History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 175

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 175

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The Tulloss family are estimable citizens.

TURNER, WILLIAM, Mt. Vernon, secretary of the Knox County Mutual Insurance company, was born in Norfolk county, England, in December, 1813. He spent his youth while in England in farming and milling. He was the first child of Walter and Sarah Turner. He came to America in 1832, with his parents, who purchased land in Coshocton county, on the Walhonding river, where the town of Walhonding now is. He purchased a large tract of land-some four thousand acres. In the crash of 1837 he was carried with it, losing all.

About 1835 the subject of this sketch went into the store of Buckingham & Sturgis, Zanesville (or rather Putnam then), and retained that position for three years. He came to Mt. Vernon in 1839, and opened a store under the firm name of Freeman & Turner, and about a year after the name of the firm was changed to Buckingham & Turner. Mr. Buckingham was president of the Knox Mutual and brother-in-law of Mr. Turner. On the

resignation of the secretary of the company, Mr. Turner was elected to fill the place by the board of directors, which position he has held ever since.

He was married to Miss Laura Guernsey, of Rochester, New York, in 1841. They have had four children, three of whom are living-one son and two daughters. His wife died and he af- terward married Mrs. Julia Guernsey, nee Palmer.

U ULREY, VALENTINE, farmer, post office, Gambier, son of David Ulrey, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1814, was brought to Knox county, in 1817 when a child three years, old by his parents, they locating in Harrison township, where the subject of this sketch was reared to man- hood and received a good common school education; after which he performed labor among the farmers by the day, month and by the job, which he continued about six years.

In 1840 he made a trip to Illinois, where he remained until 1843; being engaged in school teaching. He returned to Knox county, where he remained a short time, and then purchased a half interest in a grist-mill, located in or near Oxford, Holmes county, which was conducted under the firm name of Thomp- son & Ulrey. He also followed farming in connection in 1862. He then sold his interest in the mill to John Duncan, but still remained two years in Oxford, continuing to farm.

In 1848, March 23, he married Elizabeth Bucklew, who bore him one child, a son, Eugene, born April 17, 1855. On the thirtieth of August, 1856, she died, being in her thirty-second - year. . On the twenty-fourth of June, 1858, he married Lydia A. Close, widow of Malachi Close, a daughter of Samuel Uhl, born in Holmes county, June 30, 1827. This union of Mr. and Mrs. Ulrey resulted in five children, viz: Mary J., born Sep- tember 2, 1859; William A., February 28, 1861; Laura S., De- cember 28, 1862; David S., November 11, 1868, and died November 2, 1871; Margaret E., December 28, 1870, and died September 4, 1873, leaving three children living.

In 1864 he sold his farm and property in Oxford and pur- chased a farm in Knox county, two miles south of Danville, where he then moved with his family and remained four years, when he sold said farm, purchased the old homestead formerly owned by his father, in Harrison township, where he then moved and at present resides.

Mr. Ulrey has held the office of justice of the peace and clerk in Harrison township.

Mr. and Mrs. Ulrey are members of the Disciple church of Union Grove.

UMPHRYES, IRA, Pike township, farmer, post office, North Liberty; born in Knox county in 1841, and was married to Martha Gower, who was born in this county in r852. His father, Jacob Umphreys, was born in Virginia in 1801, and was married to Martha Johnson. They had seven children: Mar- garet, Elizabeth, Catharine, Keziah, Ruth (deceased), Mary J. (deceased), and Henry (deceased). After the death of Mrs. Martha Umphryes, Mr. Umphryes married Mary A. Wallace, and they have had four children : Josephine, Ellet, May, and Ira. Mr. Umphryes emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in r804 with his parents, and they remained there a few years, then came to Knox county, and remained here until his death, which took place in March, 1880. He was a good citizen and a stanch Democrat, as are all his sons.

