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 131

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 131

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SNYDER, DANIEL M., JR., farmer ; P. O. Mansfield ; he was born in Monroe Township in May, 1847. Mar-

ried. Oct. 27, 1870, to Alice Balliet, who was born in MitHin Township Dec 4, 1853; they have two children -Alden, born May 10, 1873 ; George, Oct. 27, 1876. Mr. Snyder is one of the most active farmer of this township.

SWOVELAND, PETER, farmer; P. O. Mansfield ; he was born in Bedford Co. Feb. 23, 1811; came to Ohio at the age of 23 years, and located in Mifflin Township. Married, in May, 1838, to Mary Rush, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn .; they have five chil- dren-Mary Jane, born May 3, 1849; Rebecca, June 8, 1851; Benjamin F .; Martin L., June 28, 1852; Susan, April 5, 1854. Susan married E. Shelles. Mar- tin married Etta A. Hover; they have one child- Stella May, born May 30, 1879. Mr. Swoveland was an early settler of this township. Through his industry and frugality, he has secured an excellent farm ; has now retired, and is taking comfort in the decline of life.

SWOVELAND, BENJAMIN F., farmer ; P. O. Mifflin, Ashland Co .; he was born in Mifflin Township July 29, 1844. Married, in 1868, Elizabeth Simpson, who was also born in Mifflin Township in 1846; they have six children-Walter J., born Aug. 23, 1869 ; Mary Adella, Nov. 22, 1870; Ora Jane, May 16, 1872; Frank Mar- tin, Feb. 13, 1876; Florence Blanche, Nov. 8, 1878; Emery Morris, Sept. 18, 1879. Mr. Swoveland has always been a resident of Mifflin Township. He is engaged in farming, and has a well-improved farm. He has erected a large house, with all the modern improve- ments, and has also built one of the most convenient barns in Mifflin Township.

WALTERS, HIRAM, farmer ; P. O. Mansfield. The subject of this sketch was born in Mifflin Township, Richland Co., Ohio, on the 16th day of March, 1825 ; his father's name was Solomon Walters, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Starrett ; his father was of Ger- man and his mother of Irish descent; he had six brothers and four sisters ; has three brothers and two sisters now living. llis father was one of the early set- tlers of the township, having emigrated here from Penn- sylvania in 1822; his mother was a Virginian by birth; his parents resided on the farm now owned by Ilenry Hoover, in said township, from the time of their mar- riage up to the time of their death. His father died about 1857, and his mother about 1862. The subject of this sketch was married to Jemima Shaffer, second daughter of Samuel and Ruth Shaffer, of Mercer Co., Ohio, at the residence of her father, in 1855. They settled first in Mercer Co., where they continued to re- side about eleven years, when they removed to Rich- land Co. and settled on his father's farm in Mifflin Township, which they subsequently purchased. He lived on this farm about five years, when he sold it to its present owner, and bought the farm on which he now resides, it being the southwest quarter of Sec. 29, in said township. Mr. Walters has been for about six- teen years extensively engaged in buying and shipping live stock, and, by paying liberal prices and fair and honest dealing, he has been able to gain the confidence of the people, and thereby has made this businss, in which so many have failed, a success. When Mr. Wal- ters was about 25 years old, he took a trip to the "Golden State," where he remained for about two years. He followed mining while there, and met with

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good success. It was there that he got his start finan- cially. While homeward bound, the ship on which he embarked was overtaken by a severe gale, which totally dismantled her, and all on board came near find- ing a watery grave. Mr. and Mrs. Walters are the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter. By good management and close application to business, they have been able to secure a competence for them- selves and family. They have a good farm, well im- proved and well cultivated.

