USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 20
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 20
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 20
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James Kyle, the father of David H., was born December 26, 1806; was reared on the old home place and passed his whole life here. He married Elizabeth Boyd, whose parents were among the pioneers of the county. The Kyles were Scotch-Irish and the Boyds were of German origin. James Kyle was the second male child born in the township. He was chosen by his fellow cit- izens to fill various local offices, the duties of which he performed with the strictest fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at Radnor. She died November 8, 1873, and he passed to his re- ward May 3, 1879. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are yet liv- ing. Three of the sons fought for the Union. during the civil war: Elias, Hugh and James B., the last named being killed while in the service. Elias is now engaged in farming in Union county, this State, and Hugh is farm- ing in Kansas.
David H. Kyle grew up on his father's farm, and when he reached manhood pur- chased a farm near Richwood, Union county, where he lived four years. At the end of that time he sold out, returned to the scenes of his childhood and purchased the rest of the old homestead, he already being the owner of one-half of it. This is an excellent farm, and comprises 161 acres.
March 21, 1871, Mr. Kyle married Eliz- abeth Griffiths, daughter of David R. Grif-
fiths, a native of Wales, who came to Amer- ica in 1833, and became identified with the farming interests of Radnor township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kyle's only child, David J., born January 26, 1878, died No- vember 24, 1888, aged ten years, nine months and twenty-eight days.
He and his wife are members of the Bap- tist Church, and in politics he is a Republi- can. He has served in various township offices.
S. CONDIT, owner of the Ever- green Home Jersey Stock Farm, in Trenton township, Delaware coun- ty, was born in this township, March 28, 1854, a son of Marvin Condit, a native of New Jersey, and a mechanic and wagon-maker by trade. His death occurred in 1857. Marvin Condit married Sarah Leak, who died in 1882, and they had six children, three now living: Alice, wife of George Simmons, of Licking county, Ohio; D. H., a resident of this township; and L. S., the subject of this sketch.
The last namcd came to the Home Jer- sey Stock Farm in 1871, to reside with his uncle, Ed M. Condit, a prominent and well known citizen of this locality, who died in 1881. His widow still resides on the home farm, aged seventy-nine years. Our subject owns 360 acres of well improved land. His Jersey butter brings the highest market price. Everything about the Ever- green Stock Farm shows the thrift and pros- perity of its owner.
Mr. Condit was married in 1880, to Miss Della Conard, a native of Licking county, Ohio, and a daughter of James W. and Nancy (Evans) Conard. They are the par- ents of two children: Edith M., born in
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1882; and Dane Conard, born in 1891. Mr. Condit affiliates with the Prohibition party. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a ruling Elder.
OSEL EDWARDS, proprietor of the Pioneer Stock Farm, was born in Harlem township, Delaware county, September 12, 1841, a son of John Edwards, a native of Pennsylvania. For many years he was a prominent and well-known citizen of this township. The mother of our subject, nee Elizabeth Cock- rell, was also born in Harlem township, a daughter of Ed. Cockrell, one of the pioneer settlers of this locality. Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards had thirteen children, namely: Minerva, Mary, Rosel, Eli, William, John, Ellen, James Monroe, George (deceased), Nancy, Henry, Martha and Elijah. Eli was a soldier in the civil war. The mother de- parted this life in 1854, and the father died March 4, 1894, at the age of eighty years. He was a successful farmer, having accumu- lated much property, and was identified with the Republican party.
Rosel Edwards, the subject of this me- moir, was reared on the old home farm, and attended a district school near his home. In 1885 he located on his present farm, which consists of 450 acres of the best land in Del- aware county, and which is under a fine state of cultivation. In addition to his general farming, he is extensively engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of thoroughbred Percheron horses and Jersey cattle. He keeps an average of seventy milch cows on the farm. Mr. Edwards is a stockholder, director and one of the largest patrons of the Sunbury Creamery Com- pany.
