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 158

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 158

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).

while storming the rebel breastworks. Their fifth, a son, born in 1844, named James T. was a member of the 25th O. V. I. in the late war; enlisted in 1861; veteranized at the end of two years ; returned home in safety ; was married to Sarah Croxton, and lives in Reed Township, Seneca Co., Ohio. Their sixth, a son, born in 1846, named William B., was a soldier in the late war; enlisted in 1863; was captured by the rebels ; was confined in Andersonville Prison eight months and in other places three months ; was discharged at the close of the war; returned home, and, in 1866, was married to Miss Lorena Hall ; lives in Floyd Co., Iowa ; his first wife dying, he was married to Miss Malinda Herring. Their seventh, a daughter, born in 1848. Their eldest, a daughter, was born in 1837, and was christened Martha A .; she was married to Levi Gam- ber ; she died in 1875. Their second child, a son, was born in 1839, was christened Thomas W .; was a mem- ber of the home guards during the late war; he died in 1863. Their third, a son, named Isaac V., born in 1840, was a soldier in the late war-a member of the national guards.

PLANK, JONATHAN, miller ; P. O. Butler. This industrious and energetic man was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1816 ; his father, Jacob Plank, was born in the same State about 1796 ; was a carpenter by trade, and married Barbara Zook, by whom he had four sons and three daughters ; all are alive and married except one daughter, who has died since her marriage. Jacob Plank came to Ohio and settled near Wooster, Wayne Co., in 1822; he lived here till his death in 1856; his widow lives with one of her sons in the State of Indi- ana. Jonathan, the eldest son, learned the trade of mil'er under his uncle, Abraham Plank, in Wayne Co .; served nine years, then worked in various mills in the county till the spring of 1846; then went to Prairie Township, Holmes Co., stayed till the fall of 1856, when he came to Richland Co .; he run the Baird mill till the spring of 1862, then bought half-interest in the Kanaga mill property one mile west of Independence ; he owned this till 1869, when he traded for the Pearce farm, east of Independence; owned it eighteen months, then bought the entire interest of the same mill property back again in 1873 ; he sold a half-interest to his son, E. A. Plank ; there are 60 acres of land connected with the mill ; their flour has the highest reputation of any in this part of the county ; people often come with their wheat from surrounding counties to have the same converted into flour. Jonathan Plank was mar- ried to Lydia King February, 1837 ; the result of this marriage was six daughters and four sons; three sons and one daughter are dead ; his wife died in March, 1859; was married to Mrs. Teeter, daughter of Samuel G. White, by whom he had two sons; he united in Wayne Co. with the Church of God ; there being none of that denomination near, he joined the Evangelical Association of Independence ; he is Trustee and Class- leader of the same. Mr. Plank was Township Trustee in Holmes Co .; also served here one term, when he re- fused to be re-elected, having plenty to see to and no desire to occupy an official position. His son E. A. Plank was in the one hundred-day service dur- ing the late war; at present he has charge of the mill.

935

AUBURN TOWNSHIP, CRAWFORD COUNTY.

BROWN, WILLIAM, farmer ; P. O. Tyro, Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio ; he was born in Indiana Co., Penn., July 13, 1807; he remained with his father until December, 1829, when his father died ; he emigra- ted to Ohio in May of the following year, and located on the southeast quarter of Sec. 8, Vernon Township, in the unbroken wilderness; here he remained thirty-four years; disposing of his land to Mr. H. Thoman, he purchased what is usually termed the William Cum- mins farm, about the year 1864, where he now lives ; it is a magnificent farm, nicely located. He married Miss Sarah Ellis, from near Steubenville, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1830 ; had ten children, six of whom are living-Joseph D., married to Miss Dixon ; George C., married to Miss Richards ; Elizabeth, married to W. Morton ; Martha J., married to Rev. Miller ; Mary, married to A. D. Sibert; and Amanda, married to Joseph Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have enjoyed excellent healtlı, and bear their age well ; are respected by their neighbors and all who know them. They are members of the M. E. Church.

