USA > Ohio > Noble County > History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 55
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term of service, July 20, 1865, serv- ing in the Atlanta campaign, the march to the sea, and all the cam- paigns of the regiment. Mrs. David Watson died in 1881, and in 1882 Mr. Watson married Mary E. Stew- ard, and by this union has had three children, two of whom are living- Cora and Garfield B.
John V. Watson, a leading farmer, was born in Seneca Township, in 1836. In 1857 he married Jane Mosser. Children : Jane A. (Mur- phy), Martha A. and Savannah J.
Aaron Vorhies, the oldest son of John Vorhies, the pioneer of Wayne Township, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1791, and came to Ohio with his parents about 1805. Ile served in the War of 1812, and served in the quartermaster's department, and in 1814 married Polly Dailey, a native of Virginia. Their children were John, Phebe and Eli, dead; Stephen, Keziah (Hook), Aaron, Peter, Josiah, Nathan and William, living ; Polly, deceased. Mrs. Vorhies died in 1840 and in 1841 he married Polly Shafer, who died in 1845. He afterward married Margaret Gordon, who bore four children: Nancy J. (Matheney), Sarah E., Eliza and Martha (Shafer). Aaron Vorhies died in 1861; his widow in 1875. The family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Aaron Vorhies, fourth son of Aaron and Polly (Vorhies), was born April 24, 1827. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age. He went to Iowa and remained a year, and in 1850 went with others to California, by way of the isthmus,
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there embarking in the first boat that Commodore Vanderbilt ran be- tween the isthmus and the " Golden Gate." He returned to Ohio in 1854, and in 1856 was married to Miss Rebecca Salada. They had one child, Lily J., who died in infancy. Mrs. Vorhies died in 1860, and in 1862 Mr. Vorhies married Emily Miley. To them were born seven children, five of whom are living: Hiley S., Annie, Mary Elizabeth, Joanna and Aaron D. The family belong to the Methodist church. Mr. Vorhies has been very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser and is one of the influen- tial men of his township.
Stephen P. Vorhies, third son of Aaron Vorhies, was born in this township in 1822. In 1845 he mar- ried Jane Keller. Their children living are Vincent, John W., Mary (Williams), Seth and Sadie M. Mrs. Vorhies died in 1878, and in 1879 he married Mary Yoho. Mr. Vorhies has lived in the county nearly all his life and has followed farming.
Ephraim Vorhies, a brother of Aaron, was the first settler in the vicinity of Mount Ephraim and was the founder of the village, which was named after him, also a mound- shaped elevation near the town. His brother Aaron located about a mile northeast, on the farm which his son Aaron still occupies, about 1815. They were worthy men and good citizens.
Peter Vorhies, one of the promi- nent farmers of Center Township, was born on the old homestead in 1829; his early life was spent upon the farm. He received a good common-
school education and for some years was engaged in teaching; farming, however, has been his occupation. He removed from Seneca to Center in 1870. He married, in 1851, Miss Mary, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Williams; they have two children: William L. and Elmer E. He is a Republican and a Metho.list, and one of the board of Infirmary directors.
Prominent among the early set- tlers were the Finleys, from Fayette County, Pa. In 1814 James Finley entered nearly five hundred acres of land in this township. His grandson, Milton, now lives on the old home- stead. He was the father of John, Eliza (Atwell), Jane (Riggs), Ebene- zer, Rachel (Dennison), William, James, Mary A. (McCune), Rebecca (Sawyer), by his first wife. His sec- ond wife was Mary Mckibben. He died in 1861 and she in 1879. John Finley, oldest son of James, was born in 1808. He married Emma Stout. Three of their children are living- Cynthia (Gregg), Milton and Eliza- beth (Crossen). John Finley died in 1872. Milton Finley enlisted in 1864 in Company B, First Ohio Cavalry, and served until mustered out Sep- tember 13, 1865.
