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 145

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 145

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).

HAWN, DANIEL, was born in Perry Co., Penn., Sept. 12, 1824; his father, Mathias Hawn, removed to Cumberland Co., Penn., when Daniel was about 9 years of age ; early in life he learned the trade of car- penter, and, coming to Ohio in 1844, followed his trade for a time; later he engaged in the business which he has pursued to the present time ; in 1853, he removed to Crestline, Ohio, where he remained three years, and at the expiration of that time returned to Shelby, where he has since resided. Mr. Hawn has been twice married, first to Miss Magdalena Bloom in 1847 ; they had three children, two sons and one daughter ; his wife dying, he was again married, to Miss Mary Bloom, by whom he had five children. He brought his parents from Pennsylvania, and kindly cared for them in their old age; he is a man of generous impulses and good

business qualifications ; has a fine family of children, who are noted for their activity and intelligence; the eldest at home, Linda M., is by choice a teacher in the public schools, also a teacher of music; the second daughter, Eva, died in her 23d year, respected by all who knew her; Bertha and Georgia are the remaining children at home; Mrs. H. E. Kendall, a resident of Mansfield, Ohio, is the only surviving child of his first marriage ; the present Mrs. Hawn is a daughter of Jacob Bloom, deceased, who was one of Richland's pio- neers, a man of unusual prominence and intelligence in the community.

HAWK, JACOB, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1837; moved to Sharon Township (Sec. 19), November, 1851. Was married to Miss Sarah Will on the 31st day of May, 1868, when he moved to the farm he now occupies ( Sec. 20). His father, William Hawk, was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Jan. 12, 1812; moved to Richland Co. in 1851; died Nov. 16, 1873; Mrs. Hawk died Aug. 9, 1866. The subject of this sketch is the father of six children-William, Edgar E., Burton W., George, Daisy, Elizabeth and Clara S.

HILL, J. G., editor and proprietor of the Shelby Times. The Times, which has recently come into Mr. Hill's control, is proving to be one of the best papers in the county ; Mr. Hill fully understands his business and makes an excellent paper.

HOCKENSMITH, ADAM, farmer, was born in Fred- erick Co., Md., Dec. 21, 1801 ; when he was 12 years of age, his parents moved to Mifflin Co., Penn., where they remained for some years, and emigrated to Stark Co., Ohio, where they lived and died. Adam was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Myers Oct. 9, 1828, in Stark C'o., and, in 1830, they came to Vernon Township, Crawford Co., where he entered a 40-acre tract of land ; they now reside on the southwest quarter of Sec. 14, Sharon Township. Mrs. Hockensmith was born in Adams Co., Penn., April 6, 1806; her parents finally moved to Richland Co., where they died. As a result of the marriage, there were born four children, three daugh- ters and one son, two of whom are living. Sarah Ann is married to John Sutter. Ervilia Ann married to William Smith.

HOLGATE, ELISABETH, MRS., Shelby ; she was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1821 ; she moved to Steuben Co., N. Y., at the age of 16 years, and re- mained there seventeen years, then moved to Shelby, Ohio. In 1837, she was married to William Reynolds, who was born in 1813, in Otsego Co., N. Y .; had by this marriage six children ; Miss Josie, William and Altha, who are now living in Richland Co .; three died when infants. Her first husband was killed on his farm in 1842. She was married to Reuben Holgate Sept. 23, 1876, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, and died near Shelby, Richland Co., Ohio, April 24, 1879; she was Mr. Holgate's third wife; he was a Mason in good standing and a man respected by all.

HOLLENBAUGH, ISAAC, farmer, was born in Rich- land Co., Ohio, Nov. 6, 1840 ; his father was born Nov. 15, 1803 ; emigrated to Ohio in 1834, and was engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Mary Stroup, of Perry Co., Penn .; they had eleven children, ten sons and one daughter; seven living, the subject of this

884

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

notice being the seventh child. IIc was married to Miss Emily Ronsh, of Richland Co., Jan. 4, 1866 ; they have two children-Cora D., born Oct. 19, 1868 ; Ira Burton, July 19, 1872. Mr. Hollenbangh was a mem- ber of Co. F, 163d O. N. G., and was with the regiment during the time it was in service.

