History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 154

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 154

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MORRISON, THOMAS (deceased), Berlin township, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and married Isabelle McReynolds, who was born in the same county. They had four children, viz: Isabelle, Eliza, John, and Hugh M. They emigrated to Mt. Vernon in 1821, moved to Berlin township in 1825 on their farm. The parents died at home. Hugh M. owns the home farm at present.

MORRISON, W. D., farmer and blacksmith, Berlin town- ship, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, came to Ohio in 1844, and married Isa- belle Morrison, who was born in this township in 1826. They have seven children, viz: Mary, Eliza, Martha, Josephine, Anna Bell, Geraldine, Emma A., Thomas W. and Lilla E. Mr.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

Morrison learned the blacksmith trade in Fredericktown and worked at it thirty years.

MORTON, JOHN W. (deceased), son of Joseph and Mar- garet Morton, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1817. His father died in 1823. In 1826 his mother, with her children-one son and three daughters-emi- grated to Knox county, Ohio, and located on a farm in Clinton township, now owned by Mrs. Margaret Morton's heirs.

Mr. Morton married Miss Martha Chambers in 1848, who was born in Miller township, Knox county, Ohio, November 25, 1826, daughter of Benjamin and Rachel Chambers. They settled on the old home farm with his mother, remained about seventeen years, and, in 1866, he purchased and moved on the farm where his widow and daughter are now living in Clinton township, adjoining the home farm on the north, and known as a part of the old Johnson farm.

They reared a family of four children: Amanda, Mary J., Joseph B., and Rachel A .- all living.

MOUNT, CHARLES J. (deceased), Fredericktown, was born in New Jersey in 1825, and came to Knox county when he was quite young. He was married in 1850 to Phebe D. Boberts, who was born in Knox county in 1824. They have the follow- ing family, viz : Sylvie W., born in 1852; Ella J., in 1855; Charles B., in 1857; Martha R., in 1860; and Elliot, in 1862.

Mr. Charles Mount was a carpenter by trade, and worked at this trade in Fredericktown. He was a soldier in the late war- a member of the Twentieth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He enlisted in November, 1861, and received an honorable dis- charge in August, 1862. He died in September, 1863, from effects of disease contracted in the army.

His widow and children are living in Fredericktown.

MOWRY, JACOB, Union township, farmer, post office, Rossville, was born in Jefferson township in August, 1847, and remained at home until 1875, when he came to Union township. He married Catharine Armstrong in 1874, and not long after bought the farm on which he now lives. He has two children -- Minnie Viola and Alpha Alice.

MOXLEY, GREENBURG W., Liberty township, deceased, was born in Maryland, November 30, 1830. He came to Lib- erty township when he was about four years old, was reared on a farm and followed farming all his life. He was a straight for- ward, upright man, industrious in his business and a good farmer, kind husband and affectionate father.

August 29, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss M. Hyatt, who was born Septeinber 25, 1835. They had two children, viz; Morris R. and Elizabeth. He died January 21, 1880.

MUCK, AARON, Middlebury township, laborer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1823, came to Miller township in 1837, and was married in 1851, to Catharine Shafer, who was born in Franklin county in 1830. and had the following children: Mary E., born September 14, 1852; John W., April 27, 1854; Louisa C., February 17, 1856; Nancy N., December 13, 1857: Emma J., February 8, 1860; Lillie A., July 6, 1865; Franklin D., July 21, 1867; Rosa B., Oc- tober 9, 1869. The following are deceased: Franklin D., died January 5, 1869; Mrs. Catherine Muck died January 21, 1878, in this county.

Mr. Aaron Muck was a soldier in the Mexican war, and also in the late war, a member of company F, One Hundred and

Twenty-fifth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry. He entered the service October 4, 1862, and was discharged in May, 1863,

