History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 146

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 146

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ville, within the present county of Ashland, to a point in the present county of Miami, which occupied his time about three months. He then resumed his old business of clearing land and farming. Some time after he came home he and his broth- er Joseph entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Harrison township.

Mr. Lepley became the owner of over seven hundred acres of land, which he divided among his children. On October 6, 1816, he married Barbara Baughman, a daughter of Christian and Mary Baughman, born November 27, 1792. Eight chil- dren were born to them, as follows: David, Daniel, James, Mary M., Louis, Martin, Simon, Colvin. Mary M., Martin, Simon, and Colvin are the only ones now living.

LEPLEY, JACOB, deceased, born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, was brought to Ohio by his parents at an early day, locating on Brush run, now Butler township, where they remained a few years; his father then entered a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Harrison township, where he moved with his family, where the subject of this sketch was reared and received his education. Mr. Lepley was considered one among the pioneer farmers.

In October, 1833, at the age of twenty-eight or thirty years, he married Delilah Eley, a daughter of Michael Eley, who was, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1814. After living for some years on the farm entered by his father, he became the owner of it, and henceforth lived upon it until his death, which occurred May 8, 1864, in his sixty-second year. Mrs. Lepley survives him in her sixty-seventh year. They be- came the parents of ten children, as follows: Daniel Lepley, born June 4, 1835; Noah, born March 30, 1837, died October 18, 1838; Sarah A., born July 31, 1839, died December 18 1862, aged twenty-three years four months and eighteen days; Catharine, born January 6, 1842, died November 31, 1848, aged six years ten months and twenty-five days; Francis M., born May 16, 1844; Mary E., born August 2, 1846; Angeline, Sep- tember 21, 1848; Martha E., November 21, 1850; Eley C., June 20, 1853, died October 3, 1865, aged twelve years three months and thirteen days; Almeda J. February 21, 1856; six of the foregoing children are still living.

LEPLEY, JOSEPH (deceased), was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1812, and emigrated to Ohio when a young man, locating in Butler township, where he resided until his death, January 10, 1878. He was married three times-to Catharine Korns, November 26, 1832; to De- lilah Beal, May 29, 1836; and to Lydia Mossholder, February 28, 1846. He was the father of eleven children, viz; Joseph R., Elizabeth, Michael, Alonzo, Alpheus, Aaron, Hannah, Malona, Lloyd, Rhodinia, and Thaddeus, all of whom are living except Michael, who died at Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 23, 1864.

LETTS, JACKSON (deceased), farmer, was born in Mor- gan township, August 16, 1828. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Morgan township. There were ten children in the family, three of whom are yet living. The subject of this notice spent his early life on the farm and attending school. After the death of his parents Mr. Letts purchased the interest of the heirs in the homestead, and, by judicious management, was enabled to pay for the farm in a few years. He subsequently purchased adjoining land, and became one of the leading farmers. He improved the homestead by building a substantial dwelling and made many other improvements on the farm. He was a kind and obliging neigh-

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bor, a faithful friend, and an affectionate father. He was born, reared, and died on the home farm. His death occurred Sep- tember 16, 1879.

October 26, 1862, he was married to Sarah Larimore, daugh- ter of Thomas Larimore, of Milford township, who was born in July, 1840. They had a family of eight children, viz .: Minnie M., born August 18, 1863; Roger W., May 29, 1865; Mary Ella. January 9, 1866; Frank f _. , November 14, 1868; Anna, October 25, 1870; Clara B., February 19, 1874; Sadie E., April 8, 1878. Ada died July 14, 1867.

Mrs. Letts occupies the homestead.

LEVERING, NOAH, deceased, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1802, and died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Andrew Rusk, March 4, 188r. He was the last survivor of the family of Daniel Levering, who came to Knox county from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on horseback, before the War of 1812, and purchased and entered lands in Middlebury township, near Waterford, In the spring of 1813 Daniel Levering moved his family-six sons and one daughter, to his western home, and during the same summer with a few other settlers built a block-house on his farm to protect their lives from the Indians.

Noah Levering was born the year before the State of Ohio was admitted into the Union, and moved to Knox county when ten years old, and lived in Middlebury township until shortly before his death.