HOUPT, W. H., proprietor of Shelby Marble Works, importer, and wholesale dealer in all kinds of marble and granite; was born in Seneca Co., Ohio ; his parents removed to Crawford Co., Ohio, where he spent his youth on a farm ; at the age of 26, he went to Somerset Co., Penn., and engaged in the marble business for some two years and a half ; he then came to Ohio and purchased an interest in the works and ran in part- nership for about a year; in the spring of 1872, he purchased his partner's interest and took control him- self; he has superior advantages in the purchase of material ; he buys directly from the quarries of Eng- land, Scotland, Ireland and Canada ; he purchases American granite and marble from all quarries in the United States ; he has recently purchased the marble works of Plymouth, Ohio, and opened works in Bucy- rus, Ohio ; from the long experience of Mr. Houpt in his business, and his well-known and honorable dea !- ing, coupled with first class material and workmanship, he has established a large and increasing trade.

HUSS, JOHN A., stonemason, Shelby, Ohio ; he was born in Lancaster, Penn., Ang. 16, 1844; he came to Richland Co. in 1867. He was married to Sarah E. Craiglow Nov. 25, 1869, who was born in Jackson Township June 4, 1850; they are the parents of five children-Clara S., born April 30, 1871; Eva L., Oct. 21, 1872; Ida M., July 12, 1875; Ursa L., March 4, 1877; Daisy H. A., Feb. II, 1879. Mr. Huss volun- teered in the service of the United States at the com- mencement of the civil war, and remained in the army during the entire struggle; he was in thirteen hard- fought battles, and for his bravery had the office of Lieu- tenant conferred upon him.

KERR, ROBERT, farmer and stock-raiser ; lives on Sec. 18, Sharon Township; he was born in the last year of the eighteenth century, the last month but one, and the last day but four, in Beaver Co., Penn .: in May, 182I, he moved to Mansfield, Ohio, and hired with Robert Bowlan, to make brick; he worked for him eighteen months, and never lost a day's time, a part at $7, part at $8, and the remainder of the time at $10 per month, taking one-half out in store goods. In the year 1831, he entered 160 acres of land on Sec. 25, built a hewed-log house, cleared up and commenced farming. Nov. 20, 1832, was married to Abigale King, and moved to his home April 2, 1833. By his industry and economy, he has purchased the pleasant home he now ocupies. Mr. Kerr, though an old man, is in good health, does his own choring, and can do an ordinary day's work. His wife was born in Union Co., Penn., April 2, 1811, and is living and in good health. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are the parents of thirteen children- Catherine, born Sept. 11, 1833; Matilda, died an infant ; William H., born Oct. 1, 1836, and died Dec. 18, 1836 ; Cornelia A., born Jan. 11, 1838; Sarah A., Feb. 3, 1840; Isaiah, Oct. 13, 1841, was a member in Co. I, 15th O. V. I .; he was killed at Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1861; Mariah, born Dec. 8, 1842; Benjamin, born Jan.

6, 1846, was a member of Co. 1, 15th O. V. I., and died April 8, 1866; Rebecca E. and Joseph N., born Ang. 9, 1848 : Sophronia, born Oct. 15, 1850. died Aug. 25, 1855; Abigale Y., born Feb. 10, 1853 ; Robert C., born April 22, 1855.

LOWE, J. S., PROF., Superintendent of Shelby Schools, and a minister in the Disiciple Church; he was born in Virginia in January, 1839, and has been teach- ing and preaching since he was 17 years of age, except while he attended Bethany College in Virginia. He had charge of the normal school at Geneva, Ohio, where he was very successful. He was President of the Farmers' College, College Hill, near Cincinnati, four years ; he then came to Shelby, where he has resided most of the time since. He is regarded as an educator of excellent ability, and a minister of fine talents.

LYBARGER, H. R., was born in Richland Co., near where Galion now stands, July, 1820. His father, Lewis Lybarger, emigrated from Bedford Co., Penn. about 1815 or 1816, and settled near where Galion is located ; at that time it was on the frontier settlements ; he helped to build the block-house at Mansfield, and also the jail. Harrison first commenced in Ganges, in 1844, and remained there until 1854, when he moved to Shelby, and commenced business on the corner on which Bowman's Hall now stands ; he remained there for about ten years, and sold his business and went to "West Town " and opened business on the corner now occupied by Farrar & Seltzer, where he remained until the spring of 1880, when he again went to East Side and opened the dry-goods business in the Bowman building, under the firm name of HI. R. Lybarger & Son. He is the oldest business man in Shelby ; he has been associated in business in the firm name of Ly- barger, Anderson & Co., and J. F. Saiger & Co., and Lybarger, Farrar & Co .; he is a thorough, practical business man, and from his long experience he is well qualified to give satisfaction to his customers.