CUMMINS, WILLIAM, one of the leading farmers and stock-growers of Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, was born in Indiana Co., Penn., March 28, 1834; he was brought up by his parents on a farm, receiving his education in the district school, until he became of age, when he took charge of a general line of merchan- dise, such as was kept in a country store, conducting the business about one year, when he disposed of the goods and went on the farm, where he remained one year, when he again engaged in business at Chambers- ville, Indiana Co., Penn., where he remained until Aug. 31, 1861, when he volunteered in a military or- ganization. Mr. Cummins ranked as Captain of the company, and was placed in the 14th Army Corps, com- manded by Gen. Thomas. Capt. Cummins resigned his command about Aug. 1, 1863, returning home sick. He emigrated to Ohio in August, 1864, locating on the D. C. Morrow farm, where he now resides, on a beautiful site, consisting of 600 acres in one body, a portion of . which lies in Plymouth Township, the balance in Au- burn Township, Crawford Co. The Captain married Miss Mary J. Morrow Aug. 24, 1864, and by their union had nine children, five of whom are living, viz .: Cora Elizabeth, David William, Joseph Dick, Julia Brown Mateer, Nancy Susan Clark. Mrs. Cummins was born Aug. 3, 1836, on their present farm; she at- tended school at Plymouth until she was about 18 years of age, finishing her education at Delaware, Ohio. Mr. Cummins was elected Treasurer of Auburn Town- ship in April, 1877, and Land Appraiser in October, 1879. As a family, they incline to the Presbyterian Church, and are respected by all who know them. Mr. Cummins is an active, energetic man, taking an interest in all public affairs, and has an interesting family, in which he takes a fond father's pride.

CUMMINS, WILLIAM, deceased. William, son of David and Mary (Trimble) Cummins, was born on the

5th day of February, 1809, in Indiana Co., Penn .; about the 9th year of his age, he removed with his parents to Richland Co., Ohio, his father having pre- viously, in 1816, located a tract of land some five miles west of Shelby ; lis boyhood and early manhood were passed in assisting to hew out a home in the then un- broken wilderness; sixty years ago, the facilities for acquiring an education in this county were compara- tively meager ; but such as they were, the subject of this sketch made the most of, for, in after years, he showed a thoroughness in the branches then taught, and a familiarity with the forms of business, that made him a man of mark in the community in which he re- sided ; in speaking of his early struggles to acquire an education, he always gave great credit to Rudolphus Morse and Benjamin Griffith. two of the most accom- plished teachers and best-informed men of their day ; upon arriving at his majority, he was elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held continuously until he re- moved from the township; the official business of that day was largely in collections, and many who have since acquired a competency, will remember his large-hearted leniency, when they were struggling to get a start in life. In March, 1831, he was married to Jane, daugh- ter of Abraham and Agnes (Wallace) Caliill, and the issue of this union was three sons and four daughters, to wit : Nancy, David, Abraham Cahill, George Wallace, Mary Eliza, Jane and Rebecca; Nancy, George W. and Mary are deceased. His wife died Dec. 17, 1853, and in 1855, he married Mrs. Matilda Dungan ; no issue by this marriage. About 1842, he united with the M. E. Church, and ever afterward was a consistent member, taking a deep interest in its welfare and prosperity. In politics, he was a Democrat of the old school, but love of country rose above party fealty, and he was among the first in Shelby, at the breaking-out of the late war, to insist that party lines should be obliterated until we had a united country. He was called to pre- side over the first war meeting held in Shelby, and among the very first held in the State, and always gave his time and money freely to further the cause of the Union and care for the families of the soldiers. In 1868, he removed to Tuscola, Ill., and purchased a tract of land, and gave himself strictly to its cultivation; the success that had followed him through life did not desert him here, and liis business continued prosper- ous. Some five years ago his bodily health failed, and the infirmities of age coming on, compelled him to seek a quiet and retired life. He spoke frequently and with- out fear of his fast-approaching end. Though long ex- pected, the final summons came suddenly to his surviv- iug friends ; he was stricken with paralysis and only survived a few hours ; he'left a widow and four children to mourn his loss. He was the father of David Cum- mins, of Shelby, and A. C. Cummins, of Mansfield, who were with him for several days prior to his death. The I. O. O. F., of which fraternity he was an honored member, performed the last sad rites at his obsequies.

936

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Thus passed to the better world beyond, one who filled more than an ordinary space in the affairs of his time, and, dying, left to his children the priceless legacy of an honored and honest name.

