Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 570

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 12
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 12
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 12

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John Spearman spent his boyhood days on a farm at his native place, was afterward engaged as a shop and errand boy for a butcher and market man, and next went to sea. He landed at Quebec in 1857, and, after spending four years in Canada, came to Ohio. October 1, 1861, Mr. Spearman enlisted in Company F, Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry .. He took part in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Cor- inth, luca, Farmington, Fort Pillow, Ox- ford, Holly Springs, Bolivar, Bethel, Nash- ville, Tuscomby, Memphis, Prospect Sta- tion, Decatur, Resaca, Kingston, Altona, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, and Peach Tree Creek. At the battle of Atlanta, July 27, 1864, Mr. Spearman was wounded in the left temple, after which he spent some time in the field hospital, and later was at Marietta hospital. Joining his regiment at Beaufort, South Carolina, he was honorably discharged at Pocotaligo, that State, Janu- ary 17, 1865. After returning home he lo- cated on his farm of 132 acres, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Spearman was married July 3, 1878, to Martha Ellen Downing, a native of Lick- ing county, Ohio, and a daughter of Ros- well Downing, a native of Pennsylvania. To that union were born three sons: John Rich, Thomas Taylor, and Harrison. The last named died at the age of four inonthis.

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

The wife and mother departed this life in 1883. In 1885 Mr. Spearman was united in marriage to Mary A. Cann, a native of Devonshire, England, and a daughter of James and Susan (Spearman) Cann, both of whom died in England in 1875. They were the parents of five children: George, Mary, Elizabeth, Grace, and Hannah. Mr. and Mrs. Spearman have had three children: George Lewis, William James, and one deceased in infancy. Mr. Spearman affili- ates with the Republican party, and is a member of the Masonic order, Sparrow Lodge, No. 400, A. F. & A. M., of Sunbury.

HOMAS R. GRIFFITH, Sheriff of Delaware county, Ohio, has been a resident of this county since 1854, and is one of its well-known and highly respected citizens. A resumé of his life is herewith presented.

Thomas R. Griffith was born in Marion county, Ohio, June 26, 1838, the son of Welsh parents. His father, John Griffith, was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, and when a young man came with his brother Edward to America, locating in Radnor township, Delaware county, Ohio, where their brother David had already taken up his abode. Still another brother, Thomas, twin of John, came to Ohio, and all passed the rest of their lives in this State and died here, Edward dying in Marion county, and the other three in Radnor town- ship, Delaware county. John Griffith died in 1860, at the age of sixty years. He was a moderately successful farmer, was quiet and retiring in manner, and was a member of the Welsh Congregational Church. He was twice married. First he wedded Mrs. Mary (Hughes) Evans, who died in 1850,

and for his second wife he chose Mrs. Anna (McKinley) Hord. She survived him some years and died in Mercer county, Ohio, in 1888. By each he had three children, those by the first marriage being Thomas R., the subject of this article; Mary J., deceased; and Margaret A., deceased wife of David L. Williams. The children by the second wife are John D., Deputy County Sheriff of Delaware county; Newton H,, a resident of Mercer county, Ohio, engaged in farming, and Maryetta, wife of B. F. Hedges, of Mercer county.

Thomas R. Griffith spent the first six- teen years of his life on his father's farm in Marion county. Then he came with the rest of the family to Delaware county. After his father's death he was appointed administrator of the estate and had charge of the same until he was relieved in order to enter the Union army. November 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Sixty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was mus- tered out July 23, 1865. He had veteran- ized in December, 1863. A portion of his service was with the Army of the Potomac; he participated in many of the most import- ant engagements of the war, and his whole army life was characterized by bravery and fidelity.

After the war Mr. Griffith returned to his home and family in Delaware county. He had married, January 5, 1864, Miss Elizabeth Kyle, daughter of Deacon James Kyle, of Radnor township, this county. She was born in 1837 and died in 1870, leaving two children, Nora B. and William T. His second marriage, some years later, was to Miss Elizabeth A. Johnson, of Rad- nor, daughter of John C. and Mary C. John- son. They have had three children, one of whom is living, -Mary L.