March 27, 1828, he was married to Miss Armanella B., daugh- ter of John and Anna Cook, who settled in Middlebury township in the spring of 18rr, from Washington county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Levering died June 12, 1879. By this union there were ten children- seven that survive their parents. Noah Levering sold the lands, and laid out the village of Waterford, and in 1836 was instrumental in establishing a postal route from Mt. Vernon to Tiffin, with the assistance of his brother John, who became sureties to the department that the route would be a paying one; in honor of which the Postmaster General named the office at Waterford, "Leverings." Noah Levering never voted anything but a Democratic ticket, having voted for every Democratic candidate for president from Andrew Jackson to W. S. Hancock. He united with the Presbyterian church at Waterford, in 1852. His remains were interred in the family cemetery on the old farm, to which he came in 1813.

LEVERING, JOHN C, farmer, Middlebury township, post office, Levering, born in Middlebury township, 1829, and was married in 1854, to Mary E. Ewers, who died in 1859. They had one son, Wilbert F. Mr. Levering was again married in 1861, to Carrie Richardson, who was born in Hamilton, Canada. Their children are: Frank O., Noah C., Daniel L., John C., and Jennette C.

Mr. John Levering was elected commissioner of Knox county in 1871, and reelected in 1874. To show the appreciation of him, the following from the Mt. Vernon Republican, dated November 29, 1877, is given :

"Superintendent Williams gave a dinner at the infirmary, chiefiy in honor of Commissioner Levering, whose tenure of office has about expired. Mr. Levering might be called the founder of the new infirmary, as he has been in office since its conception, and he has had more to do with it than any officer. Quite a number of guests from the city were invited, and the dinner was wholly appropriate, as commissioner Levering goes out of his office with the respect of both parties. As we never

lose an opportunity to tell the truth about a Democrat, it is proper to say that any compliment we can pay to the gentle- manly conduct of Mr. Levering while in office, and to his honesty and uprightness as a private citizen, is not out of place."

LEVERING, EDWARD, farmer, Middlebury township, post office, Levering, born in Knox county, July 26, 1845, and was married November 27, 1878, to Satire Lanning, who was born in Chesterville, Morrow county, August 11, 1845. His father, Joseph Levering, was born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, November 18, 1805. They came from Pennsylvania in 1813, starting on the eighth of April and landing May Ist.

He was married May 21, 1833, to Elizabeth Blair, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1806. They had seven children, one of whom (Edwin) has died.

LEVERING, RILEY, Wayne township, farmer, post office, Lucerne, born in Ohio, March 22, 1848, and was married March 5, 1873, to Elizabeth Lewis, who was born in Wayne township, Knox county, Ohio, May 22, 1853. They have three sons- Fred B., born November 17, 1874; James Hoy, May 28, 1876; and Lewis Benton, January 1, 1879. Mr. Levering came to Wayne township in 1873.

LEWIS, JOHN B., Liberty township (deceased), was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, September ro, 1804. His parents came to Ohio some few years after and settled in what is now Liberty township, where he was reared. November 5, 1835, he was married to Miss Julia Bricker, daughter of George and Catharine Bricker, nee Thomas. She was born June 4, 1809. He was a farmer by occupation and continued farming until his death, which occurred April 4, 1875. They had four children, one only of whom is living, viz .: Deliam, born July 25, 1840' and married to Annias Rush, June 29, 1871. They had two children, George F., and A. Belle. Mr. Rush died December II, 1873, aged forty-five years. Mrs. Lewis is spending her days on the old homestead.

LEWIS, GEORGE, Morris township, farmer, post office, Mt. Vernon, was born in Liberty township, March 3, 1809, and was married in 1837 to Mary Gardner, who was born in Maryland. They had two sons. Anson B. was born in 1838; George W., in 1840. Mrs. Mary Lewis died in 1843. Mr. Lewis subse- quently married Miss Gassaway, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio. They had children-Amanda Ellen was born in 1851; Mary Eveline, in 1853; Elizabeth Ann, in 1855; Sarah Isabelle, in 1857. Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis died in 1861. He was married in 1863, to Catharine Studer, who was born in Wayne county, and came to this county when an infant. Anson B. married Nancy Hireman. They reside in Clinton township. George married Ellen Green and resides in Union county, Ohio. Elizabeth Ann married Alexander Buckman. They reside in Liberty township. Mary E. married Fenner Robinson. They live in Mt. Liberty.

Mr. George Lewis has always been identified with Knox county. He remembers the howl of the wolf, and has seen the different wild animals that in early times roamed over the forest. He is acquainted with all the early customs, remembers Johnny Appleseed, and also the Indians when they were more numer- ous than the white people.