He was married at the age of twenty-one years, to Naomi Jane Barrick, a native of Licking county, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Ruth (Cross) Barrick. To this union have been born thirteen children, viz. : Almeda (deceased), Clara, John, Rosa, James, Emma, Charles, Willie (deceased), Burton H., Orvilla, Dellno, Howard and Frank. In his political relations, Mr. Ed- wards affiliates with the Republican party.
N. METZGER, a farmer of Porter township, Delaware county, was born in Monroe township, Knox county, Ohio, June 13, 1860, a son of Joseph Metzger, who was born in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1819. His father, Michael Metzger, was of German descent. The family came to Perry county, Ohio, in 1823, where Joseph was born and reared. He was married at Mount Vernon, this State, to Mary Bechtol, and they had five children: John, Henry, Charles, Mary
and Catherine. The wife and mother died, and the father afterward married Rachel Houk, née Walker. She had two children by her former marriage-Mary E., and one deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Metzger had six children: James, Joseph M., C. N., George W., Joanna R. and Albert. Mr. Metzger died in Knox county at the age of sixty-six years. His widow still resides in Monroe township, that county.
C. N. Metzger, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools, and afterward entered the National Normal School at Leb- anon. In 1882 he located on the farm where he now lives, the place comprising 13I acres, and being then known as the Joseph Mendenhall farm. He occupies a good two-story residence, 24 x 29 feet, with
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an addition 13 x 32 feet, and a rock cellar. The place contains many other valuable im- provements. Mr. Metzger affiliates with the Republican party, and is now serving as Justice of the Peace.
June 27, 1881, by Rev. A. Hann, a Presbyterian minister, our subject was mar- ried, in Delaware, to Ida May Belle, a daughter of B. W. and Eliza (Warner) Belle. The father was a well-known citizen of Berkshire township, this county. Mrs. Metzger received her education at the Sun- bury high school. Our subject and wife have five children, viz .: Ralph D., Audley C., Ben Harrison, Johanna R. and Ida May Belle. Mr. Metzger is a Steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Secretary of the official board, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
J OHN LANE, a farmer of Porter township, Delaware county, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1837, a son of John and Maria (Eastman) Lane, natives also of that place. They were inembers of the Church of Eng- land. John, one of eight children, four sons and four daughters, was reared to farm work at his native place. At the age of twenty years he came to Canada, where he found employment on a farm. He came to Ohio in November, 1860, and settled near Olive Green for a time. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the late war, entering Com- pany F, Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, in which he served for three years with honor and credit. He was under fire at New Madrid, Corinth and Iuka, was for a time under General Pope and General Rosecrans, and was also with General Sher-
man on the great march to the sea, in the siege of Atlanta and the most famous cam- paigns. Receiving his discharge at Savan- nah, Georgia, Mr. Lane engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in this county. In 1865 he came to his present farm of 102 acres, where he has all the necessary farm improve- ments.
Our subject was married in Devonshire, England, at the age of twenty years, to Susan Spearman, who was born and reared at that place. They have ten children: Mary Ann, Martha Jane, John Thomas, Min- nie Grace, George, William, Jesse, Anna Ma- ria, Levina and Albert. Four of the children are still at home. John T. is engaged as a teacher. John Lane is an active and zeal- ous worker in the Republican party, and for five years has served with credit as Town- ship Trustee. The family attend the Meth- odist Church. Mr. Lane is a man of the highest intelligence, is honest and upright in his dealings, is successful in his business ventures, and is one of the most popular citizens of the county.
J OSEPH F. WOODS. - Union county, Ohio, contributed to the Federal army many a brave and valiant soldier dur- ing the late Civil war, and amnong those surviving at the present time,-when the ranks of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic are being disintegrated by the one invinci- ble foe, death,-stands the subject of this sketch, who was loyal to his country in her hour of peril, and who now stands as her staunch supporter in these "piping times of peace." Mr. Woods is one of the repre- sentative farmers of Union township, and is a native son of the county, having been born May 28, 1837, on the paternal home-
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stead, lying in this township, along the course of the Big Darby creek.
