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 156

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 156

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).

Thomas McBride in her 20th year, A. D. 1828, by whom she had four children-Rebecca (now Rebecca Deen), Hugh McB., Elizabeth (widow of the late Wm. Darling), John McBride. After eleven years of wedded life, death called the husband and father hence, leaving the widow with the care of a young family. After re- maining his widow eleven years, she was again mar- ried, April 11, 1850, to James McCurdey, with whom she lived ten years, when she again became a widow. James McC. was born in the State of Pennsylvania, 1791; he came to Worthington Township at an early day, and entered 160 acres of land in Sec. 12. Was married to Sarah McKonkie, who was born in 1796, by whom he had one son and two daughters; she died Dec. 24, 1844, having lived twenty-nine years after her marriage. Mr. McCurdey was one of the early settlers of the county ; it cannot be ascertained when he came here, but there were but few settlers in the township ; the land was covered with timber, which required an immense amount of hard labor to clear away ; they then had but few tools, and they were often of an inferior quality ; fire was often used, but it was more often a source of mischief than benefit. The Widow McCurdey is spending the remaining years of her life on a part of the old homestead, which is farmed by John Coe; she lives all alone, preferring solitude, where she can think of the past, and of the future life that is soon to be to her a haven of rest.

MCCURDEY, ROBERT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Perryville. Robert McCurdy's great grandpar- ents emigrated from Ireland about the year 1760, the present generation being of Scotch-Irish descent ; his grandfather was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., June 4, 1768 ; was married to Elizabeth McKelvey March 30, 1790, by whom he had three sons and six daughters; he owned 150 acres of fine land which he sold, and came to Richland Co. in 1824; he and the entire family belonged to the Presbyterian Church ; he held numerous prominent offices in his native State, and died in Richland Co. July 24, 1839. Wm. McCurdey, the father of Robert and John, was born Dec. 12, 1794; he was married to Elizabeth McKelvey Nov. 5, 1817, who was born in 1791; the result of this marriage was two sons and three danghters ; his wife had three broth- ers, all of whom were in the battle of Brandywine and numerous other engagements ; one of them, Will- iam McKelvey by name, held a Captain's and, perhaps, afterward a Colonel's commission ; once when out with his comrades on a foraging expedition, they were sur- prised by a superior force of the enemy ; thinking dis- cretion the better part of valor, they fled ; the British pursued with bayonet fixed, and this Captain, to avoid his enemies, ran under some low trees, where his cap caught in the limb ; he ran a few steps but could not bear the idea of losing it ; turning quickly, he snatched it from the bush just as a powerful soldier was about to claim it; his treasure secure, he lost no time in re- gaining his camp; but when he came to look at the cap he found it was not of much service, being pierced by nine musket balls. William McCurdey was a farmer, and the owner of 200 acres of land, previous to his to his death ; his family belonged to the Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches ; his wife died April 21, 1832 ; he survived her until Sept. 16, 1867. His son Robert

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was born May 4, 1819 ; was brought up to hard work, like all farmer lads at that early day, who had the grubbing-hoe in hand oftener than the spelling-book. He was married by Squire Hibberts to Miss Catherine Goon, May 26, 1842; she was born Sept. 5, 1819 ; their first child, Simon G., was born March 31, 1843 ; Jacob, May 28, 1846; Allen, March 14, 1849 ; Mckinley, Nov. 16, 1852. Robert and wife and his son Jacob and wife united with the Presbyterian Church in 1868. Mr. McC. has held numerous minor offices, also paid freely toward the support of the war of 1861. His sons are engaged in raising some of the finest breeds of horses and cat- tle that are to be found in the county ; his land is what is called second-bottom land, and cannot be excelled in the State. His father bought 160 acres in the northi- east quarter of Sec. 13, afterward 40 acres in the southeast corner of Sec. 12. Robert now owns 60 acres in Sec. 12, and 60 in Sec. 13 ; also 60 in Hanover Town- ship ; his son Jacob lives on his farm in Hanover. The McCurdeys are among the best citizens : they stand side by side with the best in the land; well may our c tizens be proud of their township, when it is com- posed of such men.

