Strope, whose biography appears in another part of this work, was born March 6, 1847, in this township, and in the house he now occupies. November 17, 1871, he was married to Missouri Cartright, who has borne him two children : Henry Veal, and Cora Ellen, both living. Mrs. Strope is an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of New Holland. He is a member of New Holland Lodge No. 392, F. & A. M., and at present holds the office of Junior Warden. During the rebellion he went with Company I, 150th O. N. G., and with the regiment was stationed at various points; served as a private. He is a Republican. Is serving the third successive term as trustee of this township.


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MARION TOWNSHIP.


LAFAYETTE STROPE.


Lafayette Strope, farmer, is a son of William Strope, and was born in this township, March 17, 1845, where has since lived. He was married, August 5, 1863, to Ann, daughter of Richard Bates, who bore him one child, Dora, and died in November, 1864, a con- sistent member of the Christian Church. In April, 1868, he mar- ried Essa, daughter of Hezekiah Brown. This union resulted in six children : Charles, Nancy, Clara, Mary E., William, and Inez. Mrs. Strope is a member of the New Holland Christian Church.


Mr. Strope is a member of New Holland Lodge, F. & A. M. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 90th O. V. I., and was with the regiment until the battle of Murfreesboro, when he came home on a sick furlough, remained about three weeks, then re- turned and served till March, 1863, when he received an honorable discharge, He is a Republican, and has served as school director of his district about ten years.


ADEN SAWYER THOMPSON.


Aden Sawyer Thompson, farmer, and dealer in live stock, is a son of Thomas Thompson, and was born in this township, Septem- ber 8, 1839, where he was reared, and has since lived. Obtained the rudiments of a common school education, and spent two years at the Ohio Wesleyan University. Taught school nearly two years, and has since farmed and dealt in stock. He was married, in 1863, to Emma, daughter of James Alexander, who came to Paint Town- ship in about 1821. They had two children : Walter and Charles, the former deceased. Mrs. Thompson was an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed this life in 1873. In 1877, he married Nollie Yates, a member of the Christian Church. She was taken ill soon after marriage, and passed away in April, 1878.


Mr. Thompson is a member of Bloomingburg Lodge No. 449, F. & A. M., and Ely Commandery, Knights Templar, of Washington. He is a Democrat, and has held the office of township trustee, lieu- tenant of state militia, and land appraiser. He owns one hundred and eighty-two acres of land, on the Waterloo pike, six miles from Washington, and farms to grain and stock.


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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


J. C. TODD.


J. C. Todd, farmer, is a son of John Todd, who was born in the State of Delaware, and removed to this state, settling in Ross County, where he lived several years, then removed to this town- ship, on land now owned by Smith Chaffin. Prior to his removal to this state, he married Ann Morris, who bore him five children : Mevinie, Sarah, J. C., Elizabeth, and Luraina; the two last are de- ceased. He is deceased, but his wife still lives near Jeffersonville, and is now Mrs. William Chaffin.


Our subject was born August 28, 1843, in Ross County, and re- moved to this county, when quite small, with his parents, where he has lived to this day, with the exception of seven years, when he resided in Van Wert County. He was married, July 29, 1866, to Martha E., daughter of Otho Lyons. Their union has been blessed by one boy, Smith J., living at home. He and his wife are active members of the Otterbein Methodist Episcopal Church, and devout Christians. He is a member, in good standing, of New Holland Lodge No. 392, F. & A. M., and is now holding the office of senior deacon. During the late war, he was out (in 1862) as a private in Company F, 90th O. V. I .; was promoted to sergeant, and remained till the close of the war, participating in the battles of Murfrees- boro, Chattanooga, and in all the engagements during the last suni- mer campaign. He was a brave and patriotic soldier, and escaped without injury. Is a Republican, and has held the office of town- ship trustee two years, and is at present pike superintendent of Ma- rion Township. He occupies one hundred and twenty-five acres on the George McCrea tract, and raises both grain and stock.


ROBERT W. VINCENT.