His father, John P. Woods, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, being the son of Rev. Samuel and Margaret (Power) Woods, who came from Pennsylvania in the early pioneer days of 1807, the father having been one of the first Presbyterian clergymen in this section of the State. He was a man of simple piety and marked ability, and his labors must ever be held in lasting regard. He died in 1815, leaving a widow and five children. We are enabled to offer the following brief record concerning the children: John P. was the father of our subject; Eliza, the only daughter, married Rev. Benjamin Dolbear. Samuel was born August 26, 1819, and died March 3, 1880; James F. was born near Milford Cen- ter, Ohio, June 21, 1812, was a prominent attorney of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and died December 10, 1893; Judge William Woods, deceased, was a prominent man in the county, having been Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and having been the founder of the Bank of Marysville.
Our subject's father, John P., was reared and educated in this county, and here was consummated his marriage to Miss Jane M. Finly, who was born in the old Keystone State in 1810, the daughter of Joseph Finly, who was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and who was an early settler in Union county. The maiden name of his wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, was Frances Moore. John P. and Jane .M. Woods became the parents of five children, namely: Joseph F., who is the subject of this sketch; Harlan P., who participated in the late war as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, is now a resident of Plain
City, Ohio; Frances is the wife of S. W. Robinson, of Kenton, this State; Isadore died at the age of fourteen years; and Theo- dore J. is a resident of Taylor township, this county. The father died March 6, 1851, at the age of forty-four years, and the mother survived to attain the advanced age of seventy-eight years, her death occur- ring in 1888. In politics, John P. Woods was a Whig and an ardent Abolitionist, and religiously was a leading adherent of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a most zealous worker.
Our subject, Joseph F. Woods, was reared to farm life on the old homestead and received his educational discipline at Bridge- port and Delaware, this State. August 30, 1861, he enlisted for service in the late war, as a member of Company D, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he partici- pated in the battles of Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, besides several other conflicts of minor sort. He was finally de- tached from his regiment and was placed on duty at Columbus, Ohio's capital city, where he assisted in the taking of recruits to the front. He was honorably discharged from the service, September 14, 1864, as Ser- geant of Company D.
In 1874 Mr. Woods took up his resi- dence on his present farm, which is known as the old Judge Gill homestead, and which is one of the very best farms in the town- ship, comprising, in Darby and Union town- ships, 1353 acres and being under a most approved system of cultivation. The family residence, which was erected by our subject in 1882, is one of the attractive rural homes of this section, being commodious and of modern and symmetrical architectural de- sign. Other permanent improvements on the place are of a character consonant with
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progressive and enterprising methods which Mr. Woods brings to bear in the cultivation and management of his farming industry. The place shows a goodly array of live stock of all kinds, and no little attention is devoted to this department of the enter- prise.
September 12, 1867, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Belle Martin, a woman of culture and gentle refinement, and one who attained distinctive popularity in Darby township as a successful teacher. She was born in Darby township, this coun- ty, May 14, 1841, the daughter of James and Edith (Penrose) Martin, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, and both of whom are now deceased. They were prominent and honored residents of Darby township, this county, for many years, and were the parents of six children, namely: Amelia, wife of J. C. Robinson, of Darby township; Joseph P., of Darby township; Keziah, who died at the age of eighteen years; Belle, wife of our subject; Mary, deceased; and Maria, wife of James Anderson, of Ringgold eounty, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Woods have had three children, namely: Zella, who died at the age of two years, three months and five days; Nellie and Carrie. The surviving daughters are both successful and popular teachers and are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which their mother also is a de- voted adherent.
Our subject lends his ballot and influence to the support of the Republican party. He is a man of marked intellectual power, and in his personality is frank and genial, while his honor and probity are beyond cavil. To him has been accorded the respect and esteem of the entire community in which he lives.
H. SINGER .- The subject of this sketch is one of the well- known and honored farmers of Cardington township, Morrow county, Ohio, and has gained a certain and peculiar distinction by maintaining his resi- dence on the same farm which figured as his birthplace, the date of his nativity having been November 15, 1840.
