USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 13
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In 1851 I was going from Boston to New York, and I took the cars to Newport, R. I., at which place I took passage on the steamer Bay State. They left Newport in the evening, and shortly after they got under way, supper was served. My attention was attracted to a family sitting opposite me at the table. The family consisted of father, mother and seven children, four girls and three boys. After supper I got engaged in conversation with the gentleman and learned that he and his wife were natives of Connecticut but had removed to Wisconsin soon after their marriage and that this was the first time they had been back to visit their old home. The boat seemed to be well filled with passengers. About the middle of the night there was a great explosion which awakened all of the passengers. This was followed by cries. I got up as soon as I could to ascertain what had happened and there beheld one of the worst sights I ever saw. There lying on mattresses on the floor were three of the Wisconsin young ladies and two large men. The boiler had exploded beneath their state rooms and scalded them with steam. They covered their faces and hands with sweet oil and flour, and the skin and flour would all roll off together. The captain shot off the rockets to alarm other boats on the Sound to come to our assistance. About daylight there came alongside a boat and took us all on board to New York. On arrival they took the three ladies and the two men direct to the hospital.
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The next morning the city papers gave a full account of the disaster and said that the three young ladies from Wisconsin and the two men were dead.
During the year from 1825 to 1835 the Wyandot Indians used to come to Mansfield to do their trading. They made very fine maple sugar and made bark buckets that held about fifty pounds. They would strap them together and put them across their horses and bring the sugar to Mansfield to trade for goods.
BACHUS SETH RUCKMAN.
Bachus Seth Ruckman, who is one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil war and a highly respected citizen of Richland county, is operating a well improved farm of seventy-two acres, situated on section 7, Plymouth township. He is a native son of the township, born on a farm, June 9, 1843. His paternal grandfather, Peter Ruckman, was a native of Virginia and served in the war of 1812, and on his return from the northern part of Ohio camped near Plymouth for three days, and, being pleased with the country, returned and entered three-quarters of a section of land on sections 1, 6, 7 and 12. He spent his remaining days here, passing away in 1821. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Lee, a sister of Henry Lee, of Revolutionary fame, and her father was a first cousin of Robert E. Lee. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ruckman numbered eleven children.
The father of our subject, who bore the name of Joshua Ruckman, was born near Romney, in Hampshire county, West Virginia, August 3, 1803. He wedded Mrs. Barbara Pettit, the widow of Merritt Pettit. She bore the maiden name of Rambo and was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1810, and by her marriage to Mr. Pettit became the mother of five chil- dren. By her marriage to Mr. Ruckman she became the mother of six children. Both the parents are now deceased, the father passing away in 1879, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. The mother died several years previously, her demise occurring in 1872, when she was sixty- two years of age.
Bachus S. Ruckman, whose name introduces this review, was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He remained under the parental roof until the time of his enlistment in the Civil war. On the 15th of August, 1862, he became a member of the First Ohio Independent Battery, being assigned to duty in the Second Brigade, Eighth Army Corps. He took part in the following engagements: Fayetteville, December 17, 18, 1863; Cloyd Mountain, May 9, 1864; New River Bridge, May 10, 1864; Newport, May 12, 1864; Lexington, June 11, 1864; Lynchburg, June 17, 18, 1864; Salem, July 11, 1864; Bunker Hill, July 14, 1864; and Stevenson Depot, July 20, 1864. In the latter engagement he was wounded in the right leg, but remained on the field of battle. On the 25th of July, 1864,
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he participated in the battle of Martinsburg and was discharged June 25, 1865. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, having made a most credit- able military record.
Following the close of hostilities Mr. Ruckman returned home, where he remained for a time. He then went to Illinois, where he spent three years, while for six years he lived in Bucyrus, this state, being employed in a machine shop. He then made a permanent location in Plymouth town- ship, where he has been engaged in farming to the present time. He now operates seventy-two acres of rich and arable land, located on section 7, Plymouth township, and in his undertakings is meeting with excellent suc- cess, for he follows modern ideas of agriculture.
