History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Part 139

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 139

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John and Elizabeth ( Blizzard) Corson were the parents of Benjamin F. Corson, and to them were born eight children. four of whom are now living. John Corson was born on September 30. 1809. in the state of Virginia, and when two years of age, came to Ohio with his parents and during these early pioneer days he grew to manhood in Fayette county, Ohio. In the year of 1862. he again changed locations and removed to Madison county, Ohio, and two years later he selected the farm in Range township for a permanent home, and on this property he farmed until his death in 1875. With a mechanical turn of mind. John Corson had learned the carpenter's trade when a yonng man, and with this important accomplishment. so necessary for the providing of shelter for man and beast. he constructed his own buildings.

In 1813, in Madison county, Ohio. Elizabeth (Blizzard) Corson, the mother of Ben- jamin F. Corson. was born. She died at the advanced age of seventy-two years, in 1885.

Content to remain one of the multitude, who, from agricultural pursuits, have made possible the permanent prosperity of this nation, Benjamin F. Corson, with wise judg- ment, secured an ample education in the district schools of Range township and in Fayette county, Ohio, and remained on the old farm, purchasing from the heir his mowned interest in this valuable estate. at the time of his mother's death in 1885. This farm consists of one hundred and seventy-two acres, located in Range and Paint townships. Ohio.

At the age of twenty-seven years, Benjamin F. Corson joined his fortune to that of Louise Ellars, who was born in 1847, in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, and who remained his faithful. capable, loving companion during their many years together, until her death on May 7. 1913. From this union three children were born, Ernest, living on the home place: Edna. deceased, and Emmet. located in Paint township. Ohio.

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Politically, Benjamin F. Corson is a consistent Democrat. He is a regular church attendant. Officially he has faithfully served the interests of his community, for four years, as township trustee.

To this man, Benjamin F. Corson, reared in the days of hardship and struggle, too much commendation cannot be bestowed, for he has wrought out his life in honest endeavor and ultimate success, with a spirit of tenacity and a well-regulated mind. He has achieved much for his family and himself and, in that achieving, will leave to posterity the culmination of his labors, which has reduced the virgin forest to the home of comfort, connected with all the modern utilities of the present age.

IRA CONVERSE.

Ira A, Converse, farmer, Plain City, Ohio, was born on March 29, 1844, in Darby township, Madison county, Ohio, and is a son of Cyrus D. and Harriet ( Whitman) Converse. He was educated and reared in Darby township, and after leaving school he followed farming until about 1862, when he divided his time between farming and teaching school. He went to the Civil War in Company B, Sixty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went with his regiment to Virginia. He was twenty years old when he went to war, and twenty-two when he returned. Mr. Converse is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Plain City, Ohio, and also belongs to the Grange of Darby township. His farm of eighty-five acres is classed with the best land in Ohio, but was originally a swamp.

The parents of Ira Converse were Cyrus D. and Harriet ( Whitman) Converse. Cyrus Converse was born on September 5, 1814, and was as on of Jeremiah and Malinda Darby. Cyrus D. Converse was reared in the neighborhood of Plain City, Ohio, where he attended the common schools. He lived there until fifty years of age. when he moved to near London, Ohio, and lived on a farm, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Converse died on March 18, 1900, and his wife, Harriet ( Whitman) Converse. died on November 9, 1914. They were united in mar- riage on November 6, 1836, and were the parents of three children. Hiram K. mar- ried Ellen Morelook, by whom he had five children. His death occurred on September 22, 1914. Louisa M. became the wife of Lncius Burnman. She died in 1862, leaving surviving, her husband and two daughters. Ira A. is the subject of this sketch.

The paternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Malinda (Darby) Converse. Jere- miah Converse was a son of Jeremiah Converse, Sr., who was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War. and a native of Vermont, the family, including Jeremiah. Jr., came from Vermont to Darby Plains in 1814, locating southwest of Plain City, Ohio, where they bought land, and where Jeremiah Converse. Sr., lived until he passed to the "great beyond." Malinda (Darby) Converse, his wife, was of English lineage. Her family came from Vermont at an early day, and settled in Ohio. To Jeremiah, Jr., and Malinda (Darby ) Converse, were born ten children. Jeremiah, Cyrus D., Erastus, Lemuel. Zelotos. Malinda. Lucius, Rosannah, Rhoda and Samantha.

