USA > Ohio > Morrow County > History of Morrow County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
On the 19th of November, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. George to Miss Blanche Irwin, a daughter of William A.
749
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
and Jeannette (Richardson) Irwin. Her parents reside on their fine farm and country estate four miles north of Mount Gilead. Mrs. George's paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he came to Ohio in the days of the primitive pioneers and settled upon a wooded tract of six hundred and forty acres, or a square mile of forest land. His first dwelling place in this dense wilderness was a tent, which he occupied until he could throw to- gether a rude log hut; from these rude beginnings he advanced to prosperity along the rugged paths laid out for the pioneer of his day, and eventually became wealthy and prominent. William A., his son and the father of Mrs. George, inherited considerable of the paternal property, and now owns and operates a valuable farm on one hundred and fifty acres in Washington county. Mrs. George has a brother, Clarke Irwin, who lives on an adjoining homestead, as well as three sisters- Cora, Eva and Ina. By her marriage she has become the mother of Richard Irwin George, whose birth oc- curred on the 19th of September, 1904.
As an indication of the intimate connection of the two families with each other and their long identification with the history of Morrow county, it is suggestive to know that nine of Mr. George's great-great-grandfathers, great-grandfathers and grandfathers rest in its mellow and kindly soil; that his grandfather, E. P. George, and his wife's father, William A. Irwin, both served in the Civil war as members of Company G, One Hundred and Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and that the paternal great-grandfather, Henry George, was a soldier in the war of 1812, in whose naval fortunes the state of Ohio had so vital an interest.
BENTON E. GOODRICH .- On his fine farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres of most arable land in Washington township, Morrow county, Ohio, Mr. Benton E. Goodrich is turning his energy to good account and sinee engaging as an agriculturist his success has been on a parity with his well directed endeavors. In Har- mony township, Morrow county, on the 11th of June, 1858, occurred the birth of Mr. Goodrich, whose parents were Abner J. and Drucilla (Graham) Goodrich. He was the second in order of birth in a family of three children, the others of whom are Marion and William, both of this county. Abner J. Goodrich was engaged in farming during the major portion of his active career and he was summoned to eternal rest in 1869, his wife having passed away October 12, 1909, aged eighty-five years and six months. Mr. Goodrich was a soldier in the Civil war for about a year, and he received an honorable discharge. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Goodrich was a member of the Baptist church. Both are interred in Beulah cemetery in Congress township.
When cighteen months old Benton E. Goodrich accompanied his parents on their removal to Congress township, this county, IL
750
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
whose public schools he was educated. He remained at home until thirty-one years of age, at which time he was married and after that event he rented a farm in North Bloomfield township, on which he resided for the ensuing four years. In 1893 he pnr- chased a tract of forty acres in Washington township and subse- quently he purchased more land, so that he now owns and operates a fine estate of two hundred and thirty-five acres of highly culti- vated land. In politics he endorses the cause of the Democratie party and he has been honored by his fellow citizens with various local offices of trust and responsibility, among them being those of land appraiser, school director for the past four years, constable and justice of the peace. On the 8th of November, 1910, he was elected as a member of the board of infirmary directors. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Washington Grange, No. 1728.
On September 26, 1890, Mr. Goodrich was united in marriage to Miss Rosina Parks, who was born in North Bloomfield township, July 31, 1873, and who was reared and educated in Wood and Sandusky counties, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich became the par- ents of three children one of whom is deceased, namely : Calvin, born in 1892 and who died in infancy; Elmer A., born September 9, 1890, remains at home, as does also Drucilla JJ., whose birth of- enrred September 6, 1898.
Mr. Goodrich has been a hard worker all his life and he is a good manager and a good financier. He is a man of broad informa- tion and mmich kindliness of spirit and he and his wife are num- bered among the best known and most influential citizens of this county.
BURTON C. RAMEY .- It is but miete that in a history of the careers of representative citizens of Morrow county, Ohio, be ne- corded recognition to him whose name initiates this review. Mr. Ramey has resided on his splendid country estate in South Bloom- field township during practically his entire life time, and the same is one of the model farms in this section of the country. It com- prises one hundred and forty-four acres and is in a high state of cultivation, the substantial buildings and general air of thrift which pervades the place being the best evidence of Mr. Ramey's ability as a practical agriculturist.
