History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 79

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 79

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Politically Mr. Schleich is a Democrat. He takes considerable interest in township affairs and has served as school director. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

e HRISTOPHER C. HANAWALT, whose fine farm of 202 acres, all in one body, is situated on the Foster road in Monroe township, belongs to one of the pioneer families of Ohio and lives on land which was settled on by his maternal grandfather when all this country was the abode only of wild beasts and Indians. Mr. Hanawalt was born on this farm, on March 10, 1853, and is a son of Christopher and Rebecca (Corry) Hanawalt.

The story of the development of any new section has much to interest any true lover of his country, and it is both pleasant and profit- able to recall the efforts of the indomitable pioneers who, through their courage and in- dustry, converted this beautiful part of Ohio into the land of peace and prosperity which is exemplified on every side. The Hanawalt family originated in Germany, where Henry Hanawalt, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born and married. As his family increased, he was led to think of establishing a home across the Atlantic, where many of his countrymen had found comfortable homes awaiting their industry and where conditions were less difficult than in Germany at that time. The Hanawalts came to Ohio and set- tled in Ross County, and there with German thrift they prospered until the father was ac- cidentally drowned in Paint Creek. He had a numerous family but all the names preserved us are: Samuel, George, John and Christopher.

Christopher Hanawalt was born in Ross County, Ohio, and his boyhood and youth passed as do those of children who are early bereft of a father. That he grew into an ex- emplary young man is sufficiently proved by the fact that his father-in-law, Stephen Corry, so highly thought of him and had such confi- dence in his ability and. honesty, as to will him one of his most valuable farms, this being the property on which our subject now re- sides. To the original tract Christopher Hana- walt added until he owned 202 acres. His death occurred October 30, 1869. He mar- ried Rebecca Corry, who was born in Ross County and was a daughter of Stephen and Rhoda Corry.

Stephen Corry was a very early pioneer in Ross County, Ohio. He came to America from England with his wife and two brothers, and settled first on the present site of the newer por- tions of Chillicothe. Here he cleared a num- ber of acres of land, which he later exchanged for 300 acres in what is now Frankfort. Mr. Corry assisted in building many of the early homes in Chillicothe, many of these being of logs, and he nailed on the first clapboard roof ever used in that city. When he removed his family to Frankfort, the trip was made in an ox cart, through an almost unbroken forest. It was partly the result of an obstruction in the path that caused the Corry family to locate just where they did. A great elm tree had been blown down and when Mr. Corry saw that it would furnish sufficient bark with which to construct a shanty that would provide shel- ter for the night, he hastened to utilize the building material at hand and that night the family slept under a roof. The light of the morning showed the location a desirable one and Mr. Corry decided that it would be un- necessary to go further and began to make preparations to establish here a permanent home.

The whole extent of this sketch might be filled with interesting incidents relative to the establishing of this pioneer home, including visits of many curious but not otherwise of- fensive Indians, while the father was on a trip to the distant mill, and the unwelcome visits

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to the bark shanty at night of hungry wolves that came out of the forest when the father's musket slaughtered a deer. The family records speak very kindly of the Indians, who at the time of Mr. Corry's settlement were very numerous. This may be explained by his at- titude to them, for he learned their language and always dealt fairly and kindly with them. They appreciated this generous treatment by the white man and returned it. In this con- nection may be repeated a touching little story that Mr. Corry used to tell. Some 15 years after he had settled on his farm, when an Indian was an unusual sight, Mr. Corry met a solitary warrior one day in the woods. At his invitation he sat down on a log and as their conversation on the past was carried on, the Indian kept asking Mr. Corry continually to "move over" until at length, when the end of the log was reached, Mr. Corry protested, saying : "I am at the end of the log and there is no more place for me to rest." The Indian sadly replied : "That is just the position you whites have placed the Indians in, by making us keep moving."

The time came when Mr. Corry replaced the bark hut with a fine brick residence, which now stands on the Westfall road. Here he and his wife died. The old home is occupied by the younger daughter, Huldah, who is now 85 years of age and is the widow of Richard Johnson. The children of Stephen Corry and wife were: William and Thomas, who were born before the family settled on the farm; Sarah, Sallie, Bettie, Isaac, Levi, Rebecca and Huldah. Mr. Corry owned a great deal of iand and the farm in Monroe township, Pick- away County, he bought from an earlier settler, a Mr. Maddock.

