History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

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 71

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

numbers. Ministers on the charge have been Revs. Smith, Crowell, Bulle, Howeson, Molthee, Jemeson, Omerod, Herbert, Whiting, Findley, Spicer, and Boggs, who is now their present pastor. The society be- longs to the Bellefontaine Conference, and the Montra circuit.

Pleasant Hill M. E. Church

is located near the centre of the north line of section 14, Jackson Town- ship, one mile east of the village of Jackson Centre. The society was organized some time prior to the year 1833, with Andrew Holmes and wife, Lewis Bland and wife, Thomas McVay and wife, Henry Roland and wife, James Roland and wife, Philip Keith and wife, John Armstrong and wife, Mary Kertler, and a few others, as members of the organiza- tion. They met at the houses of the different members and had preach- ing occasionally, until about 1842 or '43, when they erected a log build- ing near where their frame church now stands. Some of the ministers who preached for them at the residences of the members and in the log church, were Revs. W. Smith, Samuel Beaty, John Allbright, Branden- berry, Wilson, and others whose names cannot now be ascertained. About 1853 they erected their present frame church, and it has since served them for church purposes. At this date, July, 182, they are making arrangements for the erection of a new church in Jackson Cen- tre. The present membership is about sixty. Their present pastor is Rev. Sam'l Boggs. Class-leaders are Darius Glick and Martin Frederick.

JACKSON CENTRE.

The town consisted of twenty-four regular lots, and was surveyed by J. A. Wells for Calvin Davis, J. M. Camamile, J. P. Forsythe, John S. Babcock, Lemuel Lippincott, and J. M. Babcock, proprietors.

The plat was acknowledged January 14, and recorded May 4, 1835. The location occupies part of sections 10 and 15 in the north part of the township. Here may be found two drygoods stores, owned by O. Cargill and G. E. Davis; two saw-mills, owned by R. Buirley and Dear- baugh and Brothers; one shoe shop, by Walter Carrier; one saddler shop, by James A. Hughes; one a little west of the town in connection with a tannery, operated by H. A. Smith; a blacksmith shop, by M. A. King; undertaking, wagon, and repair shop, by John Moodie; one physi- cian, J. M. Carter ; one church, Seventh Day Baptist; a Masonic lodge and post-office. The first post-master was E. P. Stout; the present is O. Cargill. Stout was also the first merchant in the town. The town now contains thirty-five dwellings, and a population of about one hundred and fifty.

Epler Lodge No. 458, F. and A. M.,

was organized at Montra, Shelby County, Ohio, on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1871, and began working under dispensation, with officers as fol- lows : T. W. Epler, W. M .; H. S. Ailes, S. W .; A. A. Davis, J. W .; J. C. Elliott, Treas .; J. C. Grafton, Sec .; D. Glick, S. D .; G. W. Elliott, J. D .; E. V. Ailes, Tyler. The charter members were C. M. Davis, J. M. Carter, H. Arnett, B. F. Wren, and H. M. Stout. They received their charter on the 16th of October, 1872. Their place of meeting was at Montra until December 17, 1877, when they moved to Jackson Centre, where they have since held their meetings. The present officers are T. W. Epler, W. M .; D. Glick, S. W .; P. Kruser, J. W .; J. K. Clayton, Treas .; F. H. Darnall, Sec .; R. D. Earl, S. D .; M. Smith, J. D .; J. C. Babcock, Tyler.

Jackson Centre Seventh Day Baptist Church

was organized March 22, 1840, at the house of Solomon Sayrs, by Elder James Bailey, assisted by Elders Simeon Babcock and S. A. Davis, with about thirty members, viz., Luther L. Davis, Solomon Sayrs and wife, Emeline Sayrs, Dudley Hughes, Davis Loof borough and wife, Calvin Davis and wife, James M. Davis and wife, Uriah Davis and wife, James Davis and wife, John W. Knight and wife, Simeon Babcock, and some others whose names are not mentioned. They held their meetings at the houses of the different members alternately, making the house of Solomon Sayrs their regular place for holding the quarterly meeting about two years, or until 1842, when the society erected a hewed log church building, near where the old frame church now stands west of Jackson Centre. Maxson Babcock and Jacob Maxson were appointed deacons of the church, Brooks Akers was the clerk, and Elder Simeon Babcock was the first minister in charge, and remained as such for over twenty years, when old age and feeble health compelled him to retire from the pulpit. The society met in the log church building for several years, or until the erection and completion of the old frame church building one-fourth of a mile west of Jackson Centre, forty by thirty feet, which was dedicated in September, 1859, by Elder L. A. Davis, assisted by Elders S. Babcock, Benjamin Clement, and Elder Maxson, which has since served them as a place of worship.

