History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 135

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Ohio > Licking County > History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present > Part 135

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

swift. When near the middle of the stream Mrs. Robertson's horse tripped and fell, throwing her into the rolling waters. Mr. Robertson, mutually resolving to die with her or rescue her, plunged in after her and, with almost superhuman effort, robbed the swift river of its prey, and brought his almost unconscious wife in safety to the shore. After all these perils the hardships of these pio- neers were scarcely begun. Three years before, Mr. Robertson, with his youngest brother, James, had, almost in the midst of the wilderness, erected a log mill which was replaced in June, 1815, by the frame mill which is now standing and doing good work. Mr. Robertson, in digging his mill- race, unearthed two or three ribs which measured about four feet in length; also a part of the verte- bral column of the same animal. In 1814 he laid out the town of Utica, which was then named Wil- mington. In November, 1840, he died of con- sumption, brought on by exposure in his efforts to develop the county. Mrs. Robertson died Decem- ber 25, 1877, having during her life twice made the trip to Pennsylvania on horseback. In 1821 Mr. Robertson started a wool carding machine, which was operated until his death. William Alex. Rob- ertson was born in Utica, December 15, 1817. In November, 1844, he married Elizabeth S. Chap- man, whose father came from Connecticut in 1837 and settled in Utica, in 1838, having lived one year in Granville. Her mother's maiden name was Susan Chapman, who was also a native of Con- necticut. Mr. Robertson had been engaged for eight years in the dry goods business for his father, and four years for himself. After his marriage he engaged in the produce and shipping business, which he still continues. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have a pleasant home in Utica, and are the parents of three children-Phonnie, Jennie, and Lizzie.

BENNINGTON TOWNSHIP.

SANGER, J. R., farmer and fine sheep raiser. James C. Sanger, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and son of Nathaniel Sanger, was born in Ellington, Connecticut, June 17, 1786. Achsa Blodget, daughter of Abner Blodget, was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, February 4, 1789. They were married March 27, 1807. Olive, first daughter, was born May 19, 1808; James, first son, was born May 11, 1810; Barton, second son, was born July 8, 1812; Oliver W., third son, was born March 17, 1817; Sally, second daughter, was born June 27, 1821; Ralph B., fourth son, was born April 26, 1824; Ira, fifth son, was born December 27, 1826; James C. Sanger died July 20, 1832; Achsa Sanger died July 11, 1872; Ralph B. Sanger died March 6, 1829; Ira Sanger died November 26, 1828. Olive was married to John Vanfossen, April 3, 1831. James married Miss

Ann Myer, daughter of John Myer, of Jerse; township, February 2, 1845. James died Jue 27, 1849, and his wife died September 24, 18 ;; Barton is unmarried and living in this township. Oliver Walcot Sanger is living in Hamilton county. Indiana. He is very prominent where he lives Sally was married to Luther Stone, of this county. September 12, 1842. James and Ann Sange! were the parents of two children, Clara C. and ! R. Clara C. was born in 1845; she married !. W. Coffman, of Liberty township, in 1867. Mr. Coffman died February 1, 1874. They were the parents of three children, one dead and two living at present. Mr. Coffman was a carpenter and farmer. J. R. Sanger, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1848, in this township. He has lived on the farm and given his attention to agriculture He held the office of township clerk ten years, viz : from 1870 to 1880 ; he is a justice of the peace at present, and gives his attention mostly to the breeding and raising of fine sheep, in which pur- suit he is deeply interested. He is a genial, pleas- ant man to deal with, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. The Sanger family came to this county in 1818.

SHIPLEY, HENRY, farmer and carpenter, born in Holmes county, this State, in 1830. His father, Josiah Shipley, was born in Pennsylvania in 1808. His mother, whose maiden name was Hoglan, was born in Virginia in 1816. Mr. Shipley, sr., on coming to this county in 1832, purchased what was known as the Parr mill. His wife dying, he was again married, in 1853, to Miss Rohrick, of this county, and in 1854 he removed to Iowa, where he now lives. He is the father of twenty-four children by the two marriages, thirteen living and eleven dead. Mr. Henry Shipley, the subject of this sketch, and his brother, Moses, are the only ones living in the State. Henry was married in 1856 to Miss Sarah A. Parsons, daughter of J. C. Parsons, of this county. Mrs. Shipley was born in this county in 1839. They are the parents of seven children liv- ing and one dead. The names of those living are: Willis M., Josiah C., Elmer E., Miles M., Martha E., Zoa Z., and Charles H. Mr. Shipley is a township trustee and also trustee for life of the trust fund of fifteen hundred dollars left by George Iles for the benefit of the Bethel Methodist Epis- copal chapel in this township.

