History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 101

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 101

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).

HICKS BROWN & CO., proprietors flouring-mills. In the progress of human events, the very essential article of bread is a matter of daily consideration, and, though human diet is composed of many ingredients, bread from wheat flour takes the first place ; chemistry with the aid of the microscope has demonstrated, that, inside of the thin shell of the wheat grain or kernel, the flour is there closely compressed in small granules, and requires merely to be separated or disintegrated, and not to be crushed or powdered in grinding as has been the custom for ages past. For the purpose of mak- ing this new process of flour, it was proposed some- time during the Centennial year, to erect in Mans- field a flouring-mill, embodying all the features, machinery and processes required, and, as a result, early in February, 1877, the new mill commenced operations under the joint proprietorship of Messrs. John Staub & Hicks Brown ; in September of the same BROWNTS !! year, the partnership was dissolved, and the mill F passed into possession of the FLOURING present partners, Messrs. Hicks Brown & M. D. Har- ter, under the firm name of Hicks Brown & Co., who have in the past two years increased its capacity 50 per cent, and have estab- lished a trade which re- quires the running of the mill to its fullest capacity, day and night, and the em- ployment of about twenty persons ; Mr. Brown gives his undivided attention to the business, and the product is obtained from the skillful operating of the mill under the direction of Mr. William Kreigh- taum, the head miller; the nationality of the opera- tives is decidedly cosmopolitan ; of the 20 operatives, 1 is a native of Richland Co .; 5 are natives of other counties of this State; 2 are English ; 4 Germans ; 1 Swede; 1 Norwegian. The mill is located at the junction of the B. & O. R. R., with the A. & G. W. giving it advantages to receiving grain, and shipping flour not usually obtained ; some idea of the amount of the business transacted by and through this first-class mill may be inferred from the fact that they are now paying the farmers of Richland Co. and vicinity about $200,000 a year for wheat, besides a large quantity of flour ex- changed for their "Brown's Best Flour," which is clear evidence that the farmers appreciate their right to enjoy the best that their land produces ; of course, the entire population of Richland Co. could not con- sume the products of this mill ; Messrs. Hicks Brown & Co. find no difficulty in disposing of their new-process

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flour in the discriminating markets of the season, Boston alone taking nearly one-half that is made; Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania taking also a full share. When the new mill commenced operations, it was recognized as one of " the most complete mills in America," and yet the proprietors are constantly on the lookont for improvements, both for machinery, and methods, being determined to keep in the front rank as to the standard of quality of their products ; they have put in several improved machines, and are now contemplating additions ; the magnificent steam engine which operates the entire machinery seems to defy any ordinary draft in its power; it is a Harris- Corliss engine, something of the renowned Centennial English pattern, and capable of turning out 300 barrels per day ; there is indeed something in a name, es- pecially when it is honestly earned ; millers are very jealous of their brands of flour (decision of the Su- preme Court on trade marks to the contrary not with- standing), and especially when the contents of the bar- rel is in keeping with the inscription ; Messrs. Hicks Brown & Co's own brands are "Brown's Best," " Belle of Richland," "Brown's Mayflower," " Brown's Char- ter Oak," historical names, and worthy to be daily mentioned in connection with daily bread.

HOFFER, ISAAC B., dealer in meats, etc. He was born April 13, 1833, in Carlisle, Penn .; came to Ohio in 1852. Married in 1858 to Catherine Leiter ; she was born May 19, 1837, in Mansfield; they have the fol- lowing children-Joseph F., born Feb. 28, 1859; Fannie F., June 23, 1862; Grace, Aug. 9, 1864; Isaac Brain- ard, Ang. 23, 1868; Edmund Brink, April 15, 1871 ; Kate L., April 20, 1875 ; James C., April 28, 1878.

