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 135

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 135

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

few. He remained with his father, assisting him in improving and cultivating his farm, till the 17th of March, 1825, when he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth J., eldest daughter of Benjamin and Susannah Barnes, of Washington Township. Her mother's maiden name was Jones. IIer parents were both born in Mary- land, and were of English descent; they came to the county at a very early day, and settled in Washington Township, on the farm now owned by the heirs of John Ford. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. McBride pur- chased 50 acres of land in Sec. 7, Monroe Township, which farm he improved and cultivated, and, by dint of hard labor and rigid economy on the part of himself and wife, he was enabled to add piece by piece, until he had a farm consisting of 100 acres. He subsequently purchased 103 acres, situated in Secs. 7 and 19 of this township. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are the parents of eleven children. The names of those who survived the period of infancy are as follows: Jackson, Thomas, Benjamin Franklin, Union, Susan M., John A., James J. and Wilson S. Jackson was married to Susan Doug- las, by whom he had four children, two sons and two daughters. He was a teacher and farmer by occupa- tion. He died April 28, 1859, and was buried with the honors of Odd Fellowship, in their cemetery near Lucas. John A. died Aug. 13, 1841, and is buried in the same cemetery. Thomas is one of the most prominent law- yers in this county. Mr. McBride, in his younger days, was a man of great energy, as also a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He took a very active part in the improvements that were then being made in his town- ship and county. He was one of the leading men of that early day. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for nine years in his township. He also held several other township offices for several terms. At that early day, Uncle Sam was not as wealthy as he subsequently became. The coffers of the Township Treasurer of Monroe were empty. Orders had accumu- lated in the hands of her officers, and there was no prospect of their being paid. A number of these officers (among whom was Mr. McBride) assembled at Lucas one day, to consult over this financial question. It was proposed by one of their number that John Iler should load their orders in his gun and shoot them away. This was accordingly done, and in this sum- mary manner the township was freed from debt. Mr. McBride served as Township Clerk for eight years, and found his own stationery, without any compensation whatever. The ninth year he received a very inade- quate remuneration for his services. He was a candi- date the tenth year, but the office was then beginning to pay ; he had competition, and was defeated. Mr. McBride united with the United Presbyterian Church at Mansfield, in the year 1841. He still retains his membership there, though of late years he has not been able to attend, owing to his advanced age, and the dis- tance to be traveled. About twenty-five years ago, Mrs. McBride united with the Lutheran Church at Lucas. About the year 1870, Mr. McBride sold his real estate. and made a distribution of his property among his chil- dren, reserving a portion for the support of himself and wife during their declining years. From that time till the present, they have resided with their children. For the last seven years they have lived with their son-in-

law, Samuel Barr. Mr. McBride hauled the poles to make a shed to cover the bricks that were used in build- ing the first brick church in Mansfield. This was about 1821. His father subscribed $50 and his mother $10 to the building of this church. He signed the pros- pectus for the first paper printed in the county. It was called the Olive, and was published by Robert Cros- thwart. It was first published about the close of the year 1818, or the first of the year 1819. It subsequently changed names and proprietors several times, and finally passed into the hands of John Y. Glesner, who christened it the Shield and Banner. Mr. McBride continued to take this paper till the year 1871. There is, perhaps, no man living in the county to-day, who came as early as Mr. McBride, who had attained man's estate when he came here. He and his good wife have shared the joys and sorrows of married life for a period of fifty-five years. He is 82 years old, quite hard of hearing, but intelligent for a man of his years. She is 73 years old, hale and hearty, and in full possession of her mental faculties.

McDANEL, JOHN R., farmer; P. O. Newville. Will- iam McDanel, father of John R., was born in Middle- sex Co., Del., Oct. 23, 1771 ; his parents, Archibald and Rachel McDanel, were of Scotch-Irish descent. Will- iam McDanel was married to Miss Mary Richey, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Richey, of his native county, Jan. 27, 1795; Miss Richey was born March 18, 1777, in the same county ; her parents were of German descent. William McDanel removed to Beaver Co., Penn., with his family, in 1806, and from there to Richland Co. in 1826; he entered the south- east quarter of Sec. 26 in Monroe Township; he la- bored very hard to clear and improve this farm, as it was covered with a very heavy growth of timber; when he purchased it, Mr. McDanel was possessed of a strong constitution and iron nerve, and was naturally well-fitted to brave the dangers and endure the toils and privations of pioneer life. He and his wife were both active members of the Baptist Church for many years; they were quite liberal in their contributions for religious and benevolent purposes ; they were the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters ; the sons were named Archabald, Abraham, James, William, Simon and John R .; names of daughters, Phobe, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary and Rachel. Will- iam McDanel departed this life May 26, 1854; his widow died Aug. 20, 1861 ; they were both interred in the family graveyard, on the farm. Jolin R., youngest son of William and Mary McDanel, was born in Beaver Co., Penn., Sept. 8, 1821 ; he was but 5 years old when his parents brought him to this county ; he has lived on the farm his father entered from that time to the present : owing to the limited facilities for obtaining knowledge at that early day, his education was some- what limited ; he learned to read and write, however, and acquired a tolerably fair knowledge of arithmetic ; as soon as he was old enough to be of any service to his father, he was kept from school the greater part of the time to assist on the farm. Jan. 22, 1843, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy, daughter of Henry and Catharine Keller ; Miss Keller was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1824; her parents were of German descent; they were natives of Pennsylvania ; they re-