In May, 1881, the society began the erection of a fine frame church building in Jackson Centre, forty-eight by thirty feet, which was com- pleted at a cost of about $2000, and dedicated during the summer of

1882, which will stand as a monument to the organization for many years. The building committee on the new church consisted of Israel Davis, Moses Stout, Jacob HI. Babcock, William B. Simpson, and William Hughes. The present trustees are William Simpson, Dud- ley Hughes, and Davis Babcock. William Simpson is the clerk. Wil- liam Hughes, Jacob H. Babcock, and William Kennedy are the deacons. The elders or pastors since the organization have been Elder Simeon Babcock, Elder Hamilton Hull, Elder L A. Davis, Elder Benjamin Clement, Elder Simeon Babcock, Jr., Elder Maxson Babcock, Elder Varnum Hull, and Elder John L. Huffman is with them at present. The membership at this writing is about one hundred and eight members.

Special Land Titles.

The McPherson section or grant lies wholly within this township. This tract comprises six hundred and forty acres, and was a special grant to James McPherson, as shown by the following item among the numerous grants provided for in the St. Marys treaty schedule, the conference having been held at St. Marys in 1818.

" .J. Mc Pherson .- To James McPherson, who was taken prisoner by the Indians, and has ever since lived among them, one section of land, to contain 640 acres, in a square form, adjoining the northern or western line of the grant of 48 miles at Lewistown, at such place as he may think proper to locate the same."

The Lewistown reservation also extends from Logan County into this township. This tract contained forty-eight square miles, and was pro- vided for like the McPherson grant, by the St. Marys treaty of 1818. The treaty schedule entry is as follows :-

"Grant to the Shawnees and Senecas at Lewistown .- To Quatawape or Captain Lewis, Shekaghkele or Turtle, Skilowa or Robin, chiefs of the Shawnee tribe residing at Lewistown, and to Mesomea or Civil John, Waukanwuxsheno or The White Man, Oquasheno or Joe, and Willa- quasheno or When-you-are-tired-sit-down, chiefs of the Seneca tribes of Indians residing at Lewistown, and to their successors in office, chiefs of the said Shawnee and Seneca tribes, a tract of land containing 48 square miles, to begin at the intersection of the line run by Charles Roberts in 1812 from the source of the Little Miami River to the source of the Scioto River, in pursuance of instructions from the Commissioners appointed on the part of the U. S. to establish the western boundary of the Va. Military Reservation with the Indian boundary line established by the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 from the crossings above Fort Law- rence to Loramie's store, and to run from said intersection northerly with the first-mentioned line, and westwardly with the second-mentioned line so as to include the quantity as nearly in a square form as practi- cable after excluding the section of land hereinafter granted to Nancy Stewart."

A reference to the county map, which appears elsewhere in this vol- ume, will show the boundaries of these reservations as far as said boun- daries fall within the limits of this county.

BIOGRAPHIES.

J. M. CARTER, M.D., JACKSON CENTRE, OHIO.

Dr. J. M. Carter, a leading physician and public-spirited citizen of this county, is a native of Wayne County, Indiana, where he was born August 5, 1839. During his years of infancy his father died, and when his mother remarried he found himself dominated by a step-father, who was exacting and abusive. Instead of enjoying the privileges of the average youths of the land, he was required to labor without holiday, and found himself denied all educational privileges, so that he attained the age of seventeen without the ability to either read or write. No longer willing to endure the harsh treatment of his step-father, he aban- doned home when seventeen, and commenced the struggle of life inde- pendently and unassisted, making something of a home with Joseph C. Ratliff, near Richmond, Indiana. He devoted two years to work and attendance at school. In 1858 he entered White Water Academy, of Centreville, where he attended one year, paying his way by serving as janitor of the institution. In 1859 he went to Crawfordsville, and en- tered Wabash College, where, without money or books with which to start, he worked his way through until the spring of 1861, when he en- listed in the Eleventh Indiana Zonave Regiment, under command of Col. Lewis Wallace. After three months' service he re-enlisted in the Forty- seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under command of Col. James R. Slack, and served with his regiment something over two years, when he veteraned with his company and regiment, and served until finally dis- charged December 25, 1865, at Indianapolis, Indiana. During his vete- ran service he carried with him certain medical works, to the study of which he devoted all the time at his command. After leaving the army he went to Cincinnati, and pursued his medical studies under Prof. D. D. Bramble, and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in the class of 1868. In August of the same year he came to this county, and locating at Jackson Centre commenced the practice of medicine. By attention to the details of the profession and hard study,

