History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

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 121

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PEM BROOK BIRCH

was born in Warren County, Ohio, April 2, 1843. He is a son of Moses Birch, who died before Pem Brook was born. When very young he was put out among strangers. He lived on a farm until seventeen years of age, then went to learn the trade of a wagon-maker, at which he was engaged at the breaking out of the Rebellion. When the President made his first call for 75,000 men he was one of the first to respond. He en- listed in the 1st O. V. I., served his time of enlistment, returned home, and in September of the same year re-enlisted in the 69th O. V. I. and served until March, 1864, when he veteranized and served until the close of the war. At the battle of Stone River he was wounded by a musket ball in the face; while lying on the battle-field was taken prisoner and sent to the Libby Prison Hospital, where he remained three months ; was then paroled, went home and staid until exchanged, then returned to his regiment, having spent over four years in the service. In Sep- tember, 1865, he came to Sidney and was married to Miss Caroline E. Lease, of Sidney. After marriage he worked at the carpenter trade, which he followed until 1881, when he bought an interest in the Sidney Planing-mills, at which he is engaged at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Birch have had born to them three children, viz., Harry S., born 1866; Girtie M., born 1872; and Ruth E., born 1876.

SAMUEL S. MAXWELL.

.James Maxwell, the grandfather of the above, came from Scotland with his wife and three children to the American Colonies about 1770, and located in Pennsylvania. Two of his sons served as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Jolin, one of the sons, was the father of Samuel. He was but a small boy when brought to America. He was born in 1763, and married Ruth Cypherd, of Baltimore, about 1790. They raised a family of eleven children. In 1800 they emigrated to Ohio and located in what is now Jefferson County, but afterward removed to Tuscarawas County, where he died in 1823. His wife died in 1840. Of this family of eleven children only one came to Shelby County, viz., Samuel, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, and re. sided with his parents until he became of age. In 1816 he married Mary Wagner, of Montgomery County. They afterward located in Mont- gomery County. Here he purchased land and built a mill, and at the same time carried on several mechanical shops, such as smithing, coo- perage, etc. He was a natural business man. He never learned a trade or worked much on a farm, but carried on the business quite extensively. While in Montgomery County he was justice of the peace for a number of years. In 1835 he moved with his wife and six children to Shelby County and bought a mill in Perry Township, and also 160 acres of land. Shortly afterward he built a saw-inill on Mosquito Creek, which he soon followed with a new grist mill. He was one of the successful business men of Shelby County. At the time of his death he was the owner of 700 acres of land in Shelby County, and 500 acres elsewhere. They raised a family of seven children, viz., Benjamin W., Margaret, John, Abram, Hannah, Ruth, and Ellen S. Of this number there are but two left in the county, Benjamin W., of Sidney, and Hannah, the wife of William Jackson. Mr. Maxwell was a highly esteemed citizen. He was filling the office of county commissioner at the time of his death in 1874. His wife died in 1873.

W. H. MONROE,

of Sidney, Ohio, was born in Shelby County in 1854. He is a son of John W. and Marian (Beeson) Monroe. Married Laura J. Wilkinson (a daughter of Isaac Wilkinson) October 10, 1876. By this union there were two children, Lulu M., born April 2, 1879, and Jennie A., born Nov. 30, 1880. The latter died July, 1881. Mrs. Monroe died Dec. 7,

1880. He married Edna L. Monroe, of Kentucky, Dec. 1, 1882. By the last marriage they have one child, Violet, born Jan. 1883. Mr. Mon- roe was engaged for several years as bookkeeper of the Sidney Planing Mills, but in January, 1883. he became an equal partner with P. B. Birch in the concern. Mr. Monroe at the present time is a member of the city council from the fourth ward of Sidney. For history of ancestors, see sketch of Hanson Monroe, of Washington Township.

CYRUS W. VAN DE GRIFT

was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., in 1833. He came with his pa- rents to Dayton, Ohio, in 1841, where he remained until 1846, when he went to Springfield, Ohio. Here he clerked in a dry-goods store for several years, after which time he learned the art of ambrotyping. In 1857 he came to Sidney and bought an art gallery of Jas. Mccullough, and in 1858 made the first photograph made in Shelby County. In 1859 he and his partner (S. N. Tod) bought a bookstore, which they ran in connection with the gallery. To this they added a stock of drugs. They carried on the business until 1865, when they sold out their entire stock. In 1868 Mr. V. went to Springfield and engaged in the clothing trade until 1877, when he again sold and returned to Sidney and again opened a photograph gallery, in which he is engaged at the present time. In 1860 he married Miss Belle Knox, of Sidney. By this union they have four children, Harry, Willie, May, and Robert.

