History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 131

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 131

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In 1862 he was drafted for nine months, and was the only one that went into the service out of thirty-two that were drafted at the same time. He served his time, got an honorable dis- charge, and came home. Mr. Farmer is the owner of one hun- dred and eighty acres of land, all under good cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer are the parents of nine children-six sons and three daughters-seven of whom are living.

FARQUHAR, MOSES, Berlin township (deceased), born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1789, and was married to Mas- sey Pusey, who was born in the same county. They had the following children: William H., George (deceased), Edwin, Ruth P., Mary B., Francis P., and Sarah Ann. They emi- grated to Ohio in 1822, located in Berlin township, bought a part of quarter section ten, range thirteen, township eighteen. There was a cabin erected and a small patch cleared. They built the first saw and chopping mill in this township. The first mill stones (buhrs) that were used in this county was in this mill, and can still be seen at the old home farm, where Edwin resides. Moses Farquhar assisted in organizing Berlin town- ship, and was the first clerk, and fenceviewer of this township as long as this office continued.

He was an active member of the Society of Friends or Quak- ers. He assisted in erecting the present brick church in Mid- dlebury township (Owl creek quarterly meeting).

In early life he wasa prominent and active member of the Free Masons; he assisted to organize a number of societies and build halls tor their meetings. He was a member of the joint stock company, known as the Fourier Phlanp, in Clermont county, Ohio. Through this enterprise he lost one thousand dollars. November 1, 1878, he departed this life at his home after a short illness.

In about 1863 their house was destroyed by fire, which caught accidentally. All their household goods were destroyed, also all

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

books and papers were burned, which accounts for lack of dates and history. Mrs. Massey Farquhar died in 1881.

FARQUHAR, EDWIN, Berlin township, was married to Margaret E. Gibson, daughter of Hiram E. and Elizabeth Gib- son. They had three children-Flora L. Laura E. and Emma. The mother departed this life in 1866. He is a millwright and worked at this trade for many years.

FARQUHAR, BASIL, Middlebury township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in December, 1796, and came to Knox county in 1807, locating in this township. In 1824 he was married to Susan Wright, who died in 1843. In 1852 he was married the second time to Eimer M. Farquhar.

Amos Farquhar, father of Basil, was born in 1775, and was married to Jane Moor. They had a family of five children- Basil, Mary, Phebe, Elizabeth, and Abraham. Amos Farquhar died in 1851, Jane Farquhar in 1856, and Phebe in 1836. Abra- am resides in Missouri. The Farquhar family are among the earlier settlers, pioneers who came when the country was all new, and cleared up and improved several farms, among them being the Burkholder farm. They were prominent pioneers of Knox county.

FERENBAUGH, JOSEPH, farmer, post office, Millwood, was born in Union township, Knox county, February 17, 1836 -a son of Fidel and Eliza Ferenbaugh. He was educated by his father, and remained with him until he was thirty-five years old. On the third of January, 1874, he was united in marriage with Susanna Stillinger, a daughter of John Stillinger, of Union township, born October 8, 1834. After his marriage he located in Howard township, where he remained two years; he then moved to Union township, where he remained a short time; rom there to Harrison township, Knox county, where he pur- ved a farm, and at present resides. Mr. Ferenbaugh served is land appraiser in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Ferenbaugh are the parents of two children, one of whom only is living-a son, Jeorge H., born November 20, 1875. In 1877 Mr. Ferenbaugh urchased a hardware store in Rossville, where he did business or about eighteen months.

FERENBAUGH MRS. ELIZA, post office, Rossville, was porn September 6, 1813, in Knox county, Ohio. Her father was born in Virginia, and came to Knox county in 1805 with a wife and one child. Not long after his wife died, and he was gain married. In 1866 he died, in his eighty-eighth year. Eliza Ferenbaugh married F. Ferenbaugh May 14, 1835, and bought her present farm. June 29, 1875, her husband died and left five children-Joseph, born February 17, 1836; Mary, born October 28, 1840; Leo, born October 20, 1843; Edman, born November 25, 1848; and Franklin, born September 20, 1856. Edman died September 8, 1878. Leo and Joseph are married and settled in Knox county.

FERENBAUGH, PETER, Union township, farmer, post office Rossville, was born in Germany, January 1, 1810. He came to America in September, 1831, with his brother, his father being dead. He came to New York, then to Buffalo, then to Cleveland; he then settled in Fairfield county for a few years, then came to Knox county, Ohio, and settled on his present farm.