Christopher and Rebecca (Corry) :Hana- walt had the following children : Rhoda Jane, born April 20, 1833, who died March 31, 1886, the same year as her mother; Stephen Henry, born October 3, 1835, who married Mary Cheetham and died October 30, 1865; Mary A., born July 17, 1839, who lives with our subject; Huldah E., born October 26, 1838, who is the widow of I. N. Fisher and lives in Monroe township; Levi T., born Jan-

uary 9, 1841, who married Retta Adams, now deceased; Nancy C., born February 12, 1844, who married Samuel Maddox, and died March 10, 1875, on the birthday of our subject; Will- iam, born December 10, 1845, who died De- cember 13, 1845; Sarah M., born December 17, 1846, who died October 17, 1847; Rebecca, born March 6, 1851, who resides with our subject; Christopher C .; Isaac, born April 12, 1854, who died May 23, 1863; and Laura A., born June 11, 1857, who died May 12, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Hanawalt also reared a nephew, John, who was born August 29, 1853, but a few months later than our subject. He mar- ried Eliza Maddox.

After the death of Christopher Hanawalt, there was some legal- difficulties on account of his having left only a verbal will, by which his widow should inherit all his property. After adjustment was made the widow re- ceived but 66 acres and the rest of the land was sold, our subject receiving the sum of $675. He was then but 15 years old and the resolve that he then made he has carried out, that being to purchase the whole of his fath- er's former estate. When 18 years of age he gave his note, payable when he came of age and thus came into possession of his mother's 66 acres, on which she made her home until her death on July 5, 1886. Since that time Mr. Hanawalt has persisted until now he owns the whole of the old estate of 202 acres, the farm on which he has lived all his life. This is good land, responding to the excellent cultiva- tion it receives, with abundant crops of corn and wheat. Mr. Hanawalt also deals in horses and raises many Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. At present writing he has 17 head of horses, 31 head of cattle and 75 head of hogs. His land is well watered, Foster Run, a never-failing little stream, running through one corner of it. His comfortable residence of six rooms he built himself and there are other excellent improvements.

Mr. Hanawalt was married first to Nancy Anderson, who died May 13, 1888. She was a daughter of M. M. Anderson. The two chil- dren born to this marriage were: Cora and William E. The former, who was a successful

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teacher, married Ansel Crownover, and they have one son-Vincent L. The latter married Bertha Crabill. On March 30, 1890, Mr. Hanawalt was married (second) to Anna Grice, who died January 6, 1896. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Grice. They had three children, Cecil C., Ray and Ethel, all of whom reside with their father.

Mr. Hanawalt has always been a citizen who took a commendable interest in public affairs. He has held a number of important county and township offices, including that of infirmary director, constable and for six years was township trustee. He is one of the leading members and liberal supporters of the Christian Church at Five Points. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His portrait ac- companies this sketch.

E ORACE B. McCORD. Among the old residents and prominent farmers of Scioto township, was the late Horace B. McCord, whose long, useful and exemplary life closed on October 2, 1905, in his beautiful home situated on his farm of 2351/2 acres, not far distant from Lockbourne. Mr. McCord was born in Albe- marle County, Virginia, July 16, 1825, and was a son of James and Sidney (Brown) Mc- Cord.

The McCord family originated in Ireland where the grandfather, William McCord, was born. He became a true and loyal citizen of America and served as a member of the Ameri- can forces in the War of the Revolution before he was 18 years old, continuing in the service through the battle of Brandywine. He subse- quently settled in Virginia, in the rich lands of Albemarle County.

. James McCord, the father of the late Hor- ace B., was born June 10, 1802, in Albemarle County, Virginia, and was both a farmer and carpenter. In the fall of 1834 he sold his farm of 48 acres in Virginia, and came to Ohio, traversing a distance of 600 miles, partly over the mountains, in wagons, being three weeks

on the way. He settled first in Scioto town- ship, Pickaway County, but later moved to Franklin County, where he remained for four years, and then returned to Scioto township and built a log cabin in the woods. He soon acquired land, buying first a tract of 115 acres and adding to it from time to time until, at his death, he owned an estate of over 400 acres. He was always a hard worker and lit- erally carved his home out of the wilderness. In politics he was a Democrat. In religion he was a Methodist. He married Sidney Brown, who was also a native of Albemarle County, Virginia, born in March, 1807. The children born to them were: Horace B., the subject of this memoir; William, who died aged eight years; John Andrew, who died in his second year; Mary (Brown) ; and James A. James McCord died in February, 1875, and his wife in July, 1884.

