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 144

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 144

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).

no shoes, and as they remained until the weather was cold, he suffered very much. Canton was where the land office was located. The surveying party's head- quarters were located there, and when cold weather came they returned there. The night previous to their going, there was a fall of snow several inches deep, through which Mr. Brubaker was compelled to go without any covering for his feet. The first day's travel brought the party to where Olivesburg now stands, where there was an Indian camp. The party remained over night. The chief, seeing that Mr. Brubaker had no covering for his feet, took compassion on him and gave him a pair of moccasins to wear, so he could reach his destination.

BUSHEY, ABRAHAM, carpenter and builder, was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 14, 1819; he learned his trade with his father ; he came to Ohio with his parents, in 1836; they settled in Cass Township; Mr. Bushey followed his trade for a number of years in the county ; in 1864, he came to Shelby, where he has since resided ; he has been a successful business man, and by industry and honesty he has obtained a com- petence; he is one of the Directors of the Under- writers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Shelby. He was married to Miss Barbara Fireoved Nov. 24, 1840, who was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Aug. 26, 1820 ; she had two children-Sarah A., boru Nov. 14, 1841, and married Henry Wentz, Jr .; Mary J., born March 21, 1846, and married to W. S. Finecle.

BYRER, H. J., furniture dealer and undertaker is one of Shelby's successful men ; he was born in West- moreland Co., Penn., October, 1841 ; until about the age of 17, he remained on the farm, working for his widowed mother; he then went to Uniontown, Penn., to learn the trade of cabinet-making by hand; he remained two years, and then went to Pittsburgh, Penn., to work under instructions by machinery, and remained about six months. He enlisted in the 12th Penn. V. I. for three months; after his return, he worked at his trade seven years, five years under instructions, and during the early oil excitement of Pennsylvania he went to the oil regions, where, with other business, he carried on his trade, making undertaking a specialty ; his first impressions of undertaking were made when quite a child; he accompanied his mother to a funeral, and there was implanted a desire to follow the business which he never lost sight of; Mr. Byrer's first business enterprise in furniture and undertaking combined was commenced in Apollo, Penn., in 1867 ; he commenced life without aid, and it was a struggle for him to obtain a foothold, but once started, he succeeded by punctual- ity and good business habits in establishing himself ; he remained in Apollo for about six years, and then emi- grated to Ohio, and settled in Shelby, where he has since been engaged in successful business ; he built his present handsome ·business rooms in 1879; the build- ing is of brick, 252x80 feet, three stories ; the first floor is occupied as a furniture room, it is fourteen feet in the clear; the front contains two plate glass, each 68x138 inches; the second story is eleven feet in the clear, and in this story coffin trimming is done; the third floor is twelve feet in the clear ; there is a No. 5 H. J. Reedy elevator which runs to the third floor; the front of the building presents a neat and substantial

880

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

appearance ; this building is a credit to the projector and an ornament to the town. As a professional under- taker, Mr. Byrer has few rivals and no superiors, con- sequently the recipient of many favors from patrons all over this section of the country. It seems to be his special object of favoring the public in Shelby and surrounding country with all of the newest appliances, , and goods known in his profession with his sterling qualities, as an undertaker, he is much better prepared to take care of the dead than any other of his profes- sion in the county. He has two hearses, and seems to take peculiar care in all things to merit the support and confidence of those calling upon him for the sad duty of burying their loved ones. In all things Mr. Byrer has shown the straightforward, energetic, honest busi- ness man, and has worked himself to the front rank as one of the solid men of Shelby. In common with all others, the writer can only wish him abundant and com- plete success in his business.

CLAPPER, SAMUEL, was born in what is now Blair Co., Penn., Nov. 7, 1814. When he was a child, his parents came to Ogdensburg, Stark Co., Ohio, where they lived for some time, and moved to Dover, Wayne Co., where they remained awhile and then removed to Newville, Richland Co. Mr. Clapper died a compara- tive young man. After his death, Samuel was taken by Mr. Herring to work in a woolen factory and learn the trade ; he remained there until the spring of 1834; he then went to Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, and fol- lowed his trade for several years ; in the spring of 1843, he associated himself in business with A. M. Jones, his capital being the sum of $5.75 ; he continued in partnership for three years, and succeeded in making some money ; he then purchased the interest of Mr. Jones, and continued business there until 1866, when he sold out and purchased at Delphos, Ohio, where he remained one year ; he sold at Delphos and purchased a building in Independence, Richland Co., and con- verted it into a woolen factory ; in the spring of 1872, he sold his factory at Independence and came to Shelby, where he erected the two-story brick factory on Main street, and run it for several years. Mr. Clapper has been in the business fifty-four years ; he commenced in the world without a dollar, and, in fact, he helped to maintain his younger sisters and brothers, his father being unfortunate in the loss of his property ; he has succeeded, by economy and industry, in gaining a competence. On his father's side he sprang from Ger- man, and on his mother's side of Scotch extraction. He was married to Miss Susan Parcher Jan. 7, 1836; they have four children, three daughters and one son -- Sylvania (married to Mr. Orweiler), Martha (married to Mr. Phillips), Mary (married to .J. C. Sutter) and John, who reside in Shelby ; Henry Clapper, first and only son, married Addie Austin, of Huron Co., Ohio.

