USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 68
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Morgan Young, a son of Elijah and Amy (Larkin) Young, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, near Galena, September 27. 1837. Morgan Young and his brother, Steven, went to California in the latter part of the fifties. Steven Young went in 1856 and Morgan followed his brother in 1859. The two brothers returned to Ohio in the spring of 1861 and bought
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in partnership a farm adjoining Richwood. They operated this farm to- gether for three years, at the end of which time Morgan sold his share in the farm to his brother and bought a farm of fifty acres. east of Richwood. He kept this farm one year and then sold it for an advance of one thousand dollars, and immediately bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty- two acres one mile north of Richwood, and on this farm he has been living since he acquired it. He has placed all the improvements on it and now has one of the most attractive farms of the township.
Mr. Young was married August 26, 1862, to Elnora Finch, a daughter of Peter and Myrtle (Worth) Finch, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Union county, Ohio. Three or four years after the family came to Union county they sold their farm and moved to Iowa, where Mrs. Finch died. Later Mr. Finch returned to Ohio, where he lived the remain- der of his life.
Mr. Young and his wife were the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living: Frank married Laura Treece, and now manages the home farm; Edward married Orpha Blue, and is a farmer of Jackson township; Vinie. the wife of Bert Carter, lives in Jackson township; Vellie, a nurse, who is now making her home with her brother, and Otis, a dentist at Marion, Ohio, who married Nettie McCurdy. The three deceased chil- dren passed away in childhood. The mother of these children died on March 26, 1910.
Mr. Young is now living a retired life with his son, Frank, on the old homestead. He has been a life-long Republican, and served as trustee of Claibourne township. He also was a member of the school board of his township for several years. Mr. Young and all of his family are loyal mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Richwood.
JOHN CRAWFORD.
There are few citizens in Union county, Ohio, who were born in Eng- land, and one of this number is John Crawford, a retired harness maker now living at Broadway. Ohio. Coming to this country at the age of eigh- teen, he located in Broadway in 1860 after living in Michigan and Franklin county, this state, for a time, and has since made his home in this village, with the exception of the time he spent in the Civil War. He has given
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his adopted country loyal support and served with distinction as a soldier in the Civil War, and since that time has held various official positions in Union county, in which he has given his fellow citizens faithful and effi- cient service.
John Crawford, the son of George and Mary (Harvey) Crawford, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, May 29, 1836. His parents reared a family of five children: John, of Broadway, Ohio; Mary, deceased; Han- nah, the wife of William Stains, of Franklin, Ohio; Harriett, deceased, and Henry, who died during the Civil War, as a member of an Ohio regiment. The father of John Crawford died in England at the age of forty-four, and his mother then came to America and located in Franklin. Warren county, Ohio, where she lived until she reached her eighty-ninth birthday. She married in this country, her second husband being George Hovell, a native of England, and to her second marriage a daughter was born. This daugh- ter. Lizzie. married George Van Camp.
The paternal grandparents of John Crawford were George and Mary (Goss) Crawford, natives of England and early settlers in Michigan, where they located near Ann Arbor. They lived the remainder of their lives there and reared a family of six children in that state, Thomas, George, Jerre, Wyona, Mary and one other son. The maternal grandparents of John Crawford were William and Mary Harvey, natives of England and early settlers in Franklin, Ohio. William Harvey was a gardener and died in Franklin at an advanced age. Three children were born to William Harvey and wife, Mary, Martha and William.
Jolin . Crawford lived in England until he was eighteen years of age and then came to America with his aunt Wyoma and located in Michigan, where he lived for about a year and a half. His mother then came to the United States and settled in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, and he then went there to live with her. He worked on the farm in Warren county until he was twenty-four years of age, during which time he learned the harness-maker's trade at Mount Vernon. He came to Broadway in 1860, and has spent his whole career in this village since that time with the ex- ception of about a year. which he spent in the service of the Union army in the Civil War. He opened up a harness shop in Broadway and followed his trade for forty years, until a few years ago, when he retired from active work. He owns his shop. his home and other residence property in the village.
