USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 33
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
923
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
On the 23d of December, 1873, at Shelby, Mr. Stambaugh was married to Miss Mary E. Moore, a graduate of Oberlin College, and a successful teacher in young womanhood. They are the parents of three children: John C., one of the owners and publishers of the Daily Globe of Shelby; Mary Grace, the wife of R. L. Castor, city editor of the Globe; and Luther Earl.
The parents attend the Lutheran church, of which they are members, and Mr. Stambaugh has taken a very active part in the different branches of the church work in past years, and for thirteen years was secretary of the Sunday school. He is a public-spirited citizen, interested in all that pertains to general progress along material, social, intellectual and moral lines, and through his business affairs he has contributed in large measure to the substantial improvement and upbuilding of this section of the county.
MARGARET M. SHEIDLEY.
Margaret M. Sheidley was born August 31, 1838, a mile and a half south of Bellville, Richland county, Ohio. She is the daughter of John and Eliza- beth Jane (Huston) LeFevre. On January 3, 1860, she was united in mar- riage with Henry O. Sheidley at Bellville. To this union were born two chil- dren, a daughter and a son: Cora M. and Jay W. Cora married Dr. A. R. Lydy at Bellville. Dr. Lydy was a Richland county boy, but soon after his marriage removed to Chicago, Huron county, where he practiced medicine for a number of years, then conducted a drug store, but is now retired. Jay W. Sheidley married Miss Zomary Rummell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Rummell, of Bellville. J. W. Sheidley is also a resident of Chicago. Dr. and Mrs. Lydy are the parents of two children-Ethel and George. J. W. Sheidley and wife have also had two children, Herbert A. and Jay William, but the younger, Jay William, is now dead.
In about 1897 Henry O. Sheidley and wife removed from Bellville to Chicago, Huron county. Mr. Sheidley prospered and later engaged in the stock-raising business in the southwest, in which he became quite wealthy. He died at his home in Chicago, September 10, 1898, and a large granite monument has since been erected on the family lot in the Bellville cemetery where he is buried.
A few years after Mr. Sheidley's death, his widow erected a large brick hotel at Chicago, one of the best of its class in the state, known as "The Sheidley."
Mrs. Sheidley's grandfather, Minard LeFevre, was born at Strassburg, France. After coming to this country he entered the United States Navy, in which he served seven years. After leaving the navy, he was married at Jersey City, and later moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where four of his children were born: John, William, Abraham and Isaac. Mr. LeFevre and family removed to Ohio and settled near Fredericktown, in Knox county. where two more children were born.
924
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
John LeFevre, the eldest son of Minard LeFevre, was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was born September 1, 1789. He was first mar- ried to Rachel Pheling, and to them were born five children. Mrs. LeFevre died in 1825, and Mr. LeFevre was married in 1826 to Miss Elizabeth Jane Huston, and to them were born the following children: Rebecca, Harriet Pheling, Samuel Donald, James Hamilton, Isabella, Margaret Miller, Charity E., Mary Albina and Jehu Markey.
John LeFevre departed this life September 3, 1856, aged seventy-two years and one month. His widow survived him until December 9, 1880. She was seventy-three years of age at the time of her death.
When John LeFevre came to Jefferson township, Richland county, he located on the Clearfork of the Mohican river, where he built a fine residence and operated a sawmill and a carding machine for a number of years. He was a man of considerable business push and accumulated property. His wife's people-the Hustons-lived in the Honey-creek valley south of Bell- ville and were well thought of in their day.
Back in the stage-coach days, nearly every ambitious boy aspired to be a stage driver, and James and Thomas Huston attained considerable prominence in that line, driving stages between Mt. Vernon and the Lake. These Huston boys were uncles of Mrs. Sheidley. She is a worthy and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and has the confidence and esteem of the community in which she lives.
BENJAMIN F. CLINE.
