History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 116

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 798

USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 116

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of Rev. Geo. Pool and Mercy (Wilkinson) Pool. Rev. Mr. Pool eame to Ohio about the year 1812, and was drafted about as soon as he arrived here, Mrs. Pool coming with her parents when she was but a child, and settling near Urbana, Shelby Co., O. They were mar- ried Sept. 8, 1814. G. G. Pool was married to Miss Chloe Mckinnon in 1850 and settled in Logan Co. She was born in Clark Co., and came to Logan in March, 1836. To this couple were given -- Daniel H. (deceased), G. W., Mary J., Thos. W. (deceased), Emma, J. W., Alfred C. (deceased), and an infant, which died in its infancy. G. W. Pool was married to Miss Oma Glick in July, 1815. Miss Mary J. was married to W. F. Hamer, and now resides in Logan Co., O., only two of the children having married up to the present time. After Mr. Pool was married he rented a farm for one year, and then cleared up a farm of 80 aeres in Logan Co., on which he lived for thirteen years; he then came to his present farm of 157 acres in 1864. He was raised on a farm and had the usual advantages of a farmer's lad, which, in the days of his youth, were not great. Notwithstanding these limited privi- loges, he has been a member of the School Board for fifteen years, and, understanding the value of an education, has given his family a better one than he had, so that all but two of his children now living have taught school for several terms.

1. W. RICHARDSON, M. D., physician ; De Graff; was born in Shelby Co., O., May 4, 1836. His father, Snow Richardson, was a native of the State of New Hampshire, while his mother, Mary (MeC'ane) Richardson, was born in the State of Kentucky; both were born in the year 1800. The maternal descent is Scotch-Irish, while the paternal ancestry dates back to 1632, in New England. His father was a farmer and preached occasional- ly for the Christian Church. Dr. Richardson passed his minority on his father's farm, but arriving at his majority his father moved to Yellow Springs, O., the seat of Antioch Col- lege, under the control of the Christian de- nomination. He obtained the advantages of this institution. Here he remained till the breaking out of the rebellion, when the doc- tor enlisted in the 1st Kentucky Regiment. In this he served nine months, then in 1862 he again enlisted, this time into the 110th O. V.

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I., Army of the Potomac, and besides other engagements was in the battles of Gettys- burg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Coal Harbor, Petersburg and Richmond. Sailors' Creek (where they cap- tured Ewing's corps) and was present at the surrender of Lee, April 9, 1865. He was mustered out as Ist Lieutenant in the month of June of that year. Immediately upon his return he completed his medical studies, be- gun before his war experience, studying with Dr. Watson, of Bellefontaine. He took two courses of lectures at Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, graduating March 1, INGS. He first settled in Logansville, Logan ('o., O., where he remained nine years; then removed to De Graff, where he is still en- graged in his chosen profession. Oct. 20. 1868, he married Miss Mary F. Bowdle, of Piqua. Miami Co., O. They have two children- Mande and Harry C. Richardson. Mrs. Richardson died Sept. 22, 18;2. March 12, IST9, he again married Miss Elizabeth R. Anstine and they have one son.

JOHN F. REXER, cabinet-maker: De Graff: was born in 1834, in Wurtemberg, Germany: his father, Geo. F. Rexer, died in Germany, while his mother, Mary Jane (Shon- har) Rexer, is still living, dividing her time among her three children, Mr. Rexer, a brother in Bellefontaine, and a sister in Dayton; Mr. Rever came to America with his brother in 1551. and after a brief stay in New York came direct to Belle o taine. O .; he had learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Ger- many, and to this he turned his attention part of the time, and part of the time was house-carpenter, during the year spent at Bellefontaine and the following ten years at U'rbana, Champaign Co .; he then moved to De Graff, where he has since remained em- ploying his time wholly in the cabinet- maker's trade and in undertaking; he has constantly on hand a tull line of furniture, while his long experience renders him com- petent to manufacture anything in his line to sont the taste of hiscustomers. Mr. Rexer married, in the spring of Isol, Miss Jane Moons, of Urbana, who passed the first of her life till 15 years of age in Ireland. They have five children- three boys and twogink~ F., Jr .. is years; Lzaw. 11 years; Charles,

13 years; William, Il years, and Ella, 4 years of age.