In 1864 Mr. Crawford enlisted in the Civil War as a private in the
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company of Captain Robb, and served until the close of the war. He then returned to Broadway and resumed his trade as a harness-maker.
Mr. Crawford was first married in 1858 to Sarah Pettigrove, the daugh- ter of William and Eliza ( Pierce) Pettigrove, and to this union ten chil- dren were born, Mary, Anna, Ida, Harriet, Ella, Matilda, William C., Albert, Charles, and one who died in childhood. Mary became the wife of Louis Berry, and lives near Morrell, Ohio, where she and her husband have reared a family of five children, Alpha, Hattie, Harvey, Cecil and Sadie. Anna died a few months after her marriage to Ellsworth Shirk. Ida married Frank McClurg, and both are now deceased. They left one son, Will- iam, who now resides in Broadway. Harriet died when four years of age. Ella married Frank Berry, a farmer living near Morrell, Ohio, and has one son, Leo. Matilda married Augustus Vogt, and lives in Broadway. William C. married Dolly Finley, and lives in Marion, Ohio. Albert, who makes his home in Richwood, Ohio, married Sady Barber. Charles, who lives in Galion, this state, married Fannie Looney, and has three children, Tillie, Clyde and Barbara. Mr. Crawford has eight great-grandchildren at the present time. The mother died thirty-nine years ago.
In May, 1888, Mr. Crawford married Mary Wallace Patterson, the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Boyd) Patterson. Mrs. Crawford was born in Franklin county, twelve miles east of Columbus, November 12, 1842. Her parents were natives of county Antrim and county Downs, Ireland. respectively, and lived within three miles of each other when chil- dren, but they did not know each other until they came to America and settled in Franklin county, Ohio, with their parents. David Patterson died in Clark county, Ohio, at the age of seventy-four, and his wife died near Broadway, January 6. 1892, at the age of eighty. Three sons and one daughter were born to David Patterson and wife, James, David, Mary, and one son who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Crawford is a member of Livingston Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Richwood, although he formerly belonged to the Ransom Reed Post at Marysville, but transferred his membership to Livingston Post for the reason that it was nearer his home. He has been a life-long Republican, and has served as supervisor and constable of his township for several years. Mrs. Crawford and her mother were formerly members of the United Pres- byterian church at Clifton, Ohio, but in 1886 were admitted by letter to the Methodist church at Broadway. Mr. Crawford is now nearly eighty
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years of age, but is remarkably well preserved for a man of his years. His mind is clear and he has a remarkably good memory, as has his wife. They are highly esteemed people and well merit the high regard in which they are held by their friends and neighbors.
HARRISON ENIX.
Harrison Enix is one of the younger class of farmers in Union county, but he has been engaged in the business here long enough to demonstrate the fact that he has the necessary energy and perseverance for the successful farmer. The Enix ancestors came from Virginia, that state being the birth place of the father and grandfather of our subject. The grandfather and other members of the Enix family came first to Knox county, Ohio, and later to Union county.
Harrison Enix was born in Marshall county, West Virginia, June 5. 1875. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Fish) Enix. The father was born in the same county and was a farmer and land owner in that county for several years. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Brice Enix and the maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Thompson. They lived in Virginia for many years and there they reared their family. When they came to Union county, Ohio, they settled in Paris township and made their home here during the remainder of life. The grandfather is buried in Oak- dale cemetery. John and Elizabeth Enix, the parents of our subject, are still living in their home in Taylor township.
John Enix was reared and educated in Virginia. He had three children, namely : Arizonia, deceased; Harrison, subject of this sketch, and Myrtle, who married Allen Edson.
Harrison Enix worked on the farm during his youthful years. Mean- while, he availed himself of all the educational advantages afforded by the schools of the township and county. He first attended the Shirk school in Taylor township and then went to the Brown school. Later he attended the Amrene school and then the Darby school. in Allen township, where he finished his school career. At the age of twenty-two he began working for himself. He was married April 4, 1899. to Annetta Staley, a daughter of William Staley, and went to housekeeping on his father-in-law's farm. located on the Staley pike about three miles northwest of Marysville. To
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his farming industry he has added stock raising, a business for which this farm is well adapted. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a Republican in politics.