MCLAUGHLIN, ROBERT, M. D., Butler. His grand- father, James McLaughlin, was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., A. D., 1731 ; he was of Irish descent, and a farmer by occupation ; he was a soldier of the King, in the French and Indian war, and participated in the engagement where Gen. Braddock was defeated and killed ; at this time he was but 18 years old. When the rupture took place between the mother country and her colonies in America, he was among the first to take up arms against the tyrannical invaders ; he partici- pated in the battles of Cowpens, Brandywine, Yorktown and many other hot engagements ; he served with great credit during the entire war, and was honorably dis- charged at its close; after leaving the service, he returned to the peace and quiet of farm life. While a young man, he was the owner of two keel-boats, that plied on the Susquehanna River. He married an English lady named Mackey, by whom he had ten children, eight sons and two daughters ; he came to Ohio in 1801. He entered three or four farms in that part of the territory now included in Co- lumbiana Co .; previous to his death, he divided his real estate among his children ; he died in 1828, aged 97 years ; his widow lived to attain the advanced age of 103 years. His second son, named Jeremiah, was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., about 1776 : he was raised on a farm, which pursuit he followed during life ; he was married to a Miss McLain, by whom he had nine children ; five of whom are yet living ; he was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church and served in the capacity of Deacon for many years ; his wife died in 1847 ; his own death occurred in 1860. His son Robert was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1816. The early life of Robert was spent on his father's farm. He com- menced to study medicine in 1842, under the instruc- tions of Dr. Jacob S. Kehler, with whom he studied three years ; he then attended a course of medical lectures at Willoughby Medical College ; soon after this, he com- menced the practice of medicine at North Liberty, Knox Co .; while there, an honorary diploma was conferred upon him by a medical college of Cleveland ; he subse-

quently attended part of a course of lectures at the Western Reserve College, from which he also received a diploma. He commenced the practice of medicine in 1846 ; he practiced in North Liberty twenty-one years, and succeeded in acquiring a very good reputation and in securing a very lucrative practice. He has been twice married ; in 1840, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Aun Martin, by whom he had four sons, all of whom died in infancy, save their third son, Martin, who is now a rising physician of Independence, this township. His first wife died in 1850. He married for his second wife Miss Margaret Martin ; they were married in 1852 ; by this marriage he had four children, three sons and one daughter ; one son died in infancy ; their daughter died in her 17th year. C. C. McLaugh- lin, their eldest son, is preparing to enter upon the practice of his father's profession ; he has attended two courses of medical lectures, and intends to attend a third before entering upon the practice. After leaving North Liberty, Dr. McLaughlin settled on a farm he had purchased, situated in Worthington Township, one and a fourth miles south of Independence; he continued to reside on this farm till recently, when he removed to Independence.

MOWRY, DANIEL, farmer; P. O. Newville; he was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Jan. 12, 1823; his father's name was Jacob Mowry, and his mother's mai- den name Catharine Teeter ; his parents were both of German descent ; he came to this county with his parents in 1828; his parents purchased a farm in the soutlı- eastern part of Monroe Township, where they continued to reside as long as they lived. He remained with his parents, assisting his father in the improvement and cultivation of his farm till about 1846, when he was united, in marriage to Miss Catharine, third daughter of John and Lyda Stimely, of Monroe Township, by whom he has had eight children, four sons and four daughters, named in the order of their births as follows : Mary E., Catharine E., Miranda, Charles C., Annetta E, Willard S., William F., and Marion F. Miranda died when about 10 years old and Willard at the age of about 6 months ; Catharine was abont 22 or 23 years old, when she died ; her disease was consumption. The deceased children of Mr. Mowry and wife were all buried in the St. John's Cemetery. The first farm owned by Mr. Mowry was 101 acres, in the southeastern part of Monroe Township, now owned by John Fergusou. He lived on this farm about fourteen years ; he then sold it and bought a farm of 245 acres, situated about one- half mile west of Newville ; he subsequently sold a part of this farm. He now owns 125 acres of choice land ; Mr. Mowry isan enterprising farmer and a good citizen ; he is a friend of the cause of education, of the church, and of the Sabbath school, in each of which he takes deep interest ; he has two children, a son and a daugh- ter, who are successful school-teachers.

