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 98

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 98

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George Ronemus, father of Mrs. Clark Wilson, was born on February 12. 1824, in West Virginia, and is still living in 1915. At an early date, he learned the tailor's trade, which he worked at for a number of years in Plattsburg, Ohio, from where he moved to London in the same state, continuing in the merchant tailor business until 1911. His wife, Maggie (Ileaton) Ronemus, was born in October, 1843, at Plattsburg, Ohio, and was the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living in 1915; Florence, a graduate of the high school at London. Ohio; Fannie; Ella. also a graduate of the London, Ohio, high school, and is now the wife of Robert Woodhouse, of London; Arthur, who is married and lives at London; Louise, who became the wife of Elmer Miller, and resides at Lindsay, California ; Mabel, who was married to George Brown; and George, who is married and lives at London, Ohio.

Mr. Wilson is very well informed on the topics of the day. and his genial and companionable disposition have won for him a wide range of friends and acquaintances.

WILLIAM MORGRIDGE.

In Newburyport, Massachusetts, one of the early settlers was John Morgridge, a ship builder, who came from England. He remained but a short time at Newburyport, going to the town of Newbury, Massachusetts on the Merrimac river, locating at a place afterwards called "Morgridge Point." He had three sons, William, Samuel and John. Jolin died young at Newburyport without children. He was a person of quite some means. William was a close friend of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and was a member of the famous "Junto Club" of Philadelphia, organized by Doctor Franklin for public benefit. William Morgridge was the fifth member of the club, which had a membership of but twelve. Samuel, the eldest son of John Morgridge, also a shipbuilder, was a man of learning. He was much injured by a fall and afterward taught school for a number of years. He married Ruth Silvers, who came from Ireland and was sold for her passage, and to that union six children were born. He died, June 26, 1772, at Ames- bury, Massachusetts. The house in which Samuel Morgridge lived was a quaint old structure. It was taken down in 1857 and one of the panels of woodwork over the mantlepiece, on which is a rude painting of a ship on the stocks, with Indians at work as carpenters, is still preserved at the public library in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Previous to the Revolution slaves were lawful in Massachusetts and Samnel Morgridge owned several negroes who were employed about the shipyard during the daytime and lodged at night in the barn or woodshed adjoining the house. In the inventory of his estate, recorded at Salem, Massachusetts, there is one item of "three negroes, valued at £133 6s Sd." A great-grandson. George W. Jackman, now owns a portion of the ship- yards.

Richard Morgridge, youngest child of Samuel and (Ruth Silvers) Morgridge, was born at Amesbury, Massachusetts, November 18, 1771; lived with his mother until seven years of age and lived with a Mr. Coffin until twenty-one years of age. He had but little time to learn, but became a fair penman, made good progress in mathematics and

Respectfully Hours elBailey Morgige

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gained some knowledge of surveying. When he reached his majority, he left Massa- chusetts and went to Vermont. Wages were low there and he earned but five dollars a month, but land was also low and he worked and bought land. On May 1, 1800, he married Sallie Emerson, she being eighteen years of age, and they emigrated to Ohio in 1815 with their earthly possessions, all of which were contained in a wagon especially built for the occasion. The distance was great, nine hundred miles, and the roads new and in some places almost impassable, yet with a determined purpose, the pioneer lead- ing the way, the journey was accomplished and the 18th of September found the family sheltered in a small cabin in Licking county, every member afflicted with the ague. A year later, the father, by way of availing himself of the convenience and benefit of western institutions, sold all of his chattel effects, which, together with some currency, he converted into bills of the Muskingum Bank located at Marietta, then the leading bank of the state. Four days later, when in Newark, to which place he had gone to make some purchases, he learned that the bills were worthless, the bank having failed two days before.