SHIPLEY, MOSES H., farmer, born in 1832, in this county. He was married in 1861 to Miss Susannah L. Hatch, daughter of Seth Hatch, of this county. She was born in 1844, in this county. They are the parents of five children-Lewis M., Franklin P., Mary E., Barton J., and Seth J. Mr. Shipley is a carpenter by trade, and is also a shit- gle maker.

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

SIMMONS, J. J., farmer .- His father, Van Sim- mons, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1793. He came to this county in 1810. His mother was born in 1790, and came to this county in 1808. They were married in 1815. His father died in 1871, and his mother in 1857. They were the parents of ten children. The subject of this sketch was born in 1826. He was married in 1850 to Miss Mary J. Wise, of this county. She was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, and came to this county with her parents in 1836. Mr. Simmons and wife are the parents of five children, all living, and one married. Mr. Simmons is the owner of a first-class farm of one hundred and fifty acres.

JOHN SMITH, farmer, born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1817. Lived at home until the age of twenty-one, when he married Miss Elizi Simpson, of the same county and State. Mr. Smith came to this township in 1841; purchased a farm soon after coming here, and farmed until 1865, when, alter disposing of a part of his farm, he turned his attention to the mercantile line, and sold general merchandise for six years, when he returned to farming, which business he has followed ever since. His wife died in October, 1869, and he again mar- ried in September, 1870, his second wife being Mrs. Charity E. Parsons, daughter of J. D. Ed- wards, of this county. He is the father of five children by the first wife and three by the second. In October, 1854, Mr. Smith was elected justice of the peace, and remained in that office twenty-one years in succession, once receiving every vote cast. He has been in office as trustee, treasurer, and justice of the peace, ever since 1847.

STOUT, CALVIN, farmer, born in 1833, in this county. His father, John Stout, was born in 1809, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was married in 1830. Mrs. Stout, wife of John Stout, died in August, 1868. They were the parents of eight children. The subject of this sketch was the second child. He was married in 1855 to Miss Mary A. McDaniel, daughter of Robert McDaniel, of this county. She was born in Essex county, New Jersey, in 1840. They are the parents of four children-Charles, married and living in this town hip; Millard D., married and living in this township; Harry E., and Sarah E.

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP.

SCOTT, E. W., merchant, born in 1834, in this county. His father, Samuel Scott, was born in 1803, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He came to this county in 1810. He was married in 1824, to Miss Lydia Mead, of this county; she was born in 1803, in Vermont. He died in 1877. She is still living in Kansas City, Missouri. They

are the parents of six children. The subject of this sketch is the fourth child. He was married in 1856, to Miss Helen M. Williams, of this county; she was born in 1837, in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two chil- dren: Charles and Lulu. Mr. Scott began busi- ness as a clerk, in 1850. In 1873 he purchased the store he now owns. He was made postmaster during the war, which office he still retains.

SMITH, W. A., physician, born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1851; came to this county in 1869. He began his medical education in Dr. Coleman's office, in Homer, reading there two years and a half, when he went to the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, graduating from there in the spring of 1877. May, 1877, he be- gan to practice in Lock, this county, living there three years. He removed to Homer in June, 1880, retaining the practice he had built up in Lock, and has succeeded in building up a fine practice here.

SMITH, D. A., retired farmer, born in 1792, in Rockingham county, Virginia ; came to this county in 1814. He was married in 1819, to Miss Maria Cavitt, of Ross county, Ohio; she was born in 1801, in Pike county; Ohio; she died in 1827. They were the parents of four children : Anderson, William, John and Maria. He again married in 1828, Miss Elizabeth Mitchell, of this county. She was born in 1808, in Green county, Pennsyl- vania. They are the parents of eight children: Phoebe A., Mitchell, Mary E., Catharine, Martha J., Sarah E., Benjamin D., and Esther L., all of whom are living with the exception of Mary E. Mr. Smith has twenty-six living grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 'Three sons, William, John and Benjamin, were in the army in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Smith was in the War of 1812, and receives a pension for the service rendered. He is of German extraction, his grandparents com- ing from Germany. He was placed in a saw and grist-mill to work at the age of twelve. In 1818 he traded with the Indians in Crawford county. In early days he was a hunter and trapper. After marriage he bought a farm, nnd remained on it until 1868, when he removed into the village of Homer, where he has since resided.

