History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 120

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 120

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).

was born in Morgan County, Va., in the year 1822. Two years later

County, Ohio. parents to Muskingum County, Ohio, where they remained until the spring of 1832, when they moved to Champaign

TI ere his father entered a piece of land. Young Hume helped to clear tla is farm, remaining with his parents until of age. His

home was to learn the trade of a gunsmith. In 1845 he married Eliza Deth Park, of Logan County. In 1848 he moved to Plattsville, Shel >> County, where in company with his brother John he engaged in the in Cercantile trade, which they carried on until 1855, when he sold his stock In 1852 his wife Of goods and moved on his farm in Green Township. In April, 1854, 11 married Mary C. Conroy, a daughter of Edward Con- lied, leaving two children: Rachel A. and Lewis C. roy, one of the 1's of Green Township. In the fall of 1855 he was

Sidney and took of Shelby County, and the following year moved to

possession of the office, which he held two terms. Shortly after the Aspiration of his term of office he bought a half interest in the Shelby County Democrat in company with Joseph McGonagle. office he filled four years.

He was connected with the paper nearly three years. In 1878 he was elected to represu years. In 1997 in the General Assamufacture of spokes and bent wood in the town of Sidney, In 1881 he together with J. HI. McDandell built what is now known as the New York Spoke Works, which Mr. Hume owns at the present time, but has leased to other parties. By his last marriage there are five children, viz., Rebecca F., George W., Minnie M., Jennie G., and Cora L.

EDWARD JACKSON,

one of the early pioneers of Shelby County, was born in Allegheny County, Va., October 14, 1774. He married Jane Morris, November 25, 1806. She was born in Butler County, Va., June 15, 1789.

The Jacksons and Morris' are of Scotch descent, but the date of their advent to America we cannot learn. Edward Jackson and wife with two children came to Ohio in 1809, and stopped for a time at Spring- field. Left his family here while he came over to the present limits of Orange Township, and selected a piece of land (the same now owned by- Mrs. Clancy), and erected a cabin and made a little opening. It is claimed by some that he moved his family to this land in the fall of 1809, but by his daughter, Mrs. Abbott, that they did not settle here perma- nently until 1810 or 1811. It is well known that there were but few settlers in the county when they came. During their early settlement the Indians became troublesome. In the fall of 1813 Mr. Jackson took his wife and children to Springfield, and left them for safety, while he remained on the place to clear his land. His wife remained in Spring- field nearly a year, when she said she would remain no longer, but would return to her home, and share the dangers and hardships with her hus- band. It was about this time that he built a block house on his place for their protection. In 1814 he was drafted into the army and served for a few months, then secured a substitute and returned to his home. He was the first to erect a brick house in the township, and the second in the county. Their family consisted of eleven children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Morris W., born July 30, 1807; Mar- garet, born March 5, 1809; Hannah, born March 12, 1811; Nancy, born October 19, 1813; Jane, born January 12, 1815; Angeline, born July 29, 1817; Andrew, born March 20, 1820; Elizabeth, born March 26, 1822; Harriet, born May 1, 1824; Patience, born January 27, 1826; Francis M., born March 21, 1828. The first two were born in Virginia, the rest in Orange Township with the exception of Nancy, who was born in Springfield while her mother was there for protection. Hannah died while an infant, and was, perhaps, the first death in the township.

Mr. Jackson lived until February 7, 1851. His wife died September 18, 1850. They were both buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Sid- ney. Of the family of children there are only five living, viz., Margaret Martin, of Orange Township; Jane Richards, of Sidney, Iowa; Eliza- beth Barkalow, of Orange Township; Harriet Abbott, of Sidney; and Patience Hurley, of Sidney.

Digitized by

Google

HON. HUBBARD HUME

was brought by

first venture from

elected treasure !"

388

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

MAJOR JOSEPH S. LAUGHLIN.

The ancestors of the above are from North Ireland. Robert Laughlin, the grandfather of Joseph S., came with his family to the United States about 1790, and located in Pennsylvania. One son (Robert) was born after they came to the country He was born in Pennsylvania in 1790. About 1818 he married Isabel Graham, who was also of Irish de- scent. They came to Brown County, Ohio, about 1820. About 1841 they came to Shelby County, and settled in Green Township. They reared a family of twelve children, six of whom are now living. Mr. L. died in 1850. His wife died in 1874, aged eighty-four years.