MUENSCHER, D.D., REV. JOSEPH, was born in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, December 21, 1798. He prepared for college at Phillips' academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and grad- uated from Brown university in 1821. He then entered the Theological seminary at Andover, where he remained one and one-half years, and on March 7, 1824, he was ordained deacon, and on March 13, 1825, was ordained priest of the Protestant Episcopal church. He was rector of Christ's church, (South Leicester, now Rochdale), Massachusetts, from 1824 to 1827; and of St. John's church, Northampton, from 1827 to 1831; of Trinity church, Saco, Maine, from 1831 to 1833, after which he came to Ohio and was chosen professor of sacred literature, in the Theological seminary at Gambier, where he remained from 1833 to 1841, when he resigned and accepted a call from St. Paul's church, Mt. Vernon, but continued as instructor in He- brew in the seminary from 1841 to 1843. He was rector of St. Paul's church from 1841 to 1855, when he resigned, and has re- mained without any particular charge, but officiates occasionally. He is the author of several very popular and instructive works, one of which consists of notes explanatory of the Proverbs of Solomon, another being A Manuel of Biblical Interpretations; and a work on the orthography and pronunciation of the Eng- lish language; also The Church Choir, being a collection of sacred music, which has been extensively used in the Episcopal church. He has also contributed articles to the Theological periodicals and other religious publications. He was the founder of the "Society for the relief of widows and orphans of deceased clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal church of Ohio," and has been its secretary most of the time to the present. He was married to Miss Ruth Washburn, a sister of the late Hon. Emory Washburn, ex-governor of Massachusetts, and daughter of Joseph and Ruth Washburn, of Leicester, Massachusetts. They have had a family of seven children, viz: Joseph W., Eliza C., Emory W., Sophia, Charles H., Robert P., and Sarah. Joseph W. graduated at Kenyon college and read law at Cambridge, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Sandusky, Ohio, where he died July 30, 1849. Eliza C. Terry died in Mt. Vernon, March 23, 1866. Emory W. gradu- ated at Kenyon college and engaged in civil engineering at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Charles H. engaged in the mercan- tile business in Sandusky, Ohio, and Mrs. Sarah Young resides in Butler, Montgomery county, Illinois.

In 1849 the degree of D. D. was conferred on Rev. Mr. Muen- scher, by Kenyon college, and the same in 1852 by his Alma Mater.

MURPHY, BENJAMIN, deceased, was born in Morgan county, Virginia, on the twenty-sixth day of April, 1783, and brought up in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. May 2, 1805, he married Miss Joarnah Lewis, born in New Jersey, April 5, 1786. They settled on a farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where they lived until the fall of 1823, when they moved to Knox county, Ohio, and located in Mt. Vernon, where he remained several years, and then purchased and moved on a farm near Fredericktown, same county. They lived on this farm a few years and then moved back to Mt. Vernon, where his wife de- ceased in 1862. He died at the home of his son, Elias, two miles west of Mt. Vernon, January 18, 1867, aged eighty-four years. They reared a family of seven children, viz: Israel, born in Pennsylvania, March 18, 1806: Elias, in Pennsylvania, Au-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

gust 5, 1808; Mary, in Pennsylvania, March 14, 1811; Oliver P., in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1816; Martha J., in Pennsylva- nia, March 21, 1819; Lewis S., in Pennsylvania, November 1, 1821; Eliza, in Ohio, July 5, 1824. All are now deceased ex- cept Elias, Mary, and Eliza. Two of Mrs. Murphy's brothers, John and Thomas Lewis, served in the War of 1812. Benja- min Murphy was drafted in the same war, but owing to circum- stances he could not leave home, and his brother, Barrick, went into the army in his place, served the time out and returned home.

MURPHY, ELIAS, farmer, second son of Benjamin and Joannah Murphy, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1808. He came with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, in 1823. On the twenty-ninth day of May, 1834, he mar- ried Miss Margaret Newell, who was born in Washington coun- ty, Pennsylvania, on the first day of August, 1812, and was brought to Knox county, Ohio, by her parents, James and Polley Newell, in 1819. Shortly after his marriage to Miss Newell he purchased and moved on the farm where they are now living, in Clinton township, two miles west of Mt. Vernon. He has made farming and stock raising his vocation. Their union resulted in eight childrens, two sons and six daughters. One son and one daughter are deceased. His son, Lewis M., served in the war of 1861.

Newell, James, deceased, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1782. He married Miss Polley Fleming July 2, 18r1, born in Pennsylvania July 17, 1792. They settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where they re- mained eight years, and in 1819, emigrated to Knox county, Ohio; located in Clinton township on a farm now owned by Joseph Meyrs, two and one-half miles west of Mt. Vernon, where they passed the remainder of their days. He died De- cember 7, 1848. His companion survived him until April 15, 1850.

They reared a family of seven children: Margaret, born in Pennsylvania August 1, 1812; Samuel, born in Pennsylvania June 10, 1814; Sarah, born in Pennsylvania July 14, 1816; Jane, born in Pennsylvania September 20, 1818; Eliza A., born in Ohio December 25, 1821; Hugh, born in Ohio December 25, 1824, James S., April 4, 1828. Two of the number are now deceased-Sarah and James S.