The name of Cline is an old and prominent one in Richland county, for representatives of the family came here at a very early period in its history and have been identified with its agricultural interests from that time to the present. The family was established here by Michael Cline, who came from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and spent his remaining days in Richland county. His son Jacob Cline entered eighty acres of land from the govern- ment, going to Wooster to secure his deed and not having sufficient funds to make full payment left his saddle and bridle to be redeemed upon payment for the land. This deed bears the date 1832 and the signature of President Jackson and is now in possession of our subject, the tract constituting a part of his present homestead property.
The father of our subject, John Cline, was born in Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, and came to Richland county with his parents when a lad of thirteen years, his birth having occurred about 1805. At the time of the arrival of the family here much of the land was still in a wild and unsettled condition, the railroads had not yet entered this district, travel was done by ox-teams, and wild game was to be had in abundance. John Cline was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Boyce, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, about 1805, and came with her parents to the United States when but a child. She passed away in Mansfield when about seventy years of age,
925
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
while the father died July 3, 1875, when in his seventieth year. Their family numbered twelve children, as follows: Mary, Michael, Isaiah and Margaret, all of whom have passed away; John, a resident of Madison township, Rich- land county ; Jacob, deceased; Joseph, a twin brother of Jacob, and now a resident of Mansfield; Benjamin F., of this review; George, who served in the Civil war and is now a resident of Huron county; Eli, who died at the age of three years; Ezra, who makes his home in Missouri; and Charles, of California.
Benjamin F. Cline, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born April 22, 1840, on a farm about two miles north of Mansfield, situated in Madison township, and resided there with his parents until he had attained his majority, during which time he had been trained to the duties of the home farm, giving his father the benefit of his services. It was about that time in his life that the Civil war was inaugurated and, his patriotic spirit being aroused, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in September, 1861,as a member of Company G, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in many of the hotly contested engagements, these including Shiloh, Corinth, Liberty Gap, Rocky Face Ridge, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and he was also with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign, and in the march through the Carolinas. In the battle of Shiloh he received a bullet wound in the left shoulder, after which he spent three weeks in the hospital. Later he was again wounded, being injured in the left foot during the Atlanta campaign, when he was compelled to remain in the hospital for a short period. He veteranized at Knoxville, and returned home on a thirty days' furlough. On the expiration of that period he returned to the field and gave loyal support to the Union cause, serving altogether four years and three months.
Following the close of hostilities Mr. Cline returned to his home, January 1, 1866, and on the 29th of March following he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Martin, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, March 16; 1845, and came to Richland county when nine years of age with her parents, Lansing and Elizabeth (Eversol) Martin, the former a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and the latter of Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Both were born about 1805 and are now deceased, the mother passing away in 1881, while the father survived until 1896 and passed away at the age of ninety-one years. Mrs. Cline is the youngest of their six children, the other members of the family being: Calvin E., who is now deceased; Jesse, a resident of Richland county ; Maria, who has also departed this life; Mrs. Emily Stewart, of Rich- land county ; and Benton, of Mansfield, Ohio.
Following his marriage Mr. Cline located on a tract of rented land situated one mile south of Mansfield, on which he remained for two years. He then removed to another farm four miles north of Mansfield. He then purchased eighty acres of land, which he cultivated for six years, when he sold and rented land for one year. Hle then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of his present farm, this being located on section 3, Jackson township. He then took up his abode on this farm about 1875. He later added an additional forty acre tract, so that his farm now embraces one hundred and sixty acres.
926
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
He has built to and remodeled the house, has erected a nice large barn and has made many other improvements on the place. He is here engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and in his business is meeting with good results, for he ever follows the most modern methods in carrying on his farm work, and uses the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate his labors.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Cline has been blessed with four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Missouri C., the wife of John S. Shatzer, a resident of Richland county; Byron E., who died at the age of seven years and eight months ; Zella, at home; and Lloyd Alvin, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mr. Cline is independent in his political views, voting for men and meas- ures rather than adhering to party ties. He has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his private busi- ness affairs. He and his family are members of the Christian church at Shelby. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the honored and honorable gentleman whose name initiates this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historical annals of the state of Ohio from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the republic. Born in Richland county, he has retained his residence here throughout his entire life, covering a period of more than sixty-eight years, and he is now numbered among the most esteemed citizens of the community.
