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 140

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 140

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).

STREBY, JOHN, farmer ; born in York Co., Penn., Jan. 3, 1816, and came with his parents to Sec. 3, where they cleared a farm, and he has since lived ; they migrated in 1834. He was married to Lucy Grimes, Nov. 26, 1840, who came with her parents from Cumber- land Co., Penn., to Washington Township. They are members of the Lutheran Church, and united in 1849 ; their children are Catharine, born Dec. 3, 1841 ; Eliza- beth, born Jan. 1, 1843 ; Mary Jane, born Sept. 15, 1844; Franklin, born March 17, 1847, died June 9, 1850: George, born July 14, 1848; John Lewis, born Dec. 19, 1852, died Sept. 3, 1854; Albert, born May 21, 1855. Father George Streby, died at the age of 73 years and 23 days, Dec. 16, 1866, and his wife, Eliza- beth, at the age of 77 years 6 months and 3 days, May 19, 1867.

THUMA, SARAH, born in Virginia July 13, 1823, and when about 5 years old, she moved, with her par- ents, to Martinsburgh, or near, then to Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1833. At the age of 22, she moved into Mor- row Co., Ohio, and was there married to Peter Thuma Sept. 27, 1866 ; they moved on his homestead in Sec, 2, where she has since lived. Her husband died Jan. 6, 1874. Mrs. Thuma has been a member of the United Brethren Church since 1866; she commenced to teach school when 22 years of age, and taught eight terms ; she concluded her studies at the Central Ohio College.

WALTERS, JACOB, was born three miles west of Mansfield and brought up a farmer; he commenced to work at the carpenter trade in 1847, taking it up on his own accord, and followed the business three years ; in 1851, he bought a quarter of Sec. 12 and has made his home on it ever since; he bought an interest in a thrashing machine the same year, and has given his attention, in the season, to operating a machine of this kind almost every year since; he became partner in the ownership of a saw-mill in 1872 and is yet interested in one; by the failure of Henry Faus, he came in pos- session of a shoe store in Bellville, which he now man- ages. On Dec. 11, 1878, a nail flew as he was driving it into a board, and struck one of his eyes and put it out. Mr. Walters was born June 28, 1825; Susan

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Coon was born Aug. 26, 1825; they were married Oc- tober 17, 1848 ; births-Mary Ellen, was born July 12, 1849; Margaret Ann, Aug. 16, 1851 : Martin, July 22, 1853; Freemont, April 28, 1855; William D., Aug. I, 1856; Elizabeth A., Jan. 16, 1859; Lorana, April II, 1861; Moses L., June 14, 1864; John Lewis, July 10,

1866; Laura, Sept. 22, 1869; deaths-Elizabeth A.

died Feb. 11, 1864; Freemont, Jan. 21, 1868 John Coon, Mrs. Walters' grandfather, came from Belmont Co. and settled on Sec. 12, in Perry Township in 1812 : he moved in an old Pennsylvania wagon, which he used as a dwelling while he erected a cabin.

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP.

BEELMAN, M. B., manufacturer and dealer in mold- ings, frames, etc., etc., Plymouth; was born Dec. 6, 1846, in Plymouth Township ; when but 8 years of age the family moved to town, where he received his educa- tion ; he afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for eight years; in 1870, he became one of the proprietors of the Plymouth Novelty Works; they found a ready sale for their wares-manufactured mold- ings, picture frames, etc., in all styles and varieties. In October, 1869, he was married to Miss Mary Meeker; they have two children-Calvin, born Sept. 27, 1870; Ethel, born April 4, 1876. Mr. Beelman's shop is on Plymouth street. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Co. G, 19Ist O. V. I .; the regiment spent most of the time in Virginia.