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he has built up a large and lucrative practice, while by his interest in public affairs and local improvements he has won the respect and ap- proval of a whole social community. He was married November 5, 1868, to Miss Mary C. Savage, of Centreville, Indiana. About a year since he completed an elegant residence at Jackson Centre, and has sur- rounded himself by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Like in the case of all self-made men, being determined to rise in the world, no force could keep him down, and that determination is his chief characteristic to-day. Being a man of positive force, he knows no com- promises, and if he exhibits a weakness at any time it will be on the side of over-enthusiasm. He has as yet known no such thing as failure in his undertakings, which are pushed forward with an unwavering faith and unfaltering purpose. This county will undoubtedly hear more of him hereafter, and have an opportunity to give its estimate of a hard-working, self-made, public-spirited citizen.

O. CARGILL.

O. Cargill, the only merchant in Jackson Centre, was born in Zanes- ville, Muskingumn County, Ohio, May 25, 1833. In 1855 he came to Salem Township, and worked at the cooper trade, which he had learned at Zanesville. Leaving Salem Township in 1860 he went to Butler County, where he worked about two years at the same trade. About 1862 he came to Sidney, a little later to Salem Township, and in a few years moved back to Sidney. He then bought a farm near town, on which he lived until 1 .76, when he moved to Jackson Centre, and opened a general supply store. In this business he is still engaged, and doing a large and prosperous trade. In 1877 he was appointed post-master of the village, and still holds the appointment. On the upper floor of his store building the Masonic society has a hall, well fitted and furnished. While not directly doing a hotel business, the traveller in this section will find the Cargill House a proper stopping place. In 1860 Mr. Cargill married Rose Ann Colgan, of Dayton, Ohio. They have four children living, named Allen L., Llewellyn, Clara, and Gracie.

SAMUEL BRANDENBURG

is a farmer who settled in Shelby County in 1839. He was born in Maryland in 1782, and his wife in Virginia in 1795. Their children are Elizabeth, S. W., Samuel, Dorothea, Christena, Joel, Catharine, and Mary. His father was in the Revolutionary war, was wounded, and drew a pension after he had reached old age. He enlisted when quite a young man, and served through the war under Gen. Marion. Mr. Brand- enburg hauled wheat to Dayton, and exchanged it for salt. He died in 1845, aged sixty-three years.

LUTHER S. DAVIS,

son of James and Elizabeth Davis, was born in Virginia in 1810, and raised to farming. May 10, 1835, he married Jane, daughter of Richard and Mary Morris. Their children are Bianca, Augustus, Permetha, Cla- rissa, Israel, Calvin, Mary, Albert, Rozetta, Richard, and Edgar. His grandfather was in the Revolutionary war three years under Gen. Wash- ington. His father and wife's father in the war of 1812. His sons, Augustus, Israel, and Calvin, were in the Rebellion. Augustus served four years, and Israel and Calvin each two months. He owns one hun- dred and seventy acres of land.

SOLOMON TRANDREE

was born in Kentucky November, 1807; was brought up as a shoemaker. His father was in the Revolutionary war at the age of seventeen, and served seven years under Gen. Washington. He had three brothers in the war of 1812 under Gen. Harrison. He had one son in the war of 1861 who served three years. He came to Shelby County in 1836, and settled near Port Jefferson.

WILLIAM S. FOSTER,

son of John and Elizabeth Foster, was born in 1822, and raised a farmer. In 1847 he married Mary, daughter of William and Ann Sinith (she was born in 1826). Their children are Elizabeth, William S., Ann R., Mary B., Maria P., Robert D., Alice G., Frances E., and John R.

JOHN ISEMAN,

son of Jacob and Barbara Iseman, was born November 28, 1825, in France. He is a general merchant and druggist. He married on April 6, 1848, Salome, daughter of George P. and Elizabeth Leninger. She was born July 8, 1829. The family of J. Iseman settled in Stark County in 1833. Has filled the office of post-master and township trustee. He placed a substitute in the Rebellion for three years-he being drafted could not leave his aged parents, to whom they looked for support. His father served seven years under Napoleon Bonaparte, and was in several battles.

