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 109

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 109

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).

WOLFF, SAMUEL M., carpenter ; Col. Wolff was born in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., June 1, 1839, and came with his parents to Richland Co. in 1854, where he worked with his father on the farm, two and one-half miles north of Mansfield, until the year 1859, when he came to Mansfield and commenced the trade of carpentering in the shop of his brother, where he served an apprenticeship of two years. At the break- ing-out of the war in 1861, he enlisted in the first company organized in the evening of the noted 17th day of April ; his name appears among the first in Co. I, Ist O. V. I., three-months service, under Capt. Wm. Mclaughlin ; with this company he served his full term of enlistment, and with it was in the two engage- ments of Vienna and the first battle of Bull Run. July 21, 1861, his term of service having expired, he re- turned to Mansfield and again commenced work at his trade, at which he continued until the 21st day of Sep- tember, 1861, when he enlisted in an "independent rifle company " then being organized in the western part of the State; this company was rapidly being re- cruited when John Sherman returned with an order from Washington to organize the 64th and 65th Regi- ments ; by the common consent of the independent company, they entered the 64th Regiment as Co. A, this being the first company in Camp Buckingham ; while here, Mr. Wolff was made Second Lieutenant ; the 64th and 65th Regiments, known while in Camp Buckingham as the " Sherman Brigade," were, after their departure from Mansfield, always known as the " Harker Brigade," and it was first assigned to the 3d Division, 21st Army Corps, and took part in the battle of Shiloh ; after this battle, Lieut. Wolff was promoted to the first lieutenancy of the same company ; soon after, he was engaged in the Buell raid and the battle of Stone River, Dec. 29, 1862, to Jan. 3, 1863 ; it was in this long engagement that Lieut. Wolff was slightly wounded by a fragment of shell, but not disabled ; he was promoted to Captain of Co. H, and, as such, was in the battle of Chicka- mauga, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863; at the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge, Ga., Nov. 25, 1863, Capt. Wolff received a gun-shot wound through the right arm, which com- pelled him to relinquish his command for about two months : afterward, with his company and regiment,

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he was engaged in numerous battles until the close of the war, among them the battle of Rocky Face Ridge, May 9, 1864; Resaca, May 14 and 15, 1864 ; New Hope Church, May 27, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864 ; Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864; Atlanta, July 22, 1864; Jonesboro, Sept. 1, 1864; Lovejoy Sta- tion, Sept. 3, 1864 ; Spring Hill, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1864, in which engagement Capt. Wolff was slightly wounded by gunshot through both legs; at the battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864, during a charge of the enemy, Capt. Wolff became engaged in a hand-to-hand combat between the lines with Col. John B. Austin, of a Mississippi regiment ;

discharge of the regiment, Jan. 3, 1866, at Columbus, holding the commission of Colonel, acknowledged as a brave and good soldier, with an army record of which any man might well be proud ; it is sad to think that, after doing this service for his country, he should be a constant sufferer in his after life. Col. Wolff was mar- ried in March, 1864, to Miss M. J. Browneller, who died in the year 1865. In 1868, he was again married, to Miss Susan Urvan, who died in Mansfield, in 1870. The Colonel is now a resident of Mansfield.

WOLFF, E. M. & CO., marble dealers. Their shops were established in 1869; since then they have greatly in-

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. E.M.WOLFF.&CO

GRANITE WORKS AND MONUMENTS OF E. M. WOLFF & CO., MAIN STREET, MANSFIELD.

the Union forces falling back for a time, charged upon the enemy, who had captured the works, driving them out, when Wolff, coming up with Col. Austin, demanded his sword; but this he at first refused, and bravely defended himself, but was soon compelled to surrender and reluctantly delivered his sword to Wolff, who now has it in his possession ; in the night of the 20th of June, 1864, Capt. Wolff received a wound on the head from a falling limb while in charge of a company of choppers, the effects of which he will, doubtless, carry to his grave, being now a constant sufferer and threat- ened with the loss of sight ; in February, 1865, Capt. Wolff was promoted to Major of the regiment, and, soon after, was made Lieutenant Colonel, and was, at the

creased their business ; as time progressed they added machinery which no other firm in Ohio has in use, made necessary by the march of time, until now their shops are fully supplied with everything needed in the busi- ness; the character of the work attests its quality, while sales in all parts of this and adjoining States establish its merits; twenty-two men are now em- ployed.

