History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 133

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 133

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John F., the subject of this notice, was born on the farm,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and there reared, attending the common schools and several terms at an academy at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. He re- ceived an appointment to the naval academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he remained eight months, and on account of sickness returned home.

In 1866 he came to Ohio and engaged in the dry goods busi- ness, in Fredericktown, Knox county, as clerk for M. J. Sim- mons, with whom he remained for three years, when he became one of the firmn. About 1871 he engaged in business for him- self in Fredericktown, where he remained two years, when he was burned out. He then came to Mt. Vernon and clerked successively for J. W. Miller and D. W. Mead. In 1876 he was nominated for the office of sheriff by the Democratic con- vention, without his personal solicitation, and at the ensuing election received a majority of one hundred and twenty-six. He made a very efficient and acceptable officer, and was again nom- inated in 1878, running largely ahead of his ticket, receiving a majority of one thousand five hundred and sixteen. Mr. Gay is an accurate business man, and by his pleasant manner has suc- ceeded in making many friends. He was married to Miss Mary A. Nevius. They have been the parents of four children, two of whom are living. Mr. Gay is now in the dry goods business, having connected himself with the well known house of G. W. Mead, of Mt. Vernon.

GEARHART, SMITH, Milford township, farmer, was born in Hilliar township, December 17, 1843. He is the son of White- field and Harriet Gearhart, who was a daughter of Jesse Smith. She was born in Rhode Island in 1820, and in 1833 came to Ohio with her parents who settled in Liberty township. Mr. Smith came to Ohio at a much earlier date and purchased a tract of land, then returned to Rhode Island, where he married Mary Jenks. By this marriage there were six children, Mrs. Gearhart being the oldest of the family. Mrs. Smith died in 1865. Some time after his wife's death he went to Iowa, where he yet resides, aged eighty-five years. Harriet was married to Whitefield Gear- hart March 1, 1838. They had nine children, six of whom are living, viz .: George, Mary, (married to John Spearman), Smith, Charles, Mary (married to John New), Aaron W. Mr. Gear- hart died in 1874, aged fifty-nine years. Mrs. Gearhart still re- sides on the farm in Liberty township. The subject of this notice, Smith Gearhart, was reared on a farm. In 1862 he en- listed in company F, One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment Ohio volunteer infantry for three years, and participated in the battle of Perrysville, Kentucky. He was taken sick and dis- charged on account of physical disability contracted while in service. He was out about eight months. After his return home, and upon the recovery of his health, he engaged in farm- ing, which he has followed ever since. He is one of Milford township's best citizens, and a good farmer. June ro, 1865, he married Mary L. Brokaw, who is a daughter of John A. and Caroline Brokaw, of Mt. Liberty, Ohio.

GEORGE, JAMES, deceased, late of Clinton township, was a native of England, having been born in Somersetshire, May 4, 1809. His early years were spent in and around his old home, for which he had up to his last sickness a veneration that made him somewhat restless, and he often expressed a desire to return and 'spend his remaining days with the "old folks at home." So great was this desire to be at "home" once more, as he often expressed himself, that on three different occasions he braved the dangers of the mighty deep to gratify the yearnings of his heart. On his first return home, in 1844, he acknowl-

edged things looked changed, they were not as his fond wishes hoped to find them-a reaction took place. In 1859 was his next return, the old desire to visit England being too great to re- sist. Again disappointment met him at every place he visited- old scenes had vanished, and new scenes had taken their place -the people were also new and strange. Again he returned to America-it appeared better to him than before. In 1867 the old homesickness again seized him-the terrors of the ocean stood not in his way. So again we find him "going down to the sea in ships"-Somersetshire the objective point. Greater changes than before met him face to face. He took sick almost unto death. His devoted wife was sent for-she crossed the waters-nursed him to convalescence, and cared for him on his fourth voyage to America.

