History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 165

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

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Mr. Rouse served the people of Miller township as justice of the pence for nine years, and ten years as township clerk. He was mayor of the city of Mt. Vernon one term. Mr. Rouse has always been an active business man, and in retiring from the field he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has done his part. He is now in his eighty-sixth year, and his wife is eighty- two. They are the oldest couple living in the city.

ROWE, LEWIS, Wayne township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown; born in New York April 9, 1812, and was mar- ried January 17, 1839, to Mary Campbell, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1815. They have the following children: Sarah, born October 30, 1843; Lyman, August 21; 1846; Amanda, July 15, 1848.

Mr. Rowe has been engaged in farming, and owns a well im- proved farm with good buildings.

Lyman Rowe is now residing in 'Toledo, Ohio, engaged as bookkeeper for a manufacturing firm.

ROWLAND, JAMES F., Milford township, one of the lead- ing farmers of Milford township, was born in Richland county (now Ashland county), Ohio, April 11, 1824; is the son of Simon Rowland, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio at an early day and settled in Green township, Richland county, where he married Sarah Hill about 1817, who was a native of Vermont. They had eight children, five of whom are living, the subject of this notice being the eldest. Jane, mar- ried to John Ohler; Cyrus A .; Alletha, married Joel Ward, and Joseph. The deceased were Eliza, Thomas, and Mary, the last of whom was married to Levi Browlyier. The parents died in Green township, Richland county, now Ashland county.

The subject of this notice was reared on the farm his father entered, and continued to live on it until 1860, when he moved to Knox county having sold the old homestead. In 1848 he married Sarah Onier. They had ten children, viz: Simon, Calvin J., William L., Frank, Shannon, Jane (deceased), Alice (married to William Rizor), Ida (deceased), Lizzie, and Ella. Mr. Rowland is a leading member of the Baptist church and a man of influence. He is township trustee.

ROWLEY, SAMUEL, was born May 11, 1787, in Rutland county, Vermont, and emigrated to Ohio in 1813, stopping one year in Muskingum county. He came to Knox county in 1814 and located in Miller township, where he resided until 1824, when he came to Mt. Vernon and remained until 1832, when he went to Licking county and remained two years, after which he came back to Mt. Vernon, where he resided until the day of his death, November 20, 1851.

He was married to Miss E. Ward November 3, 1808. She is still living at the advanced age of ninety-one years. She was born April 7, 1790. They reared a family of six children, four of whom are living.

Front 1824 until the day of his death Mr. Rowley was engaged in keeping hotel.

ROWLEY, HORACE, harness and saddle manufacturer, corner Main and Front streets, Mt. Vernon. Mr. Rowley was born in Pittsford, Rutland county, Vermont, on the fourth day of September, 1809. When he was about three years of age his parents emigrated to Ohio and settled in Miller township, this county, where they resided about ten years, and then came to Mt. Vernon. After he came here he went into the saddle and harness trade, and served his time with William Mefford & John Gregg. He then entered into business for himself in this city,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and carried on his shop for thirteen years. He then went to Indiana and worked awhile in New Albany, and then at Ger- mantown. He then returned to Ohio and located in Marysville, Union county, and carried on his business there for about one year. His next location was at Mt. Liberty, this county. He remained in business there for five years, In 1849 he returned to Mt. Vernon and engaged in the harness business and has continued in it ever since.

Mr. Rowley is the pioneer saddle and harness manufacturer of this city. He has always conducted the business himself, doing all his work, and has the satistaction of making his trade a suc- cess, and giving the people good, honest work, which he is still prepared to do.

ROWLEY, MRS. ELIZABETH, deceased .-- The deceased was born in Connecticut on the seventh of April, 1790, and was, at her death, in the ninety-first year of her age. She came with her husband to Ohio in r814, first settling in Muskingum county. From thence the family removed to Knox county, lo- cating in Miller township, and subsequently in the year 1824, they settled in Mt. Vernon. Since her husband's death, in 1851, she has made her home with her son Jerome. She reared a fam- ily of six children, four of whom are still living, viz: Horace Rowley, Jerome Rowley, Mrs. Semanthe Winne, and Mrs. E. C. Vore, all of whom were at her bedside when she died.

She was a member of the Baptist church for sixty-five years, and was a good Christian woman, respected and honored by all who enjoyed the pleasure of her acquaintance.

