History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 87

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 87

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JAMES WALKER, attorney-at-law; Belle- fontaine; was born in Washington Co., Penn., April 13, 1826, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Lowther) Walker. His mother is a native of Maryland, and his father of Penn- sylvania; he was a cabinet-maker by trade, and a soldier of the war of 1812. Our James,

at 13 years of age, with his parents, moved to Ohio and located in Knox Co., where he re- mained until 1850, during which time he graduated from the Martinsburg Academy. In 1848, he began the study of law in the of- fice of the Ion. Columbus Delano, of Mt. Vernon, where he remained for two years. In 1850 he was admitted to the Bar, when, in the same year, he came to Bellefontaine and commenced the practice of law. In 1854 hie formed a partnership with Judge W. H. West in the practice of law. This firm (West & Walker) continued until 1862, when the law firm of West, Walker & Kounedy was formed, which continued until 1848. when Gen. Robert P. Kennedy was appointed to the office of United States Collector. he retir- ing from the law firm of West, Walker & Kennedy. In 1848 the firm was changed to West, Walker & West, and to-day ranks as one of the strongest law firms of Central Ohio. In 1854 Mr. Walker was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Logan Co., and re-elected to same office in 1856, filling the office for two terms with marked ability. At the breaking out of the late civil war he was appointed by Gov. Chase as Loan Agent for the United States Government in raising funds to carry on the war. In this agency he raised $500,000 for the Government. In 1862 Mr. Walker was appointed U. S. As- sessor of the 4th District of Ohio, filling this office until 1865. In 1868 he was elected Mayor of the city of Bellefontaine, filling that office with honor and credit for twelve years, when he resigned to take his seat as a R pro- sentative, being elected to this office in 18;9. He was married May 4, 1859, to Miss Mary Hanger, who was born in Logan Co., O., and is the daughter of Frederick Hanger, one of the old settlers of this county. By this union they have three children.

REV. JOHN WILLIAMSON, minister of the United Presbyterian Church; Bellefon- taine. This gentleman was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., March 9, 1834, and is the son of Joseph and Agnes (Mitchell) Willian son; both parents were born in Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1832. Our subject, in 1842. with his parents, moved to Pennsylvania and located in the western part of that State; he graduated from the Westminster College of Pennsylvania in 1863; completed the

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theological course at the Allegheny Seminary. and was licensed to preach in 1866, and or- lained in 186 ;; his first preaching was in Oil ('ity, l'a .: from there he came to Bellefontaine and took charge of the United Presbyterian Church of this city in 1866; his first preach- ing. July 1, 1>66, in Bellefontaine: here he has been located ever since, and, with one exception, is the oldest resident minister of Bellefontaine, During Rev. Williamson's resi- dence in Bellefontaine he has filled the office as a member of the Board of County School Examiners for about eleven years, with honor and credit: he was for ten years President of the Logan Co. Teachers' Association. Rev. Williamson was a soldier of the late civil war, having enlisted in the three months' service in Pennsylvania during Lec's invasion of that state.

J. M. WILLIAMSON, lumber merchant; Bellefontaine: was born in Warren Co., {)., in 1×26, and is the son of George and Jane ( Morrison) Williamson, who came to the State of Ohio at an early day. Our subject was engaged some two years in Warren Co .. in the lumber business, when he, in 18;3 came to Bellefontaine and entered the lumber business with E. W. Hoge, which partner- slup continued up to Is;8, In 1829 the finn of Williamson & Lesourd was formed, which today is one of the largest lumber firms of 1, gan ('0.

DR. ABIEL LORD WRIGHT; Bellefon- trine; was born in Bellefontaine, O., April 3, IS11; be received his preliminary edneation at the high schools in the town of his nativity. At the age of 18, the civil war yer pendling, he entered into the study of medicine with a view to entering the service in the capacity of Surgeons, but the war closed before he had completed his medical studies. Dr. Wright attended a course of lectures at Starling Medical College, and graduated at the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. After a prac- tree of three years, he was compelled to abandon his profession on account of greatly impaired health, attended by an intense headache, Rest and time have accomplished a cure of this trouble, and the doctor is now employed as a reporter for several prominent newspapers in Cincinnati and Chicago. In

this difficult business he is aquitting himself with great credit.

