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 110

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 110

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BELLMAN, ANDREW J., was born in Middleburg, Portage Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1836 ; when at the age of 6 months, his parents removed to Plymouth, in this county, since which time he has resided in this county ; in 1871, he removed to this township, which place has since been his home ; at the age of 15 years, he com- menced at the cabinet and chair making business, which trade he has made his vocation until his removal here at Shenandoah, where he has been engaged, to- gether with his trade of carriage and wagon making, as well as the carpenter trade, house-painting and turn- ing, and also paper-hanging-in all of which he is con- sidered proficient. In the year 1858, on Jan. 28, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Sonanstine ; they have had six children, four of whom are still living-Car- rie, Eddie, Fred and Florence J .; the ones that died were Kittie and an infant. Mr. Bellman now carries on a repair-shop at this place, where he does and de- signs to repair anything that can be done by mechan- ical skill.

BENEDICT, ABRAHAM, was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Aug. 11, 1834, where he resided with his parents until the age of about 7 years, when he re- moved with his parents to this county and township, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of about two years, when he resided in Williams and Ash- land Cos. about seven years. In the year 1857, Feb. 22, he was married to Mary E. Stoner; they have

raised a family of four children-Henry N., Sarah Ann, Albert and Almira ; all are still living, and Mr. Benedict has, by strict integrity and good manage- ment, made for himself and family a good home, and while himself and 'family enjoy good health, they en- joy the regard of all who know them; the father is dead, having died in Michigan ; his mother is still liv- ing with his sister, Margaret B., in Iowa, near the State line.

BRICKER, LEVI, was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., on the 19th of December, 1817, where he resided until the age of 21 years, when he removed to this county and located in Franklin Township and rented a little cabin of his uncle, and worked out by the day's work. Mr. Bricker possessed only what he could bring in a one-horse wagon-wearing apparel, a few dishes, etc., $160 in money, his wife and one child. In the fall, Mr. Bricker began butchering for 75 cents per day, but soon after, his wages were raised to $1 per day. Soon after, his brother-in-law gave him his two horses to go and trade for a stallion owned by one Gideon Lozier ; he went and traded one of the horses, gave $30 to boot, payable in one year, and that rigged him for farming. This was the first of the year 1840. He rented a small place from the same party he made the trade with, containing 80 acres ; he cleared 3 acres for three crops, but Mr. Lozier having married again, he sold his crops to him and came over to this town- ship and located on John Arnold's place, and bought the crops on the grounds from one Mr. Livey, who had the place rented. Mr. Bricker lived there two years ; then he bought 80 acres of land in Franklin Township, all forest; built him a little cabin, into which he moved in the spring of 1843; he cleared his land in about three years, together with 10 acres of Philip Fisher's land adjoining his; he borrowed the money to purchase his land from his father-in-law, David Wer- ner; the amount was $500; he paid him back annually with 5 per cent interest; he earned a great part of his money by driving horses over the mountains; he made his first trip in 1845 with nine horses ; a great part of the way he went alone. Mr. Bricker followed that as his vocation every year until he located in this town- ship in 1852. Sometimes Mr. Bricker would have to walk back a great part of the way, as he could not get room on the coach; he never came back but what he would always bring his money with him-from $1,000 to $4,000, not in drafts, but generally in Lebanon bank money, which was just as good as the gold out here ; he was never robbed, nor was there ever any attempt to rob him. He bought the place which he now occu- pies in 1851, together with 44 acres, paying cash, $1,- 500. Previous to this purchase, he bought the 160 acres east of here for $1,600 cash, but had to borrow $400; his father-in-law went his security. Mr. Bricker is considered one of the most successful business men in the county; has given work to a great many men ; has always lent his aid in all public improvements, and is considered one of the largest land-owners in this part of the county. He has, by good management, and strict attention to business, made for himself and family a good home, having given his children over $50,000. Mr. Bricker well remembers when he would go through with horses, porters would say along the

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road that dealt in stock, as also in Philadelphia they would often make the remark: "There comes Bricker; and what he tells you about his horses, you can rest assured is correct." Mr. Bricker made, net, over $1,600 in two trips with horses over the moun- tains. Mr. Bricker had by his first wife ten children, . nine of whom are living. By his second wife three, all of whom are living. Mr. Tobias Coffman, of Lancaster, Penn., claims that Mr. Bricker can beat any man in America on the "jig dance;" he says he will bet his last dollar on him as regards time.

