USA > Ohio > Noble County > History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 64
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John Smithson, or Squire Smith- son, as he is familiarly known, was born one mile below Macksburg, Washington County, in 1828. He was reared as a farmer, which avoca- tion he has since followed. Although he is not a politician, he has given proper attention to political matters. In 1880 he was elected county com- missioner, serving one term of three years. He is a worthy member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Adeline L., daugh- ter of James Dalton. She died in 1871. For his second wife he married Miss Jane J., daughter of John Hutchins. By the first marriage there were two boys and five girls; by the second, one son.
Angus McDonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1829, and came to America with his parents in 1832, arriving at Olive Green Creek August 10. Mr. McDonald has followed farming, and is a min- ister of the Christian church. He married Rachel Stevens in 1852, and they have seven children living. Mr. McDonald enlisted October 9, 1861, in the Sixty-third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry ; veteranized in Jan-
uary, 1863, and was mustered out a captain at the close of the war. He participated in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, sieges of Corinth and of Vicksburg, Decatur, Resaca, Kingston, Kenesaw, and in Sherman's march to the sea. At Decatur, Ga., he was twice wounded. Few Noble County soldiers have a better military record.
Reuben Simons, son of a Revolu- tionary soldier, settled in 1835 on the farm which he still occupies. He was born in Washington County, Ohio, in 1805; married Esther Wells in 1829, and is the father of seven children, five of whom are still liv- ing: Thomas (deceased), Patience (deceased), Alfred, Content, Antha, Mary and Serene. Mr. Simons has been a member of the Christian church from early manhood. His father was a pioneer at Marietta, and while in company with R. J. Meigs (afterward governor), was shot and severely wounded by an Indian.
David R. Way was born in Jackson Township November 5, 1846. His parents were natives of England. Mr. Way has followed farming. He was married in 1866 to Rebecca J. Smith, of Sharon Township, and their children are Cora, Charles and Emmet. Mrs. Way is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Way is a Republican and a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.
William M. Way was born in 1862, on the Way homestead. His father died suddenly in 1880, while on his way from Dexter City to Marietta. In 1885 W. M. Way married Mary
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Reed, daughter of Isaac Reed, of Sharon Township. They have one child-Catherine A. Edward E. Way was born in 1851; married Tacy Mathews in 1872.
John Delancy was born on Will's Creek and came to Jackson Town- ship in 1835, when one year of age. Ilis father cast the first Whig vote that was ever cast in the township. There were other Whigs, but until the advent of Mr. Delancy they were not permitted to vote. In 1858 John Delancy married Elizabeth Mitchell. Children : Ada, Boyd and Margaret.
William Henry Mayguckin, mer- chant at Ridge, Jackson Township, was born in Pennsylvania in 1843, and came to Jackson Township with his parents in 1849. He has fol- lowed farming, and for nine years has been engaged in the mercantile business. In 1866 he married Mar- tha E. Willis, of Jackson Township. Their children are Mary C. and Clara W. The family belong to the Meth- odist church. Mr. Mayguckin en- listed in October, 1861, in Company D, Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served three years. Ile was never absent from duty for a day, and never asked for leave of absence. He was in many noted engagements, among which were New Madrid, the battle and siege of Corinth, Decatur, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, etc.
Philip M. Smith was born in 1829. His ancestors were from New Eng- land and his paternal grandfather and one son were drowned in the sound of Martha's Vineyard. His father and his grandfather, Tilton,
came to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1819, and thence to Olive Township. Mr. Smith has been a farmer and a mer- chant. In 1854 he went to Cali- fornia, where he remained five years. In 1863 he married Margaret Taylor. Her father, John Taylor, settled in this township in 1816. They have one child-Millie E. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Smith is a Republican.
George H. Nichols is a descendant of an old family, his grandparents having settled in Ohio about 1826. He was born in Beverly, Washington County, in 1857, and for several years has been a successful teacher in No- ble County. Ile also works at car- pentry. Mr. Nichols is a Republican, but has served as township clerk in Jackson - a sufficient proof of his popularity.
Robert M. Kelley was born in Sharon Township in 1842. His father was a native of Maryland. At the age of eighteen, in October, 1861, Robert enlisted in Company K, Sev- enty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infant- ry, and was honorably discharged after serving four years and seven months. He was at Pittsburg Land- ing, Iuka, Corinth, Holly Springs. Little Rock, White River, Mark's Mill, Saline River, Mobile, and in many other engagements. He lost his health in the army, and his sight became seriously impaired. In 1868 he married Martha E. Foreman. Children : Elmer J., born 1869, died 1880; three infant boys, now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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Mahlon A. Look was born in No- ble County in 1858. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother of Maryland. They came to this county from Guernsey. Mahlon has been a teacher and a farmer. In 1869 he married Venora C. Dixon of Washington County. Their children are Elza M. and Elsie M. Mr. Look is a Republican, and has been town- ship clerk. He is at present the teacher at Crooked Tree (November, 1886).