MACK, ANDREW J., attorney at law, Shelby ; was born March 15, 1845; his parents are Dr. John and Sophronia B. Mack, of Shelby. He attended the schools of his native village until he arrived at the age of 18 years, when he entered the preparatory department of the Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio ; he spent one year in the preparatory depart- ment, and then entered the freshman class in 1864, and graduated in 1868, having taken a full and com- plete collegiate course ; soon after graduating, he en- tered the law office of Jenner & Jenner, in Mansfield, Ohio, and commenced the study of law; he spent the year 1869-70 in the Law Department of Ann Arbor University, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1870, beginning the practice as a partner of Jenner & Jen- ner, the firm being Jenner, Jenner & Mack. In the fall of 1871, Mr. J. K. Cowan was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Richland Co., but resigned soon after his induction into the office, as he had a very favorable and flattering offer from the B. & O. R. R. Co .; Mr. Mack was appointed to fill the vacancy ; in September, 1873, he associated himself with Judge Joel Myers in the purchase of the Ohio Statesman, of Columbus, and re- moved to that city ; Mr. Myers assumed the business and Mr. Mack the editorial control of said paper; this partnership lasted until the spring of 1876, when they

885

SHARON TOWNSHIP.

sold their interest, and Mr. Mack returned to Shelby and immediately entered into a law partnership with T. H. Wiggins, Esq., under the firm name of Wiggins & Mack; this partnership lasted until June, 1878, when, by mutual consent, the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Mack opened a law office of his own, where he has since been engaged in a lucrative practice. As will be noticed, Mr. Mack has an extended business experi- ence ; he lias had good opportunities to become ac- quainted with the various " dealings of men," and from his naturally quick and ready discernment, he has laid a foundation which will be of great benefit in his pro- fession ; his classical education and his experience in the editorial sanctum have qualified him fully in the presentation of his cases ; he is a ready and impressive pleader, logical in his conclusions and earnest in his efforts-points essential to the success of a lawyer ; he is prompt in his business, and few young men of " the bar" have a brighter future.

MARVIN, STEPHEN, is the second son of Isaac and Hannah Hoyet Marvin, born Jan. 8, 1797, in Fair- field Co., Conn .; he was of a family of fourteen chil- dren-eight brothers and six sisters ; the Marvin family are of English descent ; the original ancestral emigration to this country is believed to be about 1700. At the outbreak of the Revolution, there was quite a numerous family; with a single exception, all em- braced the patriot side of the question, and several enlisted in the army of the Revolution ; one Charles rose to the rank of Colonel. The principal inheritance of the subject of this sketch was a good ancestral name and a vigorous constitution-a will to encounter the difficulties incident to pioneer life and successfully overcome them; his father being blessed with only a small share of this world's goods, necessitated that the boy should be placed upon his own footing; accord- ingly, at the age of 14 he was duly apprenticed to one Ebenezer Scribner, to learn the tanner and currier business ; a service of seven years completed this compact, and the "boy was his own man " With the wide world all before him, blessed with health, courage and a business vocation, the West presented to him an attraction-a field suited to his purpose. April 5, 1818, he was married to Sarah Burr Sherwood; this young couple, with love in their hearts, soon took up the line of march to the then far off Ohio; other fami- lies accompanied them in their journey, among whom were his father and the father of Eli Wilson, making a company of over twenty persons ; a single wagon, drawn by one horse, was sufficient to contain the outfit of this newly wedded couple, with their faces turned to the west, intent upon spending their honeymoon in purposing more than mere travel and recreation. De- borah Moyer, mother of Mrs. Marvin, then a widow, accompanied these people, and when, after many weary days, a home of 50 acres was located and pur- chased in Sharon Township, Richland Co., Ohio, the cabin home was erected and life in earnest entered upon ; from a wilderness home, with the log cabin and its usual accompaniments, to one of modern ele- gance and convenience, is a triumph for a lifetime ; yet this much was vouchsafed to this worthy couple in the sear and yellow leaf of their lives. As a citizen, few men were more useful than Stephen Marvin ; he

