History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 69

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923

USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 69

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).

ILLIAM F. BROWN, one of the representative citizens and thor- oughly experienced farmers of Jackson township, where he owns a valuable farm of 152 acres, was born in Deer Creek township, Pickaway Coun- ty, Ohio, March 12, 1831, and is a son of Trustin P. and Tabitha (Wingate) Brown.

The Brown family, of which our subject is a member. has been settled in Ohio since 1810, when Peter Brown, the grandfather of our subject, removed from Delaware to Ross County. The family records farther back have been lost but the family is probably of Irish ex- traction. Peter Brown was a man of honest loy_ alty and it is known that when his health pre- vented his going to serve in the War of 1812.

Digitized by Google

539

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

he provided a substitute to take his place. He settled first in Ross County, but later removed to Pickaway County and died in Deer Creek township.

Trustin P. Brown was born in Delaware and was a boy of 10 years when his parents made the trip over the mountains and into Ohio, carrying their possessions in a one-horse wagon. He spent the greater part of his life in Deer Creek township, Pickaway County, where he died in 1858, aged 56 years. 'At this time he was the owner of 650 acres of land, which he had acquired through farming and stock dealing. In political faith he was a Demo- crat. Religiously he was a Methodist.

The mother of our subject was born in Maryland and was a child when she accom- panied her parents to Pickaway County. They settled in Deer Creek township, and she died on the old homestead at the age of 65 years. Our subject was the second born in his par- ents' family of nine children, as follows : Eliza- beth. deceased; William F .; Mrs. Sarah Knowles, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Yates, de- ceased; Solomon Wesley, of Washington Court House. Ohio; Mrs. Maria Hunsicker, of Deer Creek township; Tabitha, deceased; Trustin, who died in Illinois; and Peter W., of Chillicothe.

William F. Brown was reared in Deer Creek township and attended the district schools. He remained at home until he was 26 years old and then married and came to his present farm, settling here on March 4, 1861. The greater part of the land at that time was covered with timber; this Mr. Brown has since cleared off and has developed his property into a fine stock and grain farm. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and has met with most gratifying success, being now one of that most independent class of men, a substantial farmer.

In June, 1858, Mr. Brown was married to Massy A. Owens, who was born in Wayne township, Pickaway County, Ohio, March 17, 1832, and died here on March 6, 1904. She was a daughter of Samuel M. and Eliza (Sulli- van) Owens, natives of Maryland. The chil- dren born to our subject and wife were the fol- lowing : Trustin P., of Circleville; Samuel O.,

deceased at the age of 16 years; Sarah, wife of Simon Carpenter, residing in Fayette Coun- ty, near Mount Sterling; William F., Jr., of Darbyville; Eliza, wife of J. S. Work, of Mont- gomery, West Virginia; Aaron S., who man- ages the home farm; Fred, who is a school teacher; and Edward, who died in infancy.

Mr. Brown has been a leading Democrat in his locality for many years. For 11 years he has served as township trustee and has also served as school director and assessor. For 50 years he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has been a teacher in and superintendent of the Sunday- school at Darbyville. He is regarded by his fellow-citizens as an honorable, upright, use- ful and public-spirited man.

e EDMUND MOELLER, the senior member of the firm of Moeller & Schleyer, the leading dry goods and carpet house at Circleville, is one of the city's representative men. He was born in Germany, in January, 1856, and was 18 months old when he was brought to America by his parents.

The family remained in New York City for about six months and then came to Circle- ville, and this city has been Mr. Moeller's home ever since. After completing his public school education, he was employed in a grocery for some five years, gaining, with an intelligent youth's faculty, a very fair notion of business. From the grocery he went into the dry goods store of W. S. Jacobson & Company and re- mained with that firm, under its reorganization, for 24 years. In 1899 Mr. Moeller embarked in a business of his own, buying out the E. & K. Ucker stock of dry goods. He remained for about 18 months in the old location and then removed to his present commodious quarters which have been equipped with modern im- provements to expedite business. In February, 1903, Mr. Moeller admitted J. Frederick Schleyer to partnership, the firm style becom- ing Moeller & Schleyer. This firm is known all over Pickaway County and takes pride in

Digitized by Google

540

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

offering to a very appreciative public a complete line of dry goods, carpets and rugs. This house is one of the most substantial in the city and it has an enviable reputation for honest dealing.