I. P. WALLACE, physician : Bellefontaine: was born in Oxford, Ohio, Ang. 5, 1849, and is the son of the Rev. Samnel and Nancy A. (Barnett) Wallace, both of Olno. He re- crived the principal part of his education at the Pickaway High School, and graduated from the Monmouth College in 1869. 1n 18;1 he commenced the study of medicine and graduated from the Ohio Medical College in IST4, and the Beleview Hospital Medical College of New York in 18:5. He com- menced the practice of medicine in Pickaway in 182%, and came to Bellefontaine and began the practice of medicine with Dr. Fuller.

DAVID WATSON, physician; Bellefon- taine: was born in Adams Co., O., Ang. 1], 1819, and is the son of William and Ruth (Farin) Watson, both natives of Ireland. They married in Ireland, and, with two children, came to America in IS06. locating in Philadelphia. afterwards moving to Adams Co .. O., and from there, in 1823, came to Lu- gan Co., and located in MeArthur Tp., where he died at 85 years of age, and his wife over 80 years of age, respected and honored by all. They had twelve children, of whom only three are now living. Our subject remained in Me- Arthur Tp. until I839, when he came to Belle- fontaine and commeneed the study of medi- e ne under Dr. Benjamin S. Brown, one of the pioneer doctors of Logan C'o., and in 18-15 commeneed the practice of medicine in La Fayette, Allen Co., remaining there two years, when he went to L'pper Sandusky, where he remained a number of years, spending our summer in lowa. In ISSE he came to Belle- fontaine, where he has continued the practico of his profession ever since, enjoying one of the leading practices of Logan Co., and per- haps has been the most successful physician of the county. In 15;B he formed a partner- ship with Dr. I. D. Covington, which contin- ned up to Isi1. Dr. Watson is a member of the Logan Co, Medical Society, of which he has Imon President. He married Miss Eliza Richardson, of Shelby t'o., O .. who has horne him six aluldren, one of whom is living a daughter. The doctor lost one of his legs April 13. 1832, from injuries received at a log-rolling.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

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JOHN H. ALEXANDER, farmer; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born in Pennsylvania, June 14, 1819; is a son of William and Elizabeth Alexander, who were also natives of Pennsyl- vania. They came to Logan Co. in 1831, and have lived in the county over since. M .. Alexander ont his youth with his parents, and received a common school education. He was married, Jan. 25, 1848, to Lucinda In-keep, whose parents were very early settlers of the county, and were natives of Virginia. From this union there are eleven children. Mr. Alexander purchased the farm that he .now resides upon, while heavily wooded, and has cleared and improved it. He began business for himself a poor man. and now is in good circumstances. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are respected members of society.

ANNA BRENNER; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1818. She is the daughter of John and Maria Shenk, who were also natives of Pennyslvania. She resided with her parents until her mar- riage, which was in 1835, to Christopher Brenner, who was born in Pennyslvania in 1812. They were both of German descent. From this union there were ten children- Mary A., Elizabeth, Jacob, Catharine, John, Philip, Romanas, Susan, Garhart and Henry. The father and four of these children are now dead. They all died within fifteen months of the death of the first one. The father died Aug. 12, 1820. Philip was born Ang. 11, 1846, and died Dec. 8, 1845; Garhart, born Apirl 2, 1853, and died Oct. 22, 18:5; Henry, born Oet. 23, 1855, died July 20, 1826; Susan, born April 29, 1851, died Jan. 2, 1811. Mrs. Brenner came to Logan Co. in 183%, with her husband, and settled in Harrison Tp., three miles west of where she now lives, and where they lived until 1864, when they came to their present home. The farm that they first set- tled on was heavily timbered; they cleared and improved it, and afterwards sold it and purchased the farm that Mrs. Brenner now lives on. They began business for themselves

very poor, and by their industry and perse- verence gained quite a fortune. Mrs. Brenner and husband were members of the German Baptist Church, and lived consistent with its teachings.

J. E. CARR, farmer: P. O., Bellefontaine; was born in Virginia in 1826. Daniel Carr, his father, was born in Germany, and came to America when quite young. They settled in Virginia and resided there until about 1826, when they came to Logan Co. The mother was a native of Virginia. They settled in Bellefontaine, where the father died in about 1831. The family, after the death of the father, lived in various places in the county. They were very poor, and our subject had to help maintain the family. The county was quite new then and he did a great deal of clearing, and splitting rails, and in this way laid the foundation of his fortune. . He now owns as fine a farm and as well improved as any in his part of the conn- ty. His business since his marriage has been farming and stock-growing. He did not have the advantages of education when he was young, as is afforded at the present time, therefore his was limited. He was married in 1851 to Nancy Douglass. She was born in Pennsylvania and her parents were natives of the same State. They came to Logan Co. in 1832. From this union there were ten children, two now dead. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Carr has resided on the farm he now lives upon since 1856, and he has cleared and im- proved his land himself. Ile is in every re- speet a self-made man.