It had been the intention of the Morgridges to locate in Hamilton county, but the sickness referred to prevented. In the fall of 1820 the family came to Madison county, settling on land upon which William Morgridge now resides, which had previously been bargained for with Walter Dun, then located at Chillicothe, to whom the early settlers of the county ever were grateful for the kind indulgences extended to them on overdue payments. In moving to this county, Richard Morgridge, impoverished as he was, had been compelled to contract some debts in procuring an outfit in the way of a team and implements to begin farming. For two years a general sickness prevailed in the locality, the seasons were unfavorable for crops and there was a great scarcity of money in the country. Therefore, the year 1824 still found him in debt and, with the expenses incident to the rearing of a large family, unable to pay. He was sued by his creditors, who in their eagerness to collect, sold him out, letting articles go at far less than their value, thus depriving him of the only means he possessed and which would have enabled him, in the near future, to have canceled their claims. When all was gone and the creditors unsatisfied (there being then no chattels or homestead exemption too sacred to be attached by execution, as now), the debtor explaining to the creditors that he had no more property or money with which to pay; in the presence of the harassed man's family the creditor said: "If that be so, I demand that you, Mr. Constable, lay upon the body of this debtor, Richard Morgridge, and take him forth- with into the jail of the county, as is my right and pleasure to do, and there keep him till my claim be fully satisfied."

The mother passed the remainder of the day and evening with tears in her eyes. At five o'clock in the morning on the day following, Richard Morgridge, the debtor, tired, wet and hungry by walking all the way from London in mind and rain, knocked at the door, and was unexpectedly but joyfully admitted. He not having provided for the expenses to the county, as the law required, was released. Under the hardships of a new country, the cares and wants of a large family and misfortune beyond his control. Richard Morgridge's health and resolutions gave way, never to revive, and he died on August 10, 1843.

Richard and Sallie (Emerson) Morgridge were the parents of nine children. Joshua Bailey Morgridge, the fourth son and the seventh of these children, in order of birth, was born on August 2, 1814, amid the beautiful hills of Vermont, in the town of Berlin. Washington county, three miles from Montpelier. He was but two years of age when the family emigrated from his birthplace to the wilds of Ohio and was five years old when the family settled in Madison county. Occasionally in his boyhood he went to school in the primitive log school house of the time, with its rude home-made

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furnishings and, in order to reach the school, had to go nearly two miles over the wet prairies. He only went to school about thirty-five days in the year, but was taught at home by his mother, and from her instructions learned more than he ever did at school. At the tender age of ten years the lad became independent, going out to work for his own living, and when fourteen years of age he was able to do a man's work, so vigorous, strong and industrious in his habits was he. He was an expert in handling the scythe and hand-rake in haying time, and with a rope used to haul the hay, to stack it in the field, plowing around the stock to keep the fire from it. The purposes and fixed resolutions of his life rushed to his mind on realizing the causes of his father's break-down and death. He then most fully realized that poverty was most humiliating and inconvenient : that debts and creditors were tyrants, and always strove to be free, at the same time advising all young men to avoid debts if they valued com- fort and hoped for freedom.

Joshua Bailey Morgridge, with the assistance and encouragement of his mother, from the period mentioned until 1833, and jointly with her, became the real owner of one hundred and thirty acres of the land bargained for by his father with Mr. Dun and under such circumstances that he was relieved of any fear of old creditors. About this time Joshua B. Morgridge was invited to teach the neighborhood backwoods district school, at nine dollars the month, which was then the customary salary for that honored position. Of books, up to that period, he had seen few and hardly owned any, his mother having been his principal instructor, he never having carried a slate. arithmetic, geography or atlas, history or grammar into a school-room. The little learning he had mastered was ample to serve as a test of his fitness for the position, which ordeal he safely passed, paid the required fee of twenty-five cents to the board of examiners, took charge of the school and remained employed in that capacity for eight or ten "quarters," among his pupils having been youngsters who later became successful as farmers. mechanics, inventors. machinists, surveyors, engineers, architectural draftsmen. mer- chants, sheriffs. county commissioners, lawyers, doctors, legislators, and, Mr. Morgridge used to recall. one minister, which as he jocularly was wont to remark, was perhaps an accident. Previous to and about this period of his teaching, Mr. Morgridge passed the summer seasons in herding cattle in droves of from two hundred to two hundred and fifty head on the then unfenced and unimproved wild prairies in the northern part of this county. and in this employment he made the acquaintance of many of the pioneer drovers, among whom were Comstock. Williams, the Weavers, Guy, Buell and Minor as well as the large graziers, the Gwynns. the Wilsons, Fullington and the Wildmans. Mr. Morgridge, believing that estates were, in the most instances largely the result of growth, directed his attention in main to the growing of young stock. and purchased, as he was able small parcels of land. His first venture as a drover was in the year 1840. when he purchased one thousand four hundred head of sheep. and drove them to the state of Wisconsin and there disposed of them to the pioneer settlers of that region, stopping ten or twelve days at Chicago, to graze the herd from the wild prairie thereabout. worth then only from five to ten dollars the acre. During the decade beginning with 1840, he was engaged in the cattle business, buying West and driving to the Northern and Eastern markets, and to the feeders in Pennsylvania, having to cross the moun- tains and ford and swim the intervening rivers. In 1859 hie drove cattle, which he purchased in Iowa, through on horseback to the city of Philadelphia and returned to Ohio on the same horse. He drove cattle in herds of one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty from Illinois to Philadelphia. the task requiring a period of twenty- five days to Ohio and from there. through the state of Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia, about forty-five days, at an expense of from two dollars and fifty cents to three dollars and fifty cents per head, swimming such rivers, on the course of the drives, as the