Horace B. McCord was nine years old when he accompanied his parents from Vir- ginia to Ohio and could easily recall many events of the long journey, for they made a strong impression on his memory. He had been in school for six months before leaving Albemarle County, and as soon as expedient he started to school in Scioto township, walk- ing long distances to reach the little log school- house in the clearing. His attendance was mainly in the winter seasons as the summers were devoted to work on the farm. He re- mained at home until he was 21 years old, working for his father.

In after years Mr. McCord would often tell how he earned his first money. When he came of age, he entered the employ of a neigh- boring farmer and cut corn, receiving two cents per shock for his labor. For five suc- cessive seasons he worked for $10 a month for his father, who held to the old principle that high wages were apt to turn young men into spendthrifts. James McCord was a man of am- ple enough means to have provided well for his surviving children, all of whom profited by his will with the exception of his eldest son, our subject, who received nothing and who earned every dollar that he subsequently possessed. In the year preceding his first marriage, Mr.

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McCord purchased his first 50 acres of land, this being in 1856, and in 1864 he bought 124 acres located on the line of Franklin County, on which property he lived for three years. In 1871 he both bought and sold and in 1874 he bought 207 acres, later sold 50 acres and bought his farm on which his widow still resides, in Scioto township. Here, in 1883, he built his commodious, elegant brick resi- dence, the comforts of which he was permitted to enjoy for many years.

On March 26, 1857, Mr. McCord was mar- ried (first) to Mary Callahan, who was born in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and died March 8, 1867, leaving no issue. On January 21, 1871, Mr. McCord was married (second) to Mrs. Elizabeth (Wade) Deneen, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 13, 1839, and is a daughter of Abner and Anna (Gorell) Wade.

Mrs. McCord's grandfather Gorell was born in Ireland and when a boy was stolen by a sea captain. He remained on the water for many years and in time became the captain's mate. Finally the vessel was wrecked and he gave up a sailor's life. He located in Penn- sylvania, where he subsequently married Mary Van Cleaf and together they came to Ohio and settled as pioneers in the woods on the present site of Mount Vernon. During the War of 1812 he was sheriff of a county in Pennsyl- vania, and during this period of time the mother of Mrs. McCord was an infant just learning to walk. It was a part of Pennsyl- vania law at that time that debtors should be confined in prison until they had discharged their indebtedness and Mrs. McCord remem- bers hearing how the prisoner's taught her mother. to walk, carefully guiding the little feet while the busy young mother was con- cerned in her housekeeping tasks. Both grand- parents died at Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Abner Wade, father of Mrs. McCord, was born at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and continued to live in Knox County until the Civil War, when he' moved to Columbus, where he lived until 1894, dying at the age of 82 years. Mrs. Mc- Cord's mother died when she was a child. They were buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery, at Co-

lumbus. Mr. and Mrs. Abner Wade had a large family, as follows : Elzy and Joseph, of Knox County ; James, who died in 1905; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of J. M. Blocher ; Emeline, deceased, who was the wife of Clark Clemmens; Abner, deceased; Anthony, a resi- dent of Galloway, near Columbus; Matilda, wife of Seymour Jewett, of Pickaway County; Josephine, wife of Clark Worthington, of Pleasant Corners, Franklin County ; and Eliza- beth (Mrs. McCord).

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCord, four of whom survive, namely: Laura, who married Jacob C. Borror, a wealthy farmer, resides in Jackson township, Franklin County, and has two children- Blanche and Malcolm; Chauncey, engaged in farming near Ashville, who married Metta May Cromley, a daughter of Hon. Thaddeus E. Cromley, and has one son-Harold Cromley ; Horace Miner, who has an office with the Na- tional Cash Register Company, of Dayton; and Daisy Irene, who lives at home with her mother. Mr. McCord afforded his children many advantages in an educational way and surrounded them with all that pertains to a cultured home. With him the welfare of his family came before everything and as a father he was kind and indulgent and as a husband, tender and appreciative.