BEELMAN, B. F., he was born April 14, 1849, in this township; in his 9th year, the family moved to Plymouth, where he received his education ; being a natural-born mechanic, he learned the carpenter's trade at the age of 16, and originated the Plymouth Novelty Works, also the first to patent a miter machine of which he sold thousands; after the novelty works were under headway, he took the road to sell and in- troduce their work, which consists of brackets, stands, all manner of toilet and fancy work, picture frames, moldings, etc .; he now has a large assortment of goods on hand, and is shipping to nearly every State in the Union. Mr. Beelman was married in 1870 to Miss Smith, daughter of Dr. S. S. Smith, of Plymouth, whom he has greatly aided in the preparation and sale of the Doctor's " King of Cure," one of the best family medi- cines made.

BEELMAN, J. FRANK, editor and proprietor of the Plymouth Advertiser ; was born in Plymouth July 31, 1847; raised and educated here, and grew up with the town. In 1869, he, together with a Mr. Webber, opened a book and notion store under the firm name of Webber & Beelman. In August, 1872, he disposed of his interest in the bookstore, and became associated with and in the Plymouth Advertiser office. In April, 1876, he sold his interest, and in December following, he purchased the office and became sole proprietor, since which time the Advertiser has been on a solid and firm basis, and has a circulation and support sec- ond to no other paper in the county, with the jobbing department complete, which does credit and honor to the proprietor. Mr. Beelman is one of the first and foremost men in town, as the success of the Advertiser would indicate. He is Secretary of the Plymouth Agricultural Society, Township Clerk, and has occupied other offices in the gift of the people with marked satis-

faction to all, and withal is a man well worthy the position he holds in society. He was married, Oct. 8, 1874, to Miss Frank Gipson, of Plymouth ; they have one child-Grace W., born Oct. 10, 1876. Mr. B. was taken from school when 14 years of age, and served as apprentice in the printing business three and a half years. Finishing this, he engaged as clerk in the store of S. M. Robinson & Co., with whom he remained four years, until he formed partnership with Mr. Webber.

BEVIER, CALEB, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Plymouth ; was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1820 ; moved to Plymouth Township in 1824 ; the family first settled near where the village of Shiloh now stands ; they lived in an old log schoolhouse; in October, they moved into their own house, where Mr. Bevier spent most of his life to the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1845 ; his lady's name was Miss Cornelia Brinkerhoff, of New Haven Township, Huron Co .; in 1846, they moved on the present farm ; they commenced in the woods, and fully understand what the name of " pioneer " means ; the first team he ever owned was an ox team; used to drive them when they went to church or visiting. Mr. Bevier has one of the finest farms and residences in the township, and has every improvement and building that is necessary, or that he could wish for. The farm consists of 203 acres, 150 acres well improved. Mr. Bevier is one of the reliable and influential men of the county; has served as Treasurer of Plymouth Township for thirteen years, and is now serving his third term as Justice of the Peace ; his farm and residence is five miles south of Plymouth, near the Bucyrus road. Mrs. Bevier was born in Owasco in 1820; in 1837, her folks moved to Ohio; she died June 23, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Bevier were both born in the same towu; they have had nine children, seven of whom are now living.

BODLEY, JOHN J., farmer ; P. O. Plymouth ; was born July 8, 1829. He has always been at home, and now owns and occupies the old homestead. Was mar- ried April 11, 1831, to Mary W. Livingston, of Auburn, Cayuga Co., N. Y., where she was educated and lived until their removal to Plymouth, April 18, 1860; she was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 14, 1838; they have an adopted son, George McLelland Bodley ; he is about 15 years of age. The old house, a frame, was built in 1834, and is one of the oldest frames in the township; they have a table made out of the wagon- box that they moved to Plymouth in, made in 1818 or 1819; they also have a sword, a relic of the war of 1812. His father, Jesse Bodley, and family, came to Plymouth in 1818; they started from Owasco., N. Y.,

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PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP.

