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 99

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 99

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DOUGLAS, M. E., Secretary of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company. Ile was born in Richland Co., where he has always resided.

DOW, W, contractor and stonemason, Mansfield. He was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct. 6, 1847 ; he was the first son of John and Jenett Dow, who were of an old and respectable family in that country ; he emigrated to this country in May, 1869, and came to Mansfield in July, 1870 ; directly after his arrival here, he was employed by the contractors of the court house, which was then being built; he was likewise employed in building the stonework of the Congrega- tional Church in this city, and in the spring of 1873 the firm of Hancock & Dow were the contractors and builders of the stonework of the Mansfield Savings Bank ; in 1874, they finished their contract for the same work on the Plymouth and Shelby Schoolhouses; in 1875, they built the freight house of the C., C. & I. R. R. at Columbus, and the passenger stone depot at Berea ; among the public and larger buildings for which they were the contractors and masons, since that date, were the Marysville High School in 1876, and the city hall, in the same place, and the Masonic Hall of Marion in 1877; in 1878, they they did the mason work on the Marion County Jail; in addition to those already men- tioned in this city, was the work on the Jenner, Keith & Scattergood Building and the frontage of the Swi- gart Building ; the firm is at present the contractors for the same work on the new county jail, now in process of erection.

DYSERT, D. M., M. D., homœopathist. He was born in Wayne Co., in 1852, educated in Wayne and Medina Cos. ; he graduated at Pulte Medical College, Cincin- nati, Ohio, in 1876; he was engaged in the practice of medicine at Independence, this county, for three years,

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where he had a very extensive practice ; his health be- came impaired in the fall of 1879, and he went to Florida to spend the winter ; he returned to this county and located in Mansfield, opened an office at the southwest corner of the park. He is prepared to attend to all calls in his profession promptly.

EARNEST, D. H., dealer in furniture. He was born, July 24, 1844, in Cumberland Co., Penn .; immi- grated to Richland Co. in the fall of 1858; engaged with Cyrus Hersheiscr and learned the carpenter trade ; worked at that trade eight years, then engaged with Aultman & Taylor machine-shops for ten years and four months ; Jan. 22, 1879, he formed a partnership with J. K. Johnson in furniture store, which they still continue. He was married, April 7, 1868, to Iva Jane Pocock; she was born in Wayne Co., Oct. 16, 1841; they have the following family : Mary Bell (deceased), Rosa Ellen, born Aug. 18, 1871 ; David Milton Georgia, Nov. 17, 1874; reside at No. 118 East Market street.

EDGINGTON, JESSE (deceased). He was born in Virginia, and in an early day removed to Jefferson Co. this State, where he resided for several years, when he came to this county and settled in Springfield Township in 1814, where he was one of the largest land-owners during his life. The first Presbyterian Church built in that township, of which he was a member and one of the founders, was erected on his land ; he died in 1821, at an advanced age, leaving five children by his mar- riage to Miss Margaret Palmer. Thomas, the eldest son, was born in Virginia in 1781, and removed with his parents to Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he lived until 1815, when he came to this county and settled in Springfield Township. He was married in Jefferson Co., Ohio, to Miss Mary Alban in 1802; they were the parents of ten children, of whom Margaret was the oldest ; she was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Aug. 30, 1803, and died in Columbia City, Ind., Aug. 30, 1872; Thomas Edgington died in Springfield Township in 1856 ; Margaret was married in Springfield Town- ship to William Douglas in 1823 ; they were the parents of five children-William Douglass was born in Washı- ington Co., Penn., in 1798 ; his father, Michael Douglas, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He was married in that country to Lydia Pollock in 1795, and emigrated to America in the fall of 1796, and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where he continued to reside until 1820, when he removed to Ohio, and settled in Springfield Town- ship, Richland Co .; William Douglas died in 1857 in that township.

ELLIOTT, H. C., book-binder. He is prepared to do all kinds of blank-book and magazine binding in the best and latest styles, also re-bind and re-model old books ; all orders by mail promptly attended to ; parties desiring binding will find it to their advantage to examine his samples ; prices to suit the times, cor- ner Main and Fourth streets.