In July, 1833, Mr. George, then in his twenty-fourth year, made his initial voyage to America, landing in New York. From New York he went to Portchester, where he remained two years. Here he met, wooed and won Miss Catharine A. Brown, of Portchester, and on the fourth of March, 1855, they were united in marriage. Miss Brown was born in New York, Octo- ber 25, 1811. Shortly after his marriage Mr. and Mrs. George, in May of 1835, removed to New Rochelle, and remained there until November, when they came to Ohio, locating in Coshocton county, and made that county their home for one year. In 1836 they again broke up their home and settled in Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the baking business. Mr. George erected the building known as the Buckeye block, now occupied by Mr. William Taylor. Ho also increased his business by entering into the wholesale and retail grocery trade; which he conducted with great success up to 1849. He then sold his stock of goods and part of his real estate property in Columbus and purchased and moved upon a farm near Freder- icktown, this county. Until about 1852 he followed farming, when he and his family came to Mt. Vernon, where he engaged in the mercantile business. This he continued for a number of years. "Indeed," says Mrs, George, "during his residence in the city, he was never idle-being always employed either in selling goods, erecting houses, improving property, or farming." In 1875 he purchased and moved to a small farm, one mile west of Mt. Vernon, on the new Delaware road. Here he lived until June 25, 1879, when his last sickness terminated in his death.

Mr. George was a good citizen, an affectionate husband, and an indulgent father, honest to the heart, and liberal to a fault. His death was a loss to all.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. George five sons and one daughter were born; four sons and the daughter are still living, viz: James, William, John, Thomas, and Mary. The sons are living in Mt. Vernon and engaged in business. The daughter, Mary, the widow of the late George Fay, is a resident of Tama City, Iowa.

Mary is now the wife of Mr. Charles Kingsbury. Their first child, a son, died young.

Mrs. George, now in her sixty-ninth year, resides on the little farm in Clinton township, where her husband passed from earth.

GERHERT, W. P., Fredericktown, dealer in groceries, provisions and notions ; was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1850, and was married in 1870 to Liscettie Chronester, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1849. They have the following family, viz: Curtis, born in 1871; Jennie, born in 1874; John B., born in 1877.

Mr. Gerhart established his business here in 1876, and has built up a very extensive trade. He has become a very popular

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

business man, so that his store is one of the leading institutions of the town.

GETZ, JOHN, Fredericktown, marble and monument manu- facturer; was born in Germany in 1845, emigrated with his parents to this country in 1846 and located in Berlin township, Holmes county, Ohio. He was married to Maggie Culler, who was born in Pennsylvania. They had six children: Edwin W., Anna Mary, Grace Geneva, Erma, John and an infant.

Mr. Getz learned the marble cutting trade in Holmes county, and worked at it in the same county. He came to Frederick- town in 1879 and established marble and monumental works. He is doing business on quite an extensive scale, giving em- ployment to a number of hands, and has the best material in the market, employs the best workmen, is a practical mechanic himself, and is prepared to meet all competition of larger towns in prices and quality. He is establishing a good trade, and it is increasing rapidly, as his establishment compares favorably with those of Mt. Vernon and Mansfield.

John Getz enlisted in the late war in 1862, and was a member of company F, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth regiment O. V. I. He continued until the close of the war, and was in the fol- lowing engagements: Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, at Atlanta (several en- gagements), Jonesborough, Franklin and Nashville, besides a number of smaller engagements. He was honorably dis- charged.

GHRIST, JAMES F., tailor, Fredericktown, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and was married in 1854 to Sarah L. Latimer, who was born in the same county in r829. They have three children: Thomas E., born in 1856; Clara M., in 1858; and Orlando P., in 1872.

Mr. Ghrist learned the tailor trade in Galion, Ohio, remained here four years, and then returned to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He there engaged in the same business, and re- nained in that State for twenty-five years.

He was a soldier in the late war-a member of company K, Two Hundred and Sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer in- tantry, and was engaged in the service one year. He returned to Richland county, Ohio, in 1876, and engaged at his trade in Independence and Bellville.

In 1878 he located in Fredericktown, and is doing a custom .rade. Mr. Ghrist is a first-class mechanic, and makes cutting a specialty, doing quite an extensive business.

Mr. Ghrist is an active official member of the Baptist church, and superintendent of their Sabbath-school.

GIBSON, SAMUEL (deceased), was born in Frederick county, Maryland, and was married to Ruth Elliott, who was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, in 1815. They emi- grated to Jefferson county, Ohio, and remained there until the spring of 1818, when they came to Knox county. He bought one quarter section in Richland county.

They had nine children: George W., Sarah, Hannah, John, and Hiram-all born in the State of Maryland. John died in in- fancy; Ann, who was born in Jefferson county; William, born on the Farquahar farm; Mary (deceased) and Ruth, who were born on the farm where Joseph Crane now resides. Ruth was married to Joseph Crane.

William Farquahar and Henry Roberts settled on the farm where Nicholas Darling resides, in Morris township. They had to cut the road through from Mt. Vernon. They raised corn at that time in that neighborhood fourteen feet high. Basil Far-

quahar, when fourteen years of age, climbed a stock of corn, which incident is still remembered by some of the older citizens.