Robert W. Vincent, farmer, is a son of Uriah S. Vincent, now living in Washington, and was born December 26, 1839, in Perry Township, Pickaway County, where he remained till 1848, when he came to this township with his parents, locating near New Holland, on a farm now owned by Smith Chaffin. By occupation he is a farmer.


He was married, October 29, 1868, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Thomas Thompson, now deceased. She bore him six children :


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MARION TOWNSHIP.


Lizzie, Maria, Earl, Emma (deceased), William Coke, and Nellie. He is a member of New Holland Lodge No. 329, F. & A. M. About April 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 13th O. V. I., in the three months' service. On the 6th of August, he re-enlisted in Company A, 1st Ohio Cavalry, with which he remained till Septem- ber 13, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was at the battles of Winchester, second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Nashville. The last fight occurred on the 17th of April, 1865, at Columbus, Georgia. He did good service during the war, and es- caped unhurt. In politics he is a Republican. He owns one hun- dred and six acres, on the Woods road, three and one-half miles from New Holland. His farm is well improved, and in a high state of cultivation, and farms chiefly to grain.


JAMES F. WILSON.


A long, honorable, and useful career was that of the late Dr. James. F. Wilson, of New Holland, Perry Township, Pickaway County, and his name is revered by a wide circle of friends. His face was familiar to almost every inhabitant of the western part of Pickaway and the eastern part of Fayette counties, and there are thousands who can testify to his professional thoroughness and ability, and to his intrinsic worth as a man. His was a character that won universal respect by its simple dignity, earnestness, firm- ness, and unvarying integrity. Not a member of any church, he was yet strongly imbued with the faith of Christianity, and his daily life put in practice those principles which are its teachings. He was a liberal supporter of the church, too, and noted for the charity he bestowed on other objects in many directions, being a kind friend to the poor and distressed. One of the most noble of his acts of charity, and one of the strongest indications of his large- hearted patriotism, was during the war. Many of the men who enlisted in the companies, which were afterward assigned to the Ninetieth and One Hundred and Fourteenth regiments, Ohio vol- unteers, were indebted to him for professional services. To all such he gave receipted bills; and to all the members of these two companies, and to other soldiers who went into the war from the vicinity of his home, the doctor made promises, which he faithfully fulfilled, to give their families his services free of charge.


James F. Wilson was the son of John and Mary Wilson, who


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immigrated from Kentucky to Ross County, Ohio, about the year 1802. He was born near Chillicothe, October 5, 1808, and his early years were spent upon the home farm. At the age of twenty-one years, he went to Greenfield, Highland County, and there began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Daniel Robbins. He was finally, after long and careful reading, granted a diploma by the medical society of the district, and upon thus being author- ized to practice his profession, immediately removed to New Hol- land, of which place he was the first resident physician.


Although possessing a fair medical education, he was not satis- fied; and so, after four years' practice, during which time he saved from his accumulated means the sum necessary to pay his expenses, he entered the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati. He graduated from this institution with a good record, and returned to New Hol- land, resuming his practice, and following it all the rest of his life. His ride was a large one, and his practice as successful and lucra- tive as the.country could bestow. His professional reputation be came firmly established early in his career, and he took rank with the best physicians in the county, and was frequently called upon to spare time from his professional duties in the immediate neigh- borhood, to attend councils of physicians in localities at a consid- erable distance. Dr. Wilson had an enviable reputation as a sur- geon, as well as a physician, being regarded as one of the best in this part of the state. He was for a time, during the war, located at Camp Chase, and in his capacity as surgeon, his services were of great value.


He bought, in 1850, a fine farm, just over the line, in Marion Township, Fayette County, and in the western part of New Hol- land village, which was cleared and improved under his direction, and transformed from wild wood land into a beautiful agricultural tract. In 1868, he removed to the house he had provided upon this farm-the tasteful home, where his widow yet resides.


Dr. Wilson was, for the last twenty years of his life, afflicted with heart disease, and he died of this malady, January 21, 1875, leaving a wife and one son. Mrs. Wilson's maiden name was Letitia Dun- lap, and she was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Dunlap, of Ross County. She was born May 24, 1816, and married August 31, 1837.