GEORGE A. CURRIER.
. One of the many excellent farmers of Jerome township, Union county, Ohio, is George A. Currier, who has lived his entire life of two score years within the limits of the township where he was born. He has devoted him- self to general farming and stock raising with a success which speaks well for his efforts. At the same time he has taken an active part in the life of the community about him and at the present time is serving as trustee of Jerome township in a satisfactory manner.
George A. Currier, the son of George W. and Elizabeth (Edwards) Currier, was born June 17, 1875. in Jerome township, Union county, Ohio. His father was a native of Maine and his mother of Pennsylvania, while their marriage occurred in March, 1860, in Licking county, Ohio. About two years later his parents came to Union county where they lived a few years and then moved to Wisconsin for a year. They then returned to Union county. Ohio, locating in Jerome township, where his father lived until his death, October 10, 1912. His mother is now living with her son, George A. There were nine children born to George W. Currier and wife, six of whom are still living: Nettie L., the wife of Charles H. Kramer, of Union county ; David E., of Plain City; Flora, the wife of H. Bowman, of Plain City; Cordelia, who died at the age of twenty-one: Joseph W., who died at the age of thirty-two; Rev. Jesse Albert. a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church at Columbus, Ohio: George A., of Jerome township; Howard S., a teacher in the Commercial College at Lancaster, Ohio, and one who died in infancy.
George A. Currier was educated in the schools of Jerome township and at the age of twenty-one started out for himself. By his own efforts he has accumulated a fine farm east of Plain City on which he has placed many improvements. He divides his attention between grain and stock raising in such a way as to get the maximum results from his efforts.
Mr. Currier was married July 31, 1902, to Diad Ruhlen, a daughter of Samuel H. and Susan ( Dort) Ruhlen, and to this union two children have been born, Mary R., born May 15, 1903, and Opal May, born August 28, 1912. Mrs. Currier died November 8, 1913.
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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. CURRIER
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Mr. Currier was married September 1, 1914, to Rella M. Cosgray, a daughter of Moses and Jennette ( Postle) Cosgray. Her father was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and a farmer of Franklin county, Ohio. Her mother was a native of Franklin county and is still living there. Mr. and Mrs. Cosgray had four children, Mrs. Currier, Ada, Lela and Michael, all of whom are living.
Mr. Currier and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Plain City. Politically, he is a Republican and has always taken an active part in local political matters. He is now serving in the position as trustee of Jerome township and is giving his fellow citizens faithful and efficient service in this capacity. Fraternally, he is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry at Plain City.
CHARLES W. SANDERSON.
An enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Broadway, Union county, Ohio, is Charles W. Sanderson, who has been the proprietor of a hotel here for the past twenty years. He is a man of strict integrity and has so con- ducted his affairs as to win the esteem of his fellow citizens. He is a man of genial and unassuming demeanor and has a host of friends through- out the community who admire him for his many good qualities.
Charles W. Sanderson, proprietor of the hotel and barber shop in Broad- way, was born near Knoxville, Iowa, March 12, 1862. He is the son of William and Minerva ( Adams) Sanderson, natives of Fayette county, Ohio, and the parents of eight children: Elmira, deceased, who married George Cooper, and, after his death, Luther Strain; James, a farmer of York town- ship, this county ; John, a farmer of Taylor township: Daniel J .. of Broad- way; Charles W., of Broadway; Emma, deceased, who first married Will- iam Browning, and after his death, Lewis Wright.
William Sanderson was reared in Fayette county, Ohio, and when a young man he followed farming and afterwards studied law, and after the Civil War he went to Cincinnati and graduated from the Ohio Medical College. He served as a surgeon during the Civil War and was at the front for three years. He practiced his profession in New Hampshire. where he also operated a drug store. He died in Broadway, Ohio, before he was fifty years of age. His wife survived him many years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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The paternal grandparents of Charles W. Sanderson were James and Sarah (Newman) Sanderson, while the maternal grandparents of Mr. San- derson were Charles and - (Cline) Adams, both of whom lived to a good old age. Charles owned over a thousand acres of land, and he and his wife reared several children, Philip, Sallie, Betsey, Nancy Anna, Minerva and John. After the death of his first wife he married a second time, and by his second marriage had one son, David Henry.