HOFFER, JAMES E., butcher ; was born Dec. 31, 1839, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn .; came to Ohio July 15, 1858; engaged in butchering ; has been at that business constantly since he came to Mansfield. He was married, Nov. 4, 1862, to Melissa Crider, who was born in Massillon, Stark Co., Nov. 4, 1844; they have the following children : May, Laura (deceased), Willie, Jessie, Nellie (deceased), Harry and Fred.

IRWIN, GEORGE (deceased), born Dec. 8, 1787, in Chester Co., Penn., and removed to Ohio with his family in June, 1836. Rachel Wallace Irwin was born in Chester Co., Penn., June 12, 1791 ; they were the parents of eleven children-Elisabeth Irwin, born in Waynesburg, Chester Co., March 12, 1811, and died Jan. 1, 1815, aged 4 years ; Mary Ann Irwin Rooks, born in Waynesburg, Chester Co., Penn., July 31, 1813, a resident of Mansfield ; Joseph Irwin, born in Waynes- burg, ('hester Co., Penn., May 25, 1815, and died July 25. 1815; Levi, born in Waynesburg, Chester Co., Penn., Aug. 9, 1816; Hannah Maria Irwin Carrothers, born in Waynesburg, Chester Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1819, now living in Mansfield ; S. Laferty Irwin, was born at Waynesburg, Chester Co., Penn., April 12, 1821, and died at Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 9, 1875, aged 54 years ; Mr. S. L. Irwin was a carpenter in Mansfield for a number of years and held at different times official positions of trust in township and county ; Charlotte Irwin was born at Milton, Northumberland Co., Penn., May 10, 1823, and died at the old homestead, near Mansfield, March 18, 1873, aged 50 years ; Elisabeth

Irwin, born at Milton, Northumberland Co., Penn., Sept. 19, 1825, and died March 22, 1833, aged 8 years ; George W. Irwin, Jr., born in Milton, Northumber- land Co., Penn., Aug. 30, 1827 ; has been engaged in railroad business for over seventeen years in Ohio ; Rebecca Irwin, born in White Deer Valley, Lycoming Co., Penn., March 11, 1830, now Rebecca Irwin Ford, living in Madison Township; Sarah Jane Irwin Cal- hoon was born in White Deer Valley, Lycoming Co., Penn., May 24, 1832, and died at Mansfield, Ohio, March 18, 1873, aged 41 years. George Irwin, the father of these children, died at the old homestead, near Mansfield, March 29, 1864, aged 76 years ; Rachel Wallace Irwin, the mother, died in Mansfield Nov. 11, 1873.

IRWIN, LEVI, contractor and builder. This well- known citizen is a descendant of an old Chester Co. (Penn.) family of Welsh descent; the grandfather, father and the subject of this sketch were all born in that county. John Irwin, the grandfather, was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, taking part in the campaigns in the Northwest, where he died. Levi was the third in a family of nine children of George and Rachel Irwin, five of whom are living and four dead ; born Aug. 9, 1816. he came with his parents to Rich- land Co., Ohio, in the year 1836, locating south- east of Mansfield on a farm which is yet known by the family name. On this farm, the father remained during his whole residence in this county, and there died March 29, 1864, aged 76 years. Rachel Wallace Irwin, soon after her husband's death, came to Mans- field among her children, where she died Nov. 11, 1873, aged 81 years and 9 months. After leaving the family homestead, Levi removed to Mansfield, where, as a carpenter, contractor and builder, he yet resides, having been in continuous business for over thirty-five years. On the 18th of December, 1852, Levi Irwin was united in marriage to Mary McClellan at Galion, Ohio ; to them have been born six children ; Nettie, the fifth child and only daughter, died June 15, 1874, aged 11 years and 9 months; four sons reside in the city ; Charles L., a druggist; William F., engineer ; George, a book salesman, and John McClellan. Mr. Irwin has been a member of No. 19, I. O. O. F., since the year 1851, and a member of the Methodist Church for forty-one years, and a Trustee of the same for thirty-five years ; he is accounted among Mansfield's best and most enterprising citizens.