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

moved to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1814, and from there to Richland in 1824, where they continued to reside as long as they lived. Mrs. Keller died in May, 1862, and Mr. Keller in September, 1865; they were buried in the St. Johns Cemetery, in Monroe Township. John R. and Dorothy McDanel are the parents of nine children-five sons and four daughters, two of whom died infants ; the names of those who survived the period of infancy are as follows : Henry Jasper, Mary, William Wallace, Thomas Benton, Simon Judson, Ifar- riet Ann and Jane Catharine ; three of the above-named children-Henry J., Harriet A. and Catharine J. are living ; the others are all dead ; four of the deceased are buried in the Newville graveyard, and two in the graveyard on the farm. By the decease of his parents, Mr. McDanel became the owner of all the old home- stead, save forty acres that his father had previously sold to his brother Simon ; he purchased the interests of his brothers and sisters, and thus became the owner of the farm ; it is a very good farm, well watered, well timbered, and well adapted both to farming and grazing purposes. Mr. McDanel has but one brother and one sister now living-Simon McDanel, who resides in Worthington Township, and Rachel, who lives with her brother, John R. Mrs. Dorothy McDanel departed this life Aug. 27, 1878 ; she, as also her husband, had united with the Baptist Church many years previous.

MARKS, JACOB, cabinet-maker ; P. O. Lucas; son of Abram and Sallie Marks; was born in Montgomery Township, Ashland Co., Aug. 27, 1828. His father was born in Westmorelond Co., Penn .; his mother's maiden name was Sallie Young; they are the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters; Abram Marks emigrated to Richland Co., with his family, during the year 1824; he purchased 80 acres of land, a part of Sec. 16, in Monroe Township ; this farm being nearly all in timber, by dint of hard labor on his part it was cleared and otherwise improved ; in 1860, he purchased what is now known as the Rummel Mill property, sit- uated a short distance east of the village of Lucas, where he spent the remainder of his days; he died in 1863 ; his widow still lives, near Lucas. Jacob Marks and his brotherr Pete are twins; they are the eldest children of their parents ; Jacob followed the peaceful pursuits of a farmer till he arrived at the age of 22 years, when he turned his attention to the mechanical arts ; he learned the trade of cabinet-maker with John Heck, of Newville, and has continued to follow that business from that time to the present; he has the reputation of being a very good workman ; he has re- cently increased his facilities for the manufacture of almost all kinds of furniture ; he keeps constantly on hand a large and well-selected supply of coffins and other articles in the line of an undertaker; as an undertaker, he has had an experience of twenty-six years, during which time he has averaged not less than thirty coffins per year. In his disposition, Mr. Marks is kind and obliging; he is temperate in his habits, and honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow- men. In 1855, Mr. Marks was united in marriage to a young lady of an adjacent township; by this mar- riage he became the father of six children, two sons and four daughters. In politics, he has been a lifelong Democrat. In 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss

Reno Robison, eldest daughter of the late William Rob- ison, of Monroe Township ; Miss Robison was born in Virginia ; her parents removed to Richland Co. about the year 1848 ; she is a lady much respected for her many virtues.

