History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 117

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 117

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JOSEPH C. BYLER, farmer; P. O., West Liberty; was born Oct. 19, 1841, in Mifflin Co., Penn. He is the son of John and Fannie (Zook) Byler, whose sketch appears in this work. He came here with his parents in 1852, and lived with them until 28 years of age. He then married Sarah E. Stutzman, Feb. 28, 18:0. She was born May 25, 1851, in Fairfield Co., Ohio, but came here in 1869, then returned to her home in Fairfield Co., where they were married; shortly after their marriage they moved to the farin where they are now residing. Mrs. Byler's parents, Solomon S. and Lydia (Byler) Stutzman, were natives of Pennsylvania, and moved from Mitllin Co. into Fairfield Co., O., i

where they were married and remained until 1876, when they moved to Champaign Co. They had been there only a few months when Mr. Stutzman died, leaving his wife, one boy and girl; of their family of eight children only those two and Mrs. Byler survive. Both Mr. and Mrs. Byler are members of the South Union Ormish Church.

DAVID CULP, farmer; P. O .. Bellefont- aine; was born S.pt. 30, 1813, in Rocking- ham Co., Va .; his father (Henry Culp ) was a miller by trade, and moved to Virginia when young; there he married Frances Funk; they had eleven children and were in rather poor circumstances; in the spring of 1830 he thought of emigrating to the West, so he started out on horseback to find a location, and came into this township, and entered 40 acres in the west side of the township in the . fal- len timber" district, and began preparations for the family moving thither; in 1831 his family, one son-in-law (Sam Clator), a widowed daugh- ter and her three children, about fourteen or fifteen persons in all, set out from Virginia with a three-horse team (and poor ones, too), and one wagon: they arrived here in the fall and put up in the eabin which had been prepared for them; two sons-Jacob and Joseph, fol- lowed the next year. They improved the 40 acres of Government land which they had entered, and got along nieely in the new country, until death called their father from further cares in 1838; and soon each one be- gan to do for themselves; their mother died in Fairfield Co., in 1845, where she had gone to visit relatives. David is now the only one of the family who resides in this county; he worked by the month for some time in the vicinity of his early home, and on Oct. 16, 1841, he married Catharine, daughter of Fredrick Mohr; he then purchased 50 aeres in the south of this township, which he im- proved and lived upon for sixteen years; and in 185; he sold that and bought the farm of 160 acres where he now resides and on which he replaced the old log-cabin by erecting a good, two-story brick residence; they have had ten children who are now nearly all do- ing for themselves-Frederick in Missouri, George in this state, John in Missouri, Chris- topher in this state, Joseph (deceased), Aaron in Missouri, Mary, now Mrs. John D. Keller, Martha A., now Mrs. Jas. E. Bosserman, of

788

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHÉS :

Missouri, Franklin and Andrew who live at home with their parents. Mrs. Culp was born in Lancaster C'o., Penn., Dec. 25, 1822, and came here with her father's family. Mr. and Mrs. Culp are members of the Ger- man Baptist Church in this township.

JOSEPH HARTZLER, farmer ; P. O., West Liberty : was born in Milllin Co., Penn., March 27, 1832 ; he is the tenth in a family of twelve children ; the eller ones of the family were willed the real estate by his father, while the younger ones were paid in cash whatever their portion amounted to ; Joseph receiving as his share about $1,800. Having been reared to farm life, he hired out to work by the month when 19 years of age, and remain- ed in his native State working by the month, four years ; when 23 years of age he came to Champaign Co., O., where he worked one and a half years, receiving as wages $15 per month. He then came to Logan Co., where he married Martha Yoder, Nov. 17, 1859 ; she was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 1838, and came here with her father's family when about 9 years old. They have two children- Amos Y,, and Lydia B. About three years after they were married they purchased forty-five acres of the farm they now own, and in 1860 they purchased eighty acres, aggregating 125 acres, all well improved, and is one of the commodious farms of this township on which the owners are prepared to enjoy the fruits of their early industry. They are both members of the Ormish Church and have been for inmy years, Mr. Hartzler having joined the church when he was vet in Pennsylvania. Ilis parents were born in Pennsylvania, but of German descent ; his mother is still living there at the advanced age of 8; years ; he has also six brothers an 1 three sisters still re- siding in Millin to. Penn.