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Sangamon, Kankakee, Illinois and the Ohio. After 1850 Mr. Morgridge turned his attention more closely to his farm, which, in the meantime, he had increased in point of the number of acres, but added not much to its productivity.

The lawfully established roads in this locality then were very few and steps were taken by Joshua B. Morgridge in petitioning for better and more direct highways, and he became instrumental in the laying out and establishing of three county roads, in all about fifteen miles, which soon were found to be such useful roads that the county improved by piking and graveling them. The most urgent need of this region at that time was the draining of the lands, a task not so easily accomplished. A large tract of the country was so situated, including a large portion of the three townships, Darby, Canaan and Monroe, that any location of ditches less comprehensive than a system that would drain the whole, must have been a failure. To reconcile the views of some one thousand six hundred persons, owning not less than twenty thousand acres of land, some of whom were non-residents of the county, but none the less watchful and jealous, but mainly all neighbors, was no easy task; especially as each one, in justice, law and equity, was to contribute or be assessed, if the needed improve- ment was to be made. Without draining, this large tract of land was not only unhealth- ful, but almost useless for agricultural purposes. Notwithstanding the difficulty and the unpleasantness of the task, the individual as well as the public or common interest Mr. Morgridge had in this matter, impelled him to draw up and present petitions to the county commissioners of the county at different times, though all having the same object in view, a complete system of necessary drainage eventually was adopted and constructed, including a public county ditch, twenty-two miles in length, with more than that length of tributary private ditch, at a cost of nearly two hundred thousand dollars, which has been of incalculable benefit, as the lands thus drained have enhanced in value from twenty-six dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars the acre, the once practically worthless land now being second to none in any part of the state. All unkind feelings and differences of opinion or grievances over unequal assessments and benefits were reconciled in Mr. Morridge's lifetime and this, too, without any deplor- able or fatal results, except in one instance.

Joshua Bailey Morgridge, or "Bailey," as he was commonly known, prospered largely and was truly grateful to Providence for what he received and proud, too, of the improvement the county made; but prouder, as he often said, "of that representative of our county who was mainly instrumental in the repeal of that barbarous law that sent my father to the jail of my county for no crime but debt." Bailey Morgridge turned his attention to farming and became one of the large land owners of the county, at the same time becoming a prominent factor in local politics. He helped to organize the first Farmers' Alliance in the county and was present at the great Farmers' convention at Galion in 1890, having been active in its deliberations, as one of the committee on resolutions. He was sent as a delegates to Cincinnati when the People's party was formed and in the compaign of 1891 he was nominated by that party for state senator, to represent the district composed of Madison, Clark and Champaign counties. He was endorsed by the Democratic central committees of the three counties, but the district was so overwhelmingly Republican that he was defeated at the polls. Mr. Morgridge was a delegate to the great labor convention held at St. Louis in 1892. He was a welcome speaker at farmers' institutes and similar gatherings, and his practical and interesting addresses, replete withi useful information and containing frequent happy hits, were of much benefit to his fellow farmers. He served as delegate-at-large to the Omaha convention, the first held by the People's party to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President, and in 1892 he was a candidate on that ticket for Con-

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gress from the seventh congressional district, comprising the counties of Madison, Pickaway, Fayette, Clark and Miami.