WOLFE, T. G., miller; P. O. Mifflin, Ashland Co .; he was born in Cumberland Co., Penn .; came to Ohio in the fall of 1878 ; he has two children-Willis T. and Sarah E. Mr. Wolfe is engaged as miller at the Snyder Mill ; he is a practical mechanic and a first-class miller. This mill was built by John Yeaman in 1832. It still has the reputation of being one of the best mills in the county. They have connected with it an excellent saw- mill, using a circular saw manufactured by the Mans- field Machine Co. They are doing a very extensive business in sawing and lumber of every dimensions for building purposes. Mr. Wolfe is an enterprising and obliging gentleman, and he is the right man in the right place.

WOODHOUSE, JOHN, farmer; P. O. Mansfield ; he was born in England Oct. 20, 1808; his parents emigrated from there in June, landing in Philadelphia in August, 1820; from there they came to Ohio by team, arriving in this county in October the same year ; they then purchased the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Woodhouse was married, in 1832, to Elizabeth Jackson, who was born in England ; their family con- sists of John J., who was born in 1833, and who now resides in California ; Isaac N., born in 1838, and now resides in Bellville, Nev .; Sarah A., born in 1837, was married to William Douglas, who now resides near Shelby ; Lydia H., born in 1840, was married to John Douglas, and they also reside near Shelby ; Thomas P., who died in infancy ; Mary, who died at the age of 8 years, and Elizabeth, who died at the age of 14 years. Mrs. Elizabeth Woodhouse died in 1858, at their resi- dence. Mr. Woodhouse's second marriage took place in 1860, to Ellen Ray, who was born in the State of Vermont. Mr. Woodhouse came to this county when it was.in a wild state; he was often sent, when a boy, on horseback, to the Newman mill when it was difficult to find the road ; he has proved himself to be a worthy and excellent citizen.

YEAMAN, JOHN, sawyer ; P. O. Mifflin, Ashland Co .; he was born in Mifflin Township Feb. 13, 1818 ; he is a son of John Yeaman, Sr., who was born in Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 8, 1779 ; he emigrated to Ohio in 1814; his father was killed by the Indians in Washington Co., Penn. Mr. Yeaman, Sr., was mar- ried to Ann McCready June 30, 1807; he entered three quarter-sections of land in this township ; he cleared a small space and erected a cabin twelve feet square, with a clapboard roof and a ground floor ; he

slept a number of nights in the cabin where the Zim- mer family resided and was murdered ; he was a car- penter by trade, and built a saw-mill, in 1830, also a flouring-mill, in 1832, being the first in this part of the country ; the first buhrs were nigger-heads. The first miller was a Mr. Cotter; the next was John Staf- ford ; the people came a great distance to this mill. John Yeaman, Jr., was born a cripple, and, on this account, received a liberal education for those times ; he engaged in teaching school at the age of 19; he tanght thirteen terms; his father gave him a farm, where Nicholas Henry now resides ; he now owns a .small farm and steam saw-mill. Mr. Yeaman has been an active and enterprising citizen ; a Republican in politics ; also a member of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years.

VANTILBURG, J. B., farmer ; P. O. Mansfield. He was born in Mifflin Township Jan. 19, 1825, and was married in 1851 to Margaret Jane Boals, who was born in Mifflin Township June 5, 1827 ; they have six chil- dren-Mary K. was born March 30, 1856; John Mel- vin, born June 19, 1860 ; Anna Maria, born June 7, 1862 : Lucilla, born Nov. 15, 1864; William Francis, born Dec. 19, 1866 ; and Gaylord, born Sept. 20, 1869. The following members of the family are deceased : Eugenia, Henry, Joseph and Margaret Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Vantilburg joined the Presbyterian Church in 1857. Mary Vantilburg, Mr. Vantilburg's mother, was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., Feb. 11, 1798 ; she was mar- ried to John Vantilburg May 4, 1819; they had a fam- ily of children ; she came with her parents from Har- rison Co., Ohio, to Richland Co., April 5, 1813 ; they purchased a farm in Mifflin Township, this county, March 13, 1818 ; Mrs. Vantilburg has resided on this farm for sixty-two years and is still residing on the same farm with her son, J. B. Vantilburg ; her husband was in the war of 1812, was engaged as an officer, con- tinued till the close of the war; Mr. John Vantilburg died Jan. 9, 187I, at his home in Mifflin Township, this county ; since the death of her husband, she has made her home with her son, J. B. Vantilburg. She has -