The only son of James F. and Letitia Wilson is John M., one of Ohio's men of ability and distinction. He was born September 19,


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1838. In his sixteenth year he attended Antioch College, and re- mained there four years, under the instruction of the famous Horace Mann. After President Mann's death, young Wilson entered Union College, at Schenectady, New York, where he graduated with the class of 1862. He read law at Columbus, with the Hon. Chauncy N. Olds, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio, in 1864, and commenced the practice of his profes- sion that same year, at Cincinnati, as the senior member of the firm of Wilson & Champion. He represented Hamilton County two years-in 1871 and 1873-in the legislature, and in the latter year, at the expiration of his term, was appointed, by President Grant, as consul to Bremen. He remained there, as the representative of the United States, two and one-half years, and was then appointed to the consulship at Hamburg, where he remained until July 1, 1879. He is at present consul-general to the Colombian States of South America, and is located at Panama. He married, December 25, 1866, Carrie R. Turpin, of Newton, Hamilton County, Ohio.


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MADISON TOWNSHIP.


Madison Township, situated in the northeast corner of Fayette County, was one of the original townships, established at the or- ganization of the county, in 1810 ; a full description of which will be seen in the general history of the county.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


Samuel Myers was born in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1776. Subsequently, his father moved to Bottetaurt County, Virginia, from which Samuel, then thirty years old, came to Ohio, and settled, August, 1807, on Deer Creek, near the mouth of Duff's Fork, in this township, on land adjoining the northern part of the first survey in the county, No. 463, entered in the name of Thomas Overton, now owned by B. Leavel, then owned by Jesse Mckay. After remaining until January, 1816, Myers re- moved to Compton's Creek, in Paint Township, on land then owned by Benjamin Huff, now occupied by John Rodgers and Robert Morris, and opened a farm and entered into stock raising, driving his cattle, after fattening them, on the rich grass, to Lancaster and Chester counties, Pennsylvania.


At the beginning of the war of 1812, he was commissioned cap- tain of militia, November, 1811, and responded to the general call. During the siege of Ft. Meigs, and for gallant conduct, was elected major in the field.


Mr. Myers represented Fayette County in the General Assembly of 1813, and again in 1818. He was also a justice of the peace for thirty years, and taught the first school in Madison Township, near the present site of Waterloo, in the winter of 1809, walking two and one-half miles to and from the little hut called a school house.


. John Baldwin was born in Virginia, February 21, 1749. He, early in the struggle for independence of the colonies with England, espoused the cause of the patriots, and served during the conflict


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as captain of a militia company, which he himself had raised and equipped. He also paid his men for their service during their en- listment, which exhausted all of a large fortune. This was re- turned in the shape of continental money, but its depreciated value, rendered it almost, if not entirely, worthless.


He received a patent for a large tract of land, in the Virginia military reservation, which he located partly in Madison County, and partly in Madison Township, of this county, and is known as the Wallace-Baldwin survey, No. 9721. In the latter part of . the year 1811, he left Virginia to locate on this land, and reached his destination the last day of that year.


His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Simmons, died before he left Virginia. By her he had twelve children : Jonah, Wil- liam, Thomas, John, Francis, Jachomyer, Betsey, Hannah, Mary, Margaret, Rebecca, and Martha. He was accompanied from Vir- ginia by a few of his sons, and one son-in-law, and his other sons soon followed, all of whom settled on their father's claim, except Francis, who settled near Vincennes, Indiana, where he married, and followed his trade, of carpentering, until his death, which was caused by a wound in the knee, made by an ax.


John and Thomas occupied land in Madison County, and the former served in the war of 1812.


Jonah settled in Madison Township, and built the house now oc- cupied by his son, Jachomyer. His wife's maiden name was Mary Bland, whom he married before leaving Virginia, who was born, August 24, 1783. Seven children resulted from this marriage, whose names, in the order of their birth, were as follows: John, Catharine, Hannah, Margaret, Jachomyer, Joseph, Susan, and Nancy. He died, September 13, 1850, aged seventy-seven years, five months, and twenty-three days. His wife died, October 16, 1856, aged seventy-three years, one month, and twenty-eight days.