ADAM C. HUMMEL.
Since the year 1864 the name of Hummel has been associated with the agricultural life and interests of Richland county and he whose name intro- duces this review is a representative farmer of Jackson township. Mr. Hum- mel is a native of Hummelstown, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, born August 15, 1855. His paternal grandfather, Frederick Hummel, owned a large tract of land in Dauphin county and he laid out the town which was named in his honor. He was a prominent factor in the life of that city, filling many public offices and was squire for many years. He spent his entire life there, passing away in 1847, at the age of sixty-two years, for his birth oc- curred in Dauphin county in 1785. His wife bore the maiden name of Barbara Metzger and their union was blessed with five sons, all of whom reached ma- turity, the record being as follows: Martin, who was engaged in farming and is now deceased; Adam, who also engaged in agricultural pursuits and has passed away; George, who was a saddler and has departed this life; Jacob M .; and Joseph, who conducted a general store in Hummelstown and is also deceased.
Of this number Jacob M. Hummel became the father of our subject. He was born in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1818, and was reared on the farm to the age of eighteen years. He then began learning the saddler's trade with his brother George. After completing his trade he opened a sad- dlery store, which he conducted until 1864, in which year he made his way
927
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
to Ohio and purchased eighty acres of land in Madison township, two miles north of Mansfield. After a residence of eight years on that place he disposed of it and bought the southwest quarter on section 12, Jackson township, Rich- land county, this place being the farm on which our subject now makes his home. In 1885 the father sold the latter property and invested his money in one hundred and seventy-two acres south of Shelby in Sharon township. This tract he leased and made his home in Shelby, purchasing a nice residence at No. 97 East Main street, where he passed away November 24, 1891, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. He was a life-long republican, casting his first presidential ballot for William Henry Harrison, while his last vote was cast for Benjamin Harrison. He was a member of the First Lutheran church at Shelby, having become identified with the denomination in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hummel was married in December, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth Heitzler, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, September 14, 1817, a daughter of Christian Heitzler. She survived her husband for a long period, passing away in Shelby, Ohio, July 20, 1905, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hummel numbered eight children, namely: Barbara. who still resides on the old homestead in Shelby; Elizabeth, who has departed this life; Frederick, deceased; Amelia, the deceased wife of Asa Lewis; Clara, deceased; Adam, who introduces this record; Anson, who follows farming in Sharon township; and Naomi, the wife of J. G. Hill, also of Sharon township.
Adam C. Hummel, whose name introduces this review, was a lad of ten years at the time of the parents' removal from the Keystone state to Richland county, the family home being established on a farm two miles north of Mans- field in Madison township, on the old State road. After a residence of eight years on that farm he removed with his parents to a farm in Jackson town- ship, where he remained until he had reached the age of twenty-four years. He was then married and established a home of his own by his union in 1880 with Miss Jennie Crum, who was born in Franklin township, in 1855, a daughter of John and Catherine (Clay) Crum, both natives of Richland county. The father was born in 1820 and died August 24, 1900, while the mother is still living at the age of eighty years and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Hummel.
Following his marriage Mr. Hummel and his bride began their domestic life upon a farm in Franklin township, situated on the Ganges road. There they made their home for five years, when they removed to their present prop- erty, this comprising one hundred and sixty acres. This farm is improved with good buildings, there being two good houses on the place, while substan- tial outbuildings furnish ample shelter for grain and stock. The place is supplied with good shade trees and everything is kept in a neat and thrifty appearance, indicating the careful supervision of the owner. Mr. Hummel is engaged in general farming and stock-raising and both branches of his business are proving a profitable source of revenue to him.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hummel has been blessed with two daughters. Coy is the wife of Jay Bloom, a resident of Jackson township, and she has two sons, John H. and Glenn C. Mary, the younger daughter, is the wife of Wil-
928
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
liam Smith, who occupies one of the houses on her father's farm. She is the mother of two children, Birchfield H. and Helen Mary.