MURPHEY, WILLIAM, Hilliar township, farmer, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 31, 1818. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother a Virginian by birth. His name was James Murphey, and his wife's maiden name was Mary Ann Paschal. They were married in Guernsey county, Ohio, and came to Hilliar township in June, 1830, and settled immediately west of where Centreburgh now stands, where he owned four hundred acres of land. They had a family of ten children, the subject of our sketch being the fifth child. They were among the early settlers of Hilliar town- ship.

Mr. Murphey spent his youth at home with his parents on the farm, until he was about twenty-two years of age. He lived in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri about seven years, and the rest of his life has been spent in Hilliar township. He is an ex- cellent farmer, and has the esteem of the public. He was married to Miss Julia Ann Smith in 1846. They had five chil- dren, two of whom are living-Alva M. and Ida J.

MURPHY, M. M., was born January 9, 1840, in Cleveland,

Ohio, where he was reared and educated at the public schools, and remained until 1858. After leaving school he learned boat- building, at which he worked three years; he then followed sailing for about two years, and at the opening of the war he enlisted in company F, Forty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and served two years and one month, when he was discharged on account of disabilities and returned home.

During his term of service he came to Mt. Vernon and was married to Miss Lizzie Crandall in May, 1862. After his dis- charge he moved to Columbus and resided there until 1864, when he again enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was made orderly sergeant.

In January, 1865, he was commissioned second lieutenant, and in March was commissioned first lieutenant, and was mus- tered out and discharged in July, 1865, but was immediately commissioned second lieutenant of company A, Seventeenth United States Colored infantry; and in the following December was promoted first lieutenant, in which capacity he served until 1866, when the regiment was mustered out and discharged. He was given the honor of brevet captain for meritorious service, commission to date from 1865. After his discharge he returned to Mt. Vernon and went into business. He was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Steel, and was continued under his seccessor. He has been secretary of the board of health since 1868, but is now engaged at his trade as house finisher.

Mrs. Murphy was born in October, 1838. Since 1868 she has been ministering to the comfort and happiness of the community by keeping elegant ice cream parlors; furnishing to the public ice cream of all flavors desired, by wholesale as well as retail; also lemonade and wedding cakes, as well as all other kinds of cake.

MYERS, GEORGE, farmer, Milford township, was born near Woodstock, Virginia, in the year 1813. About 1820 his parents Frederick and Mary Myers, zee Riffy, with their family came to Licking county and remained one year, and then moved to Milford township, having traded a five-horse team and wagon for one hundred acres of land, which was unimproved. They had twelve children, six of each sex, six of whom are living. They (the parents) lived and died on this farm.

The subject of this notice spent his young days on the farm he now resides upon and has followed farming all his life. He is a pioneer in every sense of the word. He came here when but few families lived in the township. Here he passed the years of his young manhood, and here is spending his old age. He married Miss Catharine Gripp June 1, 1838, who was born in Bennington township, Licking county, June 1, 1816. The young couple began house-keeping in this township, and here reared their family.

Mrs. Myers died March 18, 1880, aged nearly sixty-four years. They had eleven children, ten of whom grew up and nine are yet living, viz: Ezra Lewis, William W., Henry John, Torrence, George M., Winfield Scott, Frederick, Oscar. Harrison and Ida V. have deceased.

Mr. Myers is one of Milford's best citizens, and of its most substantial farmers. After the death of his father he purchased the old home farm on which he now resides.

His father, Frederick Myers, served in the War of 1812, in Virginia. He was of the light horse cavalry.

MYERS, DAVID, Brown township, farmer, post office, Jelloway, and son of Abraham and Elizabeth Myers, born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1815, was brought to

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

Ohio when a child by his parents, his father locating in Steuben- ville, Jefferson county, where he remained until 1826, when he removed with his family to Knox county, locating near Dan- ville, where he remained a few years. His father then moved to Pike township, where David Myers, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood.

July 28, 1836, he married Miss Catharine Pinkley, daughter of David Pinkley, born in Richland county, April 28, 1817. After his marriage he rented a farm in Richland county, which he occupied about three years. He then moved back to Knox county, where he has since remained. About 1855-56 he pur- chased a farm of fifty acres one mile and a half south of Jello- way, in Brown township, where he then moved. By their union they became the parents of nine children; Sarah E., Joseph, who served three years in the late Rebellion, in the Sixty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in company A, under Cap- tain Cassil; Margaret A., James, who died in the army in December, 1863, he being a member of the Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry in company B, Leonard being his captain; William, Armanda, Masey, David M. and Mary. January I, 1857, his companion died at the age of forty years.

