USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 58
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CEPHAS CAREY, a son of Ezra Carey, was born near Elizabeth City, N. J., December 25, 1775. He accompanied his father to Western Pennsyl- vania, Virginia, and Ohio. In the year 1800 he was elected a justice of the peace, in accordance with an act passed by the Legislative Council of the Northwestern Territory, he being the first justice of the peace in the territory. In 1803 he was commissioned a captain of militia, and the same year married Jane Williamson.
In the year 1810 they came to the wilds of Shelby County, and set- tled on the west fork of Turtle Creek, near where now stands the town of Hardin, where he, assisted by a few neighbors, erected a block- house, which gave them protection and shelter from hostile Indians. He was several times in Cincinnati when there were but two or three log cabins there, and made two or three trips to New Orleans on flat-boats
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with produce, returning by New York, there being no direct communi- cation south of the Ohio River. This was prior to steam navigation, which was inaugurated in 1811, under the direction of Mr. Roosevelt, of New York.
The year 1811 was an eventful one to the early settlers of the North- west. The Indians were very troublesome, making frequent incursions into the settlements, carrying off horses, cattle, and supplies, and now and then killing a settler. Earthquakes, comets, eclipses of the sun, false prophets in diverse places predicting that three-fourths of the inhabi- tants were to be destroyed by the direct visitation of God; and last, though not least, the battle of Tippecanoe was fought on the 7th of November, which brought grief and distress into every house in the land, as there were but few who had not some relative or friend among the gallant slain or wounded.
In the course of a few years following the successful march of the United States army against the British and their allies, the country filled up rapidly, and civilization pushed forward with rapid strides.
Thus it was while the young nation was growing rapidly, and every- thing was bright and joyous, the war had closed, high hopes of the future were entertained, when the relentless hand of death entered the family of Mr. Carey and took from him his companion, leaving him with eight small children. This sad event occurred in 1814. The names of these children were as follows: Lydia, John W., Wm. A., Nancy W., Drucilla, David, Thomas M., and Jeremiah. The following year, 1815, he married Mrs. Rhoda Garrard, whose husband had been killed by some Indians near Piqua in 1813. By his second marriage they had eight children, viz., Benjamin W., Stephen C., Sally A., Simon B., Mary T., Harvey G., Jason S., and Milton 'T. His second wife died about 1850. He then married for his third wife Elizabeth Mendenhall. By industry and frugality he was enabled to secure for himself and family a compe- tency. He was noted for his high-toned honor and liberality, and spent much of his time dispensing charities to the poor, and in promoting education and the spread of the Gospel.
He reared a family of eight sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to adult age, and he lived to see enumerated as his direct descend- ants sixteen children, eighty-three grandchildren, seventy great-grand- children, and three great-great-grandchildren, making a total of one hundred and seventy-two.
Mr. Carey lived to the ripe old age of ninety-four years. He died March 13, 1868. A number of years prior to his death he sold his farm, and moved to the town of Sidney.
JUDGE WILLIAM A. CAREY, a son of Cephas Carey, was born January 9, 1806; was brought by his father to this county in 1810, they being among the first, if not the first, settlers in Turtle Creek Township. It was here in the woods, "amid the howling of the wolves" and the " hoot- ing of the owls," that young Carey received his early education from nature. It was not until after the war that there were any schools, and by this time he was big enough to pick brush and help his father clear his land. He received (by a few months' instruction in the winter sea- son) the rudiments of arithmetic, and learned to read and write. After arriving at manhood he had a desire to learn something of English gram- mar and geography. He came to Sidney to see if he could find a teacher there ; but found they did not teach those branches there. He then went to Piqua, but with the same result. He then bought himself a copy of Kirkham's Grammar, and studied it at home. In this manner he ac- quired all the education he ever received. During the war of 1812 there was a block-house built on the land of Mr. Carey, which was occupied by a squad of soldiers for more than a year for the protection of the settlement.
In May, 1833, Mr. Carey was married to Miss Catharine Vandemark, a daughter of Daniel Vandemark. Soon after their marriage they moved to the town of Sidney, where he engaged in teaching school, which he continued for about one year. He then bought land in Orange Township, and moved on to it, cleared his land, and made for himself a comfortable home. Mr. Carey was successful as a farmer, and accumulated a large body of land, but through misfortune lost the most of it.