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

Upon his return from the army Mr. Griffith resumed farming and continued thus occupied until after the death of his first wife. He was then ordained as a minister of the Baptist Church, and was for six or eight years engaged in the work of the min- istry, preaching at Prospect, Union, Norton and Leonardsburg. He also engaged in contracting and building for a number of years, in this business confining himself to Delaware, Marion and Union counties. Many of the best houses in the northern part of Delaware county were erected by him. He made his home in Radnor until 1890, when he was elected Sheriff of Dela- ware county, and since then he has resided in Delaware, having been re-elected to this office and now being on his second term.

Fraternally, Mr. Griffith is identified with the G. A. R., U. V. L., and K. of P.

OSES LAIRD .- The Scotch type is the one which has found many representatives in the New World, and is one that has ever been found foremost in giving impetus to the march of progress, in retaining a clear men- tal grasp and in directing affairs along safe and conservative lines. America owes much to the Scotch stock, and has honored and been honored by noble men and women of this extraction.

The subject of this review, Moses Laird, whose name indicates in a way his national- ity, has been a resident- of Leesburg town- ship, Union county, Ohio, for the past forty-three years, and is numbered among the most intellectual, progressive and hon- ored residents of the township. . His place of nativity was in Raphoa Parish, located

in the famous old county Donegal, Ireland, and the date of his birth was October 31, 1819.

The parents of our subject were Samuel and Jane (Douglass) Laird, both of whom were natives of Donegal county. Samuel Laird was a son of Moses Laird, who was born in Ireland, but whose parents came thither from their native heath in Scotland. Jane Douglass was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Douglass, who were born at Edinburg, Scotland. Samuel and Jane Laird became the parents of twelve children, of whom eight lived to attain mature years, namely: William, Jane, Moses, James, Rebecca, Catherine and Thomas. The four deceased were: Moses (first), Mary, David, and one boy who died in infancy. The mother of our subject died in Donegal county, Ireland, at the age of fifty years, and the venerable father finally came to America to make his home with his son, and was called into eternal rest at the ad- vanced age of seventy-six years, his demise occurring in Pickaway county. Ohio. He was a man of keen intelligence and highest integrity, and was honored by all who knew him. Religiously, he was a devoted mem- ber of the Presbyterian church.

Moses Laird passed his boyhood days in his native town, and received a good prac- tical education in the excellent schools of the parish. Ere he had reached the age of nineteen years there had come into his life a dream of personal success and aggrandize- ment in a land far distant from the old home in the Emerald Isle, and he was not of a nature to allow the mere substance of dreams to satisfy his ambition, but early began to consult ways and means, and when he had attained the age of nineteen bade farewell to his native land, courageously said adieu

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

to home and friends, and proceeded to Lon- donderry, where he set sail on the stanch little vessel "Erin," and after a voyage of six weeks and five days finally reached his destination, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A somewhat stern situation was that which stared the young stranger in the face, but, nothing daunted, and with faith in his own ability to will and to do, he forthwith sallied out through the streets of the old Quaker City in quest of employment. He was finally offered a job in wheeling coal on the wharves at the stipend of one dollar per day, and this position he accepted, assuming its la- borious duties with right good will, and con- tinuing to be thus employed during the sum- mer succeeding his arrival, which occurred August 10, 1837. The following winter he passed on a farm in New Jersey, where he was employed at the wage of six dollars per month. With the coming of spring he once more returned to Philadelphia and resumed his former occupation, and continued in that city for some little time, after which, in 1840, he determined to seek new fields of endeav- or, and accordingly bent his steps to the State of Ohio, -this being in the fall which marked the memorable "hard-cider cam- paign " of General William Henry Harrison, the President of "log-cabin " fame. Mr. Laird took up his abode in Guernsey county, this State, at a point fifty-four miles west of Wheeling, West Virginia. His uncle, David Laird, was a conspicuous figure in that lo- cality at that time, having kept a tavern on the old national pike road. Our subject re- mained in Guernsey county until May, 1841, when he moved to Fairfield county, where he remained until the following winter, when he located near the village of New Holland, Pickaway county. Here he effected the purchase of 100 acres of land, of which only 6

