History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 151

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 151

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MARTIN, GEORGE R., oldest son of the aforesaid Jacob Martin, was born in Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, Novem- ber 22, 1821. He learned the cabinet-makers' and joiners' trade with his father, and followed that business as his princi-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

pal vocation until 1853, when he engaged in the saw-mill busi- ness, which he has followed in connection with farming as his avocation. In 1844 he married Miss Agnes Shipley. They settled in Mt. Vernon and remained there until 1856 when they moved to their present location, on the Granville road a short distance from Mt. Vernon. They have reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. His oldest son, Mil- ton P. Martin, served nineteen months in the Third Ohio volun- teer cavalry in the war of 1861.

MARTIN, JAMES, Middlebury township, retired, post of- fice, Fredericktown, born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1793, came to Ohio, this county, in 1811, and was married in 1819 to Luhamar Warden, who was born in Chambersburgh, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1798. They had three chil- dren-Henry P., born in 1822; William S., in 1825; and Mary, the eldest, born in 1820.

Mrs. Martin died in this township in 1864, at the age of sixty- four years.

Mr. Martin is the oldest resident yet living in this vicinity. He was a cabinet-maker and worked at that business for some years, but has been a farmer for many years in this township.

It affords much pleasure to Mr. Martin to relate reminis- cences of pioneer times.

MARTIN & PARK, coal and feed dealers, foot of Main street, Mt. Vernon .- (The firm consists of J. R. P. Martin and D. M. Park).

Mr. Martin was born in this city, May 31, 18.42. He was educated in our common schools. His first business engage- ment was made in 1857, with the late Adam Weaver, as sales- man in his hardware store at Mt. Vernon. Here he continued five years. He then enlisted in company A, Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served three years, and was hon- orably discharged, July, 1865. He returned to Mt. Vernon, remained at home but a short time only, and then went to Jackson, Tennessee, and engaged in the hardware business, which he conducted for five years with success. His next move was to Frogmore, Louisiana, where he engaged in a general store business, in which he remained three years. He then re- turned to Mt. Vernon, and went into the hardware store of J. H. McFarland, where he continued three years, and then with C. A. Bopes for one year. For some time after this last clerkship he engaged in a variety of businesses. About a year since he purchased the grain and feed store of J. H. McFarland & Co., and the firm of Martin & Park was formed. They carry a full stock of coal, ice, feed, etc., and average in winter, coal to the amount of one thousand six hundred dollars per month, and of feed, lime and cement about one thousand dollars. The firm is doing a business of about twenty thousand dollars per annum.

MARTS, JOHN C., Berlin town, farmer, post office, Fred- ericktown, born in Berlin township, in this county, in 1842, and was married in 1867, to Malinda Adams, who was born in Berlin township in this county in 1842. They had three chil- dren : Alda M., born in 1868 ; George Sherman, deceased, and Madison Lloyd, deceased. Mr. John Marts was a soldier in the late war, a member of company G., One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and was in the following engagements- battle of Champion Hills, Chattanooga, Buzzard's Roost, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Jones- borough, Atlanta to Savannah, and from there to South Caro- lina. He was wounded, April 10, 1865, near Goldsborough, in the left knee with a piece of shell, which has crippled him for

life. He was in the service more than three years, was honor- ably discharged, and is receiving a pension.

MASTELLER, JACOB S., Wayne township. farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania; came to Ohio in the fall of 1844; settled near Mount Vernon and remained there till 1865 ; then came to Wayne township. He was married in 1850, to Sarah Stillery. They had the fol- lowing children, of whom three are living: Charles F., Minnie B., and Rebecca E. Mrs. Mastellar died in 1869. Mr. Mastel- lar's second marriage was to Sarah Cassell, who was born in Maryland in 1831.

MATHENY, JAMES W., Pike township, farmer, post office, Democracy, born in Brown township in this county, September 7, 1858. He is engaged in farming in this county, and is an active and enterprising young man.

MATHEWS, JOSEPH B., Hilliar township, farmer, was born in Knox county, March 11, 1824. He is the son of Henry and Mary Mathews, nee Harris. His father was born in Mary- land, and moved to Hilliar township in 1811. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and during the latter part of his life drew a pension. When he first came to Knox county, he worked for James Houck and in consideration of his work. he got fifty acres of land, on which he now resides. This was about 1818, or perhaps a few years earlier. There were ten children in the family, five of whom are still living, viz: Joseph B., the subject of this notice, John W., Isaac, Sarah A., married to Allen Moore, and Caroline M., married to Almind Perfect. Mrs. Mathews died in 1858, and Mr. Mathews in 1872. Thus passed away two of Knox county's first-class pioneers. The subject of this notice was twice married. His first wife was Miranda J. Kempton, to whom he was married December 25, 1855. They had three children, two living. His first wife died September, 1861. His second wife was Jane A. Jones. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Mathews is social and pleasant. He has the esteem of his neighbors. Mrs. Mathews died recently.