JOHN C. ELLIOTT

was born in Clarke County, Ohio, October 6, 1812. He is a son of Thos. and Martha Elliott. In 1817 his parents moved to Jackson County, Ohio, remained until 1826, when they returned to Clarke County. Mr. Elliott remained on the farm with his parents until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years. His first business engagement was that of making shingles, which he followed for several years. On the 9th of August,. 1835, he married Miss Sarah Claton, then of Clarke County, but a native of Greene County, Ohio. In the autumn of 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Elliott came to Shelby County. He entered, made improvements, and settled on eighty acres of land in section 9, Jackson Township, on which he. lived, and followed farming as his vocation until September, 1869, when he moved to Montra, same township, where he is now residing. On the 16th of November, 1870, he engaged in the mercantile business in Mou- tra, which he has since been conducting with success. He also owns a large farm in section 9, Jackson Township. By his union with Miss Claton he reared a family of nine children, viz., Thomas, Margaret, Wil- liam C., Clark, Lewis, Druscilla, Martha, George W., and Sarah, all of whom are yet living except William C. and Margaret. William C. died at Meadow Bluff, Virginia, July 10, 1862, while serving in the late war. Mrs. Elliott died June 5, 1860.

On the 26th of October, 1862, Mr. Elliott married Mrs. Martha Pat- ton, née Stephenson, then of Logan County, Ohio, but a native of Clarke County, Ohio, where she was born August 9, 1826. By this union he has three children, viz., Angeline, Charles, and John. He served as jus- tice of the peace of Jackson Township about eighteen years, and as com- missioner of Shelby County twelve years.

CAPTAIN C. ELLIOTT, .

son of John C. and Sarah Elliott, was born in Jackson Township, Shelby County, Ohio, two and a half miles northeast of Montra, on the 27th of October, 1842. He was brought up on a farm, and has made farming his principal avocation. January 15, 1868, he married Miss Jennie N. Staley, of Jackson Township, this county, who was born September 13, 1843, daughter of John and Catharine Staley, by whom he has two chil- dren, viz., Ada O. and Grace C. In 1870 he purchased and moved on the farm in section 19, one mile south of Montra, on which he is now residing. He served as clerk of Jackson Township one term.

SIMEON BABCOCK,

deceased, was born in Harrison County, Virginia, August 6, 1826. He was a son of William and Aseneth Babcock, who migrated to Ohio in 1830, and located in Clark County, remained until the beginning of the year 1837, when they came to Shelby County, and settled on section 8, Jackson Township, on which they passed the remainder of their days. Mr. William Babcock died in 1849. His companion, Aseneth Babcock, died a few years later. They reared a family of seven children, viz., Mary A., Simeon, Emily, Azariah, Enos, Anna, and Silas, only three of whom are now living, viz., Azariah, Enos, and Emily. Enos Babcock served in the war of 1861. Simeon Babcock, subject of this sketch, came to Shelby County with his parents in 1837, as above mentioned. In 1844 he married Miss Amy Vanhorn, then of Logan County, Ohio, but a native of West Virginia, where she was born October 16, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock settled on his father's home farm in section 8, Jackson Township. In 1848 he purchased and moved on a farm one and one-half mile north of Jackson Centre, on which he died September 5, 1876. His companion is residing on the home farm north of Jackson Centre. They reared a family of seven children, viz., Joseph C., John A., Sabina S., Jesse M., Isadore, Wilber J., and Teresa V.

Joseph C. Babcock served in the war of 1861. Mr. Babcock made farming his principal vocation through life.

LUTHER L. DAVIS,

an old and esteemed citizen of Jackson Township, was born in Harrison County, Virginia, May 31, 1810. He came to Ohio in 1831, and located in Clarke County, where, on the 10th of May, 1835, he married Miss Jane Morris, who was born in Clarke County, Ohio, November 23, 1815. Mr. -and Mrs Davis came to Shelby County in 1837, entered, made improve- ments, and settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 17, Jackson Township, on which they have since resided. They reared a family of eleven children, viz., Bianca, Augustus A., Permetha, Clarissa, Israel L., Calvin W., Mary J., Albert R., Rosetta B., Richard W., and Edgar C. Three of the above-named children are now dead, viz., Per- metha, Bianca, and Mary J. Augustus A., Israel L., and Calvin served in the war of. 1861.

JOHN S. MERANDA

was born in Jackson Township, this county, on the farm now owned by John Hughes, Feb. 26, 1844. He is a son of Newland Meranda, a native of Virginia, where he was born Dec. 28, 1804. He migrated to Ohio, and located in Clarke County, where, in 1827, he married Miss

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Hannah Lowe, then of Clarke County, but a native of Virginia, born Feb. 14, 1>06. He came to Shelby County with his family in 1837, and located in Port Jefferson, remained until 1840, when they moved to Jackson Township and settled on section 22, on which Mr. Meranda died March 11, 1846, leaving a wife with seven children, viz., Wil- liam, Druscilla, George, Samuel N., Jesse, John S., and Milton L., to mourn the loss of a husband and father, four of whom are now living, .viz., Druscilla, George, John S. and Milton L. Four of the sons served in the war of 1861, viz., Samuel N., Jesse, John S., and Milton L. Jesse was killed in the battle of Arkansas Post. He was in the act of loading his gun, when a musket-ball struck him in the forehead, and killed him instantly. He was a brave soldier, and died at his post of duty.