COBLE, MARY, MRS., was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., July 17, 1814. Her father, Peter Gortner, was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in November, 1806, and emigrated with his family to Wayne Co., Ohio, about 1833, where he remained about three years and . then went to Crawford Co. She was married to Chris- tian Coble Nov. 10, 1833, in Wayne Co., Ohio, and, about a year afterward, moved to Sharon, where Mr. Coble had previously entered the southwest quarter of

Sec. 13. It was heavily timbered and required time and work to clear it up; he succeeded in making for himself a pleasant home; he died April 15, 1870 ; they had nine children, eight of whom are living-Susan (married to John Nicolieu, farmer, and resides in Will- iams Co., Ohio), Martha (married to Marion Keith, carpenter, and lives in Isabella Co., Mich.), John ( re- sides at Chicago Junction, Ohio), Fannie (married to George Bargahiser, farmer, Sharon Township), Eliza- beth (married to Michael Crum, farmer, Sharon), Israel (farmer, Sharon), Levi (farmer, at home), Mary (at home).

COOK, GEORGE, farmer ; P. O. Vernon Junction ; he was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, May 10, 1802; he, with his present wife and only sister, Mrs. Valentine Will, left their native place near Heidelberg on the 17th of May, 1838, traveling over land to Havre, where they embarked June 7 on the sailing vessel Burgundy, landing at New York about July 9, going up the IIudson River to Albany and down the Erie Canal to Buffalo, where they embarked on a steamer and arrived at Sandusky the latter part of July and at his present home Aug. 1, 1838. George Couk, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, was born about. the year 1770, and married a Miss Catharine Eick about 1795, and by their union had three children-George, Elizabeth and Philip, the latter dying when 2 years of age at his birthplace, about 1826 or 1827. Mr. Cook has some very old relics, among them a large family Bible, printed in German, said to have been in the family several hundred years and in an excellent state of preservation. He married a Miss Schumann, who was born January, 1811, near Heidelberg, and by their marriage had eight children, seven of whom are living -Charlotte, George, Maria, Elizabeth, Margaret, Abra- ham and John. He is a member of the Reformed Church ; was confirmed and became a member in 1816 He owns 60 acres of land, on which remain some of the old log houses built in a very early day. He is a man of a very retentive memory, honorable and upright, and has a pleasant home.

CRALL, DAVID, farmer ; P. O. Shelby ; he was born in Dauphin Co., Susquehanna Township, Penn., Nov. 25, 1821 ; he remained with his parents on the farm until the spring of 1844, when he, with his elder brother, Simon, came to Ohio on horseback, and pur- chased his present farm of abont 235 acres : he returned to Pensylvania and remained until 1845, when he again came to Ohio, where he has improved his farm and has become one of " Old Richland's " most esteemed farm- ers. He married Miss Mariah Stentz April 12, 1846 ; they have nine children-Elizabeth, John, Sophronia, William Rhinehart, Susan, Mary Sophia, Emily, Alice, Henry Nelson and Ann Eliza. Henry Crall, father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Harrisburg, Peun., about 1779, and married Miss Elizabeth Henshaw ; they became the parents of six children -Simon, John, Elizabeth, Susannah, Henry, Jr., and David. The sub- ject of this sketch is one of the leading members of the United Brethren Church, where he has exhibited that fidelity that has made him a man of mark in his com- munity.