ROWLEY, JEROME, Mt. Vernon, is a native of Knox county, born in Miller township June 23, 1816, and received such an education as he could get at the public schools of that day. He followed farming until they came to Mt. Vernon, when he assisted his father in the hotel; during which he mar- ried Miss Maria Watkins, a daughter of Francis Watkins, who came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Mt. Vernon in 1812. Shortly after his marriage he went to Clark county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, milling, merchandizing, and the stock business. He remained there until 1847, when he returned to Mt. Vernon, where he engaged in farming, and kept a country hotel about five miles from the city on the Columbus road, in Liberty township, where he re- mained until 1864, when he was burned out, and returned to Mt. Vernon, where he has lived ever since. He has been en- gaged in the flour trade for several years, but has retired from business.

He has reared a family of five children, four of whom are living-two sons and two daughters-all of whom are married and live in Knox county.

ROWLEY, SHANNON F., Milford township, farmer and justice of the peace, Milfordton post office, was born in Mt. Vernon, January 24, 1839, and is the son of Jerome and Mariah Rowley, nce Wilkins.

The subject of this sketch spent his youth from his ninth year on a farm, and has always followed farming as his occupation. He was elected justice of the peace 111 1878. Mr. Rowley is pleasant and social in his manners, and is a good citizen.

He married Miss Cynthia A. Smith, September 9, 1862, who was born February 20, 1844; she is the daughter of Preserve and Amelia Smith, nec Knowles, natives of Litchfield county, Connecticut, who came to Milford township in 1831. They were highly respected citizens, and died at their home, known as the Five Corners. They had ten children: Henry A.,

George L., William D., L. F., Fannie M. (deceased), who was married to Luther Hyatt; Charles G., Emeline C., wife of John Milligan, of Brandon, Ohio; Sarah V., wife of Ira D. Hunt; Benjamin C., Cynthia A., wife of S. F. Rowley; and Oscar E.

Mr. and Mrs. Rowley are the parents of three interesting children: Killian W., born December 17, 1869; Frank S., June 30, 1871; Jerome, December 31, 1874.

ROWLEY, H. YOUNG, proprietor of Rowley house, South Main street, Mt. Vernon, was born in this city December 26, 1848, and was educated in our excellent common schools. He first engaged in business with his father who conducted a grocery and feed store. In 1869 he became interested in the brewery business with James Miller, under the firm of Miller & Rowley. For two years the firm continued, when he bought his partner's business, and for three years more run the brewery successfully. In 1874 Mr. Rowley took charge of the Rowley house, and has continued proprietor to the present. The house is pleasantly located, and at this time is doing a large business. The house contains in all four-four rooms-thirty transient, and eleven sample rooms. On the first floor, one dining hall, office and bar, and ladies' and gentlemen's parlors, etc. Mr. Rowley has represented his ward in the city council.

ROWLEY, ISAACHER, was born in Steuben county, New York, April 12, 1815, and came to Ohio in 1837, located in Fred- ericktown, and was married January, 1838, to Ruth Corbin, who was born in this county in 1811. They had four children: Ar- temas C., Mellville, Theodore (deceased), and an infant (de- ceased). Mrs. Ruth Rowley died September 2, 1848.

Mr. Rowley subsequently married Sarah A. Tremley. They had three children: Eva C. (deceased), an infant (deceased), and Anna R., who married George W. Mozier. They reside in Mt. Gilead, Morrow county. Mrs. Sarah Rowley died May 6, 1877.

Mr. Rowley married for his third wife Mrs. E. B. Neal, sister of his first wife.

Mr. Rowley has resided in Fredericktown and vicinity for forty-four years, and was engaged in farming the most of the time. He studied law and is engaged in a home practice; he is also a notary public, and has been justice of the peace in Berlin township. He is a prominent member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and has been a representative in three ses- sions in the grand lodge of the State of Ohio. He was a dele- gate to the State convention, and voted for Salmon P. Chase for governor at the organization of the Republican party, and has since been identified with this party.

He was appointed postmaster of Fredericktown in February, 1874, during General Grant's administration. He was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for twenty-five years, was an official member and did much to advance the in- terest of the church.

