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 152

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 152

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).

SMITH, JOHN S., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mansfield. Mr. S. was born in Washington Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1813; came to Richland Co., in April, 1816. He was married to Electa Ann Barnes Sept. 24, 1867 ; she was born in this county May 6, 1838 ; they have four children two sons and two daughters-Nowel E., Jedadia, Leunyn and Blanche E. Mrs. Elenor Smith lives with Mr. Smith ; she was born in Washing- ton Co., Penn., Feb. 26, 1807 ; came to Richland Co. April 17, 1817 ; she was married to John K. Barnes March 1, 1827; he was born in the State of Virginia Oct. 1. 1801. John K. Barnes went to the late war and never returned ; she has been a member. in good standing, of the Methodist Church for forty-six years.

STEWARD, JOHN (deceased). He was a farmer, stock-raiser, surveyor aud Justice of the Peace for several years in this township; he was born Nov. 4, 1787, near Washington, W. Va. He was married to Margaret Thompson Oct. 5, 1809; she was born in York Co., Penn., April 7, 1787 : came to this county in April, 1815; they had ten children, three sons and seven daughters-Samuel, William, Robert, Sarah, Susannah, Harriett, Maria, Margretta, Julia Ann and Moranda. Robert Steward was married to Christena Irick ; she was born in Wayne Co. ; they have two children. Samuel Steward was married to Eliza Fletcher ; they have four children. Susannah Steward was married to John Farmer ; they have two children. Harriett Stew- ard was married to Adam Case ; they have ten children. Margretta Steward was married to Ephraim Newton ; they have two children. Moranda Steward was married to John B. Colwell; they have four children. Sarah Steward was married to John B. Ramsey; they have nine children.

STEWARD, WILLIAM, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mansfield ; was born in this county May 16, 1815. Was married to Martha I. Law Dec. 13, 1866 ; she was born in this county Aug. 27, 1826. John Steward died March 21, 1866, at the age of 78 years 4 months and 17 days. Mrs. Margaret Steward is living with her son,

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William ; she is now 93 years of age ; she has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church for fifty-four years.

WAGNER, JOHN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bellville. Mr. Wagner was born in Waide Selders, Prussian Germany, in 1819; he came to this county in the spring of 1848; his occupation at that time was tailoring, which business he carried on several years ; he then bought 10 acres of land from John Workman, where he remained three years ; then he sold out to John Clever, and moved to Morrow Co. and re- mained six months, then he returned to this county, and bought 20 acres of land from Thomas Pollock, where he lived three years, then sold to Simon Arm- strong, and at the same time he bought 40 acres from Philip Wise, where he remained five years. Not satis- fied, he sold to William Foss, and bought 80 acres from George Woodruff; stayed there about two and a half years, and sold to John Faust, and bought 64 acres, where he remained one year and a half; he then sold 16 acres for cash, and moved to Mans- field and commenced the saloon business ; remained in this business six months, sold out and returned to his farm. Stayed there a short time, and sold to Jacob Sower, and bought 48 acres from C. C. Charles, where he remained nine years, and sold to Jacob Remy ; he again bought 82 acres from Christian Bare, where he now resides. He was married to Mary C. Remy in 1850; she was born in Germany in 1826; they have six children, two sons and four daughters- Theodore, Mina, Mary and Louisa ; William and Emma are dead. Mina was married to John Yunker in 1872; they have four children. Mrs. Wagner, the wife of John Wagner, died in October 1879, at the age of 54 years. She was a member of the German Reform Church during the main part of her life.

WILKINSON. WILLIAM, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Bellville; he was born in Kentucky in 1809; Mr. Wilkinson's parents came to this county in the fall of 1817; when he was 8 years of age, his father entered a half-section of land from the Government. Mr. Wilkinson was married to Caroline Collins in 1831. She was born in Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y.,

in 1813. Mr. Wilkinson now resides on one quarter- section of the land his father entered. They have four children, two sons and two daughters-James W., George M., Flora E., and one dead at birth. George M. was married to Kate Coleman in May, 1866. Flora E. was married to John Campbell in 1858 ; they moved to California in 1861, where he died ; she then returned to this county in 1865; she was again married to Mr. William Zay in 1867; they have two children.