Joseph S., their youngest son, was born in Brown County in 1838, consequently was only three years of age when brought to the county. When twelve years of age his father died, and he was left to shift for himself. At sixteen years of age he went West, and spent a couple of years, then returned, and went to school in Sidney for one year, after which he taught school until the breaking out of the Rebellion. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the 15th O. V. I. for three months, served the time of his enlistment, and again commenced teaching school, but only taught six weeks, when he again enlisted, this time in the 20th O. V. I. for three years. He was made sergeant-major of the regiment. In January, 1863, while in charge of ordnance stores on board of a train the train was wrecked, and he was badly injured, having his legs broken and otherwise badly bruised. He was taken to the hospital at Memphis, Tenn., where he remained until May, when he was sent to St. Louis, and from there to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until June, 1863, when he was discharged and sent home. In December, 1863, he married Sarah C. Applegate. January, 1864, he went to Vicksburg, Tenn., and engaged in merchandising with Capt. Updegraff and J. C. Fry. He continued in business in Vicksburg until 1866, when he came home and sold goods in Plattsville for one year, then went to Champaign County, where he remained three years. In 1870 he moved to Sidney, where he now lives. In 1877 he was elected treasurer of Shelby County, in which capacity he served four years. At the present time he is engaged at the real estate and insurance business. In 1881 a company of O. N. G. was formed in Sidney, and he was elected captain of the company, served two years, when he was elected major of the regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin have a family of four children, viz., Eddie W., Carrie E., Jesse C., and Lizzie.

THE ABBOTT FAMILY.

About the days of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers four brothers by the name of Abbott came from England to America. Religious per- secutions drove them from their native land, for they were of the same faith of the Pilgrim Fathers. It is not known whether they had families or not, neither is it known just where they located, but it was somewhere on the coast of the New England colonies. We have no account of them or their descendants down to Bancroft Abbott, who appeared on the "stage of action" some four generations later. He was born in Massa- chusetts or Connecticut about 1760. Whom or when he married we cannot learn, but we know that he had a family of seven children. Thomas, the eldest of the seven, was born in Connecticut about 1785. When a young man he went to Vermont. Here about 1813 he married Anna Powers. They reared a family of four children, viz., William, Martha, Mary, and George E. He spent the most of his life in the State of Vermont, but died in Georgetown, N. Y., about 1857.

Of his family William was born in Vermont. Later in life he came to Ohio, but being of an adventurous and pioneer disposition he sought the newer and wilder sections of the country. He next went to Western Illinois, remained there until after the Rebellion, when he sought a home in the far West, and finally located in Wyoming Territory, where he now resides.

Martha, the eldest daughter, came to Sidney in 1847, and is the wife of James V. Wilkin, of Sidney.

Mary came to Sidney in 1848. She is the wife of Guy C. Kelsey, of Sidney.

George E., the youngest of the family, was born in Newberry, Vt., in 1824. Came to Ohio in 1845, and located in Sidney, where he engaged in the cabinet business. He married Harriet Jackson (a daughter of Edward Jackson, one of the pioneers of Orange Township) in 1849. In 1850, when the gold excitement was raging in California, he left his wife and infant child, and, in company with a number of others from Sidney, started across the plains to seek their fortunes, but, like thou- sands of others, he never realized the desire of his ambition. After spending about one year in the mines, he was taken with the typhoid fever, of which he died in October, 1851, and was buried by his mess- mates, who had cared for him through his sickness. His widow still lives in Sidney with her only child, Alonzo E., who was born in Sidney January 9, 1850. He had made his home with his mother all through life. At the age of eighteen years he entered a dry-goods store as a clerk, which he followed about ten years, then for three years was a travelling salesman for manufactories in Sidney. Is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

GUY C. KELSEY.

In tracing the ancestry of the Kelseys in the United States, we go back to the Pilgrim Fathers, although it is not certain that they came on the May Flower, yet they are known to have been here shortly after- ward. They were of the Puritan faith, and came from England.

The first of whom we have any definite record was Curtis Kelsey, who was born in Connecticut in 1740. He resided in Connecticut until 1782, when he moved to Fair Haven, Vermont. His family at this time con- sisted of five children, all born in Connecticut. He died in Fair Haven in 1821.

Parson Kelsey, the eldest son of the above, was born Oct. 1768. He married Lucinda Ames, of Rutland, in 1793. They reared a family of six children, viz., Lyman, Katy, Guy C., Caroline, Curtis, and Calvin .. He died in West Haven in 1822. Of his family we shall only speak of Guy C., who was born in West Haven, Vermont, Dec. 4, 1804. He re- mained in Vermont until 1825 (with the exception of one year that he went to an academy at Granville, N. Y.), after which he taught school a few months, then came to Ohio and entered the Ohio University at Athens, where he remained three years. Then on recommendation of President Wilson of the University, he became teacher of a select school at High Bank Prairie, where he taught three years. In 1829 he married Minerva S. Fuller, a daughter of one of the first settlers of Marietta, Ohio. Shortly after marriage they moved to Franklin, Ohio, where he taught school until 1832, when he commenced merchandising. In 1835 they moved to Sidney and again entered into merchandising, which he has continued to the present time.