Judge Carey has, from his early manhood to the present time, had the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, which has been evidenced by his election to the more important offices of his township. He has been justice of the peace for many years, and was also clerk of his town- ship several terms. He was twice honored as associate judge of the county. He was also Government revenue assessor for five townships. Judge Carey and wife reared a family of five children, viz., Catharine J., William F., Henry Clay, Josephine, and Clementine. Mrs. Carey died some months ago, since which time the Judge has made his home with his children.
WILLIAM F. CAREY, son of William A. and Catharine Carey, was born in Shelby County, November 9, 1837. In 1872 he married Miss Marga- ret V. Glick (a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Stockstill) Glick). They have born to them two children, Catherine E., born 1874, and Glick, born 1877.
CHRISTIAN FOSTER (deceased)
was born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, came to America, and settled in Shelby County in 1847. In 1855 he married Elizabeth Winter. They had born to them twelve children, nine of whom are living, viz., Kate, Martin, Christian, Sarah, Frank, George, Anna, Rosa, and Elizabeth. Mr. Foster commenced on sixty-five acres of land in the woods; to this he added until he had 160 acres of well-improved land. After making for himself a comfortable home he was attacked by that dread disease, consumption, which took him away in 1875, in the prime of manhood. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Foster and her children have car- ried on the farm, cleared land, and built a house. There are but few families of children who have managed and succeeded in business as has the family of Mrs. Foster.
THE BULL FAMILY.
Robert Bull was a resident of South Carolina prior to the Revolu- tionary War. He was a Quaker, and on account of his religious belief, being opposed to war, and desiring to avoid any collision with the government in raising an army, left his native State and removed to Virginia just prior to 1776; but instead of escaping the strife, he went to where it was hotter. He had, prior to his removal to Virginia, married Sarah Millburn, the widow of Robert Millburn. By this marriage Mrs. Bull had three sons-Robert, John, and David-they being half brothers of Nathan Bull. By her marriage with Robert Bull there were five chil- dren, of which Nathan was the youngest. He was born in Virginia in 1776, in Barclay County, where, in the same county in 1797, he married Frances Lilburn, and in the year 1814 moved to Greene County, Ohio, with his wife and six children. Two children were afterward born to them in Greene County. As early as 1816 Mr. Bull came to the present limits of Orange Township and entered one-half section of land. He died June 12, 1822; his wife died January 18, 1842. The names of the children were: Amelia, Rachel, John, David, Robert, William, Sarah, and Hiram.
HIRAM BULL was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1818. When at the age of four years his father died. He remained with his mother on the home farm until he reached his majority. He was educated at the com- mon schools of his day. In 1839, after he became of age, he came to Shelby County to look after the land his father had entered in 1816. He immediately commenced the improvement of this land, and built himself a cabin for a home. In 1841 he married Elizabeth Fish and immediately settled on his land-the same he now occupies. They have reared a family of six children, one having died young. The names of his family are as follows : Nathan S., Francis M., Mary C., Emma L., Joanna M., James M., and William O. Mr. Bull has been a resident of the county for forty-four years, and has one of the fine homes of Orange Township. Having spent a long life at hard labor on his farms and acquired a com- petence, he, on account of failing health, has retired from active duty on his farm, and is now giving much of his time to the improvement of his mind, that he had the desire to do in his younger days, but did not have the time to give. Mr. Bull has one of the finest and most com- plete archaeological cabinets in the county, having some very rare speci- mens of a primitive race who inhabited this country long before the red man that was found here when the continent was first discovered.
FRANCIS M. BULL, a son of Hiram Bull, was born in Orange Township 1845, and married Mary E. B. Applegate in 1866. They have a family of seven children, viz., Jesse H., Charley C., Hattie L., Bertie E., Ma- rion L., Millie E., and Emerson O.
JOHN M. BULL, the eldest son of Nathan Bull, was born in Barclay County, Va., in 1806. When eight years of age he came with his parents to Greene County, Ohio. Here, in 1828, he married Miss Ehza Littler, of Ilighland County, Ohio. In 1832 he brought his wife and two chil- dren to the wilds of Shelby County and settled in the woods. They reared a family of five children, viz., Sarah E., Francis L., Rachel J., Julietta, and Ellen. Mr. Bull lived to improve his farm and make it one of the best improved places in the township. He took pride in having his place in a good state of repair. A number of years ago he commenced the cultivation of ornamental trees, of which he had his beautiful farm nearly surrounded. He and his wife were among the pioneer members of the M. E. Church at Orange Chapel, and were mem- bers of the first class organized, and retained their membership in the same society as long as they lived. Mrs. Bull died December 20, 1862. Mr. Bull died December 2, 1881, leaving the homestead to his two young- est daughters. He died as he had lived, respected by all who knew him.