JENNER, S. E., lawyer (son of Dr. A. Jenner); was born July 7, 1839, in Ontario, Richland Co .; com- menced the study of law, in 1860, with T. W. Bartley ; admitted to the bar in 1862, and commenced practice in company with Judge Bartley in Cincinnati. Mar- ried, Oct. 25, 1866, Miss Julia M. Bartley, daughter of Gov. Bartley ; returned to Mansfield in 1866, and re- mained here in practice in company with John W. Jenner till 1872; then moved to Washington City ; formed a copartnership with Judge Bartley ; remained there till 1877, then returned to Mansfield, and re- snmed the practice of law with John W. Jenner ; pres- ent name of law firm, Jenner & Tracy, composed of John W. Jenner, S. E. Jenner and F. K. Tracy.

JOHNSON, JOHN, deceased ; he was born in York Co., Penn .; when a young man, he removed to Ontario

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Co., N. Y., where he purchased. a farm, on which he lived ten years, then returned to York Co., Penn., and married Miss Eleanor Duncan in 1811 ; afterward re- sided in Ontario Co., N. Y., until 1824, when he came to Richland Co. and located on a farm three miles west of Mansfield, where he lived until 1845 ; he then came to Mansfield, where he resided with his daughter, Mrs. T. J. Robinson, until his death, which occurred March 28, 1864, at the advanced age of 80 years. John John- son and Eleanor Duncan Johnson were the parents of one child-Sarah S., born Nov. 19, 1817 ; she was mar- ried in this county April 11, 1839, to T. J. Robinson, a prominent business man of this city ; one child by this marriage-Ella J .; she is the wife of J. P. Vance, of Cincinnati. John Johnson was an elder brother of the Rev. James Jolinson, whose biography appears elsewhere.

JOHNSON, JAMES, REV., D. D. (deceased) ; the first minister of the U. P. Church in Mansfield ; he was born in York Co., Penn., in the year 1786 ; he was of Scotch-Irish descent; at the early age of 17 years, he commenced his ministerial education, in Beaver Co., with his uncle, David Johnson, and afterward graduat- ed in the regular course at Jefferson College, Cannons- burg, Penn., and completed his theological studies in New York City, under the instruction of Dr. Mason, then a noted divine of the U. P. denomination resident there ; for a number of years, he taught school in Brownsville, Penn., where he afterward began his min- isterial work. In 1821, he came to Mansfield, and assisted in laying the foundation of the present build- ing occupied by that denomination, on the corner of Third and Mulberry streets. Three years later, when visiting a brother and sister in Ontario Co., N. Y., he there met Miss Mary St. Clair McCall, whom he mar- ried on the 4th of July, 1825, and who came with him to this city, the whole journey occupying fifteen days, being made in one of the cumbersome buggies of that period. He preached, the first Sabbath after reaching Mansfield, in the then unfinished church, the congrega- tion bringing chairs and stools with them in lieu of other accommodations; he continued his ministry without interruption in this place until his death, which occurred in 1858. He was a man justly beloved by his people and respected by all for his upright life and conduct ; for a number of years, he had regular congregations and appointments in Troy and Monroe Townships during his pastorate here. He was the father of three children, two sons and one daughter ; Mathew St. Clair died in this city, aged 17 years ; Rob- ert William was a soldier in the Mexican war, and died in Mexico, was brought home and buried ; Mary, the only daughter, died in 1852, aged 21 years.

JOHNSTON, J. K., dealer in furniture ; he was born Oct. 11, 1850, at Mansfield ; is a son of Eleazer Johns- ton, who came to Mansfield in 1848, and came to his death in the army. He engaged with John Skeggs and learned the carpenter business; in 1873, engaged in the cabinet business, devoting his whole attention to this branch of trade ; in the spring of 1877, he formed a copartnership with M. P. Shambs in the furniture business, which continued till January, 1878; then formed a copartnership with D. H. Earnest ; they still continue. He was married, Oct. 24, 1872, to Miss

Anna M. C. Weatherby ; she was born in Mansfield ; they have two children-Margaret A., born May 15, 1874, and Maud A., Dec. 29, 1878.

