History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 159

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 159

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NICODEMUS, JACOB L., farmer, Middlebury township, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Maryland, in 1804, came to Ohio in 1852, and was married in 1835 to Susan Baile, who was born in Maryland in 1816. They had ten children, viz: Cecelia, born December 11, 1836; Evaline M., September 17, 1838; Ann S., February 17, 1840; Sarah L., June 7, 1841; Abraham P., August 27, 1843; Elizabeth M., August 20, 1845; Rachel F., June 28, 1848; Mary A., October 12, 1851; Charles W., November 22, 1853, and Susan C., August 12, 1857. The following children are dead: Evaline M. and Susan C. Cece- lia was married to Lamvil S. Owen, and resides in Delaware

county, Ohio; Evaline (deceased) was married to John Wells; Ann S. married to Marwin B. Gordon, they are now in Steuben county, Indiana; Sarah L. married Whiting Hawkins, of Mor- row county; Abraham P. married Lucretia V. Reed, of Mans- field, Ohio; Elizabeth M. married Sheriden Ebersole, and re- sides in Ottawa county, Kansas; Rachel F. married Welling- ton Watkins, now living in Republic county, Kansas; Mary A. married Stuart J. Dixon, now living in this township; Charles W. married Martha E. Herendon and resides on the old home place.

Mr. Nicodemus came to Morrow county in 1852, remained there until 1856, then located in Middlebury township; since that time he has been a resident of this township and has reared a large and respectable family of children, who are all married and have located as above noted.

NICHOLAS & ZUCK, proprietors of Green Valley flouring- mills, Butler township, are prepared to do all kinds of merchant and custom work, also sawing at their saw-mill.

NORRICK, WILLIAM H., salesman, Pike township, post office, Democracy, born in 1850, in Harrison county, Ohio, and was married, in 1876, to Mary M. Donel, who was born in Ohio, in 1855. Mr. Norrick is engaged in selling buggies for Louis Cook, of Cincinnati, and has had good success, being the only man in this section of Ohio representing this manu- facturing establishment.

NORTON, DANIEL S., deceased .- The first American set- tlers in the Attakapas of Orleans were the Nortons, who for sev- eral years endured contentedly the perils and privations in that then foreign climate, until sickness and death reduced their number and deprived them of their head and the managment of the affairs of Mrs. Ann Norton, and nine children, devolved en- tirely upon young Daniel S., who, possessed of a peculiar busi- ness mind, and an adventurous spirit, carried on various trading operations in the territory and the Mexican provinces. Some of his practical operations are worthy of notice.

He introduced the first sugar-cane in the Attakapas, and es- tablished that it could be cultivated successfully. His active and well informed mind, and inventive genius, were always striv- ing to make improvements, and he first directed attention to the navigation of the bayous and rivers, and was interested in the first boat that engaged in their trade. He travelled on the first two boats that made trips on the Mississippi, and subsequently on the first boat built by a company at Brownsville, Pennsylva- nia, and run by Captain Gregg on the Lower Mississippi and Red rivers. His Suggestions in construction and navigation, his knowledge of the rivers and the country, contributed much to those enterprises.

It was with the view of carrying on a trade with the southern country that he located at Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and en- gaged in erecting machinery for manufacturing; and hence the deep solicitude for successful navigation of the rivers, to pro- mote which he carried on correspondence, published articles, made investments, and labored industriously. The first cotton factory on the Youghiogheny ( Pennsylvania) he erected, and ope- rated successfully, bringing the raw cotton from his old home in Louisiana. His lands in that country were of great value, and his business there for about a half century was faithfully af- tended to by Governor Johnson, as his agent.

Mr. Norton never relinquished the idea which he had en- tertained through life, of returning there to live, and which was only broken in upon by his coming to Knox county to

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Phillips

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

marry Miss Sarah Banning, daughter of Rev. Anthony Banning. This was in 1816. He was still further irresistibly attracted by the fine water power, fertile lands and beautiful prospects of Owl creek.

The building of machinery and improving of mills and manu- facturing establishments may be said to have been the ruling passion of his life. A petition was presented to the general as- sembly of Ohio, when it met in Chillicothe, by Daniel S. Nor- ton, John H. Piatt, and Herman Long of Cincinnati, Asa Norton of Kentucky, and Abraham Baldwin of Pennsylvania, who had associated in manufacturing business, asking for en- couragement of woollen manufactories, etc.