WOLFE, NORMAN M., born in Monroe Township, Richland Co., Ohio, July 6, 1849; engaged on the home farm for many years ; took his academical course in Greentown Academy, at Perrysville, spending the winter term at teaching country schools, and finally promoted to the situation of Assistant Teacher of Mathematics

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CITY OF MANSFIELD.

in the academy. He attended the University of Wooster, and completed his education at Amherst Col- lege, Massachusetts ; was elected Principal of Mahon- ing Institute, Mahoning Co., Ohio, in which position he remained until the spring of 1876 ; began the study of law on the 14th day of April, 1876; was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, at Columbus, Ohio, May 7, 1878 ; formed a partnership with William H. Pritch- ard, for the practice of law, Dec. 1, 1879; the style of the firm is Pritchard & Wolfe, is enjoying a most envi- able reputation as lawyers, and have their office in P. O. Block, North Park street, Mansfield, Ohio. Mr. Wolfe was married to Miss Jennie Leiter Sept. 22, 1877, and his family now consists of his wife and daughter, Grace May, aged 2 years. In politics, Mr. Wolfe is an active Democrat, holding official positions in the cam- paign clubs of his party, and, in the spring of 1879, was elected to the office of City Solicitor for Mansfield.

WOLFE, SAMUEL G., COL. (deceased), born in Wyo- ming Valley, Luzerne Co., Penn., in 1798 ; his father, Jacob Wolfe, dying, his mother, Eleanor Wolfe, with Samuel, Peter and Jacob, her sons, and Eliza, Maria, Catherine and Artemisia, her daughters, along with the Ayres families and the Culvers, emigrated to Ohio, the Wolfes and the Ayrses settling in Frederickstown, Knox Co., in 1807, being the second arrival to settle here. On the breaking-out of the war of 1812, Jacob volun- teered, and went to the army, serving in the regiment of Col. Lewis Cass ; Peter was a scout, and Samuel, be- ing but 14 years of age, was compelled to stay with the family as a help against the Indians. The Wolfe fam- ily moved to Mansfield in 1812, where Eliza taught school and kept military stores in the block-house. The Wolfes lived on the northwest corner of the premises now occupied and owned by John Wood, on West Market street. When Samuel became of age, he carried on the cabinet business there for some years, until he was elected Sheriff of the county ; he served in that capacity four years, and then was elected and re-elected Auditor of the county, serving four years ; he was a Colonel in the militia, and has been efficient in its organization, as well as a popular officer ; he was a man of commanding presence, and, like his brothers, large and over six feet in height. He exercised a great deal of influence in politics, and had many friends who desired to run him for Congress. He died in Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1868.

WOLFARTH, JACOB, stonemason. He was born March 24, 1854, in Holmes Co. Married, Jan. 17, 1875, to Lucy A. Smith, she was born in Seneca Co. May 26, 1854; they have the following children : Mary A., born March 24, 1876; Dorthea Barbary, Jan. 7, 1878. Residence 115 West First street, Mansfield.

WOLFERD, EZRA, shoemaker ; son of George Wol- ferd. He was born April 17, 1831, in Franklin Town- ship ; he engaged as an apprentice in 1847 with David Wise, of Mansfield, and served three years; he has since that time been constantly engaged at his trade. He was married in 1854 to Feny Simmons, who was born in Germany ; they have two children-Stephen, born April 8, 1856, and Della, July 26, 1860; Stephen was married to Minnie Longsdorf in 1879. Mrs. Feny Wolferd died in January, 1877. Mr. Wolferd is en- gaged with Rigby & Cox, working at his trade.

WOOD, JOHN, proprietor woolen mills. He was born Nov. 22, 1819, in Concord, Mass .; he came to Ohio in 1837, located in Cleveland, remained there one year, then came to Mansfield ; engaged as clerk for E. P. Sturges, continued for six years ; in 1847, he en- gaged in partnership with Sturges Grimes & Co., after- ward changed to Sturges, Wood & Witter, wholesale merchants. He was married, Sept. 1, 1847, to Char- lotte B. Parker, daughter of Judge Parker; she was born in 1823 in Mansfield ; they have four children- Edward P., born Aug. 16, 1848 ; he graduated at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and is now in the navy ; Lizzie, William S. and Fannie P.