ERWIN, A. J., physician, surgeon and oculist ; he was born in Concord, Penn .; he was educated at the University of Nashville, where he graduated in med- icine in 1864. Immediately afterward, he entered into partnership with the eminent surgeon, Dr. J. W. Daily, of Fort Wayne, Ind., at which place he remained until 1870, when he removed to Mansfield. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Mary C. Johnson, of Mansfield, who

died in 1874. He is a member of the American Med- ical Association and the American Public Health Asso- ciation. In 1874, he was elected by the American Medical Association as a delegate to foreign associa- tions, in which capacity he visited Europe, and while there he took a course in eye diseases in the Royal London Ophthalmic College. In 1878, he was elected to the chair of orthopedic surgery in the Cleveland Medical College, which chair he filled by occasional visits without removing from Mansfield. He is surgeon of the P., Ft. W. & C., M. & C. and the B. & O. R.R.'s. He is now in active practice.

ETTINGER, JACOB, groceryman. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of eight children born to Daniel and Catherine Ettinger, an old York Co. (Penn.) family, who came to Ohio in 1837 and settled near what was then known as Lower Sandusky-now Fremont. The father located in Scott Township, Sandusky Co., where he remained two years, and then removed to Lexing- ton, this county, where he resided for many years, en- joying the confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity. For many years, he was engaged in teaching school, and was accounted a more than ordinary mathe- matician. For 'nine years, he served as Assessor of Troy Township. Communicative and intelligent, he was always a favorite with those who desired any in- formation that he could give. He died in Ogle Co., Ill., and was buried near Lexington, Ohio. Jacob Et- tinger was born in York Co., Penn., April 16, 1823 ; in his youth, he received a good common-school education, and, after his parents removed to this county, he taught school for about four years, when, removing to Mans- field, he was appointed a conductor on the old S. M. & N. R. R., which position he held for seven years, and was accounted a careful and faithful officer. He was married in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, on the 10th of April, 1846 ; they have had four children, two living and two dead. For fourteen years, Mr. Ettinger has been en- gaged in mercantile pursuits in Mansfield, and is ac- counted a shrewd and successful business man.

ETTINGER, BENJAMIN, harness-maker ; he was born in York Co., Penn., June 7, 1828, and came to Ohio in 1836, and to Richland Co. in 1837, where he received his elementary education, his father being a teacher and mathematician of some note in Troy Town- ship. When 18 years of age, he commenced the trade of harness-making, which occupation he continues to follow in Mansfield, where he is known as a good work- man. Mr. Ettinger was married, Sept. 6, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Brooks, who died Oct. 16, 1860, and again married to Mary Emma Lake, his present wife ; they have one son.

FARMER, J. S., attorney at law. He was born in Mansfield June 28, 1844, and received his elementary education in Washington Township. John and Susan (Stewart) Farmer, his parents, were old residents of the county and resided in Washington Township many years. In 1864, he began teaching school in this county, and was so engaged for ten winter terms ; dur- ing the summer months he worked on a farm, while he continued a course of reading preparatory to the study of law; in April, 1870, he came to Mansfield and con- tinued his studies under the instruction of Matson & Dirlam, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1872.

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Mr. Farmer was married, Oct. 8, 1874, to Barbara A. Hannan, by whom he has three children.

FAUS, HENRY, traveling agent. He was born in Columbia Co., Penn., March 31, 1837; came to Ohio in 1852. Was married April 14, 1863, to Lodema C. Zent; she was born Sept. 3, 1841, in Richland Co .; they have the following family : Lorena F., born June 8, 1864 ; Della B., Oct. 8, 1865; Charlie J., Sept. 8, 1866; Wardie B., Sept. 8, 1867.

FINFROCK, J. II., physician; was born in Colum- biana Co., Ohio; came to Richland Co. in 1836; read medicine with Dr. John Blecker, of Van Wert, Ohio ; graduated at Cincinnati in the Medical College. En- listed during the war; was promoted Captain of Co. F, 6th O. V. I .; served in that position till he was ap- pointed Assistant Surgeon of the 11th O. V. C .; was stationed in Dakota Territory. After his service in the army, he located in Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, where he is engaged in the practice of medicine.

FINFROCK, M. V. B., druggist ; son of Jonathan Finfrock ; was born in 1838 in Madison Township. Was married in 1864 to Lydia E. Keller; they have three children-Ira Elmer, Emma May and Grace Maud. Mr. Finfrock was engaged in teaching school for some years; then located in Mansfield in the drug business ; has been very successful, and is now leading off in this department; has also been taking a very active part as Councilman for two years; he is now a member and Treasurer of the School Board of the city of Mansfield, and doing all he can to raise the standard of education.