William was born in Virginia, and settled on his father's land, in Madison, shortly after his father. He married Catharine Berk- heimer, in Virginia, by whom he had six children : Mary, John, Nancy, Philip, William, Thomas, Henry, and Joshua. He died on this land, September 17, 1823, at the age of fifty years, five months, and twenty-six days. His widow afterwards moved to Missouri, in 1840, where she died.


Richard Corson, son-in-law of John Baldwin, was born, Decem- ber 12, 1781, and came from Virginia with Mr. Baldwin, and set-


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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


tled on land given him by his father-in-law, where Peter Lohr now resides. IIis wife, Mary Baldwin, was born, July 26, 1785, and their marriage took place, November 3, 1808. The names of their children, with the date of their birth, are as follows: John, born September 17, 1809; Henry, born November 10, 1810; Margaret, born February 14, 1812 ; Hannah, born September 17, 1813 ; Abram, born August 22, 1815; Thomas, born April 23, 1817; Benjamin, born July 18, 1819; Mary Jane, born August 5, 1821; Martha, born February 14,-1824; Richard, born May 10, 1826; Elizabeth, born April 13, 1829. Mr. Corson died, October 10, 1838. His wife died in. Missouri, November 1869.


Edmund Clarridge, son of William and Rosana Clarridge, nee Mace, was born in Maryland, October 2, 1789, and in 1798, moved with his father to Ross County, Ohio. His mother died before he left Maryland, and his father, after arriving in Ross, married Mrs. Mollie Cox, a widow lady. Edmund, on the 20th day of March, 1812, at the age of twenty-two, was married to Eleanor, daughter of John and Eleanor McCafferty, of Kentucky. She was born in 1796. Edmund, in 1814, enlisted, and served through the war of 1812, under Major Dunlap. Shortly before he enlisted in the ser- vice of his country, he had removed his family to Madison Town- ship, to which he returned after the close of the war, and spent the remainder of his life.


He served several terms as justice of the peace, and was elected to the office of township treasurer, and clerk also, and the duties devolving on him in his several official capacities were faithfully discharged. At his death, which occurred, September 14, 1868, he owned one hundred and sixty acres of highly cultivated land. His wife died, November 10, 1860.


Edmund and Eleanor Clarridge were the parents of sixteen children, nine boys and seven girls, whose names were as follows: Elizabeth, born May 10, 1813; William, born October 7, 1815; Mace, born April 13, 1817; John, born March 4, 1819 ; Ann, born December 14, 1820; Thomas, born December 8, 1822; James, born December 2, 1824 ; Eleanor, born April 9, 1826 ; Edmund W., born October 4, 1827; Rosana, born October 20, 1829; Joseph Hays, born June 19, 1831; Clarinda, born November 29, 1832; David, born April 25, 1834; Christiann, born January 5, 1836; Sarah Jane, born August 28, 1838; Anthony, born December 27, 1840. Christiann died, August 2, 1836; Jane died, January 17,


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1853; Eleanor died, August 22, 1853; Anthony died, July 2, 1867.


Colonel Johiel Gregory removed from the State of New York to Athens County, Ohio, at an early day, and purchased property con- sisting of a grist-mill, saw-mill, and carding machine, situated one mile below the town of Athens. While in Athens, the title of colonel was conferred upon him, as colonel of militia. In 1815 Colonel Gregory disposed of his property in Athens County, and with his wife and family-which consisted of four sons, Nehemiah, Johial, jr., Andrews, and Adly, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Annis-removed to Madison Township, this county. Col. Gregory owned a large tract of land in this county, having purchased the same from Mr. Taylor, of Newport, Kentucky. He divided these lands into such sized farms, between his four sons, as they desired, keeping a remainder for future distribution. He was in the Revo- lutionary War. After removing to this county, he engaged in farming and the sale of merchandise. He was elected to the State Legislature for two terms, when that body convened in Chillicothe, and held several minor offices while in Athens County. He died in this county, in April, 1818, aged sixty-five years.


