History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 119

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427

USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 119

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).

SAMUEL GAMBLE, JR.,

eldest son by his last wife, was born in the town of Sidney, Nov. 28, 1828, and is now perhaps the oldest male inhabitant in the town that was born here. He had his home with his parents until manhood. In 1850 he started for California with his father and brother, as spoken of above. After the death and burial of their father they bought and pro- visioned a wagon and a team of five yoke of cattle, and left St. Joe, on the 11th day of May, and landed at their journey's end Sept. 11, being just four months on the way. He remained in California a little over a year working in the mines. He started for home Oct. 1851, by way of what was known as the Nicarauga route. He arrived at home January, 1852. In 1854 he married Miss E. M. Cunningham. By this marriage he has three children, viz., A. Wallace, born April 29, 1855; Wmn. G., born April 17, 1857, and John E., born Dec. 29, 1861. After his return from California he engaged in the drug trade, which he followed some twelve years. In 1864 he enlisted in the 134th Regiment of O. N. G., and served his time of enlistment. After his return from the army he engaged in gardening and growing fruits; but more recently has left the farm and . returned to Sidney, where he now resides.

HENRY M. LEHMAN.

The ancestors of the above are of German extraction. We cannot learn just when they came to America, but we find that the great-grand- father of Sheriff Lehman was here during the Revolutionary War, and took part in that struggle for independence. He, perhaps, was the first to come to this country. He probably located in Berks County, Pa., for it was here that his son Benjamin was born, married, and lived until 1838, when he moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, and died there in 1872, aged eighty-five years.

Jacob Lehman (a son of Benjamin) was born in Berks County, Pa., June 30, 1813. When a young man he went to Dauphin County, Pa. Here in 1835 he married Sarah Cassel, of the same county. In 1839 they emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, where they lived until 1859, at which time they came to Shelby County, and located four and one-half miles north of Sidney. Mr. Lehman was a farmer by occupation. Their family consisted of one son only ( Henry M.), the present sheriff. of the county. He died from paralysis December 16, 1882. His widow still survives, and has her home with her son in Sidney.

Henry M., the only son of Jacob Lehman, was born in Dauphin County, Pa., June 14, 1836. He lived with his parents until August, 1862, at which time he enlisted as a soldier in Company H, 99th O. V. I. On the 11th of the following November he was taken prisoner near Lebanon, Tenn., but was parolled two days after his capture by John A. Morgan. He shortly afterward returned home, and remained until March, 1863, then returned to his regiment in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was with his regiment at the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission- ary Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign, but never received a wound. He served until the close of the war. In 1867 he married Miss Mary E. Ludlum, a daughter of Esq. Ludlum, of Franklin Township. After mar- riage he rented a farm for two years, then moved to the village of Bot- kins, and engaged in hotel-keeping, which he followed up to 1879, with the exception of two years that he was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1874 his wife died, leaving two children, viz., Clara L. and William S. In 1876 he married Miss Mary C. Stolley, of Shelby County. In May, 1879, he received the nomination for sheriff by the Democracy of Shelby County, and was elected to the office the following October. In 1881 he was re-elected without any opposing candidate, and is filling the office at the present time. By his last marriage he has two children, viz., Anna M. E. and Francis J. H.

MORRIS HONNELL.

The ancestors of the above came from England to the American Colo- nies prior to the Revolution. The great-grandfather and perhaps the grandfather of Mr. Honnell were born in England. The exact time of their emigration is not known. The first we know of them was in the person of William Honnell, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1797. He was married to Eleanor Wilson. By this union there were twelve chil- dren. They came to Ohio in 1833, and located near the present site of Sidney, where he remained until the time of his death in 1853. His wife died in 1864.

Morris Honnell, a son of the above, was born in Greene County, Pa., in 1824. Came with his parents to Sidney in 1833. Here he lived to grow up to manhood. He was reared on a farm, and was educated in the common schools of his district. In 1850 he, together with several

of his neighbors started by the overland route for California. There were five of

still living. them that started together, and all lived to return, and are was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1825. By this marriage they have In 1855 Mr. H. married Miss Martha A. McDonough, who two children, viz.Emma J. and Olive B. Mr. Honnell has devoted his life principally to' farming, but recently has left the farm, and is living in the town of Sidney, but still gives his attention to the study of agri- culture. He has been elected to the position of President of the Shelby County Agricultural Institute, under whose management the society has grown in interest, and the year just passed has been one of its most suc- cessful.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON

came from Virginia to Ohio in 1814, and located first at Dayton, where they remained a little over a year, when he moved to the present limits of Orange Township, Shelby County, and located on what is now known as the Wirt farma - This was in 1816. About a year later he bought a farm northeast of Sidney, now owned by his son William, where he died. William Johnston, Jr., was a son of the above. He was born in Clin- ton Township December 10, 1832. His education was such as could be obtained in the common schools of his day. In 1852 he took a trip to California, where farming his principal-avocation. In 1855 he married Sarah Hathaway. Sarah R. Mrs. .. he remained one year. Since his return he has made By this marriage he married Annat In the fall of 187 4

bent wood, which

office he filled si years. In August, 1881, he in company with Thomas

C. Leapley erected factory in Anna for the manufacture of spokes and they have kept in continuous operation since that time.

was born in She L'e County, September 14. 1826. He was reared on farm, and lived with his parents until having arrived at manhood.

During his minor Ity days he attended the schools of his neighborhood, and made such Pronciency that at the age of eighteen years he com- menced teaching common schools, which he followed for several years

In the year 1848 he commenced the study of medi- cine under the instruction of Dr. H. C. Conklin, of Sidney, and gradu-

ated at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati in 1851. Then as a merit for efficiency he was elected as resident physician by the faculty of the Commercial Hospital of Cincinnati, which position he held for one year. In 1852 he located in Sidney for the practice of his profession, at which he has continued up to the present time. In the spring of 186 1 he entered the army as regimental surgeon, and remained in the service four years and three months. He was the first volunteer from the town of Sidney, he having offered his service as surgeon within forty-eight. hours after the first call made by the President. After his return from

the army in 1865 he resumed his practice in Sidney. In 1875 he en- gaged in the drug trade in connection with his practice, at which he still continues. In 1871 he married Miss Irene Ayers. By this union they have one child, Jessie, born March 9, 1873. Mrs. Wilson was a daugh- ter of Jeremiah Ayers, of Wapakoneta, one of the first white settlers of that Indian village. She was born in 1852. Dr. Wilson is the third son of Col. Jessie H. Wilson, one of the pioneers of Shelby County.

JOHN WAGNER

was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in the year 1834. When fourteen years of age he came to Sidney. His first undertaking in life was that of a tallow chandler, which he followed a short time, when he went to work with his brotlier to learn the butcher trade. After serving his time in learning the business he borrowed some money, and went to St. Marys and opened a shop, where he remained about one year, then re- turned to Sidney and started a meat market, which he carried on about two years. About 1859 he rented a brewery of his brother Joseph, which he ran about one year, when he bought an interest in the concern, which he retained until 1876, when he purchased the whole establish- ment, and immediately commenced enlarging the works and preparing for the manufacture of lager beer, which has become so popularly known as Wagner's Golden Lager, and has the exclusive sale in Sidney and the surrounding country. In 1858 Mr. Wagner married Mary Mayer. They had born to them nine children, viz., Henry, Joseph E., Emma E., Clara M., Louis F., Rosa A., Ella M., Celia A., and Alma F. Mr. Wagner died May 1, 1881. During his life he was highly respected and esteemed by all. He was benevolent and enterprising in all public benefits, and Sidney lost one of her best citizens at his death.

JOHN T. ESTABROOK.

Charles Estabrook, the father of the above, was born in New York in 1796. He married Nancy Willoughby in 1821. They removed to Mont- gomery County, Ohio, in 1836, where they remained until. 1858, at which time they came to Shelby County, and bought part of the Berry farm at,

Digitized by Google

in the winter season.

they had three children: Charles C., Hugh W., and ohnston died February 9, 1862. In February, 1864, Hickey. By the last marriage there are five children. he was elected commissioner of Shelby County, which

DR. ALBERT WILSON

386

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

the old red mill. They reared a family of eleven children, ten of them still living. Mr. Estabrook is yet living. His wife died in 1882, at the age of eighty-five years.

John 'I'., one of the above eleven, was born in Montgomery County in 1838. At the age of eighteen years he went to learn the carpenter trade, which he has followed the most of the time since. In 1858 he came with his parents to Shelby County. The following year, 1859, he married Miss Rachel Valentine, a daughter of Richard W. Valentine. By this union they have six children, viz., Ida F., Nora D., Charles R., Anna E., Lillie B., and Minnie L. * In 1868 they moved to Van Buren Township on a piece of land given to his wife by her father. They remained on this land some eleven years, clearing ninety-five acres ready for tilling, but owing to the prevalence of milk sickness in their neighborhood (their family all having had it) they rented the farm in 1878, and moved near the town of Sidney.