Philip Ritzer was born in Prussia in 1834; came to Wheeling, W. Va., in 1851, and to Noble County in 1861. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, served three years and was discharged in 1865. He was at Chickamauga, where his garments were riddled with bullets, at Iloo- ver's Gap, Resaca, Marietta, and in the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. He married Melissa II. Lovett, of Harriettsville, and is the father of six children, four of whom are living.
Oscar Mathews came to Crooked Tree in 1865, from Morgan County. His parents came in 1838 from Lou- doun County, Va., to Center Town- ship in Morgan County, where Oscar was born. Ilis father was a school- teacher for thirty years. The sub- ject of this notice is a carpenter by trade. Ile is now postmaster and merchant at Crooked Tree. Three of his brothers were in the late war and have since died from wounds and other disabilities incurred in the serv- ice. Oscar married Eliza James, of Washington County, in 1862. Chil-
dren : Eva, Benjamin L., Jennie and Lottie R. Mr. Mathews is a Repub- lican, and has been township trustee.
Angus Bell was born in Olive Township, May 13, 1833. His par- ents and grandparents were among the early settlers of Noble County. His father, born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1804, married and settled in Noble County in 1825. Angus Bell has followed farming, teaching and the mercantile business. IIe has fol- lowed the latter occupation at Keith's since 1865. In 1867 he married Mary A. Hughes, of Morgan County. Chil- dren : Ida W. and Amon Edward. Mr. Bell is a Republican and an Odd Fellow. He has been postmaster at Keith's since 1869.
J. W. Tilton came from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and settled at Three Forks, Olive Township. His son, Isaac L. Tilton, now a farmer in this township, was born in Olive Town- ship, June 19, 1837. He enlisted in 1864, in the hundred days' service, in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the expira- tion of his term of service. In 1866 he married Serena S. Simons. They have one child-Arthur L. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton are members of the Chris- tian church.
Rev. George Willis was born in Licking County in 1813; his father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, came to the State in 1812; in 1818 the family removed to Washington County, Ohio, where they settled upon a tract of unimproved land. Here the mother died in 1869, the father in 1873. They were subjected
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to the hardships of the early times and suffered many privations. The elder Willis was a great hunter and had many thrilling adventures. One night he heard a goose make a peculiar noise; taking his ax, he went out and seeing some large ani- mal, which he supposed was a neigh- bor's dog, he killed it on the spot; an examination revealed the fact that it was a large panther. Rev. George Willis was married in 1835, to Miss Christiana Skipton, and came to this township in 1858; for over fifty years he has been a minister of the Gospel. Ile has also served his townsmen as trustee for six years and as magistrate for twenty-one years.
H. S. Willis came to Jackson Town- ship in 1858. He was born in 1854, in Washington County, Ohio. He has followed school-teaching and farm. ing. In 1876 he married Sarah E. Mincks of Jackson Township. Chil- dren : Nellie B. (deceased), Lillian M., Letha A. (deceased), Harry II. and Freddie H. Mr. and Mrs. Willis belong to the Methodist Protestant church.
Sidney J. Glidden was born in Washington County in 1837. His parents and grandparents were among the early settlers of Olive Township. Sidney enlisted in Au- gust, 1862, in Company E, Ninety- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving eighteen months re-en- listed in the One Hundred and Sixty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ile was in several noted engagements. In 1863 he married Nancy McKit- rick. They have eight children.
Walter Shinn was born in Jackson
Township in 1865 and is a farmer. His parents and grandparents were Virginians. His father came to Ohio, settled on Will's Creek and thence came to Noble County. There were nine sons and three daughters in the family.
M. B. Danford is a son of Samuel Danford, of Sharon Township, and was born in 1856. Since 1883 he has devoted himself to the practice of veterinary surgery. He is the only surgeon of the kind in this section. He married Lizzie Stevens, of Mor- gan County, in 1876 and they have one child - Minta. Dr. D. is an Odd Fellow and a Republican.
James Willey, the oldest of a family of thirteen children, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1818, and came with his parents to Noble Township in 1819. He has followed milling and farming. In 1841 he married Emily, daughter of Benjamin Thorla, of Noble Township. Children : Will- iam McKee, Rhoda, Elizabeth, Ben- jamin H. and Jesse P. Elizabeth died in 1880, at the age of thirty-five. Mr. Willey is a Democrat. Both he and his wife belong to the Univer- salist church.