JOHNSTON, D. R., wholesale and retail druggist ; he is a regularly graduated physician, and practiced medicine twelve years. He was for several years, as a physician, connected with the U. P. Mission in Egypt. In 1876, he purchased the Mark ward Drug Store, below the Wiler House; he carries a large stock, and does an extensive business.

KANAGA, AMOS R., attorney at law; the subject of this sketch was born Nov. 14, 1854, in Jefferson Township; he attended the high school of Bellville from the age of 16 to 20 years, and afterward at the West Salem public schools, and then at Oberlin Col- lege; he studied law first with Thomas Keeler, of West Salem, and completed his studies with Dicky & Jenner, of Mansfield ; he was admitted to the bar in Ashland, Ohio, June 19, 1878, and is now engaged in this city in the practice of law; he now has a good, paying prac- tice ; the public will find him ready to attend to such business that may be placed in his care, with prompt- ness and dispatch.

KEYS, A. E., M. D., physician and surgeon. The subject of this sketch was born in Eagle Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1825 ; his parents were natives of Vermont, where they afterward resided until his 10th year, when they again removed to Western New York ; here young Keys received a good common-school education ; having chosen medicine as his profession, he com- menced reading under the instruction of an uncle in Huron Co., Ohio; at the age of 19 years, he attended his first course of lectures at the old Erie Street School in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1846; some years later we find him in partnership with his uncle in the practice of medicine, with whom he remained until the spring of 1856, when he attended his second course of lectures at the Berkshire Medical College, Mass., and again in the winter of 1856, the Homeopathic School of Philadelphia ; after this long and thorough course of study, the Doctor commenced the practice of medicine and surgery in Buffalo, N. Y., but a year later removed to Jamestown, in the same State, where he continued in practice until the beginning of the war in 1861, when he en- listed as surgeon in the army; the Doctor remained in the army two years, when he resigned and again com- menced general practice in Ravenna, Ohio; in 1869, he came to Mansfield, where he has since resided, having a large and lucrative practice, and is looked upon by his brethren of the profession as a skillful surgeon and physician. He is a prominent member and officer of the Masonic Order and Knights of Honor.

KING, JEROME J., grocer. He comes from a fam- ily long resident in Troy Township, where he was born May 4, 1842; he received his elementary education principally at the Lexington Union Schools ; when 17 years of age, he left the homestead and embarked in life for himself; for two years thereafter he was em- ployed as a salesman of dry goods in Jeromeville, Ash- land Co .; he came to Mansfield in 1861, and continued in the same business in the store of P. & A. W. Remy until April 1, 1865, when he entered into partnership with A. W. Remy in the retail grocery trade, which terminated Jan. 10, 1865 ; since that time he has been

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engaged in the same business alone in the city. Mr. King was married in Mansfield, Aug. 27, 1867, to Miss Mary G. Miller, by whom he has five children-Jerome Howard, Allen Miller, Clarence Catlin, Rufus Hobert and Mary Louise ; during his residence in Mansfield, he has been considered one of her representative busi- ness men.

KNISELY, J. H., proprietor shirt manufactory. This factory is located in Krause's Block, on Main street, and gives employment to twenty hands, twelve sewing mach- ines, and keeps two salesmen constantly on the road ; the business was founded in 1876 by Mr. Knisely and two others, Mr. Knisely becoming sole owner shortly after; in 1876, the income amounted to $6,000, now it will reach $15,000 per year; Mr. Knisely is no novice at the business, having had an experience of over six years in a leading Philadelphia house previous to com- mencing his present enterprise ; he turns out more shirts than any other factory in the State, retaining many of his old cns- tomers, who have learned to trust him ; his productions never fail to show their superior quality, the prices range from $1 to $2.50, and guarantee in every case a satisfactory fit or no pay; all his material is bought direct from the importer, thus avoiding the " middle man " and his commission, and giving his customers the benefit of these figures ; he laundries all his shirts, and keeps a full line of linen collars and cuffs always on hand; the shirts manufact- ured by Mr. Knisely possess many excellent features of style, durability and finish ; the repu- tation of his shirts is now firmly established.