The first complete carding machines west of the Alleghany mountains were put up by Daniel S. Norton.

His career in this county-his efforts to promote education, home manufactures and internal improvements-his contribu- tions to objects calculated to benefit the public-his assistance to old settlers in purchasing their farms and stock, making im- provements, and providing for their families-his kindness to friends, and generosity to relatives-will long be remembered. His love of country was unbounded, and the blood of the Revolution never coursed through veins more determined to perpetuate Liberty and Union. His liberality and patriotism in the War of 1812, the Texan Revolution, and the Mexican War is on record.

From a notice of the death of Mr. Norton, which took place Tuesday morning, October 25, 1859, of congestion of the lungs, in the columns of the Mt. Vernon Banner, the following extract is taken. At the time of his death Mr. Norton was seventy-two years of age, having been born in 1787:

"He first visited Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1816, and in the summer of that year introduced the first complete carding machine in this part of the State, and set it up at the mill of William Douglas, afterwards owned by James S. Banning. In the summer of 1817 he moved to Mt. Vernon, and in the fall of that year, having secured the admirable mill seat and water ' power which his sagacious eye had discovered the summer previous, he built the mills, which, improved and enlarged from time to time, as the wants of the county required, he continued to occupy and operate until his death.

"He engaged also in the mercantile business and carried it on prosperously for many years. He erected a woolen and a cotton factory, and an oil mill, and engaged extensively in agri- culture and the raising of cattle and horses, and contributed much to the improvement of the stock of both in the county.

"He was elected to the State senate from Knox and Rich- land counties in 1825, and while in that body took lively inter- est and an active part in inaugurating and establishing the wise canal policy of the State. He was a member of the committee appointed in 1825 to welcome De Witt Clinton. At the canal celebration in July, 1825, he first met Bishop Chase, who served as chaplain on that occasion, and was one of the gentlemen who accompanied the bishop in his tour of observation through a part of the county, looking up grounds for the location of Kenyon college, which resulted in the selection of the site now occupied by that institution. He contributed liberally to the establishment of that college, and was always its steadfast friend.

"He was always among the foremost in all public enterprises calculated to increase the growth of the town, or improve and develop the resources of the county. In July, 1849, the editor of the Times said: 'We are of the opinion that none of the

earliest pioneers of our town have ever done so much to pro- mote its growth and prosperity as Mr. Norton. If Mt. Vernon is specially indebted to the enterprise and liberality of any one man, that man is Daniel S. Norton.'

"As a man of business, he had no superior. Prompt, ener- getic and deliberate, he appeared to see the end from the begin- ning, and his plans, wisely laid, were worked out with a,precis- ion which commanded the admiration of all. .

"A man of social qualities, he was the pride of the society in which he lived. Remarkable for his address and conversational power, his extensive reading, his acute observation and his won- derful memory, he attracted notice wherever he appeared, at home or abroad, and entered no circle which was not entertained and instructed by his presence.

"The cultivation of the cotton plant attracted his youthful at- tention, and among his papers of 18ro are calculations as to its culture and manufacture. He planted the first black seed in the southwest (it had been brought from the Bahamas), and he was the first experimenter with the hirsutum and the herbaceous in that locality.

"He had a keen perception of merit in the young, and not a few owe the beginning of their prosperous career in busines to his kind and wise patronage. He was ever ready to aid the in- dustrious, and had a lively sympathy for the unfortunate. It was a touching sight to see the poor gather around his bier, and not the least of a good man's reward to hear them call him blessed."

NORTON, G. K., was born in 1826, and was a son of D. S. Norton, who was married to Sarah Banning, and had a family of six children, viz: Mary, wife of the late Judge Hurd; A. Baldwin, who was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs-at Santa Fe, New Mexico, but is now dead; A. Banning, and G. K. G. K. Norton, the subject of this sketch, after his prepar- atory education entered Kenyon college, but completed his edu- cation at Norwalk, Ohio, after which he took charge of his father's business, in which he continued until his father's death. Judge R. C. Hurd was appointed administrator of the estate of his father, and George was continued in charge by Mr. Hurd for two years after, when he purchased the mill and conducted the business until 1871, when he sold to Mr. Hurd. He then engaged in the grocery and produce business, in which he con- tinued until his death.