STINSON, CHARLES, farmer, born in 1827, in Morris county, New Jersey, came to this county in 1834, with his father, Joseph Stinson. He was born in 1795, in Moris county, New Jersey. He was married in 1819, to Miss Mary Larason, of the same county; she was born in 1794. He died in 1843, she died in 1870. They were the parents of four children. The subject of this sketch is the third child. He was married in 1855, to Miss

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Phoba A. Montanye, of this county; she was born in 1834. They are the parents of five children.

SWIFT, REV. WARREN, Congregational minister, deceased, born in 1800, in Virginia. He came to this county in 1851. He was married in 1864, to Mrs. Sergeant, of this county; she was born in 1827, in Bedfordshire, England. She was married in England, to James Sergeant; he was born in 1822. They came to this country in 1850, and to this county in 1852. He died in 1862. They were the parents of one child, Bessie. Mrs. Ser- grant was married in 1862, to Warren Swift, the subject of this sketch. He died in 1872. He preached for thirty years. Bessie was married in 1874, to George Welch; he was born in 1853, in Erie county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two children: Harry B., and Charlie. Mr. Welch is a school teacher and surveyor.

BOWLING GREEN TOWNSHIP.

STERRETT, JAMES, born in Berkeley county, Vir- ginia, April 4, 1803, and emigrated with his father, Adam, to Ohio, in the fall of 1806, and first settled in Muskingum county, near Uniontown, but shortly after his father entered a quarter sec- tion of land in Perry county, near the Muskingum line. James' school privileges were very limited, but when fourteen years old, the community in which he lived bought a circulating library, by reading which a taste for literature was cultivated in himself and others. He learned the cabinet- making trade and followed it over forty years, liv- ing in Lancaster, Luray and other places. He moved to Brownsville in 1849, where he has re- sided ever since, except a year, 1872-3, spent in Newark. For twenty-one years he kept hotel in Brownsville, during which time he did not sell one gill of intoxicating drink. On February 8, 1825, he married Amy Park, who came to Union town- ship, Licking county, from Hampshire county, Vir- ginia, with her father, Amos Park, in 1810, at the age of two years. Mr. Sterrett is the father of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy. Of his five daughters, Josephine and Virginia live in Kansas; Jane Eliza in Savannah, Missouri; Clarinda B. at home, and Mary Euphemia, wife of Robert Cowan, in Ashland, Ohio. Their oldest son, James Milton, is at present in California; their youngest, Charles P., in Dayton, Ohio. Adrian C. joined the United States navy in 1853, and was in Perry's cruise to Japan to open the ports to foreign intercourse. During the war he was ordnance officer of the Gulf fleet, a position which he filled with signal ability and bravery, re- signing his commission in 1865, he entered the cotton trade extensively in Alabama, and died Oc- tober 26, 1865, on the boat Ben Stickney, on the Mississippi river. William Wirt entered the naval

service as master's mate on the gunboat Champion, April 6, 1863, and died at Paducah hospital June 3, 1863. .

FALLSBURY TOWNSHIP.

SCOTT, DAVID, farmer, born in Scotland in 1815, and emigrated to America in company with his brother, William, about the year 1834, landing at Quebec, Canada. From there they came to Lick- ing county, locating in Fallsbury township, on the farm where he now resides. On September 9, 1847, he married Lydia Atwood, a daughter of James and Hannah Atwood. She was born June 11, 1828. They became the parents of five sons and seven daughters, all of whom are living.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

SANDERS, SAMUEL, born in Brooke county, Vir- ginia, in 1816. He is the son of Louis and Pru- dence Sanders. In 1824 his parents came to Tus- carawas county, Ohio, where he was married in 1839, to Sarah Kail. He continued to reside near New Philadelphia until 1868, when he became a citizen of Licking county. Mr. Sanders has five children living, and four: Henry, Samuel, Rose A. and Nancy-dead. Julia Ann is the wife of George D. Kuhn. Mary is married to Alfred Neighbours. Louis, Sarah (the widow of John Boyce), and James live at home. James is married to Drusilla Neighbours, of Coshocton county, Ohio, and has two children: Virgil Austin aud Ada Estella Mr. Sanders is a member of the United Brethren church.