Mr. Ruckman was married May 24, 1866, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Jane Van Wagner, who was born in Auburn township, Craw- ford county, Ohio, March 5, 1850, a daughter of Harvey and Abigail (Parcel) Van Wagner, both of whom were natives of New York, whence they came with their parents to Richland county at an early day. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ruckman has been blessed with the following named children : Fayette J., who served for five years as a member of the Eighth Ohio Regi- ment, National Guards, now resides in Plymouth, where he conducts a black- smith shop. He is married and has three children. Rhuie is the wife of Harmon Clapp, of Toledo, Ohio. Lulu Loretta is the wife of J. J. Downing, of Plymouth township. Roscoe Lafayette is a carpenter of Plymouth. He is married and has one child. Melvin, who completes the family, is at home.
Mr. Ruckman gives his political support to the republican party and at the present time is serving as city inspector. He maintains pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades through his membership with the Grand Army of the Republic. In whatever relation of life we find him, whether in public or private life, as a soldier or in social circles, he is ever found as the same honored and honorable gentleman, who deserves the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
HERMAN FOX.
The present home of Herman Fox, a well improved farm comprising one hundred acres of rich and valuable land, is also the place of his birth, which occurred August 20, 1833. His parents, John B. and Mary Magdalene ( Eisen- lohr) Fox, were both natives of Germany, the former of Wittenberg, where they were reared and married, whence they came to the United States in 1832. This city was a great milling center, owing to the excellent water supply and mem- bers of the Fox family throughout five generations have been millwrights and had charge of city works. John B., the father, also busied himself as a mill- wright during his residence in the fatherland. However, after coming to America he engaged in blacksmithing and also followed farming, locating on the place which is now the home of our subject. this being located on section 11. Monroe township. Their family numbered sixteen children, only four of
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whom grew to years of maturity, these being Jacob, Mary Louisa, Augusta and Herman, but the latter is the only surviving member. The mother's death occurred in 1861. The father survived for a decade, his demise occurring in 1871, their remains being interred in Mount Zion cemetery.
Herman Fox, the immediate subject of this review, was reared to the pur- suits of agricultural life, assisting in the operation of the home farm from an early age. His educational privileges were those afforded by the district schools of Monroe township. He continued on the home farm until after the death of his father, when he thereon established a home of his own by his marriage on the 26th of September of that year, to Miss Sarah Mowers, a daughter of Isaac and Anna (Kyler) Mowers, who resided on a farmi adjoining that of our subject. Mr. Fox has here a fine farm of one hundred acres, which is now in a good state of cultivation, owing to the care and labor he has bestowed upon it. Since coming into possession of this place lie has erected a fine country resi- dence, which is surrounded with a good set of outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and everything about the place is kept in a good state of repair, denoting the progressive and energetic spirit of the owner.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fox has been blessed with eleven children, of whom four have passed away. The family record is as follows; Frances M., who was born October 16, 1862, and is now deceased; Cora, the wife of E. C. Culler, a farmer of Monroe township; Emery, also a resident of this township; William, deceased; John, an electrical engineer of Cleveland, Ohio; Mary L., the wife of Ora Culler, of Loudonville, Ohio; Lena, deceased; Anna, still under the parental roof ; George C., who has passed away; Florence, who is with her parents ; and Charles, who is assisting his father in the operation of the home farm.
Mr. Fox is an independent democrat and has been called by his fellow townsmen to fill a number of public offices, having served as township trustee and also filled many other offices of trust. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church, of which Mr. Fox has served as an elder. His fraternal relations are with the Grange. No man of Monroe township is more widely known than is Mr. Fox, for here his entire life has been passed and the fine farm which is today his home is evidence of the life of energy which he has led. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has over- thrown the obstacles which have barred his path and has reached the goal of prosperity.
MRS. BARBARA HINK.