Mr. Hummel's study of the political questions and issues of the day has led him to give support to the republican party. He has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to do his duty as a private citizen. For almost forty-five years he has been prominently identified with the history of Rich- land county as a representative of its agricultural interests. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment and this, coupled with his executive ability and excellent management, has brought to him the degree of success which he today enjoys.
JOHNSON TAYLOR.
Johnson Taylor, successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits on sec- tions 25 and 26, Sandusky township, was born in Richland county, March 4, 1843. He comes of good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having served in the Continental army, while his foster father had his left arm shot off during his service in the war of 1812. His own father, who was a native of Vermont, died when Johnson was but a few months old, but his mother is still living, and now makes her home with him. Her birth occurred in Mans- field in March, 1823, her father publishing a paper there as early as 1823. Her only brother, Baldwin Crosthwaite, was a lieutenant in the Third Ohio Infantry in the Mexican war, and lieutenant colonel of the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry in the Civil war.
Our subject was adopted by Samuel Taylor when, but an infant and was reared by that gentleman until he was eighteen years of age, acquiring a common-school education. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company E, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and during his three years' term of service participated in several hotly contested engagements, including the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Elk River, Chickamauga and Farmington. On the evening of the day of the battle of Lookout Mountain and while the battle was being fought, the brigade to which Mr. Taylor belonged,-the First, Third and Fourth Ohio Cavalry-crossed the Tennessee river on General Sherman's pontoon bridge, three miles above Chattanooga, and marched around the right flank of the Confederate army, captured a wagon train, and cut all telegraph lines to prevent Bragg from getting word to General Long- street, recalling him from Knoxville, whither he had gone to attack the place. The command, about one thousand strong, captured and destroyed two wagon trains in the rear of Bragg's army the next day, while the battle of Missionary Ridge was being fought. This same force led Sherman's army to the relief of Knoxville, the latter part of the march from London to Knoxville being a forced march of some seventy-five miles to avoid Longstreet's army, which was besieging the place. The arrival of the force brought the first news to Burnside that Sherman was coming to his relief. Mr. Taylor, with his command, served in the Atlanta campaign, where for one hundred successive
MR. AND MRS. JOHNSON TAYLOR
931
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
days there was never a time that firing could not be heard, and a line of bloody clashes from Dalton to Jonesboro, which caused Atlanta to be evacuated.
After being honorably discharged from the service at Columbus, Ohio, in 1864, Mr. Taylor returned to Mansfield, and entered the employ of a railroad company as brakeman. Later he became conductor, and served in that capacity for six years. In 1872 he purchased a farm of eighty acres, and since added to it until he has one hundred and thirty acres on sections 25 and 26, Sandusky township, Richland county, where he has since made his home, and successfully carried on farming interests. He has placed many substan- tial improvements on his property, and also planted fruit trees of all kinds, which add not a little to the attractive appearance of the farm. He makes a specialty of raising blooded stock of various kinds, and in all of his under- takings has gained that measure of prosperity which is always the reward of earnest and persistent labor, guided by sound judgment.
On the 2d of April, 1868, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Cole, who was born in Knox county, Ohio. Her father, whose birth occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, passed away on the 17th of February, 1899, while her mother, who was born in Ohio, was called to her final rest in 1901. Their family numbered seven children, namely: Sadie, who makes her home in Mansfield; Mrs. Taylor; Headley, who is a railroad engineer residing in Kentucky; Maggie, the wife of William Eggert, of Mansfield, Ohio; Robert, who resides in Toledo, Ohio; Jennie, deceased ; and W. R., who is a railroad engineer at Panama. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born five children: Norton, who is a railroad employe at Galion, Ohio; Laverne, who is engaged in the implement business at Galion, Ohio; J. L., who is connected with a lightning rod enterprise at Galion; Nellie V., the wife of F. B. Logan, a railroad engineer at Crestline, Ohio; and Clyde H., who is operating the home farm.
