USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 79
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The father of Parley Converse was Rev. Jeremiah Converse, a native of New Hampshire and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He joined the Continental army when he was sixteen years of age and was sent out with a company of scouts who were decoyed by the Indians and but three of the command returned alive. Jeremiah was wounded in the shoulder, but es- caped with his life, although he was a cripple for the remainder of his days. In 1814 he removed with his family to Darby Plains, Madison county, Ohio, where he lived until 1837. dying at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
Caleb H. Converse and Louvisa L. Ketch, who was a native of Madison county, were married in 1830 and moved to Union county, where they lived a short time. Then Caleb and his family. moved to Champaign county, Ohio, but returned in 1846 to Union county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Caleb dying December 2, 1895, his wife having passed away in October, 1885. At the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred and twenty-seven acres. Caleb H. Converse was a prominent man in the history of Union county. He served as justice of the peace and was also clerk of Union county, as well as filling the office of treasurer in its early history.
Bushrod W. Converse, one of the twelve children born to Caleb Con- verse and wife, spent his boyhood days in Darby township, and after finish- ing his schooling, he began to work on the old home farm and here he has since resided. He raises high-grade live stock and carries on a diversified system of farming with a success commensurate with his efforts.
Mr. Converse was married October 15, 1872, to Sarah E. Rice, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Roseberry) Rice, and to this union five children have been born, two of whom are living, Albert B., who is married and lives on his father's farm, and Alba, who is a teacher and still residing at home.
Politically, Mr. Converse gives his hearty support to the Republican party, but has never been active in political affairs. The family are all loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Unionville Center and deeply interested in its welfare.
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FRED E. HANSON.
A contractor for the past thirty years, Fred E. Hanson has been promi- nently identified with the building industry of Union county, Ohio, in such a way as to merit his inclusion among the representative men of his county. A native of the state of New York, he came to this county after his mar- riage and has made his home in Magnetic Springs, in Leesburg township, for more than a quarter of a century. He has always taken an active part in the life of his township and for many years has held the position of town- ship clerk, giving to this office his faithful and painstaking attention during all of this time.
Fred E. Hanson, a son of John and Henrietta (Howland) Hanson, was born in Cayuga county, New York, October 14. 1859. His father was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to the United States and located in New York city when he was sixteen years of age. Later he married Henri- etta Howland, who was born in Cayuga county, New York, and to this union were born six children: Fred E., of Union county; Albert, who died at the age of thirty-two; Minnie, who died at the age of forty; Adah, the wife of Norval Hall, of Lima, Ohio; Clyde, of Delaware, Ohio; William, who was accidentally killed at the age of twenty-seven while in the employ of the Columbus, Delaware and Marion Railway Company as a conductor. John Hanson was a farmer in his native state, but when he came west in 1884, he worked in an oil refinery until his death in 1902. His widow is now living in Magnetic Springs, in Union county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also holds her membership in the Pythian Sisters, her husband having been a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Fred E. Hanson received a good, common school education and after leaving school learned the carpenter's trade, and has made this his life work. He has built a large number of houses, barns and other buildings in Union county, and owns a fine residence and five acres of ground in Magnetic Springs, where he has lived for many years. He is a painstaking and con- scientious workman and the various buildings which he has erected through- out Union county are a tribute to his skill as a workman.
Mr. Hanson was married in December, 1885, to Emily M. Jewett, a daughter of James and Saloma (Sweet ) Jewett, natives of Vermont. To this union has been born one son, Calvin J., who is now living in Delaware. Ohio.
Mr. Hanson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
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Pharisburg and of the Knights of Pythias at Magnetic Springs. He and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Politically, he has always been identified with the Democratic party and has been one of his party's leaders in local affairs. He has held the office of clerk of Leesburg township for the past eleven years, and the length of his service is ample proof that he has done his work satisfactorily. He has always been inter- ested in the welfare of his community, and no measure has ever been ad- vanced to promote its welfare which has not found in him a hearty and sympathetic supporter.
F. SCOTT ROBINSON.
The Robinson family, worthily represented by F. Scott Robinson, have been residents of Union county, Ohio, for more than ninety years, and have been leaders in the affairs of this county during all of that time. Mr. Robin- son has been a life-long farmer and now owns one hundred and twenty-eight acres of well improved land in Darby township.