FISHER, JOHN, sewing-machine agent; was born March 27, 1849, in Cumberland, Md. His father and mother are now and have been old residents of that locality, dating back fifty-three years. Mr. Fisher came to Mansfield Dec. 24, 1879, and is now engaged in act- ive business. He was married Feb. 10, 1872, in Cum- berland, Md., to Anna M. Wolf; they have three chil- dren-two boys and one girl. Charles Fisher emi- grated from Germany and settled in Cumberland, Md., about the year 1827. John Fisher was the eighth son. About thirteen years previous to his arrival in Mansfield, he was employed on railroads in different positions ; at present a resident of the Fourth Ward.

FLANNERY, B., keeper of boarding-house; he was born in Ireland, in the year 1838, the first son of Mathew and Margaret Flannery ; he emigrated to America in May, 1863, and landed in New York City, where he was employed in a tea and coffee house for three years, when he removed to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, where he remained two years before coming to Mansfield. He was married in this city, Dec. 16, 1868, to Miss Mary Hogan. During his resi- dence here, he has been prominent in local politics, and has been a delegate to a number of important con- ventions, and is one of our active citizens. Mr. Flan- nery comes from a respectable family in the old country, where they held high offices in Church and State.

FORD, JOHN, deceased ; he was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1816. His parents removed to this county when he was quite young, and settled in Clear Creek Township, now in Ashland Co., where he assisted in clearing the land and worked on the farm until his re- moval to Washington Township with a brother; he

there cleared the land since known as the IIunter farm, and afterward purchased the farm south of Washington Village, where he lived for many years, well known by the citizens of the county and respected for his many good qualities of head and heart. He was married to Miss Harriet Barnes, of Washington Township, Aug. 16, 1838 ; they were the parents of eight children --- four sons and four daughters; three sons and one daughter reside in Mansfield ; one son is a farmer in Washington Township ; Mary Ellen Ford, born Aug. 21, 1839, died Feb. 28, 1863; Phebe, born July 23, 1849, died Aug. 11, 1851; Ada, born April 27, 1860, died Sept. 26, 1874. Mr. Ford removed to Mansfield in May, 1872, where he was engaged in business with his sons, and resided until his death, which occurred Feb. 25, 1876. Mrs. Harriet Barnes Ford died in Mansfield Oct. 27, 1874.

FORD, THOMAS H. (deceased). Ex-Gov. Ford was born in Rockingham Co., Va. Aug. 23, 1814. His parents soon after removed to Harrison Co. Ohio, where they lived a few years, removing to Clear Creek Town- ship, Ashland Co., then a part of this county ; here Mr. Ford died, leaving a large family, some of whom were grown. Thomas Ford grew to maturity here, getting little if any education in the district schools, obtaining the principal part by the light of a burning stump or the fire-place. After reaching his majority, he married a Miss Hall, and for some time was engaged on a farm; this pursuit, however, did not favor him, and consequently he did not make a success : his wife died here, as well as all her children-the latter while in their infancy. Mr. Ford was again married to Mary Ann Andrews, and not long after gave up farming and came to Mansfield to engage in the study of law, enter- ing the office of James Purdy, Esq .; while here, in 1851, his second wife died, leaving him three boys -- Thomas H. who died in 1873, in the city ; P. P. H., who is yet a resident of Mansfield, and W. A. who, when his mother died, was 18 months old, and who was given by her to Mrs. John Bright (sister of Mr. Ford) to raise; he is now in California. Mr. Ford was mar- ried the third time to Harriet M. Pantlind, who became the mother of one child, Ada, who is married and liv- ing in Washington City, and with whom her mother now lives. After Mr. Ford completed a law course, he was admitted to practice, and, at different times, was partner of P. P. Hull, Oliver P. Gray, William Long- bridge, William Tidball, H. P. Davis, R. C. Smith, -- Boales, Judge Dirlam and others. When the Repub- lican party came into existence, he was one of its most eloquent exponents, and, while engaged in politics, de- livered at Philadelphia, a speech that made his name famous ; it was one of those speeches given impromptu, (he never studied a speech) which the occasion calls out, and is rarely repeated ; it gained him the Lieu- tenant Governor's place under Gov. Chase, and brought him prominently forward in after life ; at the expiration of his term of office, he returned to Mansfield to the practice of law, though he was always active in poli- tics. When the war with Mexico broke out, he en- listed, and raised a company which saw one year's serv- ice ; its history is given elsewhere ; while in this war, he was wounded; when the last war broke out, ex-Gov. Ford raised the 32d O. V. I. and was its Colonel ; the