BURGOYNE, GEORGE, was born in Dolphin Co., Penn., on the 28th of June, 1802, where he resided until the year 1833, when he removed to this township, and where he has since resided. Mr. Burgoyne is a tanner by profession, and followed that as his vocation until the year 1840, since when he has paid his atten- tion to farming. In the year 1830, on the 25th of March, he was married to Miss Anna Bell ; they have a family of five children, all of whom are living, named Alfred, Hannah Jane, John P., George A, and Eliza- beth Ann. Mr. Burgoyne is one of the oldest surviv- ing settlers of this county, and he, together with his brother associates, can recall many hardships and pri- vations that he had to contend with, that the present, as well as the future generations, will never know nor experience.

BURGOYNE, JOHN P., was born in this township on the 13th of June, 1836, where he has since resided. Mr. Burgoyne has always paid his attention to farm- ing. He has never paid much attention to political matters. In the year 1862, on the 5th of March, he was married to Miss Elisabeth Cline; they have one son-George F.

BURNS, JAMES A., was born in this township Jan. 24, 1841, and has always resided here, with the excep- tion of three years he was in the late war; he enlisted Sept. 7, 1861 ; was a member of Co. E, 3d O. V. I. ; he was discharged Oct. 3, 1864. Mr. Burns is a black- smith by trade, having learned the trade at the age of 18 years, and has since followed that as his vocation ; he now carries on the blacksmithing business at this place (Rome), where he does all kinds of work pertain- ing to the business. On the 12th of July, 1865, he was married to Miss Elisabeth Burns, who was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Feb. 18, 1838; they have four children, all of whom are living-Charles F., Clinton, Victor L. and Minnie. The health of himself and family is good. Mr. Burns has, by strict attention to business, built up for himself' a good trade.

BURNS, WILLIAM F., was born in this county and township April 1, 1843; his principal vocation has been that of farming ; he engaged himself at the car- penter trade for about three years. He is the eighth child of William and Mary Burns, of whom mention is made in another part of this work, as their lives are connected with the early part of the connty. In the year 1870, Jan. 25, he was married to Miss Lo- vina Zeigler. They have raised a family of five chil- dren, named Curtis A., Flora E., Scott A., Carrie L. and the baby. Mr. Burns was a member of Co. F, 82d O. V. I., and was enrolled on the 5th of November, 1862, and was discharged from the service the 24th of July, 1865, at Lonisville, Ky .; he participated in all the dif-

ferent battles and marches that his regiment was called upon to participate and engage in, having, during his time of service, marched a distance of over three thou- sand miles, 'as the records will show; he entered the service as private, and was discharged with the rank of corporal.

CARROTHERS, JAMES, was born in Washington Township, this county, April 6, 1830, where he resided until the age of 15 years, when he went to Williams Co., where he learned the carpenter trade; remained there until he finished his trade, when he went to Michigan, where he stayed two years; then to Wiscon- sin, where he remained until 1857, when he removed to the State of Minnesota; stayed there one summer, then started for the frontier, in Upper Minnesota, where he remained until he was compelled to leave on account of Indian troubles in 1862; his wife and two children were captured ; he then volunteered to fight the Indi- ans, which service he served about two weeks; in the mean time his wife and children made their escape ; he then enrolled himself as member of the 1st Wisconsin Battery, where he remained until the war closed, when he returned to the frontier and commenced work at his trade again ; worked about five years, disposed of his land, then went to Iowa, where he stayed about two years, and at the expiration of that time he came back to his native county and located in this township, where he has since resided and worked at his trade until now, with the exception of what time he spent in inventing a sawing machine, which is considered by all a very valuable improvement in sawing timber of all kinds- can work it by hand or steam power; it is so con- structed that two men can saw twenty cords of wood in one day, with perfect ease, by hand-power, without the use of steam or horse power; they can saw large tim- ber as well as small ; the inventor has taken in with him a partner, and if they take the pains to show the merits of this machine, it will soon be in use all over our land, as it is conceded by all who have seen it work to have no equal of anything of its kind yet invented. He was first married to Miss Helen Marr-Paddock; they had two children, who are still living, named Al- thir and Thomas W. He married his second wife, Miss Mary Jane Ferguson, Jan. 18, 1876; they have two children-Albert A. and Elisabeth Jane, who are still living. Himself and family enjoy good health, and have the regards of all around them.