Isaac Wilson settled in this town- ship in 1818. His descendants still remain in the county, in Seneca and Center Townships.
Among the early settlers were the Coen family. William Coen came from Pennsylvania at a very early date and was one of the pioneer shoemakers of this region. His son William, born in Pennsylvania in 1797, was. among the early settlers
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of Seneca Township. He married Elizabeth Brooks in 1818 and was the father of William, James, Martha, Joshua, Rachel, Samuel, Mary (Miley), Richard, Benjamin, Elisha, Jacob and Sarah J. (Meighen). Ile aft- erward married Martha Johnson for his second wife, and was the father of Elizabeth (Miley), deceased, Nan- cy, Letitia, Rebecca (Snyder), and John, deceased. William Coen, the father, died in 1875.
George Secrest and family came from Frederick county, Va., about 1821. He entered land in section 19. Ilis children were Joseph, Henry, Sarah (Cather), Annie (Salada), Spade and Mary (('line). Henry Secrest, the second son, was born in Virginia in 1796, and came to Ohio when about twenty-four years of age. He died in May, 1882, and his wife in June, 1882. Their children were Henry, John, William, Eliza- beth (deceased), Ann (Strong, de- ceased), Sarah (Laughlin), Eliza (Murphy), Amy (Moorehead), Cath- arine (Thomas), Maria (Steel), Rachel (Hellyer).
William Secrest, born in 1829, married Willeann Wood, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1851. Children : John H., Frederick, William, Cath- arine, Sarah (Sawyer), Jacob N., Anna E. and James E. The family belong to the Christian and Meth- odist Episcopal churches. John C. Sawyer, of Wayne Township, married Sarah Secrest in 1880. They have two children.
David S. Craft is one of the few pioneers still living. He is one of the prominent and influential citi-
zens of the township and has been an elder in the Christian church since 1840. Mr. Craft is of German descent, and was born in Redstone Township, Fayette County, Pa., Jan uary 8, 1802. His parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth Craft, were pioneers in that locality. In March, 1824, Mr. Craft came from Pennsylvania to the place where he now lives. The family were eight days upon the journey, which was attended with many hardships. The Ohio River was very high, and crossing it was attended with difficulty. Mr. Craft brought two cows, which swam the river. When he reached Leatherwood Creek with his one- horse carryall, he found the waters greatly swollen and it was difficult to keep the road. But with the assistance of a neighbor he was enabled to reach his new home in safety. After arriving at this loca- tion he had to prepare a place and erect a cabin. Mr. Craft now lives in the third house built on the same spot. He is the father of eleven children now living, all of whom are married-seven daughters and four sons. Six of them live in Noble County. Mr. Craft has a vivid rec- ollection of early times, their hard- ships, labor and enjoyments. His wife died in 1882. IIer maiden name was Elizabeth Beard.
The Ward family were among the earliest pioneers in the territory now forming Wayne Township. Edward Ward, son of John Ward, was born in that township in 1808, and is probably the oldest native born citizen of Noble County now living.
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After the death of his father, in 1818, he went to Perry County, Ohio, where he remained five years, work- ing as a tanner during a portion of the time. Returning home, he worked a while upon the National Road. In 1829 he married his first wife, Mary Morris. To them were born nine children-Sarah A. (Irvin), John, Rebecca (Graham), William A., Betsey (Arnott), Mark, Mary J. (McCoy, dead), Harvey and Alice (Watson). The family are members of the Presbyterian church, and William A. is a preacher of that denomination. Ile went from Wood County to the late war and served over four years, holding the rank of first lieutenant. Mark enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta, etc. Edward Ward has followed farming for many years. He is a very well- preserved man and writes a legible hand without the aid of glasses. His first wife died, and he after- ward married Mrs. Shafer.