WORDEN, MILTON W. (deceased). Judge Worden was born in Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, Sept. 30, 1839; after coming to this county, he resided for a number of years in Washington Township, where he was married, Nov. 22, 1859, to Miss Anna McFarland, daughter of an old resident of that township. Placed at an early age, by the death of his father, in circum- stances where it became necessary for him to depend in a large measure upon his own resources, he marked out for himself a path in life, which many a youth un- aided by fortune and friends, would have been fearful to essay, and by his integrity, valor and ability, reached a position in his brief life of twenty-nine years, in and by which he commanded the regard of his fellow-men, the esteem and respect of his comrades and the warm affections of his familiar friends. Judge Worden, by a course of preparatory studies and reading, fitted himself for, and gained admission to, the bar ; but the gates of the temple for him were closed almost simul- taneously with his entrance. The tocsin of the mighty rebellion was sounded ; the call of the country to arms was made, and he enlisted in the 32d O. V. I., in the beginning of the rebellion ; while acting as Captain in that regiment at the battle of Harper's Ferry in 1862, he lost a leg, which incapacitated him for further serv- ice, when he returned to Mansfield and was elected Probate Judge for one term in the fall of 1864 ; he was shortly after appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue, which position he held at the time of his death. Judge Worden at the time of his death left a wife, Anna McFarland Worden, and five children-Ella, Martha E., Frank S., Albert Milton and Lillie, all of whom are living.

Too late for insertion in proper place.

BOWLAND, ROBERT. He was born Sept. 19, 1774, in Pennsylvania. Was married in 1815, to Ann J. Mercer, who was born in February, 1791; came to Ohio in 1826, located in Mansfield and engaged in the dry goods business many years. Died in November, 1857; Mrs. Bowland died in April, 1858.

PRITCHARD & WOLFE, attorneys and counselors at law. The firm is composed of William H. Pritchard and Norman M. Wolfe, both natives of this county ; Mr. Pritchard graduated from the University of Woos- ter in 1874; he then superintended the Shelby schools from 1875 to 1878 ; he began the practice of law Dec. 1, 1878. Mr. Wolfe was educated at the University of Wooster, and, soon after leaving college, succeeded ot

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the principalship of Mahoning Institute, remaining there two years ; resigning that charge, he returned to Richland Co., and, on the 14th of February, 1876, be- gan the study of law; was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio on the 7th day of April, 1878, and, in December following, he formed a copartnership with William H. Pritchard for the practice of his pro- fession. Their rooms are in the Post Office Block.

SNYDER, JOSEPH N., deceased ; his parents, John and Susan Stough Snyder, were long residents of Cum- berland Co., Penn .; Joseph was born in that county in 1813, and was their first son ; he came to Richland Co. in 1835, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred in this city in the fall of 1869 ; when a young man, he acquired the trade of cabinet-maker, which vocation he followed for a number of years ; for many years previous to his death, he was engaged in house-

painting, and was accounted the best workman in that line in the city ; he was a man well informed, and took an active interest in the political parties to which he belonged ; originally, he was an Old-Line Whig, but was known in after years as an adherent of the Demo- cratic party. He was married in this city to Miss Catherine Brickman ; they were the parents of five children, four of whom are living-three sons and one daughter.

SNYDER, C. B., painter and glazier. He was born March 23, 1845, in Mansfield, the second son of Joseph N., deceased ; he is now actively engaged at his trade in this city, and is considered an expert workman. He was married in Mansfield in 1867, to Miss Amanda Harmon ; they are the parents of four children-Willie, Alice and Harry ; Frank, the second son, died in 1875, aged 5 years.

BLOOMING CROVE TOWNSHIP.

ADAMS, THOMAS C., was born in Cumberland County, Penn., May 14, 1830, where he resided until the fall of 1851; he removed to Springfield, Clark Co .; he remained there about one year, when he went to La Fayette, Ind. ; he stayed there about four years ; while there he paid his attention to milling ; he re- moved back to Cumberland County, on account of his health being somewhat impaired; after his removal to Pennsylvania, he still followed the business as a mill- wright until he removed to this county, in May, 1863; when he first settled here it was nothing but a wilder- ness ; the second or third year after his removal here he built a saw-mill ; it was burned down June 20, 1872, but by the kind assistance of a few neighbors and friends he was soon able to rebuild; the mill still stands, and runs a great part of the time. He was married Jan. 10, 1861, to Margaret A. Snyder, who was born in Perry County, Penn., March 29, 1840, where she resided until she, with her husband, removed to this county ; the fruits of this marriage are three children : Robert A., who was born Oct. 28, 1861, in Perry County, Penn. ; Anna M., born Nov. 25, 1864, in this county, and Mary Jane Grace, born Oct. 14, 1866, also in this county. Mr. Adams is a millwright by profession, although early in life he learned the tanning business, but never followed that vocation after leaving home. He has by strict economy made for himself and family a good home, now owning on the county line a good farm containing 76 acres, which he still manages aside from the management of his mill.