WOODRUF, B. F., farmer and stock raiser ; P. O. Bellville ; he was born in this county Aug. 7, 1830 ; his parents came to this county about the year 1825 ; they bought the farm formerly owned by Mr. Foster, where Mr. W. was born. He has married to Miss J. M. Trump May 8, 1856; she was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1833. Mr. W. bought the farm formerly owned by his father, being part of the old homestead, where he now resides. They have six children, two sons and four daughters,-Rollin W., Frank A., Rachel E, Allis R., Lois L. and Rosa B., all living and single. Mr. Andrew Woodruff was born Oct. 9, 1787. He died Aug. 17, 1849, at the age of 61 years 10 months and 8 days. Rebecca, his wife, was born Oct. 28, 1789. She died Nov. 2, 1875, at the age of 86 years and 5 days. They moved from New York to this county about the year 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff were members of the Presbyterian Church in good standing for many years, and they remained active Christians until death.

YOUNG, PHILIP, farmer; P. O, Mansfield ; he was born in Brisen, Germany, in 1826. He came to this country, and landed at New York City in 1853, where he remained until he was married. He was united to Miss Helana Rummel in August, 1854 ; she was born in Brisen, Germany, in 1828. After his marriage he left New York City, and came to this county ; he resided in Mansfield four years; he then moved to Washington Township, and bought the farm owned by Lewis Kohiser, where he now resides ; they have six children, three sons and three daughters, named Christ, John, Philip, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Helana, of whom John is dead.

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CHARLES, NEWTON, farmer; P. O. West Windsor ; he was born on his present farm in March, 1845, and is a son of Elijah and Hannah Charles ; he remained at home until he was married in 1870, to Miss Carrie Crabbs, daughter of Dr. Crabbs, of Olivesburg; after his marriage he settled on the old homestead. He en- tered the late war in March, 1864, in Co. D, 102d O. V. I., and served until the close of the war. Mr. C. is a good farmer and a breeder of fine sheep and cattle.

CLINE, JOHN, farmer ; P. O. Olivesburg ; he was born in this county March 13, 1839, and is a son of John (deceased) and Nancy Cline. Mrs. Cline was a daughter

of Joseph and Rachel Flora, who removed from Vir- ginia in the spring of 1801 to Belmont Co., and in 1814 removed to this county and settled about five miles north of Mansfield ; they were among the first settlers that came in the county. Nancy was married in August, 1818, to John Cline; at her marriage her father gave her her choice of a horse or the price of it ; she concluded to take the horse, as her husband had none ; they moved to the farm on which Jacob Backinsto now lives, in the north- west part of Weller Township; they had no beds, no chairs, tables or anything of the kind to keep house with, or even a house to live in; they drove sticks in

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the ground, laid poles across, then brush over the top, and in that way lived until they could build their cabin ; they have raised eight children, four boys and four girls.

FICKUS, SAMUEL, farmer; P. O. Shenandoah ; his father came from Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1817, and located in Wayne Co., where he afterward lived. Mr. F. was married here in the fall of 1831, and moved to the site of Ganges, where he lived only six weeks ; he sold out at the end of that time, and returned to Wayne Co .; purchased a farm and lived there twenty-eight years ; in 1859, he sold the farm in Wayne, and again moved to this county, settling in Weller Township, and pur- chased the farm he now owns ; he has been a Justice of the Peace three years ; he has raised a family of three children, all of whom are married and settled.

FICKUS, JOHN W., farmer; P. O. Shenandoah ; his parents came to this township from Wayne Co., in 1846, and settled where Mr. F. now lives; he remained at home until the opening of the late war, when he en- listed in MeLaughlin's Squadron of cavalry, and passed through the war with that regiment ; he was through the Atlanta campaign, serving in all thirty-four months. After coming home, he married and settled on the old homestead, where he now resides ; he is now 33 years old, in the prime of manhood.

GATES, M. M., Superintendent of the county infirm- ary ; P. O. Mansfield ; he was born in this county Nov. 16, 1840, and is a son of Geo. and Elizabeth Gates, who came from Passaic Co., N. J., in 1828, and settled in Mifflin Township: they afterward moved to Williams and then Licking Co., and finally to Richland Co. again. The subject of this sketch is the eleventh of a family of twelve children ; he remained at home until he was 19 years old, when he went to work on the Pan Handle R. R., and, at the breaking-out of the rebellion, enlisted in July, 1861, in Co. E, 12th O. V. I., where he served thirty-seven months ; he took part in the follow- ing battles : Second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Hunter's raid to Lynchburg, Scary Creek, with Gov. Wise of Virginia, Fayetteville, Pincton, Cloyd's Mountain, and many others ; and at the close of the war he went back to railroading, where he worked three years ; he was two years in Iowa, and in 1873 took charge of the Richland County Infirmary, which position he has filled with honor and credit both to himself and the county. He was married in 1874, to Lydia A. Ger- man, whose parents were formerly of New York.