He was married January 13, 1861, to Mrs. Elizabeth Weirick, nee Raymond. Mrs. Norton had two children by her first hus- band, and two by Mr. Norton. The last two are now residing with her.

Daniel S. Norton, a brother of G. K., was educated at Ken- yon college, after which he studied with Judge Hurd. He went to Minnesota, where he was elected to the State senate, and then to the United States Senate. He has deceased.

Sarah B. Norton, another of his father's family, was educated at Putnam Female seminary, near Zanesville, but died in No- vember, 1851.

NORTON & KINDRICK, millinery and notion store, South Main street, Mt. Vernon .- Mrs. J. K. Norton, senior member of this firm, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1829.

Miss S. E. Kindrick was born in ,Florence, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1828.

When quite young the parents of these ladies came to Ohio and located in Steubenville, where they resided many years,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

after which they settled in this county, and then removed to the city.

Miss J. Kindrick was married to D. B. Norton, M. D., a native of this county, who was born June 27, 1831. He was a graduate of Willoughby Medical college, Cleveland. Shortly after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Norton went to Chillicothe, Mis- souri, where he practiced his profession about eighteen months, when they returned to Ohio and settled at Worthington, near Columbus, where they resided five years. They then went to St. Charles, Illinois, where they resided nearly two years, when Dr. Norton died, and Mrs. Norton returned with her two chil- dren to Mt. Vernon, where she has resided ever since.

After the death of Dr. Norton, which took place in 1858, Mrs. Norton entered a co-partnership with her sister, and in 1860, under the name of Norton & Kindrick, they opened a millinery estalishment, to which they added from time to time such goods in that line as the needs of the people and the fashions of the day required, until they placed their establishment on a par with the best in the State. At no time is their stock in trade less than two thousand dollars valuation, consisting of millinery goods in all its departments, and ladies' furnishing goods. The firm does an average business of from six thousand to seven thousand dollars per year. This firm has the best selected goods of any similar establisment in the city.

NYHART, JOHN M., Brown township, farmer, was born December 13, 1839, in Jefferson township. He is the son of Jacob and Mary Nyhart, now residing in Jefferson township, Knox county. He was reared on a farm. His education was obtained at a select school taught at Danville, this county, and several terms at Loudonville, Ashland county. During the winter of 1862-3 he taught a five months' term of school in Hanover township, Ashland county. In 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Garrett, of Hanover township, Ash- land county, daughter of William and Prudence J. Garrett.

They settled on the farm where they are now residing, located in Brown township, this county, near Jelloway. He then turned his attention to farming and stock raising, making sheep a specialty. He is the father of two children, one son and one daughter. He filled the office of township treasurer in Brown township for three years.

O'BRIEN, WILLIAM E., Pike township, post office, Democracy, born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1820, and was married in 1847 to Elizabeth Rockwell, who was born in New York, in 1828. They had eight children: Terance W., Ann Caroline, Daniel W., Emily V., Lovilla E., William E., and Julia Estella.

Mr. O'Bryan came to this county in 1841, and was engaged in the late war, having been a member of the Ohio National guard.

OBERHOLTZER, ABRAHAM O., hardware and jewelry, Hilliar township, Centreburgh, Ohio, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1833. His parents came to Ohio in 1835 and settled in Holmes county, where he spent his youth. He learned the carpenter trade, and for some years worked dur- ing the summer and taught school in the winter. He also farmed and worked some in the mines, thus he was taught by his experience that there is no royal road to success, and that he himself, in order to reap, must "both hold and drive." He

had no means with which to begin life, so he found himself with no money when he wished to enter into business, but with a determination to make an effort, and with an honest purpose, he entered into business in Waterford, Knox county. He kept a general line of goods, and by his strict adherence to the prin- ciples of business, he succeeded beyond his expectation. He remained in Waterford for seven years, and in 1879, came to Centreburgh, and opened up his present business. He carries a full line of foreign and domestic hardware, and has a rapidly growing trade.

He was married to Miss Rebecca L. Lidball, May 20, 1858. They had a family of five children, two only of whom are living.