C. L. ROGERS, carriage-maker: De Graff. C. L. Rogers was born in Addison. Champaign Co., O., mb 1810. His father, Chas. Rogers, and his mother, Jane (Chamberlain) Rogers, were, in early life, residents of Mit. Holly, N. . L., but settled in Champaign Co., O., m 1829. The elder Rogers was a carriage-maker by trade, and from him the young Rogers learned his trade. At the age of 19 he had a severe attack of the "gold fever, " which drove him to Denver and the plains in search of "yellow dust," but at the end of six months the fever abated, and he returned to Ohio. In 1861 he responded to the first call for vol- unteers, enlisting in the 2nd O. V. L., which became part of the Army of the Cumberland. under Gen. Mitchell. Besides several minor engagements, he was in the battle of Periy- ville, where 2; of his own company were killed in fifteen minutes; also Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain. Mission Ridge, Taylor Ridge and Resaca. He passed through more than three years of active ser- vice and never received so much as a scratch, nor failed to respond to the call of duty for a single day. He was mustered out Oct. 10. 1864. After the war he returned to Addison, Champaign Co., engaging in his former avo- ration. In 1866 be came to De Graff, where he started a large establishment. On April 1. ING7, he married Miss Eliza Metra, of Champaign Co., who died June 26. IN;6. She left himn one daughter-Ada Belle, Low 10 years of age. Mr. Rogers again married in May. 1551, to Miss Mary E. Briggs, of De Graff. They have one son-Charles Rogers. Mr. Rogers business is carriage-making. the lighter class of work, and, besides repair work, he is able to turn out a score or more every year, carriages of any style to suit the taste of the most fastidious.

THOMAS J. SMITHI, merchant ; De- tiraff. Thomas J. Smith was born April 1. 1813 : when only 4 years of age his father moved to Washington Tp., Logan to, and settled on a farm. In 1850 he moved to Logansville ; four years later he moved to De Graff, to engage in the practice of law ; here Mr Thomas Smith has since resided. At It years of age be engaged as clerk in the dry goods establishment of Russell &

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Son. Two years later he enlisted into the 15th U. S. Infantry, which did military ser- vice with the Army of the Cumberland ; while he was in several minor engagements he was also in those most severe struggles of the war-Chickamauga, Stone River and Shiloh. At Chickamauga, he was thrice wounded, once so severely as to prevent further active service. The remainder of the time he was in the service of his country, was employed as recruiting officer. In the month of August, 1864, he was mustered out, a pen- sioner upon the bounty of the country he served so faithfully. He now returned to De Graff and immediately engaged in the boot and shoe business, in which line of mer- cantile life he is still engaged. In the month of December of the same year he married Miss Sarah E. Koogler whose early home was in De Graff ; they have three children- Anna Luella, Thomas Roy and John I., respectively, 10, 5 and 2 years of age. Be- sides his business he had charge of the Post- Office for twelve years following his return from the war. His business is now confined strictly to the boot and shoe trade, carrying a large and well selected stock.