HENRY HORN, farmer: P. O., Bellefon- laine: was born Feb. 11, 1825, in Proble ('o., O .; he is the son of John and Nancy (Sheets) Horn, who were natives of Virginia, where they were married, and moved to Ohio in 1813; they located in Proble to., and lived there about fifteen years; then moved to this county, and settled one mile north of Belle- fontaine in 1828. Mr. Horn worked at home until he was of age, and on July 11, 1816, he married Mary Laney. They have five chil- dren living Joseph s., Jacob H. John ti,

Luther, and Maggie E. Mrs. Horn was born in Pennsylvania, April 9, 1824, and came with her father's family, who settled in Harrison Tp., this county, in 1831; she is now the only survivor of a family of five girls, who came here with their parents. When Mr. Horn was married he lived a few years on the farm of his father-in-law (Simpson Laney) in Harri- son Tp .. and afterwards he purchased it of the Laney heirs, and subsequently he purchased the farm where he now lives, and came to reside on it in 1811. Everything moved along quietly and prosperously until Oct. 22, 1815, when they sustained a heavy loss by having their house and all its contents consumed by fire, and without even the compensation of insurance: they set about rebuikling, and the following summer they completed a two-story frame dwelling, with "observatory," and is, without exception, in every part of ex- cellent finish, at a cost of $3,500, besides all labor of themselves and teams; they now own 321 acres in the vicinity of the new residence and 166 acres in Harrison Tp., where his son resides, all well improved. In all these cir- cumstances, and the present surroundings, it is plainly seen that honest industry and ccon- omy have been ruling characteristics, when they, who bagan poor in finance a few years ago, now rank among the wealthy farmers of this township, and are well prepared to enjoy the fruits of their labor. fle is serving his second term as Township Trustee. Their son, Jacob, went to Kansas, where he married and is now residing.

REV. JOIN P. KING, retired farmer and minister : P. O., West Liberty ; was born Jan. 29, 182%, in Mifflin to., Penn. ; he is of a family of seven children-four boys and three girls ; their mother died when Mir. King was 3 years old ; but he remained on the farm, at home, until the last parental tie was severed by death, Jan. 5, 184 ;. Immediately after his father's death (in 1812) he hired ont to do farm work in their own neighborhood ; here he remained for a year or more, when he conceived the idea that the chances, for a young man of industrious habits and no means, were much better, in the less populous West, than they were in his native place. With a determination to succeed, he turned his back on all that was dear to him, in youth, and set out for this State arriving

789

UNION TOWNSHIP.

in Logan Co., March 2, 1849, a poor, but, sober and industrious young man. He has resided in this county ever since, with the exception of a short time spent in Cham- paign Co. His marriage was celebrated with Rebecca Troyer, Oct. 28, 1850 ; (she was born Sept. 28, 1830 in Holmes Co., O., and came with her father's family to Champaign Co., in 1849). They have six children - Levi T., Christian M., John J., Lydia E., Ezra and Rebecca : they are all married except Ezra and Rebecca, who reside with their parents, and on whom the farm duties devolve. Mr. King was ordained as an Ormish Mennonite minister, in Champaign Co., this State, in 1859, and in 1852, he was ad- vanced by the church and given special charge over the Ormish Mennonite Congregation, whose church is about one mile north of West Liberty. According to the tenets of their faith, ministers are not clothed with the power to administer the ordinances of their church when ordained, until they have been consid- ered worthy of advancement, when special power is conferred by a conference of Bishops. In 1822 such power was conferred on MIr. King, since which time he has traveled ex- tensively in connection with the interests of the church ; his circuit embracing the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, lowa, Missouri, and Kansas. He has assisted in the organization of many congregations ; and is frequently summoned to perform the various ordinances of the church in the above named states. To those best acquainted with Mr. King, is best known his moral worth, both as citizen and minister, who began his career here, as a poor hired boy ; now we find him enjoying the confidence and respect of those with whom he has done business for a space of over thirty years, as well as the fruits of his own industry. He owns a farm of 80 acres, well improved, to which he moved, about four years ago, after having sold his original home of 112 acres for $110.64 per acre, situated four miles south of Bellefontaine.

ANDREW MOORE, farmer ; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born Nov. 14, 1836, on the farm of which he now owns a part ; (he is the son of William and Dorothy Moore). His marriage was celebrated with Sarah A. Click, Jan. 19, 1861 ; she was born April 23, 1837, in this county ; they have had two

children-William E., living, and one died in childhood ; Mrs. Moore's parents were natives of Virginia, and came to this county about 1836, where they remained until their death. Mr. Moore enlisted in 132nd, O. N. G., as one of the "one hundred day " men ; he was sent to Camp Chase to drill, thence to Washing- ton, D. C., thence to Arlington Heights for about one week; thence to Whitehouse Landing on the Appomattox ; thence back to Bermuda Hundred ; there he was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Portsmouth, Va., where he was kept about two weeks, then he was sent home and in a few days received an honorable discharge, at Camp Chase (Col- umbus), having served something more than the time required of himmn ; his enrollment called for five years' service, but ore that time had expired the war closed and he received his discharge from the O. N. G., immediately thereafter.