OLDAKER, JAMES S., Miller township, farmer, was born in Licking county, Ohio, March 30, 1815. His parents were natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and were married in Miller township, or what is now Miller town- ship, about 1811, and soon after, moved to Burlington township, Licking county, where they lived and died. They had five children, two of whom are living, viz: James and Elizabeth.

The subject of our notice was reared on a farm, and has al- ways followed farming as his vocation. Upon the division of the old homestead, after the death of the parents, Mr. Oldaker took the northern part of the farm situated in Miller township, and moved upon it, and has resided there ever since. His farm shows care and prudent management, and his improvements are among the best in the township.

Mr. Oldaker is one of the leading members of society in the vicinity. He is highly esteemed for his excellent qualities. He has been a consistent member of the Christian church for over forty years, and one of the principal organizers of Fairview church, and is now secretary of the organization. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Ann Butcher, who was born December 5, 1819. They had eight children. The living are: Mary R., wife of Philip Losh; John B., Octavina, James W. Lewis, and Lucretia. Henry was a member of company G, Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died at Grand Junction, Tennessee. Andrew died at home.

OLIVER, WILLIAM, Gambier, a native of England, was' born on the third day of August, 1810. At the age of fourteen years he engaged in the mercantile business as clerk, remained two years. In 1826 he commenced working in a flouring-mill with his father.

In 1837 he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Harris, of England, born February 11, 1811.

He continued in the mill with his father until 1840. 'T'hey migrated to America and located in Gambier, this county. In the spring of 1841 he took charge of the Gambier mills, which he operated successfully until the fall of 1846, when he moved on the farm in Monroe township, this county, which he pur- chased in 1843. He then turned his attention to farming and butchering, remaining on the farm until 1861, when they moved to Gambier, where they are now living.

He continued the butchering business until 1866. In 1865 he engaged in the grocery trade, and carried on the two branches of business in connection with overseeing his farm, until 1866, and then gave his attention wholly to butchering, his grocery trade and farming, and continued to do so to the present time.

ORSBORN; JAMES M., Hilliar township (pioneer), Centre- burgh post office; was born in Bloomfield township, Knox county (now Morrow county), June 13, 1819. His parents were natives of Hartford, Connecticut. His father, Thomas

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

Orstorn, was bound in his youth to a sea captain, and after- wards served in the War of 1812 as a marine. His wife was Miss Olive Manning. They came to Ohio about 1816, and set- tled in Bloomfield township, Knox county, now Morrow county. Mr. Orsborn had never seen a tree felled by the axe prior to his coming to Ohio, and knew little of the experience of a pioneer; but he soon became accustomed to the forest and was successful in clearing up his farm, and finally became one of the well-to-do farmers and an influential citizen. He and his wife passed over the river on the old homestead. They had a family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living. The subject of this notice remained at home assisting his father on the farm until he was married to Miss Sophronia Thatcher, July 5, 1840. They some time after went to Mt. Liberty, where they kept hotel for about ten years, when to the hotel business was added a store, which in connection with the hotel was car- ried on five years more, when he sold out and went to farming, which he followed for some five years more when he sold out. He afterward purchased land in Illinois, but did not move upon it. He engaged in various undertakings until 1872, when he purchased property in Centreburgh and moved there, where he has since been engaged in the saw-mill business. Mr. Orsborn has always been an active, energetic, hard working man. They have a family of three children, viz: George W., Lenora (mar- ried to Lewis Mitchell), Jerusha (married Isaac Teagarden).

OSWALT, HENRY, farmer, post office, Democracy, was born in Jefferson township in 1849, and was married in 1876 to Ellen Norrick, who was born in Brown township in 1854. They have one daughter-Sarah Edith-who was born August 18, 1880. Mr. Oswalt located in Pike. township in 1879, on the Arnold farm. He is accumulating wealth. Economy and ndustry is the cause of his success.