established himself at his business by first tanning in tubs and vessels, pounding the bark as fine as possible, that the strength might be extracted ; with years of industry came a well-established business of tanning and shoemaking, all carried on with care and profit. To Stephen and Sarah B. Marvin thirteen children were born, as follows : Angeline, Burr, Charles W., Daniel S., Edward, Hiram, Elanor, John J., Jane, Ellen, Laura L., George F. and Emily A .; ten of them survive at this writing, May 1, 1880; two died in infancy, and one (Ellen M. Conover) died July 21, 1866; Angeline, the eldest of the family, was married to Downing Il. Young Sept. 4, 1837, and now resides at Norwalk, Ohio; Burr Marvin was married to Lucy Thomas Sept. 2, 1843 ; Charles W. Marvin to Martha Brooks Dec. 17, 1857; Hiram Marvin to Maria Hin- man Oct. 22, 1854; Ellen Jennette Marvin married W. W. Conover Oct. 15, 1862; John J. Marvin married Harriet Eliza Guilford April 21, 1863 ; Daniel Sher- wood Marvin married Caroline Sherman Dec. 21, 1863; Isabel Jane married Fritz A. Ott March 8, 1864; George F. Marvin married Harriet E. Riggs Oct. 28, 1866. In religious sentiments, Mr. Marvin was lib- eral, believing in the final salvation of all of God's peo- ple; he was an active member of the Universalist Society of Shelby : in politics, he was an Old-Line Henry Clay Whig, with decided antislavery convic- tions ; hence it was that, when the Whig party did not keep pace with the public sentiment of distrust of the demands made in the interests of slavery, he was found doing battle in the front ranks of the newly formed Republican party, never swerving in his devo- tion to the Union, watching with earnest anxiety the results of the terrible conflict, whereby slavery sought to establish itself permanently in a government of the people. Too old to enlist in the army himself, for the overthrow of the rebellion, he had four sons who stood ready to discharge such duty ; two of them-Daniel S. and George F .- joined the Sherman Brigade, and each testified full faith, and attested their devotion to the Union ; Daniel was seriously wounded at the battle of Stone River, owing to the character of which he was soon discharged from the army; George F. was wounded at the same battle, although not so seriously ; his services were continued to the close of the war, during which time he received five different wounds, from the effects of which neither Daniel nor George will ever recover; Charles W. was mustered into the serv- ice as surgeon of a Michigan regiment, and served with distinction ; John J. enlisted in an Ohio regiment, and was down on the Potomac.

As the log cabins of Eli Wilson and Stephen Marvin were the first erected in the vicinity of where Shelby now stands, so, too, were their new, comfortable home structures the first to take the place of the log cabins, that of Mr. Wilson being erected during the summer of 1833. April 5, 1868, they celebrated their golden wedding, where children, grandchildren and numerous other friends assembled to pay their respects, and where many testimonials of sincere regard were ten- dered ; this was truly the season of fruition that crowned Stephen and Sarah Marvin with joy and sat- isfaction that their lives, though frought with pioneer hardships and privations, had not been in vain; a

886

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

large family had grown up around them, the wilder- ness had disappeared, and in its stead a thriving vil- lage of 2,000 inhabitants, with churches, schools, and all the accessories to make life comfortable, and be- loved by all, because they were the friends of all. Lit- tle is left for the writer to chronicle here but the deaths of this venerable couple; Stephen Marvin died, after a brief but painful illness, Aug. 18, 1868, aged 81 years 7 months and 2 days; Sarah B. survived him nearly ten years, she departed this life March 31, 1878, aged 77 years 8 months and 5 days. Most of the children of the deceased have taken up their residences in different parts of the country ; one- Jennie M. Ott-is married and has at present a family of four children, and is living near the old home, while Laura and Emily A. are unmarried, and own and occupy a part of the old homestead,; where the an- nual thanksgivings of the family are held; Hiram Marvin, the only son resident in the vicinity, after the death of his grandfather, Isaac Marvin, Oct. 12, 1850, located upon the old farm in Jackson Township, re- siding with his grandmother until her death, March 27, 1858; he married Maria Hinman Oct. 22, 1854, and removed to Shelby in April, 1865; he engaged in the drug business with John Kerr, under the firm name of Kerr & Marvin, the said firm building the block they now occupy, in 1869, having carried on a successful business and earned an enviable reputation. Hiram and Maria Marvin have four children living, viz., Sarah Malinda, Laura Caroline, Hubbard Orton and Wilbur Hiram.