MAVIS, LINAS, Brown township, farmer, post office, De- mocracy, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Mavis, born in Coshoc- ton county, January 2, 1845; was brought by his parents when a child to Knox county, his father locating in Howard township, where they remained about seven years. His father then pur- chased a farm in what is now known as the Jelloway valley, Brown township, where he lived until he arrived at the age of eighteen years, when he enlisted in the Sixty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in company A, under Captain Cassil, Colonel Harker being the commander of the regiment in which he served three years, during which time he was engaged in a number of battles, among them being Franklin, Tennessee, Pittsburgh Landing, Corinth, Mississippi, Stone River (where he received a wound in the shoulder), Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Knoxville, Ten- nessee, and Buzzard Roost, where he received the second wound, and was then sent back to Murfreesborough, Tennessee, where he remained until his time expired; and he received his discharge and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. He returned home and went to farming for his father, at which he continued up to February 27, 1867, when he married Sarah J. Norick, a daugh- ter of Jacob and Emily Norick, born in Harrison county, Ohio, June 10, 1846. After his marriage he moved to another township, but soon moved back to Brown, and then to Hilliar township, and again to Brown, locating on the old home farm,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

where he now resides. Their marriage resulted in six children -Franklin C., Della B., Alverda, Burley M., Samuel, and Ora, all of whom are living.

MEAD, ALFRED, Hilliar township, brick and tile manufac- turer, Centreburgh, Ohio, was born in Newark, New Jersey, May 27, 1845, and is the fifth child of Alfred and Hellen Mead, nee Collins, who came to Ohio about 1848. They settled in Jersey township, Licking county, Ohio, where they now reside. Alfred spent his youth on the farm. He enlisted October 27, 1861, in company H, Seventy-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Jackson, siege of Vicksburgh, siege of Jackson, Lookout Moun- tain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca. He was then appointed third sergeant of the company, and afterward participated in the battles of Dallas, siege of Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Ezra Chapel, siege of Atlanta, Jonesborough, Lovejoy Station, where he was wounded with a musket ball. He also partici- pated in the sieges of Savannah, Columbia, and Bentonville, North Carolina, besides eleven skirmishes. He veteranized at Woodville, Alabama. He served his country for three years and nine months, never failing in the performance of his duty. After his return home from the army he learned the carpenter trade and followed it for about eight years, working in Iowa for some time, and spent some time in the lumber business in Indi- ana. In the fall of 1875 he opened a brick and tile kiln in Cen- treburgh. Mr. Mead started in life without the aid of any one, but assisted his parents in life and also succeeded in making for himself a comfortable home, establishing a growing trade. Mr. Mead is highly esteemed by the community, is social and pleas- ant in his manners, is a good citizen, was a good soldier, and has the confidence of all who know him. He was married to Miss Nichols, of Licking county, November 28, 1867.

MEELICK, GREENBURY, farmer, post office, New Castle, was born in Jackson township, Knox county, Ohio, on the eighth day of October, 1818. He has been thrice mar- ried, and is the father of two children, viz: Lorenzo, born January 3, 1847; Mary Imus, February 6, 1849. His present wife was Mrs. Esther McCrea, widow of Walter McCrea, who had five children, viz: Walter, born January 10, 1852; Robert O., July 23, 1855, and who died December 14, 1862; Leora A., born November 26, 1857, and died November 25, 1862; Eva Esther, born November 1, 1859, and died September 17, 1863; Joseph M., born November 5, 1862, and died December 5, I862.

MEGINNIS JOHN, mechanic, Howard township, post office, Howard. He was born April 4, 1812, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, came to this county in 1834, and pursued the business of stone and brick laying, In 1841 he was married to Rachel Lybarger, settled in Howard township, and has re- mained there ever since. They have five children: Catharine, Maoza, Emeline, Mary, and Henry.

Catharine married John Roberts and moved to Delaware county, Ohio. Maoza married Alexander Newton and settled iu Howard township. Mr. Meginnis has built a large number of stone and brick structures. His son, William, is at present with him.