UNDERWOOD, ISRAEL, Mt. Vernon, was born in Clinton

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

county, Ohio, June 18, 1820. His parents came to this county in 1828 and located in Middlebury township near Frederick- town where he received his education. He spent several years of his life on the home farm, after which he learned the potter trade, which he followed until 1846. He then went to Freder- icktown and engaged in the hotel business for one year, after which he engaged in the sale of clocks and general collecting in which he continued until 1854, when he came to Mt. Vernon, and that year was appointed deputy sheriff under Lewis Strong, in which he served two years; and in 1856 he was nominated and elected to the office of sheriff, in which he served four years and three months. He served three months in consequence of the time of the expiration of said office being changed from October Ist to January Ist. He was the first one in the county to respond to the first call for troops, enlisting in April, 1861; he was a member of company A, Ohio volunteer infantry, which was the first company organized in the county, and was assigned to the Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was com- missioned first lieutenant, and afterwards made regimental quartermaster, and in 1862 was promoted to captain and was detailed on General Kimball's staff as brigade commissary. In 1863, in consequence of ill health, he resigned and returned home, and in 1864 he, in company with his brother, took charge of the Main Street Exchange hotel of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he remained one year, then returned to Mt. Vernon and has since been in the employ of different railroad companies as solicitor of railroad stocks, the right of way, etc., etc.

VAIN, BENJAMIN F., Pike township, farmer, post office, Democracy, born in Pike township, this county, on the farm where he now resides, in 1840, and was married in 1864 to Eliz- abeth L. Hardesty, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1841. They had eight children-Theodore E., born in 1865; Jerusha A., in 1867; Marion Jasper, in 1868; Hannah Jane in 1869 (deceased); Millie Blanch, in 1871; Charlie A., in 1874; William Ray, in 1876; and Earnest A., in 1878. Mr. Vain has always been identified with this county, and is a member of a pioneer family.

VANCE, DANIEL, Miller township, pioneer farmer, was born in Miller township July 14, 1813, and is the oldest man now living in the township that was born in it. His father was John Vance, a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, born August 9, 1785. He married Rebecca Van Trump, a native of the same county, Virginia, in 1808. He came to Ohio in the same year in company with his father, whose name was also John, and a soldier of the Revolution. . They all settled in what is now the southern part of Miller township, where John Vance, sr., had entered two hundred acres of land, and of which John purchased sixty acres, to which he subsequently added one hun- dred more. He died on this farm, aged eighty-nine years. His wife died some years previous. They built the first house in the township in 1808-9. It is of hewed logs, and still stands in a good state of preservation. They had eight children, viz. : Lemuel, who was killed in the Burlington storm; Hannah, now Mrs. Houck, who was the first white child born in the township; James, who was also killed in the Burlington storm; Daniel, who had a leg fractured in the same storm; Elizabeth, wife of H. Moore of Delaware county, Ohio; Mariah, wife of William Debolt, near Richwood, Ohio; Rebecca, widow of L. C. Wright; Lucinda, now deceased, married Alex. McFarland.

Mr. Daniel Vance married Miss Elizabeth Daily, January 9, 1840. She was born February 17, 1818. They had five chil- dren, viz .: Harriet (deceased); Rebecca, married J. B. Conway ; John Oscar, married Miss Ward; Mary Elizabeth, who lives at home; Emma, died in infancy.

VANCE, JOSEPH W., was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1809. In the spring of 1840 he removed to Mt. Vernon. In 1842 he was admitted to the bar; he rose rap- idly in his profession, and soon attained a high position as an advocate. He made a profession of religion and united with the Presbyterian church in 1846. As a Christian and church officer he was intelligent, consistent, and efficient. As a man his individuality was strongly marked. For firmness in what he thought was right, for decision of purpose and persevering energy he was remarkable. His power of will was immense. In fitting himself for his work he had many difficulties to con- tend with, but he did not despair. He looked at them boldly and grappled with them manfully; he persevered until moutains became plains before him. He had a keen sense of justice, and that which is always asssociated with in a man of principle, in- corruptible integrity. As a citizen he was influential. He was not one of that class that simply move along with the current of public opinion; he gave character and direction to that cur- rent; he helped mould opinions. On every question that con- cerned the community in which he lived, or society in general, he had decided views and convictions, based upon an investiga- tion of the subject, and on most questions he was generally in advance of the common sentiment. This was especially true on the subject of slavery: He was one of the first advocates of anti-slavery sentiments in this county. For a time he stood almost alone, and received no little obliquy and censure. But he believed himself in the right, and in that right he was strong.

As a lawyer his strength lay in the force of his arguments in the presence of a jury. Here he won many a laurel. His ardent nature gave to his address an earnestness and fire which many times told with wonderful effect. He had the rare faculty of becoming one with his client, it mattered not who that client was, or what his circumstances in a financial point of view, of identifying himself with all that was fair and good on the side he advocated, which gave him great advantage in doubtful cases, and armed him with unusual power when right lay on his side. Entering thus so ardently into the cause he advocated, sympathizing thus warmly with his client in what there was of truth and justice in his cause, he could press his suit with that sincerity of conviction and earnestness of per- sonal feeling which always have such great weight with men.