In 1845 he was married to Lena Whehond. They have five children: Rosinda, born December, 1848; Priscilla, August 24, 1851; Eliza Ellen, October 24, 1855; Manvilla, July 7, 1858;

and Mary Frances, April 12, 1862. All are married except Mary and Manville.

Peter Ferenbaugh learned to make clocks in Germany, and after coming here he sold them all through the country, espec- ially in the Scioto valley and Kentucky, and all over the State of Ohio. After they had established a good trade in this sort of merchandise, they shipped their clocks from Germany in large lots. One day a vessel was about to land which contained about eight thousand dollars worth of clocks for them. It struck a barge which stove in the bottom of the ship, and all sunk-ship, cargo, clocks, and all. The clocks were under a partial insurance, and after a long litigation they managed to obtain a portion of the value of their goods. But this crippled them in such a way as to destroy their clock trade, and they lost about three-fourths of their capital, and could not fulfill their engagements. After this disaster Peter Ferenbaugh was compelled to preempt his piece of land which he had cleared for a home.

FERRISS, HARRISON, Wayne township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Wayne township, and was mar- ried in 1867 to Sarah Darling, who was born in Knox county in 1843. They have five children: Willie, born November 28, 1868; Minnie, March 28, 1871; Norma, October 7, 1873; Jennie, deceased, and Emery, March 26, 1880.

Mr. Ferriss was in the late war, being a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and continued in that service two years and ten months. He is now a citizen of Wayne township.

FIDLER, DANIEL, Middlebury township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in this county in 1832, and was married in 1862 to Mary J. Cross, who was born in Richland county in 1843. They had the following family: Willie, born in 1863; Bertha D., in 1866; Ida R., in 1868; Elmina, in 1872; Minte E., in 1874, and Walter D., in 1878.

Mr. Fidler was in the late war, a member of the One Hun- dred and Forty-second regiment, Ohio National guard, and served out the time of his enlistment. He is one of the active and prominent men of this township.

FIDLER, CHARLES, Middlebury township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Middlebury township in 1833, and married in 1864 to Melisse Needham, who was born in Guernsey county January 20, 1832. They have the following family, namely: Milo E., born November 12, 1865; Lovilla, born June 30, 1867; Howard, born January 22, 1877, and died February 21, 1877.

FIELDS, THOMAS, Pike township, deceased, born in 1826, and was married in 1851 to Sally Gooddale, who was born in Monroe township in 1830. They had the following children: Ellen, born in 1852; Joseph, in 1853; George, in 1854; Per- melia, in 1856; Thomas, in 1857; Robert, in 1858; Mary, in 1859, and Charlotte, in 1861.

The following have deceased: Thomas, 1802; Sarah, 1866; George, 1856; Mary, 1861, and Charlotte, 1862.

FISH, JOSEPH A., Middlebury township; farmer; post office, Fredericktown; born in Morrow county September 29, 1838, and married October October 13, 1859, to Mary Finfrock, who was born in Richland county June 11, 1840. They have two children, viz: John F., born October 23, 1860, and Miles J., August 30, 1864.

Mr. Fish came to this county in 1872. He owns a well im-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

proved farm with excellent buildings, and is one of the active men of this county.

FISH, CHARLES H., Brown township, farmer, was born in Beverly, New Jersey, on the twenty-second day of February, 1851, and was reared by his mother till he arrived at the age of twelve years, when he was brought to Cleveland by his uncle. While there, he attended school one year. He then lett his uncle, and commenced working at whatever he could get to do. This he continned until he arrived at the age of nineteen years, when he enlisted in the regular army for the term of five years, where he remained one year, when he was discharged. He then came back to Cleveland, where he re- mained but a short time. He came to Mt. Vernon, Knox county, and then went to Howard, where he was engaged to clerk for John McFarland in a grocery store, remaining about eight months. On December 25, 1872, he was uited in marriage with Catharine Arnold, born in Brown township, Knox county, March 24, 1851. After his marriage he moved to Loudonville, Ashland county. While there, he performed labor for deacon Taylor, but remained only a short time, soon entering into the service as brakeman for the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & West- ern railroad company. He remained about three years, during which time he moved his family to Crestline. From there he moved back to Knox county, near Jelloway, where he has since remained.

In August, 1880, he purchased a small home in Jefferson township, Knox county. Their union resulted in five children, four of whom are living.

