History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 122

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 122

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and care; his marriage was blessed with six children; the four eldest are vet living-An- drew J., Joann, William C. and Elizabeth M. All are married and settled convenient to the old homestead. where they can visit their aged mother, who is living with her son William. Ile was born Aug. 24, 1831, in this township, and has always been engaged on the old farin, except a short time that he was in the service, being in the 132nd Reg., O. N. G .; he was married March 12, 1826, to Cordelia A., daughter of William and Martha Ritchey. She was born in this county on July 5, 1839. lle has always been a Republican, owns over 300 acres of land, including the old homestead, and pays his chief attention to the rearing of cattle and hogs.

ALFRED H. WINDHAM, farmer ; P. O., Huntsville: is one of the largest and most successful farmers in this township ; he was born July 10, 1818, in Montgomery Co., Md. His father, Aquilla Windham, was a native of that State, and was married to Mary How- ard. He served in the war of 1812, and made farming his chief occupation through life. While Alfred was yet in his childhood his father died, and he went to live with an aunt ; he soon after learned the blacksmith's trade with his uncle, Leonard Howard, and after serving his apprenticeship he worked in Berkeley Co., Va., where he was married to Nancy Johnson, daughter of Joseph and Bet- sey (Murphy) Johnson. They lived there until the commencement of the war, when they moved to this county, and he has ever since been a farmer. He now owns over 600 acres of lan 1, most of which was acquired by his own industry and economy. Their mar- riage has been blessed with nine children, eight are yet living-Thomas H., James P., Joseph A., Nancy A., Aquilla S., Emma C .. Lucety V., and George W .; all are married but three. He has always been a Democrat.

THOMAS YOUNG, saloon; Belle Centre; is the fourth child of Archibald and Nancy (Hoey) Young, who were natives of Ireland, his father coming to this country when 12 years old, and his mother was born on the the passage; his father was a farmer by occu- pation, and lived in Lancaster Co., Pa., till the death of his wife, when he moved to Chero- kee, in this county, where he died in 1864. Thomas was born in Lancaster Co., Dec. +,

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1834, and lived under the parental roof till 15 years of age, when he commenced doing for himself; he worked on a farm one year and then commenced work on a railroad, which he followed for seven years; he soon after came to this State and labored at various occupations till the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in the 13th Regiment O. V. I., and served nearly one year; Shiloh, Corinth and Stone River were among the battles in which he was engaged; he was captured twice but got away both times; he returned to Bellefontaine and Dec. , 24, 1862,

he was married to Susan Duckson; he .went on the railroad again and remained over two years, when he moved to . Belle Centre: he was engineer for six years, watch at Kenton one year, and then went into the grocery trade; he followed that a short time when he went into the saloon business; his wife died Jan. 30. 1811, leaving one child- Robert: April 2%, 1822, he was married to Martha Murphy, who has borne him two chil- dren-Odis M. and Munson C .; he is not a strong party man, but is generally Repub- lican.

McARTHUR TOWNSHIP.

CATHARINE AIKIN, farmer, P. O., Northwood ; was born in April, 1825, in County Donegal, Ireland ; her father, William Mckinley, was a farmer by occupation, and there married a lady by the name of Frances Maulseed. In 1836, with his family, which then consisted of eleven souls, he emigrated to this country, and settled in Adams Co., (., near Winchester. Never having worked in the timber, and despairing of success in the dense forest, he bought 80 acres of the best improved land he could find. Ile lived on it until 1864, when (his sons having embarked for themselves, and not wishing to rent to strangers), he soll it and came to Northwood where he died in 1869, and his wife in No- vember, 18:4. Catharine was married Dec. 1, 1854, to James, son of James and Hannah Aikin ; he was born in Ireland, and in 1832, being then 15 years old, came to this country with his parents. They lived in Philadelphia one year and then in Beaver C'o., P'a., until 1:36, when they came to this township and bought SO acres of land. James supported his parents until their death, and made all the improvements that are now to be seen on the farm, as it was then a dense forest. He was first married to Maria Irwin, and two children are now living who are the fruits of that union. Mrs. ikin is the mother of five children-Sarah A., William JJ .. Mary, Fannie J., and David S .: all have attended Genova College, the oldest graduating in May, 1818.

Mary taught school one term and then was married to Dr. Kennedy, who is now located at Mansfield. Mr. Aikin died July 31. 1873, and he and wife belonged to what they term the original Covenanters.