CULLEN, GARVIS, retired farmer ; was born in Lin- colnshire, England, July 14, 1803 ; he spent his time

881

SHARON TOWNSHIP.

working on a farm in England; about 1831, he emi- grated to the United States and remained a few months in New York ; he then came to Mansfield, where he remained until the following spring, and went to Plym- outh Township, where he worked on a farm for a year ; he entered some land in Plymouth Township, and, some time afterward, sold it and purchased the farm where his son, John W., now resides ; at the time he purchased, it was almost entirely covered with timber ; he cleared the farm and improved it with handsome farm build- ings. He is a good citizen, a man of quiet turn, and honest in all his dealings. He was married to Miss Mary Jackson, of Richland County, May 18, 1845; they have one son, John W., born Aug. 10, 1848; he resides on the old homestead ; he was married to Sarah I. Myers Oct. 3, 1872.

DAUGHARTY, WILLIAM, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Shelby ; was born in Burlington Co., N. J., Sept. 22, 1831; his father, Daniel D., moved to Crawford Co. in 1832. For fifteen years before the rebellion he followed farming and thrashing. He enlisted in Co. H, 64th O. V. I., and served eleven months, when he was discharged on account of disability. After recruiting until Feb. 10, 1865, he enlisted again in Co. C, 82d O. V. I., and was again discharged May 24, 1865. He was married to Miss Mariah E. Hann Feb. 1, 1866. Since the war, he has been farming in Richland and Crawford counties. His father lived with him several years, and died there at the age of 98. His mother died in the 84th year of her age. IIis wife was born in Perry Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1848.

DAVIS, HENRY, grain and produce dealer, Shelby. He was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1822, and moved, with his father's family, to Crawford Co. in 1832, where they settled on an unimproved heavily timbered farm. Their means were limited ; land had to be cleared and buildings erected, and all hands had to work to make a living. School advantages were very few and poor. At the age of 21, he set out to do for himself with no money and but very little educa- tion ; after looking over the ground and fully taking in the situation, formed a resolution to try and get an education sufficient to transact any business that he might be fortunate enough to get to do, take a fair position in society and qualify himself to teach school, that he might make wages in the winter as well as in the summer, hoping, at some future time, to be able to purchase a farm and become a farmer; by diligent study, he soon succeeded in getting a certificate to teach school, and, by teaching in the winter, he was able to attend school in the summer at Ashland Acad- emy under instruction of that celebrated teacher, Lorin Andrews, to whom he is much indebted for giving him correct ideas as to teaching and governing a school ; he remained in this school three summer sessions and paid his way by teaching in the winter; in 1847, Mr. Henry Leyman, of Shelby, offered him a situation in his store, which he accepted. This circumstance threw him into a channel, and from that time up to the pres- ent he has had the confidence of the business commu- nity so far as he was acquainted, and a very liberal patronage from the public ; he has had many offices of trust and profit, which he would not accept, for all of which he has always felt very grateful. In 1848, he 1

was married to Margaret A. Stone, with whom he has lived up to the present time; they have been blessed with five children, two of whom are dead and three living, at home, constituting a happy family. He has had quite a number of partners, and has done a large business and never had a misunderstanding or difficulty with any of them. Among the most noted of his part- ners were Mr. David Anderson and Mr. Thomas Mickey. He was connected in some way with Mr. Mickey for twenty-five years, most of the time in gen- eral merchandising, but for the last ten years of Mr. Mickey's life, they were exclusively engaged in the produce and grain trade, and, had Mr. Mickey lived, they would probably have continued much longer. So great was his attachment for his friend that, when Mr. Mickey died, he felt like retiring from business, but has since associated with himself the firm of Fish & Stour in the produce business, under the firm name of H. Davis & Co. He has lived in Shelby over thirty years, and has been identified with her growth, pros- perity and interest all this time, advocating and voting for nearly every public improvement in both the town and county. He has always been a strong advocate of education, but believed it should be broad enough to develop the muscle and energy as well as the reasoning powers of the mind.

DEMPSEY, JOHN, was born in Ireland in 1829, where he remained until 1848, when he emigrated to Ohio; he came to Shelby in 1854 ; prior to coming to Shelby, he sold dry goods for four years ; he commenced the gro- cery business shortly after coming to Shelby, and by strict attention to business, he soon had a large and growing trade, adding with the retail a wholesale department, in which he was very successful. He was well known throughout the surrounding country as a reliable business man, and succeeded in bringing to Shelby a large amount of business, which had usually gone to other towns ; in 1874, he sold his business and turned his attention to his farms in the vicinity. Upon all questions of improvement, he has been an advocate of advancement. He has aided in improving the town by building several of the substantial business blocks of the place. He is a Director of the First National Bank ; he was Lieutenant Colonel of the 48th O. N. G .. and also held the same position, subsequently, in the 163d O. N. G. Mr. Dempsey is a man of few words in business matters. He is decided in his views and is regarded as a man of sound judgment. He is entrusted with a large amount of business in the com- munity.

