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 123
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159
SNYDER, JOHN, farmer ; he was born in Richland Co., December, 1838 ; he spent his youth in Ohio until the year 1854, when his parents went to Adair Co., Mo., where they lived and died ; he remained in Mis- souri, working at the carpenter trade, until the break- ing-out of the war, when he enlisted in the 5th Mo. V. I., and served some time ; he then joined the cavalry, and then went into a battery of artillery, and was mus- tered into the Confederate service in Memphis, Tenn., in 1862, and was in several engagements in Missouri, including Pea Ridge, Lexington and Corinth, Miss. ; he was taken prisoner at Champion Hill, Miss .; he was taken to Young's Point, thence to Camp Morton at Indianapolis, thence to Ft. Delaware, thenceto Point Lookout, where he was paroled ; he then struck north to York, Penn., where he worked at his trade on the N. C. R. R. for some time, and then returned to Rich- land Co., Ohio., his former home, where he worked at his trade until December, 1867; he has since been farming. He is a man of considerable originality ; he is quiet in his manner, and does not interfere with the opinions of others ; he was married to Miss Lydia A. Laser, of Richland Co., December, 1867 ; they had four children as the result of their union, three living; Mrs. Snyder was born in Jackson Township, in April, 1840.
STOVER, JOHN, pioneer farmer ; P. O. Shelby ; he was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in May, 1823. His father, John Stover, emigrated to Richland Co. with his family of six children in 1835, and settled about two miles and a half southeast of Shelby, near what is
now known as Taylortown, where he purchased the farm which his son now owns; he died in January, 1852. The subject of this notice resides on the old homestead, where his father first settled ; he never re- ceived any education, but by his natural ability he has acquired considerable property, and he is looked upon by his neighbors as an honest and reliable man; his ancestors were Pennsylvania Germans, and he has in- herited their characteristics, that of honesty and indus- try ; he is a careful farmer. He was married to Miss Leah Landis in February, 1853; three of their chil- dren are now living.
VINSON, J. W., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shelby; was born in Knox Co. June 21, 1833; he passed his youth on a farm ; at the age of 21, he went to Dayton, where he remained a short time; he then went to Plymouth, Ohio, where he learned the trade of marble-cutting; he then went to Mount Hilliard, Knox Co., where he remained one year ; then went to Shelby and engaged in marble-cutting, under the firm name of Hersheiser & Vinson, but the business not be- ing profitable, the firm failed, and left considerable debts unpaid ; after the failure, he moved to Jackson Township, on the farm which is known as the Lantz farm, where he remained five years ; he was still strug- gling with poverty, and he resolved to make another effort in the marble business; he sold work for a party in Mansfield for a short time, and saved enough money to buy a small stock ; he brought it home, and succeeded in selling it, soon thereby enabling him to purchase more material; his shop was located near where he now resides ; this was about the fall of 1863 ; he followed the trade in Jackson about seven years ; he sold work for different parties for about six years ; his health failing him, he went to farming; he is a careful and successful farmer ; he has a very pleasant home, and built one of the most comfortable and sub- stantial dwellings in the township. Politically, he is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in his party. He was married to Miss Catharine Lantz in May, 1858; they had one child-Annie S. C., who is married to George Hartman ; his wife died in the spring of 1863. He was again married to Mrs. Catharine Laser ; they have one child-Curtis E. Mr. Vinson has, by dint of industry, succeeded in making himself a competence.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
ANDERSON, WILLIAM W., clergyman ; he is a son of Rev. James Anderson, who was born in Pennsylva- nia, and was Pastor of the Lexington (Ohio) Presbyte- rian Church from the spring of 1854 to the spring of 1864. The subject of this sketch was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, and was brought up in a village ; during his early life, his mother taught a female boarding-school ; in 1854, he came with his parents toLexington, Ohio, and attended the high school of that place; in the fall of 1855, he entered Washington College, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1859, and then entered the theological seminary of Allegheny City, Penn., where he finished
his course in 1862; his first charge was in Chesterville, Morrow Co., Ohio, where he remained six years and a half; his next charge was at Shelby, Ohio, at which place he remained eight years, and then came to Bell- ville Jan. 1, 1877, and took the pastorate of the Pres- byterian Church of that place, which position he now fills. Mr. Anderson was born Nov. 6, 1839, and was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Urie, of Ashland, Ohio, June 29, 1865; their children are Urie, born March 23, 1866, died in infancy ; Clara L., born June 2, 1867 ; Dora E., Dec. 4, 1872; Mary, July 30, 1879. Mr. Anderson is a most estimable citizen, an able minister,
O
798
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
scholarly, selects his expressions with great care, is pathetic, modest, refined and mild.