WILLIAM W. BEATTY, attorney; Huntsville; was born Sept. 12, 1820, in Loudoun Co., Va .; his father, John HI . Beatty, was a native of that state, and served in the war of 1812; he was married to Elender Sutherland, and worked at the trade of car- peuter and joiner through life; in 1833 the family moved to this State and settled perma- montly in Moorefield. Harrison Co., where they remained until ISHI, when they moved to this county; the mother died at Bellefon- taine, and the father at this place in 18;3, hr- ing then in his Soth year. The subject of this sketch received a fair, common school education, and learned the trade with his father and worked at it some time after their removal to this county; however, he com- menced the study of law with Allen C. Turner, at Cadiz, before coming here, and did most of the studying after completing his days' labor: he studied eighteen months with the above named gentleman, and after coming here entered the law office of Judge Lawrence, from which he was admitted to the bar; he moved to Belle Centre in 1850 and lived there five years, when he came to this place. Besides his profession he has several times engaged in mercantile speculations, and each

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McARTHUR TOWNSHIP.

time retired with loss until taught by ex- perience; he now devotes his entire time to his chosen profession; in 1864 he was elected to the Legislature from this county, and two years later to the State Senate: he is a stal- wart Republican, and cast his first ballot for Gen. Ilarrison: in 1838 he was married to Mary Wukins, who bore him four sons and and one daughter. The sons were all in the service of their country, and one, David W., of the 1st Ohio, was killed at Mission Ridge; but one of these sons, John H., is living, he being in the mercantile business in Kansas; the daughter Kate is married and lives at Kenton; he was afterwards married to Jane Vansickles, and their union has produced three children-Mary M., Alice and Charles F .: the daughters are married; the family be- long to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHRIST B. BRESTLE, merchant; Hunts- ville; is one of the most energetic and thriv- ing business men in this town, and is, withal, quite a remarkable man. He was born Sept. 16, 1835, in Middletown, Penn., and when scarcely 2 years old the family moved to Tiffin, in this State. His father, John Brestle, was a tanner and currier by trade, and mar- ried a lady named Catharine Witz. When 13 years old Christ took " French leave" of the old home, coming to Urbana and working in an eating house for John Gump. He had been with him about one year when a show came through the place, and then it was that Christ threw up a good position to follow their varying fortunes. Being naturally adapt- ed to this kind of business, he soon took a conspicuous place among the curiosity men, and traveled extensively through this country as well as Mexico and the British Dominions. lle took the first curiosity troupe into Califor- nia, and from there went north over-land to Sitka, returning by vessel to Portland. He came to this place on a hunting trip in the fall of 1843, and liking the place he deter- mined to make it his future home. He kept hotel and livery stable two years, when he quit the former and went into the grocery business; he had less than $20 capital, and from that has grown the large stock he now carries, doing a large and rapidly increasing trade. He was married while in Grass Valley, California, to Zobedia Lu.i, who was born in Russia July 15, 1846, and is said to be the

first "Circassian beauty " ever exhibired in this country, having been brought here by Barnum. She is highly educated, and can readily use seven different languages. They have three children living-Lulu, Tena and Christ B.

BURRELL S. COLLINS, farmer ; P. O., Huntsville ; was born Oct. 27, 1820, in Per- ry Co., O .; his father, James Collins, was born in Mifflin Co., Pa., and when near his maturity came to Perry Co., and was there married to Catharine Mills, of Virginia birth. Hewas a wheelwright and chairmaker by trade, and worked at these until 1833, when he moved to this county and engaged in farm- ing ; he located at Cherokee, part of the town being on the land that once belonged to him. Ilis wife died in June 1835, having borne him nine children, and in April 1836 he was married to Mrs. Mary Mahan ; he died in 1849. Burrell lived under the parental roof until his marriage, Oet. 31, 1843, to Mar- garet Mahan, and has since lived on the farm where he resides at present ; she was born in Franklin Co., and died Nov. 13, 1850, leaving two children-Mary and Isabella ; the first is married to John C. Brown and the other to John M. Graybeal, and both are living in Missouri. Mr. Collins was again married to Eleanor, daughter of David and Margaret (Beatty) Ghormley ; she was born March 15, 1829, in Fayette Co., and came here a short time previous to her marriage. Their union has produced eight children, seven of whom are living-James B., David G., Sarah, Emma, Alma J., John B., Olive A., and Anna E .; the eldest is married and David is attending college at Wooster, O. The parents and five eldest of these children are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as Elder since 1849. Is now a Republican, and voted first for Henry Clay.