F. Scott Robinson, the son of David M. and Mary J. (Valentine) Rob- inson, was born in Union county, Ohio. January 27, 1864. His parents reared a family of five children, four of whom are still living: John W .. born September 6, 1854, married Rosa A. Robinson, June 13, 1878, the daughter of William H. Robinson; Algernon M., born December 19, 1855. and now a resident of Unionville Center ; David E., born January 24, 1858, married Ada K. Shively, March 22, 1883, now living in Akron, Ohio; F. Scott, with whom this narrative deals, and one who died in infancy.
David M. Robinson was born in Union county, Ohio, September 1, 1824. the son of John W. and Elizabeth Robinson. John W. Robinson was born February 11, 1803, and died May 6, 1853. His wife, Elizabeth Robinson, was born May 27, 1803, and died September 18, 1872. John W. Robinson and wife, the grandparents of F. Scott Robinson, came to Union county, Ohio, from Pennsylvania shortly after the organization of the county. They were true pioneers and underwent many hardships in their early married life in this county. At one time Mrs. Robinson had a narrow escape from being run down by a pack of wolves. She was going through the woods carrying a lunch to her husband when she was beset by them, but fortunately escaped from being injured. John W. Robinson was a prominent man in Darby township for many years, and held the office of justice of the peace
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for a long time. David M. Robinson and Mary J. Valentine were married October 5, 1853, at Frankfort, Ohio ; he died August 5, 1907, and his widow is now living with her son, Algernon, at the advanced age of eighty-three. David M. Robinson was a life-long farmer and an elder in the Presbyterian church for more than fifty years.
F. Scott Robinson was educated in the schools of Union county and remained at home until his marriage. He then began farming for himself on a part of the old homestead farm, and here he has been living for nearly thirty years. He divides his attention between the raising of grain and live stock in such a way as to secure the maximum results from his labors.
Mr. Robinson was married October 9, 1886, to Viola Wetzel, a daughter of Abraham and Fannie (Huntzberger) Wetzel, and to this union two sons have been born. H. E. and Roy F. H. E. was born June 14, 1888, and is a graduate of the Unionville high school and the Lima Business College. He was married September 23. 1909, to Lela Mapes, a daughter of L. O. and Louisa ( Brown) Mapes, and has one son, Leroy Robinson, who was born June 27. 1912. H. E. Robinson and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Unionville Center, while he is a Republican in politics. Roy F. Robinson attended the schools of his neighborhood and graduated from the Unionville Center high school. He was married on March 23, 1912, to Christina Schoby, and to them have been born one son, Russell, born September 9. 1914. Roy is now living in Unionville Center.
Mr. Robinson has been a life-long Republican, but has never taken an active part in political matters. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church, to which they give their hearty support at all times.
WILLIAM C. HOSKINS.
A farmer who has spent his whole life in Leesburg township, Union county, Ohio, is William C. Hoskins, who has been a resident of this county for more than sixty-five years and farming for himself for more than thirty- five years. He has a finely improved farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres where he carries on a general diversified system of farming, although he has now practically retired from active work himself and given the man- agement of his farm over to one of his sons. He has taken an active part in the life of his community and every public-spirited enterprise has always found in him a hearty supporter.
HOME OF WILLIAM C. HOSKINS, LEESBURG TOWNSHIP.
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM HOSKINS.
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William C. Hoskins, the son of William and Mary ( Wynegar ) Hoskins, was born in Leesburg township, August 28, 1849. His father was born in Ohio, and his mother in Virginia, their marriage taking place in Union county about 1840. His mother came to Highland county with her parents when she was about six years of age and removed with them to Union county about 1837. William Hoskins and wife were the parents of four children : Caroline, the wife of William Jones, of Pharisburg; Lucy A., the wife of Thomas Kilfian, a mechanic of Leesburg township; William C .; John, who died in childhood.
William Hoskins, Sr., was a soldier in the War of 1812 under Captain Fleslur, and his widow drew a pension after his death.