Mrs. Barbara Hink in the management of farming interests in Madison township has displayed excellent business and executive ability and deserves great credit for what she has accomplished. She was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, of which country her parents were also natives and there spent their entire lives. Mrs. Hink is the widow of John Hink, who was a native
MRS. BARBARA HINK.
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of Germany and died in that country in 1874, leaving four children to the care of the widowed mother.
Mrs. Hink continued to reside in her native land until 1879, when the favorable reports which she had heard concerning America, induced her to seek a home in the new world. With her children she started for the United States and first settled in Ashland county, Ohio. There she again married, becoming the wife of Jacob Laurence, with whom she lived for seven years. On the expiration of that period she removed to Mansfield, where she resided for one year and then purchased a farm of thirty-eight acres just outside the city limits. Upon this place she has since made her home. It is an excellent farm well improved and from the property she derives a good annual income.
By her first husband Mrs. Hink had the following children: Catharine, the widow of John Hackton, and now residing with her mother; Barbara, the wife of Edward Miller, a resident of Ohio; John F., who is engaged in the livery business in Mansfield; and Margaret, who is with her mother. The only child of the second marriage, a son, is now deceased. Mrs. Hink has displayed excellent business ability and keen discernment in controlling her farm and during her residence in Richland county has won many warm friends.
RICHARD P. KISSANE.
Richard P. Kissane, successfully engaged in the tailoring business in Mansfield, was born in Ashland, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1869. His maternal great-grandfather, Adam Shipley, whose natal day was August 17. 1759, enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war at Anne Arundel county, Maryland, in April, 1776, continuing as a private until April, 1781, when he was promoted to the rank of captain of a cavalry company under com- mand of General La Fayette and Baron Steuben. Among the engagements in which he participated was the battle of Germantown. Richard Fisk Kissane, the paternal grandfather, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. in 1794, and was a graduate of Canonsburg College of Pennsylvania. He took part in the war of 1812 and passed away in the Keystone state when eighty-nine years of age. Alexander Garing, the maternal grandfather. a native of York, Pennsylvania, removed to Wooster, Ohio. about seventy-five years ago and there resided until his demise at the age of ninety-five years. He was a tailor by trade and Mr. Kissane of this review has a pair of cutting shears which his grandfather used for eighty years. Percifer T. Kissane, the father of our subject, was born in June, 1832, and when twenty-five years of age was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Garing, a daughter of Alexander Garing, of Wooster, and a maiden of eighteen summers. P. T. Kissane was a machinist by trade and after his marriage worked for five years in Wooster, on the expiration of which period he brought his family to Ashland. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the army, serving as
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commissary sergeant of the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry until the close of hostilities. When peace was once more restored he returned to Ashland and resumed work at his trade, while subsequently he went back to Wooster, remaining there for five years. When that period elapsed he made his way to Galion, where he resided for ten years, after which he came to Mansfield, where he still resides, being now seventy-two years of age. He was employed for a time by the Aultman-Taylor Company in setting up engines, and later worked for the Mansfield Machine Com- pany, but at the age of sixty-five retired from active life. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding on Sunday, May 19, 1907, entertaining many of their friends as well as their children and grandchildren.
Richard P. Kissane, who was the fourth child in his father's family, acquired his education in the public schools of this city and, when he had put aside his text-books, started out in business as a newsboy, disposing of the first copy of the Mansfield News that was sold here. About three years later he opened a newsroom and stationery store, continuing in that line of activity until July 3, 1888, when his establishment was destroyed by fire. He then learned the tailoring trade and has since continued in this business, meeting with gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity. His cus- tomers are among the best citizens of Mansfield and he is one of the leading representatives of the tailoring business here. For nine years he was absent from the city, but for the past seven years has continuously resided in Mans- field and occupied the same store.