S. ALEX. LECKEY. [Copied from the Sidney Journal of September 10, 1880.]

The subject of this brief biographical sketch was born in Newville, Cumberland County, Pa., October 30, 1814, and died in Sidney, Sep- tember 4, 1880. His funeral was largely attended on Monday at his residence on Miami Street. An immense procession followed his re- mains to the beautiful Graceland Cemetery that owes so much of its taste and beauty to his directing hand. His father with a family came to Sidney in 1829. He worked on his father's farm for a few years, and helped to make the brick of the old court-house in the square, whose existence terminates this year also. His work in town was as dry-goods clerk in the store of Thomas Ruckman. He then returned to Pennsyl- vania, and superintended the work on the Cumberland Valley Railway for Longwell & Co. From that he went into the butchering and sad- dlery business in Nashville. Afterwards he taught school, and then went to Maryland, having taken a contract to build a part of the Ohio and Chesapeake Canal. This enterprise proved disastrous, and he lost heavily. Ile then took up teaching in Frostburg, was elected justice of the peace, and finally engaged with another gentleman in keeping hotel in Frostburg. This partnership was not continued long, and he returned to Ohio in 1847. In 1851 he took charge of the Shelby County Democrat, and continued to edit it until October 13, 1854. In 1857 he was elected auditor of this county, which position he held for three terms of two years each. From 1863 to 1868 he engaged in wool buy- ing and taking pike contracts. In 1870 he was a member of the State Board of Equalization. In 1868 he formed a partnership with R. Given in the tannery and leather business, which continued until his death. He was an active man, prominent in all public enterprises. The Shelby County Agricultural Society owes much of its success to him, who took great interest in it from its beginning until the time of his death. For many years he was its secretary, at the time of his death its president. He was an honored and enthusiastic member of the order of Odd Fel- lows and Knights of Pythias. A life-long Democrat, an earnest Pres- byterian in faith, a generous supporter of the church from which he was seldom absent, a member of the city council. He will be sadly missed by the whole community. Warm-blooded, quick to resent an insult, true to his friends, and implacable to his foes, he will be remembered as one of our most useful residents. In 1862 he married Mrs. Margaret Blake, the widow of William Blake, deceased (whose maiden name was Longstreth), of Montgomery County, Ohio, whom he leaves together with an adopted daughter.

ALMON HITCHCOCK,

the subject of this sketch, was born in Burlington, Connecticut, July 10, 1804. Before arriving at his majority his father's family moved to Shoreham, Vt., and subsequently to West Haven, Rutland County, in that State. In February, 1826, he married Emily R. Barber, and be- came one of the largest stock farmers in that portion of the county. Five children were born there, of whom three are now living: Mrs. A. B. Cole, of St. Louis, Mo ; Mrs. Rev. J. G. Armstrong, of Richmond, Va .; and A. B. C. Hitchcock, of Sidney. In the spring of 1861 he with his family moved to Sidney, where he resided until his death May 2, 1883. His wife died August 22, 1877. In politics he was a Republican, in religion a Presbyterian.

W. H. C. GOODE.

The ancestry of the Goodes are from England. They were among the first settlers of Jamestown, Va., where some of the name still reside. Dr. H. J. Goode was born in Prince Edwards County, Va., in 1793. In 1805

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SAMUEL S. MAXWELL .

POLLY MAXWELL .

BIMqwell

chary of Maxwell

MAXWELL FAMILY, SIDNEY, OHIO.

ROY H. MAXWELL .

S. W. MAXWELL

BENNIE W. MAXWELL.

CADDIE . I MAXWELL.

ALMIRA J. MAXWELL .