James Long was born in Washing- ington County, Ohio, in 1846. His father was born in Washington County, Pa., and his mother in Washington County, Ohio. In Feb- ruary, 1864, James Long enlisted in Company K, Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Hle was in many battles and skirmishes. At Mark's Mill, on the Saline River, in Arkansas, he was captured and taken to Camp Flood, Tyler, Tex.,
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where he suffered the hardships of prison life for ten months. He was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in 1866. In 1872 he married Phebe Merritt, of Jackson Township. Children : Virgie M. and Alvah H. Mrs. Long is a member of the Chris- tian church. Mr. Long is a farmer and a Democrat.
John M. Danford was born in Monroe County, March 30, 1844, and came to Jackson Township, Noble County, in 1867. February 6, 1865. he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In 1866 he married Delia C. Mitten. Children : George W., Oscar S., Mary M., Joseph W., John T., Charles M. (deceased), James T., Forrest C. deceased), Chloe R., Sarah and Sherman. The family are mein bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Danford is a Repub- lican and has served as township trustee.
Abner J. Davis was born at South Olive in 1838. His father, a native of Maine, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Ile married Lucinda May- hew, a native of Martha's Vineyard, whose father, Frederick Mayhew, was a landscape painter and sailor. The family came to Ohio in 1834. A. J. Davis married Margaret Teters in 1860. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living.
Benjamin R. Parrish, son of Ste- phen Parrish, of Sharon Township, was born in Sharon Township in 1847 and is a farmer by occupation. In 1873 he married Phebe Keyser, of
Sharon Township. Of their six chil- dren five are living : James R., Isaac S., Richard S., Sarah A. and Belva A. Church Benjamin Morris was born in Noble County in 1859. His par- ents and his grandparents were early settlers in the county, and his father is now a merchant in Beverly. The subject of this notice has fol- lowed farming and the mercantile business. In 1877 he married Nancy E. Hughes, of Morgan County. Chil- dren : Jesse M., Minor P., Nellie B. and Bertha. Mr. Morris is a Republi- can. IIe has been township treasur- er and is a member of the Odd Fel- lows
John Misel was born in Guernsey County, in 1818. Ilis father, John Misel, was a German, an early settler in that county, and a soldier in the War of 1812. John Misel is a farm- er in Jackson Township. He mar- ried Harriet Delancey in 1839 and is the father of fourteen children, three of whom are dead.
James Ogle, a native of Ireland, and his wife Ann (Dixon), who was born in New York State, were among the early settlers of Olive Township. Mr. Ogle was assessor of Morgan County two terms. Ile was the father of ten children. Benjamin C. Ogle, now of Jackson Township, was born in Olive Township in 1827, and is a farmer. In 1862 he enlisted in the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, Company B, and served until his discharge at the close of the war. He was pres- ent at the siege of Knoxville; at the rebel surrender at Cumberland Gap ; in the skirmishing at Nashville ; in the Rousseau raid and Atlanta siege;
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
with Sherman in his raid and the "march through Georgia."
John S. Mincks was born in Jack- son Township, April 16, 1845; son of Hiram and Eliza (Shipley) Mincks, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. He is a prominent and influential citizen ; has served in various township offices - trustee, assessor, etc .- and is the present justice of the peace. IIe is steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, and superintendent of the Sabbath school. March 17, 1867, he married Mary, daughter of Nes- tor Hardin, of Jackson Township. They have had two children : Irvin E., living, and Emmet Otes, deceased.
About 1835 James Farley and Peter Keith opened a store near the present hamlet of Keith's. Jonathan Gibbs was their clerk. This was the first store in the township. About ten years later Amos Smith opened a store where Angus Bell now lives, and there has been a store at Keith's ever since. B. M. Leland kept store several years about a quarter of a mile further down the road.
After Amos Smith came P. W. Keith, John Ray, George Baker, Dye & Tilton, Yarnall Bros., Baker & Keith, and Benton Baker, success- ively. The Leland store was success- ively conducted by Leland, J. C. Tilton & Co., D. K. Paxton, S. G. Jordan and Bell & Keith, the last named firm consisting of Angus Bell, R. G. Bell and Adam Keith. This firm began business in 1865, and in 1866 removed to the present location. After fourteen years, the firm changed to Bell & Hughes (Angus
Bell and J. P. Hughes). Since 1s$1 the style of the firm has been Bell & Morris ( Angus Bell and C. B. Mor- ris). Theirs is now the only store in the place.
Keith & Cunningham opened a store in 1881, and were succeeded by Charles Phillis, who went out of business in 1885.