His father was Samuel Singer, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, and who was a stone-mason by trade. His father, George Singer, was a native of Eng- land, and came to America when a young man.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Catharine Valentine, and she was a daughter of John Valentine, a native of Maryland, where his daughter was also born. John Valentine's father was born in Eng- land.
The parents of our subject were married in Maryland, and in 1827 they came to that part of Marion county, Ohio, which is incor- porated in the present county of Morrow. They located in Canaan township, and the father opened the first general store in the little town of Denmark, Canaan township. He continued this enterprise for a period of five years, after which he effected the pur- chase of the farm where our subject lives at the present time, the land being heavily timbered and entirely unreclaimed. He built a log house and cleared and otherwise improved the farm, remaining there until 1862, when he purchased a farm in Perry township, Morrow county, and made that his abiding place for two years, after which he resumed his residence on the old farm in Cardington township. He served as a pri- vate during the war of 1812, was a Democrat in politics, and religiously was identified
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with the Presbyterian Church. He was a man of prominence in the community and was well known throughout the county. He died in his seventy-fourth year, and his widow passed away at the age of eighty-six years.
They were the parents of nine children, of whom we offer the following brief record: George M. is a resident of Indiana; Valen- tine V. is of Cardington, Ohio; Mary Ann is the wife of George W. Bolenger, of Carding- ton township; Margaret H. is the wife of Jonathan Kester, also of this township; Samuel is deceased, as is also Lovina; John J. is a resident of Van Wert county, Ohio; Thomas J. resides at Logansport, Indiana, and William H. is the immediate subject of this review.
Our subject, who was the youngest of the family, was reared on the farm which now constitutes his home, receiving his education in the district schools and in Iberia College, which building is now utilized as the working home for the blind, in this county. At the age of fourteen he began to work for himself, engaging as a clerical as- sistant in a produce establishment at Galion, Ohio, where he remained for three months, after which he engaged in the same line of enterprise for himself at Cardington, thus continuing until 1862. In the following year he went to Buffalo, New York, and was there engaged in the same business for six months; then in New York city for another six months, after which he returned to Ohio and opened a similar establishment at Bell- ville, Richland county, where he continued operations until 1867.
May 19, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Austin, who was born in the State of New York, but who was reared in Richland county, Ohio, being the daugh- ter of Dr. T. T. Austin, a prominent physi-
cian of Bellville. Within the year of his marriage Mr. Singer purchased the interests of the other heirs to his father's estate and located on the old homestead, where he has ever since continued to reside. The place, which is one of the finest in the county, comprises 200 acres, and is under a high state of cultivation. The owner has devoted himself to general farming, but has awarded special attention to the raising of potatoes and popcorn.
Mr. and Mrs. Singer have had three children, namely: Anna, who is deceased; Mary C., wife of Frank Skinner, of Card- ington, and Willie A., at home. In his religious views our subject is charitable and liberal. Politically he is an ardent Demo- crat and is an active worker and a power in the local ranks of his party, though he has strenuously objected to becoming a candid- ate for any political office, having declined the nomination in 1893 for Representative in the joint convention of Marion and Mor- row counties, not wanting to be incumbered with any office. But finally in 1894 he con- sented to accept the nomination for Sheriff of Morrow county, because the ticket must be full, and for the good of the party, at the same time feeling quite confident that he would not be elected because the majority was too large against him. He has mani- fested much interest in the work and efforts made by the farmers of the country with a view to securing a better representation in the affairs of State, and he was president of the Morrow County Farmers' Alliance dur- ing the time the organization was retained. He is a member of the Western Farmers' Club and has held all the offices in the same. Fraternally he is a member of Cardington Lodge, No. 194, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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RANCIS A. WELCH .- Among the representative farmers of Peru township, Morrow county, Ohio, he whose name initiates this para- graph must assuredly be accorded place, for his position has been one of prominence in many ways.
