USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28
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Hon. Alexander Craig settled in Napoleon township in 1835. He and his wife were both born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and 1801, respectively. They were married in 1827. Mr. Craig held the office of sheriff two terms, and that of associate judge of IIenry county one term. They had a family of four chil- dren. Mr. C. is now dead.
William C. Brownell, with his wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Osborn, came to Henry county in the autumn of 1835, and settled in what is now known as Flat Rock township, and came to Napoleon in 1842 or '43 ; was elected sheriff of the county in 1843, and served one term ; was school examiner sev- eral years, and was also county surveyor for a long time, doing a larger amount of surveying in the county than any other man. They had seven children. He lived and died a consistent member of the society of Friends.
William H. Brownell, a son of the above couple, was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., September 6, 1832, and was brought to this county in 1835 with his parents. He remembers seeing many Indians in his boyhood, as they
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frequently stayed all night at his father's house. Mr. B. held the office of county surveyor one term. ' He was a farmer in his early life, then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until the Rebellion. He enlisted in Napoleon in Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio three months men, and served the time in West Virginia. He took part in the battles of Phillippi, Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. After their term of enlistment expired the regiment re-enlisted and reorganized as the Fourteenth Regiment O. V. I., for three years. He was appointed first lieutenant of Company D; was in the fight at Wild Cat, Ky., and in numerous skirmishes between Ringgold and Atlanta. When he reached Atlanta he was compelled to resign on account of his health. When he arrived home he weighed only 115 pounds. He has since filled many responsible positions, and is now cashier of Meekison's bank. He has had six children.
John O. Palmer settled with his parents in Henry county in 1837. He was born in New York June 22, 1832, and married in Napoleon, O., September 24, 1857, to Margaret Tressler, who was born in Ohio August 19, 1837. They had three children. Mrs. Palmer's mother came to Henry county, a widow, in 1849.
James Shasteen was one of the earliest settlers in the county. He came with his parents in 1826. He filled the offices of justice of the peace and assessor. He furnished three sons to the Union army. Peter Shasteen be- longed to the Fourteenth Regiment O. V. I .; was wounded at Chickamauga, and died from the effects of the wound soon after. Emanuel Shasteen belonged to the artillery corps, and died in the service. James Shasteen, jr., belonged to the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, O. V. I., and survived the war.
S. L. Curtis was born in Java Lake, N. Y., October 11, 1836, was married to Mary Chapman, who died in 1872 leaving two children. He married Mar- garet A. Guaintance, in Napoleon July 1, 1874. He settled in Henry county in 1838.
William Dodd was born in New Jersey June 18, 1810. He was married to. Mary Thompson in Henry county about the year 1837. When quite young Mr. Dodd enlisted in the U. S. Army, then stationed at Fort Leavenworth. During the three years he served in the army they were engaged in a very active campaign, under the command of Colonel Dodge, against the Comanche Indians, near the Rocky Mountains. After his term of enlistment expired he returned to the States in 1836. He also took part in the Canadian Rebellion in 1837. He held a colonel's commission from the Provincial Congress of Upper Canada. He was a contractor during the construction of the Miami and Eric Canal. He held the office of sheriff, and also that of treasurer of Henry county. He died April 22, 1859. Mrs. Dodd was brought to the Maumee Valley in 1821, when she was four years old. She is believed to.
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have taught the first school in Henry county. The school room was in the residence of John Patrick, three miles below Napoleon on the river. She also taught at Independence, six miles below Defiance on the river. Many of our oldest citizens attended her school in their early days. She also taught at Waterville, in Lucas county and the Indian mission school, near Water- ville. She is now spending the evening of her days with her children in this vicinity. She has spent sixty-nine years of her life on the Maumee river ; the greater portion of this time she resided in Napoleon. This couple had six children. Their eldest son, Ezra S. Dodd, was attending school in St. Louis when the war began. He at once enlisted in the First Missouri Regiment of
Infantry for one year. At the battle of Wilson's Creek he was taken prisoner and was held eighteen months. After his release he came to Napoleon, and raised Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, O. V. I., and was appointed captain. He was in numerous engagements, and was on board of the first gunboat that passed the gauntlet at Vicksburg. He was promoted to the rank of major of the regiment, and held that position when mustered out of the service. He now resides in Toledo, O.
William Dodd, jr., was a member of Company I, Sixty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I., and died in the service October 12, 1862.
Edwin C. Dodd, another son, was a member of the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, O. V. I., Company B, and served to the end of the war.