CUMMINS, DAVID, SR. (deceased), 'was born in Rockingham Co., Va., on the 28th day of February, 1782, and removed with his parents in 1790, to Indiana Co., Penn., where he grew to manhood ; he was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and belonged to a regiment that was raised for the defense of Baltimore ; in 1816, in company with Andrew Dixon, Sr., a widely and well known pioneer, he came to Richland Co., and purchased a tract of land on the Tiffin road, some eighteen miles distant from Mansfield, now a part of Auburn and Vernon Townships, Crawford Co., and shortly there- after removed his family to that place ; Mrs. Dixon and himself assisted William Green in building the first log house in all that country round about ; he was mar- ried in 1803 to Mary Trimble; the issue of this mar- riage was two sons and four daughters; his first wife dying in 1824, he married Rebecca Hoblitzell, by whom

he had one daughter, the late Mrs. Thomas Mickey, of Shelby ; the children by his first marriage were George, William, Eliza (married to Hon. R. W. Cahill), Jean- nette (married to Robert Cook, of Wayne Co., Ohio), Mary (married to Andrew Dixon, Jr.), and Nanoy ( married to James English); George Cummins married Caroline Hoblitzell, and William Cummins married Jane Cahill : David Cummins, Sr., was a man of great physi- cal endurance, remarkable for his energy and decision of character; he was of Scotch-Irish parentage and possessed many of the best qualities of both nationali- ties. In religion, he was a Presbyterian of the old school, and rigorously observed and carried out the teachings and tenets of his favorite church; he was emphatically a pioneer in all that the word imports, and had the will and the physical power to hew a home out of the then unbroken wilderness, and was largely instrumental in assisting all of his children to secure a fair start in life; he died Dec. 26, 1866, at the same old homestead that he selected for his home a half-cen- tury before.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, CRAWFORD COUNTY.

BARGAHISER, LEWIS G., farmer ; P. O. Crestline ; he was born near Shelby Feb. 28, 1829, and resided in Sharon Township till the fall of 1877, when he re- moved to the farm between Crestline and Leesville, where he and his family now reside. His father, Jacob Bargahiser, and his uncle Levi, settled on land near Shel - by about the year 1824. They were in the county, how- ever, as early as 1812 ; Levi was a boy, living with Mr. Ruffner on the Black Fork of the Mohican, when the mas- sacre of his and the Zimmer families occurred. Jacob, Levi, and their wives were each 77 years old at the time of their deaths.

BROWN, JOSEPH, farmer; P. O. Crestline ; he was born in Delaware Oct. 26, 1793; he says his wife was born the same day; they now reside on the farm where they settled in 1815-sixty-five years ago. Mr. B. was so severely injured by the cars some time ago as to re- quire the amputation of both legs near the knees ; still he can get about well on the stumps. His first habita- tion here was made of poles and covered with bark ; they lived in this rude structure some time before they erected a cabin. A hickory withe was used to draw the logs together at the cabin site ; he went to Knox Co. for corn till he could raise a crop, and had nearly twenty miles to go to mill ; wild game was then abun- dant, and furnished plenty of meat. Mr. B. was mar- ried, in 1824, to Elizabeth Hagar, daughter of Sebastian Swartz, who came to this country in 1820.

CAHILL, RICHARD WALLACE, farmer; P. O. DeKalb, Crawford Co., Ohio. Mr. Cahill was born in Derby Township, Westmoreland Co., Penn., March 6, 1801, and spent his early days upon the farm with his father, Abraham Cahill, in clearing land and doing general farm work; he moved from Pennsylvania to

Wayne Co., Ohio, about the year 1817, with his parents, four brothers and six sisters, he being the sixth in the family ; he continued on the farm with his parents un- til at the age of 21 years, when he came further west and settled in Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, first en- gaging in the dry-goods business as clerk in the store of Judge Inman, in whose service he remained five years. He married Miss Eliza Cummins, of Richland Co., and finally moved on his present homestead. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and has always been an active Democrat, taking a deep interest in the welfare of the party and all public affairs ; he has always been a rep- resentative man of his neighborhood, and, in 1841, was elected as Representative from Richland Co., to the Ohio Legislature, and was re-elected (as was the custom of his party in 1842, the terms then being only one year), during which term he served his constituents with marked ability and intelligence ; in 1850, he was elected as a member of the convention which framed the existing constitution of Ohio, in the debates of which are found his published speeches during the ses- sion ; in every public position he has exhibited that fidelity to public trusts, which has made him a man of mark in his community. He is a man of remarkable memory, entertaining intelligent and positive opinions on all questions coming under his observation. His family consists of eleven children, eight of whom are yet living, viz .: David C., who has served two terms as the Clerk of Court of Crawford Co .; James, Isaac, Rich- ard W., Jr., Warren J. C., Katie and Nettie : a son, Abraham Cahill, became a distinguished Attorney, member of the Dayton bar, and died at the very dawn of distinguished usefulness, deeply regretted by all who knew him. The career of the subject of this sketch has

937

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, CRAWFORD COUNTY.

been one of honor, usefulness, intelligence and every- thing that goes to make up a patriotic, conscientious, honorable man, worthy the imitation of all his children, relatives and friends.