In 1867 he married Libby Bailey, widow of William Bailey, born in Danville, Knox county in 1825. About five years after this marriage he bought a farm of one hundred and four acres southwest of Jelloway, where he then moved, and has ever since lived.

MYERS, JOHN, treasurer of Knox county, is a resident of Mt. Vernon. He was born in Bedford caunty, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1830. His parents came to Knox county in 1836, and engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch followed farming for a few years, and then engaged in the grocery busi- ness. From the grocery he entered the dry goods store of William Hendrick, where he remained for one year, and then returned to farming.

Mr. Myers was elected county recorder in 1871, and reelected in 1874. At the October election in 1879 he was elected county treasurer, which office he now holds. He was married to Miss Lorretta J. Armstrong, eldest daughter of the late Colonel John Armstrong, September 22, 1858, by whom he has had three children, only one of whom is now living.

MYERS, JOHN W., Milford township, farmer, is a native of Milford township, was born February 21, 1837, son of Frederic Myers, of whom mention is made in this volume, in the biogra- phy of Jeorge W. Myers.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and has always followed it as his vocation. He started in life poor, but has secured a competency by industry and frugality. He is an excellent farmer, and his farm shows careful attention, and is an estimable citizen.

He married Miss Mary Jane Fadely, September It, 1859, daughter of Levi Fadely. They have one child named Alonzo, born July 23, 1860.

MYERS, WILLIAM W., Milford township, wagonmaker and repairer of all kinds of farming implements, Lock post .of- fice, was born in Milford township, March 13, 1841. He is the son of George and Catharine Myers. He was on his father's farm until twenty years of age. He then went to the carpenter trade, learned it, then took up the trade, which he is now fol- lowing. He is a natural mechanic and can manufacture almost anything which can be made in the way of sleighs, sleigh run- ners, in fact he can construct anything of the vehicle kind. He

has had twenty years' experience in wood work, and with his natural ability he is one of the best workmen in the county.

He was married to Miss Julia Niebel, daughter of Joseph Niebel, April 14 1864. They had three children-James Lewis, born January 8, 1865, died October 3, 1877; Ella Elma, July 19, 1868; Aremenia, January 25, 1872, died April 9, 1875.

MORGAN, GENERAL GEORGE W. The paternal and maternal ancestors of the subject of this sketch were Celts. His great-grandfather, Evan Morgan, emigrated to the United States from Wales, and established himself at Prospect, a country seat near Princeton, New Jersey.

Prior to the war of the Revolution, George Morgan, son of Evan, became a member of the firm of Baynton, Wharton & Morgan, one of the largest commercial houses in Philadelphia, and in 1764 he married Mary Baynton, daughter of the senior member of the firm. Her mother's maiden name was Cheva- lier, and her parents were both of French extraction.

Early in April, 1776, about four months prior to the declara- tion of independence, the Continental Congress appointed George Morgan Indian agent, with instructions to negotiate certain treaties with the Indians.

His appointment reads as follows, and is in possession of General George W. Morgan:

To All Whom It May Concern:

Know ye; That the delegates of the Colonies of New Hamp- shire; Massachusetts Bay; Rhode Island; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Maryland; Vir- ginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; and Georgia, in Con- gress assembled; reposing especial confidence in George Mor- gan Esquire, have nominated and appointed him, the said George Morgan, Esquire, Agent under their Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the middle department.

By order of Congress,

JOHN HANCOCK,

President.

Attest:

CHS. THOMSON, Secy.

The annals of Heckewelder and Hildreth, and Taylor in his history of Ohio, speak of the important services rendered by George Morgan in his negotiations with the various tribes of Indians, whom he never deceived.

Among other treaties, he negotiated one with the Delawares, whose confidence he enjoyed to an almost unlimited extent. As an evidence of their regard, they conferred upon him the title of Tamerind-the Truth Teller-after the great Delaware chief who had borne that name.

During the Revolution, George Morgan acquired the rank of colonel, and became deputy commissary general.