Sept. 15, and landed here one month after, Oct. 15, 1818; they traveled all the way with an ox team. The names of the children are as follows : Di- nah, born May 8, 1816 (she married George Kellogg, April 24, 1834, and lives in Fulton Co., Ohio); Will- iam E., born Feb. 1, 1819 (he was the first white child born in this vicinity ; married Sarah A. Shaw, who died May 1, 1851, and he died June 29, 1857) ; Sam- uel, born Nov. 17, 1821 (married Harriet Richardson, April 9, 1846) ; Wilson, born April 10, 1825 (married, Feb. 3, 1848, to Orlena Richardson ; they had six chil- dren, five of whom are now living) ; John J., subject of this sketch ; Enoch Conger, born Nov. 30, 1831 (he graduated at Mansfield ; was married May 6, 1860, to Martha A. Case, of Bodino, N. Y., and now resides in San Jose, Cal .; in the mercantile trade) ; Nancy Ma- riah, born March 14, 1835 (she lives with John J.). A brother of Jesse, William W., came to Richland Co. at the same time ; he was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., April 2, 1797 ; they first came here in 1817, and, getting their land, returned to New York, and the next year moved here; he was married May 8, 1823, to Margaret H. Brink ; they had five children ; he died Nov. 11, 1849; his widow married James Ralston April 6, 1850; she died April 27, 1868.

BRIGGS, ROBERT, farmer ; P. O. Plymouth ; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Sept. 1, 1830; the fam- ily landed in Richland Co. when Mr. Briggs was but 3 years of age, and has lived in the county ever since, except one year that he lived in Hardin Co., Ohio, and has seen this country when it was very wild and but very little improvements were then made; he has grown up with the country ; he now has a very fine farm only a few miles south of Plymouth. Was mar- ried in 1859, to Miss Martha Doty, of Richland Co. ; they have one child, a daughter. When Mr. Briggs' father came here, he had to stand up in the saddle on the back of his horse and tie a knot in the limbs of a tree to mark the place for his farm, as the land was covered with a dense forest.

BRINKERHOFF, JOSIAH, banker, Plymouth ; was born in December, 1815, in Cayuga Co., N. Y .; the family came West in 1834, to Plymouth Township; was raised a farmer, and, some twenty-one years ago, he moved to town. Mr. B. has been one of the prominent men of Plymouth, and ever ready to lend a helping hand to any improvement or enterprise for the benefit of the town or community ; in the spring of 1874, he was elected President of the First National Bank, which position he now holds to the satisfaction of all concerned.

BROWN, OLIVER G., farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. Shelby; was born in Virginia, in 1833 ; his father, Mr. James Brown, came with his family to Plymouth in 1835, and from there moved to their pres- ent farm; there were six girls and two sons, three of the girls having died; when they bought the farm, there was but very little improvement-only a log house and, perhaps, twenty acres of cleared land, and, by hard work, they have now as fine a farm as there is in this part of the township; Mr. Oliver G. Brown now is living on the old homestead where he was raised. He was married in 1856 to Miss Elizabeth M. Castor, of Plymouth Township ; soon after their marriage,

they moved to lowa, where they resided for nineteen years ; he was engaged in farming and stock-dealing, buying and shipping. In 1876, they came back to their old home, where they are now living; they have five children now living, two sons at Salina, Kan., and one daughter married, and now lives at East Woolf, Russell Co., Kan., and two at home. Mr. James Brown was at one time in business at Shelby : was in the hotel business for about two years, when he went into business as a partner of Mr. Mickey ; about the year 1843, he moved back to the old farm, where he has since lived ; Mrs. Brown died Sept. 16, 1869. Mr. Brown and his family are highly respected citizens, and are well known throughout the community. Farm and residence south of Plymouth. on the northwest quarter of Sec. 31, about three miles northwest of Shelby.