MELICK, the family of, Jackson township. David Melick, one of the pioneers of Jackson township, was born in Pennsyl- vania November 2, 1784, and was married to Hannah Haskins

about the year 1805. She was born July 4, 1789. He emi- grated to Jackson township in the year 1810. His son, William Melick, was born in Pennsylvania December 1, 1806. He was married November 6, 1828, to Ermina Cooper, who was born June 12, 1809, and who died June 13, 1835. She bore him three children, viz: Daniel, born October 22, 1829; Nancy, born November 30, 1831; Hannah, born November 11, 1833.

He was married the second time to Sarah Beattie, of Butler township, who was born October 12, 1808. Eight children were the fruit of this union, viz: Abraham D., born May 23, 1837; Margaret, February 26, 1839; Jane E., October 12, 1840; Harriet, April 12, 1842; Timothy, December 22, 1843; Chris- tina, September 28, 1845; Hosmer E., June 22, 1847; William, T., July 26, 1850.

Mary married Jonathan Bishop, December 1, 1853; Chris- tian, Nancy Anderson March 29, 1854; Delilah, Jonathan Miller June 10, 1854; Sarah, William Fleming April 16, 1857; Minerva Jane, William Fleming November 18, 1858; Sarah died February 21, 1858; Delilah died June 8, 1859; William, sr., died December 8, 1872.

MELICK, A. D., farmer, jackson township, was born May 23, 1837, in Jackson township; was married to Minerva Jane Schooler November 18, 1858. She was born January 29, 1838. They have had six children, viz: Sarah, born December 8, 1859; Allison H., November 13, 1861; Robert E., October 30, 1863; William T., February 1, 1866; Rebecca E., June 24, 1868; Reuben E., January 4, 1872; Alvin V., August 18, 1876. Allison H. died December 12, 1864. Sarah was married to Albert F. Hall July 3, 1880.

MELTON, ROBERT, teamster, Fredericktown, was born in Knox county in 1849, and was married in 1878 to Sarah Frasier, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. They have one daughter, Sanora May, who was born in March, 1879.

Mr. Robert Melton has always been identified with this county, and is now engaged in working for the firm of W. Tuttle & Co.

MENDENHALL, E. I., was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, April 21, 1840, but when about seven years of age his par- ents came to Mt. Vernon, where he attended school. He was then sent back to Pennsylvania, and attended an academy two years at Kennett square; then returned to Mt. Vernon and en- tered the law office of General G. W. Morgan, where he remain- ed until he was admitted to the bar, when he opened an office and devoted his time to his profession, in which he has succeed- ed. After practicing for three years he formed a partnership with Joseph Watson, which continued for two years, then Mr. Watson went to Columbus, and since, Mr. Mendenhall has been alone, having a good practice, and is a highly respected member of the Knox county bar.

MEREDETH, BENJAMIN, deceased, Union township, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1810. He married Delila Welket, daughter of John and Elizabeth Welket, in 1832. They settled in Union township, remained a few years, then purchased and moved on a farm in Howard township, where they spent the remainder of their days. He died July 4, 1847. and Mrs. Meredith died July the seventeenth, 1855. They reared a family of seven children: Elizabeth J., Margaret M., Sarah E., Mary S., Leander W., Lucinda F., and John S. Elizabeth J. and John S. are dead.

MEREDITH, LEANDER W., plasterer, Union township; eldest son of Benjamin Meredith, was born in this county Janu-

JAMES MARTIN.

MRS. L. MARTIN.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ary 4, 1843. He married Martha J. Dillon, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Dillon, in 1864' They settled in Union township; at present they are living in Rosstown. They have four children; two sons and two daugters.

MERRIEN, ANDREW B., deceased, Morris township, was born in Chester township, Morrow county, Ohio, in 1826, and married in 1850 Margaret L. Rush, who was born in Morris township in 1829. They have the following children: Anna M., born in 1850; John A .; in 1853; Sarah J., in 1856; Joe Bell, in 1859; Oakley M., in 1861; Jacob, in r868; Ada B., in 1873; Frederick, in 1875.

Anna M. was married to Ira D. Haggerty; they reside in Fredericktown. John A. married Mertice J. Lyon. Sarah J. married Charles W. Wise.

Mr. Merrien died in Morris township in 1876. He was en- gaged in the lumber trade near Fredericktown, and was among the active men of the county. In his death the community and family met with a great loss. Mrs. Margaret Merrien still resides in this township.