CHEW, EZEKIEL, SR. (deceased), was born May 13, 1805, near Winchester, Va .; while he was the infant of the family, his father, the late William Chew, came to Ohio and settled in Harrison Co., and at the age of 17 he came to Richland Co., with his uncle Thomas Dickerson, learning from his uncle the trade of a blacksmith, which business he followed for sixteen years. In the mean time, May 27, 1827, at the age of 22, he and Elizabeth Hackett were married, and settled on the land which is now a part of his " homestead farm." Ilis wife died February, 1847, leaving six children in his care. He again married, on June 24, 1850, Amanda M. Phelps ; two children were born, Ezekiel Martin and Laroka Phelps. Our subject was time and again chosen as the Magistrate of his town- ship, and, in the charge of his official duties, so wisely counseled, that but little litigation was carried on. In

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1848, he was elected by the General Assembly an Asso- ciate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this county, occupying the bench with Judges Steward, Mccullough and Barr, and remained there until the office of Associate Judge was discontinued by the new constitution. In the discharge of his judicial duties, he was prompt, able and honest. The older members of the bar of Richland Co., without exception, bear cheer- ful testimony that the judicial robes were by him unsul- lied. His political convictions were strong, always act- ing with the Democratic party. He was one of the charter members of the Rome Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 158. He was for many years a member of the Masonic Order, and of Mansfield Lodge, No. 36. By his breth- ren of Mansfield and other lodges, his mortal remains were consigned to the tomb.

CHEW, EZEKIEL M., was born July 2, 1851, on the farm on which he now resides and owns. July 4, 1876, he was married to Alverda E. Ferrell, by whom he has one son, Oro Lotis. Mr. Chew is a member in good standing in four secret orders. He joined the I. O. O. F. in 1873, and the Moriah Encampment in 1874, and the Patrons of Husbandry in 1875, and the Royal Arcanum in 1879. His political convictions are strong, and very zealous, always acting with the Dem- ocratic party.

CHEW, WILLIAM M., was born in Jefferson Co., this State, on the 2d day of July, 1829, where he resided until the age of 15, when his parents removed to this township, where he has since resided; Mr. Chew has paid the most of his attention to farming. In the year 1853, he was married to Miss Chew, who died in 1867; they reared a family of four children, who are still living, and named Franklin P., George W., Thomas J. and Rubie A. ; in 1872, he was again married, to Miss Matilda Whisler ; they have a family of five children, four of whom are living-Viola, Maud, Alpheus and Pere; the one deceased died in infancy.

CHEW, AMIE, MRS., is the widow of the late Joseph Chew, who died on the 5th of October, 1877, and who was born in Jefferson Co., this State, in the year 1831; when 10 years old (in 1841), his parents removed to this county, where he lived until his death ; he was a teacher by profession; he was married to Miss Amie Charles on the 23d of March, 1864; they reared a family of six children, all of whom are still living, and named Lettie A., Mary E., Silas S., Clement V., Clara C. and Emily W. The health of Mrs. Chew's family is generally good ; she is able to attend to the management of her place and keep four of her chil- dren at school. They all enjoy the regards of all in the community in which they reside.

CHEW, AMON S .; he is the son of William and Leddie Chew. William Chew was born in October, 1770, in the State of Maryland, and Mrs. Chew was born in old Virginia about the year 1787. Our sub- ject, Mr. Amon Chew, was born in Harrison Co., this State, Oct. 15, 1811, and, about the year 1822, his parents removed to this county, Monroe Township, where they resided until their death ; Mr. Chew lived there about twelve years, and then removed to this township, and has resided here ever since; his mother died in the year 1855, and his father, William Chew,

died in the fall of 1866; this subject is the thirteenth child of his parents, who raised a family of seventeen children ; he has resided in this township since the year 1834. In the following year after he located here, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Gutherie ; they raised a family of two children ; his wife died Dec. 18, 1837; in the year 1839, on April 2, he was again mar- ried, to Miss Mary Hackett; they raised a family of six children, only one of whom, Elizabeth (the wife of J. G. Hackett) is now living; Mr. Chew's second wife died Sept. 30, 1878. He has been from time to time elected to offices of trust, such as Assessor and Treas- urer for several years of his township. He has, by strict economy and good management, made for himself a good home. He enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him ; his oldest son, William, died while serving his country during the war in the capac- ity of Sergeant.