GIBSON, GEORGE W., was married to Mary Garrett; they had one daughter, Abigail, who was married to Issachar Gregg. Mr. G. W. Gibson subsequently married Frances Green. There are three of their children living, viz .: Caroline, now Mrs. John Wagner, of Middlebury township; Eliza, now Mrs. Dove; Hiram M., a resident of Berlin; George W., resides on the farm with Hiram M.

GIBSON, HIRAM M., farmer, Berlin township, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Richland county, in a cabin, in 1845, and was married in 1874 to Clara Comfort, who was born in this county in 1851.

GIFFIN, LAURISTON, farmer, post office, Shaler's Mills. He was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, in 1809, and came to Ohio in 1838, purchasing land in Berlin township, this county. He was married to Lucia F. Willis, who was born in Pittsford, Vermont, in 1812. They had four children: Arminta M., deceased; William C., Emma E., and Mary Alice.

William C. Giffin was married in 1864 to Amy Gower. They have five children living: Mattie May, Charles H., Emma A., Mary L., Herbert L., Lucia J., and Loretta A. The deceased members are Emma A., and Herbert L.

Mr. W. C. Giffin was a soldier during the late war, a member of company H, One Hundred and Forty-second regiment Ohio National guard. He is engaged in farming, threshing, and during the winter is running a mill for grinding feed, which is located at Fredericktown.

Mary Alice was married in 1872 to Columbus W. Smith. They have three children: Burton G., born in 1873; Fannie W., in 1876; and Carl C., in 1879. Mr. Smith is residing with Mr. L. Giffin and farming the home place.

Mr. L. Giffin, when he first came to Knox county, was a citi- zen of Fredericktown for about eighteen months. He was en- gaged in manufacturing hair cloth for sofas and chairs.

It was in the days of Judge Ayers. The judge would get Mr. Giffin to break his wild colts that no one had the courage to handle. Judge Ayers positively claimed that Mr. L. Giffin was the champion horseman.

Mr. Giffin moved on his farm in Berlin township in 1839. He built the first frame house on the street where he now resides. He kept a public house to accommodate the travelling public. Mr. and Mrs. Giffin are very hospitable, and are well remem- bered by many that shared their hospitality.

GIFFIN, ROBERT, SR., was born in Virginia, November 21, 1813, and came with his father, William Giffin, to New Cas- tle township, Coshocton county, Ohio, at an early age. In March, 1838, he removed to Butler township, and has since resided here. November 16, 1837, he was married to Miss Martha Busenberg, who was born February 11, 1821, in Butler township. They have had eight children, viz: Louisa Giffin, born March 28, 1839; Sarah Catharine, September 16, 1841; Amanda J., March 20, 1843; William B., June 28, 1844; Mary Elizabeth, August 9, 1847; Charles Francis, September 20, 1850; William Monroe, June 5, 1853; Martha Ellen, June 5, 1853. Louisa Giffin died October 2, 1840; William Monroe Giffin, August 14, 1855; Charles Francis Giffin, August 29, 1855; Martha Ellen Giffin, September 9, 1860.

Politically Mr. Giffin was an old line Whig and afterwards a Republican. He is owner of two hundred and fifty acres of fine

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

farming land lying in Butler township, and is possessor of a very fine residence.

GILBERT, JOHN, son of Samuel and Thompson Gilbert, was born in England, March 23, 1836. In 1850 he came with his parents to America, and located in Mt. Vernon. In 1851 he commenced an apprentice at the blacksmith trade in Mt. Vernon, and remained one year; then, in 1852, he came to Mon- roe Mills, where he finished his apprenticeship in 1854 with Stephen Parmenter. He at once commenced business for him- self, purchased Mr. Parmenter's shop and accouterments, in which he worked until 1861, when he erected his present shop at Monroe Mills, in which shop he has since carried on the busi- ness of blacksmithing in all its branches.

In 1856 he married Miss Phoebe E. Lybarger, born in Knox county, November, 1838, daughter of Jesse Lybarger. They settled at Monroe Mills, where they now reside. Their union resulted in four children, two sons and two daughters. In May, 1864, he enlisted in company F, of the One Hundred and Forty- second Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was then discharged from the service, returned home and again engaged at his business, which he has since been following.

GILBERT, WILLIAM H., farmer, Liberty township, was born December 28, 1848, near Fredericktown, and is the son of Samuel and Joanna Gilbert nee Hicks.

