History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 147

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 147

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SANDY TOWNSHIP.

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tions, buying and shipping to Eastern mar- kets, hogs, sheep and cattle, for the past few years ; he is a resident and owner of the old homestead farm consisting of 156 acres and

has also about 50 acres in Pike Tp., all under a good state of cultivation. He is a young and enterprising business man and a progressive and liberal minded citizen.

ADDENDUM TO SANDY TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES.

Received Too Late for Alphabetical Insertion.

THOMAS McCALL, retired; P. O. Can- ton; whose portrait appears in this history, as a representative pioneer of Sandy Tp., was born in Bridgeport, Fayette Co., Penn., March 28, 1809, and was the fourth child of a fam- ily of seven children, born to Robert and Nancy (Robertson) McCall. They were both natives of Westmoreland Co. Penn .; the former born July 2, 1776, and died in 1833. His mother was born Feb. 9, 1781, and died in 1858. Bar- ney MeCall, the grandfather of Thomas, came from Ireland to the colonies when young. He married Miss Mary Newell, a native of Mary- land. They lived and died in Westmoreland Co. Penn. His grandfather, William Robert- son, was a native of Scotland. He came to the colonies when a boy, and subsequently married Miss Sarah Hurst, a native of Vir- ginia. They also lived and died residents of Fayette Co., Penn. On March 17, 1828, Thomas arrived with his parents in Stark Co. They settled in Sandy Tp. on a farm, though his father did but little or no farming; he being by trade a mill-wright, and spent his time principally at his trade. Their home was on the northeast quarter of Seet. 22, adjoining the village of Waynesburg, which at the time was com- posed of four families. As early as 1807-8, Robert McCall came to Ohio, and built a

number of mills in Columbiana, Stark and ad joining counties. Thomas was raised a mill- wright, and worked at the trade with his father until the latter's death, when he took charge of the old homestead farm, where he lived until 1846, and then moved to a farm four miles north of Waynesburg, and resided there until 1859, when he removed to Canton, by reason of his having been elected to the office of Auditor of Stark Co., by the Demo- eratie party, with whiel he has affiliated since becoming a legal voter. In 1861, his term of of- fiee expired, when he returned to his farm, and resided there until 1872, and then again be- came a resident of Canton, which is his home at present. He has also served as land Assessor for the townships of Canton, Osnaburg. Pike, Paris and Sandy. Nov. 13, 1833, he was married to Miss Sarah Brothers, of Fayette Co., Pa. She died Feb. 22, 1855. By this marriage eight children were born to them, five of whom are living, viz: Thomas, in Boulder Co., Col .; Harriet E., now Mrs. M. Prouse, of Missouri ; Theodore, on the old homestead ; John S. and George D., both in Woodbury Co., Iowa. June 26, 1863, he was married to Mrs. H. M. Harold, formerly Miss Harriet M. Reed. By this marriage they have one child, Miss May R.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

OSNABURG TOWNSHIP.

JOSIAH ANTHONY, farmer; P. O. Osna- burg; one of the most attractive places, and one which catches the eye of a stranger in driving out the State road is the residence and barn of Josiah Anthony, a farmer living three miles east of Osnaburg. Mr. Anthony was born Feb. 28, 1835, in Osnaburg Tp .; his parents were John and Juliann A. (Schull) Anthony, of Adams Co., Penn. His father having died when Josiah was a youth of 13, he was placed under the care of a guardian, Henry Hossler; at 18 he began the carpen- ter's trade under Samuel Immel, which he followed in the west until 1862. Returning to Ohio, he again engaged in farming, at first purchasing 80 acres of the present homestead. In 1868 he added the remainder of the orig- inal place, making in all 120 acres of highly improved farming land. In connection with his model farming he has of late years being dealing some in Merino sheep and Dur- ham cattle; his present herd is a cross from the thorough bred Durhams imported from Canada by Sprankle and Williamson. In the arrangement of his barn and yards he has spared no pains or expense to have every convenience for the comfort of his stock. Mr. Anthony was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Baughman, of Nimishillen Tp., and is surrounded with a pleasant and harmoni- ous family of eight children, five boys and three girls; in religion Mr. and Mrs. Anthony are communicant members of the Reformed Church, at Paris, O.