John Miley was born in 1801, in Virginia. He came to Ohio in 1811 with Abraham Rich, and first resided in Buffalo Township. In 1828 he married Elizabeth Kackley, a native of Virginia. Eleven chil- dren were born of this union: Sarah A. (Keller), George, Jane (Larrick), Isaac, Emily (Vorhies), Hannah (Graham, deceased), Jeremiah, Will- iam K., Eliza (Craft), Mary E. (de- ceased), John F. Mr. Miley died in 1883. He was an unswerving Dem-
ocrat, a consistent Christian, and a most excellent man. He served as Infirmary director several terms. His widow lives on the old home- stead with her son, William K. The latter was born in 1843. In 1876 he married Mary I. Rich. They have one child, Lettie.
Norman Miley was born in Wayne Township in 1839. He married, first, Elizabeth Coen, who died in 1879. Children: Florence S., Richard F., William II. and John Edgar. In 1880 he married Jane Stevens. Children : Bion HI. and Martha. The family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
One of the oldest residents and best informed citizens of the town- ship is Iliram Danford. He was born in Belmont County in 1802, and settled in 1823 on the farm which he now occupies. He has the only stone house in the township. In 1820 he married Rachel Groves. Fourteen children were born of this union, all of whom lived to be men and women, except one, who died in infancy. Their names were William, Jonas, Samuel, Isaac and David (twins), Lewis, Nancy (Hathaway), Elizabeth (Lashley), Joseph, John B., Bathsheba (Hiatt), Peter and Rachel R. (Shepherd). Mrs. Danford died in 1865. In the same year he mar- ried Mrs. Danford (nee White), a native of Jefferson County. Mr. Danford is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. He has served twenty years as township trustee.
When he came to the township, Mr. Danford bought eighty acres of land of Jacob Dailey. He has since
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owned, all told, over one thousand acres. The story of one land entry is here given. Shortly after the War of 1812, when he was fourteen years of age, he and his brother entered 160 acres of land. At that time there was a great scarcity of money, and in order to relieve those who had entered lands and had not been able to make the final payment, a law was passed through the instru- mentality of General Harrison, to divide all tracts entered by a north and south line through the center, and permit the settler to take his choice of the two lots, and by paying fifty dollars in addition to the first payment, secure title to eighty acres. A limited time was set for the pay- ment, and in order to take advan- tage, Mr. Danford rode from Wash- ington Township (then Wayne Township), Belmont County, across swollen creeks, through the wilder- ness to Marietta. He was about a week on the trip, but reached Mari- etta in time to save the land. This tract he sold to Lemuel Rucker and it is now owned by Isaiah Rucker.
Isaac Danford was born in 1826. He married Lydia Hathaway, of Noble County. They had four children, two of whom are living-Sumter and Elijah S.
Benjamin Casner and family came from Randolph County, Va., in 1825, and settled on the place now owned by Jacob Yoho's heirs. He died in 1845, and his wife, Elizabeth, in 1843. Of the family of nine chil- dren, only one is now living in Noble County-Adam Casner. IIe was
born in Randolph County, Va., in 1805, and has lived in Ohio since he was twenty years of age. In 1831 he married Ann Rich. They had one child-Sarah A. (Coen), who lives in Indiana. His first wife died in 1832, and in 1841 he married Susan Meek. Their children were Elizabeth (Law) and Solomon (de- ceased). Mrs. Casner died in 1845, and in 1857 he married Elizabeth Carson. Four children were born of this union-Margaret (Richey), Almedia, Mary E. (deceased) and Benjamin. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Casner has served as township trustee several years. He followed wagon-making in early years, and was also quite a noted hunter.