CHRISTOPHER CULP, farmer; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born in Logan Co., July 4, 1841; is a son of David and Catharine Culp. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Mr. Culp's parents came to Logan Co. in a very early day. He was raised on a farm, receiving a good educa- tion, and began business for himself at 29 years of age. He was married in 1871 to Mary A. Roof, who was born in Virginia, and

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came to Logan Co, with her parents in abont 1862. From this union there were five chil- dren, one now dead-Ettie, William D., An- nie, Catharine and John. Mr. Culp entered bus- iness for himself, but has since been assisted by his father to a farm. Hle and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

RHODA CARNS; Bellefontaine. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest res- idents of the county; she was born in Rose Co., O., March 9, 1806. Her father was a na- tive of Pennsylvania and her mother of New Jersey. The mother died in Favette C'o., (., and Mrs. Carns came to Logan Co. with her father in about 1818. Her father, Geo. W. Heath, was a soldier in the war of 1812; he died in about 1840. She was married in 1824 to Michael Carns, who was a native of Vir- ginia, and came to Logan Co, at about the same time that his wife's people did. They had a family of eleven children, four of whom are now dead-Annie, Rachel, Elizabeth, C'atharine, Nancy, Jane, George W., John and Michael; two died in infancy. The father of these children died in about 1850. Mis. d'arns was here before the county was or- granized, and has seen all the changes, as they have taken place, in the county.

HENRY CASEBOLT, farmer : P. ( .. Boll fontaine; was born in Lozan County in Isit, is a son of Robert and Hannah Case- 1 balt. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Ohio. They settled in Champaign to, in about 1513, where they resided a short time, and in 1814 or' 15 came t. Logan Co. where the parents lived and thed, and where Henry still lives. The father died in 1861, and the mother in 1865. Mr. C'asebolt was married in 1556 to Sarah 1. Taylor, who was born in Virginia and came to Logan Co. with her parents in about 1813: from this union there were ten children, two of whom are now dead. He began business for himself entirely upon his own responsibility, and by hard work and proper reonomy he Ins accumulated quite a fortune; he now has a farm of 215 acres of well improved land, most of which he cleared and improved han-elf. He has always followe I farming and stock-growing for a business. Ilis father was a Methodist minister and preached for a great many years, Mr. Casebolt and family are members of the same church.

GEORGE CULP, farmer; P. O., Bellefou- taine; was born in Logan Co. in 1844: is a son of David and Mary C. Culp. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Pennsylvania. They came to Logan Co. in a very early day. George Culp was married in 1867 to Mary E. Kerr, whose parents were very early settlers of the county. From this union there are three children -Laura, Ada and David. Mr. Culp, after proving his will- ingness to do for himself, was assisted by his father to a good farm, which he is now in pos- session of. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

JOHN DETRICK, farmer: P. O., Belle- fontaine: was born in Logan Co., June 26, 1830. His parents, Peter and Sarah Detrick, came from Hardy Co., Va., to Logan Co. in 1829, settling in Harrison Tp., where they reside l about three years, when they went to the adjoining township of Union, where they died. The father died in INGS and the mother in 18;8. John was raised on a farm. received a common school education, and at the age of 21, began business for himself, with a pair of willing hands for his capital, and by using them to good advantage, has ac- cumulated quite a fortune. He was married Nov. 21, 1855, to Prudence J. Cummins, daughter of George and Sarah Cummins, who came to Logan Co., previous to the war of 1812. From this union there are four chil- dren. Benjamin E., James O., Anis A. and Peter A. Mr. Detrick was in the late rebel- lion. He went out May 2, 1861, and received his discharge Sept. 2 of the same your. He was in Co. B. 136 0. V. I.