BRUBAKER, J. C., merchant, Plymouth ; was born Nov. 26, 1846, in Huron Co., Ohio; lived on the farm until 1869, when he came to Plymouth to attend school, and afterward was engaged as salesman in a grocery store till April 11, 1874, when he engaged in the business for himself, and has been very successful, and has a trade second to no other establishment of the kind in town. He was married to Miss Ellen Tyson March 11, 1872; they have three children-Lotta, born Sept. 25, 1873; May, April 17, 1876 ; Anna, Feb. 15, 1878.

CHANNING, J. R., farmer and stock-raiser: P. O. Plymouth ; was born and educated in England, and the family came to this country in 1851, and to Plymouth Township in 1870; he has one of the finest farms to be found in the county, and the buildings that he is putting up surpass anything of the kind in the county ; he has just completed a barn 42x70 feet, being a bank barn and stabling under the whole of it, and for colt- venience and stability is far ahead of his neighbors': when he put the roof on, he would paint each course of shingles with lead and oil, and has consumed in the building eighty-three gallons linseed oil, and 1,200 pounds best white lead : the whole building is put up in a workmanlike manner, and has cost him not far from $3,000. Mr. Channing is one of the successful men in the county, having made his money by hard and honest labor ; residence and farm on Shiloh road, one and one-half miles south of Plymouth. Was married in October, 1864, to Miss Margaret Fulmer, of Ashland Co., Ohio ; they have four children, all boys-W. G., born Sept. 1, 1865; A. J., born April 19, 1867 ; J. II., born March 28, 1873; Edward J., born Nov. 28, 1874.

CLARK, ANDREW, proprietor planing-mill and sash, blind and door factory ; was born in 1833, in Connecti- cut ; was raised a farmer ; when 22 years of age, went to California; he was there engaged in mining for nearly ten years ; in 1869, he moved to Plymouth ; has been engaged in manufacturing washing machines ; in 1872, Mr. Clark built a planing-mill and sash, door and blind factory ; he also is quite an extensive lumber dealer, and constantly has on hand a good stock of lum- ber, lath, shingles, and everything pertaining to his business. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Margaret Coe, of Ashland Co .; they have two children-Emma Grace, born Nov. 9, 1871; Charles Walter, May 23,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

1877. Residence and factory on High street, near the B. & O. R. R.

CLARK, ELI, farmer, and owns a saw-mill ; P. O. Plymouth ; was born in 1824, in Connecticut ; in the spring of 1846, the family came to Plymouth Township; they purchased a farm that was somewhat improved, but, generally speaking, it was very wild. His farm lies about three miles south west of Plymouth. In 1848, he purchased the first saw-mill that was brought into the country. It was brought here during the building of the railroad; after the road was built, Mr. Clark bought the mill, and moved it to his farm, about four miles south of Plymouth. He lias remodeled and re- built it, until it is all of modern style and improve- ments, and turns out work second to none. Was mar- ried, in 1850, to Miss Bolles, of Connecticut ; they have three sons. His father bought the farm where Mr. Clark now lives, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1871. His sons, Eli and John, bought the farm.

DRONBERGER, L. R., druggist's traveling salesman, Plymouth ; was born Feb. 18, 1850, in Homer, Medina Co., Ohio. Mr. E. Dronberger, his father, moved to Richland Co. in the spring of 1853; bought a farm in the northwest corner of Plymouth Township, where the family lived till April, 1870, when they moved to Plymouth and engaged in the drug business, under the firm name of E. Dronberger & Son, where they did a profitable business and had a trade second to no other establishment of the kind in the town; in May, 1873, they met with a severe loss by fire, which consumed nearly everything they had; not long after the fire, Mr. L. R. Dronberger moved to Newark, Ohio, where they again purchased a stock of drugs and medicines and ran business for some time ; when they sold out their business, he moved to Flint, Mich., and was en- gaged as head clerk in a large retail drug and prescrip- tion store for a year or more, when he engaged to a wholesale drug house of Detroit as traveling salesman, and has continued in this business for the past three years with marked success, as he makes many friends wherever he goes ; he has made several changes in em- płoyers, and every time for the better, and now is with a New York firm, and he holds a good and increasing trade for himself and employers by his general good- will and manliness. Was married, June 10, 1873, to Miss Frank Gunsaullus, of Plymouth.

