History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 113

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 113

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BELL, JAMES, Pleasant township, deceased, a native of Green county, Pennsylvania, born on the fifteenth day of April, I818. He was brought to this country by his parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth Bell, when but a small boy, who located in Mor- gan township, where he grew to manhood. On the twenty- second day of November, 1838, he was united in marriage with Miss Rowena Robinson, of Coshocton county, Ohio. By this marriage he had six children, only two of whom are now living, viz, Edwin W. and Benjamin T. They settled on a farm in Coshocton county, where his companion deceased March 12, 1856. On the sixteenth day of August, 1857, he was married to Phobe J. Wright, of Coshocton county, born August 24, 1832, daughter of Willis and Anna E. Wright. They settled on his farm in Coshocton county, remained until January 23, 1863, when he purchased and moved on his farm in Pleasant township, this county, now owned and occupied by his heirs, where he deceased April 9, 1879. His last marriage resulted in four children, one son and three daughters. Farming was his vocation.

BELL, HIRAM, Hilliar township, farmer, born in Knox county, October 16, 1833. He spent his youth in Licking county on a farm, receiving a common school education. In 1858 he moved to Clay township, Knox county, and in 1864 he purchased the farm on which he now lives, and moved on it the same spring. His principal business is the raising of sheep. Mr. Bell is a quiet and influential citizen; has been elected sev- eral times to fill the different offices of the township, and has the confidence of the community and the esteem of all who know him. He was married to Miss Mary A. Hughes, of Clay township, December 17, 1856. She was born January 1, 1836. As a result of this union they had three children, two of whom are living, viz, Florence E., married to Augustus M. Wolf, and resides near them; John E. at home.

BELL, JAMES, farmer, post office Bladensburgh, is a native of Clay township, born here September 20, 1839, and has lived in Clay most of the time since his birth. He was married to Sarah Paul, May 14, 1866, two children being the fruits of this union, viz., Iva Olive, and Ottie S. Mr. Bell is in very com- fortable circumstances, financially, and is a highly respected citizen.

BELL, JAMES W., farmer, Pike township; post office North Liberty; born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and was married in 1874 to Bessie Price, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1850. They have one son, Edward Austin, born in 1875. Mr. Bell came to Knox county in 1875. He is a farmer by occupation. He has been engaged in some interesting and lively debates in this county-the first an Ad- vent question, "Will the wicked be eternally punished?" Affirmative, Mr. Bell and Mr. Scarbrough; negative, Jesse

Nichols and William Romine. They had five judges. Uni- versal decision for affirmative. He was engaged in a second debate with the Dunkard question, "Is the bread and wine the Lord's supper." Affirmative, James W. Bell and Levi Mar- shall; negative, Joseph Barnard and Mr. Workman. De- cision in favor of affirmative.

BELL, MORGAN, farmer, Morgan township; was born in Morgan township, May 6, 1852. He is a son of Benjamin Bell, of this township, and of whom mention is made else- where. He was raised on a farm and received a common- school education. He was married to Miss Jennie E. Horn, daughter of Jacob Horn, July 8, 1875.

BELT, JEREMIAH, farmer, Pike township; post office Democracy; born in Monroe township in 1850, and was mar- ried in 1875 to Permelia Fields, who was born in Pike township in 1856. They had two children-Clara Belt, in 1876; Per- melia (deceased). Mrs. Permelia Belt died in 1877. Mr. Belt was subsequently married to Ellen Fields, who was born in Pike township in 1852. They have one daughter, Izora Blanche, born in 1880. Mr. Belt is a farmer of this township.

BENEDICT, ZIBA, Morris township, deceased, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1784. He came to Ohio in 1818, settled in Mt. Vernon, and remained there until 1820, when he located in Fredericktown. He was married in 1815 to Hannah Keeler, who was born in Brookfield, Connecticut, in 1787. They had three children: Nancy Jane, born in 1816; Clarinda, born in 1818; Lucian, born May 15, 1820. Mr. Ziba Benedict died May 6, 1833, in this county. Mrs. Hannah Benedict died June 11, 1850. Clarinda died July 21, 1840.

Mr. Benedict was one of the earliest settlers of Knox county. He came here when it was in its wild state and all in timber. He cleared the farm where his son Lucian now resides. Mr. Benedict was a hatter by trade and worked at that business in Mt. Vernon two years, and also in Fredericktown.