N. V. SPEECE, doctor ; Quiney. Dr. N. V. Speece, was born in Champaign Co., in 1838 ; son of William Speece, and Miss Eleanor (Tilbury) Speece. Mr Win. Speece was born in Bath Co., Va., in 1810, and settled in the western part of Champaign Co., in 1822, and died in 1820. Miss Eleanor Tilbury, was born in New York, near Syracuse. Dr. Speece labored on a farm during his early life, until he commenced keeping school at the age of 12, and con- tinued in that vocation for eight years. Dur- ing this time his attention was turned to the study of me ticine, and, while teaching, occupied his spare moments, reading books, preparatory to the study and practice of that important profession ; he took two courses at Cincinatti, and commenced practice in Quincy, Logan Co., O., in '65 ; after being in practice for two years, he took a course at Starling College, Columbus, Ohio, and grad- nated in 1868. Ho received a large amount of his experience in the late war, lasting, how- ever, only for a short time, but the six months' time spent in that school was of lasting benefit. Dr. Speece was married to Miss

Mary E. Stevens of Champaign Co., in Urbana, Dec. 24, 1862 ; they have two sons- Win. C. and Talmon H. Dr. Speece was the only one of the Speece family that possessed fondness for books, or took to any one of the professions for support ; all remained on the farm. After commencing in his practice he advanced rapidly, so that now he stands among those that rank first in the profession ; notwithstanding, the fact of his starting with- out assistance. Ilis residence is located in the northwest part of the town, a fine, pleasant, and agreeable locality. Dr. Speece joined the M. E. Church in 1868, and has since been an earnest worker in the cause of religion.

D. S. SPELLMAN, lawyer; De Graff; was born Aug. 21, 183%, in Miami Tp., Logan Co., O .; his father, Jeremiah Spellman, and his mother, Mary Ann (Strayer) Spellman, came to Ohio and settled within the township about the year 1830; on the 4th of April, 186t, Dan. S. married Miss Nancy Lippin- cott, then of Champaign Co .; their family is as follows-May, Harry, Emma Bertha. Clara Estella, Jerry Claude and Wendell; of these Harry died when but 2 years old. Mr. Spellman studied law and was admitted to the bar by the District Court of Ohio, which convened at Cleveland, June 28, 1861; about a year later, Ang. 9, 1862, he enlisted in the 99th O. V. I .; his regiment became part of the Army of the Cumberland, and with it he passed through Perryville, Chickamauga, and several minor engagements; in Dec. 63, he was appointed commissariat of his regiment, and held this position till the close of the war; after his war experience he taught school one winter; then he took charge of a farm for two years; in the month of Aug. 1868, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and soon settled in the village of De Graff; besides his legal business he added the work of an auctioneer. for which he seems especially adapted by nature and in which he has had remarkable success ever since. In 18:0 he started the De Graff Banner, the first paper ever published in this town; afterward sold out and moved to Bellefontaine and made specialty of auctioneering; his exper- ience in this direction is varied and full of incident. He returned to De Graff in May, 18 ;;; in March, 1829, he started

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the De Graff Buckeye, as a rival to the Banner: he soon bought out the latter, office and all, consolidated the two and has since published under the former name. has succeeded in publishing a weekly paper containing political news without its being possible to discover which side of political lines the editor stands, and himself holding strong. clearly-defined political sentiments. His friends wished him to hold the office of Justice of the Peace, which he had formerly, and all parties united so that he was elected by the unanimous voice of the people; his worst enemy is his liberality; doing business for everybody too often without recompense; a friend to whom all in trouble turn for counsel and advice.

S. H. THATCHER, Imber-dealer; De Graff: was born in the State of Virginia, July 29, 1829. His parents, Absalom Thatcher and Isabella (Hedges) Thatcher, were both natives of Virginia, while the remote ances- try was German. flis father was a farmer till he came to Ohio in 1831, when he settled in Greene Co., and commeneed running a saw-mill. The following year was marked by two phenomena : the cholera and a meto- orie shower -- both of which made a vivid im- pression upon young Thatcher, then but 3 years of age. From his father he learned the business which has engaged his attention all his years-a veteran in a business which he has made a success and which has gained for him a competency. He is an illustration of the wisdom of the proverb, " Let the shoe- maker stick to his last !" Beginning in Groene C'o., he moved to t'lark Co., remaining five years; thener to Champaign Co., remain- ing about fifteen years. At last, in Is;0, he settled in De Giraff, where he now resides and with his brother is operating a large and flourishing establishment. The business in- eludes a Inmber yard together with a sawing and planing mill, operated by steam power. Mr. Thatcher married, Dec. 13, 1850, Miss Mary E. Walker, in Clark Co. They have had twelve children, though but five are still living-Oscar, who married Clarissa Ford, of' Champaign Co., and now living in De Graff; Belle. the wife of John P. Crockett, of West Liberty: Emily Incy, the wife of Is Mc. Vlex- under, in partnership with Thatcher Bros, in the lumber larmes; John Wesley, "who