FRANK BOWEN, coal dealer, Osnaburg. Among the most prominent of the younger business men of Osnaburg Tp., may be mentioned Frank Bowen, owner of an exten- sive coal field, at the southern edge of Osna- burg village. Mr. Bowen married Lydia Kungelman, July 30, 1848. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, having moved to

Loudonville, O., in his 12th year. Frank en- listed in the 100-day service under Col. Ball, 162d O. N. G. At his return in 1864 he began his apprenticeship at tinning. In 1868 he commenced business for himself as tinner, in partnership with his brother and Joseph Ball, which continued two years. Mr. Bowen then returned for a stay of two years, on the farm with J. Holwick. In 1872 he ventured on opening up the first tin shop in Osnaburg, where he held forth for a decade. At the death of Mr. Holwick, his father-in-law, the court appointed him executor. He removed to the present homestead, upon his wife's place. He enlarged the capacity of coal pro- duction, so that in the winter of 1880-81 he was employing fourteen men. During the summer season the demand being light, Mr. Bowen is taking advantage and making arrangements to employ mule-power, thus increasing the producing capacity of one of the largest coal mines in the Township, the average monthly yield for the winter being 12,000 tons. In 1870, he took unto himself a better half in the person of Alice Holwick. The family consists of one child, Carrie A. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen are both members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Bowen has been honored by his brethren and the young people, by his selection to the S. S. Superintendency, and leader of class. In his political career, he maintains the Repub- lican faith, having been elected to office of Township Clerk for three years. Mr. Bowen is one of the youngest members of the present Union School Board, at Osna- burg.

ABRAHAM CLARK, coal dealer; Osna- burg. Abraham Clark was born in Schuyl- kill Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1814, son of Jacob and Susanna (Bowman) Clark. He removed to Osnaburg Tp. with his parents at the early

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OSNABURG TOWNSHIP.

age of two years, where he was raised upon the farm, clearing up the forests and assisting at the heavy labor of a new county. In 1845 he began for himself and purchased his present homestead, the Kuntz farm, which he has improved in buildings, &c., until it is one of the attractive rural residences of Osna- burg Tp. Mr. Clark continued working the coal bank, already opened by his predecessor, supplying the various manufacturing estab- lishments located at Canton, Akron, Alliance, Fort Wayne, and other points at a distance. From 1860 to 1878 Mr. Clark was the princi- pal coal dealer of Osnaburg Tp., ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 bushels per annum. One secret of his success was he never leased his mines to other parties, but was a direct manager and overseer of his own business. His coal land is a tillable farm of 144 acres, lying at the western edge of Osnaburg village. In addition to being an excellent grain farm, Mr. Clark has given it a reputation and a name as a fine fruit hill with its natural com- plement, an extensive apiary. In 1835 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Catherine Reatlin- ger of Osnaburg. The fruit of this wedlock is four children-three boys and one girl. The boys are all on the farm. Mrs. Catharine Clark died 1865. Mr. Clark was remarried to Mrs. Mary Meizer of Osnaburg. In politics he has always east his lot with the Democracy. Mr. and Mrs. Clark and family are attendants and members of the Reformed Church.

JACOB DAGER, sheep-raiser; P. O. Osna- burg; was born in Washington Co., Pa., Au- gust 9, 1814. His parents were Jacob and Catharine (H .witt) Dager, of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Martin Dager, was a native of Germany. Mr. Dager was bereaved of his father in 1826; four years later his mother married Henry Everhard, now of Stark Co. The subject of this sketch made his home upon the farm of his nativity until his 28th year. His intellect and energy soon gave him a position at home as a teacher, at which he was engaged over five years. Between his terms of teaching be prosecuted an English course of study at Washington College, Penn- sylvania. Among some of his pupils that have attained high positions, may be mentioned Revs. Thos. and Samuel Wilson; also, Chief Justice of Ohio, Mellvain. He came to Car- roll Co. in 1840, teaching in winters and elear-

ing his newly-purchased farm in the other seasons. In the spring of 1853 be purchased a part of his present homestead, to which he has annexed adjoining farins until he is the owner of 280 well-improved acres. This locality being well adapted to combine stock- raising with farming, led Mr. Dager into the sheep business, in which he has justly gained an enviable reputation. llis enter- prise ranks him as the very first, both as in- troducer and breeder of Merino sheep, in Os- naburg Tp .; and judging from the county fair records, he is entitled to the front rank in his business in Stark Co. Ilis flock consists of the pedigreed Atwood importation. In 1877, himself, his son and his son-in-law, John B. Criswell, purchased four ewes and two lambs of S. S. Campbell, of Harrison Co. In 1881, the firmn made a purchase of Campbell and Law of a ram for $400. In the herd-book he ranks as No. 95 (Glengary). On November 8, 1838, Mr. Dager and Miss Eleanor Hast- ings were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, which union has been blest by three children, the eldest, Mrs. John B. Criswell, joining farms; Isaac N. is also a farmer and stock- dealer; John H. is yet at home, associated in business with his venerable sire.