On the 25th of December, 1893, Mr. Kissane was united in marriage to Miss Metta Remey, who was here born on the 21st of April, 1872. Their children are as follows: Ray W., whose birth occurred November 15, 1894; Ruth A., born October 11, 1898; and Alice E., born January 23, 1907. Mrs. Kissane's parents were natives of Germany and, emigrating to America about forty-five years ago, were married in Mansfield. The father died as the result of an accident in 1891, but the mother is still living here, and has a family of nine daughters.
Mr. Kissane gives his political allegiance to the republican party, is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Presbyterian church. His life is exemplary in all respects, and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to advance the interests of the community along material, intellectual, political and moral lines.
GEORGE W. CLINE.
George W. Cline has since 1896 resided upon his present farm, a well improved and productive tract of land of seventy acres, on section 24, Ply- mouth township. He was born February 7, 1834, in the township which is yet his home, and has spent his entire life in the vicinity of Shelby, save for one summer passed in Cleveland.
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His parents were William and Mary (Eller) Cline. The father was a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Joseph Cline, who came to Richland county from the Keystone state about 1840 and cast in his lot with the early settlers, taking up his abode in Plymouth township on what is now the John Dempsey farm. Much of the land was still wild and unim- proved and was in possession of the government. He entered four hundred and twenty acres and resided upon that place throughout his remaining days. His son, William Cline, received eighty acres of the old homestead as a gift from his father when George W. Cline was born, and upon that farm continued to make his home until called to his final rest. He there operated a sawmill by water power for a number of years and was thus con- nected with the industrial as well as the agricultural interests of the com- munity. He lost his first wife about 1838, and afterward married again, his second union being with Sophia Roush. There were two sons of the first marriage, the younger being John Cline, now deceased, who responded to the first call for troops at the time of the Civil war, and after serving for three months reenlisted for three years in the Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His last days were spent in the soldier's home near Sandusky. By the second marriage there were born seven children.
George W. Cline was reared on the old home farm to the age of twenty years and acquired his education in the public school. He went to work on the construction of the Junction railroad, which now belongs to the Lake Shore, and later was employed on the Big Four railroad until the fall of 1854. Since that time he has carried on general farming in the vicinity of Shelby, although he worked in the Baltimore & Ohio and also the Big Four depot at Shelby Junction from 1870 until 1883, largely doing night work. His time and energies are now given to the further development and im- provement of his farm of seventy acres on section 24, Plymouth township, where he has a well improved tract of land which indicates in its attractive appearance the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner.
On the 18th of January, 1854, Mr. Cline was married to Miss Emma Steel, who was born at Sugar Loaf, Ontario, Canada, February 7, 1838, and when four years of age was taken to Cleveland, Ohio, by her parents, Samuel and Hannah Steel, who were also natives of Canada. Mrs. Cline then re- sided in Cleveland until her marriage. She has become the mother of five children : George, who is operating the home farm; Ida, the wife of Reamer Coon, of Cleveland; Mary, the wife of Martin Payne, of Shelby; John H., at home; and Wilber, of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Mr. Cline has now passed the Psalmist's allotted age, having reached the seventy-fourth milestone on the journey of life. He has always been a busy man, working earnestly for the success which he has enjoyed, and it has been by reason of his unwearied diligence and indefatigable energy that he has gained a place among the substantial agriculturists of Plymouth township. Moreover, he deserves representation in this volume from the fact that he is one of the oldest residents here in years of continuous con- nection with the county. Many and important are the changes which have occurred since his boyhood days. He can remember when many of the
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homes were log cabins, when the forests were uncut and when at various times wild animals roamed from the woods. It had been only a brief period since the Indians visited the neighborhood, and the methods of living among the white people were yet very different from those in vogue at the present time. The farm work was largely done by hand. The houses were lit by candles and later by kerosene lamps, and in many a farm home the cooking was done over a fireplace. Mr. Cline was rejoiced in the progress which has brought the county to its present high state of development and in his farm work has kept in touch with the modern progress.
FRANKLIN PIERCE WILLETT.