ALEXANDER, HARRISON, was born in Waldo Co., Me .; he worked on a farm and in a saw-mill until he came to Bellville, in the fall of 1850; here he worked in a foundry three years, and then commenced to deal in paper, which he continued until 1866; since then, he has given his attention to farming, and the variety of business conducted under the name of Alexander & Zents. He was born Feb. 12, 1823, and married, Aug. 18, 1850, to Amanda Weymouth, who was born July 27, 1829; children-Miller was born July 19, 1852; IIannah, Dec. 6, 1854; Harry, Nov. 15, 1866.
ARMSTRONG, HEZEKIAHI, farmer, resides on a part of Section 29, where he owns over 200 acres of land ; he is a son of James Armstrong, who landed in this township Dec. 25, 1817; he died Oct. 20, 1850, and was almost 75 years old. Mr. H. Armstrong was born Nov. 5, 1819, and was brought up on the farm he now owns ; his companion, Rosan Flook, was born in Bed- ford Co .. Penn., Oct. 17, 1820, and came with her par- ents to Ohio in1828. Mr. Armstrong was married Nov. 10, 1845 ; children-Alvina, born Sept. 9, 1847; John, May 18, 1849; Elizabeth, Aug. 11, 1851 ; Eli C., Aug. 12, 1853 ; Mariah, Dec. 16, 1854; Eliphalet, Feb. 9, 1857; Sarah, Ang, 1, 1859 ; Leva, April 8, 1862. Mr. Armstrong built a fine barn on his premises in 1871, and, in later years, remodeled his residence, so that his farm is well improved, and by diligence to his avocation, he has made himself independent.
AUNGST, SAMUEL S., farmer. He is the son of George Aungst, who was born in Pennsylvania, and in boyhood moved to Virginia ; here he married Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Samuel was born April 11, 1805. When 6 months old, his parent moved to Pickaway Co., Ohio, and after the war of 1812, moved to Jeffer- son Township ; there were two sons and seven daughters in the family. Samuel married Catherine Spayde Nov. 9, 1829, and five sons and seven daughters were born to them; a son died in infancy, the remaining are yet liv- ing. Mrs. Aungst was born in Pennsylvania March 26, I811.
AUNGST, GEORGE W., farmer. He resides on a part of Sec. 15, Jefferson Township; he is a son of Samuel Aungst, and was born in Richland Co. July 17, 1830. He was married, Dec. 29, 1859, to Samantha Swank, a daughter of John Swank, and was born in Jefferson Township May 12, 1840; they have two chil- dren -Anna Eliza, born Dec. 11, 1860, and Lewis D., born March 26, 1866; Mr. Aungst commenced to keep house near where he now lives ; he built a barn on his farm in 1867, and a neat dwelling-house in 1872-73; he was Township Assessor in 1868-69, and Land Assess- or in 1880. Mr. Aungst is one of Jefferson Town- ship's valuable citizens.
AUNGST, DANIEL, farmer. He was born on the northeast quarter of Sec. 8, and has lived on it since birth, excepting eight years that he resided in Bellville ; he was born March 5, 1824, and is the only survivor of his father's family. He was married, Nov. 7, 1848, to Elizabeth Langham, daughter of Robert Langham and Sarah Kinney ; she was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1820; they had eight children, all of which died in infancy but one, Marcellus ; she was born Jan.
17, 1858. Mr. Aungst hield the office of Township Trustee one term.