NORRIS, WILLIAM, farmer ; P. O Butler. William Norris was born in Huntingdon Co., Hopewell Township, Sept. 19, 1818; he never had a coat made by a tailor until he was 21; he used to work in the fields with nothing but a long tow shirt on ; but few boys at the pres- ent day know much of hard work compared with Mr. Norris' experience ; he never had but two or three months' schooling in his life, and had to walk about

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three miles to school in order to obtain that ; when but 15 years of age, he made his hand as cradler in com- pany ; he had a doctor visit him but once in his life ; he came to the State of Ohio in 1835, and located in Holmes Co., where he remained eighteen months. His father, Jonathan Norris, was born March 30, 1793 ; he was a farmer by occupation. Ile was married to Jane Feley ; she was of Irish descent, and was born in Sep- tember, 1788; she had five daughters and two sons by Jonathan Norris ; she also had a son and daughter by Jacob Long, her first husband ; William Norris and his sister Jennie (Lee) Norris are all that are alive of the second set of children Jonathan Norris came to Ohio in 1835, and settled in Holmes Co., where he re- mained over one year ; he owned 80 acres of land, which he sold and came to Worthington Township, where he bought 160 acres, which he improved. Ilis wife died Feb. 19, 1861, and he died Nov. 26, 1861. William Feley, Mrs. Jane Norris' father, served in the Revolutionary war; he had a finger shot off which came near mortifying; he was subsequently discharged from service on account of it; on his way home he slept in the woods, rolled up in his blanket ; one morn- ing he awoke to find two feet of snow over him. Will- iam Norris was married to Margaret Measle Dec. 11, 1842, who was born Aug. 11, 1818, in the State of Maryland ; she bore him three sons and three daugh- ters-Amos D., Susan H., Nancy, John and Mary (twins), John died in his 17th year. Margaret Norris died Oct. 18, 1866, after a wedded life of twenty-four years. Mr. Norris was married to Rebecca Daugherty March 3, 1868 ; she was a daughter of Charles Daugh- erty, whose history is elsewhere stated in this book; she was born May 30, 1840 ; she is the mother of three sons and two daughters-Charley D., Nicholas, Jennie, Minnie and Franklin, who died March 13, 1879 ; he was born March 20, 1878. Mr. Norris' first land was 80 acres of the old homestead, now occupied by John Bittinger ; he afterward bought 80 acres in Jefferson Township, which he sold and made $300; afterward bought the Samuel Hoover farm of 56 acres, which he sold and made 82,400; then bought 80 acres of Mr. Hammet for $1,200 ; then the Teeter estate of 80 acres for $1,800 ; then his father's estate of 80 acres ; after- ward the Mike Croner farm of 80 acres for $3,300, and sold to a daughter and son-in-law for $3,300 ; then 80 acres in Paulding Co., Ohio, for $800; he also has a single lot and a lot of two acres in Mansfield, Ohio ; bought 50 acres of the William Darling estate for $2,500; he owns a lot in Independence. Mr. Norris owns 452 acres ; he has paid to his first five children $6,000 ; his last children are to receive the same in addition to their regular share. Mr. Norris was not worth $5 when 21 years of age ; he has always been temperate in his habits, worked hard and econ- omized. He never chewed tobacco, nor swore, never smoked a cigar in his life. He is worth from $35,000 to $40,000. He never received any estate from his or wife's parents. He owns the finest house in Worth- ington Township, and is called one of the finest busi- ness men.