LEWIS, REV. JOHN S., Morgan township, was born in the town of Llandilo, Carmarthewshire, South Wales, March 20, 1844. His father was a cabinetmaker, descended from a long line of tradesmen and professions. He is the sixth of ten

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

children. His youth was spent attending school. When young, and while on a visit to his brother, who was older, he became connected with the Baptist church. His father was a Calvinistic Methodist, in which church our subject was bap- tized, and to the teaching of which he was carefully trained. It was no small matter for him to leave this church and become connected with an organization which his father thought was little better than infidelity. However, he determined to edu- cate himself for the ministry, and, as is customary, he preached a trial sermon at about the age of fifteen years. He attended an academy at Swansea about three years, where he made fine progress. He also attended the theological seminary at Haver- fordwest for four years.

He was ordained in 1869 at Mytletwy, and preached there until 1872. He arrived in New York in April, 1872, where he remained for a short time, when he came to Ohio, and preached in Morrow county for some time. His next charge was at Sharpsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in 1879 he came to the Owl creek charge, where he now preaches. He is a preacher of force. He is logical, and rarely fails to enlist close attention.

April 26, 1876, he was married to Miss Laura E. Lash, of Ashland county, Ohio. They have three children, Albert T., Bertha A., and Charles C.

LEWIS, D. C., a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, was born near Brownsville, November 22, 1810, where he re- ceived a knowledge of the English or common school branches, and surveying, and in 1829 he came to Ohio and located in Mt. Vernon, where he engaged in the office of the clerk of the court under James Smith, and remained during the winter, after which he returned to his home in Pennsylvania, where he remained one year. In July, 1831, he returned to Mt. Vernon, and has resided here ever since. After his return he engaged in the tailoring business, which he continued until 1857, when he concluded to put his knowledge of surveying into practice, and from that time he was engaged on railroad work, in the capacity of a civil engineer, until 1857, and during which, in 1855, he was elected to the office of county surveyor, and served three succes- sive terms, and one year by appointment. After this, until 1870, he was engaged in machine work and general drafting, and served three years as auditor's clerk. Since 1870 to the present he has been engaged in drafting county atlases and maps of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis (Pan-Han- dle railroad, under M. J. Becker, chief engineer), and was city civil engineer from the spring of 1872 until the spring of 1880. In the mean time he has produced the county atlas of this county for 1860, 1870 and 1880, and an atlas of Ashtabula county in 1871-72. Mr. Lewis is a man of marked abilities, and as a draftsman has few equals.

He was married May 4, 1830, to Miss Mary, daughter of Benjamin F. Murphy, of Mt. Vernon.

LEWIS; JAMES, Pike township, farmer, post office Democ- racy, born in Virginia in 1826, came to Ohio with his parents in 1830, and was married in 1848 to Rebecca Hardesty. who was born in Pike township in 1824, on the farm where they now re- side. They have six children-Mary A, born in 1849, Lydia, in 1850: Eliza J , in 1853; Sarah E., in 1855; Alice Adaline, in 1857; and Frances Isabella, in 1863. Mary and Alice are dead. Lydia was married to William Cain, and resides in Amity. Eliza married Franklin Stinemetz, and live ins Gentry county. Missouri. Sarah married John Arnold; they reside in Newark, Stark county, Ohio.

Mr Lewis worked at the mason trade-laying brick and stone for some years. In 1877 he engaged in farming and continues at that still.

Mrs. Lewis' father, Hugh Hardesty, was born in Pennsylva- nia, in 1788. In 1812 he was married to May Finch, who was born in Pennsylvania. They had the following family: Thomas, born in 1813; Ruth and Sally, in 1815; Rachel, in 1817; Han- nah, in 1820; Rebecca, in 1824; Ann, in 1828; John, in 1831. The following have deceased; Francis, died in 1818; and Ann, in 1830. Mrs. May Hardesty died in 1831; Rachel died in 1842; and Thomas, in 1844.

Mr. Hardesty's second marriage was in 1834, to .Ann Finch, who died in 1876. Mr. Hugh Hardesty died in 1873.