JOHN HART.
Thomas Hart, a German by birth, married and came to the United States about 1790, and located in Bucks County, Pa., where, the same year, William Hart was born. Wm. Hart was reared in Bucks County and received a liberal education. After arriving at manhood he engaged in teaching school in New Jersey, where he formed the acquaintance of
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and married Elizabeth Petit in 1810. They remained in New Jersey until 1818, when he removed with his wife and three children to Hamp- shire County, Virginia, where he remained until 1827. Becoming heartily disgusted with the institution of slavery, he determined to seek a home in a free State; so he sold his farm at a sacrifice and removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he remained until 1836, when he moved to Darke County, Ohio, and died there in 1849. His wife died in 1870.
John Hart was the eldest son of William Hart. He was born in New Jersey in 1811. He lived with his father until he came to Dayton. In 1836 he married Nancy Hosier. The same year he married he came to Shelby County and purchased eighty acres of timber land in section 5, Orange Township. In the spring of 1837 he commenced clearing to make a home, erected a cabin, and brought his wife. They cleared up their home and had made a very desirable place. In 1867 he bought for one of his sons the present place on which he lives, but owing to the death of his son in 1868 he was compelled to move to it himself. Mr. and Mrs. Hart raised a family of four children, viz., William, Rhoda Ann, Isaac, and Robert. Of these four children only one now is living, viz., William. Rhoda Ann lived to be twenty-two years of age, when she was burned to death by her clothes taking fire. Isaac, the second son, lived to be twenty-five years of age. He was a graduate of Delaware College, having received his diploma in a scientific course in 1865. Rob- ert, the youngest son, died in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Hart are now living by themselves as they first commenced, not in the log cabin in the woods, but on a well-improved farm with good buildings, with a competence for their remaining days, all acquired by toil, industry, and economy.
William Hart, a son of the above, was born in 1837, and married Mar- garet J. Russum. They have three children, viz., Sarah E., John, and Manning W. He is located on the homestead of his father in section 6, where he carries on the farm and is also proprietor of a sawmill.
REUBEN VOORHEES.
A short time prior to the Revolutionary War three brothers, John, Abram, and Abel Voorhees, came to the American colonies from Ger- many. One of the three-John Voorhees-located in New Jersey. The other two went farther westward, but just where they located to us is not known, but we afterwards find them in southern Ohio. John was the ancestor of the Voorhees of whom we write. During the war of the Revolution he went one day to New York to see some friends that had come from Germany. The city at that time was in the possession of the British. He was captured as a spy, but they could prove nothing against him, so they released him on condition that he would enlist in either the navy or cavalry service of the British army. He chose the cavalry, but did not serve long before an opportunity occurred to escape, by stealing away in the night time, and returning home to New Jersey. Very shortly after this occurrence he married, and afterward raised a family of five children. He died about the year 1800.
Samuel Voorhees was the eldest of these five children. He was born in 1793. In 1812 he married Elizabeth Brown. The following year- 1813-he entered the army, and served his time of enlistment, and was honorably discharged. They had raised a family of two children, when his wife died. He married for his second wife Ann Applegate in 1819. They had six children, viz., John A., Holmes, Okey, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Amy. They came to Qhio in 1831, and located in Montgomery County, then removed to Shelby County in 1838. Samuel Voorhees died March, 1866. His wife died March, 1876.
Reuben Voorhees was the first born of Samuel Voorhees by his first wife. He was born in New Jersey in 1813, while his father was in the army. He came with his father to Ohio in 1831, and in 1886 he married Anna Ford. In 1846 they moved to Shelby County, and located in Orange Township. By this marriage there were five children, Joseph B., Charles F., Julius T., Elizabeth, and Joseph V. The first died young. Julius died in the army. Mrs. Voorhees died in 1849. In 1850 be mar- ried Anna Fiddler, with whom he lived until 1863, when she died. In 1864 he married his present wife, Jane A. Cahill, widow of Dudley Cahill. She was the mother of four children, viz., Louella, James W., Kate E., and Emmet O. Mrs. Voorhees' maiden name was Shinn, daugh- ter of William Shinn, who settled in Shelby County in 1833. Mr. Voor- hees has been a consistent member of the M. E. Church for over fifty years, has ceased laboring for worldly goods, and is now striving for an inheritance that will never pass away, where he shall enjoy an immortal life.