William Hoskins, Sr., was engaged in the general merchandise business in Marysville up until the time of his marriage in 1840. He then moved to a farm north of Pharisburg, where he purchased one hundred and fifty-three acres of land for six hundred dollars. This same farm is now owned by his son, William C. The father followed farming until his death in January, 1851, his widow surviving him until January, 1894.
William C. Hoskins was educated in the subscription schools, which were the only kind in his boyhood days, and early in life began to work on the farm. He remained at home until his marriage and then bought a part of the old home place and has since added more land until he now has one of the best and most productive farms of the county. He has placed all of the improvements on his farm and has always taken a great deal of pride in keeping it in an attractive manner. He raises a high grade of live stock and conducts his general farming operations in such a way as to gain the best results. He has now retired from active work himself and his son, Robert. is managing the farm for him.
Mr. Hoskins was married on May 30, 1880, to Isabelle Ross, a daughter of William and Sarah ( Mackey) Ross. Her parents were natives of Holmes county, Ohio, and lived all of their lives in that county. Mr. Ross owned a farm, but gave most of his time and attention to the stone contracting busi- ness.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins are the parents of six children : Imogene, born March 13. 1881, the wife of C. S. Hull, a farmer of Leesburg township ; Herman, born December 4, 1882, now lives in Oklahoma, where he is en- gaged in the oil business; Catherine, born April 23. 1885, the wife of C. L. Mathers, of Akron, Ohio, and the mother of two children, Erma and Wilma ; Robert, born January 10, 1887, who is now managing the old home place ;
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Fred F., born December 28, 1889, an engineer living in Columbus, who mar- ried Minnie Zeringer ; William, born January 31, 1893, who is still living at home.
Mr. Hoskins is a Democrat in politics, and has served many years as a school director in his township. He and his family are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pharisburg. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias at Pharisburg, of which lodge he has been a member for many years.
THOMAS L. ROBINSON.
The Robinson family located in what is now Union township, Union county, Ohio, in the year 1800, and the family have been actively and promi- nently identified with the history of this county since that year. James D. Robinson, the father of Thomas L., was the son of Thomas Robinson, who located in the county in 1805. Thomas Robinson, who was the grandfather of Thomas L. Robinson, with whom this narrative deals, had two brothers, James and Samuel, who located in this county in 1800, although the county was not formally organized until several years later.
The late Thomas L. Robinson was born in Jerome township, Union county, August 4, 1858, and died at his home in Leesburg township, De- cember 14, 1911. He was a son of James D. and Algilana ( Wood) ( Mit- chell ) Robinson, his mother being a daughter of Luther and Rosanna Wood. and the widow of Albert Mitchell. Six children were born to James D. Rob- inson and wife: James E., Thomas L., Albert W., Henry M., Myrtle, and Ida, who died in infancy.
James D. Robinson was born in Darby township, February 9, 1816, and died in Plain City, Ohio, June 1, 1900. He was the son of Thomas and Sarah ( Moderwell) Robinson, who emigrated from York county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1805, and settled on the farm where their son, James D., the fa- ther of Thomas L., was born. Thomas Robinson, the grandfather of Thomas L., was born in 1776, and died in Jerome township, in this county, in 1853. Six children were born to Thomas and Sarah ( Moderwell) Robinson: Pat- terson ; Sarah J., the wife of George Pollock : James D. ; Thomas; John M. ; and Alexander.
James D. Robinson lived on his father's farm in Darby township until he reached the age of twenty, when he married Martha Eliza Mitchell, the
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daughter of George and Margaret Mitchell, their marriage occurring Janu- ary 12, 1838. He continued to reside on his father's farm until September 20, 1850, at which time his wife died. Three children were born to this first marriage of James D. Robinson and wife: Thomas Fulton, who died in in- fancy ; Martha, the wife of W. L. Curry, and Georgiana, the widow of the late Otway Curry. After the death of his first wife, James D. Robinson married Mrs. Algilana (Wood) Mitchell, and in 1868, moved with his fam- ily to Piqua, Ohio, where he lived until 1878. In that year he returned to Union county and lived on the Rickard farin near Plain City, for a few years. He also lived in Leesburg township for a time, but in 1889 he moved with his family to Marysville, where he lived for the next several years. He then removed to Plain City, where he was living at the time of his death in 1900.