ROWLEY, O. P., farmer, College township, son of Hiram and Betsy Rowley, was born in Miller township, this county, February 1, 1821. Hiram Rowley, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Vermont in 1794. He married Miss Betsy Wheeler, of Vermont, about 18r7, who was born in 1793. They emigrated to Ohio and located in Miller township, this county, in about 1819, where they passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. Rowley died in 1876; he survived her until 1878. They reared a family of three children-Ellen, Olney P., and John R. The first named is dead.

Mr. Rowley married Miss Eliza McKinzie, of this county, in

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

1843. They settled in Monroe township, remained several years, then moved to College township where they are now residing. Their union resulted in four children, viz: John R., Hiram, Olney G., and Noah S. John R. served three years in the late war, enlisting in 1862, and serving until the close of the war.

ROWLEY, WILLIAM, salesman, Fredericktown, was born in New York in 1832, emigrated to Michigan and remained for four years, then removed to Illinois, stayed there four years, then in 1840 came to Knox county, Ohio, and in 1852 went to California, remained there about fourteen years, and after re- turning to Ohio was married in 1876, to Miss E. F. Roberts daughter of Richard Roberts, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1842. Mr. Rowley is engaged with the firm of S. S. Tuttle & Co., in the saw-mill and lumber yard.

ROWLEY, WILLIAM H., Berlin township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born on the farm where he now re- sides, in 1839. He was married in 1864, to Catharine Lloyd, who was born in Morrow county, Ohio, in 1845. They have four children: Jennie, born in 1866; Frank, in 1867; J. T. Rowley, in 1869; Sadie, in 1876.

Mr. Rowley was a soldier in the late war, a member of com- pany G, One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment, Ohio volun- teer infantry, and was engaged in the service for twenty-two months. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga in 1863, and was left on the battle-field. He fell into the hands of the rebels, and was held a prisoner nine days, and then pa- roled. He was honorably discharged. He was also engaged in the battle of Perryville. He has an Indian relic different from any inserted in the History of Richland County. He also has the bullet which was taken out of his limb, which wounded him during the service.

ROWLEY, ASA F., hardware and metal worker, post office, Rosstown. He was born January 14, 1841, in Berlin township, Knox county. In his fifteenth year he went to Mt. Vernon and learned the tinsmith trade with James Huntsbury. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and went to the south in 1852. He was special messenger un- der General Thomas the entire time he served, except three months. He was taken prisoner at Columbus, Kentucky, by General Morgan, and was sent to Camp Chase; and shortly afterwards was discharged. He then reenlisted in the United States engineers, under Lieutenant Senate, of Granville, Ohio, and assigned to Captain Thomas, in company G., and then de- tached to General Thomas as special messenger, and there re- mained until 1865, when he was discharged. In 1870 he was married to Sarah M. Weirick, and settled in Martinsburgh, Knox county, and there pursued his trade for three years, and then came to his present home. He does a very good business in tinware, 'stoves, hardware, etc., and is considered an excel- lent workman. He has two children, Charles and Lucy. His mother lives with him, is seventy-three years old, and in very good health.

ROWLEY, MELVILLE B., carpenter .- He was born in Fredericktown, July 18, 1844. April 28, 1866, he was married to Amanda E. Weirick, who was born in Amity, this county, in 1847. They have four children, namely: Irwin was born July 10, 1868; Issacher, jr., born May 4, 1871; Irene A., born January 31, 1873; and Melville, jr., born March 11, 1881.

He has been and is still engaged at the carpenter trade dur- ing the summer, and in the winter engaged in stripping poultry.

Mr. Rowley enlisted in the late war August 16, 1862, a mem- ber of company G, One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He was in two battles and a number of skirmishes; he was injured at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 20, 1863; he was then sent to Cincinnati and transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth regiment, Second battalion, Invalid corps. He was detailed with R. P. L. Baber, paymaster United States army, as clerk, and re- mained with him till June 28, 1865. He was honorably dis- charged, and is now a pensioner of the Government.

ROWLEY, WALTER, Morris township, carpenter, post office, Fredericktown, was born in 1849, in Illinois. He came to Knox county with his parents when he was an infant, and was married in 1872, to Mary Hart, who was born in Morris township in 1856. They have three children: Freddie, born in 1873; Florence, in 1876; Addie F., in 1878.

Mr. Rowley is a carpenter by trade and is a skilful mechanic. ROWLEY, O. P., Fredericktown, dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry, and silverware, was born in Berlin township; served as an apprentice with W. M. Young, in Mt. Vernon, and came to Fredericktown, where he established his business in 1878. He has an extensive trade, is a skilful mechanic, an enterprising young man, and well deserves a liberal patronage.