PHOEBA DUNSON. Bellefontaine, was born in Logan Co., O., in 1829; is daugh- ter of Joel and Elizabeth Thomas. She re- sided with her parents until her marriage, which was about 1819, to Benjamin Deer- wester, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio. From their union there were ten children, four of whom are now dead-Mary J., Louis, Sarah E., Elisa, Phoeba A., George, Joel, Rachel E; two also died in infancy. Mr. Deerwester died in 1863, and she was again married in 1815 to William Donson, she be- ing his third wife. They live together about four years, when he died and sh. was for the second time left a widow. Her last husband was born in Logan Co,, in 1506. He was

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father of eleven children by his first wives. GEORGE E. EMERY, farmer; P. O., Belle- fontaine; was born in Chester Co., Penn., in 1846; is a son of James and Eliza A. Emery, who were natives of the same county in Pennsylvania; they came to Logan Co. in 1854. Mr. Emery was raised on a farm, and has followed farming principally for a busi- ness; he taught school four winters previous to his marriage; he took a commercial course and graduated at Poughkeepsie, N. Y .: was married in 1812 to Nancy Horn: she was born and raised in Logan Co .; from this union there is one child, Effie A. He has followed farming and stock-growing for a business since his marriage, and has been very successful; his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church, as are all her Folks. Mr. E. is a Republican.

JOIN H. EATON, farmer; P. O., Belle- fontaine; was born in Jefferson Co., Kentucky, Lune 14, 1828; is a son of William G. and Eli- zabeth Eaton, the father is a native of Wood- ford Co., and the mother of Shelby Co., Ky .; her maiden name was Bridgewater; her father, and also our subject's father, served in the war of 1812, and his grandfathers on both sides served in the Revolutionary war. In 1831, Mr. Eaton went with his parents to Shelby Co., Ind., and resided here with them until about 1846, at which time he began business for himself. Starting out at eighteen years of age, and no more of a start in life than his two hands and his thorough willing- ness to use them, he has been very success- ful. He followed various occupations, and of late years has been farming. He was married Dec. 16, 1858, to Smyra A. Runyan. She was born in Jennings Co., Ind. Her mother was a Branam, and a native of Kentucky, and her father was a native of New Jersey, and came to Indiana in a very early day. From this union there are three children, Charles S., Henry W., and Layton H. Mr. Eaton's father resided in Indiana until 1856, when he went to Illinois, where he died in 1814. He was a Baptist preacher, and preached the gospel for more than fifty years. The mother died in 1877. Mr. Eaton and wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church and aim to lead exemplary lives.

HENRY GOOD, farmer; P. O., Bellefon- taine; was born in Logan Co., March 16,

1828, and is son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Houts) Good, who were natives of Loudoun Co .. Va., and came to Logan Co. about 1820. They settled in Harrison Town- ship, one mile west of Bellefontaine, on the farin where Henry Good now lives. They purchased this farm in the woods and im- proved it ; the father and mother both died on this farm. Mr. Good spent his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, receiving a good education, and at the age of nineteen went to learn the carpenters' trade, a business he followed for about twenty years. He has lived on the old homestead most of his life, being away some ten or twelve years in bis earlier married life. He was married April 12, 1855, to Elizabeth King; she was born in Logan Co., April 27, 1833: her par- ents were natives of Kentucky and came to Logan Co., in a very early day, where they resided until their deaths. From their marriage there were six children, three of whom are dead. Maneroy .I., Jacob K .. John, Ella and Minnie E .; one of their ehil- ren died also in infancy. Mr. Good began business for himself entirely upon his own resources, and by hard work and proper economy, and the aid of an industrious wife, he has accumulated enough to keep himself and family without the necessity of hard work. He owns the old homestead which has been brought to its present excellent state of cultivation, principally by his own work.

WASHINGTON HAMER, farmer; P. O., DeGraff : was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1820; is a son of William and Margaret Ha- mer, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Green Co., O., in 1825, and in 1831 to Logan Co. Mr. Hamer remained at home during his youth; he was married Nov. 13, 1845, to Margarie Stewart, who was born in the adjoining county of Champaign. From this union there were two children, both of whom are now dead. His father died in 1863, and his mother in 18:1. Mr. Ilamer, by hard work and proper economy, has accumulated quite a fortune; he has always followed farm- ing and stock-growing for a business.