HALE, JAMES C., farmer; P. O. West Windsor. Mr. Hale was born in Jefferson Co. in 1812; his parents came to this county when he was quite small ; his father was a hard-working, industrious man, who cared more for the comforts of life, and who remained closely at home. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until he was 32 years old, when he was married, and settled on the farm on which he now resides ; he has accumulated the conveniences and comforts of life, and now begins to enjoy the fruits of his work.

HAGERMAN, JAMES O., farmer ; P. O. Mansfield ; he was born in Belmont County in 1811, four years after his parents came to this county ; he remained at home until 18 years old, when he went away to learn the carpenter trade ; he followed that occupation until about two years ago, when his age prevented him from

pursuing it farther. He is now 69 years old, and has raised a family of eleven children, four of whom are married ; he sent two sons to the army in the late war, one of whom died there of typhoid fever; the other served his full term of three years ; he was wounded in the arm while in the service; both the boys were in the 15th O. V. I .; Mr. Hagerman's father served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison ; in following an old In- dian trail that led to Fort Mackinaw, he thought at one time, while on the march, if he had 100 acres of land as fine as he then viewed, it would be all he would want; in 1815, he entered that same land, and built his cabin there; Mr. H.'s house now occupies the site; this same year his father brought his family ont ; he died in 1822, leaving the family in the care of his wife and James ; he aided his mother in their care, and now, in his old age, sees with pleasure the work of a long and busy life.

HAGERMAN, WILLIAM, farmer; P. O. West Wind- sor. The parents of Mr. Hagerman emigrated to Har- rison Co., Ohio, from Virginia in 1815; soon after that, they came to this county, where they continue to re- side. His father, Joseph Hagerman, served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison; Mr. Hagerman was born the same year his parents came West ; his father died when he was but 3 years of age, and he was in consequence deprived of his care, and could get but little time to attend schools. He was always in school when he could attend, and enjoyed the sports of the juveniles then with a hearty relish. He had often par- ticipated in " barring out " the teacher, a practice then much in vogue. He was also quite a hunter in his day, and could trap and hunt with any one. His mother brought up the family as well as the circumstances of the times and her situation would permit. He had five brothers and sisters; he remembers an incident of his brothers which is worth preserving: Coming home from one of the neighbors one day, he saw in a clear- ing an old chestnut stump, thirty or forty feet high, one of whose topmost snags had been set on fire by some means. The boy imagined the fire to be the devil, and ran home as fast as his legs could carry him, to narrate the news and get the gun, with which to dispatch his majesty; his mother, however, quieted him and dispelled the illusion, though the boy stoutly affirmed for some time he was not mistaken. When Mr. Hagerman was 18 years old, he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade ; after learning it, he married Mary Bealby in 1844 ; her parents emigrated to this county from England in 1824; soon after he married, Mr. Hagerman moved to the farm he now owns, which he has highly improved, and made a comfortable and convenient home ; Mr. and Mrs. Hagerman have raised six children, five boys and one girl, of whom four are married ; one son, Oliver Hager- man, was in the war of the late rebellion, in the 100-days service. William Hagerman has been honored with the office of Justice of the Peace twice, and with the Treasurer of the township.

HAVERFIELD, JOSEPH, farmer ; P. O. Mansfield; his parents came from Harrison Co., and settled on or entered the land Mr. H. now owns. Ilis father served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and was in the battle of Mackinaw. Mr. H. lived at home until he was 34 years old, when he married and settled on the

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homestead on which he yet lives. He enlisted in the Second Ohio Cavalry, Co. G, and was in the battles of Cumberland Gap and Knoxville, and was also in the pursuit of Morgan, when that person made his famous Ohio raid. Since his return home, Mr. H. has quietly pursued his vocation as a farmer. He has held the office of Assessor two terms, 1875 and 1876, as well as other minor offices in the township.