CHEW, E. J., was born Dec. 18, 1853, in this town- ship, and is the second and youngest child of George H. and Sarah P. Chew, who was also born in this county ; his father died twenty-one years ago, his mother the following year; after the death of his parents, his uncle, Amon Chew, took him to raise when but a mere boy ; he remained with his uncle until the age of 16 years, when he went out into the world for himself, and has from time to time followed different vocations ; he is a blacksmith by trade, and a rail- roader ; he has also paid some attention to farming ; in 1875, he took a trip to California, but, not liking the country, and the climate not agreeing with him as well as his native place, he only remained there about nine months, when he returned home.

CLELAND, WILLIAM, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shiloh : he was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 18, 1816 ; his parents, John and Margaret Cle- land, settled on the northwest quarter of Section 9, in Township 23, Range 18, in 1824; his father drove a four-horse team from the East, when they emigrated, and his mother rode on horseback, carrying one child ; the parents were natives of Washington Co .; the father was of Irish parentage, the mother of German; about two years after settling in this county, the father died, leaving the mother and a family of six small children ; the eldest child left home to learn a trade, and to the next, the subject of this sketch, fell the burden of aid- ing his mother in a struggle for existence ; he was then about ten years of age ; by industry and hard labor the farm was cleared and made remunerative. The nearest mill was on the Huron River, seven or eight miles away; he took the grist there for grinding, sometimes using the oxen and the sied, sometimes the corn was put in one end of a sack, a stone in the other, and thrown over a horse on which he was mounted. Plym- outh was the post office ; no school or church was in the neighborhood ; when the schoolhouse was built, greased paper served for window lights, slabs answered for seats, and, on Sabbaths, divine service supplanted the educational routine of the week days. Mr. C. was married to Charlotte Cline Jan. 8, 1844; they have seven children-Elisabeth, Celesta, Margaret, Jairus, Hattie, Ida and Henry. After Mr. C.'s marriage, he remained on his father's farm, which he finally pur- chased, adding to it till he now owns 320 acres of

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well-improved land, with good buildings. He has held the office of Township Trustee several years, and has all his life been an active and useful citizen.

CLELAND, AMAZIAH, was born in Washington Co., Penn., Oct. 11, 1822. At the age of 2 years, his parents removed to this township, where Mr. Cleland has since lived, with the exception of about eighteen years he spent in Huron Co. (New Haven). He is the youngest of six children of John and Margaret Cle- land. He was married, April 1, 1849, to Ellen L. Stewart, who was born in Steuben Co., Penn., in 1829. They have seven children, of whom five are living, named Ezra S., William, Emline B., Herman W. and Edna; the ones that died are named Wilson and Phebe. Mr. Cleland is by profession a blacksmith, and followed that vocation, from time to time, for a period of five years ; he has also been in the mercantile business about seven years, and the balance of his life has been spent on the farm ; his eldest son, Ezra S., is married.

CLINESMITH, WM. H., was born in this county on the 11th of December, 1846, where he has always lived ; he has always paid the most of his attention to farming, although he is by profession a carpenter and also a millwright ; he has worked at both of these vocations from time to time. Dec. 11, 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah Wood ; they have had three children, all living-Jessie, Charles K., and Elswood.

COBBAN, CHARLES I., is the youngest child of James and Sarah Cobban. His father was born in Scotland in 1811; he came to this country in 1835, and came to this county in 1854; he was married twice-first to Helen Webster; by this marriage he became the father of seven children-named John, James, James (2d), Isabel, William A., Francis M. and Mary Ellen ; only two are living, William A. and Isabel. His second wife's name was Sarah Beattie, who bore him four children-named James A. and Charles I., who are still living ; the ones that died were Mary C. and Maggie. Both his wives were born in Scotland. Charles I. Cobban was born Nov. 25, 1857, in this township, and has always lived here; he was married Feb. 6, 1878, to Alwilda Robbins, who was born in Wakeman, Huron Co., Nov. 29, 1859, and has resided in this county six years. Mr. Cobban has always been a farmer.