THE ROBBINS FAMILY.

About the middle of the eighteenth century Richard Robbins, together with his wife, came to the American colonies, and settled in New Jersey. We can learn but little of him, but it is known that, while travelling through the woods of Maine, in the year 1775, he was frozen to death.

BENJAMIN ROBBINS, a son of the above, was born in New Jersey in the year 1760, and married Bathsheba Nutt in 1782. In 1786 they moved to Pennsylvania, from there to Kentucky in 1789, then in 1789 to Mont- gomery County, Ohio, where he died in 1837. His wife died in 1848. They had born to them twelve children.

RICHARD ROBBINS, one of these twelve children, was born in New Jersey in 1784. About 1806 he married Lydia Archer, of Montgomery County, Ohio. They reared a family of eleven children. They moved to Miami County in 1814, where he died in 1837.

DAVID ROBBINS, a son of Richard Robbins, was born in Miami County in 1824. At the age of seventeen years he went to Piqua to learn the edge tool trade, which he followed only three years. He then went on a farm. In 1848 he married Miss Ann E. Gibson, daughter of Wm. and Mary Gibson. She was born in England in 1826. Came with her parents to the United States in 1827. Mr. Robbins in 1845 bought 135 acres of land in Van Buren Township, but did not move on to it until 1852. They reared a family of four children, viz., William E., Clara A., Amanda V., and Emma A. They also buried four children in infancy.

In 1861 Mr. Robbins enlisted in the 20th O. V. I., in which he served three years, the full time of his enlistment. He was wounded at the battle of Raymond by a ball in the face, which he still carries. While in the hospital he was taken prisoner, and was taken to Libby prison, but was shortly afterward parolled, then returned to his regiment and served his full time.

In 1881 Mr. R. rented his farm and moved to Sidney, where he has built a comfortable dwelling, and is now living a retired life.

JOHN CONNER.

The father of the above (Arthur Conner) was born in Ireland in 1802; married Rosa Scott about 1832. Very shortly after their marriage Mr. Conner set sail for the United States, leaving his wife behind. He landed in New York and worked there for several months, then sent for his wife, who came over in 1833. It was in New York that their first child was born. In 1834 they came to Shelby County and located in Salem Town- ship, hall' a mile north of Port Jefferson, where he bought land of Abner Girrard. Here Mr. Conner lived until his death, which occurred in 1856. He left a wife and seven children, who still survive him.

Jolin, a son of the above, was born in Salem Township in 1837. At the age of twenty years he went to learn the blacksmith trade, serving an apprenticeship until 1860. In 1861 he engaged in business for him- self in the town of Sidney, which he has continued from that time to the present, except while he was in the army, he having spent two full terms of enlistment.

In 1861 he married Miss Susan Whitmer. By this union they have three children-Harry, Fred., and Clifford. In 1870 Mr. Conner built a large brick shop. In 1872 he built a fine brick residence, and recently has built a business block and residence on Main Street, all made at his anvil.

DANIEL WHITMER

was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in the year 1800. He came to Day- ton, Ohio, in the spring of 1818, remained there but a few months, then came to the present limits of Shelby County, where he made his home with Peter Mussulman, Jr. In 1821 he married Rhoda Blankensheets, with whom he lived only about one year, when she died. In 1825 he married Fanny Mussulman. The result of this marriage was eight chil- dren, viz., Elizabeth, Fanny, John, Jane, Peter, Franklin, Susan, and David. After his marriage, Mr. Whitmer settled in Perry 'Township, on the Mosquito Creek, where he continued to reside until 1876, when they removed to Champaign County, where Mrs. Whitmer died in 1882. Mr. Whitmer was the eighth settler in Perry Township.

CLARK YAGER.

The Yagers are of German descent. The first we learn of them is in Pennsylvania. It was here that George Yager was born, in 1796. He married Margaret Craig and moved to Knox County, Ohio. Here, in 1822, Clark Yager was born. From Knox they moved to Butler County, where Clark grew to manhood and learned the milling trade. In 1841 he went to Piqua and worked in a mill; from there he went to Indiana, next to Michigan, then back to Piqua, from there to Dayton, from Day- ton to Wapakoneta in 1859; in 1860 to New Hampshire, Auglaize Co. In 1862 he came to Sidney and run the Walker Mills, which he bought in 1879. These mills were among the first in the county. They have three run of buhrs, with two turbine wheels. In 1844 Mr. Yager was married to Miss Ellen Thomas. From this marriage there have been born five children, viz., Mary, Charles, George, Edward, and Maggie.