HAVERFIELD, ALLEN, farmer; P. O. West Wind- sor. Mr. H.'s parents came to this county from Harrison Co. in 1814, and settled on the tract of land now owned by Joseph Haverfield; they were among the earliest settlers of this township. Allen was born in 1826; he remained at home until 1855, when he was married and settled where he now resides. He served in the 100- days service in the late war. He was Assessor of the township in 1863 and 1864, and has held other offices of trust in the township.

MILLER, E. P., farmer; P. O. Shenandoah; his parents came from Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1832, and located on the farm on which Mr. M. now lives. He was born here in 1839, and remained at home until he was 21 years old ; he then went to California and spent ten years in the gold mines in that State; at the end of that time he returned home, was married, and settled on the homestead, where he has since resided.

MOTTAYAW, JACOB, farmer ; P. O. Mansfield. Mr. M.'s parents emigrated to this county from Baltimore, in 1834, when he was 4 years of age ; he remained at home until he was 17 years old, when he went to Mans- field to learn the blacksmith's trade; he followed that thirteen years, when he came home and worked on the farın three years; at the end of that time he married and settled on the farm adjoining his parents' place ; he has since made that his home. He is now 50 years of age, and in the full vigor of life. He has acquired a fine home for himself and his family.

OSBUN, ALFRED, farmer; P. O. Mansfield ; he was born in this county, and has always remained a resident here ; he lived with his parents until he was 35 years old, when he married and settled on a farm near them ; when his father settled in this county, it was three miles to his nearest neighbors ; the mills built on Mr. O.'s farm are among the early ones of the county ; the grist-mill is now abandoned, but the saw- mill is yet used ; the former was erected by his father, when Mr. O. was a boy, about 1834 or 1835. Mr. O. is now about 56 years old, and in the best of health.

OSBUN, CHARLES, farmer; P. O. West Windsor ; he was born in Mansfield Dec. 25, 1821, and is a son of Isaac and Emelia Osbun, who emigrated from Wash- ington Co., Penn., to this county in 1816; he (Isaac) had entered a tract of land in Weller Township in 1814, but owing to the unsettled condition of the times he did not move until 1816, when he settled in Mansfield, where he lived until the fall of 1821, when he moved to his farm in Weller Township ; he erected the first farm- house in the then village of Mansfield ; he held various offices in the township and county, and in 1821 he was appointed Associate Judge, which office he filled, with honor and credit, two terms of seven years each. The sub- ject of this sketch remained at home until he was mar- ried, Oct. 2, 1843, to Ann E. Hand, who was born in Wooster Dec. 30, 1826 ; she is the daughter of Samuel

H. and Fredricka Hand, the former of whom came from England, and the latter from Holland, about the year 1800. After his marriage, Mr. Osbun settled on part of the old homestead and present farm; Mr. and Mrs. Osbun have raised seven children-Walter A., Alfred R., Edwin K., Laura C., Cary L., Hanz W. and Carrie May Third, who was named after the day of the month on which she was born ; Walter A. was lost in the war of the rebellion.

PITTENGER, H. O., farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. West Windsor; was born in Franklin Township, in 1839 ; was raised a farmer. His father, Mr. Isaac Pit- tenger, came into the county about 1830, there being but little improvement at that time; there were five children in the family, four boys and one daughter; two of the boys have since died ; the danghter lives in Stark Co., Ohio, and both sons live in Richland Co .; Mr. H. O. Pittenger has always lived in the county. He enlisted August, 1862, in Co. D, 102d O. V. I. he served till the war was over, and was discharged May 31, 1865. Was married, April 23, 1871, to Miss Sarah Mary Morgan, of Weller Township, and daughter of Mrs. Mary Mor- gan ; they have two children now living. Mr. Pit- tenger is one of the substantial men of the county ; he was elected Township Trustee in the spring of 1879; he has as fine a farm and pleasant home as there is in Weller Township; his farm consists, in all, of 400 acres of land, and he has some of the finest stock to be found in the county ; he has some thorough-bred short-horns, one that weighs over 2,200 pounds, and a two-year-old that weighs 1,230 pounds, both have pedigrees ; he also has some of the best sheep in the county ; has one ewe that clipped 16 pounds of wool and cleansed 8 pounds of nice clean wool. Mr. Pittenger has every facility needed for raising and keeping fine stock.