Elizabeth Andrews Gregory was born in New York, in 1757, and died in Yankeetown, Fayette County, Ohio, in 1857, aged ninety-nine years, nine months, and twenty-seven days. The last few years of her eventful life she lived with her son Andrews Gregory, on the farm at Yankeetown. Mrs. Gregory's mind was clear, and her memory unfailing, for one of her numerous years. Her reminiscences of the Revolutionary War-such as the throw- ing over of the tea at Boston, the battle of Bunker Hill, the stir- ring events of the time of Washington-were matters of great interest to her great-grandchildren, who were often entertained by her recitals. As previously stated, she removed with her husband and family from New York to Athens County, and from thence to this county, in 1815. She lived through the great struggles of this country, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Mexi- can War, and to within four years of the great trouble between the North and South. She died at a green old age, venerated and respected by a large community.


During the war of 1812, Nehemiah and Johial, jr., two sons of Col. Gregory, were in the first volunteer company from Athens County. Nehemiah was a lieutenant, and Johial a captain. After serving three months they came home. Nehemiah then enlisted


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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


in the regular army, and served through the war as captain, under Col. Zuppe.


As previously stated, these sons removed to this county with their father, Col. Gregory, in 1815. Nehemiah, after serving through the war of 1812, came home to this county, and engaged in farming and other business pursuits. He was a successful man, and his early death, which occurred February 21, 1817, terminated a useful and prosperous life. He left a wife and two children. His widow-since married-and one child, Mrs. Rawson, both aged ladies, are now living in Tiffin, Ohio.


Johiel jr., owned and managed, with good judgment, the farm assigned him, and died, in this county, in 1822, leaving a wife and four children, who in later years removed to Illinois, and have there established themselves and their families.


Adly Gregory, the fourth and youngest son, removed from this county, to the state of Iowa, in 1849, where he accumulated a large property. He died in 1879, at an advanced age, leaving a wife and one child, who survive him, and are now living in Washington, D. C.


Elizabeth and Annis Gregory, the two daughters, married two brothers, by the name of Strong. After their marriage they lived in Jackson, and reared their respective families in the vicinity of Jackson and Wilkville.


Elizabeth (Gregory) Strong, died about the year 1840. Annie (Gregory) Strong, perhaps, is living at this time.


Andrews, the third son of Colonel Gregory, was born in 1788, and died, in Yankeetown, Fayette County, Ohio, July 21, 1866, aged seventy-eight years.


His public life was brief. He was. called out for thirty days, and went with General Harrison, in 1812, at Fort Seneca. In 1828 he was elected captain of the ninth company, first regiment, second brigade, and fifth division, in the militia of the State of Ohio. The paper setting forth this fact, is held by the daughter of Andrews Gregory, and has the signature of Governor Allen Trimble, given January 20, 1829.


Andrews Gregory was not a prominent man, though his charac- ter was one of sterling integrity, great decision, and unassuming worth. He was a firm Republican, and an ardent supporter of the late war measures, and labored earnestly to promote the interests of that cause. After residing in this county for fifty-one years, on the farm he received from his father, he died, leaving this farnı,


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together with other property, to be divided, according to his will and purpose.


He had three children, two daughters and one son, Adly Greg- ory, jr., an only son, removed from Fayette County, to the state of Illinois, in 1852, where he continued to reside until the year 1861. At that time he enlisted in the army, and served during the war as captain. At the close of the war, 1865, he was mustered out of service, a confirmed invalid, having contracted a disease which so enfeebled him, that he was able to reach his home but three weeks previous to his death, which occurred in July, 1865, at Lov- ington, Illinois. He died, aged forty-eight years, leaving a wife and five children.


Adley Gregory was a faithful soldier, a true patriot, and an earn- est worker in whatever he believed to be a duty. He was greatly esteemed by his fellow citizens, who recognized his eminent services to his country, but beleived them to be the direet cause of his death:




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