OWEN, WILLIAM W., Middlebury township, carpenter, post office, Levering, was born in this township, August 13, 1828, and was married December 22, 1850, to Rebecca Burke, who was born in Martinsburgh, April 16, 1832. They had the following family: Sylvania, born March 5, 1852; Olive, Jan- uary 22, 1854; John D., June 1, 1861; Dan, July 30, 1864; Harriet L., February ro, 1870; and Willie B., November 27, 1872. Olive Owen died April 13, 1867. Sylvania was married to Frank Coursen November 10, 1870, and resides in Richland county. Julia E. was married to William Forsyth, and resides in Bloomington, Illinois. .

Mr. Owen has been engaged as carpenter some years, is a first class mechanic and an enterprising citizen.

PAINTER, GEORGE, Wayne township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Holmescounty in 1847, and was married in 1867, to Ellen Mclaughlin, who was born in New York in 1847. They have the following children-Jennie Maggie, born September 14, 1868; Cora Melinda, December 31, 1869; George Ostin, November 10, 1871; Lillie Bella, May 1, 1874; Patsie Mountainia, December 3, 1876; and Roberta Blanche, June 30, 1879. Mr. Painter is a farmer by occupation and has resided here since 1878.

PARK, JAMES, deceased, late of Pleasant township, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1787. He was of Scotch parentage. His grandfather came to America about the year 1730, and was a man of some note in the history of his

adopted country. His father was killed by the Indians in Penn- sylvania shortly after St. Clair's defeat. The subject of this sketch married Miss Elizabeth Marquis, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1803. Shortly after his marriage he moved to and settled in Belmont county, Ohio, and resided there twelve years. While residing in Belmont county he entered the ser- vice of his country and served in the army during a part of the War of 1812. In 1816 he came to Knox county and settled on a farm in pleasant township, where he resided up to the time of his death, in 1853. After his death his son Joseph received a land warrant from the general Government for his fathers' ser- vices during the war. Mr. Park was a man of strong mind and great energy, and soon made for himself and family of nine children-five sons and four daughters-a pleasant home out of the wilderness, in which he had pitched his tent. His son Joseph, and his two youngest sisters are now the only living ones in the county of that once large family.

PARK, JOSEPH V., son of the late James Park, was born at the old homestead in Pleasant township, on the twenty-third day of March, 1818. He received his education from the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. His early days were spent in labor on his father's farm, which he now partially owns and successfully operates. He has served the people of the town- ship eighteen years in the office of justice of the peace, and at the expiration of his last term he refused the offer of reelec- tion.

October 12, 1853, he was united by marriage with Miss Elizabeth J. McFarland, daughter of the late Daniel McFar- land, then of Mt. Vernon, from which union five children were born, viz .: Daniel M., James H., William V., Bessie I., and. Frank J., all of whom are living. William and Bessie are twins.

One of the scenes of his early life in 1825 Mr. Park recollects with vivid distinctness. Like all early settlers his father kept a flock of sheep that required considerable attention, and upon the younger boys that care mostly developed. During the day the sheep were permitted to graze around the clearings and upon the commons, and were gathered at night and penned to protect them from the wolves, that great pest of pioneer farmers. His father had, at different times, been a severe loser by those night prowlers.

One day the sheep strayed from their usual haunts, and Jo- seph and an elder brother were sent out in search of them. It was nearly dark when the boys came across them on the river bottom nearly opposite the Kerr mill, now Miller's. It was dark by the time the boys started homeward with the sheep. They were soon startled by the howl of a wolf in the direction of Fallen Timbers, then in Pleasant, but now in College town- ship. The signal was answered from another direction, and then the dismal howl came from every quarter, and each repeti- tion came nearer and nearer. The speed of the sheep was hur- ried by the alarmed boys, as they were too young to defend their charge from the attack of a pack of hungry wolves. The boys had reached the barn, where the pen was located, when the father and two older sons came out with lighted torches and guns, as the howls had been heard at the house, causing consid- erable alarm. The approach of the wolves had been checked by the light of the torches at about forty rods from the fold, as was supposed, as it was too dark to see the prowlers, but their snarls could be distinctly heard. After the sheep had been se- cured, the father fired his gun in the direction of the wolves,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

when their snarls instantly ceased, and for a few moments pro- found silence prevailed. Then the disappointed wolves broke into continual howls, likened to nothing the boys had ever heard before, so dismal and prolonged as though all the demons of the lower regions had broken out. Sheep in those early days were a necessity to the pioneers, and great care was required to protect them from wolves.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 159

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