KNOFFLOCK, M., egg- packer ; he was born Sept. 20, 1831, in Bucks Co., Penn .; he enlisted as a sailor on a United States man-of-war in 1841, when a mere boy ; he served five years on board the United States frigate St. Mary, during which time he visited China, Japan, and all the principal islands of the Pacific and Arctic seas, as well as the different countries of South America ; he served as a soldier in Co. E, 2d Penn. V. I. during the Mexican war, and was engaged in the campaigns and engagements under Scott while there; he served in the Union army during the late rebellion in Co. B, 27th O. V. I., two years (his full term of en- listment). Ile was married in Philadelphia in 1849, to Miss Sarah McNeely, who died in 1873 ; he was again married in Shelby, Ohio, to Miss Mary Jones, and is the father of three children.

KRAUSE, JOHN, merchant; was born in Nieder. modau, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; his father's name was George Krause, and his mother's maiden name was Maggie Krause ; John Krause was the second son, born Aug. 28, 1819, and came to America in 1847, landed

SHIRT CO

FACTORY OF

J.H.KNISELY.

CURNEY SHIRT MAKER.

in New York June 14, 1847; he came to Mansfield, June 20, 1847. He was married June 29, 1847, in Leesville, Crawford Co. to Elizabeth Beck, with whom he raised four children. One died in infancy ; John, the oldest, born March 19, 1848, now one of the partners of Krause & Sons; Philip, the second child, was born Jan. 29, 1850, also partner in the firm ; Cassie Miller Krause, born July 19, 1854; John Henry, born March 9, 1857. Mr. Krause has been in active business in Mansfield for twenty-four years, and is the senior member of the firm; in the year 1874, he erected the large business block on Main street now known as the Krause building, which he occupies in his grocery and provis- ion business, in which he has been engaged over twenty- four years, now the oldest merchant in active business in that line in the city ; Mr. Krause is at present a resi- dent of West Fourth street, Mansfield.

LARIMER, JOSIAH (de- ceased). His father, James Larimer, emigrated to this coun- try from Ireland in October, 1790, and located first at Pitts- burgh, afterward removed to Virginia for a time, and then to Fairfield Co., Ohio, where Josiah was born Nov. 14, 1814; the family removed to Richland Co. in May, 1815, and settled in Madison Township on part of Sec. 31 ; he remained on the farm until 21 years old, and then came to Mansfield, where he was engaged in the livery business almost continually until a short time before his death, which occurred Oct. 5, 1875. He was married in this county to Miss Jane Sweeney, who sur- vives him; three children by this marriage, one son and two daughters, reside in the city.

LINDSEY, E. D., plain and ornamental plasterer, fresco and granite artist; was born on Valley Farm, one mile west of Hollidaysburg, Penn., May 5, 1821. His father and mother, Jacob and Jane Simonton, moved there from the East. His mother's folks moved from Wilmington, Del., and settled in Canoe Valley. Both families had a great deal of trouble with the In- dians ; John Simonton, his uncle, was captured by them on one of their tours of massacre, etc., and was never recovered ; he became quite a noted chief. E. D. Lind- sey received his elementary education near where the city of Altoona now stands, and, on the 5th of May, 1836, at the age of 15 years, began an apprenticeship of four years, at his present occupation ; at the expira- tion of that time, he went to Philadelphia, where he completed his trade in the ornamental branches; he then returned to Hollidaysburg and carried on busi- ness for several years, when, at the request of an old uncle, he started in the spring of 1845 for the Upper Sandusky (Ohio) land sales, intending to purchase property there ; this project was afterward abandoned,

