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 132

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 132

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through the window; he was shot in the head, and died instantly. Mr. Berry and wife have been mem- bers of the Lutheran Church sixty-four years ; belong to Ilersh's Church ; has been Deacon and Elder a number of years ; has also been Trustee.

BERRY, ELI, farmer ; P. O. Lucas. Eli Berry, fourth son of Jacob and Mrs. Berry, was born in Mon- roe Township, June 8, 1830. The days of his boyhood were spent on a farm; he was permitted to attend school a few months during the year, and succeeded in acquiring a fair knowledge of the common English branches. About the time he attained his majority, he commenced to work at the carpenter trade; he worked at this business about ten years, and became a very good mechanic. He was married, April 17, 1859, to Miss Sarah Hays; Miss Hays was a daughter of Mr. John Hays, of Worthington Township, by his first wife, and grand-daughter of Capt. Cunningham; she was born Oct. 16, 1838. By this marriage, Mr. Berry had two children, a son and a daughter-Ira Sturges, born Jan. 19, 1860, and Huldy Maria, April 26, 1862. Mrs. Sarah Berry died June 5, 1866, and was buried in the St. Johns Cemetery. Mr. Berry was married to Mrs. Mary E. Goodale Dec. 10, 1867; Mrs. Goodale, whose maiden name was Rummel, is the oldest daughter of Louis Rummel, by his second wife, Anna Rummel. Miss Rummel was born in Wyandot Co., Ohio, May 23, 1841 : she was married to Mr. Joseph Goodale, of Knox Co., Ohio, in December, 1862; her husband was a soldier in the late war; served with credit the full term of his enlistment ; he contracted disease while in the army which caused his death ; he lived but a short time after his return home; he was buried in the Ebenezer Cemetery, Knox Co. Mr. and Mrs. Berry are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters-Earl Douglas, born May 23, 1870, died Nov. 24, 1871 (is buried in the St. Johns Cemetery) ; Anna Zelma, born Sept. 25, 1872; Eva Joy, born July 24, 1877. Mr. Berry was a member of Monroe Lodge, No. 224, I. O. O. F., for many years. He and his good wife have been active and zealous members of the Dis- ciple Church for many years; they have been very liberal in their contributions for the building of churches, the support of the ministry, and other relig- ious and benevolent enterprises. The first land owned by Mr. Berry was the undivided half of the farm now owned by his brother, Benjamin, in this township ; 1870, he sold his interest in this farm to his brother, and purchased a farm adjacent to the village of Lucas, known as the Marks farm; in 1873, he traded this farm for the one he now owns, it being the northeast quarter of Sec. 32, in Monroe Township; he has ma- terially improved this farm since he became the owner of it; he is regarded as a first-class farmer ; Mr. Berry has devoted his whole attention to farming for many years ; he has made the business a study, and has acquired a pretty thorough knowledge of it; his farm is highly fertile and well adapted to most farming purposes. In their dispositions, Mr. Berry and wife are kind and social : they are ever ready to minister to the wants of the needy and distressed. By perse- vering industry and careful management, they have been enabled to acquire a considerable portion of this world's goods, and are now prepared, should they meet

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with no reverses of fortune, to pass their declining years in ease and comfort.

BOLES, R. S., M. D., Lucas; was born March 8, 1843, in Franklin Township, Wayne Co., Ohio; in 1853, his parents removed to Ripley Township, Holmes Co .; in 1866, he began the study of medicine with Drs. Bertolett & Todd, of Shreve, Wayne Co .; he graduated at Charity Hospital Medical College during the sessions of 1868 and 1869. He began the practice of his pro- fession in the spring of 1869, in West Windsor, Rich- land Co .; in the spring of 1870, he removed to Lucas, where he still resides. He was married to Catharine Hale, of West Windsor, Oct. 19, 1871. His father, William Boles, died March 19, 1867 ; his mother, Mar- garet Boles, died March 2, 1871. He has three broth- thers and two sisters living. The Doctor is kind, jovial and friendly in his disposition, affable and pleasing in in his manners. He is well fitted for the profession he has chosen. Comparatively speaking, he has a very lucrative practice for a man of his age ; in his practice he has been remarkably successful, and is now recog- nized as one of the prominent physicians of our county.