MANNER, JACOB, farmer; P. O. Perryville ; he was born in Berkeley Co., Va., Dec. 9, 1804. His father's name was Joseph Manner; his mother's maiden name was Catharine Mentzer; his parents were both of German descent; they were born in Franklin Co., Penn .; his parents came to Ohio in the spring of 1827, and purchased a farm, then in Richland, now in Green Township, Ashland Co .; there was an old grist-mill on this farm at the time, which he and his son Jacob re- modeled and repaired, and which they ran for many years. Joseph Manner continued to reside here as long as he lived ; he died in April, 1840, aged about 78 years ; his wife survived him a short time; they were both interred in the Perryville Cemetery. Jacob Manner was married to Miss Jenette Calhoun, second danghter of Noble and Sarah Calhoun, of Monroe Township, Aug. 8, 1833; her mother's maiden name was Taylor; her parents were both of Irish descent : they settled in Monroe Township in the spring of 1831, and continued to reside on the same farm till the day of their death. Mr. Manner lived on his father's farm a few months after his marriage; he then purchased the farm now owned by John Darling, of Monroe Township, where he resided about three years ; he then sold his farm and removed to Newville ; he purchased the only brick building in the place and engaged in the mercantile business ; he subsequently purchased the frame dwelling now owned by H. D. Ruth in that place ; he continued in the mercantile business about four months, when he traded his house and lot and stock of goods for a farm of 190 acres on the Black Fork, to which he removed with his family ; he stayed on this farm three or four years, during which time some one of the family was almost continnally shaking with the ague ; from there he removed to Wooster, where he kept a hotel about a year; he then sold his hotel, and, removing to Worthington Township, purchased the farm now owned by Jacob Cate; he subsequently pur- chased an interest in the Herring Mills ; this last in- vestment was an unfortunate one, as he lost by the operation about $2,500; he continued to reside on the Cate farm for several years after leaving the mill ; about the year 1852, he sold this farm and purchased the farm formerly owned by his father-in-law in Mon- roe Township; this farm contained 260 acres ; he sub- sequently purchased 140 acres adjoining the old homestead ; he now owns a farm containing 400 acres of as choice land as can be found in the county. Mr. Manner was one of the first men in this section of country to engage in dealing in live stock ; before the days of railroads in the county, he drove his stock through to the Eastern markets; he most generally drove them over the mountains; after taking his first drove through and selling them, he found, after deduct- ing expenses, that he had cleared just $8; he claims to be the first man to ship stock by railroad from this county ; he was extensively engaged in this business for a great many years. His sons, of late years, have taken the burden of the business off his hands; they

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BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES:

are among the most extensive live-stock dealers in the county ; they are regarded as honest and upright deal- ers. Mr. Manner has built three mills in his time and remodeled and repaired a fourth ; two of the mills he built and the one he repaired are within the original boundaries of this county ; the other is in Summit Co. Mr. Manner and wife are the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters ; two of these died in in- fancy ; the names of those who survived this period are as follows : Noble C .. Sarah E., Emanuel M., Francis M., Margaret J. and Susan A .; Sarah E. married James Sheehy ; she died March 7, 1879, leaving one child, a daughter named Jenette ; she is buried at St. Johns, in Monroe Township. Mrs. Manner died Nov. 5, 1879 ; she is buried at Perryville. About the year 1829, Mr. Manner built a flat-boat, and, loading it with flour, started down the Black Fork from Perryville en route for New Orleans; in passing over the milldam at Loudonville, his boat made a turn, and he, striking one of the top logs of the dam, shoved it off and passed over it in safety ; he passed over several other dams on his route ; passed over the falls of the Ohio at Louis- ville in safety and landed at New Albany, Ind., where he unloaded his cargo ; about the year 1830, he loaded a keel-boat with flour and once more started from Perryville down the Black Fork ; when he arrived op- posite the Loudonville Mills, his vessel sank; he suc- ceeded in raising it, however, but lost by the accident a considerable portion of his cargo; he was obliged to unload and repack it, removing the damaged part; when this was done, he reloaded his vessel and once more started on his way ; he ran down to Coshocton, where he transferred his cargo to a canal-boat, and it was carried to New York by way of Cleveland ; he and his assistants then shoved the boat back to Loudonville, and thus ended his experience in boating ; after this, he hauled his flour to Sandusky City in wagons and shipped from there to different places

MECKLEM, SAMUEL, farmer; P. O. Perryville ; was born in Beaver Co., Penn., near the town of New Brighton, April 8, 1817. His mother's maiden name was Rachel McDanel ; he had seven brothers and four sisters ; three brothers and three sisters, living. His father and mother died several years ago ; they are buried in Provi- dence Grave-yard, North Sweetly Township, Beaver Co., l'enn. Samnel Mecklem was married to Miss Mary Gilles- pie, eldest daughter of Thomas and Mary Gillespie, of his native township, about A. D. 1842; after their mar- riage they remained in Beaver Co. about nineteen years, during which time Mr. Mecklem farmed for different individuals for a share of the crops; at the end of this time they removed to Richland Co., and settled in Monroe Township, where he farmed for his brother- in-law, Joseph Wolf, and others, till about 1868, when he purchased 20 acres off the west side of the north- east quarter of Sec. 26, in Monroe Township, where he has since resided. He has very materially improved this farm, and now has it in a highly cultivated state. Samuel and Mary Mecklem are the parents of ten chil- dren-Eliza Jane, born Thursday, April 5, 1843 ; Mary E., born Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1844 ; Thomas G., born Sat- urday, Aug. 8, 1846; Rachel, born Aug. 8, 1848; Sarah, born May 3, 1852; Lydda, born May 19, 1855; Samuel T., born July 4, 1856; Elzena, born Feb. 5,

