USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 17
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nineteen consecutive years he served in the House or Senate. In 1820 and 1828, he was chosen one of the Presidential electors of Ohio. In 1832, he was Chairman of the National Convention at Baltimore, which nom- inated Gen. Jackson as President of the United States. In 1832, he became Governor of Ohio, and was re-elected in 1834. He declined a third nomination, and was appointed by President Van Buren Territorial Governor of Iowa and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. On the 16th of August, 1838, he reached Burlington, the seat of government. He remained in Iowa until his death, in 1853.
Joseph Vance, the twelfth Governor of Ohio, was born in Washington County, Penn., March 21, 1781. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his father emigrated to the new Territory when Joseph was two years of age. He located on the southern bank of the Ohio, building a solid block house. This formed a stronghold for his neighbors in case of danger. In 1801, this pioneer decided to remove north of the Ohio River, and eventually settled in Urbana. Joseph had the primitive advantages of the common schools, and became pro- ficient in handling those useful implements-the plow, ax and rifle. The first money he earned he invested in a yoke of oxen. He obtained several barrels of salt, and set out on a speculative tour through the settlements. He traveled through a wilderness, over swamps, and surmounted serious difficulties. At night he built a huge fire to terrify the wolves and panthers, and laid down to sleep beside his oxen, frequently being obliged to stand guard to protect them from these ferocious creatures. Occasionally he found a stream so swol- len that necessarily he waited hours and even days in the tangled forest, before he could cross. He often suffered from hunger, yet he sturdily persevered and sold his salt, though a lad of only fifteen years. When he attained his major- ity, he married Miss Mary Lemen, of Urbana. At twenty-three, he was elected Captain of a rifle company, and frequently led his men to the front to fight the Indians prior to the war of 1812. During that year, he and his brother piloted Hull's army through the dense forests to Fort Meigs. In 1817, with Samuel Mccullough and Henry Van Meter, he made a contract to supply the Northwestern army with provisions. They drove their cattle and hogs many miles, dead weight being transported on sleds and in wagons. He engaged in mercantile business at Urbana and Fort Meigs-now Perrysburg.
While thus employed, he was elected to the Legislature, and there remained four years. He then purchased a large tract of land on Blanchard's Fork, and laid out the town of Findlay. He was sent to Congress in 1821, and was a member of that body for fifteen years. In 1836, he was chosen Governor of Ohio. Again he was sent to Congress in 1842. While attending the Consti- tutional Convention in 1850, he was stricken with paralysis, and suffered extremely until 1852, when he died at his home in Urbana.
Wilson Shannon was a native of Belmont County, Ohio. He was born during 1803. At the age of fifteen, he was sent to the university at Athens,
Jaed Jieller
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where he remained a year, and then changed to the Transylvania University, at Lexington, Ky. He continued his studies two years, then returning home and entering upon reading law. He completed his course at St. Clairsville, Belmont County, and was admitted to practice. He was engaged in the courts of the county for eight years. In 1832, the Democrats nominated him to Con- gress, but he was not elected. He received the position of Prosecuting Attor- ney in 1834, in which position his abilities were so marked that in 1838 he was elected Governor by a majority of 3,600. He was re-nominated in 1840, but Tom Corwin won the ticket. Two years thereafter he was again nominated and elected. In 1843 he was appointed Minister to Mexico, Thomas W. Bartley, Speaker of the Senate, acting as Governor the remainder of the term. When Texas was admitted as a State, Mexico renounced all diplomatic relations with the United States. Mr. Shannon returned hom and resumed the practice of law. He was sent to Congress in 1852. President Pierce conferred upon him the posi- tion of Territorial Governor of Kansas, which duty he did not perform satis- factorily, and was superseded after fourteen months of service. He settled in Lecompton, Kan., and there practiced law until his death, which occurred in 1877.