CHEW, SAMUEL, farmer ; P.O. Lucas; he was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, near Athens, April 5, 1810; his father's name was William Chew ; his mother's maiden name Lydda Hancher; his father was of Welsh, and his mother of English descent ; his father, a farmer, emigrated to Richland Co. about the year 1818, a little northwest of the present site of Lucas ; he remained on this farm four years, when he purchased the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 22, in Monroe Town- ship, where he spent the remainder of his days. Sam- uel Chew was married to Miss Mary McBride, daughter of Thomas and Mary McBride, early settlers of Monroe Township, April 5, 1832 ; by this marriage he had ten children, five sons and five daughters-Archabald, born Jan. 15, 1833, married to Miss Elizabeth Swan Jan. 24, 1856, died a few years ago ; Lydda, born Nov. 6, 1834, married to Newton Hersh Sept. 21, 1858, died in March, 1863, leaving three children-she was buried in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery, near Lucas; Mary Ellen, born Oct. 15, 1836, died May 13, 1854-buried in the Odd Fel- lows' Cemetery ; Ann, born Oct. 22, 1839, married to Washington Gates March 11, 1860, resides in Wyandot Co .; William Washington, born July 4, 1841, married to Miss Fox, she dying, he married Louisa Fink, of Wyan- lot Co., where he now resides ; Thomas M., born Nov. 5, 1843, married Mary Augustine in September, 1862; James W., horn March 14, 1846, married Isabella Hersh in the spring of 1870; Alfred G., born June 3, 1850, married Susan Eirhart, died in September, 1865, and was buried in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery, near Lucas ; Arvina E., born Nov. 28, 1851, died May 21, 1860; Olive A., born April 2, 1855, married John Eirhart May 23, 1877. In 1831, Mr. Chew purchased the southeast quarter of Section 15, in Monroe Township ; there were no improvements on this farm at the time he bought it. It is now well improved, and in a very good state of cultivation. Mrs. Chew was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church for many years ; she died Aug. 25, 1858, respected by all who knew her, and was buried in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery, near Lucas. June 28, 1860, Mr. Chew was married to Mrs. Mary A. Wright,

relict of Moses Wright, formerly of Shelby, Ohio; her father's name was Joseph Gerard, and her mother's maiden name Rachel Prosser ; her father was of French, and her mother of Welsh descent; she had one child by her first husband-Mary L. Wright. She married Alonzo P. Marvin, of Shelby, her native town ; moved to Wyandot Co., where she died July 14, 1852, leaving one child, a daughter, Mabel ; she was buried at Shelby. Mr. Chew has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity about thirty years.

COULTER, MELTZER (deceased), was born in Butler Co., Penn., Oct, 19, 1798 ; his father's name was Thomas Coulter, and his mother's maiden name Nancy Tanna- hill. Thomas Coulter was born Aug. 8, 1766, Nancy Tannahill Jan. 28, 1761; they were married Nov. 17, 1789; they came to Richland Co., in 18II : he entered a farm about three-fourths of a mile below the present site of the village of Perryville, being the one on which the Stringer mill now stands, which farm he culti- vated and improved, and on which he continued to re- side as long as he lived. He was married three times ; his first wife died July 30, 1825. He was married to Mrs. Martha Rice Nov. 1, 1825 ; his second wife died Sept. 7, 1835. He was married to Mrs. Jane Perry Sept. 13, 1836. He died Oct. 28, 1844; he and his three wives are buried side by side in the Perrys- ville cemetery. Meltzer Coulter was about 13 years old when his parents came to Richland Co. He remained with his father, assisting him in his labors until he attained his majority, when he began business on his own account. lle was married to Eliza Adzit Nov. 20, 1823, by whom he had four children, two sons and two daughters-Lycurgus, born Aug. 13, 1824, died July 25, 1835 ; Clarissa, born April 26, 1826, died Aug. 9, 1833 ; Samantha, born Nov. 15, 1828 ; Lecenius Milton, born March 19, 1831, married to Eliza Archer May 19, 1853 ; Syremus Newton, born June 15, 1834, married to Eliza J. Wilson, Sept. 21, 1854; the last-named son is a minister by profession. In the spring of 1826, Mr. Coulter entered the southeast quarter of Sec. 19, in Monroe Township; he put up a cabin on his farm, and went to work to remove the dense forest from a portion in order to prepare it for cultivation. Mr. Coulter's first wife died Aug. 8, 1834, and was buried at Perrysville ; he married, for his second wife, Miss Abigail P. Crawford, secoud daughter of George and Mary Crawford, of Perrysville ; they were married Jan. 14, 1836 ; by this marriage he had four children, one son and three daughters-Eliza R., Mary, Nancy J. and Thomas M .; Eliza R. died Sept. 14, 1842; Mary, ' Sept. 8, 1842; they were both buried at Perrysville. Mr. Coulter was an active and consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church about forty years, and his last wife was a zealous member of the same church about thirty years. Mr. Coulter was one of the first men in his township to advocate the cause of temperance; he was also the first man in the township to vote the Antislavery ticket, and, notwithstanding the scoffs and jeers of fellow-towns- men, he continued to vote this ticket several years ; he lived, however, to see his party triumphant. He died Feb. 28, 1875, and was buried at Perrysville. His widow still resides on the old homestead. Thomas M. Coulter, only son of Meltzer Coulter by his second wife,