1861, and John E., born May 24, 1863. Of all this large family but one is left to comfort and console his parents during their declining years ; consumption has carried them off one by one. Eliza Jane died May 17, 1854, and was buried at Providence, Beaver Co., Penn. Mary E. married Eli Pitts, of Lucas, June 6, 1869, by whom she had one child, who died in infancy ; she died Sept. 5, 1870, she is buried in the Odd Fellow's Cemetery, near Lucas. Thomas G. was married to Mary Horner Sept. 21, 1876, by whom he one child, a daughter, named Elzena ; he died June 6, 1879. Rachel married William Ridenour Oct, 18, 1866, died. Dec. 27, 1875; Sarah died Feb. 17, 1874 ; Lydda died in Janu- ary, 1873 ; Elzena died Aug. 11, 1870. All of the above-named children lie buried side by side in the St. Johns Cemetery, in Monroe Township, save Eliza Jane. John E. is their only surviving child, and he is of frail constitution and delicate health. Mr. Mecklem has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years. As neighbors, Mr. Mecklem and wife are kind, social and friendly ; ever ready to lend a helping hand in cases of sickness or genuine distress.

MOWERS, ISAAC, pioneer farmer ; was born in Berkeley Co., Va., Aug. 8, 1802 ; his father's name was Henry Mowers, and his mother's maiden name Sarah Rapp ; his parents were both of German descent ; they removed to Richland Co. in 1822. The subject of this sketch was then about 20 years old; they settled in Green Township, on the farm now owned by Will- iam Jones ; they continued to reside on this farm as long as they lived. He died at the age of 70, and his wife at the age of 65 years ; they are buried in the Shambaugh graveyard. They were active members of the Lutheran Church more than forty years. Isaac Mowers was married to Miss Mariah, only daughter of John and Sarah Kayler, Dec. 29, 1836 ; her mother's maiden name was Brown. Miss Kayler was born in Cuping, Germany, Oct. 27, 1815 ; her parents emi- grated to the United States when she was but 2 years old ; they settled near New Lancaster, Ohio, where they remained four years. About the year 1821, they removed to Richland Co. and entered a quarter-section of land in the northeast part of Monroe Township. They continued to reside on this farm as long as they lived. He died at the age of 57 and his wife at the age of 52 years ; he is buried in the Shambaugh grave- yard, and his wife in the Mt. Zion Cemetery ; they were both active members of the Lutheran Church for many years. Isaac Mowers and wife moved into his father's honse after his marriage, and continued to reside with them as long as his parents lived, being a period of eleven years from the date of his marriage. Ile then purchased the " old homestead," where he re- mained another year. He then sold it and purchased a quarter-section in the northeast part of Monroe Town. ship. He continued to reside on this farm, cultivating and improving it as long as he lived ; he died July 31, 1877 ; his death was the result of injuries received by his horse becoming frightened at a train of cars and running away with him. Isaac Mowers and wife are the parents of nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters, named in the order of their births-Henry H., born July 31, 1838 ; John H., March 22, 1840 ; Sarah A., Dec. 26, 1841 ; Martin, Sept. 6, 1843 ; Elizabeth

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

C., Feb. 4, 1845; Julia A., Sept. 9, 1846; George W., Aug. 18, 1850; Mary L., July 21, 1854, and William M., Sept. 1, 1856. Henry married Malinda Culler ; John, Martha Sackman ; Sarah, Herman Fox ; Martin L., Nancy J. Kayler ; Elizabeth C., M. L. Culler ; Julia A., Christian Ernsberger ; George W., Martha Lee ; Mary L., M. C. Culler; William M., Loisa Dorne. Mr. Mowers and wife united with the Lutheran Church early in life ; he continued to be an active and zealous member as long as he lived ; his widow still retains her membership at Mt. Zion. They were both active work- ers in the church, and contributed largely of their means toward religious and benevolent enterprises. Mrs. Mowers is hale and hearty for a woman of her years, and is in the full possession of her mental faculties.