JACOB HORN, farmer; P. O., Bellefon- taine; was born in Preble Co., Ohio, in 1818; is a son of John and Nancy Ilorn, who were natives of Virginia, and came to Preble

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Co. in abont 1814, where they resided until 1828, when they came to Logan Co., where the family have ever since resided. The father died about 1864, and the mother is yet living on the old homestead, north of Belle- fontaine. Mr. Horn was raised on a farm, and has always followed farming and stock-growing for a business. lle has been more fortunate than the majority of people in the way of acquiring wealth; he began for himself, en- tirely upon his own resources, and is now in good circumstances, and has been able to give his children a good start in life. He was married April 2, 1844, to Eliza Lang, who was born in Washington Co., Pa., and came to Logan Co, with her parents about 1830. From this union there were six children, John 1 .. , William H., Nancy M., S. L., Columbia A. and Mary E. The mother of these chil- dren died Sept. 30, 1879. Mr. Horn and his entire family are members of the Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Republican. S. L. Horn, his married son, resides on the farm with him. He is a young man of fine abili- ities, and is much respected by all. He was married in November, 1822, to Margaret A. Makemson. Her father was born in Logan Co., and her mother was a native of Virginia. They have one child, Tiry W. S. L. has always followed farming for a business; also deals some in stock.

ALEXANDER B. HAZEL, farmer; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born in Maryland, in 1806; lus parents were natives of the same State, and where they died when he wasquite young. Hle was cast on the charities of the work when he most needed the care that only a parent can give. He came to Logan Co. with a friend when but 10 years of age, and has resided in the county ever since. The educa- tion he received was very limited. Left wholly upon his own resources in the world, he set diligently to work, and so gained in tim . something of a fortune. Ile began in the woods, and the farm that he now lives on was cleared and improved by him. He was married, in 1897, to Eliza Powell, who came i'm the State of Delaware to Logan to. in a very carly day. They had a family of nine children, five of whom are now dead. Mr. Hazel is one of the oldest surviving settlers of the umty. He came in 1818, one year Inodore the entity was organized, and has seen

all the changes that have taken place in the county in that time. Ile and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

EDWARD HAMSHER, farmer; P. (,, Bellefontaine; was born in York State in 1830. is a son of Peter and Abalina Hamsher, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They went to York State in 1820, and from there they went in 1834 to Michigan, coming to Logan Co., in 1831. where the parents died-the father in 1842, and the mother in 1828. Mr. Ilamsher was raised on a farm. and has always followed farming for a business. He was mar- ried, in 1854, to Margaret Houts, who was born in Logan Co. Her father was a native of Virginia, and came to the county in a very early day. From this union there is one chikl. James. The mother of this chill died in 1855. Mr. Hamsher never married again. Ile began business for himself a poor man, and by hard work and proper ceonomy has accumulated something of a fortune. The farm that he now lives on was cleared and improved by himself.

JJOHN HOUTS, farmer; P. O., Bellefon- taine: was born in Virginia, Jan. 25, 1299. llis father was born in Pennsylvania; went to Virginia when quite a young man, where he raised his family, and in 1816 came to Loran Co., John coming with him. The father died here in 1824. Mr. Houts spent his youth and early manhood with his parents, and received such an education as the common schools of those early days afforded. He was married twice; his first marriage was to Catharine Wise, in 1825. She was born in Switzerland, and came to America when 16 years of age. From this marriage there were ten children. She died March 27. 1842. Mr. Houts was again married, in 1813, to Elizabeth Shawver, who came from Virginia to Logan Co. in a very carly day, and from this marriage there Were four children. He yet hives on the farm that his father purchased on coming to the county, and which he cleared and improved. His second wife died June 15, 1855, Mr. Houts now is among the oldest settlers of the county, and has vivid recollections of the hardships of the old pioneer ..

JOHN M. HUBER, farmer; P. O., Bellefon- taine; was born in Logan C'o., Ang. 23. 1831; is a son of Joseph and Barbara A. Iluber, the father was born in Baden, Germany,

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and the mother in Ohio. The father came to America in 1830, and settled in Logau Co. in 1831; he was a shoemaker by trade, a business he followed for a great many years. John M. Huber resided with his par- ents until of age, learning his father's trade; he followed this business for about eleven years, and then went to farming, and has been farming for the last twenty years. He was married in 1859 to Sarah C. Moor, she was born in the county, her father was born in Licking Co., O., and the mother in Pennsyl- vania. They came to Logan Co. in an early dav. From this union there are eight children. Mr. Huber, by hard work and economy has gained a competency. His wife isa mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 87

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