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unfortunate affair at Harper's Ferry cost him his dis- missal, though he and his personal friends always in- sist he was made a " scape goat " for a higher officer's blunders. President Lincoln re-instated him, though he did not again enter the service; he went to Wash- ington City, where he built np a lucrative practice in the law, and where he held for a while, the office of Superintendent of Public Printing ; about the year 1866, he connected himself prominently with the temperance movement in the District, and was considered one of its ablest and most eloquent advocates ; he died Feb. 29, 1868, at the age of 54 years ; all the city papers referred to his loss, and all published commendatory notices of his life and death, that were widely copied ; the various temperance orders buried him with every show of respect, in one of the city vaults, from which his remains were subsequently removed to the cemetery. in Mansfield where they now repose.

FORD, E. C., merchant. He was born in Washing- ton Township, June 8, 1856, where he resided until his removal to Mansfield in the spring of 1872, where he commenced the tinner's trade, which completing, he entered into partnership with his father (the late John Ford), and a brother, under the firm name of Ford & Sons, doing a large business in stoves and tinware ; since his father's death, which occurred Feb. 25, 1876, the firm name has been Ford Brothers. He was mar- ried in Mansfield, June 19, 1878, to Miss Ella J. HIershi- ser, daughter of Cyrus Hershiser, a well known con- tractor and builder in this city.

FORD, P. P., merchant. He was born in Mansfield, Nov. 20, 1846; his father being the late Col. Thomas HI. Ford; he received his education principally at the Monroe Seminary and at Lexington, Ohio ; during the late war, he enlisted in the 32d O. V. I., in which he remained until the close of the war, participating in all the battles in which that regiment engaged ; after- ward resided in Washington City for some time, then returned to Richland Co., Ohio, where he has since lived. In Aug. 13, 1868, he was married to Miss Mary C. Stone, of Washington Township, by whom he has had five children-Jessie Ada, Edwin Davis, Charles Thomas (deceased), Mary H. and Emma Virda; in the fall of 1869, Mr. Ford removed to Mansfield, where he now lives and engaged in mercantile business.

FORD, S. N., Secretary of the Mansfield Building and Lumber Company. He was born in Washington Township, Richland Co., Feb. 6, 1847 ; his elementary education he received principally at the Lexington Seminary, which he attended for several years ; at the age of 18, he commenced business for himself, and in February, 1870, was employed by the Mansfield Build- ing and Lumber Association, and was elected agent of the same in the fall of 1872, which position he held until October, 1876, when he was elected its Secretary. Mr. Ford was married in Lexington, Dec. 28, 1868, to Miss Lizzie Cook, of that place, with whom he has raised two children, one son and one daughter-Hoyt and Ada.

FORD, THOMAS W., merchant. He was born in Washington Township Jan. 12, 1844 ; he is. a son of the late Mr. John Ford, who resided in that township over forty years ; in 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 32d O. V. I., and served until the close of the war, after

which he returned to Richland Co.,.and was engaged in farming and teaching school for seven years previ- ons to his removal to Mansfield. He was married in September, 1868, to Miss Leah Garber, of Washington Township ; they have one son, G. G. Ford, who was born June 27, 1869 ; after his removal to Mansfield, he was employed in the wholesale house of E. P. Sturges & Co. four years, then a partner in the stove and tin store of Ford & Sons, now Ford Brothers ; one of the best-conducted houses in that branch of business in Mansfield.

FRANZ, J. B., proprietor St. James Hotel. The subject of this sketch, the well-known landlord of the St. James Hotel in Mansfield, was born in Leesville, Crawford Co., Ohio, June 24, 1841; although compar- atively a young man, he has already acquired an envi- able reputation in his special line of business, and is classed among our enterprising citizens. He was mar- ried in Delaware, Ohio, June 3, 1874, to Miss Nellie Sampsell, daughter of one of the old citizens of that place.

