USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 11
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John Moffett was educated in the common schools of Lucas and assisted his father in the blacksmith shop until October 26, 1861, when, at the early Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Three years later he was discharged age of seventeen years, he responded to the call for troops to aid in crushing out the rebellion in the south and was enrolled as a member of Company E, by reason of the expiration of his term of service, having followed the forces of the Army of the Cumberland, save for the last sixteen months of service, when he acted as orderly to General Harker and his staff.
Returning to Lucas, Mr. Moffett found general conditions in the village very bad. Many of the men were at the front and those who remained did not seem to have ambition and energy enough to keep things in progressive condition. Grass had grown in the middle of the streets and there were various other evidences of neglect. After a week spent at home, Mr. Moffett returned to the army as a civilian employe, acting as clerk for Captain Burns, who had charge of transportation, with headquarters at Nashville, Tennessee. When General Hood besieged Nashville, the Union army was short of enlisted men and they mobilized a company consisting chiefly of civilian employes. On account of his previous military experience, training and general effi- ciency, Mr. Moffett was chosen second lieutenant and for a time was in charge of the company, although he was never commissioned captain. He that order. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Switzer, died in 1848. There were five children in their family, of whom two are now was out the second time for nine months, and when he was again honorably discharged he returned to Lucas and took up the trade of blacksmithing.
Four of the Moffett brothers were in the Civil war. although John Moffett was but seventeen years of age when he enlisted; his brothers. Fred and
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David, were still younger. When the war was over John Moffett carried on blacksmithing in Lucas, continuing the business until 1869, when he re- moved to Clay county, Kansas, where he purchased a quarter section of land. There, in connection with work at his trade, he also followed farming for three years, on the expiration of which period he traded his land for a farm in Monroe township, Richland county, and took up his abode thereon. For six years he continued its cultivation and then once more returned to Lucas, where he opened a blacksmith shop. He retained ownership of the farm, however, until recent years, when he sold it to his youngest son. He still remains an active man, and, although he has given up horseshoeing, he is still proprietor of quite an extensive establishment, owning his own building, stock and equipment, and from this he derives a good rental. He is also owner of a nice residence in the village, and altogether has been a prosperous man, winning success as the years have passed by.
In 1867 Mr. Moffett was married to Miss Susan Ford, a resident of Richland county, and unto them have been born five children: E. A. is now the owner of the farm in Madison township formerly owned by his father. Lloyd enlisted in the infantry for service in the late war with Spain, but on account of his early electrical training he was transferred to the signal corps and served for three years in the Philippine Islands. He returned home with impaired health and will never again be a strong man, this being another instance of a brave boy who has practically given his life to the flag. Wilma, the next member of the family, is deceased. Sidney S., who served for three years with the coast artillery, lived to return home, but was killed in a railroad accident while acting as brakeman on the Pennsylvania rail- road. Nettie, the youngest, is also deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Moffett hold membership in the English church. He is a republican in politics, stalwart in support of the party, has been township trustee and has served on the school board for the past twenty years. He belongs to the Grand Army post at Lucas, was its first quartermaster, and, with the exception of a period spent in Kansas, has continued to fill that position. His life has ever been free from ostentation or display, but those who know him recognize the fact that he has always been faithful to duty, whether on the tented fields of the south, in office, or in the discharge of the duties that have come to him in the relations of private life. He therefore commands and receives the respect which is everywhere accorded genuine worth.
DAVID GANO.
David Gano is numbered among the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Richland county, owning and operating a valuable tract of land comprising two hundred acres, situated on section 15, Perry town- ship. He is also filling the office of justice of the peace and in this connec- tion is well known. Mr. Gano was born in Delaware county, Ohio, February
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27, 1848, a son of Elijah and Chloe (Stevens) Gano. The father was born in the Buckeye state in 1820 and died in 1899, at the age of seventy-nine years, while the mother, who was born in New York in 1823, died in 1888. Their union was blessed with five children, namely: Amanda, the wife of Dr. Pierce, of Sparta, this state; David, of this review; Lorenzo, who is de- ceased; Anna E., who has also passed away; and Ora Zabie, the wife of Bemus Scott, of Knox county, Ohio.
David Gano was reared under the parental roof and was educated in the common schools near his father's home. He remained at home until he reached years of maturity, having in the meantime assisted in the operation of the home place. He started upon his business career by renting his father's farm, which he cultivated for twenty years, during which time he met with success. At the end of that period he purchased one hundred acres of land, situated in Union county, and there took up his abode. After three years' residence in Union county he sold his property and purchased the farm on section 15, Perry township, Richland county, which has since been his place of residence. This property embraces two hundred acres and is now in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Gano has improved his farm with a good residence and substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, while his land has been drained and fenced, so that the soil yields abundant harvest as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon it. In addition to carrying on general agricultural pursuits, he is also engaged in raising and breeding blooded stock, and this branch of his business is proving a profitable source of revenue to him.
