USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 25
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and he took part in a number of severe engagements during his three years of service, including the siege of Vicksburg, Fort Donelson, the Red River campaign, and was with General Butler at the battle of New Orleans.
John H. Miller received a good education in the public schools at Spen- cer, including the high school course. This education was supplemented by a course at the Spencerian Business College at Cleveland. On leaving the school room he was employed in a clerical capacity in Cleveland for three years. In 1900 he came to West Salem and engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued with fair success for four years, at the end of which time he sold that business and started a hardware store. In this latter busi- ness he achieved a distinctive success, having been compelled to double his stock during the five years in which he was in business. He is a wide-awake, energetic and progressive business man and received his full share of the public patronage. Courteous in manner, accommodating in his treatment of patrons, and a man of many fine personal qualities, he has made a host of warm personal friends and is considered one of the leading men of the com- munity.
In politics Mr. Miller gives his support to the Democratic party in elec- tions where national policies are involved, but in local elections he takes the stand that the personal fitness for candidates for the offices they seek should be of prime importance. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he is an earnest and generous supporter.
On April 28, 1903, Mr. Miller wedded Jennie Ferguson, a native of this county and a daughter of Reuben Ferguson, one of the county's repre- sentative farmers. To this union have been born two children, Dorothy and Paul. The family move in the best social circles and their home is a center of refined hospitality.
EDWIN ALBERT BARDEN.
The Barden family have long been among the best known in Plain town- ship. Wayne county, identified for the most part with the agricultural interests of the locality in which they have figured conspicuously, Edwin A. Barden being one of the most progressive of the present generation in this vicinity. He was born in Plain township, August 21, 1867, the son of William and Catherine (Brumbaugh) Barden, an influential and highly respected couple who followed farming here for a long lapse of years.
Edwin A. Barden was educated in the Wilderness school and one winter
MR. AND MRS EDWIN A. BARDEN
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was spent at the Wadsburg Normal. He applied himself very assiduously to his text books and received a good education. He began working on the home farm when very young, and after he had finished school he returned to the farm and assisted his father with the work there. He was married in 1891 to Izena May Staugh, the daughter of Thomas Corwin and Sarah ( Alla- man) Staugh.
Mr. Barden is the owner of a very productive and well tilled farm of ninety acres of land in Plain township where he carries on a general line of farming with gratifying results. He is a member of the Patrons of Industry, in which he takes a great deal of interest. Religiously, he belongs to the Christian church and in politics he is a Republican, but does not find time to take a hand in political affairs. He is now an active member of the local school board.
To Mr. and Mrs. Edwin A. Barden the following children have been born : William, now a student in the high school at Mansfield, Ohio, where he is making a splendid record, having passed the common branches at the age of thirteen years; Sarah, Roderick and Beatrice are all living at home.
Thomas Corwin Stough, father of Mrs. Barden, was born in Blachley- ville, Plain township, Wayne county, in 1840, the son of George and Anna Stough, both probably born in this part of Ohio. George Stough devoted his earlier years to farming in the western part of Wayne county and later in life was proprietor of an inn at Blachleyville, one of the first taverns in this part of the state. When the Mexican war began he was quick to offer his services and, being a man of unusual ability and courage, he became colonel of a regiment and brought honor to the house of Stough. His son, Thomas Corwin Stough, was a private during the Civil war in Company I, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Barden were Samuel and Barbara (Barnhart) Allaman, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Allaman and two brothers, John and Henry, came to Ohio and settled in Ashland county, while Samuel located in Wayne county, where he devoted his life to farming. Thomas Corwin Stough also devoted his life to farming except the time he was in the army, having enlisted at the age of twenty-one years and served three years, after which he became a traveling salesman. Since 1907 he has lived retired in Mansfield, having `made a success of his life's work.
The following children were born to Thomas Corwin Stough and wife : Mary Celesta, Izena May, Anna, Gertrude, William, Nina, Blanche, DeCour- cey and Madge, all living at this writing.