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was married to Miss Elizabeth Gardner, daughter of George and Elizabeth Gardner, Dec. 25, 1870; she is of German descent; her mother's maiden name was Mentzer. Thomas M. and Elizabeth Coulter are the parents of five children, three of whom are living and two dead-Esther A., born Jan. 19, 1872, died May 17, 1874; Elmer Alonzo, born Jan. 19, 1874, died Jan. 21, 1875 ; Samantha Irena, born Dec. 1, 1875 ; Char- ley C., Feb. 1, 1877, and Mary Jane, Nov. 25, 1878.

CRAIG, LEMUEL, farmer; P. O. Lucas. His father, John, Craig, was born in Washington Co., Penn., Feb. 8, 1805 ; was of Irish descent, and a farmer by occu- pation ; his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah l'erry, was a Virginian by birth, was born Aug. 10, 1805; was twice married. married to Samuel Stewart Sept. 9, 1823 ; he was of Scotch-Irish descent; by this marriage she had six children-Mary Jane, born Sept. 14, 1824 ; Samuel P., born Sept. 9, 1825; Susannah, born May 15, 1827 ; Mathew D., born Aug. 7, 1828 ; Alvah, born Sept. 25, 1829, and John, born Aug. 9, 1831. Mr. Stewart came to Richland Co. in 1830, and July 22 of the same year, purchased the northeast quarter of Sec. 29, in Monroe Township, where he continued to reside until the day of his death ; he died Jan. 8, 1831. John Craig and lIannah Stewart were married about the year 1834; they have two sons and three daughters, who have lived to be men and women-Lemuel, born March 9, 1835; Elizabeth, born May 29, 1836; Nancy and James, twins, born June 29, 1840, and Mary Ann, born March 2, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Craig continued to reside on the farm where she first settled in the township as long as they lived ; he died Jan. 22, 1869, and she Aug. 21, 1869. Mr. Craig was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery ; Mrs. Craig was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was buried in the Monroe Cemetery. Lemuel Craig was married to Dru- silla Huston March 30, 1858, by Rev. W. A. G. Emer- son ; Miss Huston is the second daughter of John and Mary Huston; Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Craig were both born and raised in Monroe Township, and have lived on or near the farm on which they now reside, ever since their marriage; Mr. Craig now owns 56 acres of the west side of the old homestead ; has erected thereon a very good barn and neat and com- fortable dwelling, besides making many other impor- tant improvements. Mr. Craig and wife have been act- ive and zealous members of the Lutheran Church for about twenty-two years. He held the office of Town- ship Clerk, and discharged his official duties to the sat- isfaction of all concerned.

CRAWFORD, DAVID (deceased) ; he was born in Greene Co., Penn., April 15, 1781; his father's name was John Crawford ; his mother's maiden name was Issabella Parker; his parents subsequently moved to Venango Co., in the same State. He remained with them, working on the farm, until he was 25 years of age, when he removed to Washington Co., Penn .; he came to this county about 1815, and entered a quarter- section of land in the southeast part of Monroe Town- ship ; he then returned home. He was married, Oct. 1, 1818, to Lucy Applegate, second daughter of Aaron and Mary Applegate, of Allegheny Co., Penn. In the spring of 1819, he again came to this county, erected a

cabin and cleared a field of 2 or 3 acres, planting it in corn and potatoes. He remained here until the 1st of July, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and, in Sep- tember of the same year, removed his family to his home in Monroe Township, the county at that time in a wild and unsettled state ; Abrams Baughman, Senior and Junior, Adam Wolfe and Solomon Gladden were his nearest neighbors. Mr. Crawford was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church originally, as were nearly all the old Crawford family. Some difficulties arose in the church, and he withdrew his name from the church book. About this time, he obtained some of the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Believing the doctrine expounded by the founder of the New Jerusa- lem, he, together with a number of his neighbors, formed an organization in that doctrine. He lived a consistent member thereof the remainder of his life. He was a great reader, and had a remarkable memory. He could relate, with great accuracy, historical events of which he had read years before. He withstood the privations, hardships and dangers incident to every new country-cleared up his farm and reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. After cultivating his farm for twenty years, in 1840, he had an attack of palsy that made him an invalid the re- mainder of his life. He died Feb. 1, 1860, at the age of 78 years 9 months and 16 days. His wife, Lucy, was born in Allegheny Co., Penn., May 7, 1794; she died Jan. 4, 1870, aged 75 years 7 months and 27 days. Their children were Mary, born in 1819; A. Harvey, in 1820; Issabella, in 1822; William T., in 1825; James, in 1827, died in 1850, and Amanda, in 1837. Harvey is living in Emlenton, Venango Co., Penn .; Issabella is living in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and the other three-Mary, Amanda and William-are living in Mon- roe Township. They are all married, except William.