It was in 1876 that Mr. Gano established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Lydia A. Huntsman, who was born in Morrow county, this state, in 1851, a daughter of William and Catharine Huntsman. The father was born in Perry township in 1817 and died in 1901, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, while the mother was a native of the Keystone state and passed away in 1858. Their family numbered six children, as follows: Theodore, who has passed away; Nancy J., the wife of J. W. Thuma, of Morrow county, Ohio; Mary E., the deceased wife of George Hiskey ; Clarissa. deceased; Lydia A., now Mrs. Gano; and Minerva, the wife of C. Hall, a resident of Mansfield, this state.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gano has been blessed with three daugh- ters and one son, namely: Cora E., the wife of Guy Sipe, a resident of Perry township; Chloe, who is deceased; Harry B., at home; and Mary, also de- ceased. Politically Mr. Gano is a republican and for three years served as supervisor, while at the present writing he is filling the office of justice of the peace, in which connection he is rendering decisions that are fair and impartial to all. His fraternal relations are with I. O. O. F. lodge, at Johns- ville, while both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He is a man to whom has been entrusted important public service and over whose record there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. His unbending integrity of character, his fearlessness in the discharge of his duties and his appreciation of the responsibilities that rest upon him are such as to make him a most acceptable incumbent in the office which he is
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now filling, while his private business affairs are ever conducted in the most honorable method, so that he has won high commendation and respect from his fellow townsmen.
MRS. ELIZA J. YOUNG.
Mrs. Eliza J. Young is residing on section 21, Jefferson township, where she owns and cultivates one hundred and forty acres of land. She also has other farm property in the county and real estate in Bellville. She was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and came to Richland county, Ohio, in 1845 with her parents, Levi and Sarah Watson. On leaving the Keystone State her father became identified with the farming interests of Ohio, purchas- ing a tract of land in Richland county, which he converted into a well improved and highly cultivated property. Extended mention of his life is made on another page of this work.
Mrs. Young spent her girlhood days under the parental roof upon the home farm in this county and is indebted to the public-school system for the educational privileges which she enjoyed. She was also trained to the work of the household, so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage. On the 29th of July, 1879, she became the wife of David L. Young, who was born in Jefferson township, Richland county, March 31, 1824, and was a son of John and Susan Young, who were natives of Pennsylvania but came to Ohio in early life and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of this part of the state. Their son David was one of a family of six children. He was reared to farm life and always carried on general agricultural pursuits. The methods of farming, however, changed greatly during his life. For many centuries there had been little progress made in the manner of carrying on the farm. The tiller of the soil still walked across the fields behind his plow, guiding the share as it turned the furrows, and the seed was dropped by hand and covered with a hoe. The grain was cut with the scythe and bound by hand and the methods of thresh- ing were also primitive as compared with those in use at the present time. As changes were gradually brought about in the methods of farming, Mr. Young kept in touch with the general advancement and was recognized as one of the wide-awake and progressive agriculturists of the community. He related many interesting incidents of the early days when Richland county was a pioneer district, giving little promise of rapid future development. The soil was largely uncultivated and many acres were yet covered with the native forest. Evidences of Indian residence here were yet seen and various kinds of wild beasts roamed through the woods, while wild game could be had in abundance and furnished many a meal for the early settlers. The meals were largely prepared in kettles which swung from the crane over the fire- place, while other food products were baked in skillets placed amid the hot coals. In his boyhood days even kerosene was not in use, the houses being lighted by candles, while much of the clothing for the family was made of
DAVID L. YOUNG
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homespun goods. Mr. Young related in interesting manner many incidents of those early days when the settlers had to depend upon what they raised for nearly everything they had. It was a period when hospitality, however, found place in almost every home and when good cheer characterized all social gatherings. As the years passed Mr. Young carried on the farm work, the only interruption to his agricultural pursuits being when he served in the Civil war for one hundred days. In matters of citizenship he was always faithful and progressive.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Young was born one son, Levi, who is now living in Jefferson township. The death of Mr. Young occurred April 17, 1907, when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Young still sur- vives her husband and is now the owner of a valuable farm property of one hundred and forty acres on section 21, Jefferson township. She also has one hundred and eleven acres on section 19 of the same township and she owns a dwelling and six lots in Bellville. Her farms are always kept in good con- dition and from her property she derives a gratifying annual income. To its development she personally gives her supervision and keeps in touch with her business affairs, displaying keen discrimination and sound judgment in the control of her agricultural interests. She is widely known in the county where almost her entire life has been passed and has always displayed those traits of character which win kindly regard in every land and clime.