GEORGE DOLL, Osnaburg P. O., is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in York Co. He moved with his parents, John and Elizabeth (Kith) Doll to Stark Co. in his carly youth. He remained on the farm until be was 15 years of age, and afterward was stage-driver for seven years on the Lis- bon and Canton road, at the meager wages of $10 per month and expenses paid. He was afterward employed by the National Stage Route Co., having the honor of driving the first stage over the new National Road. In 1840 he hired to Linn & Murry, proprietors of a traveling circus of considerable note in that day. Two years afterward, he returned to Osnaburg, and " took unto himself a wife," making the happy choice of Miss Susan Mei- ser, of Osnaburg, in 1843. Miss Meiser came formerly from Lebanon Co., Pa. Mr. Doll followed the mason's trade for several years, leaving many lasting monuments of his work, in the walls and battlements of this locality. With his hard-earned accumulations he pur- chased a farm, which he afterward sold and bought the American House, and was land-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

lord at this stand for eight years. Mr. Doll cared for his aged parents, and furnished them rooms at this hotel until their death. Ile sold his tavern to Jacob Reece in 1858, living a private life until the breaking out of the war, at which time he not only gave his sons to the cause, but enlisted himself, under Capt. Gotchsell, as company farrier. The regiment proceeded to Nashville, witnessing the first engagement at the battle of Shiloh. At Mur- freesboro he was made veterinary surgeon of the regiment. The next engagement was at Lookout Mountain. Mr. Doll was with the army in their march to the sea, under Gen. Sherman, this trip being the most agreeable in his army experience. One incident that his profession called his especial attention to was the severity of a trailing brier that did great injury to the limbs of the horses, the thorns being so severe that they would make great incisions in the horses' legs like knives. After their return to Nashville, Mr. Doll was started down to the Mississippi river with two steamers of broken-down mules, which were intercepted a few miles below Nashville, and the men captured. Mr. Doll, in company with two negroes, escaped again to the steam- ers, and were rescued by the timely arrival of a Federal iron-elad. Mr. Doll received but one injury during his military career ; that was caused by the slipping of his horse, se- verely injuring one of his limbs. Mr. Doll is at present a citizen of Osnaburg, and inter- ested in the Osnaburg Coal Co., and he has had considerable experience in the coal- mining business. He is a Republican in polities, casting his first vote for Henry Clay. Mr. and Mrs. Doll are communicants in the German Reformed Church.

HIRAM DOLL, merchant ; Osnaburg is one of the younger business men of the town of Osnaburg, being born in 1843, in this township; descendant of John Doll, who came originally from York Co., Penn. His father was Geo. Doll, whose life is noticed elsewhere in this work. Mr. Doll spent his boyhood days in Osnaburg village, where he attended the public schools. In the spring of 1860 he removed to Perry Tp. A year from the following fall, at the break ing-out of the war, he enlisted in company I, 19th Ohio, nnder Capt. Wm. Rakestraw, and Col. Sam. Beaty, going first to camp Den-

nison, then to Louisville, Ky. During his term of service he was in the battle of Shiloh, at the Siege of Corinth, Murfreesboro, Tenn., Perryville, Ky., and Chickamauga, and at the latter place was among the unfortunates, being taken prisoner the last evening of the engagement. He was removed to Richmond, afterward to Danville, Andersonville and Savannah, also to Millen. At Andersonville he served a term of six months, experiencing all the hardships of Confederate prison-life, scurvy being one of the afflictions at that place. At Danville he was incarcerated for a period of five months, at which place he was sorely afflicted with the small-pox. He was imprisoned in all fourteen months. Mr. Doll having served over three years, received an hon- orable discharge, Jan. 13, 1865. The following 000 00 May he was united in the holy bonds of wed- lock, with Miss Lydia Newman, of Osnaburg. Of this union there are three children living- Charley H., Nettie and Maggie. One child, James R., was buried in the winter of 1872. After the war he was engaged in coal mining and painting, until 1876, in which year he be- gan general merchandising in Osnaburg, at which business he is at present employed. His prison-life and army career has made him a Stalwart Republican. Has held local of- fice in the township, serving as Township Clerk, also Treasurer for one year; in spring of 1881 was elected again to that office, and is the pres- ent ineumbent. Mr. and Mrs. Doll are members of the German Reformed Church. Has held the position of Deacon in same for fourteen years. He takes great interest in Sunday- school work, and has held the position of Superintendent for several terms. At other times has been a constant teacher of a class. Mr. DoHl lives in one of the finest dwellings in the village-a neat, brick edifice, upon Nassau street, opposite his store-room.