He was a true patriot. When his country was assailed he had but one end in view, to uphold his country's honor. In August, 1862, he was commissioned Colonel of the Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and soon thereafter marched with his regi- ment to the front, and was under General Sherman in the first attempt to take Vicksburg. At Arkansas Post his regiment was in the thickest of the fight. It was also in the engagement at Jackson, Mississippi, and participated in the final siege and capture of Vicksburg, under General Grant. His regiment was transferred to General Banks' command, and formed a part of his army in the unfortunate Red River expedition. In the battle of Sabine Cross Roads on the eighth of April, 1864, he fell, mortally wounded. He fell at his post, heroically dis- charging his duty. He died in a noble cause, died the Christian patriot's death, and fills the Christian patriot's grave.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

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VAN HORN, WILLIAM. farmer, Union township, post office, Rosstown, was born in Virginia in 1808, and lived there until 1836, when he emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, and settled near Danville, and has remained in Union township until the present time. He married Miss Lucinda Roberson May 24, 1841, and lived in Danville three years. In 1865 he settled on his present farm. He has six children-Francina, Rouseyville, Jasper, John W., William, and Newton. The three last named have dicd.

VAN HORN, JASPER, farmer, Howard township, post office, Howard, was born in Union township September 25, 1855. He was married to Miss L. R. Howell April 9, 1879, and came to his present farm in October, 1879. His father came from Virginia in 1835, to Knox county, Ohio, and settled near Danville, where he died. Mr. Van Horn has been engaged in teaching school in winter and farming in summer.

VANNATTA, SAMUEL T., Miller township, farmer, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, September 14, 1835. He is the son of Peter and Sarah J. Vannatta, nee Weller, who were natives of New Jersey. Mr. Vannatta died in New Jersey in 1836. They had two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the subject of this sketch.

Mrs. Vannatta remained in New Jersey until 1840, when she came to Miller township with her father, Philip P. Weller; she and her son Samuel remained with her father until he was about twenty-four years of age, when they purchased a tract of ninety-two acres of land, and moved upon it. Mr. Vannatta, is now one of the leading farmers of the township, owning over three hundred acres of good land. He is systematic in his management, and his farm shows more than usual care. He was elected land appraiser of the township in 1879, and has filled a number of offices to the satisfaction of the people. He is a man of good judgment and considered a wise counsellor. His educational advantages were very limited; he, however, ob- tained a sufficient knowledge of the common branches to enable him to conduct his business. He married Miss Levina Haw- kins, January 29, 1864, daughter of Isaac Hawkins, of whom mention is made elsewhere. They have three interesting chil- dren, viz: Frank A., Charles O., and Flora Emeline.

VERNON, AARON, Morris township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Novem- ber 19, 1809, came to Ohio in December, 1821, and was mar- ried in March, 1831, and had the following family: Jesse, born January 11, 1832; John, November 17, 1833; Jacob L., Febru- ary 8, 1836; Isaac, January 17, 1838; Francis L., August 19, 1839; Daniel L., October 17, 1841; William Allen, July 18, 1844; Oliver B., August 6, 1846; Samantha M., January 22, 1848; Sarah E., April 28, 1852; Aaron C. G., November 17, 1854. Mrs. Elizabeth Vernon died in this county, February 19, 1878. Mr. Vernon subsequently married Mrs. Elizabeth Lam- bert, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. Jesse Vernon was married February 1I, 1852, to Sarah Brawl- ier, and now resides in Allen county, Ohio; Jolin was married November 4, 1855, to Rose L. Lawrence, and now lives in Linn county, Iowa; Jacob L., was married March 25, 1858, to Elizabeth Hisler, who since deceased; Sarah E. was married to Frances Brawlier, and now lives in Cardington, Ohio; Aaron C. G. was married in Allen county to Barbara Pletcher; they reside in Hancock county, Ohio; Samantha was married to Frank Brawlier.

The following are deceased: Jacob L., died April 14, 1863;

Frances L., died in Iowa; Isaac, June 22, 1838; William A. October 3, 1845; Oliver B., November 9, 1849; Samantha Brawlier died February 12, 1872.