Thomas Corwin, the fourteenth Governor of Ohio, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., July 29, 1794. His father settled at Lebanon in 1798. The country was crude, and advantages meager. When Thomas was seventeen years of age, the war of 1812 was inaugurated, and this young man was engaged to drive a wagon through the wilderness, loaded with provisions, to Gen. Harrison's headquarters. In 1816, he began the study of law, and achieved knowledge so rapidly that in 1817 he passed examination and was admitted to practice. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of his county, in 1818, which position he held until 1830. He was elected to the Legislature of Ohio in 1822. Again, in 1829, he was a member of the same body. He was sent to Congress in 1830, and continued to be re-elected for the space of ten years. He became Governor of Ohio in 1840. In 1845, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he remained until called to the cabinet of Mr. Fillmore, as Secretary of the Treasury. He was again sent to Congress in 1858, and re-elected in 1860. He was appointed Minister to Mexico, by Pres- ident Lincoln. After his return, he practiced law in Washington, D. ", where he died in 1866.
Mordecai Bartley was born in 1783, in Fayette County, Penn. There he remained, on his father's farm, until he was twenty-one years of age. He mar- ried Miss Wells in 1804, and removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm, near Cross Creek. At the opening of the war of 1812, he enlisted in a company, and was elected its Captain. He entered the field under Harrison. At the close of the war, he removed to Richland County, and opened a clearing and set up a cabin, a short distance from Mansfield. He remained on his farm twenty years, then removing to Mansfield, entered the mercantile
9
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business. In 1817, he was elected to the State Senate. He was sent to Con- gress in 1823, and served four terms. In 1844, he became Governor of Ohio, on the Whig ticket. He declined a re-nomination, preferring to retire to his home in Mansfield, where he died in 1870.
William Bebb, the seventeenth Governor, was from Hamilton County, Ohio. He was born in 1804. His early instructions were limited, but thorough. He opened a school himself, when he was twenty years of age, at North Bend, residing in the house of Gen. Harrison. He remained thus employed a year, during which time he married Shuck. He very soon began the study of law, continuing his school. He was successful in his undertakings, and many pupils were sent him from the best families in Cincinnati. In 1831, he was admitted to practice, and opened an office in Hamilton, Butler County, remaining thus engaged for fourteen years. In 1845, he was elected Governor of Ohio. In 1847, he purchased 5,000 acres of land in the Rock River country, Ill., and removed there three years later. On the inauguration of President Lincoln, he was appointed Pension Examiner, at Washington, and remained in that position until 1866, when he returned to his Illinois farm. He died at Rockford, Ill., in 1873.
Seabury Ford, the eighteenth Governor of Ohio, was born in the year 1802, at Cheshire, Conn. His parents settled in Burton Township. He attended the common schools, prepared for college at an academy in Burton, and entered Yale College, in 1821, graduating in 1825. He then began the study of law, in the law office of Samuel W. Phelps, of Painesville, completing his course with Judge Hitchcock. He began practice in 1827, in Burton. He married Miss Harriet E. Cook, of Burton, in 1828. He was elected by the Whigs to the Legislature, in 1835, and served six sessions, during one of which he was Speaker of the House. He entered the State Senate in 1841, and there remained until 1844, when he was again elected Representative. In 1846, he was appointed to the Senate, and in 1848, he became Governor of Ohio. On the first Sunday after his retirement, he was stricken with paralysis, from which he never recovered. He died at his home in Burton in 1855.
Reuben Wood, the nineteenth Governor, was a Vermonter. Born in 1792, in Middleton, Rutland County, he was a sturdy son of the Green Mountain State. He was a thorough scholar, and obtained a classical education in Upper Canada. In 1812, he was drafted by the Canadian authorities to serve against the Americans, but being determined not to oppose his own land, he escaped one stormy night, accompanied by Bill Johnson, who was afterward an Ameri- can spy. In a birchbark canoe they attempted to cross Lake Ontario. A heavy storm of wind and rain set in. The night was intensely dark, and they were in great danger. They fortunately found refuge on a small island, where they were storm-bound three days, suffering from hunger and exposure. They reached Sacket's Harbor at last, in a deplorable condition. Here they were arrested as spies by the patrol boats of the American fleet. They were prisoners
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four days, when an uncle of Mr. Wood's, residing not far distant, came to their rescue, vouched for their loyalty, and they were released. Mr. Wood then went to Woodville, N. Y., where he raised a company, of which he was elected Captain. They marched to the northern frontier. The battles of Plattsburg and Lake Champlain were fought, the enemy defeated, and the com- pany returned to Woodville and was disbanded.