The postoffice at Keith's was es- tablished about the year 1835.
A steam saw-mill was built in 1855, and in 1861 a grist-mill, by P. W. Keith. These mills are still operated, and have been owned by P. C. Keith since 1873.
About 1848 Asa Lang started a small store near where Oscar Mat- thews now is. Next came William Morris, where John W. Taylor now is. Ile was succeeded by Thomas Morris. Dr. William Boyd built the store now kept by J. B. Davis. Tay- lor & Sons succeeded Boyd and also Morris. Afterward the firm became P. S. Taylor, then Taylor & Smith, succeeded by John W. Taylor. P. S. Taylor carried on the mercantile business for ten years where J. B. Davis now is.
The first blacksmith at Crooked Tree was John Black. The present one is Ithamer Martin. Wesley W. Reed, saddler, lived here for twenty- five years, then moved to Morgan County. The shoemakers are Albert and William McKendrie. Elijah, their father, lived here and worked at the same trade several years.
Crooked Tree postoffice was estab- lished about 1860. James R. H. Smith was the first postmaster.
The little village of Jacksonville
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(Crooked Tree postoffice) was laid out by James II. Steadman. The sur- vey was made by George Bell, May 25, 1854.
Dungannon, a projected village on section 30 of township 5, range 9, was laid out by Nathan II. Essex. George Bell made the survey June 17, 1856. The name of the "city " does not appear either on State or county maps, but the place survives as Ridge postoffice. A store is kept at this point by W. H. Mayguckin.
The stores in Jackson Township, January 1, 1887, were as follows: William H. Mayguckin, Dungannon (Ridge postoffice); Bell & Morris, Keith's; J. B. Davis, John W. Taylor, general merchants, Crooked Tree; Oscar Matthews, grocer and postmaster, Crooked Tree.
CHURCHES.
Three Methodist Episcopal churches -Crooked Tree, Williamson's and Shafer's - the Haines United Breth- ren church and the Methodist Prot- estant church at Keith's, are the churches of Jackson Township.
United Brethren Church .- Jesse Haines was the founder of the United Brethren church, and W. W. Stringer one of its early prominent members. The organization is an old one, and the church one of the old-fashioned log buildings. The present member- ship is small.
Methodist Episcopal Churches .- A Methodist class was organized and met at Peter Taylor's for many years. About 1848 a log meeting-house was erected at Crooked Tree. In 1872 the present frame church, 32 by
50 feet, was erected at a cost of about $1,400. The present member- ship is about fifty. Among the lead- ing early members of this church were Elias Rainey, Samuel Boone, William P. Davis, Shubal Smith, Daniel Wagner, Samuel Hale, Rev. John S. Corp and their families. Dan- iel Wagner, John and James Waller, Worthington Tilton and W. W. Reed are among former class-leaders. Phil- ip Smith has been leader for twenty years.
The Williamson Methodist Episco- pal church had a log meeting-house erected at about the same time the Crooked Tree log church was built. About 1871 the present church was dedicated. It cost about $1,200. The present membership is about seventy-five. This church is named for Samuel Williamson, an early and prominent member. Jere Smith, John Mincks, Andrew Martin and William Rainey were early members. Jere Smith, J. M. Smith and Andrew Martin were early class-leaders.
The Shafer Methodist Episcopal church was an old log building, re- cently replaced by a small frame house. Samuel Shafer, William Dar- rah, Samuel Johnson, Enoch Swig- ley, the Allertons and others were early members, Samuel Shafer and Samuel Johnson being among the most prominent. The present mem- bership is small. This church is on the Mount Olive circuit. The Crooked Tree and Williamson churches are on the Dexter City circuit.
Methodist Protestant Church .- A Methodist Episcopal class was organ- ized very early in the vicinity of
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Keith's, and a log meeting-house was erected as early as 1834. About 1862 the congregation became Methodist Protestant.
It was fully organized April 17, 1864, by Rev. George Willis. The orig- inal members were Jacob Foreman, Elizabeth Foreman, Peter and Matil- da Brown, W. B. and Sarah Reaney, May Keith, Adaline Cutler, Philip W. Keith, Mary Keith, Samuel and Lucinda Sailor, Mordecai Ghrist, George and Christiana Willis and John and Ruth Haga. The first trustees were W. B. Reaney, Samuel Sailor and Philip W. Keith. The succession of pastors has been Revs. George Willis, Wm. Sears, Ogle, Ansley Blackburn, Wm. Sears, R. S. Welch, Wilson, McKiever, Wm. Betts, John Clark, J. B. McCormick, W. H. Gay, John Baker, S. A. Fish- er, M. V. Shuman and T. J. West. First church edifice built in 1865 at a cost of about $900; present mem- bership, sixty-four; Sabbath school, forty-five.