CRAWFORD, WILLIAM, was born in Washington Co., Penn., Oct. 18, 1808, where he resided until the age of 15 years, when he removed to this State, Colum- bia Co., where he resided until the age of 28 years, when he came to this township on the 6th of March, 1833 ; he remembers the time well; the ground was covered with snow ; he can recall the many hardships of himself and family in the days that are past and gone; at the age of 15 years, Mr. Crawford commenced to learn the carpenter trade, which he followed until he was able to buy a house of his own, since which time-about fifteen years-he purchased a farm, and has paid most of his attention to farming; he has also been Trustee of his township ; in the year 1839, Feb. 23, he was married to Miss Nancy Quinn. Mr. Crawford has, by hard work, good management and strict attention to business, made for himself and wife a good home.

CREVELING, A. W., was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Jan. 17, 1841, where he resided until the age of

7 years, when his parents removed to this county and located in Cass Township, where they remained about seven years, when they removed to this township, where he has since resided. Mr. Creveling is the fifth child of Jacob and Martha M. Creveling, who raised a family of seven children, all of whom are dead, with the exception of this subject. Mr. Creveling's father died Oct. 2, 1878 ; his mother is still living, and resides with him. Mr. Creveling has paid the most of his attention to farming, buying and feeding stock. In 1868, July 4, he was married to Miss Zoradah Burns; they have raised a family of three children -Verda, Dora and Boyd, all of whom are still living. He has held the office of Justice for three years ; he was elected on the Republican ticket.

CROSIER, WILLIAM, was born in Juniata Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1826; at the age of 8 years, his parents removed to this county ; in the spring of 1855, he went to California, where he remained about three years, when he came back to this county, where he has since resided. He was married, July 10, 1854, to Eveline Shamp, who was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Dec. 4, 1836 ; when a babe, her parents removed to Huron Co .; resided there until the age of 10 years, when her parents came to this county, where she has since lived. They have had eleven children, five of whom are still living-Nora J., Mary Ida, Emma, Al bert and Charles B .; those that died are named Annie, Bell, Ruby, Bertha, Thomas and Hattie. Mr. Crosier has always farmed as his vocation, which business he still follows.

DAVIS, SAMUEL, was born in Columbiana Co. Jan. 29, 1831 ; when 2} years old, his parents removed to Clear Creek Township, Ashland Co .; he lived there until the age of 19, when he removed to Butler Town- ship, and has since lived in different townships in this county, with the exception of about two years he re- sided in Ashland Co .; he has always farmed from boy- hood ; has part of the time traveled on the road, selling different articles of merchandise. He was married April 24, 1851, to Louisa J. Barns, who was born in Huron Co., where she lived until the age of 8 years, when she came to this county, and has always lived here since ; they have had four children, three of whom are still living-Almira Cordelia, Mary L. and Minnie Maud ; Elisabeth Jane departed this life Jan. 4, 1878, aged 26 years, 8 months and 11 days. She was mar- ried to Mr. George Wolfersberger; Almira C. is mar- ried to Sylvanus Hodges.

DE LANCY, JOHN, was born in Cass Township Oct. 22, 1848, where he resided until 28 years of age, when he removed to this township, and has since resided here. He was married, Sept. 4, 1873, to Louisa Hus- ton, who was born on the place Mr. DeLancy now owns, she was born Sept. 16, 1854; they have had two chil- dren, both are living and named Sarah Ann and Liz- zie. Mr. De Lancy has followed farming, although for the past two years, he has been engaged in selling the combined Hubbard reaper and mower, manufactured at Fremont, Ohio, in which capacity he has met with decided success, as the machine he repre- sents is first class in every respect, and is conceded by all who are acquainted with the machine, to be as good

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for all purposes as any others manufactured. Mr. De Lancy is agent for a part of Huron and Richland Counties.

DEVORE, PHILIP C., was born in this county and township and on the farm which he now owns and re- sides ; but about twelve years ago he removed with his family to Kansas, where he resided about eight years, when he moved back to this county, and located on the farm above mentioned ; Mr. Devore was born Dec. 18, 1842, and has paid the most of his attention to the livery business, has also been in the merchandise business ; but of late his business has been that of farming. In the year 1866, April 2, he was married to Margaret Sutch; they have raised a family of four children, three of whom are still living, named Allen, Elipphlet, Dora and a babe, aged 8 months, named Harry ; the one that is dead was an infant ; this subject is the third child of Soxley and Cathrine Devore. Mr. Devore has by strict attention to business accumulated for himself and family a good home, he now owning the undivided half of the old homestead.

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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