JOSIAH FINK, farmer; P. O. Osnaburg; was born April 14, 1832, in Lancaster Co., Penn., son of Ephraim and Susanna (Shenkle) Fink. Five years later they moved to Stark Co., locating in Osnaburg Tp. He served a faithful apprenticeship on the farm with his father, and in 1850 began to learn the car- penter's trade; this pursuit he followed but four years, when he rented a farm in Osnaburg Tp. In about six years his thrift and econ- omy enabled him to puachase 40 acres of his

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present dwelling spot in the northwest corner, Sec. 6, of Osnaburg Tp. In 1880 he added to his present farm 30 acres, a portion of which lies in Nimishillen Tp. For thirteen years Mr. Fink followed threshing of grain; in 1812 he sold his interest in this branch of machinery, and has since made farming his exclusive busi- ness. In politics he is a "full-blooded" Republi- can, having been nominated and elected by that party to the office of Township Trustee, and in 1880, as Land Appraiser for the present term. His associates in the Home Insurance Co. have elected him their clerk many terms. At present is a member of the township School Board; his different offices and occupations combined with fine social qualities have made him very generally known and honored in this part of the county. Mr. Fink was mar- ried June 12, 1853, to Miss Sarah Wenger. Mrs. Fink is a daughter of one of the oklest and wealthiest families of the township. Their home has been made joyous with six children -Susanna, Amanda, Isaac, Martin, Josiah and Samuel.

FRED. J. FRY, farmer; P. O. Osna- burg; was born April 12, 1829, upon the present finely located spot, popularly denom- inated "Centerville farm." Ilis parents, Frederick and Elizabeth (Neidig) Fry, were natives of Berks Co., Pa., and moved to Ohio and located in Stark Co., in 1816. The subject of this sketch remained with his par- ents upon this farm, until his 22d year, at which age he purchased 148 acres of the paternal homestead. Mr. Fry has been a dealer in live-stock, sheep being his favorite branch of the business. At present, he has a fine drove of 100 Merinos. In matrimony, he joined his fortunes with those of Miss Mary Fogle, Feb. 9, 1865. The sweets of married life' were strengthened by a family of eleven children. Miss Frances, the eldest, is still at home; Miss Ada is in her 22d year, also residing on the farm; Marion is 21 years; Henry in his 20th year; Alfred 18; Mary L., 11; Bradley G., 16; Johnny L., 15; Reason, in his 12th year; Walter, a lad of 10 suminers. The family circle remained unbroken until they were called around the bedside of their dying mother, Aug. 19, 1880. Mr. Fry, and part of the family, are communicant mem- bers of the Reformed Church, at Paris, (). Mr. Fry, has held an active relation to Sun-

day School and Church work for many years. Ile has been repeatedly elected Sunday School Superintendent, at Centerville organ- ization. The orderly appearance of his farm and home, speak in high terms of his atten- tion and skill in husbandry, and rearing of a dutiful family of children.

REV. JOHN M. GRETHER, Osnaburg. Out of the numerous congregations in the village of Osnaburg there is at present only one resident minister, the Rev. John M. Grether, of the Reformed Church of the United States, born in Niederweilder, Grand Duchy Baden-Baden, Germany, Dee. 22, 1828, his parents being John J. and Catharine (Eber- hart) Grether. His father died in 1844 when John M. was but 12 years of age. Ile received a thorough common-school education in the German schools. After his 14th year, he continued his course of study in a religious direction, laboring in vacations for a number of years with his relatives, in the bakery busi- ness. June 21, 1847, Mr. G., with his mother and their family of eight children, sailed from Havre for America, arriving Aug. 2. They moved first to Canton, Ohio. Mr. G. engaged himself in the bakery and confec- tionery business at Akron, O. Tiring of this, he began a course of medicine under Dr. John Weimer of that city, completing his medical education in the Cleveland Medical College. Practiced three years at Wooster. A severe type of diphtheria breaking out at New Phila- delphia, Dr. G. was called to that locality to treat the disease among the Germans. He continued his practice in this place very suc- cessfully four years. The last two years he served as County Physician at the Infirmary. The many scenes of suffering and dying inci- dent to the medical profession, called forth the more serious part of Mr. Grether's nature, and he took up a course of theologieal reading during his last year of medical practice, and even before he was ordained minister, he was called to various fields of church labor by the ministry of the Reformed Church. In 1862- 63 he took a special course in theology, being ordained as minister of the holy gospel in 1863. His appointment by the Synod was for Medina and Ashland Counties, serving three congregations and establishing a fourth at Ashland. In 1867 was sent to Warren, Ohio, where he labored for six years. During his