FINK, W. H., Mt. Vernon, was born in 1836 in Seneca county, Ohio. He was married in 1856 to Miss Mary J. Tryon, of Ottawa county, Ohio, by whom he had a daughter, Ida, and a son, Frank. Mr. Fink was married a second time to Miss Angeline Conley, of this city, in 1879.

Mr. Fink came to this city about three years since, and en- tered the sash, door and blind factory of C. Mitchell, as foreman where he remained one year, when he went to the shop of White & Simpson, where he remained until the close of the firm in 1879.

Mr. Fink is a fancier of rare birds, of which he has an exten- sive and beautiful aviary. He is now employed with C. Mitch- ell, his former employer, in the planing mills.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK northeast corner of Main and Vine streets, Mt. Vernon. This bank is one of the solid mone- tary institutions of Ohio, and the foremost of the county, and as such is recognized by the best business men of the State. It was first organized and established as a private bank by Russel, Sturges & Co. in 1853, J. W. Russel, M. D., president, and Fred D. Sturges cashier, and continued to do business under that firm name until 1862, when it was reorganized under the name of the Mt. Vernon Bank, and had for its officers, J. W. Russel president; Fred D. Sturges cashier, and for directors Hon. Columbus Delano, J. W. Russel, M.D., Fred D. Sturges, Mathew Thompson, and W. H. Smith. This firm continued until 1865, when it was reorganized under the banking law of the United States and took the name of the First National bank, with Hon. Columbus Delano president, J. W. Russel vice president, Fred D. Sturges cashier; and as directors, Hon. C. Delano, J. W. Russel, M. D., F. D. Sturges, D. W. Lam- bert, and H. H. Greer. It has a capital of fifty thousand dol- lars, with a surplus of ten thousand dollars. Its average de- posits for the past year were one hundred and seventy-five thou-

sand dollars, and the volume of business for the same year was about five million or six million dollars. There has been but one sale of stock in this bank since it was organized, and it does a straight general banking business, has always loaned, and contin- ues to loan all its moneys at the legal rate of six per cent. Its officers are among the most respected and wealthy gentlemen of the county, against whom the breath of suspicion has never blown; consequently this is one of the most solid, safe, and reliable organizations of this county, and where everything in the banking line will receive prompt and faithful attention.

FISHER, REUBEN M., retired, Berlin township, post office, Fredericktown; born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1816; came to Ohio with his parents when a child, who located in Richland county. He was married to Mary Carey, who was born in Sandusky, Ohio. They have one son, H. W., who was born in Palmyra. He has been engaged in farming and working at the cooper business, but has retired from labor, and is enjoying the fruit of his labor. He has in his possession twenty-six rattles that came from one rattlesnake, which was killed by him and his father in their house. He also has four pieces of continental money, and three silver dollars-one piece handed down from his great-grandfather, dated 1735; another dated 1791, and the third dated 1807. They have been carefully preserved. He is now the oldest living citizen of Palmvra.

FISHBURN, HIRAM, Milford township, farmer, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1843. His father, Samuel Fishburn, was a native of the same county, born September 5, 1803. Lewis Fishburn, father of Lewis, and grandfather of Hiram, was a soldier of the Revolution. He married Catharine Grimm. They had ten children, Samuel be- ing the only one living. He married Elizabeth Muma in 1825. She died in September, 1876. They remained in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, until 1852, then emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Miller township. Mr. Fishburn now resides in Dau- phin. He married Mrs. Margaret Brackbill. By his marriage they had ten children: David, Amos, Catharine (married Henry Shupe), Jacob, Daniel, Elizabeth (married Peter Beinhour) Mary (married James Chambers), Josiah and Hiram. Samuel has deceased.

The subject of this notice, Hiram Fishburn, was raised on a farm, and remained with his father on the home farm until he was about twenty-seven years of age. He married Miss Nancy E. Smoots, daughter of H. K. Smoots, of Miller township, October, 1868. In 1870 he removed to Milford township. He is a good farmer, and a good citizen. They have two children: Mary Estell, born January 17, 1871, and Olive Odell, born Jan- uary 1, 1875.

FLAGG, WILLIAM C., Wayne township, farmer, post office Fredericktown, born in Washington county, Ohio, April 8, 1842, and was married to Dora Littimer, who was born in Indiana, October 31, 1850. They have the following children: Eva L., born February 21, 1869; Jennie C., October 13, 1871; Dora V., September 29, 1872; Minnie M., March 12, 1873; Charlie C., June 14, 1876; and James L., June 18, 1879. Mr. Flagg was a soldier in the late war, being a member of com- pany G., Ninety-sixth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry; was in a number of engagements, and was taken prisoner and kept three months, when he was exchanged. He was in the service three years, and received an honorable discharge.