Samuel Gilbert was born in Devonshire, England, and when about nineteen, came to the United States with his brother John. He remained in New York city two years, and then emi- grated to Wayne township, subsequently to Clinton and Hilliar townships, where he died in September 1875. He was twice married, his first wife was Joanna Hicks, who had two children, William H. and Mary E. His second wife was Mrs. D. Mar- shall, with whom he had four children. She is yet a resident of Hilliar township.

The subject of this notice was reared on a farm, and has al- ways followed farming. November 23, 1872, he married Miss Mary Ann Sharpnack, who is the daughter of Daniel Sharpnack, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1804. He married Miss L. Coleman in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. She was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1803. They came to Ohio about 1838. They are both dead. They had ten children, four of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. . Gilbert have one child, Mary L., born September 25, 1875.

GILMORE, FRANCIS, farmer, Pike township, post office, North Liberty, born in Pike township, this county, July 9, 1839, and was married January 25, 1864, to Mary Jane Loney, who was born in Pike township, this county, September 6, 1844. They have the following children : Mary, born April 12, 1867; John L., January 26, 1874; Blanche, July 21, 1876; William Calvin, April 24, 1879. He owns the old homestead and has resided on it since his marriage.

GILMORE, JOHN, Pike township, farmer, post office, North Liberty, born in Knox county, and was married to Maria Clawson, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio. They had four children: Lovena, Eddie, Willie (deceased), and Walter. Mr. Gilmore is a farmer hy occupation, and has a beautiful farm in Pike township, with all the modern improve- ments, his buildings being among the very best in this county, and he is a model farmer.

GLASENER, ABSALOM, Brown township, farmer, post

office, Jelloway, was born in Alleghany county, Maryland, No- vember 19, 1804, and remained with his parents until he arrived at the age of twenty-five years, when he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Pierce, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, December 2, 1804. After his marriage he moved with his family to Knox county, locating on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Brown township, which he had entered previous to his marriage. There he commenced life in a cabin he had erected previous to coming to said farm. He cleared the land, made it ready for the plow, and soon had a fine farm. Said 'farm is located on the headwaters of Bear run, and is a very pleasant home. He now lives there and is enjoying himself in his old days. By their marriage they became the parents of four children: Elizabeth S., born March 7, 1831, now resides in Mt. Vernon; Rebecca J., November 11, 1833; Mary M., April 23, 1836, now lives in Fredericktown; Jacob H., Novem- ber 11, 1838, died September 11, 1840.

GLASGOW, JOHN W., Pike township, farmer, post office, Democracy, born in Pike township in 1855, and was married in 1876 to Mary Guthrie, who was born in Pike township in 1853. They have two children, John, born in 1876, and Edith Rachel, in 1878.

Mr. Glasgow has always been identified with this county and is one of its leading citizens.

GLASGOW, JAMES JR., Pike township, farmer, post office, North Liberty, born in Pike township, this county, September 10, 1860, and was married by Rev. W. Ferguson, in Mt. Vernon, September 16, 1880, to Miss Kittie Hively, who was born September 16, 1861. They reside in Knox county, Ohio. His father, James Glasgow, sr., was born January 10, 1809, and was married in 1833 to Nancy Robinson, who was born in 1817. They had four children: Isabella, born in 1835; Nancy, in 1837; Eliza A., 1839; Margaret J., 1842.

Mrs. Nancy Glasgow died January 18, 1842.

Mr. Glasgow subsequently married Alice A. Petterson, born in 1807. They had two children, Robert and James, deceased. Mrs. Alice Glasgow died in 1850. His third marriage was in 1850 to Mary Jane Armstrong, who was born in 1824. They had eight children: Emma, born in 1851; Abigail, in 1853; John, in 1855; Mary, 1858; James, jr., 1860; Robert, 1863; Harvey, 1866, and Elizabeth, 1869. Elizabeth died in 1875. The following are married: Isabella and Samuel Ruby, Nancy and Newton Blair, Eliza and William Reed, Margaret and Nelson Hushberger, Emma and William Dunmire, John and Mary Guthrie, Abigail and Eliza Guthrie, James, jr., and Kittie Hively.