In political sentiment, Mr. McCord was a Democrat but he never aspired to office. For many years he was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church at Commercial Point and in his life and bearing he was a con- sistent Christian. He took comfort in the fact that in all his business life, even when closely pressed himself, he never sued a man nor was ever sued and that no one, after he passed out of life, could claim one cent of indebtedness. He was scrupulously just and honest in every particular and no needy person ever applied to him in vain.

The immediate cause of Mr. McCord's death was heart trouble, from which he had long been a sufferer. The funeral services over his remains were conducted by Rev. Al- bert Brewer, of Columbus, who had formerly been Mr. McCord's pastor at Commercial

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Point. A beautiful and touching address was delivered and listened to by a large concourse of sorrowing friends, who had gathered to show respect to one who had lived so blame- lessly and usefully among his fellow-citi- zens.

E DWARD DAVIS, who has been a resi- dent of Wayne township, Pickaway County, for the past two years, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on Au- gust 4, 1863, and is a son of John and Matilda (Edgington) Davis.

John Davis was born in Pennsylvania and his wife was born in Ross County, Ohio. They were the parents of four children : Frank, who went to the Klondike and never returned; Ed- ward, our subject; James; and a daughter who died in infancy.

Edward Davis was married July 4, 1886, to Emma Lynton, a daughter of Isaac Lynton, of Ross County. After his marriage, Mr. Davis continued to live in Ross County for 18 years, and then located in Wayne township, Pickaway County. Mr. Davis owns a home at Yellow Bud, Ross County, which he purchased in 1888 and which is now occupied by his brother James. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had three children : Elmer, Ralph and Frank. Mr. Davis was for a time supervisor of the road of District No. 7, Union township, Ross Coun- ty. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family attend the Evangelical Church.

ILLIAM ALDENDERFER, whose well-cultivated farm of 80 acres is situated in Salt Creek township, is a well-known, respected citizen of the township. He was born in this township, July 25, 1852, and is a son of Henry and Mary Aldenderfer.

Henry Aldenderfer was born and reared in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he ob- tained his education. In young manhood he

came to Ohio, and after a short residence at Findlay came to Salt Creek township, Picka- way County. Here he married and reared two of his four children, these being : William, of this sketch, and Sarah, who is the wife of Ja- cob Huffman, of Fairfield County, Ohio. Henry Aldenderfer died March 17, 1889. By trade he was a carpenter and this he followed, more or less, all his life until his later years, which he devoted to farming. In politics he was a Democrat. In religion he was a Luth- eran.

The mother of our subject was Mary Al- denderfer, who was a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Markel) Aldenderfer, who were early settlers in Salt Creek township. Both families were of German extraction. It is an interesting fact that both the father and the maternal grandfather of our subject bore precisely the same name. Mrs. . Aldenderfer died April 12, 1892.

William Aldenderfer was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the Salt Creek township schools. As a boy he began to be useful on the farm and as he grew older he took a still greater interest and more respon- sibility and finally assumed the sole manage- ment. His land is valuable and he carries on general farming and raises stock. The home is comfortable and the buildings are commodi- ous and substantially built.

On October 14, 1875, Mr. Aldenderfer was married to Martha Weaver, who was born Sep- tember 11, 1856, in Hocking County, Ohio, and is a daughter .of Levi and Sarah A. (Frease) Weaver. Her father was born in Hocking County and her mother in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County. Both the Weaver and, Frease families were very early settlers in Hocking and Pickaway counties. Levi Weaver, who died in the former county in 1896, was a son of Jacob Weaver who came to Ohio from Berks County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Aldender- fer has one brother and two sisters, viz. : John, Ellen (wife of George Cox), and Leah (wife of Charles Waites)-all residents of Salt Creek township.

Mr. and Mrs. Aldenderfer have four chil- dren, as follows : Nelson O., of Summit Coun-

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ty, Ohio; Edward C., at home; Stella E., wife of Edward O. Butterbaugh, of Fairfield Coun- ty; and Wallace, the latter deceased.

In politics, Mr. Aldenderfer is a stanch Democrat. Both he and his wife are worthy members of the Lutheran Church at Tarlton, Ohio. They are well known throughout the township and are held in very high esteem as Christian people and good neighbors.