George Frease was born in Pennsylvania, August 20, 1812. He was mar- ried in Summit county, O., June 7, 1835, to Elizabeth Willard, who was born in Ohio, December 10, 1812. They had eight children, several of whom are prominent in business circles at this time. Mr. Frease settled in Henry county in 1843.
Thomas Brown, a millwright, settled in Henry county in 1845. Nativity, Ohio.
S. F. Hamlin, a millwright, settled in Henry county in 1849. Nativity, Ohio.
Charles Sweet, a millwright, settled in Henry county in 1858. Nativity, New York.
D. W. Frease was born in Stark county, O., July 28, 1837, is a son of George and Elizabeth Frease, who were natives of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1812, and settled in Henry county in 1842, where they still reside. Henry Willard, the father of Elizabeth Frease, died in Henry county at the advanced age of ninety-four years. The subject of this sketch was married at Napoleon February 16, 1871, to Julia Feighner, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1845. Mr. Frease enlisted February 14, 1864, in Company B, Thirty- eighth Regiment, O. V. I., and served until the close of the war. He was in the following battles and campaigns, viz .: The campaign of Atlanta, campaign
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of Georgia, siege of Savannah and campaign of North and South Carolina, and served until the end of the war. He is now a justice of the peace for Napoleon township. He came to the county with his parents in 1842.
A. H. Tyler settled in Napoleon in 1847. He was the first county clerk ever elected in Henry county. That officer, previous to the present con- stitution, was appointed by the court. He has since filled the offices of justice of the peace, county school examiner, and was a member of the constitutional convention that framed the present constitution, which was adopted in the year 1851. Dr. Tyler was born in New Haven, N. Y., January 27, 1819. He was married to Elizabeth B. Grannis, in Huron' county, O., October 29, 1846. They had four children born to them. Mrs. Tyler died in Dr. Tyler served as assistant surgeon in the Sixty-eighth Regiment O. V. I. for two years. He married again, and is now residing on his farm near Napoleon.
Bennett Stenbird was born in 1822, and settled in Henry county in 1847. He enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment, O. V. I., at Toledo, Sep- tember 17, 1861, and received his discharge at Atlanta, Ga., September 12, 1 864.
Herman A. Myerholtz was born in Hanover, Germany, June 17, 1835, and settled in Henry county with his parents in 1848. He was married in Defi- ance county, O., March 17, 1864, to Louisa Shults, who was born in Prussia in 1844. They have several children. He has held several offices of trust in the county and township. He was township trustee, and justice of the peace, and treasurer of Napoleon township. He was the first infirmary director of the county. He, with his brother Henry, have carried on the business of grocers and provision dealers for many years. They also have been engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile for a number of years.
H. F. Myerholtz, a brother of the above, was born in Germany June 24, 1844, and married to Mary Gilson September 15, 1868. He came to Henry county with his parents in 1848. He enlisted in Company F, Sixty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I., and served until January 27, 1863, when he was discharged at Cincinnati, O. He re-enlisted February 9, 1865, and served until the close of the war. Although in active service from the time of enlistment until the close of the war, he escaped without the slightest wound.
W. Linn settled in Henry county in 1849.
Reuben P. Calkins was born in New York April 2, 1821. He was married in Ohio to Annie E. Thompson, daughter of William and Rebecca Thompson, of Stark county, O. Four children were born to them. Mr. Calkins's parents settled in Henry county in 1836. Mr. C. himself came in 1856.
Christian H. Helberg was born in Germany November 11, 1833. He was married in Henry county November 17, 1865, to Anna Drewes, whose parents were natives of Germany, and who settled in Henry county, where Mrs. H. was born. Mr. H. settled in Henry county in 1848, and suffered the privations
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common to the settlers of that period. In early times in this county it was not an uncommon thing for the farmer to shoulder a bag of grain and carry it to mill, as that was frequently the easiest way to get it there. The forests at that time were full of game. Squirrels were very numerous, and materially assisted the farmer in gathering his corn crop. Mr. Helberg enlisted in the Sixty- eighth Regiment O. V. I., October 15, 1861. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Atlanta, and marched with Sherman to Atlanta. He was wounded, and the ball was never extracted.
John Dancer was born in Jefferson county, O., June 3, 1823. He was mar- ried to Margaret Huston in Ashland county, O., November 5, 1849. Mrs. Dancer was born in Columbiana county O., May 28, 1827. They had six children. Their son George was a member of the Seventy-seventh Regiment, O. V. I., and served three years and ten months. Mr. Dancer settled in Henry county in 1848.