Burton C. Ramey is a son of Alonzo Ramey and he was born on a farm in Knox county, Ohio, on the 4th of January, 1868. Alonzo Ramey was a grandson of Peter Kile, one of the oldest settlers in South Bloomfield township, and he was born in 1842, a son of T. A. and Melinda (Kile) Ramey. Peter Kile was the father of ten children, namely : John Reason, Melinda (Mrs. T. A. Ramey), Simon, Washington, Ransom, Harvey, Catherine, Mary E. and Wiliam W. Alonzo Ramey was one in a family of six child- ren : Alonzo, Armida, Washington, Brown, Emmett and Orpha. He farmed until he was twenty years of age and he then, in 1862,
751
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
enlisted as a soldier in the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving with all of gallantry and faithfulness for a period of ten months, at the expiration of which he was so reduced by disease that he was discharged and mustered out of service. Thereafter he was an inmate of the parental home until his marriage. October 4, 1864, to Miss Sarah A. Mortley, a niece of David Mortley, who wrote the constitution of Ohio and who was long aetively connected with the progress and development of the old Buckeye state. Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Ramey became the parents of two children : Delma. born July 9, 1865; and Burton C., the subject of this review. Mr. Ramey passed his life as a farmer and he resided upon the old Peter Kile estate until his death, Mareh 3, 1907.
Mr. Ramey, of this notice, was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm, in the work and management of which he early became associated with his father. His educational advantages consisted of such privileges as were afforded in the public schools of his native place and after his marriage, in 1890, he assumed active charge of the old home farm, upon which he has resided during the long intervening years to the present time. This estate was the first tract of land to be entered in this section of Morrow county, the original owner having been Peter Kile, great- grandfather of Mr. Ramey. It is interesting to note that Mr. Ramey has in his possession the old sheep-skin deed, signed by President James Monroe, which Mr. Peter Kile received when he settled here. Diversified farming and the raising of high-grade Delaine sheep occupy Mr. Ramey's working hours and he holds prestige as one of the most successful farmers in this vieinity.
On the 9th of October, 1890, Mr. Ramey was united in mar- riage to Miss Belle Bockover, who was born and reared at Sparta, the date of her nativity being the 25th of December, 1872. She is a daughter of James and Mary Boekover, of Chester township. Mr. and Mrs. Ramey have one son, Homer A., whose birth occurred on the 2nd of March, 1892. He was graduated in the Sparta High School as a member of the class of 1908 and for one year was a student in the Parkville University, at Kansas City, Missouri. He is now engaged in teaching in the public schools of this county and in the same is achieving marked success. He has remarkable talent in public speaking and is known throughout this section of the state as the young boy orator. He has a magnetic voiee and per- sonality, has a wonderful command of language and his eloquent manner of presenting his speeches has been the means of winning to him numerons medals in the various contests in which he has participated. In August, 1906, he was presented with a silver medal at Sparta; in the following October he won a gold medal at Mount Gilead; in August, 1907, at Levering, Ohio, he won the grand gold medal in the Women's Christian Temperance Union contest ; at a contest at Steubenville, Ohio, he won second place : and in November, 1907, he was chosen from seven candidates as
752
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
the winner of the diamond medal at Nashville, Tennessee. In the last-mentioned contest seven states were represented: Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Texas, and the finals were held at Nashville, Tennessee, on the 9th of November 1907. In this contest Mr. Ramey was awarded the diamond medal and he had the honor of meeting personally the governor of Tenn- essee, who heartily congratulated him for his success. A brilliant future is predicted for this gifted son of Ohio.