In Plain City, this county, on February 17, 1852, Joshua Bailey Morgridge married Harriet Ilost Tuttle, a native of Darien, Connecticut, and to this union were born eight children, all of whom are living at this writing. Mr. Morgridge died at his "Hickory Grove Farm." April 10, 1893, of pleurisy. His earnest and devoted helpmate had pre- ceded him to the grave about four years, her death having occurred on March 21, 1889.

Mrs. Bailey Morgridge was born on September 23, 1823. Her mother died when she was nine years of age, and she and a sister and brother came with their father to Ohio in 1836, locating near Dublin, in Franklin county, on a farm which the father bought and owned for many years. Mr. Tuttle was in comfortable circumstances and the children knew little of the hardships many families at that early day were compelled to endure. She was an ambitious, studious girl, and was carefully educated at the academy in Worthington, Ohio, the associations and acquaintances made during this educational period, in after years being productive of pleasant memories. She taught school in the villages of Pleasant Valley, Dublin and Amity for ten years, during which time she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Weatherington, who kept the hotel in Pleasant Valley, and a pleasant, cheerful place it was for the travelers who came by stage coach over the postroad.

Harriet Tuttle was prepossessing in looks and engaging in manners. She was a gifted conversationalist, possessing a voice of rare charm and a remarkable memory which made her eminently fitted for her vocation as teacher. Those gifts, which were a pleasure to her friends in her maiden days, were none the less valned in the home on the Darby Plains, when there were many years filled with the routine of domestic duties incidental to the rearing of a large family and the care of the farm help, a part of every farmer's household, that being before the days of maids or house servants in this section. The farm help mainly was recruited from the ranks of immigrants from the old country, and many were the letters Mrs. Morgridge wrote for those boys to sweethearts or home folks. As time passed and these men became settled on the farm, her interest in those new families was always maintained. She saw to it that a way was provided for them to go to the church, and that the babies were properly christened. West Jefferson, twelve miles away, was the nearest trading point and place for church attendance. and the farm team and wagon usually were pressed iuto service. Never were the material wants of these dependent families overlooked. A garden plot, orchard or potato patch. and a cow were considered essentials and were freely supplied.

Letters in the possession of the family, written by Mrs. Bailey Morgridge to her husband more than a half century ago, pertaining to those days when business called him to the Western cattle country for many weeks each year. are long, interesting missives, full of the affairs of the day, but deploring his long absence from home and children and expressing the utmost confidence in his judgment in the farm manage- ment. Those letters were written in even close lines, beginning rather formally and ending with expressions of great love and respect. Then would come the long winter evenings spent around the great wood fire. When the children were quieted the mother would read aloud the papers to the father and the hired men. Frequently some one of the neighboring families would come in to hear the news read. At "Hickory Grove Farm." where her whole married life was lived, Mrs. Morgridge took much pride and pleasure in the upbuilding of the home, which stands today as a memorial to a useful and well-spent life. For her Dublin friends and for the people bearing the imprint and atmosphere of her native New England home she ever cherished a deep sentiment and strong affection. She was a loyal church woman, and her life was full of good works.

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Algernon Sydney Morgridge, the youngest child of Richard and Sallie ( Emerson) Morgridge and brother of Bailey Morgridge, was unmarried and lived on his farm, his mother and an unmarried sister making their homes with him. He was very fond of his brother Bailey's children, and gave his home place to Hotchkiss Morgridge, eldest son of his brother. Hotchkiss Morgridge was named for Mr. Hotchkiss, of New Haven, Connecticut, who married Mary Sawyer, of Madison county, a life-long friend of Bailey Morgridge. Bailey Morgridge now lives on a farm in Kansas on the banks of the beautiful river Elk, a part of his farm being in the corporation of Longton. He mar- ried Miss Rice, and they have two children, Hotchkiss II and Luluvon.