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MARTIN H. BARNARD.
The most elaborate history is necessarily an abridgment, the historian being compelled to select his facts and materials from a multitude of details. In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of incident, and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer needs touch only the most salient points, but eliminating much that is superfluous. Among the enter- prising and progressive citizens of Wayne county, Ohio, is he whose name forms the caption to this article. Martin H. Barnard is a native of the town- ship in which he now lives, having been born here on the 26th of June, 1885. He is the son of William V. Barnard, who also is a native of this county, born in Canaan township, and whose death occurred in 1890. He was a farmer by vocation and in 1879 he moved over into Congress township, buy- ing a farm there two years later. He was a Republican in politics and in re- ligion he was a member of the United Brethren church, to which he gave an earnest and generous support. He was a man of fine personal qualities and was highly regarded throughout the community. He married Anna Brick- erhoff, a native of Congress township, and to them were born the following children : Bertha Elizabeth, deceased; George I., deceased; Anna May, who married Lloyd Martin, a successful farmer in Congress township; Carrie Pearl; Martin H., the immediate subject of this sketch; Dwight B., of Canaan township. The subject's paternal grandparents were John L. and Anna (George) Barnard, who were both born and reared in Wayne county. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that vocation until his death, which occurred in 1870. He was a stanch Republican and was prominent in polit- ical affairs of his day. His wife died in 1874. They were both active mem- bers of the United Brethren church. The subject's paternal great-grandpar- ents were Jacob and (Smith) Barnard, who were natives of Penn- sylvania and in an early day came to Wayne county, this state, where they lived during the remainder of their lives.
Martin H. Barnard received his early education in the Hilltop district school in Congress township. Owing to the death of his father, when he was but five years old, he was reared afterward by relatives of his mother. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has always been identified with this pursuit. In 1907 he began farming on his own account on rented land; and by dint of percistent energy and wise economy he was enabled, in Janu- ary, 1909, to purchase his father's old home farm of one hundred and five acres, on which he is now living and operating. Mr. Barnard is an energetic,
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wide-awake young man and is progressive in his ideas and methods, keep- ing in close touch with the most advanced ideas in agriculture. He carries on general farming, and has also some good livestock in the place, the gen- eral appearance of the place indicating the owner to be a man of sound judg- ment and discrimination in the conduct of his affairs.
On February 22, 1907, Mr. Barnard was united in marriage to Pansy E. Sheppard, and they are the parents of two children, Ann Elizabeth, born December 4, 1908, and Catharine Marie, born February 9, 1910. Mrs. Bar- nard was born July 16, 1884, in Congress township, and is the daughter of John Wesley and Eliza (Crater) Sheppard, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Politically, Mr. Barnard is a Republican and takes a commenda- ble interest in public affairs. He belongs to the United Brethren church and his wife to the Presbyterian, to both of which they give an earnest and gen- erous support. A man of many fine personal qualities, Mr. Barnard enjoys the unbounded confidence of the entire community and is considered one of its leading citizens.
MICHAEL RICKEL.
Few men of Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, were as widely and favorably known as the late Michael Rickel. He was one of the strong and influential citizens whose lives became an essential part of the history of the community and for years his name was synonymous for all that con- stituted an honorable and upright manhood. Tireless energy, keen percep- tion and honesty of purpose, combined with every-day common sense, were among his chief characteristics, and while advancing individual success he also largely promoted the moral and material welfare of his community.
Michael Rickel was born September 19, 1828, in Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, and was a son of Peter and Nancy (Rickel) Rickel. These parents were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively and were married in the latter state, and there two children were born to them. In 1825 they moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and there the father took up a farm near West Salem, making that his home during the remainder of his life. He died October 7, 1865, and his widow survived him more than a score of years, her death occurring May 8, 1888. They were the parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, only one of whom is living. Peter Rickel was a faithful member of the Evangelical church, and was pos-
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sessed of many excellent qualities of character. He cared nothing for poli- tics, aside from exercising the rights of franchise, but was a man highly re- spected throughout the community. .