In his political adherency Mr. Ramey accords a stanch alle- giance to the cause of the Republican party and he is an ardent sympathizer with all measures and enterprises advanced for the general welfare of the community. In a fraternal way he is con- nected with the Sons of Veterans at Mount Vernon, Ohio. He and his wife are popular and prominent factors in connection with the best social activities of their home township and hold a secure vantage ground in the confidence and esteem of their fellow citi- zens. Mr. and Mrs. Ramey have four of the old parchment deeds, the oldest one being signed by President James Monroe, April, 1819. Two of 1834, are signed by President Andrew Jackson, and the other signed by President John Quincy Adams. This makes twelve of the old heirloom deeds found in Morrow county and they are valuable documents.
WILLIAM J. LANGDON .- Among the native sons of Morrow county who have shown full appreciation of its attractions and ad- vantages and have here found ample scope for productive effort in connection with the great industry of agriculture is Mr. Lang- don, who is one of the progressive farmers and stock-growers of Gilead township, where he owns ninety acres of the old homestead farm on which he was born and where he occupies the residence in which he was ushered into the world on the 2d of August, 1876.
William J. Langdon is a son of Samuel and Hattie (Jaggers) Langdon, the former of whom was born in St. Joseph county Michigan, where his parents settled in the early pioneer days, and the latter of whom was born and reared in Licking county, Ohio, their marriage having been solemnized on the 23d of March, 1865. Of the three children it may be recorded that Robert, the eldest of the number, is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Morrow county ; Nellie died at the age of ten months; and William J., of this sketch, is the youngest. The father is a resident of Mor- row county and an agriculturalist. His wife died April 4, 1910. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Samuel Langdon is numbered among the prosperous farmers and representative citizens of Gilead township and is influential in local affairs of a public nature. He was a child at the time of his father's death and was reared to manhood in the home of Robert Stanley, of Morrow county, Ohio, whither he came in the year 1839. He remained on the farm of his foster-father
753
IIISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
until he had attained to his legal majority, and in the meanwhile he attended the district schools during the winter terms, when his services were not in requisition in connection with the work of the farm. When twenty-two years of age, in company with two other young men, he went to Iowa, making the overland trip with team and wagon, and in Mahaska county, that state, he secured a quarter section of government land. He remained in Iowa five months and then returned to Ohio, where he finally purchased a farm, but at the age of twenty-eight years he returned to Michigan, his native state, where he remained four years, at the expiration of which he sold the farm which he had there acquired and came again to Ohio. In 1874 he purchased the fine homestead farm in Gilead township, Morrow county, and this owes the major part of its ex- cellent improvement to his well directed energies and good manage- ment. He has had boundless capacity for work and he won success through the legitimate application of his excellent mental and phy- sical forces, the while his life in all relations has been guided and governed by lofty principles of integrity and honor. His name merits an enduring place on the roll of the sterling citizens who have lived and labored to goodly ends in Morrow county.
Willian J. Langdon was reared to manhood on the homestead farm which he now owns and its discipline was most benignant, giving him an enduring appreciation of the dignity and value of honest toil and endeavor. The public schools of his native town- ship afforded him his early educational advantages, and he con- tinued to attend school at intervals until he was twenty years of age, his training having included a partial course in the high school in Mount Gilead. As a boy he began to assist in the work of the home farm and he has continued to be associated in its work and management. IIe has been the owner of ninety acres of the old homestead since 1910, and in thrift and enterprise, as well as in personal integrity, he has well upheld the prestige of the name which he bears. He gives his attention to diversified agriculture and the raising of excellent grades of live stock, and, as already stated, is one of the representative farmers of his native county, where his circle of friends coincides with that of his acquaintances.
Liberal and public-spirited as a citizen but never ambitious for political office, Mr. Langdon gives his support to all measures advanced for the general good of the community. He was origi- nally a Democrat in his political proclivities but recently he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, of whose cause he has since been a stanch supporter, in so far as national and state issues are involved, while in local affairs he votes for men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. Both he and his wife are earnest and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Boundary, and he has served as class-leader in the same. On the 26th of November, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Langdon to Miss Emma Fogle, who was born in Harmony
754
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
township, this county, on the 6th of February, 1880, and who is a danghter of William Fogle, a representative farmer of that town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Langdon have three children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here noted : Ralph, June 5, 1900; Bertha, June 13, 1902; and Nellie, May 19, 1904.