Abram Danford settled in 1826, near where Bethel Bates now lives. Ile bought eighty acres of Mr. Timothy Bates for $300, partly im- proved, and afterward entered eighty acres at government price. Mr. Danford was born in Belmont County in 1807. In 1829 he married Lavina Bates. To them were born eleven children, four of whom are de- ceased. Those living are Eli, Eliza- beth (Roe), Luana (Groves), Isaiah, Ambrose, Nancy (Groves) and Ro- len. Mr. Danford was elected com- missioner of Guernsey County just prior to the erection of Noble County. Mrs. Danford died in 1884. Mr. Danford has always followed farming, and has been very success- ful. His grandson is the present county clerk. Rolen Danford was born in 1854. In 1876 he married Nancy Wilson. Children : Dora B.,
-
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Alice M., Henry A. Garfield, Stella J. and Blanche.
John Groves was born in Belmont County in 1811. In 1837 he settled in Noble County, on the place which he still occupies. Mr. Groves was married in 1831 to Matilda Smith. They had ten children : Mary, Samuel S., Lewis, Rosanna (Rucker), Smith, Jonas, Julius R. (present county commissioner), Eliza E. (Danford), John F. and Martha. Smith Groves was born in 1840. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. IIe served about two years and six months, and died in hospital at Vicksburg. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Groves bought forty acres when he came to this county; he now owns 160.
Hiram Groves, whose parents were early settlers, was born in 1836, and has followed farming. Hle married Amanda J. Carter, of Center Township. Mr. Groves is a Republican, and has served three terms as township assessor.
Josephus Groves was born in Sen- eca Township in 1838. In early life he worked on the farm and taught school. In 1866 he married Mary E. Carter, of Center Township. Children : Hiram F., Zoe M., Irena B. and Judson J. Mr. Groves is present township trustee. The fam- ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Julius R. Groves was born in Sen- eca Township in 1844. In 1866 he married Miss Nancy Danford, of this township. Their children are
Ambrose F. (deceased), Isonia M., Rosa E. and Jasper R. The family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Groves was re- elected in the fall of 1886, to serve a second term as county commissioner, and is the only commissioner for several years that has held the office two terms. He is an earnest Repub- lican, and his continuance in office at this time is a sufficient proof of his popularity.
John C. Shafer was born in Lou- doun County, Va., in 1813, and came to Ohio with his parents. His father's name was Conrad. John C. married Mary Kennedy, of this county. He has followed blacksmithing and farming. Children : Ann M. (Nich- olson), David L., Mary C. (Carter), Margaret J. (Beatty), Martha I. (Bates). David L. Shafer was born in 1845. In 1865 he married Mar- tha Vorhies. Children : Charles F., John W., Margaret E., Hiram, George W., Mary, Bertha, Garfield and Nancy. Mr. Shafer is a prom- inent farmer. The family are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
William W. Rhodes, who died in 1884, was an early settler, and a prominent citizen. IIe was born near Washington, D. C., in 1804; removed to Noble County from Bel- mont County in 1828, and soon after married Ann Rich. To them were born eleven children, five of whom are living-Jane (Secrest), George R., Lydia A. (Hellyer), Will- iam II. and Jeremiah R. His first wife died in 1846. and in 1848 he married Cynthia A. Morris. They
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had ten children, all still living, four of them in Noble County, viz .: Ann (Baker), Fremont, Brough and Down- ey. Ilis wife died in 1882. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. For several terms he held the office of Infirinary director.
George R. Rhodes was born in Noble County in 1831. At the age of fifteen he went to live with Mi- chael Tribby, to learn the shoemaker's trade, and remained with him until twenty-two years of age. Ile then engaged in business for himself at Mount Ephraim, his present location. In 1855 he married Leah Van Meter. Children : Tallitha C. (Hazard), Mag- gie (IIellyer), and Cleopatra. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Rhodes is a trustee. He is justice of the peace at Mount Ephraim.
Daniel Van Meter, a native of Vir- ginia, married Margaret Dougherty, of Guernsey County. They had nine children. Mr. Van Meter died in 1833, and in 1846 the family settled in Mount Ephraim. Leah, wife of George R. Rhodes, Esq., is among the oldest residents of the place. The names of the children of Daniel and Margaret Van Meter are William, Jane (Hall), Hannah (Weaver), and Leah (Rhodes), living ; Andrew, Dan- iel, Isaac, Elizabeth, and John, dead. Mrs. Van Meter died in 1870. She was a worthy member of the Pres- byterian church.