been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Mans- field for fifty-seven years, was one of the first members ; through her influence and aid has done much to build up this society, and has so conducted her life, that she is regarded by her neighbors as an exemplary Christian, those that know her best respect her most ; she is now one of the pioneers of Mifflin Township ; can converse of the early settlers, and was acquainted with many of them ; her memory is good, she can give dates and cir- cumstances the most correct and precise of any one now living in this county. It affords much pleasure to her to relate reminiscences of the past. When the writer visited her in February, 1880, her 82d birthday, she was afflicted but her mind was rational, and her memory was vigorous, and she gave us much informa- tion to assist in making up the history of Mifflin Town- ship.

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

ANDREWS, JAMES (deceased) ; he was born near Cannonsburg, Penn., Feb. 6, 1796; his father, Col. John Andrews, commanded a regiment of Ohio militia in the war of 1812; among the engagements he partic- ipated in was the battle of Fort Meigs. James An- drews was married to Miss Levina Carrick Feb. 11, 1822; she was born near Gettysburg, Adams Co., Penn., Jan. 19, 1797 ; her parents removed to Harri- son Co., Ohio, about the year 1806. James Andrews and wife removed to Richland Co. in the spring of 1823 ; he purchased a quarter-section of land in Mon- roe Township, which is now owned by his son Samuel. James and Levina Andrews are the parents of seven children, six sons and one daughter : John G., the eld- est child, was born in Jefferson Co. Jan. 29, 1823; James C., their second son, was born Aug. 4, 1825 ; he and his younger brothers and sister were born in Mon- roe Township ; William R., their third son, was born Oct. 18, 1828 ; Mary Jane was born May 26, 1831; David, their fourth son, was born June 18, 1833; Joseph, their fifth son, was born May 21, 1838 ; Sam- uel, their youngest son, was born July 29, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews were consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church many years. He was of a kind and generous disposition. Mr. Andrews depart- od this life Nov. 18, 1850 ; his disease was cancer on the breast ; he had it removed when it had attained to several pounds in weight, but this did not suffice to save his life; after enduring for many days agony the most intense and suffering the most intolerable, he was finally relieved by death ; he was buried in the Pine Run graveyard. John, their eldest son, married Rebecca White ; James, Rebecca l'axton; William, Elizabeth Stauffer; Mary Jane, Daniel McFarland ; Joseph, Ella Simpkins. James and Mary Jane reside in Kosciusko Co., Ind .; John in Iowana Co., Mich., and Joseph in Pawnee Co., Kan. Joseph Andrews enlisted in Co. C, 64th O. V. I., in September, 1861, and served his country faithfully during the war of the rebellion ; he participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Franklin, Tenn., and many other minor engagements ; he was a brave and intrepid soldier. David Andrews enlisted in Co. B, 120th O. V. I .; he died of disease contracted in the service at Milliken's Bend, near Vicksburg, May 5, 1863. Samuel Andrews enlisted in November, 1861, in the 6th Ohio Battery ; he served fourteen months, when he was honorably discharged from the service on account of general disability. Samuel Andrews was married to Miss Amanda C. Wiles June 9, 1864 ; he brought his wife home to his mother's house, where they continued to reside, caring and providing for his aged parent during her declining years, and cultivating a portion of the old homestead; at her decease, he became the owner of this farm by purchase, where he still continues to reside ; this is one of the best upland farms in the township; it is well watered, well tim- bered, and well adapted to the raising of all kinds of

grain and grasses. Samuel Andrews and wife are the parents of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters-Harmon, Cary S., Minnie E., Alta T., Levina C. and Samuel L .; one died in infancy ; Harmon is buried in the St. John's Cemetery. Mr. Andrews and wife have been active members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for many years, and are much respected for their many virtues.