MATTHEW K. COVINGTON, farmer; I'. (., Huntsville; is the only child born to Matthew P. and Mary Covington, and was born in this county JJan. 4, 1850; his grand- father, Henry Covington, was a native of Ire- land, and after coming to this country served in the war of 1812; he was a Dunkard by faith, and married Anna Kavanaugh. She was born in Kentucky, and accompanied her folks to Champaign Co., in this State, at a very early day, there being only two houses

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in Cincinnati when they crossed the Ohio river at that point. Some time after their marriage they moved to the vicinity of Lew- istown, in this county, and bought a tract of Government land, but after a short residence traded it to Judge Shelby for a farm in Lib- erty Tp .; on this he died in 1850, and his faithful wife in 1874. Matthew P. was born in 1823, while they were yet in Champaign Co .. and remained under the parental roof until his marriage to Mary Stiles, when he settled on a portion of the old homestead. She was born in Athens Co., and is of New England descent. Shortly after their mar- riage the vigorous young husband was taken from the bosom of his family. Mrs. Coving- ton was afterwards married to William Cooper, and bore him three children. Mat- thew, the subject of this sketch, commeneed for himself when 12 years old, and farmed on the old homestead until the fall of 1849, ex- cept one year that he kept livery stable at De Graff: he now owns over 100 acres of land in this township; he was married in October, 1820, to Mary E. Guthrie, and on May 9, 18:1, she died: he united his fortunes with those of Catherine Brown April 5, 1878. She was born Ang. 24, 1862, in Union Co .; is a daughter of John and Rebecca (Cooper) Brown; her parents died when she was quite young, and from the time she was 11 years old until marriage she was a hired girl. Their happy union has been blessed with one child -Charles F. He belongs to the Masonic Fraternity and Ancient Order of Working- men. Has always beena Democrat.

THOMAS COOK. Jr., farmer; P. O., Belle- fontaine; was born April :, 1830, in Knox C'o., O. His father, Thomas Cook, Sr., was born in Harrison t'o. O., in ISO1, and always followed farming. He was there married to Jane White, who was born in Ireland in 1800, and came to this country when 16 years old, her father dying in New York two weeks after their ar- rival. Thomas Cook lived in Harrison Co. until the year 1825, when with his family he moved to Knox Co., and resided there until the fall of 1833 when he moved to this county and bought 125 acres of land, mostly forest. He was captain of a militia company. and lived but a short time after coming to this county. dying in February, 1838, leaving a family of six children, the oldest of whom was only 14

years old. The widowed mother reared these all to a useful and honorable life, and is now living with her eldest daughter in lowa. Thomas, Jr., was married Dec. 20, 1849, to Jane, daughter of Peter and Sally (Campbell) Dow. She was born near Bellefontaine April 16, 1830. After marriage they lived on a farm one year and then moved into Belle- fontaine where Thomas worked at the carpen- ter's trade seven years, when he traded his town property for the farm on which he now lives; this he has improved and cleared, until it bears but a slight resemblance to its former appearance. He now owns nearly 250 acres of land, forming a model and productive farm. Their union has produced seven children, live of whom are living-Charles C., Mary I .. , Nannie J., Thomas J. and Orrin 1. D. The eldest daughter is married to James E. Me- Cracken; Charles E. and Nannie are among the successful school teachers of this country. Mr. Cook has served as Trustee and Assessor and is a member of the Agricultural Society. He has always been a Republican, and cast his first vote for John P. Hale. The whole family belong to the U. P. Church.

CHARLES W. COOK, farmer; P. O., Bellefontaine; is the seventh of a family of eight children born to Thomas and Jane Cook, and first saw the light of day Nov. 23, 1833, on the farm on which he now lives. The father departed this life when Charles was only 4 years old, and he was carly inured to the toils that beset the paths of pioneer chil- dren. His education was meagre, but the de- liciency was in part supplied by a complete knowledge of clearing, and the other branches that accompanied that essential art. Ile was married Nov. 16, 1854, to Martha, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth' (Hosaek) Patterson. She was born March 19, 1831, in this town- ship, to which her parents moved in 1830, her father being a native of the Emerald Iste, and marrying the above named lady in Pennsyl- vania. Charles did not leave the old farm at his marriage; and although he possessed but a single gold dollar after the ceremony was performed, he soon after bought the old home- strad, relying on his own efforts for success. He now owns 100 acres of land, on which he has erected large and beautiful buildings, and has one of the neatest and most tasty houses in the township. He was in the service.