The Converse family originally came from France, and the great-grandfather on the paternal side. Jeremiah Converse, Sr., came from Vermont to Plain City. He was the father of fourteen children-twelve sons and two daughters.

Ira A. Converse was united in marriage on September 15, 1867. to Alma Lingo- felter, a native of Montgomery county. Illinois, where she was reared, receiving her education in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Converse settled in Darby town- ship, where ' Mrs. Converse died on March 23, 1912. To this union were born five children, four of whom are living. Cyrus D. was married to Mariah Nunameker ; Anna was a student in the high school, and is now the wife of Ernest Chapman, and they live in Mississippi; Emma, the wife of Charles Andrews, was a graduate

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of the Plain City high school; Frederick II. married Hattie Giffins, and lives at Russels Point, Logan county, Ohio; Bertha is a graduate of the Milford Center high school, and is the wife of Sidney G. Young, of Darby township.

Ira A. Converse is a descendant of an honorable and upright old pioneer family of Madison county, Ohio, whose reputation he is still bearing ont. Mr. Converse is very fond of travel, and in 1912, he spent the summer in Europe, visiting Belginm, France, Germany, Holland, Italy. Switzerland, Scotland, England and the Azore Islands.

OSCAR W. FINLEY.

Near Plain City, Ohio, in Darby township, Madison county, is "Oak Lawn Farm," a tract of forty acres, owned by Oscar W. Finley, a prominent stockman and horse fancier, distinguished for having bred "Finley Boy," a standard bred horse with a mark of 2:15. Besides "Finley Boy," he has also bred many other fast horses and is a prominent citizen in this section of Madison connty.

Oscar W. Finley was born in Monroe township, Madison connty, October 25, 1878, the son of H. T. and Ada ( Dillon) Finley, the former of whom is still a resident of Monroe township and the latter died in 1915. H. T. Finley, a prominent farmer of Monroe town- ship, is the son of John Finley, who was an early settler in this township and who owned over eight hundred acres of land at one time. He was the father of seven children, four of whom are now living, Winfield S .. H. T., Wallace and Mrs. E. W. Fisher.

H. T. Finley was born in West Virginia and, by his marriage to Ada Dillon, was the father of five children, of whom three are now living. J. Tilden, who is a farmer in Monroe township; Oscar W., the subject of this sketch, and Faye W., who lives at home with her father. Bertha and Ethel are deceased.

Oscar W. Finley, who was reared on a farm in Monroe township and educated in the district schools, worked on the farm until reaching his majority, when he engaged in farming on his own responsibility.

On March 15, 1899, Mr. Finley was married to Gwendolyn Thomas, the danghter of Moses and Phoebe C. (Blessing) Thomas, who was born in Stokes township, Madison county, December 30, 1873, and who was educated in the public schools of Stokes town- ship, is the son of John Finley, who was an early settler in this township and who owned township on December 30, 1835, the son of William and Lavina (Beecher) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Virginia and came to Ohio when a young man. He was married in Fayette county and to him and his wife were born twelve children, four of whom are now living. E. S., who is a farmer of Madison connty; Jasper, who lives in Springfield, Ohio; Flora, who is the wife of William Blessing, of South Solon, in Madi- son county, and O. B., who is a professor of music in New York city. The deceased chil- dren are, Robert, who was a professor of music; William, who was a teacher and prom- inent in politics in this section of the state; Noah, who was superintendent of the Ohio Sailors and Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Xenia, and also warden of the Ohio state peni- tentiary, mayor of London and anditor of Madison county. The father of these children, Moses Thomas, was a farmer and stock breeder and raised many fine draft horses. He was prominent in local politics, especially in the councils of the Republican party. Phoebe C. Blessing was a descendant of Abraham and Catherine Blessing, who were pioneers in Fayette county and wealthy citizens of that ocunty. She was educated in the public schools and was the mother of nine children: Dora, the wife of George C. Adams; Amy, the wife of A. B. Mendenhall ; Amanda, who married R. W. Chapman; Lavina, who married D. S. McHenry ; Anstin B., who married Cora Linson; Gwendolyn, who is the wife of Mr. Finley; Carrie, who married J. M. Horney; Ralph W., who married Ada Burnham, and Ried, who married Ella Baer.