twenty acres had been cleared. He im- proved the farm, brought it into a fine state of cultivation, and finally, in 1851, sold the same for a consideration of $4,000. He thereupon came to this county, where he purchased a tract of 100 acres, which con- stitutes a part of his present farm in Lees- burg township. Here he has since contin- ued his residence, being indefatigable in his efforts and careful and conservative in his business methods, -circumstances which have conserved the attaining of the marked success which has been his in a material way. In the home farm are now comprised 240 acres, and the place stands as one of the show farms of the county, its condition in every portion showing the discerning care and progressive methods which have been brought to bear in its cultivation. The fam- ily homestead is an attractive frame struct- ure of tasteful architectural design, and sit- uated on a most eligible site, some little dis- tance back from the public highway. The other permanent improvements about the place are of congruous order, and the air of the whole is one which tells of peace and prosperity. In addition to the homestead, our subject has a second place in Leesburg township, known as the Grass Run Farm, the same being noted for its fine pastures and meadows, as well as for its prolific crops of hay. This farm is also improved with excellent buildings. In addition to these rural possessions Mr. Laird has other realty, owning a house and lot near the "five points," in the city of Marysville.

At the age of twenty-one years our sub- ject was united in marriage, in Pickaway county, to Miss Hannah Parker, who was born at Redstone settlement, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Cope) Parker, the former of whom

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

was a native of New Jersey and a relative of ex-Governor Parker, the latter being a na- tive of Pennsylvania and of Quaker parent- age. The issue of this union was five children, namely: Isaac Parker Laird lives in the vicinity of Marysville, this county; Samuel Douglass is a resident of Delaware county; William Jasper is a farmer in Lib- erty township, Union county; James resides near Broadway, this county, and the only daughter died in infancy. Hannah (Par- ker) Laird passed over into the "land of the leal " September 3, 1849, having been a true wife and a devoted helpmeet.

September 4, 1851, Mr. Laird consum- mated a second marriage, espousing Martha Ann Rittenhouse, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, the daughter of Isaac and Carrie Rittenhouse, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion State. By this marriage Mr. Laird became the father of two children, David W. and Henry N., both

of whom died in childhood. November 22, 1855, our subject was again bereaved in the loss of his loved companion, who was a noble Christian woman and a devoted mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

July 24, 1856, Mr. Laird wedded Miss Phoebe Hanawalt, who was born in Ross' county, the daughter of George and Rebec- ca (Latta) Hanawalt, natives of Pennsylva- nia. Mrs. Laird is a woman of rare intel- ligence and refinement and has been a devoted companion to her husband as he has passed along the mile-posts which have brought to him the fulness of years. They have had twelve children, of whom we make a record as follows: George H., John N., Anna J., Mollie, Allen, Lula, Harry Moses (deceased), Abraham Lincoln, Ray T., Bes- sie Rebecca, Frank and Clarence. Three of the sons enlisted for service in the late

war, being at the time mere boys; Samuel was confined for three and one-half months in Belle Island prison, having enlisted at the age of seventeen; William J. was but sixteen at the time of enlistment, and James M. fourteen.

Mr. Laird has been a stanchi supporter of the Republican party, having cast his ballots for Fremont, Lincoln and each suc- cessive candidate brought forward by his party. Religiously, he is a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man of broad mentality and marked liter- ary tastes, being a great admirer and lover of Watts and Burns, and being able to re- peat many selections from the works of these poets, -particularly the latter, for whom he has a particular reverence as the bard of the bonny land to which he traces his lineage.

One who stands conspicuous in the suc- cess attained by his own efforts, and one whose life has been consecrated to the good, the true and the beautiful, this honor- ed pioneer holds in his gentle autumn of life the abiding confidence and respect of that people in whose midst he has lived and labored.

ILLIAM C. HENDERSON .- It is with marked satisfaction that the biographist reverts to the life history of one who has attained the maxium of success in any vocation in life in which he has directed his thought and effort, and such a life, whether it be one of calm but consecutive endeavor, or one of meteoric accomplishment, must ever serve as both lesson and incentive.