Charles W. Sanderson was reared on his father's farm in York town- ship and received a good common school education in the schools of his immediate neighborhood. He remained on the farm until he was grown and then married and started farming on a tract of twenty-one acres, which his mother gave him. He built a house on this farm, but lived there but a short time, selling it and moving to Mechanicsburg, where he learned the barber's trade. He lived at the latter place for four years, and then returned to the farm for a year, after which he located in Marysville. He remained in Marysville only two years, and then went to Broadway, where he has lived since 1896. He lias operated a hotel and barber shop and owns the hotel, as well as a comfortable home in the village.
Mr. Sanderson was married December 27. 1887. to Nora Dye, the daughter of Samuel and Martha ( Davis) Dye, and to this union ten chil- dren have been born, Adrian, Ethel, Doris, Crystal, Hobart, Helen, Paul, Hayes, Clarence and Martha. Adrian died February 6, 1901. Ethel died at the age of nineteen, after graduating from the high school at Broadway, and Martha died at the age of thirty-two months. The other seven chil- dren are still at home with their parents.
Mrs. Sanderson was born in Champaign county, Ohio, December 22, 1866. Her parents were both natives of Ohio. Her father died in 1910, at the age of seventy-three, and her mother is still living at the age of seventy-nine.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Sanderson were Thomas and Leanna ( Norman) Dye, and they reared a family of five children, Belinda, Samuel, Hufts. James and Minerva. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Sander- son were William and Jane ( McCorkle) Davis, and they had a family of six children, Martha, Thomas, Nancy, Solomon, John and Jane.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraernally, Mr. Sanderson belongs to Broadway Lodge No. 704, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been affiliated with the Re- publican party since reaching his majority, but has never taken an active part
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in political matters. During his long life in Broadway he has taken an active interest in the general welfare of the community, and he is rightly classed among the representative men of the locality where he has resided for so many years.
WILLIAM HENRY WILLIS, JR.
The following is the history of a plain, honest man of affairs who, by his correct methods and a strict regard for the interest of his business, has made his influence felt in Unionville Center where he has built up a flourishing business within the past two years. He is one of those men whose integrity and strength of character are such as to bring him perma- nently to the front and such has been the character of his life in this com- munity that he has won the esteem and regard of a wide circle of acquain- tances. As a business man he has had the satisfaction of seeing his business increase from year to year, so now he stands as one of the representative business men in his section of the country.
William Henry Willis, Jr., the proprietor of a general store in Union- ville Center, Ohio, was born September 18, 1875, in Broadway, Ohio. He is the son of Ramoth Harvey and Hattie ( Folk ) Willis. Harvey Willis, the son of Henry and Barbara Willis, was brought to this county by his parents when a small boy. The Willis family are of English descent and a family who was well known in New England in colonial days. Harvey Willis was a farmer and land owner in Taylor township, where he and his wife reared a family of two children, William Henry and R. H., Jr. The mother of these children is deceased.
William H. Willis was educated in the public schools of Broadway and was graduated there in 1894. Upon leaving the high school he learned telegraphy at Kennard in Champaign county, Ohio, and worked for ten years as a telegraph operator for the Chicago & Erie Railroad, at Harrod. Allen county, Ohio. He then came to Unionville Center, Ohio, and bought his present store, and has steadily improved since acquiring it. He has a well selected stock of general goods which is usually found in stores in towns of this size and is constantly increasing his business in this com- munity.
Mr. Willis was married January 3, 1897. to Sarah Wilkins, the daugh- ter of W. F. Wilkins and wife. To this union has been born one son, Dwight W.
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Mr. Willis is a Democrat in politics and has served as treasurer of his township for four years. In this position he has rendered efficient service to his fellow citizens. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are greatly interested in its welfare and are generous contributors to its maintenance. Mr. Willis is a conspicuous example of the successful. self-made American who is not only eminently deserving of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, but also possesses the neces- sary energy and talent that fits him to perform worthily his duties as a busi- ness man and a public spirited citizen.