A BRAHAM W. KIRKPATRICK, one of Perry township's best known citi- zens and representative farmers and stock-raisers, resides on the old home farm to which his father came in 1851, not far distant from the one in this same township, where he was born on January 9, 1834. His parents were Abraham and Eliza- beth (Marrett) Kirkpatrick.

The Kirkpatrick family, as well as the Mar- rett family, was of Irish extraction. The pa- ternal grandfather, Samuel Kirkpatrick, set- tled in Ross County, Ohio, where Abraham Kirkpatrick, our subject's father, was born and where he resided until his marriage, when he moved to Perry township, Pickaway County. In 1851 he settled on the farm on which his son, our subject, has lived until the present time. He died in 1874, aged 82 years.

Abraham W. Kirkpatrick was reared and educated in Perry township. His farm is a very valuable one, well located and finally managed. Mr. Kirkpatrick does not farm him- self, having a capable agriculturist to carry out his ideas.

Mr. Kirkpatrick is one of a family of nine children, namely : Sally Ann (Cannon), Ruth (Watson) and Jane (Motter), all deceased; James, a resident of Illinois; John M., who died at the. battle of Pea Ridge, during the Civil War; Marcus, who lives in Illinois; Abraham W., of this sketch; Joseph W., who lives on the old Kirkpatrick place; and Martha, wife of John Porter, living in South Dakota.

In politics, Mr. Kirkpatrick is a stanch Re- publican. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is counted with the township's most worthy citizens and is held in very high esteem.

D ANIEL EBERT HOSLER, formerly director of the Pickaway County In- firmary, owns a valuable farm of 144 acres in Washington township. He was born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, May 9, 1832, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Ebert) Hosler.

Isaac Hosler was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and removed with his parents to Logan County, Ohio, when he was a boy. They spent their lives in Logan County. Isaac Hosler came to Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, in young manhood and after his mar- riage bought a small farm. This he improved and here both he and his wife died.

Daniel E. Hosler was reared in Salt Creek township and has spent his whole life in Pick- away County, where he has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. His life has been mainly devoted to farming. His wife in- herited the present place from her father and the family has been settled here since 1856.

Mr: Hosler was married to Mary Hitler, who was a daughter of George Hitler. She died March 24, 1876, the mother of 12 chil- dren, the five survivors being: George T., Marshall O., Oscar Franklin, Mrs. Ellen Denny and Dora Belle (wife of George Thomas, of Circleville).

In politics Mr. Hosler is a Democrat. He served one term as infirmary director and for 30 years has been a member of the School Board. He is one of the best-known residents of the township ..

C HOMAS ANDERSON, one of the large grain farmers of Pickaway County, and also one of her sub- stantial and self-made men, resides on his fine farm of 146 acres in Jack- son township. Mr. Anderson was born at Rockport, County Down, Ireland, and is a son of David and Hannah (McKee) Anderson.

The parents of Mr. Anderson were also natives of County Down, Ireland. The father was the first of the family to come to America, and after he had secured a home in the new land the rest of his family followed. The

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MR. AND MRS. THOMAS GOODMAN AND FAMILY.

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father died in Jackson township, this county, at the age of 69 years, and the mother when she was 70 years of age. They had five chil- dren, namely : James, who died aged 40 years; Ellen, deceased, who was left a widow with one son and spent her last days at the home of our subject; Thomas, of this sketch; John, a farmer of Scioto township, near Commercial Point; and Agnes, deceased.

Thomas Anderson was born September 26, 1824, and was 24 years of age when he came to America, accompanying his mother and a part of the family and joining the father and the others, who had been residents of Pick- away County, Ohio, for two years. Mr. Ander- son has lived in this neighborhood ever since and has always followed farming. He has been a very hard worker and through industry and wise investments he has become a man of substance, owning not only his home farm in Jackson township but also another valuable farm of 871/2 acres, located about two miles distant. He makes a specialty of the growing of grain.

Mr. Anderson was married to Sarah David- son, who was born in Ireland, a daughter of James Davidson, and was three years old when she was brought by her parents to America. She died aged 30 years, leaving these children : James, of Jackson township; William, living at home; Ella, widow of Andrew Hall, resid- ing with her father; Mathew, of Scioto town- ship; Joseph, of Adelphi, Ohio; and Anna and Elizabeth, both living at home. Mr. Anderson was married (second) to Mrs. Elizabeth Reid, widow of John Reid, and daughter of John .Morris.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 79

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