That war was not an exception to wars generally, so far as the rivalship and ambition of leaders were concerned. They clashed then, as they have since, and will always continue to do. Certain generals aspired to chief leadership, and sought to supplant Washington. Prominent among those aspirants were Gates and Lee. General Conway belonged to their faction, which was opposed with bitterness by Generel Cadwalader. A duel was the result. Cadwalader challenged Conway, and ac- cording to the usages of the times, Colonel George Morgan, al- though a friend of Washington, acted as Conway's second, or, as the French term it, his witness. They fought with pistols. The choice of ground, and the first shot, by lot fell to Conway. The day was gusty, and probably to this fact Cadwalader owed his life. A gust swept across Conway's line of fire, and his ball

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

whistled harmlessly near Cadwalader's head. The wind still blew in sudden puffs. Cadwalader raised his arm to fire, but feeling the force of the wind, let it fall again, without touching the trigger.

Conway exclaimed: "General, why do you not fire?"

"I will do so, sir, when the wind falls."

Conway faced full to the front, and said: "You shall have a fair mark, sir."

The wind lulled, and with the utmost deliberation, Cadwala- der fired, and Conway staggered and was caught in Morgan's arms. The ball struck him squarely in the mouth, barely missed the spinal column, and was caught in his hair, which, ac- cording to the custom of that day, was worn long, and tied in a clump or club behind.

Conway cleared his mouth of blood, and said: "General you are not only a very good shot, but a very cool one."

The ball is still in possession of Colonel James B. Morgan, a grandson of Conway's second.

In this connection, the following correspondence, literally copied from the original letter, is not without interest:

" MOUNT VERNON, August 20, 1786.

Sir :- You will see by the enclosed letter from the Marquis de la Fayette to me, that the Empress of Russia is desirous of obtaining some authentic documents, respecting the language of the natives of this country for the purpose of compiling an universal Dictionary.

As I have thought no person was more in condition to accom- plish that essential service, for the republic of letters than your- self, I have taken the liberty of transmitting a specimen of the vocabulary to you, together with a request that you will do me the favor of paying as early and accurate attention to the com- pletion of the matter, as your avocations will admit.

Persuaded that a gentleman of your taste for science in gen- eral, and particularly of your capacity for acquiring the infor- mation in question, will enter upon the task with pleasure, I make no apology for troubling you with it, nor do I think it necessary to add anything farther, than that it may be expedi- ent to extend the vocabulary as far as with the aid of your friends, you conveniently can, and that the greatest possible precision and exactitude will be indispensable, in committing the Indian words to paper by a just orthography.

With sentiments of esteem and regard

I have the honor to be Sir

Yr. most obed't H'ble Sr. G. WASHINGTON."

COLONEL GEORGE MORGAN,

of Prospect, near Princeton.

" PARIS, February the roth.

The enclosed, my dear General, is a vocabulary which the empress of Russia Has requested me to Have filled up with indian names, as she has ordered an universal dictionary to be made of all languages. It would greatly oblige her to collect the words she sends translated into the several idioms of the nations on the banks of the Oyho (Ohio). Presly Nevil and Morgan of Fort Pitt, General Mullenberg in Fayette county, and our other friends could undertake it for us, and be very at- tentive in accuracy. I beg your pardon my dear General, for the trouble I give you, but Have been particularly applied to, and cannot dispense with paying great attention to the business. This goes with so long an epistle of mine that I shall only pre-

sent you here with my best love and wishes, and am my dear General, your respectful and tender friend

LAFAYETTE."

Some years after the recognition of American Independence, Colonel George Morgan purchased a farm, long known as Morganza, near Canonsburgh, in western Pennsylvania. It was from that place President Jefferson received his first intelligence of Burr's conspiracy.

In his life of Aaron Burr, Parton says: "It so chanced that one of Burr's first visits, on his western tour had consequences of the utmost importance.

"It was to the house of Colonel Morgan, a name of renown in the west, a valiant old campaigner who lived with his two stalwart sons near the little town of Canonsburgh, Pennsylvania, that this fatal visit was made. Civilities had passed between Morgan and Burr in former years, and that old patriot had con- cevied for Burr a very warm friendship, which his misfortunes and peculiarities strengthened. As his custom was, Colonel Burr gave notice of his coming, and the old gentleman bursting with hospitality sent forth his two sons to meet the expected guests. Colonel Burr rode with one of the sons and Colonel De Peister with the other. Burr's conversation surprised the young gentlemen. Among other things he said the Union could not last long; a separation of the States must ensue in four or five years. He made minute inquiries respecting the militia and arms of the country, and of the character of the officers. One of Morgan's workmen chanced to pass, and Burr said he wished he had ten thousand such men."

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 154

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