BEACH, ABIJAH I., M. D., was born in New Haven Co., Conn., Oct. 16, 1804, and brought up on a farm ; at a proper age he was placed in an academy, and in March, 1825, he took the degree of M. D .; he visited Ohio in 1820, and in 1826, came to Bellville, and has made it his ostensible liome since ; he was engaged with Judge Jackson in various mercantile enterprises, and enterprises on his own responsibility until 1850; since then he has led an active life in the field of specula- tion, and practiced medicine extensively. In 1857, he traveled over the most important countries of Europe and visited the most noted cities and extensive hospi- tals ; in 1868, he opened a hospital in Bellville, and enjoyed a good patronage until he retired in 1877. He is now leading an active business life, having a large grocery and notion store in Bellville, under his super- vision, and giving some attention to the practice of medicine. He was married to Elizabeth Jackson May 15, 1831 ; she was born May 15, 1816, and died Aug. 5, 1875.
DAY, CYRUS, retired farmer, Bellville ; his parents emigrated from Washington Co., Penn., in the year 1815, and located in Troy Township Mr. Day is one of a family of twelve children, and is the seventh in order ; he was born May 18, 1819; he received such an education as those times afforded, which was quite meager. He was married in 1846, and remained one year on the home place, when he removed to Jefferson Township, on a farm known as the Shultz farm, where he remained about four years ; he then moved on the farm with his father-in-law, John Markey, and shortly after his arrival here, he bought the farm, and re- mained on it about five years, when he sold and bought a farm of F. M. Fitting, adjoining the corporation of Bellville ; he resided here about five years, and then sold out and purchased the property where he now resides. Mr. Day has raised a family of six children, five of whom are living.
BELL, ROBERT, deceased ; he was a descendant of English and Scotch parents, and was born about 1755 : in 1781, he resided in Sussex Co., N. J., and in 1796, moved to Belmont Co., Ohio, and between 1813 and 1815, moved to where Bellville now is, and purchased a quarter-section of land of James McCluer. Robert Bell, Jr., came the same year, and settled on the site of Bellville, whose children, in the order of their births are John, William, Zephanial, Sarah, Mary, Nancy, Peter, Robert F., Jonathan W. and Aaron, by his first wife, and Frank, by his second wife. William Bell was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1805, and came to Richland County with his father, and was his main assistance in clearing up his farm, a part of Sec- tion 7, on which he moved soon after 1815. He was married to Susan Strong Dec. 6, 1831 ; he resided in Jefferson Township till he moved to Hancock Co., Ohio, in 1840, where he died in the fall of 1847; the family returned to Bellville, and Mrs. Bell died at the resi- dence of her daughter, Mrs. Dewey, of Omaha, Neb, in 1875, while on a visit, aged 66 years ; she was born in Frederick Co., Md., July 4, 1809; their children are George S., born Nov. 14, 1832; Rezin W., Aug. 25, 1834; Eliza A., July 4, 1837; Sarah Jane, March 14,
799
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
1840; Emeline M., June 26, 1843 ; Susan, May 10, 1845. George S. followed a mercantile life in Bellville till 1875, when he was chosen Clerk in the Ohio Peni- tentiary ; in 1876, Steward of the Central Ohio Insane Asylum ; in 1877, he resigned this position to accept a very important Federal one at Washington. He was married to Eliza M. Morrow in 1863, and has one child-Gracie. Rezin W. served an apprenticeship at the turner's trade in Mansfield, Ohio, and worked two years at the trade in Missouri ; he returned to Bell- ville in 1858, and went to California, where he worked at his trade six months, and then went to mining on Moquelumne Hill ; he followed this about three years, and spent the remainder of eight years in the hardware business ; during the war, he was the leading man in raising the Moquelumne Hill Rifle Company, that tendered its service to the Federal Government; in 1866, he formed a partnership with his brother, in the dry-goods business, in Bellville, and continued till 1876, when they retired. He received an appointment as an officer in the United States Senate, which he filled till 1879, when the Senate became Democratic ; he resided in Bellville in 1880. He was married to Catharine Bonor July 31, 1872, and has one child- Bertha, who was born Aug. 15, 1874; Mrs. Bell was born March 31, 1843. The four daughters were all school-teachers ; Eliza was Postmistress in Bellville over twelve years, which position she resigned in 1877, voluntarily.