LEWIS, R. C. M., Hilliar township, physician and surgeon, Centerburgh, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. He spent his youth at Bakersville, and when old enough he worked on a farm during the summer His father, Samuel Lewis, was a Vir- ginian by birth, and by descent Welsh. He came to Ohio with his mother, who was a widow, and it subsequently devolved upon him to maintain her, which he did for many years. He was married to Nancy, daughter of Robert C. Hagan, a well known stageman of western Pennsylvania. As a result of this union the doctor was born. When a young man the doctor went west, to Indiana, Illinois, and Kansas, where he joined a party of surveyors, and was engaged with them during the sum- mer of that year. He was in Arkansas and Texas for a short time. He retraced his steps and came to St. Louis. Prior to going west he read medicine, and when in St. Louis he prose- cuted his studies and attended lectures. He had excellent ad- vantages during vacation, being with the physician in charge of the city hospital, and had access to all critical cases which came to the institution. He graduated while in St. Louis. From his natural mechanical skill he feels and takes a special pride in surgery. He is having a good practice, and as he has " come to stay," he is at all times ready to attend to professional calls. His father was a soldier in the late war, and received a wound at the battle of Winchester, Virginia, from which he died. The doctor is social and genial in his manners, and makes all feel at home who call upon him.

LINDLEY, CHARLES A., blacksmith, was born in Mans- field, Richland county, Ohio, in 1853; was married in 1877 to Annie McNare, who was born in Fredericktown in 1858. They have one daughter, Nare E. He was formerly engaged in the manufacturing of buggies and wagons.

LITZENBERG, JOHN, Milford township, farmer; was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1819 His father came to Ohio in 1835 and settled in Milford town ship where he died in 1840. The subject of this notice spen his youth on a farm, and remained at home until after the death of his father, when he settled on the farm where he now resides. The farm was but little improved. He began life with little aid, but by hard work and economy has been enabled to add to his first purchase until he is now one of the substantial farmers of Milford township, and has made for himself a competency. He is a leading citizen of the township, honorable in his deal- ings and esteemed by all who know him. He was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Mary Myers, daughter of Frederic and Mary Myers, of whom mention is made in this volume. They had five children, four of whom are living, viz: William, Fred- eric Van, Lewis J. and George N. His second wife was Abigail E. Kisor, daughter of Jonh Kisor, a pioneer of Knox

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

county, and a soldier of the War of 1812. They have one child, John K. E.

LOCKHART. HENRY, Pike township, professor, post office, North Liberty; born in Ashland county in 1840, and was married October 29, 1869, to Ellen Gilson, who was born in New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio. They had four chil- dren, Sylvia B., Ardella M., Frances M. and Floyd W. Mr. Lockhart received a very liberal education and was a soldier in the late war, being a member of company E, Third Ohio cav- alry, and continued in the service one year.

LOCKWOOD, IRA L., Miller township, was born in Wind- ham county, Vermont, December 6, 1818. Some time after his parents went to St. Lawrence county, New York, where they remained about thirteen years, and about 1834 moved to Sum- mit county, Ohio. They had a family of thirteen children, four of whom are living.

The early years of Mr. Lockwood were spent with his parents. His educational advantages were the cominon schools. His father being a carpenter he learned that trade, and in connec- tion learned painting, but never followed either trade for any considerable time. In 1853 he came to Miller township, where he has been principally engaged in farming. He enlisted in company C, One Hundred and Forty-second regiment Ohio National guard, in May, 1874. He was taken sick while in the service and has suffered much since, so that he has not been able to follow his usual vocation. He is a good citizen and has the confidence and respect of those who know him. He was married to Miss Adaline Valentine February 9, 1842. They had four children, three of whom are living, viz: Mary Ann, married to Charles Conaway: Ida L., married to Christian C. Baughman; and Katie L., who is living at home. Mr. Lock- wood has been one of the trustees of the township for several terms, and takes an interest in public affairs.

LOGSDON,. FRANK J., Brown township, farmer, pos- office, Democracy, was born in Knox county in 1841, and mar- ried Catharine Blubaugh, who was born in this county. They have six children, viz: Carlotte A., Arellia A., Rebecca M., Marv F., Stephen F., and Benjamin W. Mr. Logsdon enlisted in the late war, November 20, 1861, under Captain Walker, company K, Forty-third regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He was in the service four years, and was honorably discharged.

LOOSE, WILLIAM, Pike township, cabinetmaker, post office, Korth Liberty, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1823, came to Ohio in 1835, and was married to Eliza Dehaven, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. They had four chil- dren: Emanuel, born in 1848; Joseph, in 1850; Sarah M., in 1858, and Mary Catharine, in 1860. Mrs. Eliza Loose died July 7, 1875.