ADAMS, W. B., was born in Union Co., Penn., June 7, 1857; he resided there until 1875, and then came to this county, where he has since lived ; his occupation since residence in the county has been buying and selling goods on the road for the firm of A. Sturgess & Co., He has given his employer entire satisfaction thus far ; he intends to make this his future business.

ALBRIGHT, HENRY ; was born in Clear Creek Township, Ashland Co., Ohio, April 2, 1847, where he

resided until the age of 14 years, when he soon after went into the army. He was a member of Co. B, 102d O. V. I .; was enrolled on the 8th of August, 1862, and discharged in 1865, when he returned to his native place, where he resided for about two years, when he removed to this township, and has since resided here. Aug. 28, 1870, he was married to Miss Ellen Sonanstine. They have one child, a son-Arthur, aged 2 years. Mr. Albright is a blacksmith by trade, and carries on that business at this place, Shenandoah. This has been his occupation since the late war. He contracted the rheumatism while in the army, but has never made application for a pension, to which he is entitled. Mr. Albright has built up for himself here a very good trade, although his health does not permit him to labor hard.

ALLEN, J. W. He was born in Shenandoah Co., near Mt. Jackson, Va., Oct. 20, 1811. He resided there until the year 1854, when he came to this county, and has since resided here. He is by profession a merchant tailor, as well as a druggist, which business he now carries on in Rome. In the year 1833, on the 12th of September, he was married to Miss Catherine J. Sonanstine; they had four children, three of whom are living-Joseph F., James William, and Mary Jane. The one deceased-Virginia C. -- died in 1864, at the age of 18 years 8 months and 14 days. Mr. A. studied and practiced medicine previous to his coming here, although he has not paid much of his attention to his profession at this place. He attended lectures at Jef- ferson College at Baltimore, Md.

ALSDORF, ADAM W. Was born in Ashland Co., Milton Township, then Richland Co., where he resided until the age of 32 years, when he removed to this township, where he has since resided. He has paid most of his attention to farming and dealing in stock. Mr. Alsdorf is now one of the Trustees of his township, which shows the estimation in which he is held by the people of the township which he represents. Feb. 4,

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BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIP.

1865, he was married to Miss Minerva Gates ; they have four children living-Arminda, Dora A., Cyrus A., and Herney C. The health of their family is good. Mr. Alsdorf has, by good management and strict atten- tion to business, made for himself and family a good home. He enjoys the respect and esteem of all in the community in which he resides.

ANDERSON, WILLIAM C., Shenandoah ; he was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1841, where he re- sided until the age of 11, when his parents removed to Randolph Co., Ind., where they remained about two years, when they came to Richland Co., where they have since resided. In 1857, Mr. Anderson learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he has worked, until within the past year he has been paying some attention to the shipping of stock, the purchase of hides and furs, and the boring of wells. In 1865, he was married to Elizabeth A. Burgoyne. Their four children are liv- ing-Lena Ann, Bettie E., Stella V. and Lois. During the war, Mr. Anderson enlisted in April, 1861, for three months ; again, in 1862, for the same time; again in October of the same year; and when the three- months troops were called, he again went into the serv- ice-enlisting four different times, receiving an hon- orable discharge cach time. Mr. Anderson never interested himself much in politics, but has been Township Trustee several terms.

ARMSTRONG, SAMUEL M., was born in Franklin Township, this county, on the Ist day of July, 1830; he resided here until the spring of 1841, when his parents removed to this township, and where he has since resided. Mr. Armstrong is by profession a shoe- maker, and followed that until the war broke out, when he enrolled himself as a member of Co. F, 82d O. V. I., on the 30th day of November, and was discharged on the 25th of August, 1865; he was in the numerous battles the regiment was called upon to en- gage in ; he received a gun-shot wound in the right hip at the battle of Dallas, in front of Atlanta. Since the war, Mr. Armstrong has been farming. In the fall of 1856, on the 16th of October, he was married to Miss Sarah J. Burns. They have had nine children, seven of whom are still living, and named Mary E., Flora Bell, George W., Nettie May, Eva A., Wilber B. and Frank N .; Mary Elizabeth is married; the ones deceased are Charley F., who died at the age of 2 years and 5 months ; the youngest, Perry S., died at the age of 4 months. Mr. Armstrong's father and mother are still living, and reside with him. His father was born Dec. 29, 1800, in Adams Co., Penn. He was 2 years of age when he removed to this State, and at the age of 22 he came to this county, which makes him a resident of the county for a period of fifty-eight years.