FLETCHER, SYLVESTER, Pike township, (deceased),

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

was born in this township in 1826, and was married in 1847 to Mary M. Frizzell, who was born in this township in 1829. They had three children: Ephraim (deceased), born in 1850; John, in 1852; and Joel E., in 1856, now deceased.

Sylvester Fletcher died July 10, 1875, at home in this town- ship. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, also a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge in Bellville. He was buried by the members of that lodge, the procession at his funeral being the largest that was ever witnessed in this vi- cinity. In his deathı this county lost a good citizen, his wife an affectionate companion, and his children a kind father. He died in the triumphs of living faith, giving evidence of the power of religion in death.

FLETCHER, CHARLES, tanner, Pike township, post office Democracy; born in Brown township, this county, in 1847, was married in 1875 to Clara B. Ridenhour, who was born in Washing- ton county, Maryland in 1852. They have one son-Clarence C., who was born in 1877. Mr. Fletcher is a tanner by trade, and resides in Amity, where he has established a good trade.

FOOTE, GEGRGE W., farmer, Berlin township, post office Fredericktown; was born in this township in 1848, and was married in 1876 to Harriet E. Willits, who was born in Berlin township in 1857. They have two children-Herbert W., born in 1878, and Lucy R., in 1880.

Mr. Foote has always been in this county, with the exception of the time when he was attending school in Oberlin.

FOOT, HENRY R., farmer, post office, Fredericktown. He was born in New York in 1834. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1838, and was married in 1854 to Sarah A. Rowley, who was born in Michigan in 1837. They have three children, Abigail R., born in 1855; Ephraim, in 1848, and James H. n 1860. Mr. Foot was a soldier in the late war, a member of Company H, One Hundred and Forty-second regiment O. N. G., and was honorably discharged.

FORSYTHE, JAMES S., Morgan township, farmer; was born in Licking county, Ohio, January 1, 18r7. His grand- father, John Forsythe, emigrated from Ireland with his family prior to the Revolutionary war, and upon the breaking out of che war he enlisted and served four years. He died in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania. Thomas Forsythe, father of the subject of this sketch, married Mary Hardy in Harrison county, Ohio, ind in 1809 settled near Utica, where he resided until 1844, when he moved to where his son now resides and where they both died. They had four children, all dead except the subject of this sketch. He was reared on a farm, and has always fol- lowed farming as his occupation, July 7, 1842, he married Mary J. Mccullough. They had eleven children, three of whom died in infancy-the living are George W., in Iowa; Lovina, wife of James Lahman; Thomas A., James L., William M., Lena, wife of Manly W. Johnson; John Wesley, and Samuel C. Mr. Forsythe is an estimable citizen.

FOWLER, JAMES, Howard township, farmer, post office, Howard; was born in Green township, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1812. In 1827 he moved to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, remained there until 1853, when he moved to Knox county and settled in Jefferson township. He then moved to Pike township in 1863 and remained there five years. He then came to Howard where he has remained until the pres- ent time. He was married in Harrison county, Ohio, February

II, 1830. He has twelve children: Maria, Andrew, William, Hammer, Elizabeth, Margaret, John, Charles, Winfield, Mary, Florence and Laura. Charles graduated in medicine at Cleve- land, Ohio, in 1879 and is doing well. Maria died January 15, 1831, Mary died August 12, 1853. In 1839 Mr. Fowler's services were engaged to build the Holmes church in Tusca- rawas county. In 1845 his services were engaged to build another church called Rahabetta. On February 11, 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Fowler gathered a number of their friends to- gether and celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of married life.

FRAZIER, THOMAS J., farmer, post office, Frederick- town, was born in Muskingum county, in 1849, and was mar- ried in 1874, to Sarah McKee, who was born in this county. They have three children, viz: Robert E., born in 1875; Edie E., in 1877, and Louis G., in 1879.

FRAZIER, JOSEPH P., farmer, Berlin township, post office, Fredericktown; was born in Muskingum county, in 1852, and was married in 1879 to Mary J. McKee, who was born in this county in 184r. They have one daughter (Dessie Belle), born in 1880.