Mr. Taylor has served as justice of the peace for several years, and has likewise acted as trustee for several years. For almost two-thirds of a century he has now made his home here, so that his interests are thoroughly identified with those of Richland county, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
ROBERT BRUCE MCCRORY.
Robert Bruce McCrory, a man of forceful purpose, clear of vision, strong in resolution and unfaltering in carrying out a plan which he believes will prove beneficial to himself in legitimate business lines or will further the interests of the city, has since 1847 made his home in Mansfield, where his work will long remain as a monument to his memory. The youngest of seven children born to Samuel and Mary Jane (Hufford) McCrory, he is a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, his natal day being February 13, 1844. His father's birth occurred at Falling Springs, Pennsylvania, near Chambersburg,
932
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
while the mother was born at Fredericksburg, Virginia. They lost one son in infancy and with their other six children they removed from Chambersburg to Mansfield, Ohio, in the year 1847, making the journey by wagon.
The Mansfield of today bears little resemblance to the town in which Robert B. McCrory arrived in the year 1847, then a little lad of three years. He began his education in a frame building opposite what was then the Methodist church, on Park avenue East and Adams street, Robert Bently Smith being the first teacher. He was afterward instructed by Mrs. Oswalt in the old school building on Mullberry and Second streets and later attended school in the Race building on South Main street, where Mr. Gass and R. Bently Smith taught. He completed his education in the high school build- ing at Mullberry and Second streets under the teaching of Mrs. Catlin, Miss Brinkerhoff, Mrs. Reed and Miss Parsons, and at the graduating exercises of 1862 delivered an oration on the subject, "Dissolve the Union."
Entering upon his business career Mr. McCrory was employed as a clerk in the drug store of Hendrie & Bunce, occupying a frame building where the Swigart building now stands on Main street. On the 2d of May, 1864, how- ever, he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined Company A of the One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio National Guard under Captain R. L. Avery, William B. Niman as first lieutenant, and John Kern as second lieutenant. Mr. McCrory was mustered in at Columbus, Ohio, May 12, 1864, and was in service at Tennelletown, Virginia, near the chain bridge in the vicinity of Washington, and in May was ordered to the front to join Grant's army at Whitehouse Landing on the York river. The troops proceeded by boat down the Potomac, across Chesapeake Bay to York river and thence up to Whitehouse Landing. They were then ordered by General Grant to report to General B. F. Butler at Point of Rocks in front of Petersburg and Rich- mond. Later they returned down the York to Chesapeake Bay, where they saw protruding from the water the masts of the Union warships which had been sunk a short time before by the Confederate ironclad, Merrimac. From that point Mr. McCrory went with his company up the James and Pamunky to Point of Rocks, within sight of Petersburg, and was stationed on a bluff about one hundred feet above the river, behind the strongest works built dur- ing the war, extending from the James to the Pamunky river, six miles in length. Mr. McCrory's company camped in a second growth pine grove, which was shelled by the Confederates every day. They were called out every morning before daylight to repel the attacks of the enemy and they took part in the destruction of the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad. The One Hun- dred and Sixty-third Ohio was also held as guard for the sappers and miners engaged in tearing up the road. The commander, Colonel Hiram Miller, not liking to see his men idle, started a drill in a fifty-acre cornfield, with Con- federates on three sides, and came near being captured by the rebels. During the remainder of their service the members of the regiment lay at Fort Pow- hatan on the James river, about twenty miles below Richmond, and while there many suffered from illness, while many others died. The swampy condition around the camp made malaria very prevalent and hundreds of the troops were taken to the hospital at Hampton Roads, the death of Captain
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.