William Morgridge, the subject of this sketch, and the sixth child and second son of Joshua Bailey and Harriet (Tuttle) Morgridge, lives at the old homestead, which is built on the land for which his grandfather, Richard Morgridge, bargained before 1820, and which his grandmother, Sallie Morgridge, and her children afterwards bought, part of the residence having been built by his grandfather, between 1830 and 1835. William Morgridge is a successful farmer, stock raiser and feeder, and is trying to improve his farms by draining and fertilizing so that they may be more valuable and productive. He has always been in favor of public improvements, believing that they are a benefit to all the people.

On March 4, 1893, Willian Morgridge was married to Effie Roseberry, a school teacher of Madison county, eldest daughter of Ebenezer Taylor and Mary (Carter) Roseberry, of Pike township, this county, to which union two children have been born, Paul William, born on December 2, 1894, and Emerson Roseberry, July 10, 1897.

Ruth Morgridge, daughter of Joshua Bailey and Harriet (Tuttle) Morgridge, mar- ried E. L. Williams, who was born near Granville, Licking county, Ohio. After leaving college, Mr. Williams moved to Plain City, where for several years he was engaged in the mercantile business. Later, he went to New York City and accepted a position with the Public Service Railway Company. He is now superintendent of that road. with headquarters in Jersey City, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one child, Rich- ard. named after his maternal great-grandfather, and who, also, is engaged in the railway service.

THOMAS F. HAFEY.

Numbered among the descendants of Irish lineage now located in Canaan township, Madison county, Thomas F. Hafey is doing his share in placing agricultural interests on a high plane of efficiency, the same principle being carried out in his stock-raising enterprise.

Thomas F. Hafey was born on February 9, 1871, in Fayette county, Ohio, a son of Jeremiah and Ellen (Kelley) Hafey. He attended the district schools and after the year 1897 began farming for himself. He took over the home place, paid off the indebtedness, and took care of his mother and sister, and now owns the entire home place, consisting of one hundred and twelve acres, located four and one-half miles southwest of Plain City, on the Converse road. Everything he possesses has been acquired entirely through his own efforts. In addition to his general farming interests. Mr. Hafey is greatly interested in the breeding of fine stock of various kinds, of which he owns a large number. He is a Democrat and takes an active interest in local politics, serving as school director for the past six years. Both Mr. Hafey and his wife are members of the Catholic church. He is one of the stockholders of the First State Bank at Plain City,

Jeremiah Hafey, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and his wife, Ellen (Kelley) Hafey, was born in County Cork, Ireland, She

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came to the United States and located in Fayette county, Ohio, and Mr. Hafey emi- grated to Ohio and settled in Clark county, near Springfield, where he was employed by the month, owning but little at the time of his marriage. He went to work with a will, and in due course of time he became the owner of a fine farm consisting of one hundred and twelve acres, located in Canaan township, all of which came through his own efforts. He came to America in 1866. and spent the remainder of his life in Canaan township. His death occurred in October, 1897, in Canaan township, Madison county, Ohio. His wife is still living, and resides in California. They were the parents of three children: Thomas F .; John, who died aged fifteen years; and Anna, who became the wife of R. W. Van Winkle and resides in California.

Thomas F. Hafey was. united in marriage, in June, 1912, with Alice Minogue. daughter of Michael Minogue, a native of County Carlow. Ireland. She was born on January 7. 1880, in Madison county, Ohio, and received her education at the district schools.

Michael Minogue, father of Alice ( Minogue) Hatey, came to America in 1859, and settled in Madison county, Ohio. He was married in 1868 to Elizabeth Sheehan, a native of County Limerick, Ireland, who was born on April 1, 1846, and who came to America with her parents in 1847. Mr. Minogue was a farmer. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are now living: Edward, James, Daniel. Mary, Margaret, Frances, Alice. Sarah, William and John are deceased, and two died in infancy.

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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 98

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