JOHN FOSTER

was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1822. He was raised on a farm. In 1844 he married Catharine Peterhause. In 1847 they set sail for the United States. They landed in Baltimore in June, 1847. They remained in the city a short time, then started westward without having any par- ticular place in view. They made their first stop in Cincinnati. Here they took a passage on the Miami Canal and came to Lockington. While the boat lay there they concluded to stop off and look for a home. They came to Sidney and soon bought fifty acres of land in Clinton Township, for which he paid $465. This land was unimproved, and much of it under water. From this small beginning Mr. F. has made a fine home, and has one of the best improved farms in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had ten children, eight of whom are living, viz., Christiana, George, Christian, Lewis, William, Cullie, Benjamin, and Katie. Mr. Foster, although a German by birth, is purely American in his principles.

WILLIAM B. FRY.

The Frys are of German extraction, but when they came to the United States we cannot learn. The first of whom we can learn anything is in the person of Christopher Fry, who was born in Kentucky in 1786. When a young man he came to Chillicothe, Ohio. It was here, in 1811, that he married Jane Robinson. From this union there were seven chil- dren. In 1835 Mr. Fry brought his family to the town of Sidney, where he engaged in merchandising, which he followed until about the time of his death, which occurred in 1846. His wife died in 1870, at the age of eighty-eight years.

WILLIAM B. FRY,

a son of the above, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1813; came to Sidney with his parents; clerked in the store for his father and other parties for several years; afterward entered into partnership with his brother in the dry-goods trade, at which he continued until 1855, when he sold his interest in the store and bought a farm in the east part of Clinton Township, where he now resides. In 1853 he married Maria Ethrington. From this marriage there were three children, two of whom died young. Emma J., the only child living, was born in 1861. She is the wife of C. C. Foster. Mrs. Fry died 1878. Mr. F. has retired from active farm labor, having made for himself a comfortable home.

SCHUYLER SCHENCK.

The Schencks, as far back as we can learn, are from New York. They came to Ohio at the beginning of the present century, and located in Butler County. It was here that Schuyler Schenck was married to Miss Deborah Sutphen in the year 1831. The following year they moved to Shelby County and located in Clinton Township. Mr. and Mrs. S. were both born in New Jersey-he in 1804, and she in 1809. Mr. S. was a shoemaker by trade. They settled in the woods. He worked at his trade and hired his land cleared as fast as he could. As soon as his boys were old enough they cleared the farm. Mr. Shenck died in 1854. They raised a family of nine children, only four of whom are now living, viz., John S., George W., Daniel O., and Alonzo E. Mrs. Schenck, since the death of her husband, has remained on the farm, and has raised and educated her children. During the Rebellion of 1861 four of her sons entered the Union army : two of them died while in the service.

EDGAR A. SCHENCK,

a son of the above, was born in Shelby County in 1853, and so was but one year of age at the time of the death of his father. He has remained on the homestead with his mother up to the present time. In 1875 he married Miss Anna V. Campbell, of Sangamon County, Illinois. They have had born to them two children, Gracie Bell and Nora D.

WILLIAM BUIRLEY

was born in Virginia in 1780, and was brought to Ohio at the close of the last century. They located near Columbus. Here he married Eliza- beth Kiser about 1807. Some time after this date they removed to But-

Digitized by Google

387

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

ler County, Ohio, and from there to the present limits of Orange Town- ship in the fall of 1818. Here he entered 160 acres of land, but had not the means to pay for the whole of it. In the year 1819 he rented land where the town of Sidney now stands, and planted it in corn. Mr. and Mrs. Buirley had a family of fourteen children, only eight of whom lived to grow up. He died in 1876 at the age of ninety-six years and four months. His wife died in 1878, at the age of ninety-four years.

DANIEL K. BUIRLEY,

a son of the above, was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1817, conse- quently was only one year of age at the time of his advent into the county. In 1841 he was married to Margaret Venise ( whose parents, Henry and Mary Baker Venise, came to the county in 1834). By this union they have four children, Mary E., Benjamin F., Sylvester T., and John A. Mr. Buirley lived on part of the old homestead until 1870, when he sold his interest and bought a farm in Clinton Township, 2} miles west of Sidney, where he now resides.