WILLIAM MOORE, deceased; West Liberty; was born in Piatt Co., Penn., June 5, 1801; his father, Archibald, and his mother, Jemima (Tannahill) Moore, were with their family of nine children among the first settlers of the township. Dec. 24, 1806, they arrived at a brother's of Mr. Moore, Sr., near Springfield, where they spent the winter, and in the following spring they came to Logan Co., and located on the site of the town of Zanefield. They, like many of the pioneers, came here without means either to purchase or improve their home; a large family to support and everything to be pro- duced from the wild, unbroken forest, was no inconsiderable task; by dint of industry they succeeded in procuring enough to sustain life for a few years, when another difficulty arose-that of parties with less compunction of conscience and more finances, who were about to purchase this squatting place; soon as discovered Mr. Moore borrowed the money from a friend, made the trip to Cincinnati on horseback, where the land office was, and bought his own squatting place, beating his adversary (Gray) by two hours, who was on the way to purchase it " over his head." His son, William, bought 160 acres at $3 per acre in 1833; he married Dorothy Zimmerman, April 10, 1834; she was born March 5, 1812, in Virginia, and came here with her father's family in 1827; subsequently her parents

790

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

moved to Champaign Co., where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Moore began life in their new home in a log-cabin which they erected (and which stands on the premises to this day), June 5, 1834; and on the same spot Mr. Moore ceased his worldly cares in death, Nov. 21, 18;8, and here Mrs. Moore is quietly passing her declining years. They had three children-Archibald, Andrew and Evaline; Archibald enlisted in the 23d O. V. 1. in April, 1861, and was killed in the battle of South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, 1862; he had been · promoted to rank of Orderly Sergeant; four months after his death his father visited the spot where he was interred, and removed his re- mains to the cemetery at Philadelphia Church, this township, where his dust now reposes.

JOHN MOHR, farmer; P. (., Degraff; was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., March 23, 1821; is the son of Fredrick G. Mohr, spoken of else- where. He learned the coopers' trade when young, at which he worked about four years. His marriage was celebrated with Anna Frantz, Dee. 28, 1848 ; she was born in Logan Co., Jan. 31, 1830 (and was the daughter of Abraham Frantz, who came here from Vir- grinia at an early date). She died Nov. 9. 1860, leaving two of her six chil- dren, George W. and Margaret. Mr. Mohr married, for his second wife, the widow of the late John Frantz, of Clark Co. Hler maiden name was Margaret Kerahoff; she was born in this county Aug. 2, 1837; her parents came here from Virginia. By this marriage there are seven children: Daniel, Martha A., Lydia A., Dora E., Em- ma, Andrew and Franklin F. Mrs. Mohr has one son, Moses Frantz, by her first hus- band. The two ellest ones are married. George W. married Ella Snyder. Margaret is Mis. Win. Brownfield, of Springhills. Mr. Mohr owns 216 acres of well-improved land, on which are good buildings. They are members of the German Baptist Church, and during the late rebellion he was opposed to the war, in a conscientious point of view, like many of the same religions creed; and to clear himself of the draft paid $300, and at other times paid various sums for the purpose of clearing the township, aggre- grating in all $1,200.

MATTHIES MAIER, farmer ; P. O., Springhills; was born June 20, 1810, in Wur-

temburg, Germany: when young he learned the shoemaker' trade, but did not remain long at that business. He was married Nov. 4, 1838, to Christina C. Rexer. They had five children-Christopher, Catherine, Jacob. Got- lieb and John. After marriage Mr. Maier abandoned the shoemaking Imsiness for that of a farmer, and, after a few years of farm life in Germany, he resolved to push his way to this country, where his family would have better facilities for providing themselves with homes. Accordingly himself, wife and five children, set out for the United States, and arrived here-after an ocean voyage of forty- two days -- in July, 1852. They came direct to this county, and leased the farm on which they now reside, for two years; at the expira- tion of that time they rented another farm for several years, and in 1860 they purchased the farm where they now live. Thus industry and economy has raised the poor man (with a large family) of less than thirty years ago to be one of the well-to-do farmers of I'nion Tp. His son Jacob was born July 4, 1813, in Ger- many; he resides with his parents, and con- ducts the business of the farm; his marriage was celebrated June 20, 1820, with Hannah Reinhardt. She was born in Wurtomburg, Germany, March 4, 1851, and emigrated to this country in June, 1869. and came direct to this county. They have had three children -Mary (deceased). Annie D. and William F. Mr. Maior's daughter, Catherine, was married to Gro. Stotz in 1865, and died Ang. 15, 1872, leaving three children-George, John and Mary. Christopher lives in Champaign C'o., adjoining his father's farm; he married Mary Mohr. They have five children-Katie, Magdalene, Dora, Clara and Addie. Gotlieb is in the slaughtering business in Bellefon- taine; he married Hannah D. Miller. They have four children-Elizabeth, John, George and Henry. John died after they came to this county.