Mrs. Meranda married William Hogan, October 7, 1857, and is yet residing in Jackson Township. Mr. Meranda was a carpenter by trade, which business he made his principal vocation through life. He filled the office of justice of the peace of Jackson Township for several years.

John S. Meranda, subject of this sketch, passed his minority days on a farm. When he had attained the age of eighteen years, he began work- ing at the carpenter trade, which business he followed as his vocation about three years, and the remainder of his time has been given to farm- ing, which he has conducted with success, and now owns a farm of one hun- dred and twenty-nine acres, in section 14, Jackson Township, on which he has resided since October, 1873. He entered Company D, 51st O. V. I .. as a private in Sept. 1864, and served until June, 26, 1865, when he was discharged from the service.

On the 18th of June. 1868, he married Miss Sarah Maddux, of Jack- son Township, who was born October 20, 1848, daughter of James and Elizabeth Maddux. By this union he has four children now living .- one son and three daughters. Hle served as trustee of Jackson Town- ship one year.

WILLIAM HOGAN-Retired Farmer,

was born in Warren county, Ohio, Feb. 3. 1798. He married Miss Eli- zabeth Shaver, in 1818, then of Warren County, Ohio, but a native of Kentucky, by whom he reared three children, viz., George, Sarah A., and Sidney. Two of these are now living, viz., Sarah A. and Sidney. In 1849 Mr. and Mrs. Hogan moved to Shelby County, purchased and settled on the farm in fractional section 36, Jackson Township, on which he has since resided. His companion died September 7, 1856, aged 69 years, 2 months, and 6 days. On the 7th of October, 1857, he married Mrs. Hannah Meranda, nee Lowe, with whom he is now living. He has made farming his principal business through life.

SAMUEL BRANDENBURG,

deceased, was born in Maryland, in 17>5. He migrated to Ohio in 1814 and located in Montgomery County, where, on the 2d day of March, 1817, he married Miss Catharine Brenner, daughter of Lewis and Dorothy Brenner. Miss Brenner was born in Virginia, July 12, 1795, and came to Ohio with her parents in 1814, and settled in Montgomery County. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg settled on a farm in Montgomery County, remained until 1839, when they came to Shelby County, made improvements, and settled on the farm in Jackson Township, now owned by their son Lewis W. Brandenburg, where Mr. Brandenburg died in November, 1846. Mrs. Brandenburg remained on the farm in Jackson Township with her children, until they all grew to be men and women and were married. In 1866, she left the farm, and has, since that time, been making her home with her children. For the last ten years she has been staying with her son Joel Brandenburg in Franklin Township, where she is now residing at the advanced age of 87 years. In about 1859, she had the misfortune to lose her eyesight by a cataract, and has since been in darkness. She reared a family of eight children, viz., Elizabeth, Lewis W., Samuel, Dorothy A., Christina, Joel, Catharine, and Mary. Elizabeth, Samuel, and Dorothy are dead.

LEWIS W. BRANDENBURG,

son of Samuel and Catharine Brandenburg, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, February 9, 1821, where his minority days were passed on a farm. In 1839, he came with his parents to Shelby County, and settled on the farm, a part of which is now owned and occu- pied by him in Jackson Township. On the 6th of December, 1846, he married Miss Mary R. Babcock, daughter of William and Rebecca Babcock, who was born in Clarke County, Ohio, September 24, 1820, and came to Jackson Township, this county, in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Bran- denburgh settled in the southern part of Jackson Township, remained about two years, or until 1849, when they moved to Port Jefferson, where he engaged at the cooper trade, which he followed as his vocation until 1856, when they returned to Jackson Township, and settled on a part of the home farm, on which he has since resided, and conducted the business of farming with success. They have two children, viz., Lissette S. and Mary L. He has filled the office of township trustee for several years.

CHRISTIAN HAWVER,

deceased, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, August 26, 1817, where he passed his minority days. . In 1837, he came to Ohio and located in Miami County, where, on the 1st of February, 1843, he married Miss Lucinda Hughes of Miami County, who was born August 1, 1819. Soon after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hawver came to Shelby County, purchased and settled on the farm in section 33, Jackson Township, now owned and occupied by his widow, Mrs. Lucinda Hawver, on which he died December 12, 1880, leaving a wife and two children, George W. and Wil- liam, and many friends to mourn the loss of a kind husband, indulgent parent, and a good citizen.

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

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

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