Young Wood then entered the law office of Gen. Jonas Clark, at Middle- bury, Vt. He was married in 1816, and two years later, settled in Cleveland, Ohio. When he first established himself in the village, he possessed his wife, infant daughter and a silver quarter of a dollar. He was elected to the State Senate in 1825, and filled the office three consecutive terms. He was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was promoted to the Bench of the Supreme Court, serving there fourteen years, the latter portion of the term as Chief Justice. He was termed the "Cayuga Chief," from his tall form and courtly bearing. He was elected Governor in 1850, by a majority of 11,000. The new constitution, which went into effect in March, 1851, vacated the office of Governor, and he was re-elected by a majority of 26,000. The Democrats holding a national convention in Baltimore in 1852, party division caused fifty unavailing votes. The Virginia delegation offered the entire vote to Gov. Wood, if Ohio would bring him forward. The opposition of one man pre- vented this. The offer was accepted by New Hampshire, and Frank Pierce became President. Mr. Wood was appointed Consul to Valparaiso, South America, and resigned his office of Governor. He resigned his consulship and returned to his fine farm near Cleveland, called "Evergreen Place." He expected to address a Union meeting on the 5th of October, 1864, but on the 1st he died, mourned by all who knew him.
William Medill, the twentieth Governor, was born in New Castle County, Del., in 1801. He was a graduate of Delaware College in 1825. He began the study of law under Judge Black, of New Castle, and was admitted to the bar in 1832. He removed to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1830. He was elected Rep- resentative from Fairfield County in 1835. He was elected to Congress in 1838, and was re-elected in 1840. He was appointed Assistant Postmaster" General by President Polk. During the same year, he was appointed Com- missioner of Indian Affairs. In 1851, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, and, in 1853, he became Governor. He occupied the position of First Comptroller of the United States Treasury in 1857, under President Buchanan, retaining the office until 1861, when he retired from public life. His death occurred in 1865.
Salmon P. Chase was a native of Cornish, N. H. He was born in 1803. He entered Dartmouth College in 1822, graduating in 1826. He was there- after successful in establishing a classical school in Washington, but finan- cially it did not succeed. He continued to teach the sons of Henry Clay, William Wirt and S. L. Southard, at the same time reading law when not busy"
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as tutor. He was admitted to practice in 1829, and opened a law office in Cin- cinnati. He succeeded but moderately, and during his leisure hours prepared a new edition of the "Statutes of Ohio." He added annotations and a well- written sketch of the early history of the State. This was a thorough success, and gave the earnest worker popularity and a stepping-stone for the future. He was solicitor for the banks of the United States in 1834, and soon there- after, for the city banks. He achieved considerable distinction in 1837, in the case of a colored woman brought into the State by her master, and escaping his possession. He was thus brought out as an Abolitionist, which was further sustained by his defense of James G. Birney, who had suffered indictment for harboring a fugitive slave. In 1846, associated with William H. Seward, he defended Van Zandt before the Supreme Court of the United States. His thrilling denunciations and startling conjectures alarmed the slaveholding States, and subsequently led to the enactment of the fugitive-slave law of 1850. Mr. Chase was a member of the United States Senate in 1849, through the coalition of the Democrats and Free-Soilers. In 1855, he was elected Gover- nor of Ohio by the opponents of Pierce's administration. He was re-elected in 1859. President Lincoln, in 1861, tendered him the position of Secretary ·of the Treasury. To his ability and official management we are indebted for the present national bank system. In 1864, he was appointed Chief Justice of · the United States. He died in the city of New York in 1873, after a useful career.
William Dennison was born in Cincinnati in 1815. He gained an educa- tion at Miami University, graduating in 1835. He began the study of law in the office of the father of George H. Pendleton, and was qualified and admitted to the bar in 1840. The same year, he married a daughter of William Neil, of Columbus. The Whigs of the Franklin and Delaware District sent him to the State Senate, in 1848. He was President of the Exchange Bank in Cin- cinnati, in 1852, and was also President of Columbus & Xenia Railway. He was elected the twenty-second Governor of Ohio in 1859. By his promptness and activity at the beginning of the rebellion, Ohio was placed in the front rank of loyalty. At the beginning of Lincoln's second term, he was appointed Post- master General, retiring upon the accession of Johnson. He then made his home at Columbus.