FREDRICK MOHR, farmer: P. O., Spring- bills; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Feb. 24. 1828; is the son of Fredrick G. and Catharine (Reser) Mohr, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, where they were married, and about the year IST: they, with their eldest child, emigrated to this coun- try, and settled seven mile, west of Lancas- ter, Penn., where they bought a small home,

791

UNION TOWNSHIP.

consisting of 3 acres; Mr. Mohr was a tailor by trade, and did not incline to farm exten- sively, but kept improving his home as well as embracing every chance to do something at his trade; they resided there about six years, then moved to Dayton, Ohio, where they remained nine months, when Mr. Mohr concluded to purchase a farm and take his family out of town-he could have purchased lots on Main street at that time for $15 each-accordingly, he bought 54 acres for $350, eight miles north of Dayton. There

Mrs. Mohr died, in 1832, leaving Six children-Conrad, Catharine, John, Mary, Fredrick and Christopher. Mr. Mohr mar- ried a second wife, Sarah Purkey, who was a native of Virginia, but had been residing in Logan Co., with relatives, but went to Montgomery Co., where they were married, and in February, 183%, they all came to Lo- gan Co., settling in the southwest corner of Union Tp., where they bought 200 acres, pay- ing therefor $2,000. It is said that the old gentleman, Fredrick G., was one of the most energetic and persevering men in the county of his time; children by second wife are David, Elizabeth and Martha. Fred- riek lived with his father until 22 years of age, when he started for himself by running a threshing-machine for several years; then he rented and ran a sawmill one year, and was then employed to take charge of the mill for another party. He was married Feb. 28, 1857, to Barbara Detrick; she was born in this county April 19, 1835. They have six children hving-Lora A., now Mrs. George M. Rausenberger; Emma J. (de- ceased); Sarah A., now Mrs. George Forry; Mary M., Lucy E., Charles F. and Clara S. Mr. Mohr owns 357 acres, well improved, and good buiklings. Mrs. Mohr's father, Peter, and her mother, Susan (Kauffman) Detrick, were natives of Rockingham Co., Va., and came here, bringing three of their children, about the year 1820; her father died in 1867; Mrs. Detrick lived with an- other daughter (Mrs. Yoder) after Mr. De- trick's death, and in 1848-her 73d year- while she was sitting at the door knitting, and engaged in conversation with her daughter, and apparently in good health, she suddenly received that last summons, which surely awaits all mankind.

JACOB MILLER (deceased), P. O., Bellefontaine; was born Sept. 15, 1810, in Rockingham Co., Va .; was the son of Martin and Magdalene (Bowman) Miller, who were both natives of the same county. In the spring of 1832 Jacob came to this county, and after prospecting a little he purchased a farm in Union Tp., and during the summer he returned to Virginia, and on his return he rented his farm in Logan Co. to Mrs. Mar- garet Huber and family-widow of John Huber, who died in 1827-In the fall of 1832 Mrs. Huber and six of her right children set out for Logan Co., to occupy their newly rented farm. One daughter remained in Virginia, and a son had moved to Tennessee. Mrs. Iluber occupied the farm of Miller, from October until the following spring, 1833, when she purchased a farm across the creek, where she spent the remaining years of her life with her two sons, Jeremiah and Abedne- go. March 18, 1856, at the advanced age of 88 years, closed the scenes and trials of a life whose anxiety and care was not a little for her large family, whom she had prepared for their several places in society. In the spring of 1833 Mr. Miller came back to this county from Virginia, and Sept. 3, of that year he married Diana Huber, daughter of Mrs. Huber, to whom he had rented his farm, and two days after their marriage they moved to Miller's farm ; nor was their bridal chamber the most elegant, or its furnishing of a costly kind ; the whole building was a small, roughly- built log cabin, in which there was an open- ing, but no door, no floor, no window, nor even chimney ; but for the latter the whole roof seemed in a measure, a fair substitute, as the " clapboards " or long split shingles were so warped by exposure, that they curled and left many an opening. Though rude their dwell- ing their home was happy, as they toiled for the better time coming, and which they real- ized so far as luxuries, the reward of their industry, is concerned. After four years residence in their rude home, they built a comfortable frame dwelling ; and in 1858 they replaced the frame with a good two- story brick dwelling. They had seven child- ren-Margaret, Elizabeth, Polly, Martin, Bar- bara (was married to Boyd Douglas Jan. 4, 1866, and died ere she lett her father's house, on March 27); Abednego and Susan. Mr.