FRENCH, R. S., a native of New York city, was born in 1827. His father, Robert French, a native of Maryland, was sergeant in the United States army for twenty-five years. His mother, Hellen French, was a native of New York city. Mr. R. S. French came to Gambier, this county, entered Kenyon college in 1845, and graduated in 1849. He studied medicine three years, then purchased two hundred and fifty acres of the college land, and conducted a stock-farm for three years. He was the first man to bring a mowing machine into Knox county. In 1855 he engaged in the mercantile business in Gambier, and was actively engaged at the business for fifteen years. He then left his store in the care of a clerk and became agent for J. H. Gauter & Co., of Jersey City, and continued as their agent for four years, travelling over twenty-six States and territories. In 1878 he retired from all business and has passed his time at his residence in Gambier. November 13, 1851, he married Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, nee Hobb, and sister of Profes- sor Alexander Hobb, late of Kenyon college. The union re- sulted in four children, two sons and two daughters. One son and one daughter are deceased.

In 1876 he was succeeded by his son, H. H. French, who is still engaged at the business in Gambier, dealing in drugs of all kinds, patent medicines, stationery, etc.

FRIZZELL, EPHRAIM, Brown township, farmer, post office Democracy, son of John M. and Elizabeth Frizzell, born in Baltimore county, Maryland, September 16, 1816, and was brought by his parents to Ohio in 1826, when a boy of ten years of age. His father located in Pike township, Knox county, where he reared his family. At the age of twenty-three years Ephraim Frizzell, the subject of this sketch, married Miss Mary Muntis in 1859, daughter of John and Susan Muntis, born in York county, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1816. After his marriage he remained in Pike township a short time, and pur- chased a farm in Brown township, where he moved in 1849, and remained until 1853, when he exchanged said farm for a farm and tannery in Amity, Pike township, where he then moved, operating said tannery and farmed in connection with it until 1857. He then sold his property in Pike township, and purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy acres in Brown township, where he then moved and now resides. While living

THOMAS FIDLER.

MRS. JANE FIDLER.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

in Pike township he held the office of trustee for four years. By their marriage they became the parents of nine children- George, Allen, Eleorah, Sarah C., Mary A., Susan, John M., Elizabeth. Normanda died May 2, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Friz- zell are members of the German Baptist church of Danville.

Allen Frizzell, son of Ephraim Frizzell, served four years in the late Rebellion, under Captain A. Cassil in the Sixty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, company E.

FROST, JOSIAH, Union township, deceased, was born in Alleghany county, Maryland, July 15, 1790. He married Miss Peggy McNair in 1812, born in Frederick county, Maryland, February, 1795. They settled in Maryland, where they re- mained ten years, and in 1822 he, with his wife and five chil- dren, emigrated to this county, located in Jefferson township on a farm now owned by J. C. Banbury, two miles northwest of Danville. The land at that time was a dense forest, no wood- man's axe had been there except an occasional trespasser. His first work was the erection of a log cabin, which served them as an abode for five years. In 1825 he erected a hewed log barn. In 1827 he built a hewed log dwelling house. These served them several years, when larger and more commodious build- ings were erected. He continued improving his land until, by persistent toil he made his farm to rank among the best im- proved ones in Jefferson township. His farm contains about three hundred acres. He also owned several hundred acres of land in Jefferson and adjoining townships. He lived on his first purchase of land until 1864, when he sold it and moved to Millwood, Union township, and lived a retired life until he died, January, 1866.

They reared eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, Ann (deceased), Joseph, Enoch (deceased), Levi William, Nelson, Maria, Jo- siah (deceased), Susan and Otho, They married and reared families.

In March, 1846, his wife departed this life. In October, 1846, he married Hannah Harris. By this marriage he had one child, Francis A. In 1856 his wife died.

In the latter part of the year of 1856 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Lucy Workman, nee Holts, who survives him.

FROST, LEVI, Union township, third son of the above Josiah Frost, was born in Alleghany county, Maryland, July 25, 1821. He was brought to Knox county by his parents in October, 1822. He was a farmer and followed farming as his vocation many years. In September 1843, he married Miss Keziah Harris, born March 20, 1824, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris.

They settled on land given him by his father, in Jefferson township, three miles north of the home farm, on which he made improvements, and lived until 1854. He then sold his land and purchased a part of the Harris farm, located in the same town- ship, one mile north of his father's farm, where they lived until 1868, when he sold his farm, moved to Danville in the fall of 1868, and engaged in the mercantile business, which business he has since followed. They reared a family of five children, viz: Thomas J., Madison H., John W., Parmenas T., and K. Flora. His companion died October 8, 1874. In September, 1876, he married Elizabeth Butler for his second wife.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 131

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