ODD FELLOWS.
Keith Lodge .- Keith Lodge, No. 466, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, was instituted October 14, 1870. The charter members were Adam Keith, P. C. Keith, John Hughs, George Baker, Thomas W. Phillis, David Bell, William Donaldson, A. W. Willis, Peter Gore, William Rea- ney and Shubal Hutchins. The lodge now has about eighty mem- bers. The hall was built in 1884 at a cost of about $1,300. The lodge- room is neatly and well furnished and the lodge is prosperous. The
present value of the entire lodge property is not far from $3,000. The present officers are Benjamin Dan- ford, N. G .; Gilead McKee, V. G .: Abraham Shriver, secretary; James Foreman, P. S., and W. B. Keith. treasurer.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM F. WAY, the first of this name to settle in Noble County, was born in England and came to the United States in 1820 with his fami- ly of wife and two children, a son and a daughter. He landed in Nor- folk, Va., thence came to Duck Creek, Washington County, Ohio, where he followed his trade, that of a black- smith, until his removal to Wood County, Va., where he died in 1846. Ile was an honest, industrious man of unquestioned integrity, and highly esteemed for his sturdy manhood: the daughter died in 1820. The son. Edward T., was born in England in 1812: his youth and early manhood were passed amid the rough experi- ences of pioneer days, and in early life he learned to rely on his own efforts. The family were poor, and for a time he lived with Peter Taylor, a farmer of Jackson Township, doing the work upon the farm, for which he received one-third of its product. In 1833 he entered forty acres of land, selling the only piece of property he had, a horse, to make the first payment. This in- vestment may be called the initial effort of his life, and formed the sub- structure of a successful business life. He erected a cabin, cleared his little farm, and as he prospered bought
Edward J. Way.
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS B L
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more land, until he became the own- er of a fine estate of six hundred acres. The year following the first purchase, 1834, he married Miss Eliz- abeth Raney. The young couple were destitute of what would now be called the necessaries of life; their home was scantily furnished ; a small stand did service as a table; this memento of pioneer times is still in possession of the family. The farm work was done with the rude imple- ments of that time, the grain was cut with a sickle, thrashed with a flail, winnowed with a hand fan, and ground at a horse-mill; despite these obstacles they thrived- by the practice of rigid economy and hard labor. Ten years after their marriage Mrs. Way died, and was laid to rest in the Taylor cemetery. Mr. Way's second wife was Miss Ann, daughter of Edward and Mary Ellison. By this marriage there were nine children : Elizabeth, David R., Mary A., Aba- gail, Edward E., Henry, Sarah E., Emily J. and William M. Elizabeth, the eldest of the family, was twice married. Her first husband was Lind- ley Garnall; her second, James Shel- don. David R. married Jane R. Smith ; Mary A. became Mrs. John C Hale; Abagail married W. H. H. Hussey and resides in California ; Ed- ward E. married Miss Tacey E. Mathews; Henry married Adaline Taylor; Sarah E. became Mrs. George Boon ; Emily J. married Elvin Raney, and William M., Mary Reed. Mr. Way was a prominent and successful farmer, a worthy citizen and the per- sonification of integrity and honor ; his "word was as good as his bond."
On one occasion he borrowed $5,000 on his "promise to pay." He iden- tified himself with all the interests of the community, and exerted a marked influence on the moral wel- fare of those with whom he was as- sociated. He was a worthy member of the Methodist church. His char- ity was proverbial and no one ever left his door hungry. He died at his home in Jackson Township, Decem- ber 20, 1879.
REV. JEREMIAH PHILLIPS, the old- est Methodist preacher in Ohio, is of New England ancestry. Ilis parents, Ananias and Abigail (Pitch- er) Phillips, removed from New Hampshire to Saratoga County, N. Y., where Jeremiah was born May 3, 1799 .. The family removed to Wash- ington County, N. Y., and in 1823 decided to go further west, and the subject of this notice went in quest of a location. He selected and pur- chased a small farm near Meadville, Pa., and thither the family removed. There Mr. Phillips had for his neigh- bor John Brown, afterward famous in our history, and formed a strong friendship for him. In 1830 Mr. Phillips entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been a faithful, earnest, suc- cessful worker. He had a deep and powerful voice and was an effective sermonizer, probably among the best of the pioneer preachers in west- ern Pennsylvania. ITis first circuit labors required him to travel about 280 miles every four weeks, through a rough, mountainous country, the bridle path leading through un- bridged streams and miles of unin-
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