CRAWFORD, WILLIAM T., farmer; P. O. Perrys- ville; was born in Monroe Townshiy March 16, 1825 ; he is the second son of David and Lucy Crawford, pioneers of the township. His boyhood was spent in assisting his father on the farm and in attending the district school in the winter season when his services were not required on the farm ; ere he had attained his majority, his father became disabled, when the whole management of the farm devolved upon him ; at the death of his parents, he bought the interest of two of his sisters and became the owner of two-thirds of the homestead, where he still continues to reside. He was a private in Co. B, 163d O. N. G .; went into camp at Mansfield May 2, 1864, and served with credit four months and twelve days, when he was honorably discharged, having served a month more than his term of enlistment. Mr. Crawford is passionately fond of music, and in his younger days was one of the leading singers of his neighborhood. He has been a member of Perrysville Division, No. 588, Sons of Temperance, about twenty years ; has been a member of the Lutheran Church about fourteen years.

CULLER, GEORGE, farmer: P. O. Lucas ; was born in Frederick Co., Md., Jan. 31, 1810; his father's name was Jacob Culler; his mother's maiden name was Barbary Long; they were both of German descent ; they came to Richland Co. in the fall of 1825, and pur- chased the farm now owned by the heirs of Andrew

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Culler, deceased ; they continued to reside on this farm, cultivating and improving it, as long they lived ; they were the parents of cleven children, eight sons and three daughters-Michael L., Margaret, Sarah, Elenora, John, George, Jacob S., Isaac, Christopher, Andrew and Philip H., of whom George, Isaac, Philip H., Margaret and Sarah are living. They were very active and consistent members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for more than fifty years, and were ever liberal in their contributions for the building of churches, the support of the Gospel and other religious and benevolent enterprises ; they trained their large family of children to habits of industry, economy and strict integrity, all of whom subsequently became use- ful members of society and of the church. Mr. Culler died Aug. 2, 1843, aged 70 years 2 months and 8 days ; Mrs. Culler died Sept. 9, 1856, aged 79 years 3 months and 14 days ; they were both buried at Mount Zion. George Culler remained with his father, assisting him on the farm and occasionally working out at the car- penter trade, till May, 1836, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ernsbarger ; in about a year after his marriage, he became the owner of the farm on which he now resides, which was, at that time, in a wild and uncultivated state ; but, by the persevering industry of Mr. Culler, this dense forest was soon transformed into fruitful fields. By his first marriage, Mr. Culler had three children, all sons-Melancthon, Enoch H. and John J .; Enoch died when about 3 years old ; John J. died while in the service of his country, at St. Louis, Mo., and was buried in Christ Cemetery, in that place. His first wife was an active and consistent member of the Lutheran Church for about ten years ; she died Nov. 18, 1843, aged 25 years 10 months and 8 days, and was buried at Mount Zion. Mr. Culler married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth M. Wiles, eldest daughter of John and Catharine Wiles ; she was born Nov. 6, 1827, in Frederick Co., Md.

DARLING, WILLIAM, SR. (deceased), was born in Hardy Co., Va., Oct. 6, 1789; his father's name was Robert Darling, and his mother's name, Mary Pas- sence ; his parents removed with their family, to Mus- kingum Co., Ohio, A. D. 1806; this part of the State was at that time in a wild and uncultivated condition ; William Darling remained with his father, assisting him in clearing and otherwise improving and cultivat- ing his farm, until the breaking-out of the war of 1812, when he responded to his country's call, and served her with credit during the term of his enlist- ment. He came to Richland Co. in the spring of 1817, and purchased the quarter-section of land on which the " block-house" stood, in the fertile valley of the Clearfork, about one and one-half miles northeast of Newville, and near the site of the Indian village called " Helltown." Shortly after his arrival in the county, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ravenscraft, a young lady of his neighborhood ; Miss Ravenscraft was possessed of a strong constitution and iron nerve, which rendered her a fit companion for the energetic and hardy pioneer to whom she was united in mar- riage, and which also enabled her to endure the toils, hardships and privations incident to those early days. Mr. Darling was one of the most energetic and enter- prising men of his day; when unemployed, he was