ROYCE, AMOS H., Fredericktown, retired, was born in Harwington, Litchfield, Connecticut, September 26, 1786. He is a son of Nehemiah Royce, a native of Connecticut, who was a graduate of Yale college. His first diploma was signed Sep- tember 4, 1794. His diploma for the higher branches was given September 9, 1778. He was a soldier of the Revolution, com- missioned a lieutenant by John Hancock, date January 1, 1777, and afterwards received a captain's commission, March 19, 1779. Amos H. has in his posession the two diplomas, also the two commissions. He has in his possession the inventory of his father's estate, written February 24, 1792. The amount was three hundred and three pounds, six shillings and eight pence; also a land warrant for three hundred acres of land valued at thirty shillings (five dollars), located in Knox county, Ohio. Amos H. was the only heir. In the fall of 1792 he was taken from Harwington, where his mother resided, to Berlin, Hart- ford county, Connecticut, to live with his guardian, and grand- father, Amos Hosford, after whom he was named. He remem- bers how he rode from Harwington to Berlin on horseback be- hind his uncle, and his reception at the time at his grandfather's, who was a farmer, a man of wealth for those times, also of in- fluence, being a justice of the peace, which was an important position in those days.

He was elected to the assembly of the town of Berlin a num- ber of years, at which time the subject of this sketch took him to the seat of government in a carriage, and when the session closed he had to bring him home. He was reared on a farm put to work as soon as he was old enough through the summer, and during the winter went to school and received a good com- mon school education, sufficient at least to transact business. He gives a few items of interest that occured when he was in his minority while living with his grandfather. The town of Berlin consisted of three parishes or societies, viz: Worthington, Kensington, and New Britton; Worthington was located on the main or turnpike road leading from New Haven to Hart- ford and consisted of one main street nearly one mile in length, containing the stores, taverns, manufactories, and private resi- dences of the place, of which there were a respectable number.

Anos Af Royer

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

In the north end of the street on a triangular piece of ground stood the Presbyterian meeting-house, a large building which was generally filled every Sabbath. It was also used for a town house in the spring election of county and State offices.

On the main road about twenty rods from the meeting-house stood that ancient relic for the punishment of crime, the stockade and whipping-post, although seldom used. Yet he remembers that the ancient mode of punishment with the cat-of-nine-tails, according to the Mosaic law, was inflicted.

In the fall of 1804 he moved from Berlin, Hartford county, Connecticut, to Lewis county, New York, occupied a house ad- joining land that he bought the next season. He built a cabin on his own land, making such improvements as his means per- mitted.

In the fall of 1809 he received the land warrant for his father's services in the Revolution. He then came to Knox county and located his land in Berlin township. Before he returned he en- gaged Jeremiah Brown to build a log cabin, but as the State road from Mt. Vernon to Mansfield was located before he com- menced, and as the road passed through the centre of his land, he omitted building until he moved out, when he selected a location. A few years later he found it necessary to build a larger and more convenient house.

In those times the citizens took but little interest in the name of their township, but when Berlin was organized it became a subject of general interest. Mr. Stephen Cole and Amos H. Royce, being emigrants from the town of Berlin, they con- sulted together and proposed to call it Berlin, which name was accepted by common consent. Mr. Royce was the first justice of the peace elected, and was reelected and served in said of- fice over fifteen years. He was an independent man, a strong abolitionist during slavery times, and always a strong advocate of temperance. He never used tobacco in any form, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church until the slavery question was strongly agitated, when he left the church; he has never joined any church since, but has lived a very exem- plary life. He resided on the same farm in Berlin township nearly sixty years.

He never had any occasion to use spectacles, although a great reader. He has taken the Cincinnati Daily Gazette since 1860 and has read it daily, Sundays excepted, ever since.

Amos H. Royce was first married in 1804, to Nancy Dan- ning. They had the following children, viz: Mary, born in 1804, Samuel in 1808, Emaline in 1810, Sally in 1813, Julia Ann in 1815, Louisa L. in 1818; Alfred in 1820, Laura A. in 1823, Jane A. in 1824, and Lucy in 1826. Mrs. Nancy Royce died January 21, 1852. Mr. Royce's second wife was Maria Parly, who died in 1859. He afterwards married Marilla John- son, who died in 1870. His fourth wife was Abbie M. Sherwood. Amos H. Royce was a resident of Knox county during the War of 1812, and was drafted. They made their rendezvous at Mt. Vernon till they were ordered to Mansfield, where they remained three weeks. He assisted to build the block-house at Trucksville (Ganges). He was at New Haven during the massacre of the Copus and Zimmer families. He was also called out during the siege of Fort Meigs in 1813, also in 1814 when Fort Stephenson was besieged, but was soon relieved and re- turned home.