APPLEGATE, JOHN. His parents were born in Washington Co., Penn., and emigrated to Richland Co. in the year 1820 :' they located in Monroe Township and entered the farm that Mr. Applegate now lives on, and his father resided there until his death, which cccurred Feb. 15, 1878; they had a family of eleven children. John Applegate was born Feb. 10, 1843 ; in getting an education, he went to district school until he was 14 years old, when he went to a select school in Lucas, taught by Dr. J. E. Strickler. He enlisted Oct. 15, 1861, in Co. E, 64th O. V. I., and was. in all the principal engagements the Army of the Cumberland participated in, and re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864, as a vet- eran, and served until the close of the war; he was mustered out and honorably discharged Jan. 4, 1866, having faithfully served his country over four years ; after returning home, he rented his father's farm, and commenced farming in the spring of 1866. He was married to Miss H. C. Winters Feb. 11, 1868, and they have a family of three children-George W. and Stiles W., who are twins, and were born Jan. 10, 1869; Hat- ,tie E., born July 10, 1874. He moved into Ashland Co. April 3, 1869, and resided there until March 17, 1880, when he moved back to the old homestead (he having bought it the fall before), where he, together with his family, enjoys the many comforts of life, and the esteem of those around them.

BARR, SAMUEL, farmer; P. O. Lucas; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., May 25, 1823 ; he is the eldest son of David and Mary Barr; his mother's maiden name was Kaylor; his parents were both of German descent ; they came to Ohio in the spring of 1830. David Barr left his family in Stark Co., during that summer, while he came to this county to hunt a loca- tion ; he purchased the southeast quarter of Sec. 5, in Monroe Township; he removed his family to this township in the fall of the same year, but, their farm being unimproved, they did not move thereon till the following spring; in the mean time, they put up a house and removed a portion of the dense forest that encumbered their lands ; in the spring, they removed to their farm and went to work in earnest to improve and cultivate. it; by persevering industry on the part of all the members of the family who were old enough to labor, the wilderness disappeared and fruitful fields appeared in their stead. David and Mary Barr are the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters ; they are named in the order of their births, as follows : Samuel, Frederick, Nancy, Susan, Elizabeth, Ephraim and Mary. Ephraim died when

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about 18 years old. Elizabeth was married to Jeremiah Jones; she died Dec. 28, 1878, leaving a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. Sam- nel Bar remained with his father, assisting him in im- proving and cultivating his farm, till some time prior to his marriage. Feb. 16, 1846, he was united in marriage to Miss Barbary A. Beasore, eldest daughter of Daniel and Mary Beasore, of Monroe Township; by this marriage, he had six children, one son and five daughters, named as follows : Mary Jane, John A., Salena A., Martha A., Susan E. and Emma A. Martha A. and Emma A. are dead, and buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery. Mary J. married William Durbin ; John, Susan L. Dillon ; Salena A., Charles Swigart; Susan E., W. S. Kerr. Mrs. Barr was a consistent member of the German Reformed Church for many years ; she died Jan. 12, 1868, and was buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery. Mr. Barr married for his second wife Miss Susan M., eldest daughter of Alexander and Ruth J. McBride ; they were married Dec. 20, 1868; by this marriage he has had four children, two of whom died in infancy ; the names of the two living are Hattie and Courtney Scott. Soon after his first marriage, Mr. Barr rented one of his father's farms; he lived on this farm about five years ; he managed, in that length of time, by the most careful management and close appli- tion to business, to amass means enough, as he thought, to justify him in buying a farm of his own; he pur- chased 120 acres of land in Mifflin Township, and re- moved his family thereon ; he subsequently sold 60 acres of this land ; when Mr. Barr removed to this farm, he found it very much out of repair ; the build- ings were old and dilapidated, the fences rotten and broken down, and the fields covered, to a great extent, with briars and brambles ; he immediately set about making the necessary improvements : during his stay on this farm, he built a dwelling, bank-barn and other outhouses, cleared his fields of the briars and brambles that encumbered them, repaired his fences, and made many other valuable. improvements ; nor was his labor in vain ; he bought the whole farm for $1,920, and sold the eighty acres for $5,000 ; after residing on this farm about nineteen years, he sold it, as above stated, and purchased the southeast quarter of Sec. 5, in Monroe Township, to which he removed his family and where he still continues to reside ; this farm is highly fertile and very productive, and Mr. Barr, being a first-class farmer, has it under a good state of cultivation; it is well adapted to all kinds of farming purposes. Mr. Barr and wife are both active and zealous members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lucas ; they have contributed largely of their means toward the building of churches, the support of the ministry, and other re- ligious and benevolent enterprises. For the last ten years, Mr. Barr has been an active member of Monroe Lodge, No. 224, I. O. O. F .; he has attained to the high- est rank in his lodge. Mrs. Barr is an active and influ- ential member of Morning Star Lodge, No. 36, Daugh- ters of Rebecca. Mr. Barr has held offices of honor and trust, both in Mifflin and Monroe Townships.