Mr. Kelsey by his first marriage had born ten children, three only of whom grew up to maturity, viz., Caroline, Emily, and Lucinda. Mrs. Kelsey died in 1848. In 1849 he married Mary Abbott. By this union there were two children, viz., Anna, wife of G. B. Sterline, of Sidney, and D. Webster, who died in 1875. Of his first children, Caroline mar- ried Wm. B. Craig, who is engaged in the wholesale grocery trade in St. Joe, Missouri. Emily married John Frey, of the U. S. Postal Detective Service. They reside in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Lucinda married G. W. Barr, who is engaged with W. B. Craig in St. Joe, Missouri.

CURTIS KELSEY (Third),

a son of Parson Kelsey, was born in West Haven, Vermont, March 4, 1808. Married Lucy Nelson in the fall of 1829. His avocation through life has been somewhat varied, farming and stock-raising being his prin- cipal business ; but for several years while in Vermont he was engaged in merchandising, also in dairying. In 1843 he was elected a member of the State Constitutional Convention to amend the Constitution of the State. In 1845 he left his Green Mountain State and brought his family to Ohio and located on a farm in Turtle Creek Township, Shelby County, where he engaged in growing fine wool sheep. He was the first man to introduce Spanish fine wool sheep in western Ohio. For a number of years he was an extensive dealer in wool, buying and shipping the principal part of the wool of Shelby and adjoining counties. He was elected as one of the commissioners of the county, and while filling that capacity he had the sole control of the $100,000 of railroad stock owned by the county. In the spring of 1878 he moved to his present place of residence near Sidney, since which time he has been engaged in dairy- ing, furnishing milk to the citizens of Sidney. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey have reared a family of three children, viz., Louania, the wife of H. Wilson, of lowa; Guy C., Jr., of Shelby County, and J. Thurman, a farmer of Franklin Township.

DR. JAMES D. GEYER.

George Geyer came with his family from Germany to the United States in 1833. The family consisted of himself, wife, and three sons. Their first permanent location was in Auglaize County, Ohio, where he died in 1868.

Christian, the youngest of the three sons, was born in 1823. When a young man he came to Shelby County to attend school; here he formed the acquaintance of Mary A., a daughter of John Barkalow, whom he married in 1847. They located in Orange Township. Mr. Geyer died in 1848, leaving one son. James D. was born in 1848. His father dying when he was but three months old, he was kept by his mother until ten years of age, when he went to live with his grandfather, John Barka- low, with whom he lived until manhood, receiving his education in the schools of Sidney. After arriving at manhood he learned the drug trade, then engaged in the trade for himself for a number of years. In 1870 he married Estelle M. Moore, a daughter of Nathan Moore, of Sidney. In 1879 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. B. M. Sharp, of Sid- ney, and graduated at the Medical College of Indiana. In the summer of 1883 he established himself in Sidney for the practice of his profession.

CHARLES M. KLINE

was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1840. Was brought by his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, where they remained until 1856, when they returned to Ashtabula. Here he took an academic course of study,

Digitized by Google

----

389

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

after which he entered store as a clerk for three years. In 1861 he went to California. Stopped for a short time in San Francisco, then went to Vancouver's Island, from there to Oregon, thence to Idaho, where he worked in the mines and at merchandising until 1865, when he returned home and remained for a few months and again returned to. California; went from there to Montana, Idaho, and Utah, where he remained until 1871, when he again returned home. His father at this time was living in Putnam County, Ohio. After being at home a short time he went to Texas, and from there to Wisconsin, and again came home in 1874. He then engaged in the grocery trade for three years. In 1874 he married Florence I .. Worline, of Ottawa, Ohio. In 1877 he came to Sidney and engaged in the grocery and produce trade. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have a family of three children, viz., Eliza J., Mark A., and Anna B.

ELIJAH ZINN,

an honored citizen of Sidney, was born in Berks County, Pa., in 1805. Married Hannah Lamb in 1828, came to Ohio in 1833, and located in Columbus, where he clerked in a store for six years. He next went to Lexington, Richland County, Ohio, where he in company with James A. Lamb (now of Sidney ) engaged in the mercantile trade for two years. In 1842 he came to Sidney and again engaged in general merchandising, at which he has continued up to the present time, having been in the trade in the town of Sidney for forty-one years. He is now the oldest merchant in the town.