Conrad Shafer, a native of Lou- doun County, Va., came to Guernsey County with his family at an early date, afterward removing to Noble County. His children were Elizabeth
(Keller), George, Margaret (Need- ham), Samuel, William, John, Nel- son, James and Mary (Brown). Con- rad Shafer was a soldier in the War of 1812 for a short time. Ile died in 1861 and his wife in 1872. William, his third son, was born in Virginia and came to Ohio with his parents. In 1832 he married Isabel Vorhies. Children : Barbara, deceased, Aaron, James N., Mary (Spears), William J., Austin C., Eli, George, Isabel (Gar- rett), Frances (Bates), Zuinglius and Charles W. William J. Shafer, third son of William, was born near Mount Ephraim in 1842. In 1864 he became a member of Company II, Six- ty fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the right leg at Chat- tanooga, November 24, 1864. After remaining four nights upon the bat- tle-field he was taken prisoner, and recaptured by Federal troops. On being taken to the hospital at Nash- ville, his leg was amputated and in June following he was discharged from the service. After his return home he engaged in book-selling for a time. Then had to undergo a sec- ond amputation. The operation was performed by Dr. Holstein, of Zanes- ville, afterward Grant's family phy- sician. Ile engaged in the mercan- tile business and is now the leading merchant at Mount Ephraim. In 1867 he married Jane IIance. Chil- dren : Clarence M., Demetrius, Agnes I., Nellie and Low.
Severn Conner and family settled in Buffalo Township in 1835. They came from Frederick County, Va., near Winchester; he was a black- smith and farmer. The family be-
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
longed to the Methodist Protestant church. Names of the children : Thomas and Hannah, deceased; Ly- dia (Moore), John, Elizabeth (Lar- rick), William B., Moses J., Mary (Imlay), Virginia (Roberts), James, Samuel, Lavina (Imlay), Eliza (Fowl- er) and Levi. Most of the children live in Iowa. Mrs. Conner died in 1853. Severn Conner died in 1867.
John Conner was born in Freder- ick County, Va., in 1823, came to Ohio with his parents and now re- sides in Seneca Township. Ile mar- ried Elizabeth Mclaughlin in 1845. Children: Simon, Nancy and As- bury, deceased; Martha (Dollison), William, George, Mary (Thompson), Emma (Brunner), Silas and Alice (twins), Christopher and McGuire. Mr. Conner is a Republican and a prominent and influential citizen. He is also a thorough temperance man. Hle has held several township offices and served as county commissioner one term. HIis son William enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Six- ty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war.
John Conner says of the pioneer experiences of the family : " When we came to this county we came in a wagon drawn by four horses, camp- ing out at night. We forded nearly all the streams, and all came near being drowned while crossing the south branch of the Potomac. Our wagon floated down the stream for some distance with all of us in it ex- cept the driver. Arrived here, we built a cabin, hung a quilt before the door at night, slept on the floor and cooked in the yard by a log fire.
The howling of wolves could be heard all around at night."
Daniel Riggs, born in Virginia, in 1813, came to the vicinity of Seneca- ville in 1833. He married Jane Fin- ley. Seven of their children are living. Their descendants are quite numerous in this vicinity.
In 1840 Samuel Gibson and family came from Pennsylvania and settled on the farm now owned by James W. Gibson. Their children were Phebe A., deceased; Sarah J.(Barber), James W., Wesley, Mary E. (Turn- baugh), Margaret L. (Shaw), Samuel, Martha (Anderson) and Hannah (Lawhead), living. Mrs Gibson died in 1867; Mr. Gibson in 1878. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. James W. Gib- son, born in 1834, came to Ohio with his parents. In 1855 he married Susan Finley. Children: Franklin E., deceased; George B., John T., Alice K. (Keller), Mary J. and Nellie II. The family are Methodists. Mr. Gibson has been township as- sessor several terms. He is a promi- nent farmer.