Nancy Jane Benedict was married July 4, 1833. to Joseph Barker. They had nine children.

Lucian Benedict was married in 1847 to Sarah Trimble, who was born in Morris township in 1815. They had three children: L. G. Benedict, born September 12, 1851; Orien, born Decem- ber 19, 1852; Charles, born October 6, 1856.

L. G. Benedict was married February 21, 1878, to Arabella Randolph. They reside in Fredericktown.

Charles Benedict graduated from the Business college at Poughkeepsie, New York, in July, 1880. He is a young man of promise, and is well educated.

Mrs. Sarah Benedict died October 21, 1878.

Orien Benedict died March 10, 1879.

Mr. Benedict has always been identified with this county. He is a farmer by occuption, and is one of the leading men of the township.

7 · BENEDICT, TRUMAN, a native of Vermont, and son of Solomon and Laura Benedict, was born in Bennington county, on the twenty-ninth day of April. 1823. In 1837 he accompa- nied his parents to this county, who located in Pleasant town- ship, near the Hurford mills, remained until 1851, then moved to Clinton, one mile north of Mt. Vernon, where, in 1868, Sol- omon Benedict died. His companion survives him, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.

In 1852 Truman Benedict married Miss Lorrain, daughter of Samuel B. Bassett, born in Bennington county, Vermont,

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February 10, 1821. She came to this county in 1851. They settled in Clinton, remained about seven years. In 1859 moved to Monroe township, this county, remained until 1873, then moved upon the farm where they now reside, in College town- ship, north of Gambier. Farming has been his principal voca- tion through life.

BENNETT, CLARK L., livery, feed and sale stable, West Gambier street, near Main street, Mt. Vernon. Clark L. Ben- nett was born in the State of Vermont in the year 1804. When less than a year old his father moved to Ticonderoga, Essex county, New York. In 1824 he came to Ohio and located in Licking county. In 1825 he removed to Knox county. In 1832 Mr. Bennett came to Mt. Vernon, where he has resided ever since. Prior to settling in this city he followed the occupation of farming. His first occupation in Mt. Vernon was brick making, which he followed several years. In 1849 he opened a livery establishment, in which he still continues, assisted by his son, George S. Bennett, who was born in this city, and was educated in our public schools.

George read medicine with the late Dr. Matthew Thompson, and then attended the university at Cleveland, where he grad- uated. After graduating, young Bennett located at Chester- ville, Morrow county, where he practiced for four years. In consequence of his father's failing health he gave up his prac- tice and returned to Mt. Vernon, and assumed the management of his father's establishment. This establishment is a large and complete one, comprising horses, single and double carriages, barouches, phaetons, and sleighs. Here the travelling public find first-class accommodations at all hours, as the horses are in fine condition and the vehicles all in good order.

BENNETT, JOHN, Monroe township, farmer, son of Thomas and. Elizabeth Bennett, nee Stratton, was born near Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, April 7, 1826.

Thomas Bennett, late of Gambier, and father of John, was born in Maryland, January 20, 1805, and emigrated to Jeffer- son county, Ohio, where he married Miss Elizabeth Stratton, born in June, 1805. In 1828 they came to this county, located in Danville and remained until 1832, then moved to Gambier, where he deceased in May, 1880. For several years after their settlement in the village he was engaged in clearing on the college land, then turned his attention to farming. which he made his principal vocation until 1858, when he engaged in running a hack line and carrying the mail from Gambier to Mt. Vernon, which he continued until the completion of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad. He then turned his attention to farming again, which he followed until his death.

John Bennett, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and has made farming his principal vocation. On the twenty-ninth day of March, 1853, he married Miss Eliza Con- ley, a native of Ireland, born April 19, 1830, and came to this county in 1852, settling in Monroe township. In 1873 they purchased and moved on the farm where they are now living, in Monroe township. They raised a family of four children: Thomas, George W., Emma J., and Isabella.

BENSON, GEORGE, Monroe township, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Mt. Vernon, son of Lyman and Emery Ben- son, was born in New Millford, Connecticut, on the twenty-fifth day of June, 1815. In 1831, at the age of sixteen years, he com- menced working at the cabinet-maker's trade, and served as an apprentice about four years. In 1835 he accompanied his par-

ents to this county and located in Monroe township, on a farm now owned by John Hardesty, where his father and mother re- mained until 1851, when they moved to Illinois, where they passed the remainder of their days. His father died at the age of eighty-five years. His mother deceased when eighty-four years of age. He continued at his trade for about three or four years after his settlement in Monroe township, and then turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which business he has since been engaged in. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty and one-half acres in Monroe township, which is in a good state of cultivation.