William Mason was born in Milan, O., April 12, 1817. He married Eliza- beth Smith, who was born in Wayne county, O., September 23, 1824. They had four children, and were early settlers in the county.
Hon. William A. Tressler was born March 19, 1824; was married Jan. 23, 1845, in Frederick county, Md., to Anna Elliott, who was born Jan. 14, 1823. They came to Henry county in the spring of 1849. Mrs. Tressler died Nov. II, 1881. Mr. Tressler has lived in the county ever since his first arrival. He has held the office of State Senator two years, was county treasurer four years, was mayor of Napoleon four years, marshal of the town two years, and justice of the peace eight years, which office he now fills.
George Daum is the son of George and Margaret Daum, both of whom are deceased. They were born in France, in 1798, in the same town and on the same day and hour. The subject of this sketch was born in France, Jan. 12, 1834, and married in Napoleon, O., in the autumn of 1871, to Rachel Spieth, whose parents were Germans. They have a large family of children. He settled in Henry county in 1846. He was at one time clerk of Pleasant town- ship, was elected sheriff in 1872, which office he held four years, was elected county commissioner in 1876 and served one term, was again elected sheriff and again served two terms, or four years. He was again elected county com- missioner in 1886, which office he now holds. Mr. Daum enlisted in Cleve- land Oct. 1, 1862, in Company D, 124th Regiment, O. V. I. He was pro- moted from second lieutenant to captain of the company, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was wounded in the battle of Nashville, in the second day's fight. He also took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta.
Henry E. Cary was born in Huron county, O., Jan. 14, 1838, and removed with his parents to Henry county in 1846. His father, Joel Cary, was born in Vermont in 1814, and died Sept. 21, 1849. His mother, Harriet W. C. Cary,
33
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
was born in Connecticut, in 1818, and still resides in Napoleon. Mr. Cary was married in Napoleon, Dec. 27, 1886, to Amelia M. Roach, who was born in Providence, Lucas county, O., Jan. 22, 1845. They have three children. Mr. Cary enlisted in Company G, 163d Regiment, O. V. I. as lieutenant, and served ninety days. His brother, Harlem P. Cary was a member of the 68th Regiment, O. V. I. On his way home he died with small-pox, at Chatta- nooga, Tenn. Mr. Cary claims to have the oldest grocery house in Napoleon.
Homer P. Hopkins was born in Erie county, O., May 29, 1837, and was married Oct. 1, 1867, to Mary A. Neidhamer, who was born in Michigan, in 1847. Mr. Hopkins enlisted in Company H, First Regiment, M. V. I., at Adrian, Mich., July 25, 1861. The regiment was assigned to Hooker's brig- ade, and during the winter oi 1861 was kept as guard at Annapolis, Md. He witnessed the celebrated contest between the Moniter and Merrimac in Chese- peake Bay. He was in the battle of Mechanicsville, and was shot through the arm at Gaines's Mills. He took part in the siege of Richmond ; at Chancellors- ville he narrowly escaped death; while lying flat on the ground a shell burst and a piece struck the ground between his arm and head as he lay with his arm bent, and buried itself eight inches in the hard earth. After he was wounded he lived six days without food except a few berries He was in sev- eral of the hard-fought battles of the war, was with Burnside in the march from Falmouth, Va. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He has removed from the county.
Mrs. Eliza Hill was born in Jefferson county, O., Feb. 16, 1825, was mar- ried in Holmes county, Aug. 16, 1844, to a son of Abraham and Sarah Hill, in Holmes county, O. They had nine children.
Edward Lingle was born in Butler county, O., June 21, 1818, and was mar- ried in the same county to Margaret Weaver, Dec. 3, 1846. Six children were born to them. The parents of this couple were all from Pennsylvania. Mr. L. held the office of coroner six years, and that of infirmary director, three years. He settled in Henry county in 1850.
Jacob Bales was the son of David and Ann Bales, of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio in 1812. He was born in Wayne county, O., Sept. 27, 1821, and was married in the same county, in 1841, to Salome Sidle, who was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 9, 1819. They had eleven children. Mr. Bales filled the office of assessor and township trustee.