CAROTHERS, GEORGE, farmer and stock-grower ; was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in May, 1839, and spent his early days on what is known as the Carothers homestead. He attended school in the district during the winter months until he was 16 years of age, when he taught a partial term in what was called the Fraser District, just north of Shelby ; the following summer, he took the proceeds of his school and attended school in Oberlin, Ohio ; he continued year after year in a similar manner for six consecutive years, thus educat- ing himself; he is a man of indomitable will, conse- quently making a success of all his undertakings. He enlisted in Co. C, 7th O. V. I., while attending school at Oberlin, in 1861 ; he participated in the following battles : Carnafax Ferry, Winchester, and the noted second battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded in the left leg; he was taken to the hospital at David's .Island, New York, where he received his discharge. Mr. Carothers married Miss L. M. Blackman in March, 1869 ; they have four very interesting children-Clara E., Minnie Myrtle, Lulu Dell and Georgie M. Mr. C. has a beautiful home, in which he with his wife and little ones are happy, loved and prosperous.

CAROTHERS, JOHN, farmer ; P. O. Hinesville; he was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, either in 1806 or 1807, the family record being lost in the sinking ship ; he, with his parents and three brothers, James, Christopher and George, emigrated to Ohio about the year 1813 or 1814, embarking at Londonderry on the sailing vessel Bohannon, everything passing as pleasant as a marriage bell until midnight of the forty- second day, when the vessel struck a rock, near Yar- mouth, Nova Scotia ; instantly all on board were fear- ful with anxiety and excitement; John Carothers, father of the subject of this sketch, was talking with the cap- tain at the time of the accident, both fearing she was lost; a council was called at once, Mr. C. Sr., being one of the twelve composing it, succeeded, in connec- tion with the second mate, Buchannan, in saving every soul on board, all else being lost; launching the life- boats, the command was to allow only women and chil- dren to leave the sinking ship, while the sterner sex remained to the last, though some disguised in women's apparel succeeded in leaving with the former; very soon they observed what appeared in the dark to be a cloud, and, on sending four sailors out, they returned with the joyful news of land, leaving one sailor to sig- nal; the island was composed of about four acres-by name Mud Island-and adjacent to Yarmouth. After landing all safe on this island, they hoisted a white sheet as a signal of distress ; thinking it would not be noticed, a lady took off her red flannel petticoat and attached to it, when the signal of distress was again hoisted, and about 10 o'clock a British man-of-war hove in sight,taking all on board, landing passengers and crew at Yarmouth, where they remained about two weeks, when they again boarded a vessel, and landed at Phil- adelphia during the month of July, their destination being Guernsey Co., Ohio, where Mr. Carothers re- mained with his parents, receiving his education at the

district schools, having to go five miles. About Octo- ber, 1837, he emigrated to old Richland (now Crawford Co.), Ohio, purchasing 165 acres of land, where he still resides. His wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Laird, was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, April 24, 1834. They have eight children, five of whom are living- John, Robert, George, James and Morton, all intelli- gent men, who take a general interest in the affairs of the country. John enlisted in the 1st Nebraska Regi- ment; James, in the 120th O. V. I., and Morton with the 100-day boys ; all returned home an honor to their parents and country. The subject of this sketch is a man of remarkable memory and powerful constitution ; he has had an eventful life, and after all its variations he is passing the remainder of life in comfort, peace and plenty.

· EATON, BENJAMIN, mail agent, Crestline; he was born May 4, 1821, in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, and came to this county in, December 1848. He was mar- ried Jan. 13, 1849, to Miss Harriet A. Martin, daugh- ter of the late John Martin, of Millersburg. Mr. Eaton resided in Millersburg until 1860, when he removed to Crestline, where he served as Provost Marshal during the late war; he was appointed mail agent in 1865 and yet holds the place, proving him to be an effective and trusty employe.