In 1836 he married Miss Rebecca Spry, of Monroe township, daughter of William and Sarah Spry, who was born in Penn- sylvania, October 20, 1816, and came to this county with her parents in 1820, who located in Monroe township, on a farm now owned by Edwin Scott. Shortly after the marriage of Mr. Benson they settled in Monroe. They have lived on three dif- ferent farms in the same township. They moved on the farm where they now reside in 1855, and have raised a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters, one son and three daughters have deceased.

BEENY JOSEPH, farmer, a native of England, was born October 8, 1802. He came with his parents, James and Sarah Beeny, to America in 1822, and located in Knox county, Ohio, in Clinton, a small village one and a half miles north of Mt. Vernon. Just before sailing from England he married Miss Hannah Wright in 1822, who came with him to America. They lived in Clinton about three years, then his father, James Beeny, purchased and moved on a farm in Clinton township, three miles from Mt. Vernon, on the Columbus road, where he lived until about 1855, when he moved to Licking county, Ohio, where he deceased in November, 1860, aged seventy-two years. His companion survived him until 1870, when she died, aged eighty years. They reared a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. He and his family lived with his father until 1825, when he moved to Liberty township, Knox county, and located on a farm, where they lived several years, then bought several other farms, and finally, in 1850, he purchased and moved on the farm where he is now living, three miles from Mt. Vernon, on the Columbus road. He has followed farming as his vocation. They reared a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. His companion deceased July, 1871. He then married Mrs. Jane G. Maxwell, nee Ryan, in 1872, born in Pennsylvania in 1816, who is still living, to take care of him in his old age.

BEST FAMILY, The, Hilliar township. Peter Best, the father of this family, was born in New Jersey, May, 1797. In 1823 he married Miss Mary Trimmer, who was born in New Jersey in 1802. They remained in New Jersey until 1839, when they immigrated to Hilliar township, Knox county, Ohio, settling on a farm. They lived and died in this township being much es- teemed. They had eleven children, nine born in New Jersey, an two in Ohio ; nine are yet living.

John Best, born in New Jersey October 3, 1823, was mar- ried to Mary Jane Yeocom, in Champaign county, Ohio, November 27, 1849. He is a plasterer by trade, which he fol- lowed for a number of years, and then settled on a farın on which he is yet living. William was born in New Jersey, June 9, 1825, married November 18, 1846, to Sophia Huock, a daughter of one of the pioneers of this township. After his marriage he settled on a part of the Houck farm in Hilliar

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township, where he closed his days. He died September 12, 1877. His wife still resides on the farm. Jesse was born in New Jersey January 7, 1827, and was married to Mary Spaur in Butler county, Iowa, November 30, 1856. He was a wagon- maker by trade, but now owns a farm in Woodson county, Kansas, and is engaged in agriculture. Jacob was born in New Jersey January 14, 1829. When a young man he emigrated to Illinois, where he dealt in stock for many years. He married a lady in Lexington, McLean county, Illinois, and settled down in the lumber business, at which he is still engaged. Mary E., born in New Jersey, October 25, 1830, married Lemon Chadwick, with whom he still lives in Kansas an a farm. David T. born in New Jersey, January 5, 1832, married Susannah, Addleman January 4, 1855, in Hilliar township. By trade he is a plas- terer. After his marriage he purchased a farm in Hilliar town- ship, where he still resides, engaged in farming and breeding Aresican Merino sheep, of which he has a fine flock. He has three children, John T., born September 23. 1855; Lydia Ellen, born December 9, 1857, and Wilbert Irvine, born July 21, 1868. Mr. Best is an estimable citizen. Lydia Ellen, born May 20, 1834, in New Jersey, married October, 1880, to John McGuier, a plasterer, residing at Centreburgh, Ohio. Ananias, born in New Jersey July 10, 1836, married in Iowa to Miss Kate McCrary. He is a wagonmaker, but is now engaged in farming in Butler, county, Iowa. Peter, born in New Jersey, September 5, 1838, lived until fifteen years of age, dying in Hilliar township. James, born October 25, 1840, in Knox county, Ohio. He obtained a collegiate education at Waynes- burgh, Pennsylvania, and took a theological course at Cincinnati, Ohio, and is now a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Bradford, Ohio. He married Narcissa M. Conner of Cumberland, Ohio. Sylvester was born in Hilliar township, January 30, 1843,, remained on the farm until September 22, 1862, when he enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment O. V. I. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and Kennesaw Mountain, where he received a gunshot wound in the left hand June 27, 1863. He was discharged October 10, 1864 by reason of disability caused by his wound. After his return home he finished his education at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He was married to Miss Martha Annett, of Centreburgh, Ohio, May 19, 1866. He followed photography for seven years, after which he engaged in farming near Centreburgh, Ohio, at which occupa- tion he is still engaged. They are the parents of the following children: Carrie Bernice, born at Centreburgh March 29, 1869, died at Lock, Ohio, October 24, 1870; Sylvester Robert, born at Lock, Ohio April 5, 1872 ; Jesse Taylor, born at Sun- bury, Ohio, May 1, 1874; Charlie Sherman, born at Sunbury, Ohio, February 10, 1876.