FACKLER, DR. J. M., homoeopathic physician, Ply- mouth ; was born in Weller Township, Richland Co., Ohio, April 7, 1838 ; raised a farmer until he com- menced the study of medicine ; attended the schools of llaysville, Ohio, and Academy of Savannah, Ohio ; commenced the study of medicine in 1859; attended the Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical College in 1863-64; received the degree of M. D. at the Pulte Homoeopathic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1877; he has been practicing medicine for seventeen years, with marked success, and the last ten years at Plymouth ; the doctor fully understands his profession, and is regarded throughout the country as one of the best, and has a large and increasing practice, so much so that he was compelled to take a partner, and both are now kept busy. He was married to Miss Martha N. Fancher in 1862; they had two children-Nellie,

born July 28, 1864 ; Clauda Blanche, May 28, 1873 ; died Dec. 12, 1878.

DRENNAN, JAMES (deceased); he was born in Carlisle, Penn., Feb. 18, 1783. When about 4 years of age, his father, David Drennan, moved from Carlisle to Beaver Co , making the journey across the mountains with pack-horses. Mrs. D. carried James on her knee, while she rode a horse. His father became Judge of Common Pleas Court there, and lived there until his death. When James was about 17 years of age, he was bound out to a cabinet-maker to learn the trade. After serving three years, he bought his time on credit of his master, and came to Steubenville, Ohio, where he took a job of carpenter work on bridges, at which he earned enough to pay his master for his time. He worked at his trade in Steubenville, Chillicothe, New Lisbon and Canton, settling in the latter place late in January, 1810. He married here Jane Patten, who bore him four chil- dren ; she died Feb. 7, 1818. Sept. 27, 1819, he mar- ried Eliza Wolf, the first schoolmistress in Mansfield, and, in 1821, moved to the latter place, where he re- sided till 1825, when he removed to Plymouth. He lived in Plymouth until his death, which occurred Dec. 23, 1859. During the war of 1812, Mr. D. served as Lieutenant until he recruited two companies, when he was given a captain's commission, and was ordered to the front, where he served under Gen. Harrison. His eldest son, David Armstrong, was licensed as a Meth- odist preacher at the age of 22, and died soon after at Sandusky City. The second son that grew to manhood, John P., was a merchant in Mansfield till the late war, when, in 1861, he enlisted. After the war closed, he settled in Roodhouse, Ill., where he is now living. The third son, William W., has been a merchant and farmer, and now resides in Plymouth. The fourth son, James P., was a lawyer ; he unfortunately lost his life by a steam- boat accident on the Mississippi River when he was 23 years old. The fifth son, Jacob Manuel, is a Presby- terian clergyman in New York City. Two daughters and one son died while young. Two daughters are now married-Mrs. Robert McDonough, now living in Plym- outh, and Mrs. B. A. Cash, in Brooklyn, N. Y.

DRENNAN, William W., lawyer. He was born in Canton July 18, 1820 ; when he was about 1 year old, his parents moved to Mansfield, and four years after, to Plymouth ; since then Mr. Drennan has always lived in this county, save four years, when he was residing in Muskingum Co .; three years in Cincinnati, and a temporary residence in the South. When he was 12 years old, he was apprenticed to a dry-goods merchant to learn the business ; the terms of his indenture were service and obedience on his part, and boarding and a monthly payment in money on the master's part, in- stead of "clothing, schooling and freedom suit," as was customary in binding boys in those days ; he was not out of employment until he was 25 years old. At that age, he went into business for himself, succeeding Messrs. Barker, in Plymouth ; since then he has been engaged in mercantile, produce and commission busi- ness and dealing in real estate, and in practicing law. He was married March 28, 1850, to Hannah Brinker- hoff, of Cayuga Co., N. Y .; they are the par- ents of six children, three of whom died in infancy,

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP.