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After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Finley moved to a farm in Deer Creek township, which they rented for a time and then bought the farm in Darby township, where they now live. It is located one mile southwest of Plain City. Mr. and Mrs. Finley have one daughter, Ada C., born on August 31, 1904, who is now a student in the public schools.

Mr. and Mrs. Finley are members of the Presbyterian church. They are pleasant, affable people and prominent socially in the life of this community. Mrs. Finley is presi- dent of the Bible class of Plain City, Ohio, secretary of the Women's Club and vice-presi- dent of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Fraternally, she is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Plain City Lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah, of which she is a past noble grand. Mr. Finley votes the Democratic ticket.

THOMAS C. ENRIGHT.

Thomas C. Enright, who owns a magnificent farm of one hundred and eleven acres, located on rural route No. 6. out of London, in Paint township, Madison county, Ohio, was born near Rosedale, this county, December 1, 1869.

Mr. Enright is the son of Morris and Catherine (Sullivan) Enright, the former of whom was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and the latter of whom was born in County Cork, Ireland. The former came to the United States when a young man and settled in Ohio. The mother came with her elder sister when a young woman. Mr. and Mrs. Morris Enright were married in London, Madison county. They had nine children, eight of whom are living. Mary died at the age of twenty-three; Thomas C. is the subject of this sketch; Jeremiah lives at Dayton; John also lives at Dayton ; Daniel lives at Buffalo, New York; Nellie lives at Dayton; Morris lives at Dayton; Joseph lives at Detroit, Michigan, and Margaret lives at Dayton. The late Morris Enright was a farmer all his life. He rented land in Madison county, and died here in 1911. Mrs. Morris Enright is living in Dayton.

Thomas C. Enright received a common-school education in the public schools of London and worked with his father on the farm. He was married on April 13, 1899, to Ella Gallagher, a daughter of John and Ann (Dean) Galagher. Mrs. Enright's father was born in County Sligo, Ireland, in 1826, and in 1847 came to America. After landing at New Orleans, he traveled to Cincinnati, where he remained for two years. Subse- quently, he removed to South Charleston, where his parents, Patrick and Ann (McDer- mont) Gallagher, had settled on coming from Ireland in 1849. . He engaged' with his father in working out a lease in that county, and after ten years took charge of the lease himself, on David Herold's farm. He worked there for six years, and then pur- chased one hundred and fifty-three acres and added to it until he owned at one time nearly twelve hundred acres of the finest land in Madison county. When he was twenty- five years of age; he married Bridget Gilmore, of Cincinnati, by whom he had one child, Mary Jane. She died in infancy, and, three months after the child's death, the mother died. One year later Mr. Gallagher was married to Ann Dean, of Xenia. Thirteen children, including two who died in infancy, were born to this second marriage. John lives in London ; Frank lives in London; Anna is the wife of Jerry C. Deneen, of Spring- field, Ohio; Catherine is the wife of William Dunn, of London; Margaret is the wife of Thomas F. Moor, of Columbus; Ella is the wife of Mr. Enright; James lives in London ; Thomas lives in London ; William died at the age of twenty-one; Edward died at the age of thirty; Mary is the wife of John Murray, of West Jefferson, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher died in 1912. They were members of the Catholic church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Enright there have been born five children, Mary, Anna, Joseph, Francis and Louise.

Mr. Enright owns one hundred and eleven acres of fine, well-improved land in Paint township. He is a general farmer and stock raiser, and has been very successful.