BEST, MRS. SOPHIA, Hilliar township, was born in Hilliar township in 1823. She is the daughter of Henry and Rhoda Houck, nee Jennings. Her parents were among the first settlers of Hilliar township. They came in 18Ir. She spent her youth at home. She was married to William Best November 10, 1846. They had a family of five children, two of whom are liv- ing. Mr. Best died September 12, 1877.

BIGGS, JAMES, Howard township, farmer, post office How- ard, was born in Jefferson township, Knox county. His mother died when he was a small child, and he was given to his uncle with whom he lived fourteen years. He then went to Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, and learned the shoemaking trade, and fol-

lowed it five years. Then after two years of farming life he married and settled on his present farm, where he has lived twenty-one years. He has four children: Carrie, Maggie, Jackson, and Olive. His wife died in 1877, and was buried in the Millwood cemetery.

BINGHAM, L. O., Middlebury township, mason, post office Levering, born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1849, and was mar- ried in 1874 to Amanda Gaumer, who was born in Knox county in 1850. They have two children: Bessie O., born in 1876, and Henry L., born in 1877.

BIRD, MRS. KEZIAH, Liberty township, born in North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, November, 1802, being the daughter of Abner and Abigail Johnston, who had a family of nine children, seven daughters and two sons. The sons died when young. The daughters all grew up and were married. The parents died in Pennsylvania. The subject of this notice was married to John Bird, August 11, 1824. He was a native of New Jersey, and was born January 16, 18or. Shortly after their marriage they settled upon the farm on which she still re- sides. Mr. Bird had been here two years previous, having come with his father, Sylvanus Bird, who emigrated with his family about 1822, and settled on this farm. Here John Bird died September 11, 1878. He was a good citizen and an exemplary man.

There were born to them nine children, viz: Oliver P., died in Delaware county; left a family of ten children; Johnson A., farmer, in Delaware county; Ellen S. resides with her mother on the old homestead; Milton, farmer, a resident of Liberty township; Charlotte H., wife or Henry Stricklei de- ceased, and resides in Iowa; Esther Ann, wife of John McAl- lister, in Union county, Ohio; Corinda, wife of John D. Hig- gins, of Liberty township; Mary E., wife of George Hull, of Morrow county, Ohio; and John, a farmer, and resident of Lib- erty township.

Mrs. Bird is spending the evening of her life on the old home- stead, where she and her husband settled fifty-seven years ago.

Their children are all doing well, and have the esteem of the community in which they live.

BIRD, GEORGE W., farmer, Hilliar township, was born in Liberty township, Knox county, December 18, 1828. He is the seventh child of Elisha and Susan Bird (nee Haggerty), who emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio.

The youth of Mr. Bird was spent on a farm, and like boys of his day, he attended school during the winter. He was married to Miss Lucinda Abbott, in June, 1853, She was born in Lick- ing county. The following spring they moved to Hilliar town- ship, on the farm on which he now resides, and began the improvement of their future home. He has succeeded in beautifying his home and adding considerable land to his first purchase. He is a careful farmer, a good citizen, and has the confidence of the community. He is hospitable and agreeable in his manners. The raising of cattle is his principal business. The marriage of Mr. Bird was blessed with six children, three sons and three daughters, four of whom are living, viz: Joel A. (farmer, Wyandot county, Ohio), Sarah E., Dora M., and George M.