SMITH, JOHN A., farmer, born in Franklin town- ship. His father, James Smith, was born Decem- ber 25, 1792, and came to this township in 1831, from Wheeling, West Virginia. His grandparents, Henry and Mary Smith, were early residents of Wheeling, his grandfather keeping the first grocery in that city, bringing his goods from Philadelphia Henry's children were as follows: Harriet Beall, Nancy Clark, James, Nathaniel, Louisa Clark, William and Caroline Carnihan. James was mar- ried October 23, 1817, to Sarah Masters, daughter of Henry and Sarah Masters, of Virginia. Henry and Sarah Masters' other children were: Mary Dickson, Rachel Hagens, Nancy Widie, Rebecca Adair, Jennie Brown, Hannah Fry, Mrs. Morrison and Henry. The children of James and Sarah Smith are: William H., born May 4, 1818; Re- becca I., October 31, 1819; Robert C., October 29, 1821; James, March 15, 1824; a son in 1827; Mary, June 7, 1825; Caroline, July 27, 1828: Harriet, February 14, 1830; Elizabeth A., August 15, 1832; Nathaniel, October 26, 1834; Sarah L, October 10, 1837; John A., July 26, 1839; Matikh J., October 30, 1843; Oscar J., in 1845. John A moved to Dover Hill, Indiana, in 1859,

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

December 9, 1860, married Matilda Sanders, born October 12, 1846, spending a year in this county; he returned to Dover Hill, and farmed for five years; then returned to his old home. In October, 1867, he bought a farm in Guernsey county, and lived there till 1874, when he came to his present home, the old homestead. His wife died April 4, 1871. By her he had three children: Louis Edwin (deceased), Marietta F., born March 5, 1866, and James W. (deceased). In 1872 he married Lavinia Boyd, daughter of Joseph aud Mary Boyd, of Guernsey county, Ohio. Joseph Boyd emigrated to Ohio from Ireland, and his children are : Lydia, Elizabeth J., John, Margaret, Sarah, Lavinia, Mary E., Margery, Moses. Joseph and Amanda C. By his second marriage Mr. Smith has three children : Lydia M., born November 28, 1872; Joseph A., July 20, 1876, and Surah L., June 14, 1878.

SWISHER, ALVEY, is the son of Abram Swisher, an early resident of the county, and was born De- cember 26, 1826, in Licking township, In 1830 his parents came to this township, where he has lived ever since, except a few years spent in Lick- ing township. He has one brother, David, and two sisters, Sarah A., the wife of Samuel Mothers- paw, and Catharine, wife of Sylvester Reason, also a half sister, the wife of Brook Rutledge. His father was accidently killed while unloading some heavy timber from a wagon, in 1830. His mother married John Emory in 1841, and by a singular fatality, he also met his death accidentally, by being drowned in the South fork of the Licking river. In 1846 he married Sarah Franks, of Perry coun- ty, by whom he had six children-Margaret, widow of William Boring; Allen; Naomi, wife of Elmer Dusthimer, of Licking township; Elizabeth Louisa; Ella, wife of Amos Patterson, and Vara. Mr. Swish- er's ancestors were Virginians. He has always followed farming, and is a member of the Evan- gelical Luthern church.

GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

SHEPARDSON, DEACON DANIEL, deceased .- The subject of this sketch was one of Licking county's pioneers. He was born in Middleton, Rutland county, Vermont, September 27, 1787. He pos- sessed a mechanical mind, and at an early age dis- played great ingenuity in the use of tools. When about eighteen years old he began working with a millwright, and became a skil:ul workman at the business. On the twelfth of July, 1807, he mar- ried, in Eairfax, Franklin county, Vermont, Miss Prudence Morse, born in Dublin, New Hamshire, September 19, 1784, oldest child of Daniel Morse. This union resulted in eight children: Lucetta, born September 28, 1808; Perrin, born July 30, 1810; Abigail, born November 26, 1812; Harriet, born

February 22, 1815; Nancy A., born November 6, 1817; Elvira, born February 3, 1820 (died January 8, 1865); Daniel M., born July 11, 1822, deceased July 27, 1824; Daniel M., born February 2, 1825. In the fall of 1813 he emigrated to Licking coun- ty, Ohio, driving a horse team from Vermont, be- ing forty days on the road. He settled on land now owned by his youngest son, Daniel M .- on Burg street, Granville township, about three miles north of Granville. His first purchase was ninety acres of land at a cost of three dollars per acre, turning his horse and wagon in as first payment, having no money for that purpose. He built a log cabin which served his family as an abode for near- ly twenty years. During the summer of 1825-26 he served as superintendent of the construction of a section of the Ohio canal, from which labor he realized sufficient money to enable him to make the last payment upon his land purchase. At an early day he identified himself with the Baptist interest în St. Albans township, and subsequently became one of, the consistent members of the Granville Baptist church, in which latter church he held for many years the office of deacon. He was one of the earliest trustees of Granville college, and held the position for several years; he was also superin- tendent of the first two college buildings, upon the old site. His companion deceased March 25, 1835. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary Dilly, nee Devenney, November 26, 1835, of Mckean town- ship, daughter of Cornelius Devenney, born in Berkeley county, Virginia April 11, 1795. She died June 5, 1850. His third wife was Mrs. Parmelia Barlow, to whom he was married July 7, 1852. He deceased November 24, 1866, in his eightieth year. He was a man of fine physique, and possessed great bodily strength as well as a sound mind and an excellent judgment. He was cautious in all his business transactions, prompt in the performance of duty, high-minded and liberal. His companion survived him until February 5, 1874. Of his eight children six still survive.