will attain his majority in time to vote for Garfield; " and Lloyd, now ; years of age. Mr. Thatcher has been a member of the MI. E. Church for 83 years. In 1810 his hearing became impaired; an official member, Trus- tee, class-leader, steward, Sunday School sup- erintendent and exhorter.

H. C. THATCHER, lumberman; De Graff. I. C. Thatcher was born in Greene Co., (., Oct. 9, 1843. When but ? years of age he came with his parents to Champaign Co., where he resided until Feb., Is; ?. when he came to De Graff to join his brother in run- ning a saw and planing mill and lumber yard. The most eventful part of his life was the three years spent in the service of his conn- try. In May. 1861, he enlisted in Company 11, of the old 6th O. V. I. The regiment was referred to Buell's Command, Nelson's Divi- sion, Ammon's Brigade, and was in the on- gagements at Laurel Hill and Carrack's Ford; then for several months was engaged in a guerilla warfare, in which there were quite a number of battles-Rich Mountain, Beverly, Tigris Mountain and Cheat Mountain. At Tigris Mountain he was one of the picket guard who fired on Gen. R. E. Lee and C'ol. John A. Washington when the former was wounded and the latter killed, and his remains brought within the Union lines. In Novem- ber of that year he, with his regiment, again joined Buell's Command. During the follow- ing winter he contracted the measles, and was sent to the hospital; the disease left him nufit for duty, and in July, 1862, he was discharged from service. In March, Istil, his health re- gained, he again enlisted, this time into the 66th O. V. I., a regiment of veterans, and belonged to Company G. He joined his reg- iment at Bridgeport, Ala., April 1, and was, with his regiment, under Sherman through his must glorious career-that "march to the sea," and "on to Richmond, and the grand review at Washington, when mustered out, July 15, 1865-a campaign which every soldier who took part in it is proud to recall. Ile was through this entire campaign, and, as it happened, was among the first men to enter Atlanta and Savannah. In all his army ex- perience he never received a scratch, though in some of the severest fighting of the war. Mr. Thatcher was married July 2, 1868, to Miss Phidella Metrosky, of Champaign Co.

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They have had six children, though two died in infancy, while four sons are still living- Edwin, Arla, JJohn Wesley and Samuel Her- bert-four to fight or vote for the weal of their country. Mr. Thatcher was bereft of his wife April 10, 1880-"the hardest blow of his life." Ile has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church since February, 1864, most of the time in an official capacity, serv- ing as steward and class-leader. At present he is a member of the Town Council of De Graff.

A. WELLER, druggist ; De Graff. A. Weller was born Jan. 15, 1833, in Augusta Co., Va .; his remote ancestry was Ger- man ; his father, John Weller, was a native of Virginia, though in 1832, when young Wel- ler was only 4 years of age, he moved to Ohio, bringing with him a wife and three children, and settled on a farm in Champaign Co. It was on the farm that Mr. Weller passed his youth ; when he arrived at 18 years of age he went to school, at Tiffin, thence to Springfield, altogether about two years, when his health prevented further study. He then engaged in the drug business, in St. Paris, Champaign Co., for one year, when he again returned to the farm. At length, in the fall of 1861, he came to De Graff, Logan Co., and again engaged in the drug business ; here he has since made his home and this business has always engaged his attention with the exception of a brief interval passed in'the grain trade. Mr. Weller was married in 1852 to Miss Ellen Partington, whose early home was in Shelby Co., O. They have five children-Charles, 18 years of age ; Jolm, 16 ; Nellie, 14 ; Fannie, 12 ; and Joseph, G years of age. During the war Mr. Weller had charge of the post office in De Graff. He has been Treasurer of the Corporation, and at the present writing is Land Assessor, of Miami Tp., for the decennial appraisement for 1880. flis business is large and flourishing, including besides drugs, books and notions, paints, oils, etc .; he is also proprietor of " Weller's Hall," fitted up for dramatic repre-