FRENCH G. STILLINGS.
A widely known farmer of Union township, Union county, Ohio, is French G. Stillings, who is a scion of a family which has been connected with the history of this county for many years. He has been actively interested in every phase of his township and county's development, and at the present time is the trustee of this township and filling this office in an efficient man- ner. As a farmer and stock raiser he ranks among the most progressive and enterprising of the county, and as a breeder of horses has made a name for himself that is known throughout the state. In all respects he has lived up to the highest standard of American citizenship and has been a credit to the county which gave him birth.
French G. Stillings, the son of Thomas and Somelia (Dines) Stillings, was born April 14, 1857, in Allen township. Union county, Ohio. His father was born in Maryland and came to Clark county, Ohio, and later to Union county and settled in Allen township. He came to Allen township when he was a lad with his parents, James and Mary (Cole) Stillings. James Still- ings and wife had a famliy of several children, Alexander, John, Ed, William, Timothy, George, Thomas, Catharine and Mary.
Thomas Stillings was one of Union county's largest farmers and owned over one thousand acres of land. He reared a family of four children : William, who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Lewis, deceased, who served in the regular army of the Civil War; Edward, who married Olive Carpenter, and has three children, one of whom is living. French C .; and French G., whose history is here recorded.
French G. Stillings was educated in the common schools of Allen town-
MR. AND MRS. FRENCH G. STILLINGS
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ship and finished his schooling at Marysville. He remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-three and then began renting land from his father. He now has a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-two acres where he is living, as well as one hundred and thirty acres near Milford and a half interest in one hundred and forty-four acres in Allen township. Mr. Stillings has long been one of the most extensive stock raisers of the county and has given his particular care and attention to high grade horses. He raised one of the most prominent horses in the country and "Dr. Strong," his famous trotter, with a record of two minutes five and three-fourths seconds, was known throughout the United States. Two of his horses which he now owns are known to the racing circles throughout Ohio, "Violation," with a record of two minutes eleven and one-fourth seconds and "Trott," with a record of two minutes and twenty-three and a quarter seconds.
Mr. Stillings was married December 16, 1880, to Ella Vance, the daugli- ter of Davis and Anna (Conn) Vance. David Vance came from Pennsyl- vania with his parents and settled in Highland county, Ohio, where he and his wife reared a family of seven children, Rachel, Everett, Frank, Ann, Isaac (died in infancy), Milton and Anna, the wife of Mr. Stillings. Mr. Vance was a prominent minister of the Baptist church and an influential man in his county.
Mr. Stillings and his wife have reared a family of nine children : Thomas, deceased : Millie, deceased; one who died in infancy; Annis, who married James E. Williams and has three children, Erdean, Eloise and James ; Vinton, who married Louis Fenner and has three children, Victor, Barthena and one who died in infancy ; Harry, who married Mae Michaels and has two children, Walter and Claude; Carl, at home; Glenn, who married Edith Michaels; and Edward who is still with his parents. Carl and Glenn were students of Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio.
Fraternally, Mr. Stillings is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grange, while his wife is a member of the women's auxiliary of both organizations. Politically, Mr. Stillings is a Republican and has always been active in the welfare of his party. At the present time he is serving as trustee of Union township and is administering the duties of this office with ability. Mr. Stillings has a name for honesty and integrity which has made him one of the most highly respected citizens of his township. The Stillings home is one of the finest in the county. It is finished with quarter-sawed oak procured from his own farm. The house contains thirteen rooms, bath, acetylene light and hot water heat, with a handsome cement porch in front.
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REUBEN W. BROWN.
No profession has made greater advancement in the last half century than has the agricultural profession, and practically all of the disadvantages which surrounded the pioneer farmer have been done away with because of the multitude of modern inventions which tend to lighten the farmer's labors. Ohio is recognized as one of the best farming states in the Union and no county in the state has better or more progressive farmers than has Union county. Among the hundreds of farmers who have made Union county famous as an agricultural section, there is none more worthy of a place in this volume than Reuben W. Brown, who has lived his whole life on the farm where he is now residing.
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