(DEC'D)

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393

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO. .

he came with an elder brother to Ohio. They floated down the Ohio River on a flat-boat to Cincinnati. From there they went to Clinton County. Here he grew to manhood, and studied medicine, and spent the most active part of his life in the practice of his profession, be having a very extensive practice for many years. About 1823 he married Margaret Mckay. They reared a family of ten children. In 1849 his health hav- ing failed he was coinpelled to quit the practice of medicine, but being unable to do so while he remained where he was, he sold his property, and moved to Shelby County, and bought a farm near Sidney. He re- sided on the farm, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits, until 1863, when his wife died. He then made his home in Sidney two years, then went to Carthage (near Cincinnati), and made his home with his daughter the rest of his life. He died in 1879. Dr. Goode was a mem- ber of the M. E. Church for nearly three-fourths of a century, having united with the church when only ten years of age. Of his family there is only one left in the county, viz., W. H. C., of Sidney. M. M. Goode (familiarly known as Mack) resides in Wilson County, Kansas, where he is engaged in stock-raising. S. Gaines resides in Greene County, Ohio, and is a farmer. Burwell P. is a practising physician in Cincin- nati. Margaret is the wife of S. Stimmel, of Fargo, Dakota Territory. The rest of the family are all dead. W. H. C., the youngest son of Dr. Goode, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1843. He was reared on the farm. When eighteen years of age he went to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he remained several years, then returned home and worked on the farm for six years. He then engaged in mer- cantile trade in Crestline and Springfield for several years. In 1875 he married Miss Fannie, a daughter of J. F. Frazier, Esq., of Sidney. In 1876 he located in Sidney, and took an interest with Slusser & McGill in the manufacture of steel scrapers. A few months later he bought out his partners, and has since that time conducted the business himself. At the time Mr. Goode bought the scraper works, the enterprise was new, it being a new invention, and not introduced into general use. The first year there were but a few hundred made, but within three years after- ward the sales amounted to many thousands, and extended all over the United States. To Mr. Goode's enterprise and energy is due the great success that has been made in these works. Besides his manufacturing he is engaged extensively in 'growing wheat in Dakota, where he has a farm of about two thousand acres, nearly all under cultivation, having some fifteen hundred acres in wheat. Although still a young man he has made remarkable success in life, being at the present time one of the wealthiest men in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Goode have born to them three children: Carrie S., Charles H., and Frank F.

HUDSON GARTLEY.

Recorder Gartley, a son of John Gartley, is a native of Shelby County, and was born August 3, 1854. He remained at the home of his parents until he had attained his nineteenth year, when he went to Lebanon, Ohio, and entered upon the study of civil engineering. At the close of one year's study he returned home, and engaged in surveying, school teaching, and farming. In November, 1880, he married Miss Lavina, daughter of A. Whitmer, of Loramie Township. In the spring of 1880 he received the nomination for the recordership of Shelby County on the Democratic ticket, and was elected in the following October. He is now the candidate for re-election, which is equivalent to the incumbency another term. Mr. and Mrs. Gartley have one child, named John A., born in March, 1882.

SAMUEL L. WICOFF.

The date of the Wicoff's settlement in Shelby County was in 1827 or 1828. The grandfather of the above entered a quarter section of land in Orange Township. It was here that Samuel L. was born May 22, 1851. Ile is a son of Isaac and Esther (Thorp) Wicoff. He was reared on the farm, with the advantages of the common schools of his district. After arriving at his majority he took a scientific course at the Normal Schools of Lebanon, Ohio, and read law principally at his home. He was admitted to the bar April, 1875, and formed a partnership with S. S .. Mckinney, of Piqua, but opened an office in Sidney. He continued the partnership with Esq. Mckinney until 1880, since which time he has been alone in his practice. March 1, 1876, he married Miss Lida B. Emmons, of Miami County, Ohio.

WILLIAM M. VAN FOSSEN

was born in Butler County, Ohio, in the year 1832. He was the third son of Levi and Rebecca (Furman) Van Fossen, who were both born in Cincinnati-the father being born in 1798, the mother in 1800. The Van Fossens came from England to the United States during the latter part of the eighteenth century, but the exact year is not known. They first located in Pennsylvania, but shortly afterwards came to the terri- tory of Ohio. This was in the person of Ezra Van Fossen, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, who died at Pisgah, Butler County, Ohio, about 1840. Levi, his son, died in California in 1881. His wife died in California in 1879.