Thomas L. Robinson was educated in the district schools of Union county, and completed his education at Piqua, Ohio. He was married De- cember 5, 1888, to Mary Clevenger, the daughter of John P. and Harriett (Wells) Clevenger, and to this union two children were born, Walter W .. born November 12, 1894, and Frances WV., born June 21, 1899.
Mrs. Robinson's father, John P. Clevenger, was born in Greene county, Ohio, March 19, 1825, while her mother was born January 2, 1827. Mr. Clevenger came with his parents to Union county, Ohio, when he was nine years of age and settled on a farm near Pharisburg. He remained at home until his marriage, December 8, 1850, to Harriett Wells, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Wells. Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger lived happily together and were permitted to enjoy their golden wedding anniversary. Four chil- dren were born to them, James T., Warren W., David L., and Mary E., and all of them participated in the fiftieth anniversary of their parents' mar- riage with the exception of David, who died in infancy. Mrs. Clevenger was born near Bainbridge, in Ross county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Union county when a small girl, and settled in Leesburg township. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger went to housekeeping on the farm where they resided until the death of Mr. Clevenger, May 20, 1010. Mrs. Clevenger now lives a part of the time with her son, Warren W., and the remainder of the time with her daughter, Mrs. Thomas L. Robinson.
Mr. Robinson owned a well-improved farm of one hundred and fifteen acres at the time of his death. The farm is one of the most productive in the county, and is now managed by his two sons. Mr. Robinson was a men- ber of the Knights of Pythias at Pharisburg. He was reared in the Presby- terian faith, but, since there was no church of this denomination near his
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home, he became a member of the Congregationalist church and gave to it his hearty support. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for sev- eral years and was an elder in the church at the time of his death. The Robin- son family have all been stanch Presbyterians and for more than a century this family have been prominent in this denomination. Politically, Mr. Rob- inson was a Republican and had served his fellow citizens as trustee of Lees- burg township. He was a man of high ideals, devoted to his home and family and lived such a life as to commend himself to those around him.
EVAN T. JONES.
For more than thirty years Evan T. Jones has been a resident of Union county, Ohio. He is one of the few citizens of the county who were born in Wales, and those sturdy characteristics which have made the people of his race such excellent citizens of this country, have brought to him a large measure of success. Mr. Jones has not only been a very successful farmer, but he has also taken an active part in every phase of his county's develop- ment. Various official positions have been held by him from time to time, and he has never failed to give his fellow citizens careful and conscientious service.
Evan T. Jones, the son of Thomas N. and Sophia (Davis) Jones, was born in South Wales, October 25. 1848. His parents were born, reared and married in Wales and lived there many years before coming to the United States. In fact, all of their children were born in Wales before the family came to this country in 1869 and located in Newark, Ohio.
Thomas N. Jones was a mechanic by trade and made anchors for the British government for thirty years before coming to the United States. After locating in Newark. Olio, he worked for a year in the rolling mills in that city and then spent the remainder of his active life on a farm near the city. Six children were born to Thomas Jones and wife, four of whom are still living: Esther, the deceased wife of Stephen Davis, who came with her parents to this country in 1869 and later returned with her husband to Wales, where she died in 1898; May, the wife of Howell Richards, a farmer living near Newark, Ohio; Evan T., of Union county: David M., a justice of the peace now living in Newark, Ohio: Anna, the wife of John Walters, of Columbus, Ohio, and one who died in infancy. Thomas M. Jones retired
MR. AND MRS. EVAN T. JONES,
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from the farm in 1883, and lived near Newark until his death in September, 1893. His wife died in January, 1879.
Evan T. Jones learned the blacksmith trade in his native land and was twenty years of age when he came to this country with his parents. He fol- lowed his trade for fifteen years, part of the time working in a country shop, and for two years being employed in the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops at Newark. He was a horse shoer in Newark for two years. He spent eight years in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and he worked for the C. & G. Cooper Company, manufacturers of traction engines and threshing outfits. He was assistant foreman of the shop during those eight years. After his marriage in 1881, Mr. Jones lived three years in Mount Vernon. Ohio. Then, on ac- count of his health, he retired from the blacksmith business and moved to a farm in Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, where he now lives. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-nine acres four miles west of Richwood. He has retired from active farm life and his son now operates the farm.