Franklin Pierce Willett, residing on section 16, Cass township, is a repre- sentative of one of Richland county's oldest and most prominent families, his grandparents, William and Hannah (Webb) Willett, having located in this section in 1834. They came from Pennsylvania in a covered wagon before railroads had been introduced into this part of the country and located in the woods. Here William Willett built the tanyard which he conducted for so long and at the time of his death he also owned three farms. He died at the age of sixty-six years. Five children were born to this union, namely : Abraham, Thomas, the father of our subject; Rebecca, who became the wife of Abraham Beaver; Hannah and Sarah. Of these children Sarah is the only one now living.
Franklin Pierce Willett was born May 15, 1854, the son of Thomas and Rachel (Bevier) Willett. The father was born in Pennsylvania, May 13, 1819, and was therefore fifteen years of age when his parents located in this county. He aided his father in his enterprises and was engaged in agricultural pur- suits throughout life. He wedded Rachel Bevier, who was born in Cass town- ship in 1826, the daughter of Andrus and Elizabeth Bevier. Six children were born to their union, namely : Franklin P., of this review ; Hiram, of Plymouth ; Edward, also of Plymouth; Ann, the wife of Frank Weldon, of Mansfield ; Kate, the wife of James Hills, of Seattle, Washington; and Peter, who died at the age of twenty-two years. Thomas Willett was a stalwart democrat and held many local offices, the most important of which was that of county treasurer, to which office he was elected in 1858. Up to this time he had resided con- tinuously on the farm, but on being elected to this office he removed to Mans- field and resided during his two years' term of service. It was at this period that he bought the Jacob Cribb's farm of one hundred acres, adjoining the old home place of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1860 he resumed his farming operations, which involved the cultivation of about three hundred acres of land at this time, though later he disposed of some of his holdings. At the time of his death he owned, however, two hundred, sixty-nine and one-half acres of land. In 1864 he removed to the village of Plymouth, where he resided for some time. He was the administrator of a number of estates. He died in
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Mansfield, May 30, 1906, having been afflicted with total blindness for fourteen years prior to his death. His wife passed away on September 13, 1898.
Franklin Pierce Willett received his education in the district school of his locality, and aided his father in the work of the farm up to the time when he was twenty-five years of age, when he wedded Mrs. Amanda (Saviers) Kirkland, who was born in Plymouth, April 14, 1846, the daughter of Henry Saviers, Sr. Following his marriage Mr. Willett located on one of his father's farms and engaged in farming for the next eight years. In 1887 he removed to Shelby and took charge of the old Park House, which hotel he conducted for four years. From there he went to Bucyrus, where he was engaged in the hotel business for two years, and then went to Mansfield, where he lived for one year, at the expiration of which time he went to Shelby, where he conducted a boarding-house for six years, a portion of this time being employed with the Shelby Tube Works there. Seven years ago he returned to his birthplace, on which farm he now resides. He finds ample opportunity for the expenditure of his time and talents in the duties now devolving upon him as, in conjunction with his brother Edward, he has charge of the estate of his maiden aunt, Sarah Willett, which consists of something over six hundred acres of land. With conscientious regard for the duties that devolve upon him he faithfully performs his duties day after day and he is justly accounted one of the representative agriculturists of the community.
C. W. REIFF.
C. W. Reiff, a veteran of the Civil war, is a resident of the township in which he was born on March 8, 1840. He is the son of C. Maria (Eppy) Reiff, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in 1837. They bought land in Weller township, on which they built a log cabin, in which our subject was born and which was his home for thirty years. Both parents are now deceased, the father having passed away in 1878. They became the parents of nine children, seven of whom survive, namely: Mary Ann, the wife of Alfred Fox, of this county; Rebecca, the wife of D). Bowers, residing in Pennsylvania; Adeline, the wife of Benjamin Baker, a resident of Missouri; C. W., of this review ; Jacob, who resides in Kansas; John, a resident of California; and Henry, of this county. Harriett is deceased, and one child died in infancy.
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