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and he settled in Marion, Ohio, where he resided till the fall of 1864, having purchased property in Galion in the summer of 1863, and was a partner in the whole- sale and retail grocery business, under the firm name of Haines & Lindsey ; in the fall of 1864, his family moved to Galion ; in the spring of 1866, he engaged in the oil business in Pennsylvania, until the spring of 1867, when he returned to Galion and resumed his trade, doing business throughout Central, Northern and Western Ohio. That he is a skilled mechanic, some of the finest buildings, both public and private, will bear testimony -- such as the court house in Sandusky City ; court house, Catholic and Methodist Church at Mans- field, and numerous other fine buildings throughout the State. In 1867, was called to finish the residence of Joseph Simmons, and again, in 1869, to finish the Methodist Church-both of Mansfield, where he has resided ever since. He was married to Keziah J. Ran- dall, of Marion, Oct. 26, 1848, by the Rev. L. B. Gur- ley. They are the parents of three children, Eugene D., Elmon H. and Harrie W .; the elder two are engaged in the drug business, and the younger is a musician at Mansfield. Mr. Lindsey relates this circumstance, which is quite a coincidence : He, with two friends and their wives, celebrated their marriage by a triple silver wedding, at his residence in Mansfield, Oct. 26, 1873, at which time all three couples were present, re- ceiving many elegant gifts of remembrance ; the marriage took place twenty-five years prior, at 7 o'clock A. M., at or as near the same minute as possible-the ceremonies were performed by different ministers, and with their bridal attendants started upon the wedding tour. All of them were most intimate friends in youth. The triple marriage was the result of a wager, which was, that if any one or more of the three were not married in three months from that date, he should forfeit a con- siderable sum of money ; his two friends discussed their love-tales before him, thinking that he would have to pay the wager, and not till the day previous to the wedding did they discover that he was in the ring. Another perhaps remarkable thing was, that each couple had but three children. He joined the Ancient Order of Odd Fellows in the year 1846, afterward became a member of the Encampment, having served in all sub- ordinate offices ; took all degrees, passed all chairs, also the higher degrees of both Grand Subordinate Lodge and Grand Encampment of Ohio, and entitled to a seat in both grand bodies and the Grand Lodge of the United States, and is still an active member of all branches.

LIVELSBERGER, C. F., shoemaker. He is engaged in the manufacturing of boots and shoes; he is pre- pared to do all classes of work-sewed work a specialty. Shop on North Main street.

LONGSDORF, WILLIAM, house-joiner ; was born in Berks Co .. Penn., April 27, 1823. He removed to Stark Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1830, where they remained two years, when they again moved to Wayne Co. At the age of 15, he began his trade iu Summit Co., which he acquired in three years ; he followed his trade until 1848, when, by the premature discharge of a cannon on the Fourth of July of that year, he was incapacitated from further work in his calling. He was married in 1845, to Miss Aurelia D. Ward, in Cuya-

hoga Falls. They are the parents of ten children, four of whom are living and six dead. He removed to Mansfield in the fall of 1855, where he has since re- sided.

LUDWIG, JOHN ADAM, farmer; P. O. Mansfield ; was born in July, 1840, and received his elementary education in Mansfield, where, and in Madison Town- ship, he has been engaged in business until the present time. Mr. Ludwig was married to Miss Catherena Pfenning, who died in May, 1872, by whom he had three children-George Elbert, Charles Henry, Anna Louisa. In December, 1872, Mr. Ludwig was married to Philepena Snook, by whom he had one child, born in 1876. John Peter and Elizabeth (Delf ) Ludwig, the parents of Adam L., were born in Ger- many, and have resided in Mansfield and Madison Township for many years, where they are universally respected.

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968