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administration he lifted the entire debt of $1,800 from the small congregation of Youngs- town. In 1873, Mr. G. was called to Hart- ville, Stark Co., serving the three congrega- tions of Hartville, Randolph and Limaville. In the spring of 1872 he began his pastoral labors in Osnaburg, serving at present three congregations, beside the village one at Stras- burg, which he organized March 16, 1879. The St. Martin's, east of Osnaburg, is the third congregation. They have a communicant membership of 230. Mr. G. was deprived of his first wife March 5, 1854. Dec. 12, 1854, he was remarried. This union was blessed with ten children, six sons and four daughters, all living-Frank, the eldest, is in his 26th year; at present is minister and tutor in the Mission College, Franklin, Wis .; William is in the same school; Emma is wife of J. J. Bronmbach; Louisa, the second daughter, is teaching; John, Amanda, Anna, Frederick, Alfred and George. Mr. Grether stands high among his people, and is an earnest laborer among them, in all branches of ecclesiasti- cal labor, constantly holding extra services through the week.

GEO. W. HENNING, teacher and min- ister, Osnaburg. Rev. Geo. W. Henning, is a descendant of Abram and Susanna (Bair) Henning. His mother is a grand- daughter of Rudolph Bair, one of the dele- gates to the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio. He was born Jan. 5, 1833, and until his 18th year remained upon the farm with his parents, attending winter school. Having assiduously given his spare moments to books, he was soon competent to begin the profession of teaching, in which he has since taken so high a rank. His first attend- ance at advanced schools was at Massillon, under Prof. L. Andrews, who afterward be- came President of Kenyon College. In 1851 he entered Mt. Union Seminary, and gradu- ated in 1859, being Valedictorian of his class. The following year he was employed as Mathe- matical Professor in Eden Seminary, Trumbull Co. In 1859-60, he was elected to fill a chair in the Western Reserve Seminary. In 1860-62 he acted as Principal of Georgetown Semi- nary. In connection with his profession, he read sufficient theology to be ordained min- ister of the Gospel in the Reformed Church of the U. S. From 1864 to 1875, he was

constantly employed in the South Grammar School. Feeling the need of physical recup- eration, he returned to his farm in the eastern part of Osnaburg Tp., teaching the short winter terms at home, and improving his farm. The winter of 1879-80 again found L. Longshore, of East Fairfield, Nov. 10, 1859. him in the school, teaching a school-year in Louisville, Stark Co. He was married to Maria This union has been blest with ten children, all of whom are at home, except the eldest son, who is teaching school in their home district. In politics he is Democratic.

ALFRED HURFORD, farmer and coal- dealer; P. O. Canton. Alfred Harford was born in Canton Tp., July 16, 1814. His parents' names were Thomas and Mary (Wilcoxen) Hurford, of Chester Co., Penn. Mr. Hurford remained with his father upon the farm until the death of the latter, which occurred in 1835, six months before Alfred arrived at his majority, thus prevent- ing him from acting as executor of the es- tate, which consisted of a fine half section at the south of the city of Canton, a part of which is at present within the city limits. The executor was so dilatory, that the estate did not yield to the family what it should. Mr. Hurford engaged himself to John Myers, with whom he labored on the farm for one year. He afterwards became an employe of Dun- can, at 50c. per day. He and his younger brother afterward leased the homestead, which they managed in partnership for four years. In 1839 he rented his mother-in-law's farm, re- maining until Nov. 26, 1845, when he removed to his present place, and purchased eighty- twoacres, at $25 per acre. In 1849, he added sixty-two acres on the northeast side. In 1863 he purchased five acres, making in all at present a farm of 190 acres, well drained and enriched land, with three veins of work- able coal underlying it. Was married March 27, 1836, to Miss Dinah- Brown of Pennsylva- nia, from which union there were six children, five are still living-Hiram B., a mechanic in Canton, O .; Henry E., in a grain depot, Cin- cinnati, O .; Lewis K. is in the grocery busi- ness; Zachary T. died from a disease con- tracted in the army, returning and dying sur- rounded by the family; Maria R. Hurford is at home. The youngest is living at Canton, O. Mr. Hurford is widely known and re-

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 147

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060