DICK, HIRAM W., Superintendent of Construction on the C., C., C. & I. R. R .; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., October, 1824; he spent his youth on a farm with his parents ; at about 22 years of age, he learned the carpenter trade, and, in the year 1850, he first com- menced to work on the railroad, as a hand at his trade; his steady and industrious habits were soon noticed by the officials of the company ; they recognized in him a man who was qualified to take charge of their inter- est, and they gave a position, since which time he has risen to the position of Superintendent of Construc- tion ; he has relied upon his own exertions, and has been successful, not only as a railroad man, but as a business man ; he is the possessor of several farms, and

882

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

has always aided in improving Shelby ; he built an addition to the Mickey Block, which he had previously purchased. He is an advocate of advancement, and gives his influence to the improvement of the town. He was married to Miss Swanner, daughter of John and Agnes Swanner, nee Waugh, in 1855, and to them three children were born. Mrs. Dick was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1833 ; her father was born in Chester Co., Penn., Oct. 11, 1800, and was married to Agnes Waugh, by whom he had nine children, three of whom are living ; in 1834, he emigrated to Mans- field, Ohio, where he remained about eleven years, and where he carried on the trade of blacksmithing; he came to Jackson Township about 1845; his wife is dead ; he now resides in Shelby.

DOUGLAS, WILLIAM, farmer, was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Nov. 25, 1835 ; he spent his young days on the farm with his parents, and attended such schools as were then taught in the winter ; when he was about 19 years of age, he went to California, where he was engaged principally in mining about one year, when, on account of sickness, he returned to Ohio, and engaged in farming ; he is a man of force of charac- ter, and exerts an influence in the community ; his parents were English. They were married in West- moreland, and emigrated to Stark Co., Ohio ; remained there for some years, and then moved to Richland Co., and settled in Sharon Township, about three miles west of Shelby, where they died. The subject of this notice was married to Miss Annie Woodhouse March 20, 1860; she was born in Mifflin Township June 3, 1837; there were born to these parents eight children, seven of whom are living; they have a pleas- ant and happy home.

DUBOIS, F. A., M. D., was born in Richland Co., Ohio, May 23, 1843 ; his youth was spent in the coun- try, and attending school at Mount Gilead and Woos- ter ; when he was about 18 years of age, he enlisted in Co. H, 15th O. V. I., for three months ; on his return home, he re-enlisted in the 86th O. V. I., and was in service four months as hospital steward ; shortly after his return from the four-months service, he recruited Co. A, of the 12th O. V. C., and was commissioned Captain, and commanded the company until the close of the war; the regiment was with the Army of the Cumberland ; at the close of the war he took up .the study of medicine, and read with Dr. Baker, of Woos- ter, and Dr. Mitchell, of Mansfield ; he graduated at the Brooklyn Medical College, of New York ; he shortly after came to Shelby, where he began the prac- tice of medicine, and in connection carried on a drug store ; seeing a remunerative opening, he disposed of the drug business and gave his attention to dealing in lumber, in which he has been eminently successful ; he deals principally in hard lumber, and ships to Liver- pool, London and Hull, England, Glasgow, Scotland, and to Hamburg and Bremen, Germany ; he was asso- ciated with Thomas Mickey in the grain business for about ten years, and during this time he purchased the two warehouses on the B. & O. R. R. on Main street ; he was successful in business with Mr. Mickey, making considerable money for the firm ; he is a Director in the First National Bank of Shelby, and of the Underwrit- ers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and President of

the Good Samaritan Aid Association of Shelby ; he is an active business man, prompt in his dealings, and liberal in his views. He was married to Miss Sarah R. Mickey, only daughter of Thomas Mickey, deceased, Dec. 19, 1867.

EVANS, D. B., farmer ; P. O. Shelby ; he was born in Richland Co. Jan. 15, 1828, and was married to Sarah A. Kerr in 1850; he formerly worked on a farm ; about sixteen years ago he began the hardware trade in Shelby, Ohio ; this he discontinued recently ; his wife was born in Beaver Co., Penn., October, 1830 ; she came the same year to Richland Co. with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jessa Kerr. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents of six children-Wilba Kerr, Cara Alvaretta, Rolla B., Frank Seigal, Clara Bell and Emma Dell.