sentations, commodious and attractive, and generally acknowledged as the finest in the countv.

R. T. YOUNGMAN, merchant; De Graff; was born Nov. 20, 1818, in Baltimore, Md .; his father was a native of Canada though the paternal ancestry was German. Mr. Young- man's youth was passed with his parents in Baltimore where he learned, through regular apprenticeship, the handling of the goose and shears; when about 22 years of age he went to Berkley Springs, Morgan Co., Va., to engage in the work of the tailor; here he remained about two years, when he came to Ohio and settled in Logansville, Logan Co., where he made his home for near a quarter of a century; at first he was employed as tailor, then as merchant tailor, and as time passed he was able to enlarge his business still further; in 1852 he commeneed merebandiz- ing and has continued ever since, though about 1868 he changed his business to De Graff, where he also resides; his establish- ment is large, well-appointed, with a well- assorted stock of dry goods and clothing. At Berkley Springs Mr. Youngman married, May, 1842, Miss Susan Ambrose, whose early home was in the near vicinity; they had three children-Harriet L., the wife of Mr. Peter Hanks, now residing in Pleasant Tp .; William M., who married Miss Marietta Huling, and now living in Marion, Ind .; David T., married Miss Mollie Fairfield, of New Castle, Ind., and is now living in Belle- fontaine; when David T. Youngman was an

infant his mother died; Mr. Youngman mar- ried, Aug. 20, 1850, Sarah Keifer, whose early home was near Springfield, Clark Co. O; their family is as follows-Mary Ellen, born Jan. 14, 1852; Annie Margaret, Dec. 6. 1853; Torace N., Sept. 21, 1856; Es- telle E., July 22, 1858; Minerva 1., April 10, 1862; of these Annie is married to Wm. P. Marion, ass't editor of the Democrat at Kenton; and all the family are members of the M. E. Church.

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

SAMUEL ALEXANDER, farmer ; P. (., West Liberty : was born September 16, 1825, in Juniata Co., Penn .; his father, Wil- liam and his mother Elizabeth (Mc Gee) Alexander came to this county in the spring of 1838, with their family of nine children -- John, William, Elizabeth, Sammel, Mary J., George. Martha. Louisa and David. George and William are both in linois ; David went to Labette Co., Kan .; all the others reside in this State. His parents still live in Zane Tp., this county ; his father at the ad- vanced age of 8; years and his mother 80 years. Mr. Alexander was married to Mis, Sarah Jane Marquis, Nov. 1. 1849; she was born August 24, 1828, in Knox Co., ( .; her parents moved into Logan Co., when she was quite young and remained there some vears, but subsequently moved to Montgomery Co., where they still reside, her father at the advanced age of of years and her mother something less ; they had eight children, three died in childhood, the surviving ones except Mrs. Alexander, reside in Dayton, O. Mr. and Mra. Alexander have no children, but adopted a little 5 year old girl-Ella MI. Wilson-who was brought from New York by her father ; shortly afterwards he died leaving her with- ont any relatives ; but she found in her foster- parents all that natural parents could be ; she was married to Charles De Lette, and both now reside in thirard, Kan., where they are prospering nicely. During the late rebellion Mr. Alexander was drafted, but with others paid the assessment to clear their township. For the last thirty years Mr. and Mrs. Alexan- der have been members of the Presbyterian Church at West Liberty ; they have 837 acres under good improvements with good build- ings, all procured by his own and his noble wife's industry.