MAHALA D. GORDON .- Among the many families of Chester township whose individual histories are pleasantly interwoven are eminent the families of Gordon and Gardner, of the former Mrs. Mahala Gordon, a venerable and much honored lady being a widely known and admirable representative. Her husband, the late Sid- ney Gordon, was born near Fredericktown, Ohio, June 24, 1831. He was the son of William and Mary (Hedden) Gordon, the former of whom was a native of Manchester, England, and the latter of New York. Sidney's brothers and sisters were Nelson, Elmer, Emeline, Marvin, William, Melissa and Hannah.
Sidney Gordon's father ran away from home in England at the age of seven years, because of a whipping administered to him by his father, joining his uncle on a whaling expedition and re- maining for some time upon the "bounding main." A number of years later he enlisted in the English army as a private, this step at first greatly incensing his father, who was a rich silk manufac- turer and who desired to have him go into business. One day when his company was lined up for roll call, an officer rode up in front of the ranks and called out the name of William Gordon, summon- ing him to headquarters. He went in fear and trembling, antici- pating trouble, but he was agreeably surprised to learn that he had been promoted to a lieutenancy, the rank having been pur- ehased for him by his father. He was a good soldier, doing serv- ice for over seven years and being finally promoted to the rank of captain. The English government offered a large reward to the man who would kill their enemy, Napolean Bonaparte, and upon one oceasion upon the battlefield young Gordon was near "The Little Corsican" and had an excellent opportunity to do his country the great service. As he was raising his musket, Bona- parte saw him and gave him the sign of the Orangemen. This had the desired restraining effect as Gordon was of that order. Fear- ing the English government would learn of his failure of duty, he left the army after peace was declared aud sailed for America, his mother previously packing a Bible among his effects, which is one of the chiefest treasures of the Gordon home at the present day and which bears upon the fly-leaf, "Published in Cambridge, England, 1760." William Gordon was a man of fiery temper and unbending will, but he was possessed of sterling principles. His experiences with the Catholics in the Irish insurrection made him ever after on his guard against them, and he sometimes referred to them as a foe which never slept. One feautre of a remarkable life was the fact that he lived to amazing length of years, being one
755
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
hundred and nine years of age at the time he was summoned to the Great Beyond. He engaged in agriculture and resided during his life in America in New York, New Jersey and Ohio.
Sidney Gordon, a son of the foregoing, married Miss Mahala Gardner, who was born September 12, 1833. She was the daughter of John and Rachel (Mockabee) Gardner, natives of Ohio, and besides a sister, Martha, she had three brothers, Nelson, Charlie and Melville, who were soldiers in the Civil war, their service extend- ing over nearly the entire period. Sidney Gordon, like his father, was a valient soldier, enlisting at the time of the war between the states as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His wife was left with six small children bravely to face the problems of existence during his absence.
After the marriage of Sidney and Mahala they resided for ten years with the parents of the former. They then removed to Iowa, where they purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land, but they remained in the new state only about a year. They re- turned at the desire of Father and Mother Gordon, who wished to feel that they were near them in their old age, and the younger people cared for the older for thirty years, for they lived to an advanced age. William Gordon's wife was a venerable lady of wonderfully sweet and kind disposition and during the thirty years in which her children lived with her they never knew her to be angry.
Sidney and Mahala Gordon became the parents of seven child- ren : Rosa, the eldest who died at the age of thirty-six years ; Helen ; John, Herbert, Charlie, Sidney and Mary. Helen married Robert Zolman and resides at Pulaskiville, their offspring being Walter, Eddie, Freeman, Lloyd, Maud and Grace. John, who makes his home near Chesterville, married Lucy Selover and their children are May, Maud, Ada and Harry, Herbert married Gustavia Me- Laughlin and their residenee is in Butler, Ohio. Charlie married Elizabeth Ackerman and is the proprietor of a furniture store at Mansfield. They have one son, Fred. Sidney resides on the old home place. He married Lola Squires, who, dying, left one daugh- ter, Bertha. He was married a second time, Maggie Hartman be- coming his wife. Mary became the wife of L. B. Shurr, proprietor of Rogers Lake, a popular summer resort. The demise of the elder Mr. Gordon oceurred on August 28, 1905, and his widow oeeupies their home in Chesterville, surrounded by hosts of friends. She and her family have ever been held in high esteem and are regarded as of the finest type of citizenship.