THOMAS B. GRAHAM.

William Graham, the first of the family name to come to America, was born in Scotland about 1750. When a lad he went to Ireland, remained there but a few years, when he came to the American Colonies a short time prior to the Revolutionary war and located in Pennsylvania. About the year 1775 he married Elizabeth Adair. They moved to Ken- tucky about 1795. They reared a family of nine children. He died about 1814. James A., the eldest of these children, was born in Penn- sylvania in 1776. He went with his father's family to Kentucky and participated in the protection of the frontier against the Indians. He had a brother, William B., who was shot and killed by the Indians on the Ohio River, which is spoken of in the History of Western Adven- tures. James A. married Sarah Bell in 1805. In 1819 they moved to Clarke County, Ohio; then to Miami County in 1820, and to Shelby County in 1822, and located in Turtle Creek Township. Their family at this time consisted of nine children. In 1843 he moved to Orange Township, where he died in 1865, his wife having died in 1840. Thomas B. was born in Kentucky in 1810, consequently was twelve years of age when he came to Shelby County. He lived at home with his father until nineteen years of age, when he went to Piqua to learn the carpenter trade, which occupation he followed until 1861, when he bought a farm of 160 acres in Clinton Township, on which he located and remained until the fall of 1880, when his house was burned and he removed to the town of Sidney, where he now lives a retired life. In 1843 he married Miss Em- ma Robinson, who only lived about two years. In 1850 he married Jane E. Ginn. By this union they had seven children, five of whom are now living, viz., Samuel M., William A., Alex. D., John C., and George T.

PRESTON STEWART,

the eldest son of Willoughby and Sarah (Powell) Stewart, was born in Kentucky in the year 1809. His father was born in Pennsylvania, went to Kentucky at the close of the last century, and married, about the year 1800. Preston remained at home with his parents until manhood. In the year 1830 he married Miss Patsy Ashbaugh, and the following year brought his wife, father, and mother, to Logan County, Ohio, and settled on the border of Shelby County. They remained there but a short time, when he entered a piece of land in the N. E. corner of Salem Township, Shelby County, and moved on it in 1832, he being the first man to locate in that part of the township. Mr. Stewart lived here to clear this land. He afterward bought 160 acres more land. On this land he afterward platted a part of the village of Tileton. On this plat he built the first house; also a saw miil and blacksmith shop. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have had born to them twelve children, nine of whom are still living, viz., Sarah, Joseph, Elizabeth, William, Maria, Willoughby, Martha A., Charles, and Perry. Mr. Stewart lived on his farm until 1876, when he sold his property and moved to the town of Sidney, where he now lives a retired life, in the enjoyment of the fruit of his past hard labor. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for over fifty years, and was a member of the first class formed in the N. E. part of Salem Township.

CHARLES R. BENJAMIN.

Col. Samuel Benjamin (the grandfather of Charles R.), as near as we can learn, was born in the State of Maine. He served in the struggle for independence seven years, and held the rank of a Colonel. He raised a large family of children. One daughter married Israel Washburn, the father of the four Washburn brothers who have been Members of the National Congress. Nathaniel, a son, was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in the State of Maine in the year 1790, and married Betsy Chase. They raised a family of six children. Charles R., the youngest of the family, was born in Maine in 1830. He was reared on a farm until he became of age. After arriving at his majority he went to work in a D. Handle factory, at which business he has been engaged from that time to the present. In the year 1870 he started &

manufactory for himself in Pennsylvania, which be carried on until 1879. at which time hascome to Sidney and established works of the same kind. In 1862 he married Miss Mary Johnston. By this union they have two children, Abba S., and Charles W.

SAMUEL MOCUNE

was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Paulding) McCune. He came to Sidney in 1852. In 1854 he married Rachel English, & daughter of Thomas English, one of the first settlers of Sidney. Mr. and Mrs. McCune have born to them five children: Thomas, Belle, Ella, Nettie, and Wilber. Mr. M. is a brick contractor and mason, and resides just outside the corporation of Sidney, where he is engaged extensively in the manufacture of brick. He has been hon- ored by filling vari ous township offices, and at the present time is infirm- ary director of the county. .

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.

History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 119

Author: R. Sutton & Co. Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 427

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427