WILLIAM ADRAIN.
William Adrain, deceased, was born at the old family homestead, four and one-half miles west of Mansfield, December 20, 1831. His grandfather, Robert Adrain, LL.D., was born in Carrickfergus, Ireland, September 30, 1775. The great-grandfather was a native of France, who, together with his two brothers, left that country after the revocation of the edict of Nantes and settled in the northern part of Ireland. Their occupation while in their own country was the making of mathematical instruments. Among various means of sup- port in Ireland they engaged in teaching school throughout the country, but subsequently the father of Robert sailed a small vessel from the north of Ireland to the neighboring islands.
He was known as a man of great wit and an excellent conversationalist. Discovering in his son Robert, who was the eldest of five children, unusual and early development of wit and brilliancy, he determined to use every effort to educate him with a view to the ministry. A remarkable aptitude for learning made the boy a great favorite with his instructors, but at the age of fifteen he had the misfortune to lose both his father and mother, which terminated his career as a student. As a means of livelihood he immediately opened a school at Ballyclare and it was while teaching at this place that he first mani- fested his unusual powers as a mathematician. He happened one day to be looking through an old arithmetic which contained the algebraic symbols, the meaning of which he knew nothing. Being of a mathematical turn of mind,
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however, he gave himself no rest until he had thoroughly mastered the study and in a short time was able to solve and explain any problem in arithmetic by algebra. Thus the first step of this youthful genius in mathematical science was made by his own unaided efforts, and he henceforth devoted himself enthusiastically and untiringly to its further mastery and pursuit.
He became so successful as a teacher that a Mr. Mortimer, a man of great wealth and influence in the town of Cumber, engaged him as private instructor for his children. This gentleman treated him as one of the family and every- thing was very pleasant and homelike, but the trend of circumstances soon changed this peaceful existence. The Irish rebellion broke out in 1798 and Mr. Mortimer, who was an officer of the government, was engaged in taking the oath of allegiance from all those whom it was thought might be in sym- pathy with the uprising. Having not the least fear that Mr. Adrain was on the side of the degraded rebels, as he called them, he had omitted to make him give his oath of allegiance. However, on learning that Mr. Adrain was at the head of a company and had been drilling for some time, he became much enraged and immediately sent out details of men in all directions, offering fifty pounds for his capture. While preparations were being made for the battle of Saintfield, which took place the next day, Mr. Mortimer was seriously wounded and Mr. Adrain also received a dangerous wound in the back from one of his own men.
As there were no hopes of the latter's recovery, the search for him was abandoned, and after much suffering and many miraculous escapes, he assumed the garb of a weaver and made his way to America. The yellow fever was prevalent in New York city upon his arrival and on hearing that employment as a teacher could be obtained in New Jersey, he lost no time in crossing the Hudson. Walking the entire distance to Princeton in search of a situation, he was at once engaged in the academy at that place, which was the beginning of his successful career in this land of republican institutions. He remained at Princeton for about three years, when he removed to York, Pennsylvania, and became the principal of York County Academy. While there he wrote many instructive articles for the Mathematical Correspondent, a paper published by George Baron. He remained at York until 1805, when he removed to Reading, Pennsylvania, taking charge of the academy there. While in Reading he pub- lished a mathematical periodical of his own called "The Analyst," which he conducted for several years with great success.
Mr. Adrain discovered the true and correct rule, which was adopted, for correcting the dead reckoning at sea. In the year 1810 he was called to the professorship of mathematics at Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey. and soon after his engagement there the degree of Doctor of Laws was con- ferred upon him. In 1812 he was elected a member of the American Philo- sophical Society, in the following year becoming a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and subsequently was elected a member of several of the philosophical societies of Europe. In the fall of 1813 Dr. Adrain, without solicitation on his part, was elected to supply the place of Dr. Kemp, deceased. as professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Columbia College, New York. and this position he held until 1825, when he resigned on account of
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his wife's health. They went back to Rutgers College, where they could get more of the country life and air, and there Dr. Adrain remained throughout the remainder of his earthly pilgrimage. When he was called to his final rest in 1844 it was universally acknowledged that the world had lost one of its brightest self-made scholars.
John Adrain, the father of William Adrain, was a native of New York city and came to Richland county in 1816, settling in Springfield township, four miles west of Mansfield. He afterward took up his abode in Madison township, and with the exception of one year spent in New York, he lived in this neighborhood for sixty-seven years, the last three of which were spent in Mansfield. His family numbered ten children, of whom four are still living. His demise occurred June 5, 1883, when he had attained the age of eighty-two years, three months and sixteen days, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. A. Boughton, on West Fourth street. He was a highly respected and upright man and a member of the United Presbyterian church.