In 1891 Mr. Moeller was married to Eliza- beth Bending, who is a daughter of the late Capt. Henry R. Bending. Captain Bending was a lifelong resident of Pickaway County and formerly was a merchant tailor at Circle- ville. He was a brave soldier during the Civil War and held the rank of captain. Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have two children, Gretchen and Harry, both of whom are attending the Circle- ville schools.

Politically Mr. Moeller has always been identified with the Democratic party. For sev- eral years he has been a member of the Board' of Education and is a citizen of civic enterprise. He is a member of a number of fraternal or- ganizations-the Masons, Elks, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.

D AVID M. ATER, one of Deer Creek township's most substantial citizens and excellent farmers, was born in Deer Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, half a mile west of his present home, May 4, 1847, and is a son of Zachariah and Rebecca (Thomas) Ater.

Abraham Ater, the paternal grandfather, came from Maryland to Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1816, and located in Deer Creek township, where he acquired several hundred acres of land. He was a son of John Ater, whose brother, George Ater, was the first of the Ater family to come to this county. Abra- ham Ater married Elizabeth Hill and among their children was one they named Zachariah.

Zachariah Ater was born in Maryland in 1814 and was two years old when his parents brought him to Deer Creek township. He was reared on the farm on the west side of the creek, now owned by John Gates, but later moved to the farm on which our subject was born. There he lived until his death, on April 3, 1893. He married Rebecca Thomas, who

was born in 1819, in Deer Creek township, and was a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Payne) Thomas, early residents of the town- ship. She died October 25, 1899. They had four children : John Wesley, deceased; Ben- nett H., deceased; Thornton V., who died from sickness, in the army, during the Civil War; and David M., who is the only survivor. The parents of this family were most worthy members of the Baptist Church. Zachariah Ater was a stanch Democrat.

David M. Ater was reared in Deer Creek township and his boyhood was passed on the old home place. He obtained his education in the local schools and was trained to practical and intelligent farming by his father, who was an excellent agriculturist. In 1878 Mr. Ater came to his present farm, where he has pro- ductive land and a very comfortable home. He married Missouri Boots, who was born in Deer Creek township, and is a daughter of Jo- seph and Susan (Ater) Boots. Mr. and Mrs. Ater have had five children, viz .: Vida, who married Charles Hosler and lives in Monroe township; Victor, who resides on the home place; Voight, born June 29, 1878, who died March 11, 1894; and Claude and Sina M., both, living at home.

In politics, Mr. Ater is affiliated with the Democratic party. He served as a member of the Board of Education some 12 years. In fraternal circles he has long been quite promi- nent. Both he and his father joined the Ma- sonic fraternity on the same night, in 1875, and he is an active member of Heber Lodge, No. 501, F. & A .. M., at Williamsport, to which lodge his two brothers also belonged and with which his sons are connected. Mr. Ater is also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Circleville and the Pickaway En- campment.

Mr. Ater is a very pleasant man to meet, being intelligently concerned with matters per- taining to this locality and interested in the general welfare of the community. He is a man of methodical habits and since January I. 1873, he has kept a diary, in which he has recorded both family happenings and local events. It often has been a very satisfactory

Digitized by Google

541

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

document in his own affairs and on more than one occasion has been the means of amicably adjusting disputes in the neighborhood.

J AMES A. DRESBACH, a representa- tive agriculturist of Pickaway Coun- ty, who has been identified with the interests of Pickaway township all his life, was born on his present farm of 182 acres, on December 8, 1839, and is a son of William and Margaret (Earnhart) Dres- bach.

The founder of the Dresbach family iu Pickaway County was George Dresbach, the paternal grandfather of our subject, who brought his family with him from Pennsyl- vania, and at an early day settled on the farm that is now owned and occupied by Scott Dresbach, our subject's brother. At that time the little pioneer home was built in the forest, all the present fruitful land, which is now so highly productive and so thoroughly culti- vated, was heavily timbered. Here George Dresbach died, leaving a number of de- scendants.

Both William Dresbach and wife were born in Pickaway township and the former died on the old farm on which our subject re- sides. He was a man of prominence here in his day and served as township trustee and in other offices. He was a Republican. His sur- viving children are: James A., of this sketch; Mary, widow of Albert Coombs, now a resi- dent of Mount Pulaski, Illinois; George E., of Pickaway township; Harriet, wife of Elias Julian, residing near Remington, Indiana; Milton, of Salt Creek township; Catherine, wife of Nelson Reichelderfer, of Salt Creek township; Amanda, wife of A. K. Shride, of Franklin County, Ohio; and Scott, of Salt Creek township.