SHOWMAN, JACOB, deceased, was born in Wash- ington county, Maryland, July 14, 1783. ""He was brought up on a farm, and made farming his special vocation. He married his first wife in 1802. Their marriage resulted in twelve children-Margaret, John, David, Mary M., Catharine, Elizabeth, George, Sarah, Jacob, Fannie, and a pair of twins, not named. They settled in Maryland, where they lived a few years, then emigrated to Tennessee; re- mained there, near Knoxville, about six years, then returned to their native State. His companion de- ceased in 1823. All of the above named children are deceased except Elizabeth and Sarah. He married for his second wife Phebe Morrison, of

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Maryland. In 1826, he, with wife and nine chil: dren of first wife, migrated to Licking county, Ohio, reaching Newark January 1, 1827. They moved into a log cabin, and lived there until the spring of 1827. He leased a piece of land of Mr. Turner, of Newark township, upon which they moved, and lived there three years, then removed to a farm near the Three Mile house, on the Newark and Granville road. In 1831 he purchased and moved on the farm in Granville township now owned by his son, William R. Showman, where he passed the remainder of his days. In 1834 his wife and three of the children died with the chol- 'era. He married for his third wife Susan Mc- Caulley, nee Smith, in 1835, by whom he had three children-William R., Elias W., and Albert B., who deceased at the age of fourteen years. His wife deceased in 1856. He married Mahulda Gil- liland in 1858. He deceased March 15, 1860. His companion is still surviving him, at the age of sixty-five years.

. STARK, JOSHUA, deceased .- This gentleman was one of the pioneers of Licking county. He was born in New London county, Connecticut, Novem- ber 9, 1788. His father was the owner of a farm, a grist-mill, and a woollen factory, and young Stark was drilled in the various departments of these in- dustries. He was the oldest son in a family of two sons and seven daughters. He was educated at Brown university. He served in the War of 1812, as an officer in a company led to the defence of New London, Connecticut, in the attack upon that place; in consideration of which service his family received a land warrant from the Govern- ment for one hundred and sixty acres of land. In 1817 Mr. Stark (still unmarried) started by himself with a one-horse wagon to come west, not knowing where he would locate, but rather expecting to find a home in what was then called "New Connecti- cut," or the "Western Reserve." On the way, however, he fell in with George Case, afterwards a well known citizen of Granville, who proposed to him to go to Licking county. This was agreed upon, and the two came to Granville. Case was a brickmaker by trade, and, brick being in demand, Messrs. Case and Stark formed a partnership and proceeded to manufacture the needed article. They found ready sale for the commodity, and continued the business three years. Mr. Stark subsequently located on a piece of land two and a half miles west of Granville village, where, a few years later, he purchased one hundred acres of land, and sub- sequently added one hundred and seventy acres more. This land comprises the farm upon which his son, Christopher Stark, now resides. On No- vember 22, 1821, Mr. Joshua Stark married Silence Rose, of Granville, Ohio. Miss Rose was a daugh-

ter of Deacon Lemuel and of Axa Rose, who came to Ohio in 1805, with the Granville company, from Granville, Massachusetts. Miss Rose was born September 4, 1795. Mr. Stark had a family of three children, two sons and one daughter-L Barlow, born July 1, 1823; Christopher R., bom February 9, 1825; Olive, born June 20, 1828. L Barlow married for his first wife Lucretia Hunting- ton, a native of Connecticut; had one daughter, Olive. His second companion was Rachel Davis, of Licking county. Seven children were the result of this union-two sons and five daughters. Mr. Barlow Stark was educated at Granville college, and is now engaged in sheep raising in St. Albans township, Licking county. Olive Stark married Charles Munroe, of Muskingum county, Ohio, Oc- tober 14, 1852; had one daughter, Helen, bom October 11, 1853. Since the death of her mother on the twenty-ninth of November, 1853, she has resided in the family of her uncle, Christopher Stark. Mr. Joshua Stark was a man of very few words, very retiring and diffident, and rather in- clined to melancholy. He was industrious, frugal honest. As a friend he was very large-hearted and sincere. He died June 29, 1858. Mrs. Stark died December 27, 1861. She was a very faithful, con- scientious Christian woman, and was devotedly attached to her family.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 135

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826