like a fish out of water; he spent his time in cultivat- ing and improving his farm, until the accident hefel him which is hereinafter described, which disqualified him for hard manual labor; after meeting with this accident, he turned his attention to the feeding, breed- ing and driving to the Eastern markets of fine cattle and other live stock ; he introduced some excellent breeds of cattle into this part of the State, among which was the short-horned Durham, which he first. introduced into this county. By hard labor, fine finan- ciering and close application to business on the part of both himself and wife, Mr. Darling was enabled, in the course of time, to amass a very considerable amount of this world's goods ; he was a very extensive land-owner ; he acquired, by purchase, 1,185 acres of land in one body, in the rich and alluvial valley of the Clear Fork, lands that, for quality, are not surpassed by any in the county. Besides this extensive tract, he owned several other farms, in different parts of the county and State. William and Mary Darling were the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters, named in the order of their births as follows : Ellea- nor, John, William, George Washington, Abraham, Catharine and Robert ; all of this large family were remembered and richly provided for in the last will and testament of their father. The following is a true copy of an appendix to the will of William Darling, Sr. (deceased ) :

" Having been one of the pioneers of this part of Ohio, the maker of this will, having emigrated from Hardy Co., Va., in the year 1806, in company with his father and family, to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and en- dured all the hardships, trials and privations incident to the settling and improving of a new country, I do give and bequeath my love, respect and good will to all my old associates, and hope that, by the intelligence. energy and untiring industry of growing posterity, the prosperity of my beloved country may continue to in crease as surely and rapidly as though we old pioneers were still here to look after our country's welfare ; for, next to my love for my God and my family, is my love for my country-these blessed United States. May prosperity and peace ever be the lot of our happy, happy land."

The maker of this will settled on the farm where he now resides in the year 1817, and, seven years after- ward, had the misfortune of having his right leg crushed by the falling of a log upon it, and was obliged to suffer amputation of the injured member. lIe then turned his attention to the handling of cattle, by which, together with his untiring devotion to business. his strict integrity and honesty, he became wealthy, and was beloved and respected by all who knew him.

DARLING, JOHN, farmer ; P. O. Perrysville. He was born in Washington Township Aug. 14, 1819; he was the eldest son of William and Mary Darling. As will be seen by the biography of his father, he came to Richland Co. in an early period of its history ; John he- ing the eldest son, was inured from infancy to all the privations of pioneer life ; his father was an extensive land-owner, stock breeder and dealer, so that he had plenty of work for his sons to perform ; the burden of this work fell on the shoulders of John ; he was obliged to work entirely too hard for his own good ; his father

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was a man of great energy ; always on the alert himself, he would not tolerate anything like idleness or inactiv- ity on the part of his sons. As soon as John was old enough to handle a hoe or feed stock, he was put to work by his father, and from that day till the day of his marriage, he was obliged to toil from day to day, but little time being allotted him for literary pursuits or for purposes of recreation. Ile was married .Jan. 16, 1851, to Miss Mary Jane Rea, the only surviving child of William and Eliza Rea ; the marriage was per- formed by Rev. Richard Gaily, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church ; John Darling's father gave him the southeast quarter of Sec. 36 in Monroe Township; Mr. Darling moved on this farm shortly after his marriage ; it was then very much out of re- pair ; the buildings were old and dilapidated, and the fences very much in want of repair; Mr. Darling's labors, therefore, did not cease with his marriage, or with his becoming the owner of a farm; here a new field of labor opened up before him; he went to work in earnest to cultivate and improve his farm, and the work of improvement has steadily advanced to this day ; he now has one of the most productive and best cultivated farms in this section of the country ; the old tumble-down buildings have given place to a splendid dwelling and large and commodious barn; his fences are in good repair, and everything about the premises bespeaks for its owner the title of a first-class farmer. John and Mary Darling are the parents of the follow- ing children: Mary Elizabeth, born March 13, 1852; William Washington, born Feb. 2, 1855; Irena Jane, born Oct. 13, 1857 ; Florella May, born June 4, 1859 ; Alfred W., born Oct. 2, 1863: Harman Lewis, born May 10, 1868 ; Emma J., born Oct. 23, 1870. Mary E. was married to Charles Culler, June 28, 1873; Will- iam W. was married to Mary E. Heck, second daughter of J. B. and Artemissa Heck, of Newville ; Irena Jane died April 2, 1858 ; Florella, in May, 1860 ; both buried in St. Johns Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. John Darling have both been active and consistent members of the Lutheran Church for many years, and have been very liberal in their contributions for the support of the Gospel.

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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