BIRD, MILTON, farmer, Liberty township, born there November 14, 1831, and is the son of John and Keziah Bird, of whom mention is made in this volume. He spent his youth on the farm and attended the common schools, and has always

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

followed farming as his occupation. He married Sarah M. Robertson, daughter of Hezekiah K. Robertson, of Liberty township, November, 1855, and has a family of five children, viz: Eva M. (wife of Dr. W. Merriman, of Centreburgh, Ohio), Elmer M., Flora M., Alfrata M., and Orville M.

Mr. and Mrs. Bird are much esteemed by their acquaintances.

BIRD, WILLIAM, JR., hardware dealer, Mt. Vernon, son of William Bird, sr., was born at Catawissa, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1835, where he resided until March 28, 1859. He then emigrated to Ohio and located at Mt. Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, where he resided seven years, during which he was in the boot, shoe, and leather business, after which he came to Mt. Vernon and engaged in the hard- ware, stove, and tinware business, in which he still continues, and has been successful in. He carries a stock of from eight to twelve thousand dollars.

He married Miss Marie E. Kreigh, February 4, 1854, and has a family of five children : Charles A., Daniel K., Kate S., Annie E., and Bessie M.

BIRD, JOHN H., Liberty township, farmer, born in Lib- erty township February 23, 1843, being the son of John and Keziah Bird, of whom mention is made in this work. He was raised on the old homestead farm, doing the ordinary work of a farmer's son. He enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and was in the battle of Perrysville, Kentucky; taken prisoner, and parolled on the field. In May, 1864, he returned to his regiment and pur- ticipated in the battles of Kennesaw Mountain and Mission Ridge, and marched with Sherman to Savannah, thence to North Carolina and Washington, and was discharged with his company at Columbus, Ohio. After his return home he en- gaged in farming, which he has since followed. On September 7, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie A. Brokaw, daughter of John A. Brokaw, and of whom mention is else- where made. They have one child, Edith W., born November 25, 1870.

BIRD, MORGAN, Wayne township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Morris township, 'this county, in 1849, and was married in 1871 to Sarah Mccutchen, who was born in Morrow county in July 1849. They have the following chil- dren: Leroy. born in 1872; Etta, 1875; Daisy, 1878, and Ceorge, in 1880. Mr. Bird has always resided in this county. He is one of the intelligent and active farmers of Wayne township.

BISHOP, ARNOLD, Milford township, farmer, was born in Milford township . February 1828; is the son of Gardner and Millie Bishop, nee Young, who were natives of Rhode Island, and early settlers of Milford township. Mention is made of the Bishop settlement of Milford in the general history of the town- ship.

The subject of this notice was raised on a farm. He enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry; was second sargeant of the company at its organization, and about a year after commissioned orderly' which he held until he was discharged He participated in most of the battles in which his company and regiment was engaged. He did not participate in the campaign from Atlanta to Savan- nah on account of disability. He joined his regiment at Sa- vannah, and was with it from that time until the discharge of the company. After his return home he resumed farming, at which he has since been engaged. Politically he is a zealous

Republican; is a good citizen; was married to Miss Sarah A. McClelland December, 1854. They had two children (one of whom died in infancy), Luella, is the wife of Aaron W. Gear- hart.

BLACK, WILLIAM B., farmer, Pike township; post office Corning, Adams county, Iowa; born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1823, and was married to Margaret Cornell, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1827. They had eight children-Ransom B., John L., Mary E., (de- ceased), Alvin S., Sarah R., (deceased), Martha A., Irena M., and Harriet.

Mr. Black came to Ohio with his parents at the age of four years, who located in Union township, this county. His father, George Black, remained on the same farm they purchased until his death. After marriage W. B. Black located in Danville, and engaged in manufacturing wagons and buggies for some years, after which he moved to Gann, this county, and con- tinued in the same business till 1869, when he moved to Iowa, where he still resides, engaged in farming in that State.

BLACK, John L., physician, Pike township; post office Democracy; born in Union township, this county, in 1846, and was married in 1869 to Dora J. Sapp, who was born in this county in 1850. They have three children-Aurilla, Robert R., and Eva A. Dr. Black attended school at the academy at Spring Mountain, Coshocton county, and studied medicine with Dr. C. Sapp, of Danville. He attended lectures at Cleve- land, in the medical department of the University of Wooster, (formerly called Charity. Hospital Medical college). He gradu- ated in the spring of 1869, and commenced the practice of medicine the same year in Amity, where he still remains.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 113

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096