Michael Rickel was reared on his father's farm and in the common schools of Congress township he secured his mental training. At the time of his marriage he bought a farm of eighty acres, located south of West Sa- lem, and gave his attention to its cultivation. He was enterprising and suc- cessful and was prospered so that he was able to add to his landed posses- sions, buying forty acres more. The farm was maintained at a high state of cultivation and Mr. Rickel acquired a reputation as one of the best farmers in the community. He carried on general farming and also gave some atten- tion to the raising of livestock, in which also he was successful.
In politics he was an ardent Republican and took a live interest in local public affairs, having served many terms as supervisor of his township, in which official position he rendered efficient service. He and his wife belonged to the Evangelical church, to which Mrs. Rickel still gives a devoted support. Mr. Rickel's death occurred on the Ist of December, 1898, and his death was counted a distinct loss to the entire community.
On November 6, 1851, Mr. Rickel was married to Susan Hosler, who was born in Plain township, Wayne county, October 25, 1832, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Lesher) Hosler. Her parents were early settlers of Wayne county, having come here from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. The father was a physician and a pioneer preacher, a cooper by trade and a farmer by occupation. He first located in Jefferson county, Ohio, on com- ing west, but soon afterwards removed to Wayne county He died August I, 1840, and his widow on September 10, 1879. Mrs. Rickel's maternal grand- parents were Jacob and Katharine (Sheets) Lesher, who were natives of Germany and Pennsylvania respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Rickel was born a daughter, Olena, now deceased, who was the wife of John Esselburn, by whom she had a son, Chester, born in 1884. Mrs. Esselburn died August 7, 1899.
Devoted to home and family, and at the same time giving a proper at- tention to the affairs of the community in which all public-spirited men should be interested, Mr. Rickel was counted among the strong, stalwart men of Congress township. Dependent upon his own resources from boyhood, he so applied his energies and ability as to attain a success worthy the name, while his high standing in the community indicated the objective apprecia- tion of his sterling character.
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LUTHER H. FULTON.
It is always interesting to watch from the beginning the growth and development of a locality, to note the lines along which marked progress has been made and to take cognizance of those who have been factors in the work of advancement and in the establishing of a prosperous community. The subject of this review has been a witness of the development of Wayne county, since he was born here more than sixty years ago and has here passed the greater portion of his life, which has been one of signal- usefulness and honor, involving the rendering of the loyal service of a true patriot, since he went forth in defense of the nation during the war of the Rebellion, par- ticipating in many of the most important battles of that memorable conflict. He is now numbered among the progressive and prosperous farmers of Con- gress township, and it is fitting that there be here entered a review of his life history, as being one of the representative men of his community.
Luther H. Fulton was born October 9, 1847, on the farm in Congress township, Wayne county, on which he now lives, and he is the son of Wil- liam and Rhoda (Morris) Fulton, both of whom have passed away. The father was a native of New York state and the mother of Ohio. The sub- ject comes of distinguished ancestry, his great-grandfather, Robert Fulton (born 1765, died 1815), having won immortal fame as the inventor of the steamboat. William Fulton, having determined to try his fortunes in the West, started for Ohio with only a horse, saddle and bridle, which his father gave him. It was a long, tiresome and ofttimes dangerous trip, but was made in safety. Locating in Wayne county, the courageous pioneer en- tered land, onto which he moved and here he developed one of the fertile farms of this section of the county. He had studied medicine and put his knowledge to good use among the early pioneers, many of whom were in- debted to him for his kindly and timely ministrations, for much of which he received no compensation. William and Rhoda Fulton were the parents of eight children, only one of whom, the subject of this sketch, is now living, he having been the fifth in order of birth.