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Fraternally, Thomas C. Enright is a member of the Foresters lodge, No. 703, of London. He is a Democrat in politics and as such served as township trustee for one term. He was also school director for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Enright's .

family are members of the Catholic church.

GEORGE R. FITZGERALD.

The success of men depends upon character as well as upon knowledge, since it is a self-evident proposition that honesty is the best policy. Business demands confidence and, where it is lacking, business ends. In every community some men are known for their upright lives, strong common sense and moral worth, as well as for their success in the material pursuits of life. Neighbors and acquaintances respect them and the younger generation heeds their example. They win their way as a consequence of untiring energy and right principles. Among the citizens of Madison county. Ohio, who have won for themselves success in agriculture and who have been honored by their fellow citizens, is George R. Fitzgerald. of Fairfield township, who is at present one of the efficient commissioners of Madison county.

George R. Fitzgerald was born on September 11, 1851, in Fairfield township, Madi- son county, and is the son of Edward O. and Lacy Ann (Taylor) Fitzgerald, the former of whom was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, August 26, 1806, and the latter February 18. 1810, in Virginia. They were married on October 15, 1827.

Edward O. Fitzgerald was the son of Thomas and Mary Fitzgerald, the former of whom, it is said, was born on the ocean and the latter in Virginia. Thomas Fitzgerald, Sr., was a native of north Ireland and married Eleanor O'Farrel, with whom he inni- grated to America in 1778. They settled in Virginia and there lived and died. Thomas Fitzgerald. Jr., was the eldest child of his parents and was born in 1778, on the voyage to America. He was reared in the Old Dominion state and on September 13, 1799. was married to Mary Buffington, who was born on January 13. 1780. She was the danghter of William and Mary Buffington, natives of England, who immigrated to America about the same time as the Fitzgerald family and located in the same town, Romney, Virginia, where they remained until their deaths. Thomas and Mary ( Buffington) Fitzgerald were the parents of eight children, four of whom grew to maturity, William B., Edward, Eliza and Mary. Thomas Fitzgerald died on March 28. 1815, and his widow afterward married Jonathan Black. In 1827 they came to Ohio and settled in Madison county, where she died in 1873, at the age of ninety-three years. By her second marriage she had two daughters, Rebecca and Sarah Ann, both of whom have been dead for many years.

Edward Fitzgerald was the second child born to his parents. He grew to manhood in his native state and, after his marriage to Lacy Ann Taylor, the danghter of Edward and Margaret ( Means) Taylor, he started with his bride for the wilds of Ohio. Mrs. Edward Fitzgerald's parents were natives of Virginia, who lived and died in the Old Dominion state, the father in 1839 and the mother in 1854. Edward Fitzgerald and his bride undertook the journey to Ohio in 1827. They settled first near Newark, Ohio, where they remained until April 1. 1828, when they moved to Lancaster, Ohio. There they resided for one year. In April, 1829, they came to Madison county and settled on the old Fitzgerald farm. He first purchased one hundred and forty acres of land from General MeArthur and added to this by purchase until he owned over nine hundred acres of excellent land. He began life in a log house with a clapboard roof. which, however, was one of the best houses in the neighborhood. Before coming to Madison county, he built within a half-mile of the canal near Westfall.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fitzgerald were the parents of eleven children. among whom were the following: Margaret E., born on September 11, 1828. married Samuel Robin-

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son in September, 1849, and died on December 9, 1879, after having borne three chil- dren, two of whom, Edward J. and Mary E., still survive; Mary E., July 23, 1830, is the wife of W. L. Morgan ; Harriet, June 14, 1832, married Robert Alkire; William H., February 15, 1834; Sarah Ann, April 15, 1836, is the wife of Alfred Pringle; Warner T., November 2, 1838; Louisa, June 15, 1841, married Joel W. Byers; Lydia, March 23, 1849, is the wife of Elias Florence, and George F., the subject of this sketch.

The late Edward Fitzgerald held the office of justice of the peace for twenty years. He served as a member of the Legislature during the session of 1845 and 1846 and served as associate judge for two years. In addition to this he filled various township offices. At the time of his death. Julge Fitzgerald was one of the oldest surviving pioneers of Madison county and one of its mnost esteemed and worthy citizens. Mrs. Edward Fitzgerald died in February, 1389, and her husband on September 26, 1890.