BERRY, PETER, REV. ; P. O. Hastings ; Henry Berry, his father, was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., in 1805 ; moved to Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1820, and from there to Richland in 1825. Was married to Miss

Catharine Keller June 11, 1829, by whom he had eleven children, six sons and five daughters. Elizabeth, the eldest, was born Feb. 11, 1830 ; married to Zachariah Burkirk in 1848 ; died in 1849, and was buried in the Hersh Graveyard. Mary, their second daughter, was born Sept. 19, 1831 ; was married to John Hersh in 1850. Her husband died in 1854. Peter, their eldest son, was born in Monroe Township Nov. 2, 1833, Henry, their second son, was born in 1835; was mar- ried to Miss E. Hoover, when he was about 20 years old. Lived with her about twelve years, when she died, He was then married to Miss Hattie Wilcox, of Dela- ware Co. He lived with her four years and eight months, when he died. He was an itinerant minister of the Gospel; preached for the United Brethren Church eight years, and for the Methodist Episcopal Church two years. He died of consumption, and was buried at East Liberty, Delaware Co. Their third daughter, Christina, married C. L. Miller; lived with him about four years, when she died of consumption. Their fourth daughter, Sarah, married Henry Clever ; they removed to Michigan, where they now reside. .Their third son, John, enlisted in the army during the late war. Went into camp at Mansfield, where he re- mained one night, was taken sick, came home and died, He was about 20 years old when he died ; was buried at the Hersh Graveyard. Their fifth daughter, Harriet, married Jerry Snyder. Her husband enlisted in the Union army during the late war, where he contracted a disease which caused his death. She died in 1877, and was buried at Four Corners. Their fourth son, William, enlisted in the thirty-day service, and died while returning home. Their fifth son, Philip, died at Palmyra when about 20 years old. Their youngest son, Jacob, died in infancy. Henry Berry, at an early day, purchased a small farm in the southwestern part of the township, where he continued to reside as long as he lived. His widow, who is now quite old and feeble, still continues to reside there. Peter Berry was raised on this farm. He worked on the farm till he was about 15, when he engaged to learn the carpenter trade with Christ Teeter and Isaac White. He worked with them two years, when he entered into partnership with Eli Berry, with whom he worked one year. From that time to the present, he has carried on the business himself. Dec. 12, 1854, he was married to Miss Re- becca Teeter of his native county, by whom he had three sons and three daughters-Adam, Eli, Sarah Ellen, Mary M., Alice and Harvey. Mrs. Berry died at the age of 31 years ; she was buried at the Hersh Grave- yard. Mr. Berry was married to Miss Nancy J. Hulit, of his native township, in 1856. By this marriage, he has had seven children, three sons and four daughters -Ermina Ercena, the eldest, was born Oct. 18, 1866 ; Lilly Etta, April 3, 1869; Silva Ariminda, Jan. 6, 1871; Olie Catharine, Oct. 25, 1873 ; Albert Pearl, Oct. 31, 1875 ; Ernest Everts, Oct. 3, 1877, and Charlie Leroy, July 10, 1879. Albert Pearl died April 1, 1877, Olie Catharine was killed by a falling tree Nov. 18, 1879; they were both buried at the Worthington Cemetery. Mr. Berry and his first wife united with the United Brethren Church in 1853. In 1855, having removed to a distance from their church into the vicinity of a Lutheran church, they united with the Lutheran