He was born in Bennington county, Ver- mont, May 17, 1825, the son of Ebenezer Welch, who likewise was a native of the Green Mountain State, where he was reared to man's estate. He was a son of John Welch, who was a representative of one of the early New England families and who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, in one of the battles of which conflict he was severely wounded, receiving a pension from the Government by reason of his in- juries.
Ebenezer Welch took unto himself a wife in the person of Susan Bennett, who was born in Bennington county, Vermont, and there reared. Her father, Francis Ben- nett, was a descendant of a prominent fam- ily long resident of the New England States, he himself having been a native of Vermont. He was a minister of the old-fashioned Bap- tist Church, and he lived to attain the age of more than eighty years, the family having been one notable for longevity.
The parents of our subject were married in their native county and there passed the span of their lives, the father dying at the age of sixty years and the mother at eighty- eight. The former was an active participant in the war of 1812. They became the par- ents of eight sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, but of whom all, save two, are now deceased. Of them we record that Samuel, John, Daniel and Thomas are deceased; Josiah is a resident of the State of New York; Lyman is de-
ceased; Perry is deceased; Francis A. is the subject of this review; Sarah is deceased, as is also Betsey.
Our subject was the youngest son, and he remained in his native county until he had attained the age of nineteen years, his mental discipline having been one of prac- tical experience in the affairs of life, rather than that gained from books. At the age of nineteen years he left the parental roof and started out empty-handed to carve out his own fortune. He proceeded to Rensse- laer county, New York, where he worked by the month or year for a period of twelve years, receiving wages ranging from eight to twelve dollars per month.
In 1848 he was united in marriage to Ann Eliza Lain, who was born and reared in Rensselaer county, New York, being the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Lain. She died, leaving two children: Theodore M., of Richland county, Ohio, who has two sons, Frank and John; and one child who died young.
Four years subsequent to the death of his wife Mr. Welch came to Morrow county and purchased a farm of sixty-three acres, in Peru township, taking up his residence on the same. July 22, 1855, he consum- mated a second marriage, being then united to Samantha (Oliver) Dillingham, widow of Alfred Dillingham. She was born in Peru township and was the daughter of William and Annis Oliver, who were among the early settlers in the county. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two sons and one daughter, of whom we make record as follows: Nettie is the wife of Alfred Finley, of Kansas, and has six children; Emerson E. married Jessie Doty and has two children, Clare and Tacy; Lyman married Delia Rose- velt and has two children, Mabel and Esley.
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At the time of the late war Mr. Welch enlisted as a private in Company G, Eighty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was under detail as a general utility man to Colonel Neff. He served eleven months, after which he returned to his home in this township. He now owns in this township a well improved farm of 110 acres.
In politics Mr. Welch is an ardent Re- publican, and he has taken a prominent part in the local councils and affairs of the or- ganization. He served for a full decade as Township Trustee, and in 1887 he was elected County Commissioner, serving in that capacity for three years. He has also served as a delegate to the State convention several times. He is one of the board of School Directors in the township; is clerk of the district and chairman of the School Board. Fraternally he is identified with Ashley Lodge, I. O. O. F., and religiously, he is a member of the Society of Friends. A man of stanchest integrity, and of · marked ability, he has long held a high posi- tion in the respect and confidence of the community.
J UDGE THOMAS E. DUNCAN, the subject of this brief sketch, is an honored resident of Morrow county, where he has attained high distinc- tion and precedence in the line of his pro- fession, in business and social circles, and upon the bench in the exercise of important judicial functions.
The subject of this review was born November 21, 1839, in Mechanic township, Holmes county, Ohio, the son of William Duncan, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he was born in the year 1812, as the offspring of Andrew and 10
Jane (Wiley) Duncan, the latter of whom was a sister of Dr. Andrew Wiley, a distin- guished Presbyterian divine, as well as Dr. Andrew Wiley, who attained eminence as a physician. The first named brother was for many years president of Washington College, Pennsylvania, which institution was subse- quently consolidated with Jefferson College, forming the present Washington and Jeffer- son College. The ancestral lineage of the Duncan family is highly honorable and dates back to Scotland, where Andrew was born.
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