FRENCK, D. H., Rev., D. D., Pastor U. P. Church, Dayton, Ohio. Dr. French, who for over twelve years was Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in this city, is a son of Rev. David French, who was Pastor forty-four years of the Associate Congregations of North and South Buffalo, in Washington Co., Penn. Dr. French was born in that county ; he received his collegiate education at the Jefferson College, Cannons- burg, Penn., where he graduated in 1857; he attended the Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio, and, six months after graduating there, received calls from three congregations to become their Pastor; he accepted the call from Cannonsburg, Penn., and entered upon the discharge of his duties in March, 1861 ; after a pastor- ate of five years, he was obliged to resign on account of a threatened attack of lung disease; about a year after his release from this charge, he was called by the congregation in Mansfield, which call he accepted, and for twelve and one-half years labored faithfully among the people here ; late in 1879, he received a call from the U. P. Church, Dayton, Ohio, which he accepted, and early in January, 1880, went to that city, where he now resides ; he received the honorary title of Doc- tor of Divinity from the Muskingum College, in the summer of 1879.

GAILEY, RICHARD, attorney-at-law. Of the two sons of Rev. Richard Gailey, the subject of this sketch is the younger, the elder being Rev. John Gailey, of the United Presbyterian Church. Richard was born May 5, 1845, in Madison, Westmoreland Co., Penn. In 1849, his father removed to this county, and first settled in Monroe Township, and subsequently removed to Lexington ; he received his education chiefly from his father in the seminary of which he was the founder; during the years 1867, 1868 and 1869, he studied law with Judge McJunkin, of Butler, Penn., where he was admitted to the bar in 1869 ; after his admission to the bar he practiced his profession in Mansfield, Ohio, until 1872, when he returned to Pennsylvania and practiced in Parker City and Pittsburgh, until the death of his father, in 1875, when he returned to Lexington, where he practiced until May 1, 1880, when he came to Mansfield and entered into copartnership with H.

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D. Keith ; this firm is engaged in a lucrative and con- stantly increasing business, and commands the confi- dence of the bar and people. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Gailey served in the 87th O. V. I. and also in the 86th O. V. I. In 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Nutting, by whom he has two sons- John, aged 6 years, and Richard, aged 2 years.

GASS & HOTT, dealers in books, successors to C. A. Pendleton ; they handle a general line of school, mis- cellaneous and blank books, and stationery, wall-paper, curtains, curtain fixtures and similar goods, gold pens, archery, croquet-games of all kinds and a line of fine fancy goods, etc.

GASS, BENJAMIN (oldest son of William and Jane Gass); was born in Brook Co., Va., on the 12th of June, A. D. 1794; came with his parents to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in June of 1800; then to Knox Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1806, and to that part of "the new pur- chase " (so called) which is now Troy Township, Richland Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1812, arriving at their destination on the 23d of April. Benjamin was an extra good hand at hard work, and labored hard in assisting his father to clear up their wilderness farm, living mostly with his parents until he was married, in January of 1827, to Miss Elisabeth McCluer; they raised three sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living, except their youngest son (James G. Gass), who was a soldier through the rebellion, and died a few years after it was suppressed, perhaps in conse- quence of exposure while in the service ; he was in a number of hard battles. Benjamin's wife died in May of 1864, and in the autumn of 1867, he was again mar- ried to Miss Sarah M. Creigh, of Mansfield, who still survives him. He taught school a number of winters both before and after his first marriage, also singing- schools ; was a great lover of "old folks' singing.' Was an ardent Antislavery man ; lectured and debated much on that subject when it was quite unpopular in " old Richland," though he was twice elected, and served as Auditor of the county. He left his farm a year or more before his death, and resided on his wife's property in Mansfield, where he died in Febru- ary of 1867, aged a little over 82 years and 8 months. He was hurt by a limb of a tree when he was 76 years old, and was unable to work after that; his wife lives on Market street.

GASS, ISAAC, youngest son of William and Rebecca Gass, was born in Troy Township, Richland Co., Ohio, in October, 1819; lived and worked on the farm dur- ing his minority and for some years afterward ; taught school frequently ; studied law with Judge Steward ; was licensed as an attorney in 1848. In the spring of 1848, was married to Miss Amelia B. Coates ; they had one son and two daughters; their son, Mr. Florean P. Gass, and daughter (Bertie) still live in Mansfield, their oldest daughter (Mary) having died some years ago. Isaac removed to Mansfield and commenced bus- iness as a lawyer immediately after his marriage. In the fall of 1861, he raised a company to help in the sup- pression of the rebellion, and was elected as their Cap- tain, but about the time of their starting into service he was promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy of their reg- iment (the 64th) ; they were ordered to the battle of Pittsburg Landing in April of 1862, but only reached

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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