William M. was brought by his parents to Shelby County in 1837; 44

they located at Port Jefferson, where they built the third house in that village. William's youthful days were spent on a farm and working by the day, never having had a day's schooling in his life: when twenty-one years of age he scarcely knew the alphabet, and could not write his own name. In 1849 his father and he went to California, landing there in the spring of 1850. In the fall of the same year they started to return home by the Nicaragua route, to take the balance of the family to Cali- fornia. After arriving at Lake Nicaragua, on their way home, William concluded not to go home with his father, and shipped on a schooner that was running on Lake Nicaragua, where he worked on that vessel for three months, then sailed for San Francisco, where he enlisted under Captain Crabb as a fillibuster for General Walker's expedition to Cen- tral America, but on their way were captured by an U. S. man-of-war and were put on shore at Acapulco, when they returned by land to San Francisco. He then shipped on board of a sailing vessel as cabin-boy for Australia. After making this voyage he next went on board a steam- ship as steward. This ship was running between San Francisco and Rio Janeiro; making in all a little over two years he was on the water. In 1852 he went into the mines, where he worked until 1859. It was during this time, while blocked with snow during the winter in their hut, that he learned to read and write, under the instruction of one of his messinates. In 1859 he returned to Shelby County and married Miss Sallie Stewart,

a daughter of Preston Stewart. Shortly after marriage he returned to California, taking his wife with him. After remaining there about one year they returned to Shelby County, since which time he has made his home in Sidney. In 1862 he enlisted in the 99th O. V. I. and served over three years, being in every battle his regiment was engaged in; was wounded at the battle of Nashville, Tenn. He enlisted as a private, but was discharged as orderly sergeant of his company. Mr. Van Fossen, through disability caused by service in the army, has been unable to perform much labor, but having a competence for himself and wife (they never having had any children ), they are living a retired life, in the en- joyment of the labor of the past.

FERDINAND AMANN

was born at Stundweiller, Germany, October 15, 1818, and came to this country with his brother Xavier, landing in New York April 27, 1836- The two brothers journeyed to Dayton, where they worked at their trade, that of tailoring. From Dayton Mr. Amann went to Cincinnati, where he remained two years, when he went to St. Louis, and was there also two years. From St. Louis he went to New Orleans, and in 1842 had the yellow fever in that city. In the spring of 1844 he returned to Dayton, and in the fall of the same year married Miss Mary A. Wagner, a sister of Peter and Matthias Wagner, of Sidney. In 1847 he moved to Sidney, and carried on merchant tailoring in partnership with his bro- ther. In 1852 he sold his interest to his brother, and took charge of the National Hotel. His wife died September 18, 1852. Six children-five sons and one daughter_were the result of this union, two sons and the daughter of whom survive. In 1854 he married Miss Catharine Wagner, a sister of his first wife. In 1856 he bought the Sidney Hotel, now known as the Wagner House, of which he was landlord until the breaking out. of the war, when he entered the army as Ist Lieutenant of Captain Schultz's artillery company, which was mostly composed of Shelby County men, and whose officers were all from Sidney. He received his commission from Governor Tod on the 5th of September, 1861. While quartered at Louisville he took sick, and returned home on an extended furlough. He never fully recovered his health, and when he returned to the army he was assigned to hospital duty in Nashville. At the end of two years he resigned. In 1864 he moved to Fort Wayne, where he kept. a hotel until the latter part of 1866, when he returned to Sidney. in 1873 he was elected County Treasurer, and served two terms. He made a courteous, capable, and honest officer, and retired with the confidence and respect of the people.

By his last wife he had eleven children- eight boys and three girls-of whom two sons and one daughter preceded him to the grave. He had seventeen children by the two marriages, and eleven of them are living.

Ferdinand A mann, one of the oldest and best known residents of Sid- ney, died on Saturday morning, January 21, 1882. His health had long been impaired with that insidious disease, consumption, and his death was not unexpected. About a year ago he commenced to grow worse rapidly, ancl during the summer he spent several weeks at Mackinaw, Michigan. He returned home feeling better, but the improvement was only temporary, and late in the fall he had to take to his bed.

Mr. Amann possessed many sterling virtues. He was a devoted hus- band, a kind father, and raised a model family. In climbing the ladder of life he was frequently buffeted by adversity, but his integrity never had a blemish. He was a great friend of improvements, and nothing was ever agitated for the benefit of sidney that did not receive his libe- ral aid and cordial encouragement .- Sidney Journal.

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394

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

MILITARY RECORD.

FIFTEENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Jackson, near Columbus, Ohio, . May 4, 1861, but a few days later moved to Camp Goddard at Zanes- ville, where preparations were made for field service. It was then or- dered into West Virginia on guard duty on the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, and advanced as far as Grafton. It took part in the engage- ments at Philippi, Laurel Hill, and Garrick's Ford, and at the expira- tion of the term of enlistment was discharged about the 1st of August, 1861.