MERRIN, JOHN C., post office, Fredericktown, teacher, Morris township, Ohio, born in Fredericktown, Knox county, Ohio, February 6, 1840; lived there until the fall of 1848, when his father, the Hon. Jacob Merrin, moved to his beautiful farm in Berlin township. Lived with his father until 1879; was mar- ried to Miss Zona Ravenscroft, of Henry county, Ohio, June 18, 1879; lived in Fredericktown during the winter of 1879-80, then moved to Morris township, where he now resides. Studied law under his brother, Joseph H. Merrin, one of the leading lawyers of Mansfield (now deceased), and after a rigid exam- ination by the supreme court of Ohio, was admitted to practice law in 1863.

Served in the Union army a short time; was taken danger- ously sick at Bermuda Hundred; was removed to the hospital at Fort Schuyler, a few miles above New York city, where he was honorably discharged on account of sickness.

The field of education had far greater charms for him than the practice of law. He has been intimately connected with the educational interests of the ungraded schools of Knox county for many years, probably more so than any other edu- cator in Knox county. Has been president of the teachers' institute of Knox county many years. At the present time he fills that honorable position, He is recognized as one of the leading spirits in the interests of ungraded schools. His life has been devoted, heart and soul, to their progress and pros- perity.

He taught his first term in Berlin township, when a mere boy of seventeen, where the township house now stands, and where he had been a pupil for many years. In this place he taught four consecutive terms. Teaching has been his profession ever since. He was appointed county school examiner in January, 1877, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Isaac Lefever, jr .; was reappointed in 1877, and again appointed in September, 1880. He is the most experienced member of the present board, and is one of the most efficient examiners Knox county ever had. He has labored hard and successfully to advance the standard of qualification of teachers as fast as wisdom and prudence dictated. He is to-day one of the live educators and unfaltering friends of common schools.

MERRIEN, JOHN M., Morris township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born December 5, 1853, and was married October 3, 1878, to Mertice Lyon, who was born De-

cember 31, 1853, in Wayne township. They have one daughter, Myrta Grace, who was born December 21, 1879.

MERRIMAN, CHARLES AUSTIN, Mt. Vernon, attorney at law, was born near Chesterville, Morrow county, Ohio, Jan- uary 20, 1851. He is the oldest child of James H. and Emily Merriman, nee Carey, daughter of Frederick Carey, one of the old settlers of Knox county. He spent his youth on the farm! He worked during the summer and taught school in the winter. While teaching he read law. He attended law school at Mich- igan State university, during the winters of 1873-4 and 1875-6, graduating, taking the degree of LL. D. He was admitted to the bar in Michigan in the year 1876, and the same year was admitted in Ohio. He spent eighteen months in the office of H. H. Greer, esq., in order to get a knowledge of the practice, and on the ninth day of November, 1877, he opened an office of his own, and has been practicing with a steady increase of business. He was married to Miss Emma Clegern, October 17, 1878. They have one child, Bessie L.

MERRIMAN, B., Waldo, Hilliar township, physician and surgeon, Centreburgh, Ohio, is one- of the rising young doctors of Knox county. He was born in Bloomfield township, Mor- row county, March 20, 1854. His father was a farmer, and it was on the farm that the doctor spent his youth, holding the plow during the summer and going to school in the winter. He taught for several terms. When about twenty-one years of age he began reading medicine with Dr. F. R. Larimore, of Mt. Vernon, with whom he read for some time. He finished his course of reading with the well known physicians, Drs. Rus- sell and McMillin, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. His first course of lectures he attended at Columbus Medical college, and his suc- ceeding courses were at the Long Island college, Brooklyn, New York, where he graduated in July, 1878. He was a close stu- dent, and had the advantages of first-class preceptors, which, coupled with his collegiate medical education. gave him such knowledge of his profession as to enable him to take a high rank with the public and his professional brethren. He first began his practice in Marengo, Morrow county, where he re- mained for about one year.

The town of Centreburgh opening up a wider field for prac- tice, he came there in the fall of 1879, and has a growing prac- tice. He is a man of reserved manners, but readily makes friends by his constancy rather than by familiarity. He was married to Miss Eva M. Bird, of Liberty township, July 25, 1878. They have one child.