JOHN A. VORESS
was the first born of Samuel Voress by his second wife. He was born in New Jersey in 1820, came with his father to Shelby County when he was eighteen years of age. He lived with his father until he was twenty- three years of age, helped to clear the farm, and provide for the family. In 1843 he married Eliza C. Layman. By this union they have had twelve children, eleven still living, viz., Mary A., Jeremiah L., Eliza C., John F., George W., Martha E., Lucinda M., Mark E., Emma J., Ermina B., and Willie T. Mr. Voress commenced in the woods on his place that he. now lives on in 1845. Here he has raised his large family. He has
always been an industrious and successful farmer, and has made a good home for himself and family.
JOHN F. VORESS
is a son of John A. Voress. He was born in Shelby County in 1852. He married Emeline Showell in 1872. They have had two children, one now living, viz., Dora C., born in 1874. Mrs. Voress is a daughter of Ed- ward and Ellen (Wilkins) Showell, who settled in this county in 1839.
OAKEY VORESS
was born in New Jersey, June 13, 1828; was brought by his parents to Shelby County when about ten years of age. He was raised without any privileges of school instruction until sixteen years of age. His first edu- cation was in picking brush, and as soon as old enough was given an axe, and he and his oldest brother did the principal clearing of the farm. He remained at home until his majority, when he commenced life for himself by working at from six to nine dollars per month. As soon as he had saved a little money he bought a small piece of land, which he sold at a small advance, then bought forty acres on which he made his first home for himself. January 1, 1852, he married Mary E. Dickensheets (a daughter of David Dickensheets, who had settled in the county in 1832). A short time after this he added to his little farm sixty acres more land. In 1868 he bought the homestead of his wife's father, on which he now resides. Mr. Voress has been successful in accumulating property. He is one of the heaviest tax payers in Orange Township, and it has all been made by his own industry and economy, never having received any help in making his start in life. He perhaps loans more money than any man in the township. They have raised a family of eight children, whose names are as follows : Samuel D., Elizabeth J., Charles L., George W., Josephine, Jesse L., Lulu D., and Ida M.
JEREMIAH LAYMAN
was born in Pennsylvania in 1799, removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, early in the present century. Here in 1822 he married Mary Cummings, a daughter of Robert and Amy Cummings. Mr. Layman remained in Hamilton County until 1839, when they removed to Shelby County, and located in Orange Township. They raised a family of seven children, only two of whom are now living, viz., Eliza C., wife of John A. Voress, and Amy H., wife of D. Brelsford. Mrs. Layman died June 15, 1869, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Layman died April 8, 1875, aged seventy- six years.
CHARLES F. VOORHEES,
a son of Reuben Voorhees, was born in Montgomery County in 1839. In 1861 he enlisted in Freemont's Body Guards, and served until the regiment was discharged. In 1862 he married Miss Jemima A. F. Holmes. The issue of this marriage is six children, viz., Julius T., Anna Dorcas, Mary E., Cara Jane, Thomas R., and Kate R.
JOSEPH V. VOORHEES
was born in Shelby County in 1849. In 1872 he married Miss Margaret L. Long. By this union they have two children, Jane M. and Reuben. They are located on part of the homestead of his father in section 35, Orange Township.
DAVID K. GILLESPIE.
The ancestors of the above are from Ireland. George Gillespie was the first to come to America. He came a young man, about 1740, and located in Pennsylvania. Here he married Jane Allen, and raised a family of ten children. About the year 1795 this family removed to Butler County, Ohio, where the father died in 1823.
WILLIAM GILLESPIE, son of the above, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1783, and was twelve years of age at the time they came to Ohio. In 1816 he married Miss Mary Miskimmins. They raised a family of eleven children. They came to Shelby County in 1838, and settled in Wash- ington Township. Here he purchased a farm, or rather a piece of land, in the woods, having but little means after the payment of his land. His family was large, the country new and malarious. They all took sick ; provisions were high ; before they got well, or able to work, their means was all spent, and they were left in the woods destitute, without means of support. They did the best they could, raising, spinning, weaving, and making their own clothing. Saving every penny they could, they managed to live until they had cleared enough land to raise grain to sell; but grain by this time was very low in price; they could only get from fifteen to twenty cents for corn. Mr. Gillespie lived here to clear his farm by the aid of his boys, and died in 1862, at the age of 80 years. Mrs. Gillespie died in 1872, at the age of 73 years.