When he first came to Sidney he and Mr. Lamb were partners ; they remainel together until 1868, when F. E. Hoover, a son in-law of Mr. Zinn, bought Mr. Lamb's interest, and the firm was known by the name of Zinn & Hoover until 1881, when Mr. Hoover left, and James H. Zinn and James Mulvihill became partners, since which time the firm is known as E. Zinn & Co.' Mr. Zinn's wife died in 1855, leaving six children, viz., Wm. G., Samuel E, Mary J., Margaret E., Charles HI., and James H. In 1861 he married. Anna E. Kerr, of Greene County, Ohio. By his second marriage he has one child, viz., Rowena B., the wife of W. II. MeDermith, of Columbus, Ohio. When Mr. Zinn commenced in trade he had nothing except what he had saved from his wages while clerking in Columbus. The fine property he now owns has been acquired by his own industry and economy, never having hired a dollar. Although now seventy-eight years of age, is still to be found at. his counter superintend- ing and directing his business. During his long business life he has ever had the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. His word has always been regarded as "good as a note in bank."

James H., a son of E. Zinn, was born in Sidney in 1847. He has re- sided in Sidney all his life with the exception of six years that he was in New York City with his brother Wm. in trade. He is now a junior partner with his father in the store. In 1875 he married Jennie L. Ryan of Sidney. They have one child, viz., Fred H.

JOHN A. MUMFORD

was born in Miami County, O., Oct. 9, 1843. He is a son of Richard and Mary (Long) Mumford, who were married in Maryland. Came to Miami County, O., about 1840, where Mrs. Mumford died in 1852. Mr. Mumford died in Shelby County in 1880.

The Mumfords are of English descent, the Longs of German extrac- tion ; but when they came to the United States is not known to us. John A., when a boy only fourteen years of age, had a genius for me- chanical tools, which was discovered by his skill in the making imple- ments and machinery about home. A carpenter in his neighborhood offered him $10 per month if he would work for him at the trade, which he did at the above wages for two months, when his progress was such that he received one dollar per day. He only worked at his trade about one year, when G. C. Anderson, of Sidney, who was running a woollen mill, offered him a place in his mills. This was in 1858. He remained in the mills during 1858 and '59. In 1860 he returned to his trade, at which he worked until in the spring of 1861. At the first call for volun- teers he was the fifth to offer himself for enlistment; but the company was disbanded before being mustered. He then immediately went to Hamilton, Ohio, and enlisted in an artillery company; but this also did not complete an organization, and he came to Troy, Ohio, and joined the 11th O. V. I., and was mustered on the first of June, and served his full time of enlistment for three years. After his discharge he worked for the Government as a carpenter until the close of the war, when he returned to Sidney, where he has lived since that time. Nov. 26, 1866, he married Mary Fares, of Sidney. After his marriage he rented & saw- mill, which he ran until the fall of 1882, when he embarked in the boot and shoe trade, at which he is engaged at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Mumford have had born to them three children, viz., Minnie A., born Aug. 15, 1868; John F., born Oct. 9, 1870, and Charles D., born July, 1x73.

JOHN S. ROBINSON,

a son of Henry and Ann (Neal) Robinson, was born in Shelby County in 1849. His place of residence is Sidney, and business that of restau-

rateur. In 1871 he married Mary Yohe. They have had born to them two children, Jennie May, and Bonnie A.

The history of the Robinson family can be found elsewhere in this work. They were among the first settlers of the county.

CHARLES WOLF

was born in Baden, Germany, in 1840. Came to the United States 1862, and located in Louisville, Kentucky. The same year he marriedi Ida Young, who was a native of Baden. She was born in 1841. Wolf is a machinist by trade. In 1864 they came to Sidney, where they now live. His business is that of grocer and keeper of restaurant. They have a family of five children, viz., Charles, born 1863; Louisa, born 1871; Nellie, born 1873; Frederick, born 1876, and Matilda, born 18 - 9.

MICHAEL H. KING

was born in Mifflin County, Pa., in 1843. He is a son of Joshua an C Catharine (Miller) King. He came to Shelby County in 1860. In 18 6 1 he enlisted in the 20th O. V. I., and served his time of enlistment. In 1867 he married Elizabeth Kauffinan, who also was a native of Mifflin County, Pa. She was born in 1838. Mr. King is a farmer, and resid 28 in Clinton Township.