MERYHEW, JOHN A., Wayne township, fariner, post office, Mt. Vernon, born in Mt. Vernon in 1848, and was mar- ried in 1874 to Ida Bell Horner, who was born in Mt. Vernon in 1858. They have the following children: Jessie M., born in 1875; Frank H., in 1877; and Laura M., in 1879. Mr. Meyhew is a farmer by occupation.

MESSENGER, DAVID, deceased, was born near the city of Hartford, Connecticut, September 20, 1790. His parents re- moved from Connecticut previous to the War of 1812, and were among the earliest settlers of Granville. When the War of 1812 was declared, he enlisted in Captain Spencer's company of vol- unteers, recruited in Licking county. They marched from Gran- ville to Urbana, and from there to Fort Meigs, having to cut their way through the then unbroken wilderness of Northwest- ern Ohio. From there they went to Detroit, and were among the troops commanded by General Hull, when he surrendered

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

to the British at Fort Malden. After remaining a prisoner of war for a few weeks, he was paroled and returned to his home at Granville. Some time prior to 1825, he went to Utica and engaged in the dry goods trade. August 24, 1825, he was mar- ried to Mrs. Martha Silliman, then a young widow lady, of Mt. Vernon, she having two little daughters, one of whom is Mrs. Wareing, of Utica, the other, Mrs. Kelsey, of Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Messenger died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, on the twenty-ninth of September last. Mr. and Mrs. Messen- ger had three sons: S. B. Messenger, a dentist of Newark; Captain H. C. Messenger, of Jackson, Ohio, who died in the army during the rebellion; and G. B. Messenger, of this city. David Messenger was, perhaps, the oldest Mason in this part of the country, having been a Mason in Centre Star Lodge, No. 11, Granville, in 1812, receiving his degrecs up to and includ- ing the master mason degree there during that year. He had not been engaged in active business for many years previous to his death, which occurred at his home on Friday' January 14, 1881, at the advanced age of ninety years and nearly four months. He died of old age, having no disease, and confined to his bed only a few days. Since the death of his wife, with whom he had lived happily for more than fifty-five years, he has been only waiting and anxious to go.

METHEANY, ISRAEL, retired, Pike township, post office, Democracy, born in Preston county, Virginia, in 1816, and was married in 1840 to Rebecea Dewitt, who was born in this town- ship. They had eight children: D.iniel, Simeon, Mary A., Harvey, Rebecca E., Aaron, William, and Emma. Daniel, Aaron, and Simeon have died. He came to Ohio with his par- ents in 1820, located in Jefferson township, this county, in 1858, and came to Pike township where he has since resided.

His father, Israel Metheany, was born in Virginia; in 1789 he was married to Rebecca Conner. They had twelve children. Mr. and Mrs. Metheany died in this county. They were among the earlier settlers.

METZGER, JOSEPH, Milford township, faimer and stock grower. Mr. Metzger was born in Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania, June 18, 1819. In 1823 he was brought to Ohio by his parents, who located in Perry county, where they passed the re- mainder of their days. In 1842, Joseph Metzger married Miss Mary A. Bechtoll, of Muskingum county, Ohio, born July 24, 1823. They settled in Muskingum county, remained about two years, then moved to Morgan county, Ohio, and remained one year. In 1845 they moved to this county and located on the farm in Pleasant township now owned by Thomas Hillier, where they remained about two years, and in 1847 they moved to Mt. Vernon, remained until the fall of 1850, then moved on the farm in Monroe township where they are now living. Their union resulted in five children, three sons and two daughters. One of the daughters has deceased. His companion died July 12, 1851, leaving five small children to his eare. He remained a widower about five years, then January 4, 1856, married Mrs. Rachel Houck, nec Walker, born September 2, 1832, daughter of Isaac Walker. They have a family of six children; five sons and one daughter.

MEYERS, MAX, Mt. Vernon, was born November 17, 1843, in Berlin, Prussia, and came to America in 1865. He stopped in New York, Cincinnati and Columbus until 1872, when he came to Mt. Vernon, and commenced business as a dealer in glassware, manufacturing of tinware, etc., in which he is still engaged. He has several wagons on the road. and does

a business of from four thousand to five thousand dollars per year. He married Sarah Shaw, by whom he has had a family of five children, two of whom only are living.

MILLER, JAMES, deceased, Miller township, was born in Dummerston, Vermont, December 16, 1783, and died Septem- ber 30, 1844. Miller township was named in honor of this respected pioneer. The family tradition in regard to the cir- cumstances connected with the naming of the township dis- agrees somewhat with the account given by Mr. Gates in his history of the township.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 151

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