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being in Co. C., 132d O. V. I. His marriage has been blessed with eight children, six of whom are living-Mary A., Anna MI., Thomas H., Ida B., Ira E., Charles K. The second daughter has attended Geneva College, and taught school several terms, with good suc- cess. The parents and the four eldest chil- dren belong to the U. P. Church, of which Mr. Cook has been Deacon. Ile has always been a l'epublican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont.

JOSEPH P. CRETCHER, farmer; P. O., Huntsville; is the youngest of a family of eleven children, and was born Oct. 12, 1832, in this county; his father, Jabez Cretcher, was a native of Kentucky and there married Nancy Pollock; in 1813, when there were only four members in the family, they moved to this county and settled near Lewistown; they lived there only a short time, however, when they moved to Champaign Co. and bought a farm; five years later they again came into this county and bought 240 acres of land in Miami Tp., on which Mr. Creteher and sons found ample scope for their energies for many years; he died Jan. 28, 18;2, and his companion Feb. 19, 1874, having lived to- gether over sixty-one years. Joseph lived under the parental roof until his marriage, March 25, 1858, to Catherine L., daughter of Paul and Mary (Carothers) Huston; she was born June 28, 1836, in this county. to which her parents moved as early as 1829; her father died April 13, 1868, in his 82nd year, and her mother some four years later. Joseph followed farming until 1868, when he moved to De Graff and worked at the harness trade. and afterwards manufactured brick; in 1874 he moved to where he now lives, owning a farm of 100 acres; six children have blessed their marriage, whose names are-William H., Jabez McLaine, Paul Clarence, Homer G., Frank Burton and Joseph O .; Mr. Cretcher is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of the Patrons of Husbandry; both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church; he has been a Democrat since the beginning of the war.

M. DUDLEY DITZLER, physician and surgeon; Huntsville; is the fourth of a family of five children, and was born Oct. 12, 1853, in this township. His father, John Y. Ditzler, son of David and Anna MI. Ditzler, was born

in Adams Co., Pa., March 14, 1815, and reared to the occupation of farming; he studied med- icine, however, and graduated from the Jef- ferson Medical College, and many years after at the Sterling Medical College, at Colum- bus, O .; on receiving his first diploma he came West, seeking a location, and stopped first at Kenton, and then at Marseilles; he was married April 25, 1843, to Jane Dudley, and soon after came to this place, where he ever after lived; he had a large practice, and was loved and respected by all with whom he came in contact ; he died June 26, 1828. Mr. Dud- ley clerked in the drug store, which belonged to his father, and there studied medicine; he graduated from the Cincinnati Medical Col- sege in June, 1876, and is now practicing his chosen profession; he was married Oct. 11. 18:2, to Ida M., daughter of J. H. and Emma Harrod. She was born Oct. 23, 1855, and is now conducting a millinery store at this place. One child has blessed their union, lda MI. He is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first vote for R. B. Hayes.

CHARLES DEAN, farmer; P. O., Hunts- ville; is the eldest child of Linsy and Nancy (Weaver) Dean, and was born June 12, 1842, on John Warwick's plantation , near Lynch- burg, Va. According to his will, all were made free at his death, and in 1849, they were brought to Stokes Tp., this county, and col- onized on a large tract of new land which was purchased for them. The Dean family con- sisted of the father and three children, the wife and mother having died in Virginia. The father was again married, and is now liv- ing at Springfield, O., and works at the car- Denter's trade. Charles enlisted in the army and helped make up the quota of Massachu- setts, serving in Co. E, 55th Infantry. After the close of the war he returned to this coun- ty, and was married Dec. 9, 1865, to Mrs. Sarah Jane Harvey. He has devoted his whole attention to agricultural pursuits, and now owns a home of his own. He has a fam- ily of six children-Mary Alice, Ida Rosa, Elrena, Maggie, Harvey and Nancy. Mr. Dean and family belong to the United Pres- byterian Church. He has always been a Re- publican.