PEARCE, JAMES W., merchant, Independence. His father, Lewis Pearce, was born in Allegheny Co., Penn. ; he was a farmer by occupation his wife's

maiden name was Lydia Bowser; she was born in the city of Philadelphia ; her father was super- intendent of a glass factory ; they were married in Williamsport, Penn., and emigrated to Richland Co. in 1811; they had eight children-Sarah, An- drew, William Bowser, Elizabeth, James W., Lucinda, Hannah Jane, Ayers-all lived to marry and raise fami- lies. They had many hardships to endure ; they went to Lancaster for flonr, to Zanesville for salt, and to Wooster for clothing and groceries ; the balance of the time was spent in farming and clearing the land. They lived in Knox Co., near Frederickstown, about twelve years-where they died in 1852, the mother three months before the father, she being 70 years of age, and Mr. Pearce 75. James W. Pearce was born in a little log cabin in Green Township (now Ashland Co.) June 19, 1814 ; he soon learned to endure the privations of a pioneer boy ; when 20 years of age, he went to Lancaster, Fairfield Co., where he worked in a flouring-mill one year, and for the next five years he was Superintendent for the construction of the Hock- ing Valley Canal, under the employ of the State ; he went to Brownsville, Knox Co., where he became a merchant in 1841. He married Emily C. Dunkan, July 14, 1842; he removed to North Liberty in 1849, where he opened a store ; he removed it to Independ- ence in 1856, where he carries on a store and gen- eral banking business ; he has been freight and ex- press agent for fifteen years ; he has had a family of three sons and four daughters-Alwilda, who married Charles Weant ; William A., who married Louisa, daughter of the Rev. James Williams; Iona, who married Dr. J. M. McLaughlin ; Quintilla, married to James J. Anngst ; James B. Pearce, Heenan A. Pearce and Emma A. Pearce.

PEALER, JOHN F., farmer; P. O Newville ; was born in the town of Bighenbauch, Darmstadt, Ger- many, Dec. 14, 1804. His father's name was Peter Pealer, and his mother's maiden name, Fredrica Hart- man. His father, was a farmer, by occupation : the subject of this sketch was trained by his parents ; he remained with his father, assisting him in his farming operations, till about the time he maintained his majority ; in the meantime, however, he was sent to school, and, by due diligence, succeeded in acquiring a pretty fair knowledge of the common German branches. While yet a young man, he was united in marriage to his cousin, Miss Margaret, second daughter of Fredrick and Eve E. Pealer, of Seheim, a town in his native State, Oct. 27, 1827. Margaret Pealer was born Sept. 22, 1807. Mr. Pealer and wife came to this country in the fall of 1838; after landing in New York, they wended their way to Richland Co., Ohio, and settled near Newville, in Worthington Township; when they arrived at their destination, all they could reasonably call their own, was a family of three small children, a few articles of bed-clothing, a scanty wardrobe, and $1.20 in money; they secured the use of a stable, into which they moved, and where they continued to reside till better quarters could be obtained : ere long they found a vacant cabin, which they occupied during the winter in the spring next ensning, they removed to a cabin at Hemlock Falls, in the same township, and in the same vicinity ;

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WORTHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