Samuel B. Gibson, son of Samuel Gibson, enlisted in Company B, First Ohio Cavalry, and served about nine- teen months, being mustered out with the company at Columbus, Ohio, September 13, 1865.
Morris D. Spriggs was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1806, and came to Belmont County, Ohio, when twenty-four years of age. He was a tailor by trade, but after- ward followed farming. He re- moved to Guernsey County, in 1844,. and to Seneca Township the follow-
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ing year. IIe was one of the promi- nent citizens of the township. Mr. Spriggs is now a resident of Wayne County, Ill. He married Catha- rine Pool, and reared eight sons and two daughters. But two of the family are now living in Noble County-Dr. Spriggs, of Sarahsville, and David S., of Caldwell. Another son is a prominent attorney of Woodsfield.
MOUNT EPHRAIM.
Mount Ephraim, the only village in Seneca Township, is situated on the McConnelsville and Barnesville road-the earliest route of travel through the township, and is a mile and a half north of the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnati Railway. The village had a population of 167 in 1880, and of 162 in 1870.
The village was platted in 1838 for Ephraim Vorhies, proprietor. The first addition on the southwest was made soon after, and in 1841 lots 33 to 41 were added by the same proprietor.
The first house in the place was a double-log building, erected by Ephraim Vorhies, and occupied by him as a tavern stand. The house was known throughout the surround- ing country as the "Moss Tavern," from the fact that the spaces be- tween the logs were filled with moss, instead of mortar. The house is still standing and is now the residence of L. A. Garrett.
The second building in the place was opened as a store in 1839 by Crawford Glover. Ile did not re- main long, but was succeeded in the
mercantile business by Asbury Gar- diner, a minister of the Christian church, who increased the stock of goods and also helped to build up the church. He turned his attention to tobacco, and for several years did a flourishing business as a tobacco packer. Gardiner was succeeded in the store by Bradfield & Barnes. Bradshaw was a clerk. They did an extensive business in tobacco. John Harris, the grandfather of Ex-Judge Brown, managed the store for them. This firm sold out to Isaac Q. Mor- ris, the first clerk of courts of Noble County, who continued the mercan- tile business and tobacco packing until the close of the war. Mr. Morris still occupies the building. About this time Henry Taylor en- gaged in the mercantile business and tobacco-dealing. IIe was succeeded by Herman Uhlrich until after the war, when financial stringency put an end to the business.
The first -blacksmith was Levi Keller, still living, who located near the town in 1827. Joseph Davidson and Absalom Shirk were early black- smiths in the village. The former is still living, in Center Township. The first wagon-maker was Harvey IIunter.
An Englishman named Henry Steel operated a tannery for about thirty years in the village, and was quite successful. The tannery has never since been in successful opera- tion.
A man named Wright, a very early settler, was the first shoemaker. Next came Michael Tribby, suc- ceeded by G. R. Rhodes, Esq.
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
The business men of Mount Eph- raim at the beginning of the year 1887 were as follows: W. J. Shafer and C. C. Craft, merchants; Nelson Shafer, hotel-keeper; George Kel- ler, blacksmith; John W. Williams, John Brokaw, wagon-makers; G. R. Rhodes, George W. Dalrymple, shoe- makers ; Dr. John Keller, Dr. M. II. Neville, physicians.
CHURCHES.
The churches of Seneca Township are the Christian and Methodist churches at Mount Ephraim ; the Coen Methodist Episcopal church, in the northern part of the township; and the Bates Hill union church, the last free for all denominations except Mormons. It was erected in 1885. Services are regularly held by the Disciples and Methodists. Rev. William Danford is one of the officia- ting clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion.
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