He whose life history now comes briefly under review is one who has honored and been honored by the noble art of husbandry,

9%. C. Henderson

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

and is one from whose strewing has come the full and grateful harvest in its time. Mr. Henderson's genealogical record is one of very interesting order, and is traced con- secutively in the individual sketch of his brother, Dr. D. W. Henderson, of Marys- ville, as appearing elsewhere in this volume. The great-grandfather was a native of Scot- land, and was a representative of a promin- ent old family, closely allied to the aristo- cratic and patrician stock of bonny old Scotland. The grandfather of our subject was one of three brothers who came to America, and he took up his abode in Penn- sylvania, county of Huntingdon. The maternal grandfather of William C. Hender- son was James Jack, who came from the north of Ireland to the United States when a lad of fourteen, locating first in New Jer- sey and subsequently removing to Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution.

The father of our subject was John Hen- derson, who was born in 1780, near Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania. He married Miss Anna Jack and then took up his residence on a tract on 222 acres owned by his wife in Indiana county, where they remained un- til 1837, when they came to Ohio, and lo- cated on 160 acres, one mile south of Watkins, this county. There the father re- mained until his death, September 15, 1847. His widow passed away in 1869, at the age of eighty-four years. They were Scotch Presbyterians, and the father was an old-line Democrat. The following is a brief record of their children: Margaret H., deceased, was the wife of Thomas McKee, of Brook- ville, Pennsylvania; James died at the age of twenty-one; John, who was an Indiana farmer, is deceased; Sarah A. married David Gill, and is now deceased; Joseph is a prom-

inent resident of Jefferson county, Pennsyl- vania; Jane, widow of William Liggett, is a resident of Denver, Colorado; Levinah is the wife of S. B. Woodburn, of Marysville, this county; Dr. David W. is a prominent physician of the county, and is located at Marysville; William C., subject of this re- view, resides on the old homestead in Mill Creek township; and Mary E. is the wife of Charles McCampbell, of Indiana.

William C. Henderson was the youngest son and the second youngest child. He passed his youth and early manhood on the old homestead, in this county, the place of his nativity having heen Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he was born October 28, 1825, being twelve years of age at the time his parents located in the Buckeye State. His educational advantages were confined to the district schools of Mill Creek township. Attaining maturity he began an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, in New California, and for seven years was engaged in this line of work, the greater portion of the time being located on the old farm. As the result of his industry as an artisan, he accumulated sufficient money to purchase, in 1850, thirty-four acres of the paternal farmstead, subsequently purchasing the in- terests of the other heirs, and thus acquiring possession of the entire landed estate, which comprised a quarter section. By industry and correct methods he gained the smiles of pros- perity, and added to his possessions from time to time until he is now the proprietor of 487 acres, -which represent one of the finest farms in this section of the State. In 1873 Mr. Henderson erected a substantial brick residence of attractive architectural design, the place being recognized as one of the finest homes in the county. Aside from his agricultural interests our subject is other-

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

wise concerned with financial enterprises of the county, being a stockholder in and one of the Board of Directors of the Union Bank, of Marysville, one of the solid mone- tary institutions of Union county.

There is ever a degree of satisfaction in noting the success attained by personal en- deavor alone, and in the premises our sub- ject stands forth distinctively as a self-made man. As a boy he began work for himself at the merely nominal stipend of from twen- ty-five to thirty-one cents per day, and from this he has forged his way forward to the goal of success, having been indefatigable in his industry, frugal at the time when self- denial was essential to the securing of de- sired ends, and ever observant of the prin- ciples which serve as the attributes of honor and integrity. He has been broadened rather than narrowed by the experiences of life, and has ever been ready to lend an im- petus to public improvements and to foster public interests to the extent of his ability and limitations. In the connection it is in- teresting to note the fact that he has contri- buted fully $4, 000 to the securing of the fine system of pike roads which have given Union county a prestige above all other counties in the State.

In December, 1870, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Sewell, daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Mosher) Sewell, both of whom are now deceased, having been honored residents of Union county for many years. Mrs. Henderson has one brother living, William, who resides in Lulaski county, Missouri.

Our subject and his wife have had two children: Myrtie A., who was born March 20, 1877, died March 13, 1894; and Frank D., who was born September 26, 1881.

In politics Mr. Henderson is a firm and

uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies urged by the Democratic party. As a man he is honored for his sterling worth of character as well as for his pro- nounced ability, which has gained him so marked success in temporal affairs.