Mr. Vernon was here at a time when the county was covered with timber. He was quite a hunter, having in his time killed two deer with one shot, a feat not many can boast of.

VERNON, DANIEL L., Wayne township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Pike township in 1840, and mar- ried in 1860 to Sarah A. Erion, who was born in Ohio. Their children are: Florence, Alfred B., Frank E., and Ellen. '1 hey came to Wayne township in 1867, afterwards emigrated to lowa, remained for three years, and then returned to this town- ship.

He was a soldier in the war, a member of company H, One Hundred and Forty-second regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and remained in the service until he received an honorable dis- charge.

VINCENT, S. M., Brown township, attorney, post office, Jelloway, a son of Robert and Jane Vincent, nee Miller, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 182r. Heaccompanied his parents to Ohio in 1830, they locat- ing on Dowdy creek, in Holmes county, where they lived about eight years. In 1838 they moved to this county and located in Howard township, remaining until 1856, when they moved to Pike county, where they passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. Vincent died in September, 1863, Mr. Robert Vincent sur- viving his companion until February, 1865.

Mr. S. M. Vincent, the subject of this sketch, is a self-edu- cated man. In 1847 he commenced the study of law under the instructions of S. W. Shaw, attorney. In 1850 he was admit- ted to the Knox County bar, and in 1859 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme court. At present he is located at Jel- loway, Knox county, Ohio, and practices in the courts of Knox, Holmes, Ashland, and Richland counties. He is the attorney for the Home Fire Insurance company, and the Jelloway Mu- tual Aid Insurance company, both located at Jelloway, and does business for them in about twenty counties in the State.

In 1847 he married Miss Rosanna Lybarger, born in Knox county in 1825, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Lybarger. They settled at Ashland, Ohio, and remained one year, and then re- turned to this county. In 1850 they moved to Jelloway, where they have since resided.

They reared a family of six children. Sarah J., married B. W. McKee; Victoria, married Lyman Workman; John Fre- mont Vincent was born February 2, 1857, and died September 9, 1880; Martha A., married John L. Hildebrand; Jessie Q., and Lincoln are at home with their parents in Jelloway.

WADDELL, JAMES P., Howard township, farmer, post office, Howard, was born October 2, 1826, in Union township, Knox county. Until 1833 he lived in Danville, when he moved to a farm in Brown township, and lived there twelve years, and continued farming until he was drafted in the late war; but on account of ill health was rejected. He was drafted the second time and sent a substitute.

He was married March 22, 1879. He engaged in shoemak- ing, following it a year. He then moved to the old farm, and remained there a year and then moved to the farm on which he now resides.

WAGES, JAMES J., Fredericktown, blacksmitlı, was born

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

in Baltimore county, Maryland, in +8or, and came to Ohio in 1827.

He was married to Cathare Brown who was born in Penn- sylvania, and died in January, 1848. Mr. Wages was again married June 6, 1849. to M. W. Drake, who was born in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, in 1822. They had six children, viz: Catharine, born in October, 1849. She is married to O. F. Crall, and resides in Ashland, Ohio, Paxton (deceased); Mar- tha J. is married to F. Marble, and lives in Michigan; Clara B., and Mary E. are dead; Clement was born in March, 1867.

Mr. Wages is a blacksmith by occupation, and has been en- gaged in that business since 1849, and is a good practical me- chanic.

WAGNER CHARLIE, Fredericktown, retired, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1805, and was married in 1826, to Anna Allbach, who was born in New Jersey in 1804. They had the following family,-Sarah, Nathan, deceased, Grace, deceased, Jemima R. John and Colwe'! Mrs. Wagner died April 3, 1865 in Waterford, Knox col . Ohio. Charlie Wagner came from New Jersey to Knox county September 10, 1838, located in Waterford, Middlebury town- ship, and kept hotel twenty years. He was engaged in the tailoring business a number of years, then removed to Frederick- town and engaged in keeping hotel, and continued in that about fourteen years. His name is still continued with the Wagner house, which has given it character and influence.

WAGNER, GEORGE, Middlebury township, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, March 16, 1811, and was married December 25, 1850, to Catharine Henry, who was born July 22, 1822, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. They have the following family: Francis, born July 9, 1852; Catharine, August 14, 1856; Florence, Feb- ruary 5, 1859; George, November 28, 1861; Hattie B .. October 21, 1864; and Mary I., August 7, 1869. Florence was married to Samuel A. Stretey, April 18. 1880, and now resides in this township.