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Church ; they remained in this church about five years, when they re-united with the Brethren Church, in con- nection with which Mrs. Berry remained till her death, and to which her husband still belongs. Mrs. Nancy Berry was a member of the Baptist Church for several years before her marriage. Shortly after her marriage she united with the church to which her husband be- longed. In 1864, Mr. Berry was licensed to preach by the Sandusky Conference, of which he was a member till 1878, when a new conference was formed, called the Central Ohio, to which he has since belonged. He took charge of Shelby Station part of one year ; the remain- der of the time he has occupied a local relation. He is quite conservative in his religious views, willing, when- ever he has the opportunity, to unite with his brethren of other denominations in their efforts to do good. He labors hard at his trade and at farming, to support his large family. He attends all the revivals in his section of country, and takes an active part wherever permit- ted to do so. He has preached at more than fifty dif- ferent places.

BERRY, JACOB, farmer; P. O. Hastings ; this worthy citizen was born in Center Co., Penn., March . 26, 1800 ; his father, Peter Berry, Sr., was of English- German descent; he was born in the same place ; he followed shoemaking, farming and butchering. He married Elizabeth Byerly, by whom he had six chil- dren, three sons and three daughters; in 1820, he came to Wayne Co., Ohio, where he invested $250 in land ; he improved it, and sold at an advance of $600 ; then came to Richland Co. and bought 160 acres in Sec. 23, which he improved. He died here, at 63 years of age ; his widow lived on this farm till her death, at 90 years of age. Jacob, the eldest of the family, was stout and hardy, and was taught not to fear hard work ; he went with his father to Wayne Co. in 1820, where, April 13, 1823, he was married to Ann Mary Albright; this family came here from Center Co. a year in ad- vance of the Berrys : they located near Canton, Ohio ; Mrs. Berry was born June 6, 1797 ; her mother died when she was 6 years old ; she had one brother and five sisters, four half-sisters and a brother, her father being married twice. Frederick Albright, Mr. Berry's father-in-law, died near Canton. Mr. Berry and wife were schoolmates when young ; they came to Richland Co. in 1829, and settled where they now live; for $150, he bought 80 acres of land; twelve years after 'this, he bought the old homestead, for $1,800, ex- clusive of his share, and then sold it for $3,000 to his sons ; his father died about 1841; he and Andrew Charles then bought 60 acres where the latter now lives, for $2,200; 40 acres of this belonged to Mr. Berry ; he then paid $1,000 for 20 acres where D. McCready now lives, sold it, and bought the Collins farm of 80 acres for $2,250 cash ; sold 15 acres to Will- iam Clusman and 4 to Mrs. Collins ; he now owns 181 acres of good land. Mr. Berry and wife have had five sons and four daughters ; all became men and women, except one boy, who died in infancy ; their names are Elizabetlı, Adam and Benjamin (twins), Eli, Margaret, Sophia and Catherine; Anthony and Samuel, the youngest, are dead ; the latter was in the army eleven months ; not feeling well, he went into the hospital, when a detachment of the enemy came up and fired

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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