Mr. Jones was married December 29, 1881, to Sarah D. Jones, a daugh- ter of Edward D. and Mary ( Davis) Jones, of Radnor, Ohio. Her parents were both natives of Wales, but Mrs. Jones was born in Delaware county, Ohio, September 21, 1856. Her father was a farmer and followed farming until his death in Delaware county in August, 1909. He was a fine musician. and, on account of his excellent voice, had much more than a local reputa- tion. Her mother died May 21, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of seven children, six of whom are living: Sophia, the wife of C. S. Stephens, of Richwood; David Isaac, who died February 25, 1900; Mary, the wife of D. L. McCombs, of Toledo, Ohio; Edward T., a farmer living near Prospect, Ohio; Llewelyn M., who manages the old home place in Clai- bourne township: Anna B., who is still living with her parents, and Howell E., who is now in the high school at Richwood. Mrs. Jones, the mother of these seven children, died December 9, 1899.
Mr. Jones is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Richwood. and is past master of his lodge; he is a member of the Royal Arch and council at Marysville. He is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. of Marysville. He holds his membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mount Vernon, Ohio. as well as in the Encampment, and has filled all of the chairs in both lodges. He is a charter member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks of Marysville. He is a stanch member of the Presbyterian church and has been an elder of the church at Richwood
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since 1890. In politics he has always given his support to the Republican party, and served as trustee of Claibourne township from 1896 to 1899. He was elected commissioner of Union county in 1904 and re-elected in 1908. He has been school director of his township for eighteen years and during that time stood for every measure which he felt would benefit the schools in any way. He is a stockholder in the National Bank of Richwood, a stock- holder in the electric railway running into Richwood, and a stockholder in the Tri-County Fair Association of Richwood. Mrs. Jones was a graduate of the Dana Musical Institute of Warren, Ohio, class of 1878, and of the Presbyterian Female Seminary of Granville, Ohio, class of 1881. She was a woman of culture and refinement and greatly beloved by all who knew her. Mr. Jones is one of the most highly respected citizens of the county and few men within the limits of the county have a wider acquaintance.
WILLIAM G. McALLISTER.
The McAllister family have been residents of Union county, Ohio, since the spring of 1866, when the father of William G. McAllister was ten years of age at the time his parents located in Leesburg township, and has spent his life since that time in this same township. He is now operating two hundred acres of the old homestead about five and one-half miles north of Marysville.
William G. McAllister, the son of Richard T. and and Martha C. ( Gale) McAllister, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, December 24, 1856. His father was born in Pennsylvania, April 16, 1830, and came with his parents to Delaware county, Ohio, when he was about seven years of age. There he grew to maturity and married Martha C. Gale, who was born in Indiana January 19, 1833. They were married in Delaware county, October 9. 1850, and lived there until the spring of 1866, when they moved to Union county and bought a farm of four hundred acres in Leesburg township. Richard T. McAllister was a prosperous farmer and stock dealer, buying and selling stock, and for twenty years was one of the most substantial men of his township and county. He was killed April 24, 1886, at a railroad crossing, being struck by a passing train. When living in Delaware county he served for one term as county commissioner, and after moving to Union county he was also elected to the same office and was at one time a member of the state board of equalization for one term. Richard T. McAllister and
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wife were the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Mary J., born April 14, 1852, and died July 17, 1905, was the wife of James B. Cole, Marysville; Abdill T., born June 21, 1853, died June 3, 1889; William G., of Leesburg township; Lennington W., born November 25, 1858, and now a farmer of Paris township, this county ; Emma C., born April 11, 1862, the wife of Martin L. Kalb, of Ostrander, Delaware county, Ohio; Richard T., Jr., born March 30, 1865, and died June 17. 1906. Richard T. McAllister was a member of no church, but his family were members of the Congre- gational church, while in politics he was a stanch Republican. As has been mentioned, he was killed in a railroad accident in 1886, and his widow sur- vived him until October 2, 1913.
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