Mr. Loose has been a resident of Pike township since 1835. He is a cabinetmaker by trade, and has been engaged in that business in North Liberty for about thirty-five years. He is a good mechanic and has a very extensive trade, especially in the undertaking department.

His father, Jacob Loose, was born in Maryland in 1796, and was taken by his parents to Pennsylvania when three years old, who located in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He was married in 1821 to Nancy Broombaugh, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1802. They had five children: Su- sannah, boin in 1821; William, in 1823; Catharine, in 1825; Daniel, in 1829, and Elizabeth, in 1833.

Mrs. Nancy Loose died July 9, 1873, and Elizabeth in 1835. Mr. Loose was engaged in teaching school when a young man. He emigrated to Ohio in 1825, engaged in farming and contin- ued till he became aged and infirm, and has retired from busi- ness and is living with his son William in North Liberty. He has been an industrious and enterprising citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Loose have been members of the Dunkard church for about forty years, and have adhered strictly to their faith.

LONG, DAVID, retired, Pike township, post office, North Liberty, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, came to Ohio in 1816 with his parents, who located in Berlin township, this county. He was married in 1832, to Margaret Mock, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1813. They had nine children, viz: Uriah, born in 1833; Lydia A., in 1834; William, in 1836; Jacob, in 1838; Allen, in 1840; Andrew, in 1843; Benjamin F., in 1845; Ephraim, in 1848, and Samuel, in 1851. The following have deceased: Lydia A., died in 1855, and Benjamin F., in 1848.

Mr. Long is a member of a pioneer family, and has been an invalid four years. Mr. Long has been a member of the Ger- man Baptist church for about twenty-five years, and bears up with Christian fortitude under his severe affliction.

His son, Allen, was married in 1863, to Susannah Beemiller, who was born in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1845. They have six children, viz : Ezra J., born January 22, 1864; Ellen, October 28, 1866; Jacob, March 7, 1868; Samuel, November 2, 1870 : Alpha Dora, April 25, 1875, and Emma, January 10, 1880.

Mr. Long is engaged in farming the home place; and is an active and enterprising citizen.

LONG, GIDEON, farmer, Miller township, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1818. He is a twin of Benjamin Long. His father, Samuel Long, was a native of Pennsylvania. He married Miss Annie Young, by whom he had thirteen children. Mr. Long died in Virginia.

The subject of this notice came to Ohio about 1840, and set- tled in Knox county, where he remained some time, and then moved to Licking county, where he remained about ten years, when he again returned to Knox county. He enlisted in con- H, Seventy-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, in November, 1861, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Arkan- sas Post, Siege of Vicksburgh, thence to Chattanooga, Atlanta, and was also in numerous skirmishes, raids, and always ready to do his duty, and go where duty called. He served his coun- try faithfully over three years. After his return home he re- sumed his usual occupation of farming, at which he has been since engaged. He is esteemed by his friends and neighbors as an upright man. He married Sarah Conaway, and they have had eight children, viz: John C., who was a member of com- pany H, Seventy-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, died at Rock Island, Illinois, after serving two years; Isabella V., married Dr. James Runyan; James, Elizabeth, married Granville Long ; Ellen, married Albert Mitchell; Charles C., and William (twins), and Frank.

Mr. Long's mother, a lady over eighty years, resides with him.

LONG, ROLLINS, Hilliar township, farmer, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, August, 1820. A few years after his parents came to Ohio and settled in Licking county. Mr. Long spent his youth on the farm with his parents until October 24, 1841, when he married Miss Elizabeth Ann Conaway, of Coshocton county. They had a family of ten children, eight

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of whom are living. Joseph is a minister of the Methodist church. They are all doing well, thus showing that they have been carefully instructed. Shortly after he was married, he moved to Milford township, where he was engaged in farming for about eighteen years. He then moved to Hilliar township, where he has since resided. He added considerable to his first purchase. He started in life comparatively poor, but has worked hard, and as a natural result he has succeeded. He is social and pleasant in his manners, conscientious in his dealings, and one of the estimable citizens of Hilliar township. His parents, Solomon and Mary Long, nee Posthlewaite, settled on the other fork of the Licking in Bennington township, Licking county, and were among the early settlers of that county. In those days they had to go to Zanesville to mill.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 146

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