RUCKER, W. H., Berlin township, farmer, post office, Frederickstown, was born in Noble county, Ohio, in 1856. He came to Knox county in 1869, and was married in 1878 to

Miss Lamyra Elliott, who was born in Berlin in the year 1860.

RUMMEL, JOHN, Berlin township, deceased, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1807, and was married March 17, 1831, to Elizabeth McPhern, who was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1807. They emi- grated to Ohio in 1836; located in Richland county, and re- mained till 1852, and then moved to Knox county. They had eight children-Hezekiah, born December 10, 1831; James E., September 28, 1833; George, December 20, 1835; Sarah J., April 26, 1838; Hiram, July 30. 1840; Elias, February 21, 1843; Mary E., September 24, 1845; and Melinda, September 3, 1848.

Hezekiah was married in Iowa and resides in Kansas; James E. resides in Washington territory. Hiram was married in Oregon and resides there.

Mr. John Rummel died August 26, 1877, in Berlin township, this county, and was buried in Worthington township, Richland county, in the cemetery near St. John's church.

Mrs, Rummel joined the Lutheran church in 1832, and was a member forty-nine years. She died at her residence in Berlin township in April, 1880, of paralysis, after a brief illness.

RUMMEL, GEORGE, Berlin township, farmer, post office, Shaler's Mills, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. His parents emigrated to Ohio when he was a child. He was married in 1866 to Eliza J. Irvine, who was born in Monroe township in 1844. They have one son-John I .- who was born September 9, 1867, and one daughter, who was born April 7, 1870, and died in 1871. In 1860 Mr. Rummel went to California and returned in 1865. He was engaged in mining.

RUMMEL, ELIAS, farmer, Berlin township, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Worthington township, Richland county, in 1843, and was married in 1871, to Sarah E. McIntire, who was born in Holmes county in 1849. They have five chil- dren, viz: Jessie M., born in 1872; A. D., 1874; James W., 1876; Herbert M., 1878, and an infant in 1880. Mr. Rummel, when a young man, went to California and remained there four years, then returned to Ohio and located in this township. He owns a good farm.

RUSSELL, M. D., JOHN WADHAMS, Mt. Vernon, was born in Canaan, Litchfield county, Connecticut, June 28, 1804. He was the son of Stephen Russell, a man of influence and char- acter in his time, who was repeatedly chosen to represent the people in the State legislature, and once by a unanimous vote of the district.

The subject of this sketch first attended the district school, and then prepared for college at Morris academy. Having advanced sufficiently he entered Hamilton college, New York, in 1821. His health soon after failed, and he was advised by physicians to seek a residence, for a time at least, in a milder climate in some southern State. Accordingly he went south, and obtained a situation as teacher in the academy at Red Bank, Colleton district, South Carolina. He became warmly attached to his southern friends, and had, he says, "a noble class of pupils." Dr. Sheridan, he says, "was not only a friend, but a father to him," and by his advice he commenced the study of medicine in 1823.

Dr. Russell returned to Connecticut in 1824, and continued his medical studies under Dr. Alanson Abbe, of Litchfield. Having studied and reviewed the course prescribed by office students, he attended lectures in 1825 and 1826, at Yale college,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and then a second course at Berkshire Medical college in 1826. The following winter he went to Philadelphia and became a private pupil of Dr. George McClellan, attending lectures at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1827. In April of this year he began to practice in partnership with his preceptor in Litchfield, where he continued one year, giving a course of lectures on anatomy and physiology to the medical students, and such members of the law class as wished to attend. Although his prospects were good for gaining a practice in Litchfield, nevertheless, in the spring of 1828, he re- moved to Sandusky City, Ohio, and in the fall of the same year settled at Mt. Vernon, where he has from that time to the pres- ent been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery. In the latter branch he has been remarkably successful, and has performed as many, if not more, capital operations than any inland surgeon in Ohio.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 165

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