CASSEL, HENRY R., farmer; he was born in Mont- gomery Co., Penn., in April, 1809, and came to Jeffer- son Township in 1842, and has since lived in it. He was married to Sarah Price June 25, 1825; she was born in 1806; their children are Abraham, Samuel, Yellis, Daniel, Henry, Harrison, Caleb, Sarah and Rolandes. Caleb went to the army, in the 13th O. V. C., and was wounded in the right knee at the battle of Petersburg, on July 28, 1864, and died in the hos- pital Aug. 30, 1864. Mr. Cassel's first wife died when quite aged, and he was married to Mary A. Adams March 29, 1877.
CHARLES, WILLIAM F., carpenter and farmer ; lie was born near Cleveland Aug. 7, 1825 ; his father, John Charles, was born in Chester Co., Penn., and from there moved near Cleveland, where he was mar- ried. He moved to Richland Co., in February, 1841, and settled in Washington Township; the subject of this sketch commenced to work at the carpenter trade in 1847, and followed it more or less of the time to the present ; he was married March 15, 1849, to Christeann Mowry, who was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Feb. 6, 1828, and came with her parents, Jacob and Catharine (Teeter) Mowry, to Richland Co. when 1 year old ; her parents died in Richland Co. Children-Melissa, was born Dec. 19, 1849 ; Sarah Frances, July 30, 1852 ; Willard Benton, Dec. 1, 1856 ; Luella May, Nov. 27, 1859. Sarah F. died Sept. 19, 1858. Melissa was mar- ried to Theodore Dean Aug. 22, 1872; he was born in Jefferson Township, Dec. 19, 1847; they have two children. In 1857, Mr. Charles moved to Licking Co., and kept store in Homer till 1861, when he returned to Bellville, and has made it his home since ; he owns a farm just south of town, and devotes his time to agri- culture, carpenter work, threshing grain in its season,
and dealing in stock ; the last-named business he com- menced about two years ago.
CRAIN, WILLIAM P., was born in Morris Co., N. J., Jan., 11, 1796, and came to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1818 ; after remaining about two years he returned to his native State, where he lived till 1840, at which date he came to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and engaged in coopering ; at the end of about five years he moved to Fredericks. town and opened a grocery ; he next moved to Palmyra, and in the fall of 1853 to Bellville ; in the fall of 1855, he moved on a small farm south of Bellville, where he has since lived. He was first married to Mary Jane Haines, and six children were born to them; she died in 1849, and on Aug. 17, 1851, he was married to Lucinda Walker, who was born Jan. 4, 1812; two sons were born to them-William L., May 25, 1853, and George Edwin, March 31, 1855. Edwin married Jennie Garber, daughter of David L. Garber, deceased, Nov. 13, 1879.
DIVELBISS, GEORGE WASHINGTON, farmer ; born in Jefferson Township Dec. 15, 1850 ; a year or two after his birth his father moved into Worthington Township, where he grew to manhood. He was married to Mary E. Kanaga, third child of John F. Kanaga, Jan. 16, 1872; she was born Sept. 1, 1851 ; they moved near his father's, where they remained one year: then on his farm near Mt. Carmel Church. Children-Charles S., born Jan. 26, 1875, died Nov. 21, 1875 ; Harry, born Aug. 31, 1876; Hattie, July 16, 1878. He united with the Evangelical Church in 1872, his wife in early life ; Mr. D. at times has held church offices,and superintended the Sabbath school ; he built his residence in 1872.