ARMSTRONG, JOHN H, was born in this county on the 10th of December, 1836, and has since resided in the county, with the exception of the war. He en- rolled himself as a soldier Aug. 25, 1861; he was a member of Co. M, 2d O. V. C., and was discharged Oct. 7, 1864. His vocation, principally, is that of farming. In the year 1866, he was married to Miss Susannah Pifer. They have reared a family of six children, all of whom are still living, with the excep- tion of the last one, who died in infancy ; the others are named, respectively, Effie M., Harold B., Tennie

E., Virgia, Claudia and Florence. His wife died Jan, 26, 1880 ; she was a lady of exemplary character, and a consistent Christian.

BACKENSTO, ANTHONY J., was born in this county April 20, 1851, where he has since resided, and has lived in this township for a period of six years ; his occupation has been that of farming all his life. In the year 1871, June 15, he was married to Miss Jane Eller; they have two children, both of which are still living, and named Ira E. and Ernestus C. The health of his family, together with himself, is not very good, and has not been since he removed to this place, he being troubled with the heart disease, while that of his wife and that of the oldest child is good, but the youngest has never been very rugged, although Mr. Backensto lives in one of the healthiest localities in his township, as well as one of the most pleasant ; although the hand of disease has laid its hand upon him, he has the satisfaction to know that himself and family enjoy the respect of all in the community where he resides.

BAKER, PETER, was born in Germany Nov. 11, 1835; when at the age of 18 years, he came to this country and located in New York City, where he re- sided until the year 1868, when he removed to Ashland Co., where he remained three years : from there he removed to Windsor, this county, where he stayed six years; from there he moved back to Ashland County, where he lived a short time, when he moved back to this county, and located in this place, Rome, where he manufactures boots and shoes of all grades, He also has a notion store. His trade is that of shoe- maker, and he has always made that his business. He learned the trade in Germany before he came to this country. In the year 1856, June 16, he was married to Miss Catherine Abeale, in New York City ; they have had nine children, six of whom are still living, and named Leana, John, Frederick, Rosa, Augusta and Laura ; three died in New York City, named Henry, Annie and Emma.

BAKER, GUSTAVUS B., was born in Hampshire Co., Va .. on the 24th February, 1834, where he resided until the age of 4 years, when his parents removed to Cumberland Co., Penn., where they remained about five years, and from there they removed to Knox Co., Ohio, where they stayed one year, and from there to this township, where he has since resided, and has always paid the most of his attention to farming. In the year 1859, on the 14th of February, he was married to Miss Feann Stauffer ; they raised a family of eight children, seven of whom are still living, and named Cornelius O., Mary E., Sarah E., Harry A., Augustą D., Perry B. and Alice M. ; the one who died was Ben- jamin F. ; he departed this life on the 19th of February, 1872, aged 12 years and 8 months.

BAKER, JOSIAH, was born in Cass Township, on the 7th of June, 1843, and has always resided in the county, although he has moved, from time to time, from one township to another, and has recently sold his farm in this township and purchased one in Frank- lin, where he intends to make his future home. Mr, Baker has never turned his attention to political mat- ters to any great extent, although he has represented his township as Trustee two terms, and is now Super- visor and School Director. In the year 1865, on the

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27th of May, he was married to Miss Sarah Arnold ; they have a family of four children, three of whom are still living-Lizzie M., George B. and Curtiss C .; An- drew S. departed this life on the 13th of December, 1866, aged 3 months and 24 days. He has always paid his attention to farming, and, by good management and strict attention to business, has made for himself and family a good home.

BARR, JOHN C., was born in Noble Co., Ind., on the 27th of September, 1855, where he resided until the age of 2 years, when he removed to this county and where he has since resided ; Mr. Barr is by profession a blacksmith, which he carries on at Ganges ; he is considered by all to be proficient at the business. In the year 1877, he was married to Miss Libbie A. Stoer ; they have no children.

BASHORA, ISAIAH, was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., on the 26th of April, 1833; at the age of 2 years, his parents removed to the State of New York, where they resided about ten years, when they came to this State and located in Shelby, where they lived about six years ; thence they went to Bucyrus, where they remained until 1848, when they removed to Wis- consin, where they lived two and one-half years ; they then returned to Bucyrus, where our subject remained until 1858, and thence he removed to this township, and has remained here ever since, with the exception of six months in Wood Co. and four years at Shiloh. In the year 1853, on Feb. 12, he was married to Miss Suzanah Hess ; they have a family of four children, three of whom are living-Henrietta, Maggie J. and Ruehamie ; the one deceased, Esther, departed this life in August, 1858. Mr. B. is by profession a blacksmith, and he, together with Mr. Burns, carries on that busi- ness at Rome in all its branches, where they do work right and at prices to suit the times.

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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