FLETCHER, HENRY, monumental works, Second street, East Shelby. He was born in Bedford Co., Penn., June 15, 1845; moved with his father, Jacob Fletcher, to Shelby, Ohio, in 1855; in 1856, he moved with his father to the farm now owned by Mr. Bloom, and remained there until the commencement of the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted as a private in the 84th O. V. I .; he served three months, was dis- charged and remained at home one year, when he en- listed in Co. I, 15th O. V. I., and served until the close of the war ; he was in the severe battles of Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and Nashville ; he went from Nashville to San Antonio, Tex., at which place he was discharged and came home, engaging with the B. & O. R. R. Co., as carpenter ; he was with this company for four years. On the 3d day of September, 1868, he was married to Eliza Hershiser, who was born in London, Richland Co., June 2, 1846 ; by this marriage he had four chil- dren-Joseph A., born Sept. 28, 1869; Nella A., Nov. 1, 1871 ; Lavern, Dec. 15, 1875, and Fanny Fern, July 19, 1878. The subject of this sketch, for the past five years, has been working at the marble business in East Shelby, Ohio, where he may be found at all times.

FEIGHNER, JONAS, sewing-machine agent. Shelby ; was born in Jackson Township Oct. 22, 1846; his youth was spent on a farm ; he enlisted in Co. H, 64th O. V. I., for three years; his regiment was with the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of the Gulf; he participated in many of the battles of that memorable campaign, such as Dallas, Ga , Columbia, Tenn., Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville and others; he sprained his ankle at Rocky Face Ridge, Ga., and was taken to the hospital at Camp Dennison, Ohio ; he returned to his regiment in the fall of 1864, and remained on duty until Jan. 16, 1866, when he was discharged with his regiment at Columbus, Ohio.

GAMBLE, HUGH, was born in Saratoga Co , N. Y., Oct. 21, 1789. His father, James Gamble, was a farmer, and Hugh received his early education as farmers' sons of those days usually did. He immi- grated to Richland Co. in 1823 and entered the farm on which he now resides; he returned to New York some time afterward, and remained until 1828, when he returned ; his brother John came about 1823, and his father about 1825. Mr. Gamble has held very many trusts, and was honored with many positions in the State and neighborhood ; he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1834; this office lie filled nine years ; he was elected to the Ohio Legislature in 1835, and re-

883

SHARON TOWNSHIP.

elected in 1838 and 1839; he was on several important committees ; he was appointed by the Legislature Asso- ciate Judge of Richland Co., in which capacity he served seven years, presiding as President Judge for five terms ; he was one of the Board of Directors of the Sandusky & Mansfield R. R , and was appointed a committee by that board to receive the transfer of the Sandusky & Monroeville R. R. to the Sandusky & Mansfield road ; he was appointed by the Legislature to lay out numerous State roads, and has helped to lay out many of the county and township roads. He was a man of muscle as well as brain, as he cleared a large part of the farm he occupies. He was an enthusiastic agriculturist ; he has also given horticulture consider- able attention and study, and a number of the ladies of Shelby remember the beautiful flowers he brought to the town ; he was the third President of the Agri- cultural Society of Richland Co. He has been three times married, and has several daughters who are married, and who reside in the neighborhood.

GARNHART, JACOB, farmer ; was born in Perry Co., Penn., July 29, 1830; he came to Ohio with his parents, who came about 1833, and settled finally in Sharon Township in 1835; he spent his time on the farm until 1852, when he, with a party of his neigh- bors from Shelby and vicinity, went by team to Cali- fornia, where he remained for two years and nine months, being engaged principally during that time in mining ; he took passage on the steamship Yankee Blade home, and when some fifteen miles from Point Concepcion, on the coast of California, the ship was wrecked, and he, with numerous others, came near losing his life ; but after some fourteen days' delay at San Diego, Cal., he again got passage and returned to Shelby ; he then purchased the farm on which he now lives, about two and one-half miles northwest of Shelby ; the improvements were poor on the farm when he purchased, but he has succeeded in making for him- self and family a beautiful home; he built the present comfortable dwelling in 1862 ; he keeps his farm under good cultivation. Mr. Garnhart is in all respects a self-made man ; he started in life without a dollar, but by industry and economy he has been successful in life ; he is a man of force of character, and has the esteem and confidence of the community. He was married to Miss Catharine Myers Jan. 29, 1856; they have been blessed with a family of two children-George F., born March 12, 1858; Amanda E., June 21, 1861.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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