867

and three (one son and two daughters) are now growing into manhood and womanhood.

FENNER, FELIX (deceased), was born near Bethle- hem, Penn., and raised a farmer ; he located about 1813, on a small farm, and carried on blacksmithing; in 1825, moved to Lansing Township, Tompkins Co., N. Y., where he worked at his trade; in 1831, went to Ohio to look up a home for his already large family ; he soon after returned, having been much encouraged by his visit, and in 1832 moved to Ohio, and soon after bought 122 acres of land in the woods, with a little log house on it, and about half an acre cleared. On Jan. 12, 1813, was married to Miss Elizabeth Trauger ; they had twelve children, nine of whom are living. Mr. Fenner died Dec. 7, 1877 ; he left a good farm with all good buildings and 75 acres cleared and fenced. He had filled many of the township offices in the gift of the people. He was quite a musician in his younger days, and at one time had the honor of being the organ- ist in the large Moravian Church of Bethlehem, Penn.

FENNER, F. T., farmer and stock-raiser ; was born in August, 1825, in Tompkins Co., N. Y .; the family came West when Mr. Fenner was quite small ; he was raised a farmer, and from the manner in which he does business, one is led to the belief that he fully under- stands every thing that he undertakes ; he has, perhaps, as nice a farm as there is in the township, and his judgment on matters pertaining to the farm or stock- raising is considered solid. He was elected Township Trustee in 1866, and has held the office ever since, ex- cept one year, and has been Judge of Election at the three last Presidential elections ; he has, perhaps, threshed more grain than any other man in the county, as he has followed it for twenty-eight years; he has come up from almost nothing to be a very wealthy man. Was married in 1848 to Miss Mary E. Hills ; they have four children-Sarah J., born September, 1849; Clara E., born July, 1854; Henry L., born October, 1856; Ida Adora, born in 1863. Mr. Fenner has been en- gaged in the manufacture of sorghum molasses for the past eighteen years, and, like his farming, has made it a success.

FENNER, CORNELIUS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Plymouth ; was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y .; April 11, 1831 ; the family came West when Mr. Fenner was but 1 year old, landing in New Haven, Ohio. One year after this, his father, Mr. Felix Fenner, bought the present farm, there being but half an acre cleared and a small log house, he building the present house and the old barns on the homestead, consisting of 122 acres. Mr. Fenner died in November, 1856. Soon after his death, his son, Mr. C. Fenner, took charge of the farm, and now, together with what he has added to it and improvements made, makes it a premium farm. Mr. Fenner lived in Iowa four years, and came back after the death of his father. In 1863, he bought the farm, which is situated on the Columbus State road, one-half mile from the Huron Co. line. His principal farming is grain raising, and he raises and keeps stock enough to be profitable, and it is safe to say that Mr. Fenner is one of the first men in the county, and of good business principles. He has served a number of terms each as School Director and Supervisor. Was married, Dec. 29, 1863, to Miss Sarah A. Sheeley ;

they have three children-Frank C., born Jan. 8, 1868 : Anna Bertha, Nov. 6, 1870 ; Charlie W., Dec. 22, 1873. Mr. Fenner's mother now lives with him ; she is nearly 87 years old, and very active and smart for a person of such advanced years. Mr. Fenner has one of the finest barns in the country. It is finished up in good style, and has all the modern improvements ; he has storage for 1,500 bushels of grain, with nearly all the con- veniences that a well-informed man could make. The building is 40x66 feet, with stabling under the whole building, with " shoots " for grain and hay, so that his feeding can be done without going out of the stable ; he has every facility for keeping stock, as his farm abounds with living water and a " spring-fed " creek. The farm now, with what he has added to it, makes it 153 acres of the choicest kind of land.

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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