MOWRY, SAMUEL, farmer ; P. O. Perryville. Samuel Mowry was born in Chambersburg, Penn., on the 12th March, 1825; his father's name was Jacob Mowry; his mother's maiden name was Catharine Teeter ; his father came to Ohio about 1822, and pur- chased a farm in the southwestern part of Monroe Township, it being the farm now occupied by his son Adam ; with the assistance of his sons, he cleared, cultivated and improved this farm; he continued to reside on the same farm till the day of his death, which occurred about 1850; he was buried at the Hersh, now the Mt. Olive, graveyard ; his wife survived him about twenty years ; she was buried by his side ; they were the parents of fifteen children, two of whom died in infancy ; nine sons and four daughters grew to be men and women ; they were named as follows : John, Eliza, Philip, Jacob, Catharine, Daniel, Joseph, Samuel, Christina, Sarah, Adam, Mathias and Solomon. John, Eliza and Solomon are dead ; all the others live within the original boundaries of Richland Co. Samuel, their sixth son and the subject of this sketch, remained with his father and assisted him on the farm until he at- tained his majority ; during this time, he was per- mitted to attend the district school a few months during the year; his facilities for acquiring an education were quite limited ; he, however, succeeded in learning to read and write, and in acquiring a tolerably fair knowl- edge of arithmetic ; soon after he was 21 years old, he went to Crestline and engaged to learn the cabinet trade with one Michael Hefflefinger, with whom he served an apprenticeship of three years ; he worked as journeyman in this business for about two years ; he then quit this business, thinking it injured his health ; he then took up the carpenter trade, and worked at this business for about fifteen years ; he was regarded by his patrons as a good mechanic, and seldom failed to give entire satisfaction to his employers. For the last twenty years, he has been engaged in farming ; his farm consists of 55 acres, and is a part of the farm entered by the old pioneer David Crawford ; it is highly fertile, well improved, well watered and well timbered, and there is a thriving young orchard thereon. Mr. Mowry was married to Miss Elizabeth Smith, second daughter of Henry J. and Elizabeth Smith, of Worthington Township, on the 19th day of February, 1856, by the Rev. W. A. G. Em- merson, Pastor of the Lutheran Church at St. Johns, in Monroe Township ; Samuel and Elizabeth Mowry are the parents of nine children, five sons and four daugh-

ters-Ilenry Jacob, born Aug. 27, 1857; William Franklin, Sept. 1, 1869; Frederick Walter, June 10, 1863 ; Olive Alverta, Feb. 1, 1866; Laura Ann, Aug, 28, 1868; Harmon Lewis, April 16, 1871; Allen Har- lin, May 25, 1873, and Emeline May, Aug. 12, 1876, Mr. Mowry joined the Lutheran Church at St. Johns, about twenty-two years ago; his wife united with the German Reformed Church when she was about 16 years old ; she joined the Lutheran Church at the same time her husband did ; they have been active and zealous members of the church ever since they became men- bers thereof; in proportion to their means they have, perhaps, contributed as liberally as any others toward the building of churches and the support of the Gos- pel. They have many warm friends, and few, if any, enemies.

ROSS, NATCHER (deceased) ; he was born near Harrisburg, Penn., Feb. 4, 1790; his father s name was John Ross, and his mother's maiden name Char- lotte Natcher; his father was of Irish and German de- scent, and his mother of German. Natcher Ross was married to Sophia Arnold, daughter of Benjamin and Mary A. Arnold, of Harrison Co., Ohio; her parents were of Scotch-Irish descent; Mr. Ross came to Rich- land Co. Dec. 1, 1819, and entered the northwest quar- ter of Sec. 4, in Monroe Township : in the fall of 1821, he removed to this farm with his family ; they made this trip in wagons from Harrison Co .; his farm, at this time, was an unbroken forest; the ground was covered with snow when they arrived at their destina- tion ; Mr. Ross split boards, out of which he built a rude shanty, in which they resided till he was able to hew timbers and put up a hewed-log house; in this house they resided for many years ; Mr. Cassan bought it, some years ago, and removed it to Lucas, where it still stands, and is to this day a very com- fortable dwelling. He raised a large family of sons and daughters, the names of whom are given in the order of their births: William, Rezin Arnold, Mary Ann, Susan, Rachel, John, James and Nancy Jane ; William, Rezin Arnold and John are dead; William died in California, and is buried near Frazer Rivers ; Resin Arnold died in Indiana, and is buried at War- saw; John died Feb. 23, 1849, and was buried at Mount Zion, in this township. Mr. Ross continued to reside on the same farm from the time he came to the county till a few years prior to his decease, when he sold it to his son-in-law, Jacob Leiter, and removed to Lucas ; Mr. Leiter still owns this farm. Mrs, Ross died Sept. 20, 1848, and Mr. Ross March 3, 1864; they are both buried at Mount Zion.

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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