LEVI % BYLER, farmer; P. O., West Liberty: was born Sept. 24, 1811, in Juniata Con Panna, and came here with his parents- John and Fannie (Zook) Byler, whose sketch appears in this work. When ?1 years of age, |

Levi began to work at home by the month, which he continued to do until 18;4 : and on Jan. 16, of that year, he started for Missouri, and took a tour through that as well as the states of Kansas, Iowa, Ilinois, besides spend- ing a short time in Michigan and Indiana ; he then returned to his father's in this county March 244, 1815, and one year later he went to Wayne Co .. where he worked abont a year; in the fall of 1826 he visited the Con- tennial Exhibition, and returned to Wayne Con where he married Harriet Yoder. Jan. 30, 1842: she was born March 29. 1858, in La Grange Co., Ind .; is the daughter of Israel Yoder, who was born Aug. 4, Isit, in Tuscara was Co., O., (and moved to Indiana, but returned to Ohio, settling in Wayne Co., in 1863) : Mrs. Yoder's maiden name was Fannie Yoder; she was born July 15, 1825 ; they were married June 5, 1845, and bad ton children-Yost, born May 23, 1849 ; Rachel, Dec. 3, 1851 ; Ephraim, July 28, 1854 : Mag- dalene, (deceased) Aug. 27, 1856 ; Harriet, March 29, 1858 ; Leah, Nov. 29, 1860; AAtina, Jan. 21, 1863; Abner (deceased) March 3, 1861; Imey Ann, Sept. 18, 1565 ; Rudolph, Dec. 5. 1864. In a few weeks after marriage Mr. Byler and his wife moved to this county, Feb. 19, 1827; they lived one year in Cham- paign Co., and the rest of the time in Logan ('o. He is now a tenant on the " Joel Zook " farm. Mr. and Mrs. Byler are members of the Walnut Grove Ormish Church in this township.

JOHN BYLER (deceased); West Lib- erty; was born in Millin Co., Prun., Ort. 23, 1809; he was reared to farm life, and lived with his parents until 21 years of age, and, being the oldest of a family of twelve children-nine boys and three girls -- he had to do for himself soon as he was of age; he began to work by the month on a tarm, and spent five years, working by the month, with several parties. His marriage was celebrated in January, 1836, with Miss Fannie Zook. She was a daughter of Joseph Zook, and a native

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of the same county as her husband, and was born Jan. 22, 1813. Shortly after their mar- riage they moved onto a farin of his father- in-law's, in Juniata Co., Tuscarora Valley, where they lived thirteen years. They then moved back to Mifflin Co., and lived with her father two years, and in the spring of 1852 Mr. Byler came ont to this county and bought a farm, and then returned to Pennsylvania and prepared for moving out here. Accord- ingly they started with their family of seven children, and arrived here in Aug., 1852; that fall and winter they passed in a house west of where they now reside, and moved to their own farm in the spring of 1853. Their children were all born in Pennsylvania ; Christopher was born Jan. 2, 1832, and died here Oct. 30, 1860; Martha was married to Daniel Yoder; she died, leaving two children -Christopher and John; next were Joseph, Levi, Mary, Fannie and John. Joseph and Levi are both married, the former living on part of the estate in this township; Mary and John are still living with their mother on the old homestead; Fannie married Christopher King, and resides on her part of the old homestead; they have five children-Mary A., Sarah B., Andrew, Shem and a baby. Mr. Byler owned, at the time of his death, 317 acres of well-improved land, whereon he had good home, at which he died Inne 9, 1875. Mrs. Byler is healthy and young looking for one of her age, who has done so much hard work in her early life; is both hospitable and pleasant, and is very capable of attending to her own business affairs. The family belong to the "Walnut Grove" Ormish Church.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 116

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin Number of Pages: 798

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 798