Conrad Clay was born in Stark county, O., April 20, 1822. He was mar- ried in Defiance county, O., Oct. 9, 1851, to Julia A. Stoddard, who was born in Connecticut, Feb. 17, 1834. They had nine children. He lost a valuable mill by fire in 1871. He, together with his parents, John and Julia Clay, set- tled in Henry county in 1850, as also did William H. and Abigail Stoddard, the parents of Mrs. Clay.
Andrew Sherman was born in Germany, and settled in Henry county in
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1852. He was married in Sandusky City, O., May 9, 1849, to Eva Walter, also a German. He settled in Henry county in 1852.
Henry Panning was born in Germany, February 21, 1821. He was mar- ried in Henry county, O., January 28, 1851. Miss Othnar was also born in Germany, December, 1824. They had nine children. Mr. P.'s parents settled in this county in 1854. His wife's parents came in 1858. Mr. Panning set- tled in this county in 185 1.
Henry Dachenhaus settled with his parents, who are Germans, in Henry county in 1850. He was born January 5, 1825, and married in Henry county, October 18, 1854, to Sophia Precht, also of Germany, where she was born in 1828. Seven children were born to them.
Henry Buhlart was born in Germany May 15, 1844. He was married May 30, 1867, to Eliza Ludeman, who was born in Cleveland, April 1, 1844. Mr. Buhlart, with his parents, Henry and Louisa Buhlart, settled in Henry county, in 1849. Mrs. Buhlart's parents, Frederick and Catharine Ludeman, settled in Henry county, in 1845. Mr. Buhlart was a member of the Sixty-eighth Regi- ment O. V. Infantry, and was in a number of battles during his term of service.
Robert K. Scott was born in Armstrong county, Pa., in 1826, and settled in Henry county in 1851. He practiced medicine five years, then engaged in merchandising. In 1861 he was appointed major of the Sixty-eighth O. V. Infantry, which he recruited. He was promoted to lieutenant- colonel Novem- ber 29, 1861; was at the battles of Fort Donaldson, Pittsburgh Landing, then at the siege of Corinth. He commanded a brigade in the battle of Hatchie River. His regiment was placed in the command of Major-General McPher- son. He took part in the battles of Port Hudson, Raymond, Jackson, Cham- pion Hills and Big Black. He was placed in command of the Second Brigade, Seventeenth Army Corps. He was taken prisoner during the investment of Atlanta, was exchanged and returned to his brigade, with which he accompa- nied Sherman in his famous march to the sea. His brigade was mustered out of service July 10, 1865. He was made a brigadier-general January 12, 1865, and before the close of the war was made a major-general by brevet. In Jan- uary, 1866, he was ordered to take charge of the Freedman's Bureau, in South Carolina. In 1868 he was elected governor of South Carolina, and again in 1870. He returned to Henry county in 1876. He married Jane Lowry, by whom he has one son, R. K. Scott, jr., who was for some time captain of Com- pany F, O. N. G. The governor is now engaged in manufacturing.
William McHenry, the son of Dr. McHenry mentioned above, was born in Seneca county, O., May 21, 1845. He was married September 3, 1873, to Anna M. Reiter, who was born in Henry county, January 15, 1855. They have two children. He enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment O. V. Infantry, October 8, 1862. He was transferred to Company I, in the same regiment, June 15, 1863. He took part in the battles of Chicka-
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
mauga, Mission Ridge, Dandridge, Kenesaw Mountain and Lovejoy Station. He received a wound at Dandridge, and another at Lovejoy Station, and was honorably discharged on account of disability, November 15, 1864. He served five years as guard at the Ohio Penitentiary, during a part of which time he filled the position of instructor of schools and librarian. He came to Henry county with his parents in 1850.
David Meekison was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1812, and came to Henry county in 1853. He was married in 1835, in Dundee, Scotland. They had eight children. Mrs. Meekison died June 3, 1875. He married again and still lives in Napoleon.
David Meekison, jr., a son of the above, was born in Scotland, November 14, 1849. He was married August 24, 1881, to Clara E. Bowers, who was born in Henry county, August 4, 1860. Three children have been born to them. Mr. Meekison made the first start in public life by joining the Fourth U. S. Artillery, in which he served three years as a private. He then returned to Napoleon, and received the appointment of clerk of the town, to fill an unex- pired term, after which he was elected and served two terms. His second term as probate judge will expire in December, of this year, 1887. He is an active and public-spirited citizen, and is foremost in all enterprises that tend to ad- vance the well-being of the place. He came to Henry county in 1855.