GLENN, DAVID (deceased), Pleasant township, was born in Carlisle, Penneylvania, July 9, 1788. On May 13, 1813, he married Miss Jane McConnell, of Pennsylvania, born in 1792. They settled in Pennsylvania, where they lived until r847, when, with his wife and ten children, he moved to Ohio, located for one year in Wayne county, then moved to Ashland county, re- mained two years, and in 1850 moved to Knox county, locating on a farm in Green valley, four miles west of Mt. Vernon. In 1852 he purchased and moved on the farm now owned and occu- pied by his heirs. February 27, 1869, he died here, aged eighty- one years. He was one term in the legislature, and filled the office of justice of-the peace for many years, in Pennsylvania. August 27, 1875, his companion died, aged eighty-four years. They reared a family of ten children, viz .: Eliza J., John, James M., David, Nettie E. and Mary A. (twins), George W., Samuel

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H., Thomas S., and William S .- all now living, except David, who died February 4, 1858.

BROWN, JOSEPH C., farmer, Pleasant township, was born in Cork county, Ireland in 1827, where he grew to manhood. In 1856 he emigrated to America and located in Clermont county, Ohio. In 1861 he came to Knox county, Ohio, where he mar- ried Miss Mary Clark, of College township, March 31st of same year. They returned to Clermont county, where they lived a year; then, in 1862, they moved to this county and located for three years in College township, and in 1865 he purchased and moved on the farm in Pleasant township where they are now living. They have a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. He has followed farming as his vocation. Miss Clark was born in county Cork, Ireland, November 23, 1833, daughter of Thomas and Mary Clark. She emigrated to Amer- ica in 1852; lived in Hamilton county, Ohio, three years, and in 1855 came to Knox county.

GLOSSER, LEROY, Fredericktown, carpenter, was born in Fredericktown in 1850, and married in 1874 to Clara Castner, who was born in Woodbury, Pennsylvania, in 1852. They have one son, George E., born August 4, 1878.

GORDON, SIDNEY W., Middlebury township, dealer in hardware, born in Knox county, now Morrow, June 24, 1831, and was married October 3, 1852, to Mahalia L. Gardner, who was born in Knox county, September 12, 1834. They have the following children: Helen A., born December 5, 1853; Rosa D., October 15, 1855; John W., October 28, 1857; George H., Feb- ruary 1, 1860; Charles N., February 25, 1862; Sidey L., Feb- ruary 25, 1864; Mary A., May 30, 1868.

Mr. Gordon is engaged in the hardware business in Water- ford. He began there in the spring of 1880, and carries a gen- eral stock of hardware, keeping the stock well supplied, and is ver ready to compete with larger towns in this line of goods. All who need anything in his line will do well to call and see him.

His father, William G. Gordon, was born in Manchester, England, September 17, 1772. He came to America in 1802, and was married in New Jersey September 25, 1809; to Mary iJedden. He now resides in Chester township, Morrow county, Ohio.

GORDON, JOSEPH M. D., Mt. Vernon, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1841. His father, Si- .as Gordon, is of Scotch extraction, and a native of Pennsyl- vania. He married a Miss Coffman, of the same county. They had a family of ten children, eight of whom are living. In 1853 Mr. Gordon with his family, emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, and located near Mt. Vernon. where they remained some years, and then removed to near Fredericktown, where they yet reside. They are estimable citizens, by ocupation farmers.

Ths subject of this notice spent his youth with his parents on the farm, obtaining his education mostly at the schools of Fred- ericktown, after which he taught school for several terms. In August, 1861, he enlisted in company A, Twentieth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Chatahoochie Savannah, At- lanta, Champion Hills, Marietta, Jonesborough, Kennesaw Mountain, Port Gibson, Jackson, Boliver, Ackwood, Vicks- burgh, Raymond, Black Creek, Grand Junction, Goldsborough, Fayetteville, besides numerous minor engagements. He was discharged in the fall of 1864. He began reading medicine in

the spring of 1865 with Dr. Russel. After his course of read- ing he graduated at the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadel- phia in 1868, and remained for a short time in New Jersey. He then came to Mt. Vernon, where he began practice, and soon succeeded in building up an excellent reputation. He is presi- dent of the Knox County Medical society, and clerk of the board of education. He married Miss Clara L. Corey in 1871. They have three children, viz: Mary P., Lula M., and Stella S.

GOWER, SAMUEL, Pike township; farmer; post office, North Liberty, was born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1817, and came to Ohio in 1824. He first settled in Stark county, and remained there till 1840, when he came to Pike township, Knox county. He was married in 1841, to Elizabeth Jane Kirkpatrick, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1822. They have seven children, viz: Mary, born in 1842; William, in 1844; Amy, in 1846; Nancy, in 1847; Washington, in 1849; Martha, in 1852, and John, in 1855.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 133

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