WILLIAM DOERING

was born in Germany in 181 1. When he first came to this country be located in Southern Ohio, where he worked at coopering, which tra he had partly learned in the old country. He remained in South e 2 Ohio until 1837, when he came to Sidney, and built a house and shop>. His was the first cooper shop in the town. He followed coopering un til 1873, since which time he has lived a retired life, having a competen ce for his remaining days. In 1839 he married Elizabeth Brocksick, who also was born in Germany in 1817.

Mr. and Mrs. Doering have had born to them seven children: J. Henry, of Wapakoneta, Ohio; Caroline E., who died in 1874; Mary A., who died in 1870 ; Elizabeth C., of Sidney; Emma, who died in 1860; Sarah J., of Sidney; and Melinda, who died in 1860.

BENJAMIN D. CONOVER,

a son of Peter and Sophia ( Du Boise) Conover, was born in the State of New Jersey in 1800. The Conovers as far back as we know were natives of New Jersey. They were of Low Dutch descent. The Du Boises were also of the same nativity. In 1849 Benjamin D. Conover married D. Mariale Wells, who was born in Vermont in 1817. They emigrated to Shelby County, Ohio, in 1851. Their family consists of three children : Agnes, born 1851; Mary, born 1854; and Benjamin W., born 1858.

JAMES S. CROZIER.

Came to the

When two years of age he was brought to Crozier was where he grew up to manhood, and learned the trade of a Mr. Crozier United states at the close of the last of the beginning of the present Altura and located in Pennesivania. It was here that William R. horn in 1818. In 1836 he married Catharine A. Statler. Lien he retired from business, having spent a long life in a which his establishment has been noted throughout the eared a family of nine children, of which James S. is the

-d; learned the trade with his father. At the age of twenty-

fter the completion of his trade, he came to Sidney, and

Piqua, Ohio, carriagemaker. shop, which he has continued to carry on up to the present State. He

eldest. until manb 0 children: William ML, born 1861; and Kittie, born 1867. business for 1

two years,

established

time. In

They have

The marriage was not agreeable to the wishes of the

The result was the young couple left their native land,

English get English not?

lady's famil

- located in Connecticut. Of this family we know nothing and sailed Benjamin, who married in Connecticut, and had four but afterwa -

except of This father and four sons were all in the Revolutionary War, aiding in the struggle for the independence of their adopted country. son8.

Israel, one of the four sons, married Sally Brown, of Vermont, & cousin of John Brown, of Harper Ferry notoriety. Israel changed the spelling of his name to Joslin, since which time the name has been inson spelled in that manner. They reared a family of seven children. Rob- Joslin, one of the seven, married Susan Wells, in the State of Vermont, in the year 1833. Some four years later they drifted into Ohio, and located in Akron, but remained there only a year or two, when they removed to Wapakoneta, Ohio. Their next removal was to Sidney

Digitized by

Google

John Crozier, the grandfather, was born in Ireland.

Yea. Denged in the mapmeme carriages from 1886 up to the was born in Piqua in 1838, lived at home with his parents

59 he married Miss Rebecca Deweese, of Shelby County. year 1880, -

CLAY R. JOSLIN.

beginning of the eighteenth century Pelig Jocelyn, & young

leman, married a young lady of the Wakefield family of

A bout ti1 ity: America. They first stopped for a time in New York,

390

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

in the year 1841, since which time he has made his home here. They had born to them six children, three of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, viz., Clay R., Byron W., and Mariah E. Mr. and Mrs. Joslin still reside in Sidney, where he is engaged in the grocery and produce trade.

Clay R., whose name appears at the head of this sketch, is the eldest son of the above. He was born in Sidney January 1, 1843, and has made his home here principally from that time to the present. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, 20th O. V. I., and remained in the service about one year, when he was discharged on account of disability. After regaining his health he went West, and remained a couple of years, then again returned home. In 1868 he engaged with his father in the sash, door, and blind factory, at which he continued until 1872. This year he married Miss Lou E. Vogle, of Piqua, Ohio. January 1, 1873, he engaged in the livery business with Alex. Ramsey. They were partners until 1875, when Ramsey sold his interest to J. S. Patten. They re- mained together until 1879, when they divided their stock, and Joslin leased his present premises, since which time he has carried on the busi- ness of livery and feed stable in connection with that of veterinary sur- geon. In 1879 he was elected as coroner of Shelby County, and has filled the office two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Joslin have had born to them three children, viz., Mary R., Grace B., and Eugenia L.

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 120

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

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