DONAUGH, WILLIAM, born in Mercer Co., Penn., May 22, 1829; he came with his parents to Williams Co., Ohio, when yet young ; from there his parents moved to Wayne Co., Ohio, where they lived a few years and then emigrated to Jefferson Township. He was brought up a farmer, which occupation has always received his attention. He was united in matrimony to Sarah Garber Dec. 21, 1854, she being the oldest living child of David Garber, and was born Feb. 20, 1833; their children, in order, are as follows : Amos W., born Nov. 26, 1855; Samuel Benton, Feb. 16, 1858; David Milton, Aug. 7, 1860; Susan Samantha, Jan. 17, 1863 ; William Henry, Sept. 17, 1866; John Clinton, Feb. 27, 1869; Levi Elroy, Nov. 23, 1871. Mr. Donaugh and wife united with the United Brethren Church about the year 1861. He commenced house- keeping with a few dollars of his own earnings, and is now the owner of a well-improved farm, a part of Sec. 27.
DONAUGH, AMOS WILSON, farmer; was born in Jefferson Township Nov. 26, 1855, and brought up on a farm. He entered the matrimonial relation with Mary Alice Garber Aug. 23, 1876; she is the oldest child of Lewis Garber, and her mother's maiden name was Mary Mock ; she was born in Jefferson Township March 16, 1858 ; they lived on the farm with her father about two years ; they then lived a short time in a building one- half a mile away, and, in October, 1879, moved about two and a half miles east of Bellville. They remained there the following winter, and, in the spring, came upon the homestead his father bought, being a part of Sec. 26, Jefferson Township.
800
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
DURBIN, SCOTT (deceased), was born in Washing- ton Co., Penn., in 1791, and moved to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1804, and soon after to Knox Co. and took a job of clearing 25 acres for Amos. Rice, near Ankney- town, for 160 acres near Bellville. He was married to Margaret Davis. in 1812, and moved in a small cabin he built about one and a half miles south of Bellville. He assisted in driving the Greentown Indians and served in the war a short time. From this first cabin, he built one on his own land and moved into it. He next moved southwest of Bellville three miles, then two miles south of Mt. Vernon, then . near Ankneytown, Where he discontinued housekeeping. He died in Williams Co., Ohio, in November 1863. Mrs. Durbin was born in Virginia, near the Warm Springs, in 1792, and moved to Mt. Vernon when 17 years of age. At this date, March, 1880, she is alive and in the 88th year of her age. His children are George W., born July 14, 1813; John, Sept. 10, 1815; Mary H., Oct. 6, 1817 ; Samuel, Sept. 17, 1819; Lorenzo, Sept. 7, 1821 ; Eliza- beth, Sept. 23, 1824; Simeon, May 19, 1827 ; Isabel, Aug. 14, 1829; Scott, Sept. 5, 1833; Thomas, May 27, 1835; William, April, 1837.
DURBIN, JEIIU, was born in Jefferson Township Sept. 14, 1824, and is a son of Thomas Durbin ; he was brought up on a farm. He was married Feb. 20, 1849, to Nancy Aungst ; they commenced to keep house in Jefferson Township, and have lived in it to this day ; Mrs. Durbin was born in the township also, on Dec. 17, 1822, and is a daughter of George Aungst, who migrated to Jefferson Township in an early day ; their children are Lorenzo D., born Dec. 10, 1849; Sarah Jane, Aug. 6, 1851 ; George W., March 14, 1853; Sam- uel, Dec. 26, 1854; Joseph J., Dec. 1, 1856 ; James C., Jan. 28, 1859; Arabella, March 4, 1861 ; Aaron, April 25, 1863; Lorenzo was married to Mary Elizabeth Teeter, Dec. 23, 1875, and has two sons; George W. was married to Elizabeth Garber in 1879. Mr. Durbin has held the office of Township Trustee, and other local offices. Farming has been his main occupation through life ; when young, he did some teaming to and from the lake, and of late years has given his attention largely to stock-growing. He was in the war of the rebellion as a teamster. Samuel, his third son, has been successfully teaching school for several years.
ELLER, JACOB, farmer ; was born in Jefferson Township Sept. 5, 1851, and was married Jau. 10, 1875 ; she is a daughter of Samuel Ilamilton, and was boru in Jefferson Township Aug. 5, 1856; their oldest child was born Jan. 30, 1876; Almira Ellen was born Sept. 22, 1877, and Minnie Alice April 1, 1879. Mr. Eller is Joseph Eller's oldest child; he has made his residence in Jefferson Township since his marriage.