here they continued to reside about eight years, during which time tlie husband was employed as a day laborer; At the end of this period, Mr. Pealer leased a quarter- section of land, situated near Newville, of Peter Alex- ander. By the terms of the leaser, the lesse was to have three crops for clearing and fencing the land ; the whole farm being covered with a heavy growth of timber. In the spring of 1848, having cleared a small tract, he erected a cabin thereon, into which he re- moved with h's family. He and his eldest sons, who were at that time mere lads, went at once to work to free a portion of the soil of its incumbrance ; while on this farm they commenced a job of clearing on New Year's Day, and by dint of hard labor had nine and one-half acres ready for cultivation the following spring ; they cultivated this field in corn and raised a very good crop, and by fall they had five and one-half acres more cleared which they sowed with wheat. Mr. Pealer continued to reside on this farm eight years ; after his lease expired he farmed for Mr. Alexander on shares ; the ground being new and fresh, and Mr. Pealer an excellent farmer, his crops during this time were most abundant ; purchased 963 acres of land of Abner Davis, situated in Section 11 of this township, for which he paid $1,600 ; he immediately removed to this farm and with his usual energy set about improving and culti- vating it ; the annual products of this farm have, as a general thing, been quite abundant, and the labors of the Pealer family have been amply rewarded ; each of his sons is now the owner of more or less land. In 1860, Mr. Pealer bought of Robert MCon- kie 50 acres of land adjoining his first purchase, for which he paid $1,132; he subsequently bought 30 acres of the Stein heirs, for which he paid $1,718; his last purchase was 15 acres, which he sold for about the same he paid for it. John F.and Margaret Pealer are parents of ten children-eighisons and two daugh- ters; the following are their names in the order of their birth : Jane, Eve, John Alam, John Christo- pher, Fredrick A., John Philip, Jun Martin, George Alexander, Peter Alexander and Clrk Alexander; the last three were named for Peter Alxander, who was a bosom friend of Mr. Pealer; their wo daughters were born in Germany and died there ; oe at the age of 10 months and the other at the age of 8 years ; their three eldest sons were also born inGermany ; all the others were born in this township Adam and Clark live with their parents and are single Peteris married and lives on the old home farm ; Freerick A. lives on the Stein farm, of which he is the owner ; John C. re- sides in Boone Co., Mo., and owns a fem of 200 acres : John Philip lives in Fayette Co., Ill .; le owns 80 acres of land ; he served as Tax Collector 3 yars, and is now Sheriff of the county. John Martin wasa soldier in the late war; a Corporal in Co. I., 64th I.g., O. V. I .; he participated in many hard-fought battle; he was in the service two years, and was a brave andtrusty soldier ; at the battle of Chickamauga, he was sot through the right lung ; he was taken to the hospita at Nashville, Tenn., where he died from the effects of his wound, Oct. 27, 1863 ; he was buried at Nashvib; George A. was a private of Co. B, 120th O. V. , in the late war ; he was in the service one year, luring which

time he was engaged in five battles ; he was hon- orably discharged from the service on account of physical disability, incurred by the exposures inci- dent to camp life ; upon receiving his discharge, he returned to his home and friends, where every pos- sible effort was made to restore him to health, but all in vain ; he is buried at St. Johns, Monroe Township.

RAMSEY, JOHN, farmer; P. O. Butler; was born in Stark Co. March 27, 1812; he has been a farmer all his life, but at the same time has found time to turn his attention to other matters, which has shown his abili- ties as a financier ; during the war, he made money as a producer of wool ; he has held a number of offices. He commenced dealing in live stock in 1855, making more extensive purchases and sales than any man in the county ; latterly he has been speculating exten- sively in grain. April 26, 1838, he was married to Eliza Brown, by whom he had three sons and one daughter, who are now living; his first office was Constable; has served a number of years as Justice of the Peace; in 1854, he was elected Commissioner ; served six years ; afterward again elected to the same office; has been Township Treasurer four years ; has also served fifteen years on the Board of Education. He is the owner of 300 acres of land located in Sec. 16, 21 and 35. His father, Audrew Ramsey, was a native of the State of Pennsylvania ; he was married in West- moreland Co., that State, to Isabel Halferty, in 1810; they started for Ohio the same year ou horseback, and settled about five miles from Canton, in Stark Co .; he entered 160 acres of land, remained on it five years and sold it for $750 ; in 1815, he came to Worthington Town- ship, where he bought 160 acres of land for $3.50 per acre ; he was the first Constable elected in the township; he also was Trustee several terms. He belonged to the Union Church; he and wife were the parents of two sons and two daughters ; the mother died in September, 1862; his death occurred December 6, 1863. The subject of this sketch has been administrator of various estates; often collecting as high as $20,000, thereby showing the confidence and trust, not only in his honesty, but his business abilities, in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. In early life he united with the Union Church; in 1869, united with the Evangelical Church.