Julius Chappnis was born in France, August 6, 1841. He was married at Texas, in Henry county, in September, 1861, to Ann Hardy, who was born in Virginia, December 24, 1837. They have six children. Mr. Chappnis settled in Henry county in 1853.
Abraham L. Willard was born in Stark county, O., April 12. 1819, and came to Henry county in 1852. He owned and ran a boat on the canal for ten years. He was never married. He still lives in Napoleon.
Henry Otte was born in Germany, in 1831 ; was married in 1855 to Elsie Myer, who was also born in Germany. They had seven children, and were early settlers in the county.
Jo. Christ Buchele was born in Germany, June 18, 1838, and was married in Henry county, in 1854, to Christina Singer, who was also born in Germany, July 20, 1832. They had nine children. They settled in Henry county in 1853.
John F. Oberhaus was born in Germany, July 18, 1842, and was married in Henry county, April 19, 1872, to Sophia M. Beaderstat, who was also born in Germany, Dec. 12, 1851. Mr. Oberhaus had a brother in the Sixty-eighth O. V. Infanty, in 1851, and served until the close of the war. They had several children.
Julius Van Hyning was born in Summit county, O., January 3, 1822, and was married in the same county January 19, 1851, to Sarah Willard, who was born in Stark county, January 1, 1822. They had six children. Mr. Van Hyning belonged to the Sixty-eighth O. V. I., and took part in the battles of
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Fort Donaldson, Pittsburgh Landing, Fort Henry, and was wounded at the battle of Crump's Landing, Tenn. He was honorably discharged from the service for disability. He settled in Henry county in 1858, and still resides on his farm near Napoleon.
Nathaniel Hartman was born in Pennsylvania in 1835, and was married in Henry county November 2, 1856, to Lydia R. Ritter, who was born in Ohio in 1838. Seven children were born to them. Mr. H. was a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-third O. V. I. during the " late unpleasantness," and died in Napoleon in 1886. He settled in Henry county in 1850.
John Wait was born in Pennsylvania March 3, 1826, and married to his second wife in Henry county, September 5, 1871, to Annie M. Strole, who was the widow of Milton Atkinson, who enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dredth Regiment, O. V. I., in 1862, and was lost in the battle of Limestone Ridge, Tenn., in 1863. His real fate is not known, but he is supposed to have been killed. Mr. Atkinson left four children. Mr. Wait had one child by his first wife, and two by his second wife. He belonged to the Ninety-sixth Regi- ment O. V. I .; was in several battles and escaped unharmed. He settled in Henry county in 1867.
H. H. Fast was born in Ohio, and settled in Henry county in 1852.
William F. Daggett was born in Lucas county, O., May 24, 1830. He was married in Washington township, Henry county, December 25, 1855, to Al- vira L. Scribner, who was born in the same township January 24, 1833. They had eight children. He was recorder of the county six years and auditor three years. He settled in Henry county in 1852.
Charles E. Reynolds was born in Massachusetts June 15, 1844. He was married at Napoleon September 12, 1866, to Sarah E. Parker. Two children were born to them. He served as auditor for several years ; also as county school examiner for many years, which office he now fills. He also served as clerk of Napoleon township ten years. He enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Company F, Sixty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I., and served until the close of the war. He entered the service as a private, and was promoted to quartermas- ter-sergeant. He was in the battle of Little Hatchie. At the siege of Rich- mond he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby prison, where he remained one month, when he was exchanged, but was afterwards again taken prisoner while on Sherman's raid, near Norton, Miss. Ile was confined first at Mobile, then at Cahaba, Ala., and lastly at that shed on earth-Adersonville-where he spent thirteen months, until the final exchange. Like all the unfortunates who entered that worse than hell, he suffered such tortures and privations as no pen has yet been able, adequately, to describe. The close of the war re- leased him, with such of his comrades as had survived. He now resides in Napoleon, and is engaged in the business of insurance. He came to Henry county in 1854.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Patrick Ragan was born in 1800, in County Cork, Ireland ; was married in 1844 in Canada to Norah Hagerty, who was born in St. Johns, New Bruns- wick, in 1822. They had six children. Mrs. Ragan died in 1856; Mr. Ragan in 1866. They settled in Henry county in 1854.
James P. Ragan, a son of the above, was born in Gilead, near Grand Rapids, in Wood county, O., March 17, 1852, and came with his parents to Henry county in 1854. After teaching school a number of years he studied law, and was admitted to the bar March 16, 1878. He resides in Napoleon and is engaged in the practice of his profession in partnership with Hon. J. M. Haag.
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