Mr. Wagner has resided in this county ever since he came from Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and is one of the active men of this township.

WAGNER, HENRY, Middlebury township, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1822, and was married March 5, 1846, to Sarah A. Jeffreys, who was born in Wayne township, this county, De- cember 22, 1825. They had six children: Susan M., born Jan- uary 9, 1848; George P., January 1, 1851; Sarah E., March 8, 1853; William H., November 8, 1856; John L., January 22, 1863; and Mary E., April 16, 1868. The latter died December 28, 1868.

The following members of the family are married: Susan M. married January 6, 1870, to Sylvester Caywood; Sarah E. to Robert Martin; George P. to Susan Lyons; William H., April 20, 1878, to Sarah E. McDonalds.

Mr. Henry Wagner was brought by his parents to Ohio at the age of two years, who settled in this township in April, 1824. They improved the farm where he now resides, which is one of the most beautiful farms in Knox county. Through in- dustry and frugality he has accumulated a competency that en- ables him to retire and enjoy the fruit of his labors.

WAGNER, GEORGE P., farmer, Middlebury township, post office, Fredericktown, born in this township, January, I,

1851, and was married October 24, 18 -? to Susan Lyon who was born in Wayne township, May 3, 1856. They have three children: Louis B., born July 11, 187; Corliss, February 24. 1877; and an infant, April 7, 1880. Mr. Wagner is engaged in farming in this township, and is one of its active and enterpris- ing men.

WAIGHT, JOHN B., attorney and counsellor at law Mt. Vernon, was born in New Market, Harrison county, Ohio, May 14, 1853. He is the third child and only son of George H. and Biddy (nec Gordon; Waight. He spent his youth in attending school, and graduated from the New Market college in 1870. He then commenced reading law with Lewis Lewton, esq., of Cadiz, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at Carrolton, Ohio, September, 1873. He taught school in New Comerstown, Ohio, in 1872. In January, 1874, he opened an office in Mt. Vernon, where he has since been practicing. He was nominated on the Republican ticket in 1874 for prosecuting attorney, but was beaten by eighty majority; the county went over four hun- fred Democratic. January 1880, he was appointed city solict- tor, and at the following April city election he was elected so- licitor.

WALKER, WILLIAM, deceased, Pleasant township, was born in Virginia in 1800; was brought up on a farm, and made farming, stock raising and dealing in stock his vocation through life. He emigrated to Ohio and located in this county in 1835. In 1837 he married Miss Mary A. Smith, daughter of Samuel and Phoebe Smith, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1820, and came to this county in 1834. They settled on the farm in Pleasant township now owned by his widow. Their union resulted in ten children, viz: Sarah, Charles, Minerva, Harrison, William, Emeretta, Emeline, Harriet, Olive, and Joseph A. Two of the number, Harrison and Harriet have died; Mr. Walker is also dead.

WALKER, ALEXANDER, farmer, Middlebury township, post office, Fredericktown, born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1833, and married in 1857 to Sarah M. Gault, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1837. They have the following children, viz: Mary E., born in 1857; Lizzie J., 1859; William H., (deceased) 1861; Orie A., 1863; Carrie E., 1865; James C., 1867; Edwin M., 1869; Hettie B., 1871; and Theo- dore F., 1875. Mr. Walker is engaged in farming, and owns a well-improved farm with good buildings.

WALKEY, WILLIAM, farmer, Pike towship, post office, Democracy, born in Pike township, Knox county, in 1837. He was married in 1859 to Nancy Lewis, who was born in Monroe township in 1838. They have one child, Eva Jane, born in 1860. Mr. Walkey was elected justice of the peace in Pike township in 1870, and reelected in 1873. He filled the office with credit and satisfaction. He is now notary public.

His father, John Walkey, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1796. He was married in 1818 to Rebecca Bensinger, who was born in 1801. They had seven children: Elizabeth, born in 1819; Daniel, in 1822; Maria, in 1825; Mar- garet, in 1829; Susan, in 1830; John, in 1833; William, in 1837. Maria was married to Samuel Shira. They reside in Messer county, Missouri. Margaret married Fuller Lambert. They reside in Cass county, Iowa. Susan married James Shipley; she died in 1878. Daniel died in 1834; came to his death by an accident. Mr. Walkey is engaged in a saw-mill. He is one of the leading and respected citizens of the township.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 175

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