MICKEY, HARRISON, retired blacksmith, was born in Orange Township, Richland (now Ashland) Co., Dec. 1, 1819 ; he is the third son of Robert and Mary Mickey, who emigrated from Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1817 ; he experienced all the trials of pioneer life from infancy, and especially so in his case, as there was a family of thirteen children, five daughters and eight sons, all of whom are living except Nicholas, who died in California in 1876, aged 58 years, and have raised families, and deserve especial mention for integ- rity and industry ; in 1834, the "old farm" was sold ; on the 14th of May the family started for their new home, and arrived next day; this farm was located in Madison Township, adjoining the Michael Newman farm on the east ; there, as in earlier years, Harrison helped to clear the farm, and attended school for a short time during the winter; he knew well the value of time, and during the short sessions applied himself with diligence ; a friend visiting the family when Harrison was about 8 years old, as a token of esteem gave him 123 cents, which was his first money, and with which he purchased a spelling book : at the age of 17, he left the farm, and was apprenticed to John Swan- ner, of Mansfield, to learn the blacksmith trade ; dur- ing his apprenticeship he associated himself with a reading club, where he spent his leisure time obtaining useful information and increasing his limited educa- tion ; to use his own term, he graduated in Swanner's blacksmith-shop, with the highest honors of his trade, when 21 years of age ; on Dec. 1, 1840, the day he was 21 years old, he commenced to work in the employ of Albert Minerly and Downing H. Young, in Shelby, in which place he has since resided ; he some time after-

ward started for himself, but had the misfortune, about the time he was fairly under way, to lose his shop by fire, consuming two sets of tools ; by the aid and kind- ness of his neighbors he was set at work in a short time; he worked at his trade until the fall of 1852, when on account of physical disability he quit the shop ; after the election of Franklin Pierce, and through the advice of Dr. John Mack, Thomas Mickey and other friends, he applied for the appointment of Post- master of Shelby; he received the indorsement of every county official, and his application was numer- ously signed by his neighbors, with several prominent men from other States ; this was necessary, as he had rabid opposition from the friends of the acting Post- master; he was appointed Postmaster about June 1, 1853 ; he filled the same acceptably to Oct. 1, 1860; during this time he acted as Mayor, for nine months, filling an unexpired term; during the campaign of 1860, the Breckenridge and Lane committee asked him to contribute the sum of $10 for political purposes, but being a Douglas Democrat he wrote a scathing letter, which lost him the position ; the following is the reply, and at the time it probably was more circulated than any document of the campaign :

" SHELBY, Ohio, July 24, 1860.

" SIRS: In answer to your note of yesterday, demand- ing $10 in consideraiton of my official position as Post- master, to aid in making a political canvass in favor of Breckenridge and Lane, I will say that it can in no way be acceded to by me.

" Under the present circumstances, and the manner in which you make the demand, I deem it an insult and an outrage upon every principle of honor, integrity and independence, that ought to characterize the con- duct and actions of every American citizen, be he high or low, rich or poor ; and I cannot do otherwise than treat it as such, without a total sacrifice of the rights of conscience, and a cowardly submission of every prin- ciple of manly independence.

" I therefore spurn your demand as an offered bribe for the paltry place of a few official crumbs.

" I wear no official halter around my neck. I learned the principles of Democracy from my mother's knee ; I have been a Democrat all my life, and expect to die one.

" In 1852, to the extent of my humble ability, I did what I could in contributing to the election of Franklin Pierce and sustaining the compromise measures of 1850.

" To carry out the same principles and measures in 1856, I again did what I could to aid in the election of James Buchanan, to maintain those principles and measures, so just to all sections of the country.

" And now again in 1860, if God spares my life, when a still more dangerous and formidable attack is made upon those time-honored principles of the Democratic party by fanatical disunion factionists, both North and South, and an unholy attempt is made to break up and crush out the only national conservative party-and to that end I am invited to contribute aid.

" I will do all I am able in any honorable way to sus- tain and carry out those principles, and uphold the na- tionality of the Democratic party, in the election of our noble standard-bearers, Stephen A. Douglas and Her- schel V. Johnston. If I cannot do this and longer hold

887

SHARON TOWNSHIP.

my official position as Postmaster of the little village of Shelby without offending the powers that be, then I no longer desire the position-they may cut off my Douglas head. If this be treason, then let it come !- let it come ! may we profit by the example !' "

MORTON, N. S., farmer and an early settler; was born in Massachusetts Aug. 12, 1808 ; his parents were farmers; they emigrated to New York about 1817, where young Morton remained until he was 21 years of age ; he then emigrated to Richland Co., and entered an 80-acre tract of land, now known as the Jacob Clark farm; after being on the farm for ten years, and clear- ing a considerable portion of it, he sold and purchased the farm on which he now resides ; he is an intelligent, comprehensive man. He was twice married : his first wife was Eliza Ann Gamble, of Sharon Township, to whom he was married Aug. 16, 1830; they had six children, all living, five sons and one daughter ; his sec- ond wife was Mrs. Ann E. Douling; they had nine children, three of whom are living.

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