James A. Dresbach grew to maturity in his native township and in boyhood attended the subscription schools which afforded the only educational advantages the children of his youth and locality enjoyed. His life has al- ways been one devoted to agriculture, and in

following this with persevering industry dur- ing his active years he has provided for a com- fortable evening of life. His farm is one of value and would command a high price in the market.

Mr. Dresbach was married February 28, 1867, to Mary E. Alexander, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, not far from Tarlton, September 24, 1844. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Martz) Alexander. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania. They came at an early date to Ohio and located for a short time in Fairfield County and then set- tled in Pickaway County, near Tarlton, where Mrs. Dresbach was reared. Her father was one of the pioneer school teachers In the vi- cinity of Tarlton. He served at one time as deputy sheriff of Pickaway County. He died at Circleville, Ohio, in 1891, having been a resident of the city for many years. The mother of Mrs. Dresbach died in 1852. Mr.

Alexander married a second time and he is survived by these children : Nancy D., widow of William A. Empie, residing at Circleville; Margaret L., wife of George Moore, of Circle- ville; Mary E., wife of our subject; Charles, of Columbus; and Emma, wife of Charles Epps, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Alexander was a, soldier during the Civil War.

Mr. and Mrs. Dresbach have had four children, the three survivors being: William R., James A., Jr., and John S., all residents of Pickaway township. . Politically a Republican, Mr. Dresbach has frequently been chosen for office and has served as township trustee and in other offices. Mrs. Dresbach is a member of the German Re- formed Church.

e HARLES EDWARD WRIGHT, an energetic agriculturist and citizen, who has been operating a farm of 187 acres in Harrison township since 1900, was born at Circleville, Ohio, March 17, 1877.

.Charles Edward Wright, Sr., whose death occurred in 1877, was born at Baltimore,

Digitized by Google

542

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

Maryland, and early in life became a resident of Pickaway County, Ohio, of which he be- came. one of the most prominent citizens. He was a member of the manufacturing firm of Haswell, Wright & Company, and for many years was also connected with the old Scioto Bank. He served in the Civil War as a lieu- tenant in Company A, 114th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and the hardships then endured termi- nated his life at a comparatively early age, just as he was entering into a very broad field of usefulness. His wife, Lovina Thompson, was a daughter of Dr. Jesse C. Thompson, who was one of the earliest medical practitioners of Pickaway County, locating at South Bloom- field in 1837, and practicing there until his death in 1889. Dr. Thompson was widely known for his skill and it is thought that he was the first practitioner in the West to per- form what is known as the Caesarean opera- tion. Dr. Thompson's wife, Emily Sage, was a daughter of Harley Hi Sage, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The fol- lowing children were born to our subject's parents, all of whom are living, namely : Thompson B., a physician of Circleville; Annie E., wife of Thomas W. Brown, who resides near Circleville; and J. W., jobber of machin- ery, who lives in St. Louis.

Charles E. Wright, the subject of this sketch, has been a resident of South Bloom- field and the vicinity . nearly all his life. He asquired his education in the schools' of the village and in those of the county seat, finish- ing his education in 1895 in the Circleville High School. Since then, with the exception of his period of service in the Spanish-Ameri- can War, he has been continuously engaged in farming. His enlistment was in Company M, Fourth Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers. His command was stationed at Fort Thomas until August 1, 1898, when it was ordered to Newport News, Virginia, and then to Puerto Rico. Mr. Wright participated in the cam- paign on the island until he was sent home as a victim of typhus fever. He was mustered out of the service after peace was declared.

On December 12, 1905, Mr. Wright was married to Katherine Harman, daughter of

R. D. and Ella (Shotts) Harman, the cere- mony occurring at the home of the bride's parents near Bell Center, Hardin County, Ohio. Mr. Wright is a Republican in his political affiliation.

R EV. T. W. CHEESEMAN. D. D., rector of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church at Circleville, is one of the most scholarly clergymen of his diocese and one of the respected and esteemed citizens of Circleville. Dr. Cheeseman was born in 1861, in England, where he was reared and where he secured both his literary education and theological training.

At New College, London University, he received his degree of Master of Arts. His theological course was also taken at New Col- lege, from which institution he received his degree of D. D.