RIDER, WILLIAM, farmer; P. O. Newville; was born in Monroe Township, Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 1, 1830; his father, Henry Rider, was of German de- scent and a Pennsylvanian by birth ; his mother's maiden name was Mary Zimmerman ; Henry and Mary Rider are the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom attained to the estate of manhood and woman- hood ; Henry Rider and wife came to this county about A. D. 1823 ; Mr. Rider entered a quarter-section of land in the southeastern part of Monroe Township, which he improved and cultivated and on which he continued to reside as long as he lived ; he died Jan. 15, 1867; his wife died June 26, 1870; they are buried in the Schrack graveyard in Monroe Township. William Rider, third son of Henry and Mary Rider, was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Jane, second daughter of William and Isabelle McClellan, April 8, 1858; Miss McClellan was born in Worthington Township Aug. 1, 1828; her father was born in

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Westmoreland Co., Pa., 1793 ; her mother, whose maid- en name was Hazlet, was born near Hagerstown, Md., in September 1793; her parents were married in Westmore- land Co., Penn., A. D. 1819; her father was of Scotch descent ; his father and mother and some of his broth- ers and sisters were born in Scotland ; they emigrated to Ireland, where they remained a few years, and from there they came to America. William McClellan was a soldier in the army of 1812; he served a Lieutenant in a company of Pennsylvania militia, commanded by Capt. Charles Hurl ; his regiment was commanded by Col. Irvin Hurl. Andrew Hazlet, grandfather of Mrs. Rider on her mother's side, was born Dec. 22, 1756 ; he was married to Miss Ruth Adams, who was descend- ed from the same line of ancestry as John and John Q. Adams ; Miss Adams, who subsequently became Mrs. Andrew Hazlet, was either first or second cousin to John Q. Adams; Andrew Hazlet was a soldier in the war of the Revolution; his father and moth- er and infant brothers were murdered by the Indians ; he served through the Revolutionary war and participated in many of the hard-fought battles ; was with Washington during that memorable winter at Valley Forge; he died about 1832, and was buried in Westmoreland Co., Penn. William and Isabelle McClel- lan came to Ohio about 1823 ; they first settled in Sum- mit Co., where they remained till 1828, when they removed to Richland, and located near Newville, in Worthington Township. Mr. Mcclellan was a shoe- maker by occupation, and continued at that trade until 1838, when he purchased the farm now owned by Worth Lemmons in this township. IIe continued to reside on this farm as long as he lived ; he died July 6, 1866, aged about 72 years ; his widow died April 7, 1877, aged about 84; they are buried at the Bunker Hill graveyard. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters ; the names of those who survived the period of infancy are as follows: Nathan- iel D., John A., Ruth A., Andrew H., Rebecca J., Rachel M., William D. and Elizabeth M. William D. died when about 4 years old; Andrew H. was a soldier iu the Mexican war; he served with credit during the full term of his enlistment; was engaged in many battles wherein he displayed great courage; he died of disease contracted in the army, at Mansfield, on his way home; he was aged about 23 years. Nathaniel died in Mansfield in January, 1879, and was buried there. Rachel married John Simmons, by whom she had two children, a son and daughter, both of whom are living ; she died in 1853, and was buried at Bunker Hill ; at her death Mr. Rider and wife took the two children, raised and educated them and trained them to habits of usefulness ; Mr. and Mrs. Rider are the parents of one child, a son, born Aug. 18, 1859; died May 10, 1863, and is buried at Bunker Hill. Mrs. Rider wrote a very touching poem on the death of her only child. The following accident in the early life of Mrs. Rider may be worthy of note : When she was about 2 years old, she was playing .in the yard with her brothers and sisters, when a huge hog, belonging to her father, seized her in his mas- sive jaws and started for the woods, closely pursued by the terrified father and mother, brothers and sisters. Their loud cries soon brought some of their neighbors

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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