JOHN DENNY, farmer: P. O., Huntsville; is the eldest child and only son of three chil- dren, and was born July 14, 1802, near

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Alleghany City, Penn. His father, Dennis Den- ny, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, and was there married, and after having been blessed with two children he emigrated, in 1184 to the New Workt, with the intention of sending for his family, if favorably impressed with the country. His wife soon died, how- ever, and he returned and brought over his two sons. Ile was here married to Eunice Mclaughlin, a native of the Emeraldl Isle, and in 1814 moved to Warren Co., O., where he lived five years, and then came to Clarke Co., where he died Oct. 29, 1826. The moth- er and one sister always made their home with John from that time, and he supported them until their death; the mother de- parting this life Ang. 18, 1844. He bought a farm there on which he lived until 1832, when he came to this county and bought a tract of land, mostly now. Ile has from time to time added to this, and also bought in other locali- ties. lle has not neglected improvements, and, without doubt. has the finest house ju this part of the county, as well as other valu- able and tasty buiklings. He was married Jan. 1, 1833, to Lucinda James; she was born Nov. 12, 1810, and died May 24, 1845, having borne six children, only two of whom are liv- ing-Dennis, who is married to Sally A. Nichols, and is living on the old homestead; and Sarah, now the wife of William McKin- non. Mr. Denny was married Sept. 18, 1856, to Mrs. Rebecca Robertson. She died April 25, 1859, and he has since been a member of his son's family. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he held the office of Steward for forty years. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Henry Clav.

ABRAHAM ELDER, JR., physician and surgeon : Huntsville : is the oldest practic- ing physician in this place, and has a large and lucrative practice ; he was born April 20, 1821, in Somerset, Perry Co., ( .; his father, Abraham Eller, Sr., was a native of Lancaster t'o., Pa., and was there married to Jane Johnston (be served in the war of 1812), and moved from there to this State, and lived a while in Perry Co., and came here in 1833 ; he lived one year in Bellefontaine and then moved on a farm near Huntsville, where he died in 1>15. He had always been a heavy dealer in horses, taking them to Philadelphia,

and bringing back goods, which bis sou sold in Bellefontaine. He was Associate Judge from the time he arrived until his death. Abraham commenced for himself when 21 years oldl ; he and a brother buying a farm which they conducted two years. During this time he was studying under Dr. Main at Richland, and then went into the mercantile business in Hardin Co .; while there the B. & I. R. R. was completed, and he buik the first store room at what isnow known as Ridgeway : he kept drug store there, his partner being Dr. MeCandless, with whom he studied until he entered the Starling Medical College, from which he graduated in 1854 : he practiced two years at Ridgeway, and since at Hunts- ville. He was married March 11, 1845, to Mary A. Wallace : she was born May 13, 1826, in Pennsylvania, and came here when 10 years old ; by this union six children have been born, four of whom are living-Arra, Caroline, Vada, and Wallace. Ho and wife are consistent members of the United Presby- terian Church. He voted first for Van Buren on the Free Soil ticket, and has since been a Republican.

WILLIAM EDMISTON, dealer in wool, grain and lumber; Huntsville. Among the first settlers of this township, who were obliged to forego the advantages of an older and more advanced county by emigrating to one com- paratively unsettled, was the Edmiston fam- ily, which consisted of Robert and Rebecca Edmiston, with their family, and came here from Ross Co. at a very early day, and settled on the farm now owned by D. B. Harrod. One of their children, whose name was also Robert, was born in 1813, in Ross Co., and was yet in his boyhood when he came to this county; he learned the trade of a cooper, and besides working at this, he also conducted a farm; he was united in marriage to Narcissa Herren in 1836. She was born in ISTS, in Queen Anne's Co., Md., and came to this county a short time previous to her marriage; in 1860 she was deprived of her earthly com- panion by the hand of death, leaving her with a family of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet living. The oldest son en- tered the service from this place, and when his time expired enlisted in the 20th Illinois, and for meritorious service was promoted to the office of Major; he was at Andersonville

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a short time. William, the subject of this sketch, was in the 132nd O. N. G .; he was born April 19, 1845, and was the oldest son at home at the time of his father's death; for several years he condueted the farm, and in 1861 came to Huntsville, where he soon en- gaged in business for himself; he was in the grain trade at first, and in 1822 went to Franklin Co., where he had a large wood con- traet, and remained there two years; he then returned to this place, and has been dealing quite largely in grain and wool, and has lately been doing a good business in lumber; he was married March 10, 1868, to Esther, daughter of James Cassil. Her father was one of the early settlers, and for many years was Justice of the Peace and Postmaster. William's marriage has been blessed with three children, but one of whom is living. Her name is Mabel, and, being of a buoyant and lively disposition, brings sunshine into their home. Hle is a member of the Masonie Order, and a Republi- ean in polities.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 122

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