DAVID KIRKWOOD GILLESPIE, the subject of this sketch, a son of Wm. Gillespie, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1821; lived with his father on the farm, and came with him to Shelby County
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when he was sixteen years of age; helped his father to clear the farm, and remained with him until he was twenty-eight years of age. In 1850 he went to Lockington to engage in the grain trade. His capital stock in trade, all told, was only six hundred dollars. In 1851 he married Miss Martha McKee .. He at first commenced buying grain on commission, but it was not long before grain took such a de- cline that the men for whom he was buying sent him word that they could not furnish any more means, as the markets would not justify. Hle then determined to buy and ship for himself. He invested in an old boat and team, and loaded it with grain. This took all the capital he had. The boat on its first trip was, through the carelessness of its manager, so badly injured that it sank, and its cargo of grain was almost a total loss. Mr. G. was now left without a dollar. He felt almost discouraged, but his brave wife said to him, " We are yet young and strong, let us try again." He then went to his father and asked him what he should do ? His father told him that he could not help him any, but if he could find anybody who would let him have money he would give him his name as security. The next day he went to Piqua, where the first man he met he asked if he knew where a boy like him could get some money to use by giving good security ? The man told him he would let him have all he wanted without security. So with this assurance he returned home, repaired his boat, commenced buying and shipping grain. The markets were favorable, and it was not long before he was out of his financial trouble. Within that year he paid off all his indebtedness and had several thousand dollars left. In 1854 his wife died, having borne him two chil- dren. both of which died in infancy. In 1856 he again married, this time to Miss Marian McKee, a cousin of his first wife, with whom he lived till 1875, when she died. There were by this union eight children, four of whom are now living, viz., William H., born 1857; James M., born 1861; Lee W., born 1864; and Anna S., born 1869. In 1878 he was married to Sarah J. MeKnight, with whom he is now living. He con- tinued the purchase and shipment of grain at Lockington until the year 1864, when he sold out his business there and removed to a farin of 350 acres he had purchased in Miami County, known as the Johnston farm, in Upper Piqua, for which he had paid $33,600 cash. A few years later he bought the old homestead of his father, for which he paid $8800. Beside this he owned the Lockington mills, and his property in Kirk- wood, where he now lives. This property was all made while he lived in Lockington, during fourteen years. In 1859 Mr. Gillespie was elected commissioner of the county, which office he filled till 1864, when he moved to Miami County. He remained on his farm in Miami until 1877, when he returned to Shelby and located in Pontiac, now called Kirk- wood, in honor of Mr. G.'s middle name.
JOHN B. FRANCIS
was born in Shelby County in 1852. In 1879 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wrigley. They have one child, viz., Jennie. He resides on the homestead of his father, in Orange Township.
JUDGE JONATHAN FRANCIS
was one of the pioneer settlers of Shelby County. He came here from New Jersey about 1812, and located in what is now Orange Township. Here he raised a family of seven children. Isaac was the youngest of the family ; he was born in 1825. In 1850 he married Sarah A. Wert.
JOHN E. BUSH.
HENRY BUSH, Sr., grandfather of the above, was born in Germany ; came to America prior to the Revolutionary war; enlisted as a soldier in that war, and was wounded at or near New York City, and died from the effects of the wounds several years afterward. He was located in Monroe County, Pa., where Henry Bush, Jr., the father of John E., was born in 1790. In 1811 he married Sarah Smith, who was born in 1789. They lived in Monroe County until 1833, when they removed to Shelby County, and located on section 8, Orange Township. John E. was the sixth child of the family. He was born in 1828, consequently he was ten years of age when he came to this county. He lived with his father until 1849, when the gold fever for California broke out. Young Bush took this fever, and he and his brother, C. W. Bush, and M. W. Jack- son determined to see this El Dorado. They fitted up a team of ponies and wagon with provisions and accoutrements, and left home April 19, 1849, and arrived at St. Joseph, Missouri, about the first of June. Here they fitted another team of two yoke of cattle and joined in company with about a dozen other teams, and about the middle of June started for the plains. To give a history of this trip across the plains would take more space than we can give, but suffice it to say that they suffered all the privations that the early emigrants suffered who crossed the great American Desert at that early day. They were compelled to abandon their wagons, take it on foot without water or provisions; finally ar- rived at the settlement in the Upper Sacramento Valley November 1st, after being seven months on the road. He remained in California until 1853. During this period he spent the most of his time mining and pack- ing. About two months he followed hunting. There are but few men
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