ROBINSON, WILLIAM, farmer ; P. O. West Wind- sor ; his parents came to this county from England in 1821 ; they located in what is now Franklin Township, where William was born ; he remained at home until the death of his father, in 1850. In 1859, he was married and settled in the old homestead, where he now lives. One of his brothers enlisted in the army, as a Lieutenant, and rose to the rank of a Major General; he was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, but recovered, and is now occupying a responsible position. When William's parents came, they were a novelty to the average Yankee, who, full of curiosity and inquisi- tiveness, was not slow to find their good qualities, and always held them in great esteem.

RUTAN, ABRAHAM, farmer ; P. O. West Windsor: his parents came from Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1822, and settled in what is now Ashland Co., then a part of this county. Mr. R. was then about 8 years of age ; he remained there until 1851, when he came to Weller Township, and bought the land on which he now lives ; he kept "bachelor's hall" until 1860, when he was married ; when he came to this county he had to haul his produce to the lake, his nearest mar- ket ; now he has a good home and a market in a few miles for everything he can raise.

STEVENSON, MINERVA, MRS .; P. O. West Wind- sor ; she was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1813 ; she removed with her parents, William and Elizabeth Foulks,

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to this county in 1825,and settled in Franklin Township, about one mile south of Shenandoah ; her father, William Foulks is of German descent; he came from Germany with his parents when small, and settled in Beaver Co., l'enn. Mrs. S. was married to Samuel Stevenson, in the spring of 1835. He died in 1864 ; after their marriage, they settled on the present farm in Weller Township; Mrs Stevenson has raised eleven children; she had two sons, Levi and William, who served in the rebel- lion in the 163d O. H. G ; her father, William Foulks, served in the war of 1812 as Captain under Gen. Beall.

URICH, JOIIN, farmer ; P. O. Shenandoah; he was born in Dauphin Co., l'enn ; in 1831, he removed with his parents to this county and settled in Franklin Township ; he remained at home until 1848, when he married and settled on his present farm. His farm comprises about 425 acres, and is admirably arranged in every particu- lar : there are no better fences in the county than are on his farm, and everything about him is in perfect trim. He keeps the best of stock, believing that it is far better to pay a big price for something good than to be bur- doned with an inferior grade ; his buildings' are neat, commodious and arranged with a view to convenience. He is a close observer of the times in which he lives, and always profits by any suggestion of value, whether it be social, educational or agricultural. Above all, he exercises special diligence in the proper education of his family in its broadest sense ; he is, in fact, the living ideal of a true American farmer.

WARD. CHRISTIAN, farmer; P. O. Olivesburg; he was born in Lancester Co., Penn., in 1818; he lived at home on the farm until 1849, when he was married, and in the same year he came to this county to look after some land that his father had entered some time before in Weller Township ; he leased it out for a few years, and then moved on it and went to farming, him- self; Mr. Ward has been honored with the office of Justice of the Peace nine years, and Infirmary Director and other minor offices in the township ; he has, by his industry and strict attention to business, put him- self in such a position that he can give each of his chil- dren a farm when they become of age. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have raised eight children, three of whom are dead ; he lost one son, Jacob, in the late war. He en- listed in Co. G, 15th O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Nashville, Tenn.

WARD, JOHN, farmer; P. O. West Windsor ; was born in England in 1816. His father, together with his family, came to this country in 1819, and located where Mr. Ward now lives ; his father, Mr. Joseph Ward, was the first school teacher, and taught the first

school in this part of the township; the first school- house was built of logs, in 1823, near Olivesburg ; the one built near West Windsor was built about 1826. There were a few settlements around, within a mile or two, when they came here, and very little improve- ments made in the shape of buildings and clearing up the farms. They now have a very fine farm and a pleasant home. Mr. Ward has always lived here, with the exception of one year that he lived in South Car- olina; while there he, together with a brother, were engaged in staging and carrying the mails over the route from Washington City to New Orleans ; they run from Columbia, S. C., to Augusta, Ga. The manner and habits of the people there were not becoming to Mr. Ward's idea of living and thinking, and at the expira- tion of one year, he returned home, where he has since lived ; he has occupied several offices in the gift of the people, such as Township Trustee, which he held for several years, also Township Clerk, etc., and is one of the first men in the township. He was married in 1844, to Miss Mary N. Condon, of Mifflin Township. Her father was one of the first settlers of Springfield Township : came in 1815 ; was Sheriff of the county at one time. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are highly respected citizens, and have a nice and intelligent family ; they have a steam saw-mill in connection with the farm, owned and operated by his sons, C. C. and C. P. Ward, which has been in successful operation over one year.

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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