Dr. Cheeseman first entered upon his min- isterial work as a Congregationalist and served a church of this body at Southampton for seven and a half years. He was stationed at Sunderland for three years and then west to Bristol. This last pastorate he resigned on account of his wife's failing health, and then came to America and shortly afterward took charge of the Congregational Church at Ash- land, Nebraska. He remained there three years and then resigned both pastorate and connection with the Congregational body. He then entered the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church and became rector of St. John's Church at Clinton, Iowa. Two years later he accepted the rectorate of the church at Neenah, Wisconsin, where he remained 18 months and then came to Circleville as rector of St. Philip's Church.

On October 31, 1888, Dr. Cheeseman was married to Kate Conway, of Southampton, England, and they have three children, viz. :. Alice, Edwin and Lucile.

Dr. Cheeseman is well known as a con- tributor to both the religious and secular press. He is a popular lectures on Chautauqua plat-

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

MR. AND AIRS. LITTLETON GOCHENOUR AND DAUGHTERS.

Digitized by

Google

545

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

forms and as such has visited many parts of the country. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, Elks and Modern Woodmen of America.

ITTLETON GOCHENOUR, a pros- perous farmer of Scioto township, whose ancestors were prominent in the pioneer history of this section, was born at what is now known as Jacktown, May 27, 1841. He is a son of George and Ann Maria (Smith) Gochenour. The Gochenour family is of German derivation and was first established in Pennsylvania.

George Gochenour, the father, was born in Rockingham County, in the Shenandoah Val- ley, Virginia, in the year 1808, and about 1822 came with his parents and other members of the family to this county, locating near the present site of Commercial Point, on the farm where our subject now resides. He married Ann Maria Smith, daughter of Isaac Smith, who came from Maryland and located on the farm now owned by William Rush and Jo- seph Hill. After his marriage, Mr. Gochenour removed to Illinois and located on the present site of Danville, in the locality of which city he came to own considerable property, dying wealthy. His death occurred in 1872, at the age of 64 years, his wife surviving him until 1884, when she passed away, aged 71 years.

Joseph Gochenour, the grandfather of our subject, was born and raised in Pennsylvania and early moved to Virginia and the greater portion of his large family claimed it as their native State. He traded his extensive milling property in Virginia for 1,000 acres of land in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio. When he came to take possession of · his es- tate in the new country beyond the mountains, he found he had made a better bargain than he supposed, since the survey proved that he had acquired 1,122 acres. Upon this grand tract of land he raised his family of 11 chil- dren, so that according to the correct figures he was able to give each of them 102 acres. The grandfather passed his life, after coming

to Ohio, on the homestead which he founded.

Of Joseph's II children-eight sons and three daughters, it may be briefly stated that Joseph removed to Warren County, this State. where he raised a family and died. John first settled in Warren County, Ohio, but later mi- grated to Henry County, Illinois, where his family reached maturity and where he himself passed his last years. It is said that he pos- sessed a fine estate in Ohio. which he sold upon moving to Illinois. George was the father of our subject; his life history has been given above. William became a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana, where he remained until his death. He was twice married and left a family of 12 children. Henry died in Scioto township, Pickaway County, on the homestead given him by his father. He had a family of eight children, two of whom are still alive. David became a resident of Decatur County, Iowa, where he died leaving a wife and several children. Samuel removed to Kosciusko County, Indiana, where he died the father of a family. Daniel, who never mar- ried, served in an Ohio regiment throughout the Civil War, his captain being Dr. Black. Elizabeth, who married James Beavers, moved to Decatur County, Iowa, where 'both herself and husband died, leaving a family. Mary became the wife of Richard Payne, by whom she had two children. After his death she married Madison White and removed to Kan- sas, where both died. She was the mother of four children by her second marriage. The third daughter of Joseph Gochenour married Littl:ton Bethards, of Scioto township; both are now deceased.

To Mr. and Mrs. George Gochenour, the parents of our subject, were born seven chil- dren, as follows: Joseph, who died when about one' year old; Isaac, who passed away on the home farm of his brother at Jacktown, leaving a widow ( formerly Lucy Ann Mason) and a son and daughter-the latter now residing in Columbus; Barbara, who became the wife of Nelson McGhee and died on a farm adjoining that of our subject, leaving a family of eight children; Elza, who married Elizabeth Dechert 'and died on a neighboring farm, the father of

Digitized by Google

546

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

eight children; Sarah A., who married the late Lewis Beavers, resides in Scioto township and has four children; Littleton, our subject; Hen- ry, who first married Elizabeth McGhee, by whom he had one child, and, after her death, Margaret Beavers-he died at Jacktown as did his second wife.