792

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Miller died at the old homestead Oct. 14, 1866 ; his widow and son Martin reside on the same place which he bought in 1832. Martin was born there Oet. 31, 1839; his mar- riage was celebrated with Hannah Beal, Dec. 12, 1868 (she was born in this county April 13, 1850 ; is the daughter of Elijah and Han- nah (Collins) Beal, who are natives of Penn- sylvania). They have had three children- Jacob E. and Oli M .; were both taken with scarlet fever and called away by death, one Jan. 11, and the other following Jan 14, 1828; one daughter living, Carrie B. They own 238 acres of well improved land with good buildings ; he has turned his attention to sheep-raising for the last few years and has some fine Merinos.

The "NEWELL FAMILY." A brief sketch of this family from the most authentic source points directly to the fact that two brothers and two sisters emigrated from the north of Ireland, about the year 1:60, and settled in Pennsylvania. They were Jane, Margaret, James and Robert. The Newells in this sec- tion can easily trace their lineal descent to the latter. He was born in 1244, and as stated, came to this country when about 16 years of age. About the date of the breaking-out of the Revolution, there were serious thoughts as to the protection of women and children in their section, from the raids of Indians; there was a military fort erected near them in which the weaker sex and children took refuge; among them were the two Newell girls, and one, Christina Williams, who had lately arrived from Germany, and was an ac- complished young lady. She and the Newell girls became much attached while in the fort, and after the trouble's had subsided their so- viability and attachment waned noue. the course of events Robert Newell and Christina Williams formed an acquaint- ance, through his sisters, which finally resulted in their marriage. They reared eda family of six sons and three daughters- Jane, William, Samuel, Thomas, Mary, Hugh, Robert, John and Margaret, all of whom fived to maturity. Mr. Newell had turned his at- fontion to farming and stock-raising, and along between the years 1990 and 1996, he sustained a very heavy loss in the death of all bis horses, by some epidemie in that section; whereupon he coneluded to remove from that

locality; accordingly he sold his farm receiv- ing in part payment $3,000 of Continental money, and started with all his family, brother and two sisters, to Harrison Co., Ky., where they located and remained some time. James (brother of Robert) was married and had one son and one daughter; the son died when young. Shortly after Robert had sold his farm he discovered that his $3,000 was worth- less, owing to the insolvency of the Continen- tal banks. Ile afterward received one per cent. for it; and thought he had made a bar- gain when got a steelyards worth $2.50 for $250 of his Continental currency. About the vear 1814, three of his sons-Samuel, Thomas and Hugh-came to Ohio and located in what is now Logan Co., and two years later the parents and the rest of the family followed, except Jane, who was married in Kentucky to Robert Braden. She died there and left four children. William was married and doing well at farming and dealing in live- stock. He took a drove of cattle to Detroit, Mich., and while there, took suddenly ill and died; he was much respected as a good and noble citizen. Owing to the inconvenience of travel and transportation in those days, his remains were interred at Detroit. He left two sons and three daughters. The widow married, and soon sustained the loss of her second hus- band by death. She sold out and with her children she moved to Indiana. Samuel was early identified with official business in this county; he had a family of seven sons and three daughters. His wife died here; he sold ont and moved with most of his family to łowa, where he died in 1843. Thomas was married and reared seven sons and three daughters, and died near West Liberty in 1825. Mary was married to James Newell, they moved to Indiana, and reared a large family, where she passed away. Hugh mar- ried Elizabeth MeNay; they reared ten children-four sons and six danghters; he died in this township. Robert never mar- ried: he moved to lowa and died there. John was married and lost his first wife in Ken- tucky: she left one girl. He married his sec- ond wife here; they had six children, and moved to Indiana about 1:30, where he died. Margaret married Oren Hubbard, a carpen- ter in 1819-of whom there is more particu- lar notice elsewhere in this work. Margaret

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 117

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