David Tod, twenty-third Governor of Ohio, was born at Youngstown, Ohio, in 1805. His education was principally obtained through his own exertions. He set about the study of law most vigorously, and was admitted to practice in 1827. He soon acquired popularity through his ability, and consequently was financially successful. He purchased the Briar Hill homestead. Under Jack- son's administration, he was Postmaster at Warren, and held the position until 1838, when he was elected State Senator by the Whigs of Trumbull District, by the Democrats. In 1844, he retired to Briar Hill, and opened the Briar Hill Coal Mines. He was a pioneer in the coal business of Ohio. In the Cleveland
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& Mahoning Railroad, he was largely interested, and was its President, after the death of Mr. Perkins. He was nominated, in 1844, for Governor, by the Dem- ocrats, but was defeated. In 1847, he went to Brazil as Minister, where he resided for four and a half years. The Emperor presented him with a special commendation to the President, as a testimonial of his esteem. He was also the recipient of an elegant silver tray, as a memorial from the resident citizens of Rio Janeiro. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which met at Charleston in 1860. He was Vice President of this Convention. He was an earnest advocate for Stephen A. Douglas. When the Southern members withdrew, the President, Caleb Cushing, going with them, the convention adjourned to Baltimore, when Mr. Tod assumed the chair and Douglas was nom- nated. He was an earnest worker in the cause, but not disheartened by its- defeat. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, he was one of the most vigorous prosecutors of the war, not relaxing his active earnestness until its close. He donated full uniforms to Company B, of the Nineteenth Regiment, and contrib- uted largely to the war fund of his township. Fifty-five thousand majority clected him Governor in 1861. His term was burdened with war duties, and he carried them so bravely as Governor that the President said of him : " Governor Tod of Ohio aids me more and troubles me less than any other Gov- ernor." His death occurred at Briar Hill during the year 1868.
John Brough was a native of Marietta, Ohio. He was born in 1811. The death. of his father left him in precarious circumstances, which may have been a discipline for future usefulness. He entered a printing office, at the age of fourteen, in Marietta, and after serving a few months, began his studies in the Ohio Uni- versity, setting type mornings and evenings, to earn sufficient for support. He, occupied the leading position in classes, and at the same time excelled as a. type-setter. He was also admired for his athletic feats in field amusements, He completed his studies and began reading law, which pursuit was interrupted by an opportunity to edit a paper in Petersburg, Va. He returned to Marietta in 1831, and became editor and proprietor of a leading Democratic newspaper -the Washington County Republican. He achieved distinction rapidly, and in 1833, sold his interest, for the purpose of entering a more extended field of journalism. He purchased the Ohio Eagle, at Lancaster, and as its editor, held a deep influence over local and State politics. He occupied the position of Clerk of the Ohio Senate, between the years 1835 and 1838, and relinquished his paper. He then represented the counties of Fairfield and Hocking in the Leg- islature. He was then appointed Auditor of State by the General Assembly, in which position he served six years. He then purchased the Phoenix news- paper in Cincinnati, changed its name to the Enquirer, placing it in the care of his brother, Charles, while he opened a law office in the city. His editorials in the Enquirer, and his activity in political affairs, were brilliant and strong. He retired from politics in 1848, sold a half-interest in the Enquirer and carried on a prosperous business, but was brought forward again by leaders of both
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political parties in 1863, through the Vallandigham contest, and was elected Governor the same year, by a majority of 101,099 votes in a total of 471,643. He was three times married. His death occurred in 1865-Charles Anderson serving out his term.
Jacob Dolson Cox, the twenty-sixth Governor, was born in 1828, in Mon- treal, Canada, where his parents were temporarily. He became a student of Oberlin College, Ohio, in 1846, graduating in 1851, and beginning the practice of law in Warren in 1852. He was a member of the State Senate in 1859, from the Trumbull and Mahoning Districts. He was termed a radical. He was a commissioned Brigadier General of Ohio in 1861, and, in 1862, was pro- moted to Major General for gallantry in battle. While in the service he was nominated for Governor, and took that position in 1865. He was a member of Grant's Cabinet as Secretary of the Interior, but resigned. He went to Con- gress in 1875, from the Toledo District.