EVARTS, REUBEN, was born near Hamilton, Can- ada, Dec. 12, 1809, and came with his father to Richland in February, 1816, who settled in Jefferson Township in March, 1817; in 1834, he purchased the east half of the northwest quarter of Sec. 16. On April 5, 1840, he married Rebecca Howard, who was born in Somer- set Co., Penn., April 12, 1818, and made said purchase their home during their married life ; the children born to them were twelve-Andrew, Cyrus, Eli and Levi, Annette, Reuben, Comfort A., Alverda, Robert, Rebecca J., John II. and Sarah C .; Eli and Levi are twins, the
former born late in 1843 and the latter early in 1844; Cyrus died Feb. 8, 1844; Mrs. Evarts died Sept. 21, 1876. Eli was married to Sarah Lafferty Dec. 22, 1868; Reuben, Jr., to Annette Rhodes Dec. 22, 1870; Andrew to Mariah Stanton Feb. 20, 1871; Alverda to Peter Horn Sept. 17, 1874; Comfort Ann to James M. Reed Sept. 24, 1874; Levi to Ella C. Ridenour Dec. 2, 1874; Annette to Adam H. Zimmers Dec. 28, 1875; Robert to Abbie B. Cutting Oct. 10, 1877; Rebecca to Joseph Shelly Feb. 20, 1879. Mr. Evarts is a descend- ant of two families of Massachusetts : his grandfathers, Gilbert Evarts and Joel Bigelow, moved to Addison Co., Vt., in 1755; here Timothy Evarts was born, brought up, and married. Before the war of 1812, he was en- gaged in the business of transportation on Lakes On- tario and Champlain, and had his home near Hamilton, in Canada ; here Reuben was born. At the opening of the war, Timothy Evarts, with others, were requested to take the oath of allegiance in support of the British, and upon their refusal, were persecuted, arrested and paroled ; at the close of the war, he was destitute, by confiscation of property and other privations, and he, in company with others, procured two row-boats and commenced a journey for Ohio ; by much tribulation and braving many dangers, he succeeded in reach- ing the new purchase, and in March, 1817, arrived in Jefferson Township; in 1818, he entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Sec. 22. He was the first Clerk of Jefferson Township as now constituted, taught school, and became a valuable citizen in many respects ; he died on the northeast quarter of Sec. 16, in 1846. Reuben Evarts, whose name heads this article, com- menced to teach school in 1827 or 1828, and taught fourteen winter terms in succession, excepting 1836-37, when he took a journey to Iowa; in 1828, he com- menced to work on the Ohio Canal, and labored on it two summers ; in 1831, he commenced to make pumps, and for twelve years it was his exclusive summer occu- pation. Mr. Evarts has filled all the township offices ; in 1843, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and con- tinued in the office thirty-six years, during which time he solemuized over three hundred marriages, settled thirty-six estates, wrote many wills in Richland, Knox, Morrow, Ashland, Sandusky and Ashtabula Cos., and no decision of his was ever reversed on appeal or error ; he was an agent of the Washington Sanitary Commis- sion during its existence. Mr. R. has taken an active interest in preserving the pioneer history of Richland Co., and is one of the best-informed men on this sub- ject. He resides on his farm south of Bellville, and is yet vigorous in body and mind, and spending his days in the enjoyment of home and social surroundings.
FARQUHAR, ALBERT G., farmer ; born in Frederick Co., Md., May 20, 1804; he came with his father to Ohio in 1805, and the next year to Knox Co., in which he lived until after marriage. He was united in matrimony to Hannahı Gibson on the 11th of December, 1837; she was born May 15, 1808, and came with her parents to Knox Co. in 1818. He still resided in Knox Co. after marriage until December, 1852, when he bought a part of Sec. 31, in Jefferson Township, where he has since lived. Children-Mary Elizabeth, born Jan. 1, 1832; Ruth Ann, July 5, 1834; Amanda Malvina, June 19, 1840. The mother died Dec. 3, 1871. Mr. Farquhar
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.