George Fitzgerald received a common-school education and lived at home with his parents for many years, having been engaged in business with his father, buying and feeding sheep, frour about 1870 to 1888 After his father retired, Mr. Fitzgerald carried on the business alone for a number of year's. He has improved the farm by ditching and tiling and has built a commodious coun try house. He owns one hundred and four- teen acres of magnificent land and, fora Long time, has been engaged in raising a high grade of cattle.

On November 17, 1875, George Fizge was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, ar.W beth (Phillips) Crookhan, who spent tril of Emma ( Crookham) Fitzgerald was br by occupation. To this marriage there Warnie T., born on November 23, 1876, 1 where he owns a large ranch. They hav was born on June 27, 1878, and lives in brother-in-law, Frank Taylor.

rald was married to Emma Crookham, who ho was the daughter of Lawrence and Eliza- entire lives in Pickaway county. The father and reared in Ross county and was a farmer e born two children, both of whom are living, married Frank Taylor and lives in Montana, one daughter, Nancy J. Cecil, the second child, Lontana, where he is in partnership with his

On December 24, 1904, Mr. Fitzgerald was married, secondly, to Lottie Brown, a daughter of William and Hannah ( Smith) Brown, the former of whom was a native of Virginia and who settled in Pickaway county, Ohio, in an early day. He was mar- ried in Madison county and spent the greater part of his life in this county. He died many years ago. Mrs. Brown lives in Dayton, Ohio, with a daughter.

Before his election to the office of county commissioner, Mr. Fitzgerald served as trustee of Fairfield township and as school director during a period of fourteen years. He is now serving his first term as county commissioner, but has already been elected to the second term, a very high tribute to the efficiency of his administration and the satisfaction he has given to the taxpayers of Madison county.

DEWITT CLINTON BURNHAM.

Eminently prosperous on the list of progressive and up-to-date farmers of Madison county, stands the name of Dewitt Clinton Burnham, who is descended from good old pioneer stock, from whom he inherited the spirit of thrift and forceful determination. With such an inheritance and a good education, he began his life work on a more solid foundation than wealth alone could have given him. His reputation as an industrious worker and his splendid judgment along agricultural lines, attested by his present valuable acres, speak for his character of good citizenship.

Dewitt Clinton Burnham, farmer, Irwin, Ohio, was born on June 22, 1858, in Pike township, Madison county, Ohio, and is a son of Dwight and Sylvia (Mann) Burnham. He was reared to manhood in the township where he now resides, and where he received his early education, entering, later, Ohio . Wesleyan University at

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Delaware, Ohio. After completing his college course, Mr. Burnham very wisely selected agriculture as a means of making his way in the world, and has every reason for feeling well satisfied with his choice, since he is the present owner of a fine tract of land, consisting of four hundred and eighty-eight acres, the most of which is under cultivation. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, but has never taken an active interest in local politics.

Dwight Burnham, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born on July 5, 1830, in Pike township, and is a son of Darius Furnham. His wife was Sylvia Mann, by whom he had four children, all of whom are living in 1915: Ollie, Dewitt Clinton, Celia and Elizabeth. Ollie became the wife of T. E. Burnham (not related), and lives in Mechanicsburg; Celia became the wife of A: L. Mumma, of Mechanicsburg, and Elizabeth was married to C. R. Hunter, also a Resident of Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Darius Burnham, the paternal grandfather, fame from Vermont to Ohio, locating in Madison county, where he lived until flis duth. He was one of the pioneers of . the county.

Dewitt Clinton Burnham was united in - marr, ige on September 28, 1900, with Alice McAlliser. She was born in Union county, } Ohio where she received her education in 4 the district schools.

As a successful agriculturist, Mr. Burnhaïm tkes his place in the front ranks, and is known throughout the entire township asta jan of high principles in his dealings with his fellow men. )

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History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Part 139

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen
Number of Pages: 1150