The next call of the President was for three hundred thousand men for three years, and the old Fifteenth responded almost unanimously. It was then reorganized at Camp Mordecai Bartley, near Mansfield, and moved to Camp Dennison, September 26, 1861. On the 4th of October the regiment went to Lexington, Kentucky, but eight days later moved to Camp Nevin, near Nolin's Station, by way of Louisville. It was here assigned to the Sixth Brigade, commanded by General R. W. Johnston, of the Second Division, under command of General A. MeD. McCook, of the Army of the Ohio, then under General Sherman. On the 9th of De. cember, 1861, the division moved out to Bacon Creek, and the next day the brigade occupied Mumfordsville. On the 14th of the month the di- vision broke camp to move against Fort Donelson, but learning of the fall of that fort, a march was made to Bowling Green, and Nashville was finally reached on the 2d of March. Here a camp was formed, but on the 16th the march to Savannah began, that place being reached on the night of April 6. The next morning the Fifteenth marched to the battle ground, and remained in the engagement from noon till 4 o'clock, when the enemy fell back. In this engagement the regiment lost six men killed and sixty-two wounded.

At Corinth the Second Division formed the reserve force, and so did not move to the front until the 27th of May. It next marched to Bat- tle Creek, Tennessee, where it arrived on the 18th of July. Here it re- mained until the 20th of August, when it moved to Altemonte, and from here to Nashville, which place was reached on the 8th of September. Again it moved out, and on the 25th reached Louisville. The division next pursued Bragg as far as Orchard Knob, and then marched to Nash- ville, November 7, 1862. On the 26th of December the army advanced upon Murfreesboro', and in the battle of Stone River the Fifteenth Regi- ment lost eighteen killed and eighty-nine wounded.

On the 24th of July, 1863, an advance was made on Tullahoma and Shelbyville, and in the engagements which followed this regiment took a very prominent part. The division afterward moved to Bellefonte, Alabama, which place was reached August 22, and on the 2d of Septem- ber the march was continued in the direction of Rome, and on the 11th the division took position with the main army in Lookout Valley. Here the regiment occupied the extreme right flank until the morning of the 19th, when it marched for the battle-field of Chickamauga, and was en- gaged immediately upon its arrival.

It then took part in the siege of Chattanooga and the assault on Mis- sion Ridge. We next find it with the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, marching to the relief of Knoxville, Tennessee, where it arrived on the 8th of December, and on the 20th the command moved to Strawberry Plains. In January, 1864, the greater portion of the regiment re-enlisted and started to Columbus, Ohio, via Chattanooga, to receive furloughs. On the 10th of February the regiment reached Columbus three hundred and fifty veterans strong, and on the 12th the whole regiment was furloughed.

They next appear at Camp Chase on the 4th of March recruited to the strength of nearly nine hundred men. The regiment reached Nash- ville in March and Chattanooga on the 5th of April. On the 8th it went to Cleveland, Tennessee, and to McDonald's Station on the 20th, where it remained until the spring campaign. On the 3d of May camp was broken and the regiment joined the army of Sherman at Tunnel Hill. The regiment afterward participated in the battle of Resaca, and again in that of Dallas, in which it lost nineteen men killed, three officers, and sixty-one privates wounded and nineteen missing, who were supposed to be killed or desperately wounded. The color guard, with the excep- tion of one corporal, were all killed or wounded, but one corporal, David Hart, of Company I, brought the colors safely from the field. The army next moved to Kenesaw Mountain, and on the 14th of June the regiment lost one man killed and five wounded from Company A.

The regiment next crossed the Chattahoochee and finally appeared be- fore Atlanta. After operating on the rear of Atlanta the regiment was marched to the relief of Resaca, and finally to Columbia. At Nashville the regiment formed the extreme left of the army. It next moved against the enemy's position on the Franklin Pike. After following the enemy to Lexington, Alabama, it went into camp at Bird Springs. It next moved to New Market, Tennessee, in March, and then to Green- ville to guard against the escape of Lee and Johnston, who were being pressed by Grant and Sherman. In April it was ordered back to Nash- ville, which place was reached about the Ist of May, 1865. Here the regiment lay in camp until the 16th of June, when it was ordered to

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

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

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