JOHN W. GARBERICH .- Holding a place of prominence among the more intelligent and progressive agriculturists of Morrow county stands John W. Garberich, who is known throughout this section of the Buckeye state as a successful horse breeder and Vol. II-16
756
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
trainer, a subject to which he has given much thought and atten- tion and on which he is considered an authority. His fine farm is beautifully located in Washington township, about six miles southwest of Galion, and is well equipped and well kept, everything about the premises indicating the thrift, industry and keen jndg- ment of the proprietor. He was born April 24, 1868. in Polk township, Crawford county, Ohio, a son of Isaac Garberich.
His grandfather, John Garberich, was born and reared in Germany. Immigrating to the United States, he lived for a while in Pennsylvania. In 1829 he came with his family to Ohio, locat- ing in Crawford county when it was still in its virgin wildness, two small log cabins being the only buildings standing on the pres- ent site of the beautiful city of Galion. He had the distinction of being among the first white man to settle west of Galion, and it took him and his helpers two days to cut a way through the track- less woods to the homestead two miles distant, which he secured from the government. Taking up one hundred and sixty acres of dense woodland, he made an opening in which to erect a log cabin and began the improvement of a farm from the forest. He suc- ceeded well, and about 1831 or 1832 he erected a brick house. which is still standing, manufacturing the bricks on his farm. Endowed with true German thrift, he succeeded in his agricultural labors, and was known as one of the best and most progressive farmers of his times. He married Elizabeth Ruhl, also a native of the Fatherland, and to them were born seven children, Isaac having been one of the younger members of the parental household.
As soon as old enought to wield an axe or hoe, Isaac Garberich began to assist his father in the pioneer task of hewing a farm from the wilderness, remaining at home until ready to establish a house- hold of his own. He then bought land adjoining his father's estate, and was there engaged in general farming during his remaining days. To him and his good wife, whose maiden name was Susan Smith, nine. children were born, namely: Martha, wife of Henry Hagerman, of Tiro, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Amos Dice, of Galion ; Ella, wife of George Hesser, of Crestline; W. O., of Stillwater, Oklahoma; B. F., engaged in farming on the old homestead; Eva, wife of Cal McClure, of Crawford county; Bertha, wife of Frank Kieffer, of Crawford county; Minnie, wife of John Albright, of Pennsylvania ; and John W., the subject of this brief personal record.
Brought up on the home farm, John W. Garberich in common with the boys of his neighborhood attended the district school throughout the days of his youth, in the meantime becoming famil- iar with the different branches of agriculture. Choosing the oc- cupation of his ancestors, he saved his money and at the age of twenty-five years bought a farm in Whetstone township, Crawford county, where he carried on general farming and stock-raising with excellent pecuniary results until the spring of 1907. Dispos-
-
-
757
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
ing then of that property, Mr. Garberich purchased two hundred and twelve and one-half acres of land in Washington township, Morrow county, six miles southwest of Galion, where he has since resided. His improvements and appointments are among the best in the vicinity, his stables and barns being models of convenience and comfort, and his buildings especially adapted to his needs as a stock raiser and farmer. Mr. Garberich is a lover of animals, and in the breeding and raising of horses has had excellent success. He has in his stables some of the finest Percheron and Belgium horses to be found in the country, and is justly proud of his stud. He also breeds cattle and hogs, keeping the Jersey-Duroc hogs and Hereford cattle.
Mr. Garberich has been twice married. He married first Eliz- abeth Kieffer, a bright and charming woman who at her death in 1899 left five children, namely : Walter, Irving, Mildred, Clyde and Frankie, all of whom are at home. Mr. Garberich married second Laura B. Shoemaker, and to them one child, Robert, has been born. Politically Mr. Garberich is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public honors. Socially he belongs to the Galion Grange. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Garberich are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Iberia.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.