FROUNFELTER, ADAM, carpenter and joiner, Crest- line ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 13, 1809, and removed with his father, John Frounfelter, to the vicinity of Mansfield, in 1826; after working a few years at his trade, he bought and converted into town lots 10 acres of land which formed part of the village of Newcastle; he erected the first hotel in the place ; in 1834, he sold the hotel and bought 40 acres of land near Millsboro, sold it and bought a lot and built a house and shop in the village, where he carried on cabinet-making for fourteen years; he then bought, improved and sold first 6 acres and afterward 11} acres adjoining the village of Ontario; in 1865, he bought and removed to the 15-acre lot adjoining the town of Crestline, where he now resides ; having erected a fine house and made other improvements, he is well fixed for a comfortable living. He was married Oct. 31, 1834, to Elizabeth, daughter of the late John Mar- tin, proprietor of the village of Millsboro, and one of the leading citizens of the township till his death in 1848. Mr. Frounfelter has always been an active Democrat; was Postmaster at Ontario under the ad- ministration of President Buchanan, and says he hopes to live long enough to assist in electing another Demo- cratic President of the United States.

OGDEN, DAVID, carpenter and millwright, now a Justice of the Peace in Crestline ; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Aug. 10, 1819 ; he removed with his father to this county in 1825, settling first near Lexington, and removing, in 1828, to the land on which Crestline is now located, then a dense forest ; Sandusky Township was then six miles square and contained but few inhabitants ; for several years, the only school in the township was kept at a private house ; after the settlers had become more numerous, a meeting was held at Mr. Ogden's house to agree upon a site for a schoolhouse, and, to satisfy all, it was resolved to divide the township into two school districts, and erect two log schoolhouses,

938

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

instead of one ; so rapid was the increase of the popula- tion that in a few years other schoolhouses were built and several schools were in progress in the township. Crestline was commenced in 1850, the first passenger train on the railroad having reached that point in Janu- ary of that year. Mr. Ogden erected the first frame building in the village, and the first barn raised in the township without whisky was on the Ogden farm.

REED, JAMES M., now a grocer of Crestline, but for many years a prominent farmer and Justice of the Peace of Sandusky Township, was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., on May 28, 1814, and removed with his father's family to the farm upon which Reedsburg was afterward laid off, in Wayne Co., Ohio, and from there to the vicinity of Crestline in April, 1847, where he served for twenty-one years as Justice of the Peace of Sandusky Township. In 1875, he removed to Crestline, was again elected Justice of the Peace, and is now sup- plying the people with family groceries, and is one of the leading citizens of the place.

TYLER, SILAS, farmer, Crawford Co., Ill .; he was born Oct. 30, 1796, in Wayne Co., Penn. He was mar- ried June 11, 1820, to Elcy A. Austin ; afterward, he resided in Sullivan and in Tompkins Co., N. Y .; he settled in Richland County in October, 1837 ; he kept the hotel at Ontario two years; then removed to the 80-acre tract of land now owned by James S. Trimble, for which he paid $750; after improving the land, he sold it to Mr. Trimble for $4,000 in 1865. His wife died Sept. 3, 1864, and in September, 1865, the old gentlemen removed to Crawford Co., Ill., where he now

lives, being 84 years of age. He was married the second time in 1865, his wife is yet living ; he and his first wife raised a family of seven children, five of whom are living. Bezaleel, one of the sons, is an influential citizen of Sandusky Township; he is married to Mary A., daughter of John Sheffer. Nathan L., another, is conductor on the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R .; he is mar. ried to a daughter of J. M. Reed, and lives in Crest- line.

WILLIAMS, JESSE, Justice of the Peace, Crestline ; was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Feb. 14, 1806, and re- moved with his father, Thomas Williams, to the land now owned by Christian O' Rourk, near the Spring Mill, in this county, in 1818. The land had been purchased of Rolin Weldon in 1817, and in that year the fath- er and his oldest son, John, had come to the premises, erected a cabin and cleared a few acres of ground, on which they had raised corn. Jesse, after assisting in clearing up the farm, now one of the best in the neigh- borhood, embraced every opportunity then attainable to procure such an education as would qualify him as a school teacher, which was his occupation for about ten years. He was married on Sept. 15, 1829, to Miss Eliza Bailey, then residing in Springfield Township ; she was born in Allegheny Co., Penn., on Jan. 10, 1811 ; Squire Williams has been eight times elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and twice as County Auditor, besides holding other positions of honor, and the old gentleman says he hopes to live long enough to assist in electing a Democratic President of the United States.

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