Luther H. Fulton was reared under the parental rooftree and in his youth he received a good education in the common schools of the neighbor- hood. At the outbreak of the Civil war he gave unmistakable evidence of his patriotic spirit by enlisting in defense of his country, being assigned to Com- pany K, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After seven months' service he was transferred to Company B of the One Hundred and Four- teenth Ohio Regiment, and still later to the Forty-eighth Regiment, with
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which command he served until he was honorably discharged at Galveston, Texas, on May 9, 1866. At that time he was employed in guard duty while Galveston Island was being surveyed and the bay sounded. Mr. Fulton's military service was replete with much arduous and dangerous duty, all of which he discharged faithfully and with credit to himself.
Upon his discharge from military service Mr. Fulton returned to the old home farm, which he operated for awhile for his father. On the death of the latter the property changed hands several times, but eventually the subject was enabled to acquire possession of it and has since been engaged in its cil- tivation. The farm is most eligibly located and contains a full set of com- modious and well-arranged buildings, while the general appearance of the place stands in unmistakable evidence of the thrift and progressive spirit of the owner. He here carries on general farming, raising all the crops common to this section and he realizes a gratifying return from his labor.
On June 29, 1876, Mr. Fulton wedded Melinda M. Berry, of Jackson township, a daughter of William and Margaret Berry, early settlers of this section of Ohio. To this union have been born three children, William Clyde, Pearl, deceased, and Fern R. In matters political Mr. Fulton gives his sup- port to the Republican party, while socially he is an honored member of Post No. 184, Grand Army of the Republic, at West Salem. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, to which they give a generous and earnest support. Throughout his entire career he has been industrious, energetic and successful, and he has won for himself an honorable name in agricultural circles, while at all times he has received the unbounded confi- dence of his fellow men.
JAMES WALTER FERGUSON, M. D.
Dr. James Walter Ferguson is one of the well-known residents of Wayne county. He has gained distinction in the line of his chosen calling, in which he has ever been an earnest and discriminating student, and he holds a position of due relative precedence among the medical practitioners of this section of the Buckeye state.
Dr. Ferguson is descended from sturdy Irish ancestry, his paternal grandfather, Walter Ferguson, having emigrated from the Emerald Isle to America in about 1790, locating in Pennsylvania, probably in Westmoreland county. He married Rebecca Paul and of their children Thomas was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Pennsylvania and in
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that state he married Rebecca J. Patterson. They came to Wayne county, Ohio, in about 1829, locating just north of Congress, in the township of the same name, where the subject now lives. The father was a successful farmer and was also a highly esteemed school teacher. During his later years he confined his attention solely to agriculture and became the owner of two hun- dred and eighty acres of fine land. He died in November, 1893, and was survived two years by his widow, her death occurring in 1895. The subject's maternal grandfather was James Patterson, who was numbered among the early pioneers of Ohio. Thomas and Rebecca Ferguson were strong Presby- terians in religious faith, and were the parents of eight children, of whom six, five boys and one girl, are living.
James W. Ferguson received a common school education, which was supplemented by attendance at the Canaan and Lodi academies. Having de- cided to make the practice of medicine his life-work, the subject studied under Dr. C. J. Warner of Congress, then attended a course of lectures in Cincinnati, after which he entered the medical department of Wooster Uni- versity, the department being at that time located in Cleveland, Ohio, and there he graduated with the class of 1876. He then took a course of lectures in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and then took up the active practice of his profession. He was first associated with Dr. C. J. Warner for a year and a half, and then went to Lodi and other places in search of a location to suit him, but he returned to Doctor Warner, with whom he formed a partnership that existed for seven years. At the end of that time the Doctor went to Canaan Center and was there engaged in the practice for seven years, and in 1896 he came to West Salem, where he has since remained. He is now the oldest practicing physician in this locality and is in command of a large and remunerative patronage. The Doctor has been remarkably suc- cessful in the handling of some difficult cases and he has a reputation as a successful physician that extends beyond the confines of his own community. A man of strong mentality and fine personal qualities, he has won a host of warm personal friends and he is popular with all classes, who esteem him for his sterling worth.