William Adrain spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the home farm and obtained his education in the district school. When still quite young' he came to Mansfield and clerked in the clothing store of M. L. Miller, being subsequently employed by Dickson & Byrd, grocers. He also worked for James and Victor Dickson and afterward embarked in the grocery business with Victor Dickson, which partnership continued for some time. On its dissolution Mr. Adrain associated himself with Wilbur Finney for the conduct of a grocery enterprise, this connection continuing for several years. He was engaged in that line of activity altogether for twenty-five years and was well known throughout the county as a man of excellent business ability, whose success was well merited.
On the 3d of December, 1868, at Findlay, Ohio, William Adrain was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Howard. Her grandparents, John and Abigail Howard, came to Richland county in the year 1815. Their son, Captain Samuel Howard, the father of Mrs. Adrain, was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1814, and grew to young manhood in Ohio, acquiring his education in the schools of that early day. When nine- teen years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Hancock county and assisted in establishing a home on the frontier. They settled on eighty acres of land in Portage township, which the father had entered July 17, 1833.
Samuel Howard borrowed fifty dollars from his father and entered forty acres in his own name, promising to keep the family in provisions for one year in payment of his debt. This promise he faithfully fulfilled, though it cost him many a hard day's work and many nights devoted to search for game. He paid sixteen dollars per barrel for flour and a dollar and a half per bushel for corn. When he began life as a married man he had, in addition to his forty acres of land, a good wife, a robust constitution and much energy. His upright character made him much respected and his honesty was never ques- tioned by either friend or foe, his fellow townsmen showing their confidence in him by calling him to public office. He was elected justice of the peace and later was made treasurer of Hancock county, being reelected to that position
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in 1852. When the Civil war broke out he was one of the first to respond to the call for troops and, although more than forty years of age, he recruited a company in August, 1862, with the assistance of others. It was assigned to the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was known as Company G, of which he was captain. After the battle of Moss Creek he had the misfortune to break his leg and resigned in April, 1864, being unfit for further duty. He was again elected to the office of county treasurer of Hancock county in 1878 and once more filled the position in 1880. He subscribed one thousand dollars for the erection of the new Methodist Episcopal church at Findlay, and when the time of payment came he made it twelve hundred dollars. It was therefore called the Howard church. He was a devout Chris- tian and a man of broad humanitarian spirit, who made friends of all with whom he came in contact. His death, which occurred at his home in Findlay, Ohio, March 13, 1888, when he had attained the age of seventy-three years and four months, was the occasion of deep and sincere regret. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows and in politics was a demo- crat. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Howard, was a native of Guernsey county, Pennsylvania, and passed away January 21, 1901, at the age of eighty-six years.
Lizzie Bell Adrain, the only child and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Adrain, was graduated from the Mansfield schools in 1890, and in 1892 gave her hand in marriage to Frank Henry Marquis. The three children who have been born of this union are Edith Arline, William Taylor and Joseph Howard Marquis. Mr. Marquis is assistant cashier in the Mansfield Savings Bank, of which Mr. Brinkerhoff is president. Although still a young man, he has already demonstrated his ability and worth and undoubtedly has a bright future before him. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He is likewise a very prominent and active member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Marquis is especially talented as a vocalist and for several years was the leading soprano in the church choir to which she belonged.
William Adrain was a democrat in his political views, while in religious belief he was a Methodist. His fraternal relations were with Venus Lodge, No. 152, F. & A. M., and in his life he exemplified the teachings of the craft. He was essentially a man of domestic tastes, devoted to his family, so that his death, which occurred September 10, 1901, came as a great blow in the home circle. He had rounded out the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten and throughout his entire life had so lived as to win the admiration and respect of all with whom he was associated in business or social relations.
HON. JAY FORD LANING.
Jay Ford Laning, a member of congress from the fourteenth Ohio dis- trict, was born at New London, Ohio, May 15, 1853, and was educated at Savannah Academy and Baldwin University. He began life as a laborer, became a school teacher and later a lawyer. He was the manager of the
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Laning Book Publishing House at Norwalk, Huron county, being the founder of the business, in which he built up a large trade. He has also been an author, having written a number of historical books; also law and school books.
In 1893 Mr. Laning was elected to the Ohio senate, where he took high rank as a legislator, and was reelected in 1895. In 1896 he was elected to. congress from the fourteenth district and during the first session of that congress Mr. Laning secured an appropriation of one hundred thousand dol- lars for the erection of a federal building in Mansfield. Other congressmen talked of securing an appropriation for a building, but never succeeded in getting it, but Mr. Laning got it without the blowing of trumpets or the playing of bands, and the people of Mansfield appreciate what he has done for them.
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