Littleton Gochenour first married Margaret Beavers, a daughter of Elisha Beavers. She died childless in March, 1884. For his sec- ond wife he chose Sarah R. Gibson, daughter of James and Esther A. (Crabb) Gibson, the marriage occurring May 20, 1885. The Gib- son family is of Irish ancestry and has been long established in this country. Four chil- dren were the fruits of this union : Hester A., born June 25, 1887, who died December 15, 1895; George Gibson, born August 7, 1892, who died July 31, 1893; Mary L., born No- vember 1, 1896; ind Martha Ruhamah, born July 11, 1899. The two last named are at- tending school.

James A. Gibson, the father of Mrs. Gochenour,. was born at Dayton, Ohio, in 1823, and when six years of age came with his parents to Scioto township, Pickaway County. Robert Gibson, the grandfather of Mrs. Gochenour, was a tanner in Pennsyl- vania, from which State he came to Ohio in 1816. He located in Scioto township, Pick- away County in 1829. He had a family of six children : Robert W .; James A .; Martha A., who married J. W. Scholey and resides at Kansas City; Mary J., who died single about 1894; Rebecca, who became the wife of a Conover and moved to Denver, Colorado, where she died; and Sarah, who married Luther Lerch, and, after his death, Lawrence Crookham. Of this family, the first son, James A., married Esther A. Crabb, and by her had three daughters, viz .: Sarah, wife of our subject; Martha A., living at home with her mother; and Mary Jane, who married Henry Kaiser, of Scioto township. James A. Gibson died in 1893, at the age of 70 years; his widow, who was born October 26, 1833, lives on a farm adjoining that of her daughter, the wife of our subject.

Littleton Gochenour has resided on his

present homestead since the spring of 1865. He owns a farm of 252 acres, a considerable portion of which is in grass, and runs two teams constantly. Mr. Gochenour built his first residence during the year following his location and erected the commodious and mod- ern home in which he now lives, in 1883. To the land which he inherited from his father he has since added 130 acres, so that he is now placed among the most prosperous landowners and agriculturists in the township.

Ordinarily Mr. Gochenour supports the Democratic party, but when the Prohibitionists have a ticket in the field he gives his vote to their cause. He concerns himself little with politics, although he has served for a number of years as township trustee. His religious connections are with the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian, their membership being with the local organizations at Commercial Point. There are few men in the township who stand higher than Mr. Gochenour both for what they are in them- selves and on account of their family con- nections.

A group picture of Mr. and Mrs. Gochen- our and family is shown on a foregoing page in proximity to this.

I SAIAH DOWDEN, owner of 138 acres of farm land, proprietor of a store building, long prominent in the work of the Salvation Army and a leading citizen in the public affairs of Wayne township, has been a resident of this locality for the past 51 years. He is a son of Ashford Dowden, who migrated to Ross County, Ohio, from Cumberland, Maryland, in 1818 and to Pickaway County, in 1855. Our subject has served as justice of the peace for six years and as assessor for three years, and is now a mem- ber of the Board of Education. For a num- ber of years he was an officer in the Salva- tion Army, being successively sergeant, secre- tary, treasurer and major. · His religious af- filiations are with the Union Church of Wayne township.

Isaiah Dowden is a native of Ross County,

Digitized by Google

547

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

this State, born March 8, 1844, his birthplace being within eight miles of his present home. He was reared and educated in this section, and in 1870 was united in marriage to Sarah Ellen McDill, daughter of James McDill, who came to Pickaway County in 1860. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Dowden were born 10 children, as below: James, who mar- ried Maggie Althouse and had three children, one of whom is deceased; Mack, who married Ollie Pontius and has two sons; Clarence, who married Anna Fuller, and became the father of a daughter; Edward, who married Mary Flemming; Sherman, who married Mary Bockardt; Emma, who became the wife of George Curry and the mother of three sons and one daughter; Shurley and Hurley (twins); Gifford Fielding, who died in in- fancy; and Gilbert. Mrs. Dowden died April 5, 1896. On August 7, 1898, Mr. Dowden married Gertrude Shaw, of Syracuse, New York. In politics our subject is a Democrat.

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.

History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 69

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 923

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923