Doctor Ferguson is a Republican in politics, though his professional duties preclude his taking a very active part in public affairs. He has, how- ever, given of his time for the public good, having served efficiently as health officer and member of the school board. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian church, of which he is a generous supporter. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He keeps in close touch with his professional brethren through
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his membership in the Ohio State Medical Association and the Wayne County Medical Association, of both of which he is a valued member.
Doctor Ferguson has been married three times. He was married in 1877 to Eva C. Clark, who was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Mount Gilead, this state. To this union two sons were born, namely : Charles Reed, of Whitney Point, New York, and Thomas W., of Whitney Point. Mrs. Ferguson died in 1882 and in 1884 Doctor Ferguson wedded Anna K. Aughey, of the state of Illinois. Her father, Rev. J. H. Aughey, was living in Mississippi at the outbreak of the Civil war and because of his expression of Union sentiments he was arrested, imprisoned, escaped, recaptured, sentenced to be hanged, but provi- dentially again escaped. Later he published an account of his experiences. under the title of "Tupelo." To the second union of the subject one child was born, Mary A .. who is a student in Wooster University and a teacher in the schools of West Salem. Mrs. Anna Ferguson died in 1890 and in 1892 the Doctor married Sylvia Turner. She is a helpmeet to the Doctor in the full sense of the word and is a lady of many fine personal qualities which have won for her a host of loyal friends. The Doctor is a man of genial cisposition and kindly manner and his entry to the sick room carries with it hope and encouragement for the patient. He is enjoying a large practice and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the community.
CAPT. LEMUEL P. JEFFRIES.
Capt. Lemuel P. Jeffries, oldest son of John P. and Jane Jeffries, was born June 8, 1838, on the McMonigal homestead farm, near Wooster, Ohio. His father was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and came to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1836. His grandfather was Mark Jeffries, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1787. Mark was a son of Richard Jeffries, born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1730; Richard was a son of Robert Jeffries, a Quaker, born in England in 1656 and emigrated to Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1681. His grandmother, wife of Mark Jeffries, was Rebecca Parsons, of Quaker English ancestry, born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1783. His mother Jane was a daugh- ter of Andrew McMonigal and was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1818; her father was born in 1791 near Carlisle, Pennsylvania; her grandfather, Wil- liam McMonigal, was born in county Derry, Ireland, and emigrated to Ameri-
CAPT. LEMUEL P. JEFFRIES
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ca in 1785; her mother, Sarah Glendenning, was born in county Tyrone in 1793, and came with her parents to America in 1801. His mother's parents, the McMonigals, settled as pioneers in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1814.
In youth Lemuel Jeffries learned the newspaper printing trade with Jacob A. Marchand. He also, when a boy, worked for Mr. Marchand, off and on, since 1852 -- was press roller boy in the office, carrier of the Democrat for two years, distributed bills as office boy, etc., and in 1856 was an editor of the Wayne County Democrat, published in Wooster. During the war of Seces- sion, 1861-5, he was a soldier in the Union army.
On October 9, 1862, by Rev. James Reed, at the Howard House on West Liberty street in Wooster, Ohio, he was united in marriage to Harriet E. Howard, oldest daughter of Charles and Eliza (McCracken) Howard, which union resulted in two daughters, Emily and Helen Jeffries. He was for three years clerk of the Wayne county probate court and was mayor of Wooster for five terms of two years each; first for two terms from 1883 to 1887 and afterwards for three successive terms from 1893 to 1899, serving a total of ten years as mayor of Wooster, no other citizen having before served over two terms in that office. -
Lemuel Jeffries enlisted as a private at Wooster, Ohio, on April 15, 1861, under President Lincoln's first call for troops to support the union, in Company E, Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was the first company organized in Wayne county for the war, his name being the fifteenth on the roll of volunteers. He was discharged from such "three-months" service, June 4, 1861, at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, by reason of his re- enlistment under Lincoln's first call for "three-years" troops, as a private in said Company E (Captain James McMillen), Fourth Regiment Ohio Volun- teer Infantry.
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