J OHN L. WOLFLEY, Postmaster of Delaware, Ohio, and one of her prominent and highly respected citi- zens, has been identified with this city all his life. Of him and his ancestry we make record as follows:

John L. Wolfley was born in Delaware, Ohio, April 16, 1848, son of John and Hat- tie (Allen) Wolfley. Lewis Wolfley, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Switzerland. He came to America when a young man, and here married Miss Mary Toat, of Pennsylvania. After resid- ing at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a short time, they came west as far as Lancaster, Ohio. Subsequently he decided upon a loca- tion in Delaware county, and purchased a farm in Radnor township, returning at once for his family, but dying at Lancaster that same year, 1817, in middle life. The fol- lowing year his widow removed with her family to the newly purchased farm. She had six children, all natives of Ohio except George, the oldest, who was born in Penn- sylvania, and all of whom have passed away with one exception-Mary, widow of John Johnson, who resides with her son-in-law, Sheriff Griffith, of this county. John, the third born in the family and the father of our subject, was a native of Lancaster, Ohio, the date of his birth being April 17, 1817. He grew to manhood on a farm in this county, and received his education in the coinmon schools. When he was eighteen

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

he returned to Lancaster, Ohio, and entered upon a seven years' apprenticeship to the tanner's trade. His industry enabled him to buy the last two years of his time, after which he started on foot through the timber for Marion, this State, taking his tools on his back and having only fifty cents in his pocket. At Marion he worked as a jour- neyman one year. Then he came to Dela- ware and continued work at his trade, and subsequently formed a partnership with Wassatt Lee, the father of Lieutenant-Gov- ernor Lee, of Ohio. Together they carried on the tannery business for two years. In 1842 Mr. Wolfley established a tannery of his own, which he operated until 1867, when his two sons, Silas D. and John L., suc- ceeded to the business, he holding one-third until April 1, 1869, when the sons assumed entire control, under the firm name of S. D. Wolfley & Brother. February 1, 1892, John L. withdrew from the firm in order to give his attention to his official duties, he having been appointed Postmaster in April, 1891. The firm, however, had discontinued the tannery business in 1882, and from that time dealt in hides and leather. S. D. Wolfley is still dealing in hides and furs. Having followed the history of the business started by John Wolfley up to the present time, we turn back to make further mention of him.

John Wolfley was a man of strong per- sonality. Religiously, he was a stanch Methodist. He superintended the erection of the first church edifice built on the Wil- liams street site. Politically, he was a Dem- ocrat previous to 1854, and after that was a Republican. He took an active interest in political matters, and was a public-spir- ited man. During the Rebellion he was very efficient in relief work. He served for a

number of years as Township Trustee. Of his private life, we record that he was twice married. February 27, 1834, he wed- ded Miss Julia Ann Adams, who died in January, 1836. His marriage to Miss Het- tie Allen occurred February 23, 1843, and their children are as follows: Oscar A., who is engaged in the restaurant business in Columbus, Ohio: Silas D., of Delaware, whose business has already been referred to; John Luckey, the subject of our sketch; Jedediah D., an artist of some note, who died in Munich, Europe, January 13, 1873; George W., engaged in the insurance busi- ness in Columbus, Ohio; Hettie, widow of Dr. John O. McDowell, of this city. John Wolfley passed to his reward May 25, 1880, at the age of seventy-one years. His widow is still an honored resident of Dela- ware. Her people, the Allens, came from New England. Dr. Silas Allen, her grand- father, was born in Canterbury, Connecti- cut, where he grew up and married Mary Cleveland. They were the parents of eight children. He moved to Vermont and, later, in 1801, to Royalton, Fairfield county, same State, where he laid out the town and where he practiced medicine for many years. He died in 1824, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife died in Royalton in the fall of 1843, at the advanced age of ninety. Whiting Allen, their second child, was born April 16, 1779, and died in August, 1860. He married Mehitable Searle, daughter of Rev. John and Mehitable (Dunbar) Searle, of Stoneham, Massachusetts. Whiting Allen and his wife had a family of eleven children, viz: Silas D., who died at the age of fifty; Laura, at the age of eighty- six; Eliza, at the age of eighty; Oscar S., at the age of thirty-four; Harvey S., at the age of fourteen; one daughter in infancy;

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Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 570

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 570