Rutherford B. Hayes, the nineteenth President of the United States, and the twenty-seventh Governor of Ohio, was born at Delaware, Ohio, in 1822. He was a graduate of Kenyon College in 1842. He began the study of law, and, in 1843, pursued that course in the Cambridge University, graduating in 1845. He began his practice at Fremont. He was married to Miss Lucy Webb in 1852, in Cincinnati. He was Major of the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and in 1862, was promoted to Colonel on account of bravery in the field, and eventually became Major General. In 1864, he was elected to Congress, and retired from the service. He remained in Congress two terms, and was Governor of Ohio in 1867, being re-elected in 1869. He was again elected in 1875, but resigned in 1877, to accept the office of President of the United States, Thomas L. Young acting as Governor the remander of the term.
Edward F. Noyes was born in Haverhill, Mass., in 1832. While a lad of fourteen, he entered the office of the Morning Star, published at Dover, N. H., in order to learn the business of printing. At the age of eighteen, he entered the academy at Kingston, N. H. He prepared for college, and entered Dartmouth in 1853, graduating with high honors in 1857. He had begun the study of law, and continued the course in the Cincinnati Law School, and began to practice in 1858. He was an enthusiast at the opening of the rebellion and was interested in raising the Twentieth Regiment, of which he was made Major. He was promoted to Colonel in 1862. At the conflict at Ruff's Mills, in Georgia, in 1864, he was so unfortunate as to lose a leg. At the time, amputa- tion was necessary, but was unskillfully performed. He was brought to Cincin- nati, and the operation was repeated, which nearly cost him his life. He reported three months later, to Gen. Hooker for duty, on crutches. He was assigned to command of Camp Dennison. He was promoted to the full rank of Brigadier General, and while in discharge of his duty at that place, he was elected City Solicitor of Cincinnati. He occupied the position until 1871, when he was elected Governor, by a majority of 20,000.
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William Allen, the twenty-ninth Governor of Ohio, was born in 1807, in Chowan County, N. C. While an infant, he was left an orphan, and his sister superintended his education. He was placed in a private school at Lynchburg, Va., at the age of fourteen. Two years later he joined his family at Chilli- cothe, and attended the academy a year, when he entered the law office of Edward King. Before he was twenty-five he was sent to Congress by a strong Whig district. He was elected United States Senator in 1837 and served until 1849. In 1845 he married Effie McArthur, who died soon after the birth of their daughter. In 1873 he was elected Governor. His administra- tion gave general satisfaction. He died at his home at "Fruit Hill," in 1879.
Richard M. Bishop, the thirty-first Governor of Ohio, was born November 4, 1812, in Fleming County, Ky. For several years he devoted himself to mercantile business in his native State. In 1848 he engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Cincinnati, and subsequently admitted his three sons part- ners, under the firm name of R. M. Bishop & Sons. He was a member of the Council of Cincinnati, and in 1859 was its Mayor, holding that office until 1861. In 1877 he was nominated by the Democrats and elected Governor of Ohio.
Charles Foster, the thirty-second Governor of Ohio, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, April 12, 1828. He was educated at the common schools and the academy at Norwalk, Ohio. Engaged in mercantile and banking business at Fostoria, and never held any public office until he was elected to the Forty- second Congress; was re-elected to the Forty-third Congress, and again to the Forty-fourth Congress as a Republican. In 1879 he was nominated by the Republicans and elected Governor of the State, was re-elected in 1881, and served through both terms winning the esteem of all political parties.
George Hoadly, the thirty-third Governor of Ohio, was born at New Haven, Conn., July 31, 1826. His parents, George and Mary Ann (Woolsey) Hoadly, names well known in the educational circles of Connecticut, were inti- mately connected with the commercial and social progress of that State. Gov. Hoadly completed his education at what is now known as Adelbert College, of which he is a LL. D., while in 1884 he received the same honor from Yale. In 1844 he entered the law school of Cambridge, Mass .; in 1846 entered the office of Chase & Ball, Cincinnati, Ohio; was admitted to the bar in August following; elected Judge of the Cincinnati Superior Court in 1851, succeeded Judge Gholson on the bench of the present Superior Court in 1859, and was re-elected in 1864; refused a seat on the Supreme bench in 1856 and again in 1862; was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention 1873-74. He was nominated by the Democrats for Governor in 1883 and elected.
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